The Celtics face the Charlotte Hornets for the second time in as many days. The Celtics got here out on high on Friday, beating the Hornets 124-109. That win provides the Celtics a 5-1 file, with their solely loss to the Indiana Pacers in Additional time. Charlotte is 2-3 on the season, beating Houston and Toronto and dropping to Atlanta, Miami and Boston.
That is the second assembly between these two groups this season, having crushed the Hornets on Friday. They’ll shut out the collection in Boston on April 11 and 13. The Celtics gained the collection 2-1 final season, Profitable their solely recreation in Boston and successful one and dropping one in Charlotte. The Celtics are 78-46 general all time towards the Hornets and 37-26 in video games performed in Charlotte.
The Celtics stood pat for essentially the most half within the off season, bringing again their whole core of gamers and dropping simply Svi Mykhailiuk and Oshae Brissett. They added Baylor Scheierman, who was the thirtieth choose within the draft and signed 2nd spherical choose, Anton Watson to a 2 manner contract. They’ve additionally added a few chips on their shoulder after a few Olympic snubs.
The Charlotte Hornets’ new possession has been busy within the off season, hiring a brand new head coach, normal supervisor and workforce president. Former Celtics assistant coach Charles Lee is the brand new Hornets head coach. The workforce drafted French ahead Tidjane Salaun sixth and KJ Simpson forty second. Additionally they signed middle Taj Gibson and guard Seth Curry as free brokers.
Al Horford missed Friday’s recreation for relaxation, however I’m guessing he will probably be again for this one. They’ll as soon as once more be with out Kristaps Porzingis, who remains to be rehabbing from off season ankle surgical procedure. Jaylen Brown injured his hip within the third quarter of Friday’s recreation and will probably be out for this recreation. I’m taking a wild guess that Jordan Walsh will begin, nevertheless it’s doable that Sam Hauser may get the beginning right here as nicely.
The Hornets will probably be with out DaQuan Jeffries who’s recovering from a hand harm. Mark Williams can also be out as he recovers from a tendon pressure in his foot. Neither has performed but this season. Brandon Miller is questionable with a glute harm. Nick Richards injured his shoulder in Friday’s recreation and is out for this recreation. I’m unsure who they may begin however I’m going to guess Grant Williams.
Possible Celtics Starters
PG: Jrue Vacation
SG: Derrick White
SF: Jordan Walsh
PF: Jayson Tatum
C: Al Horford
Celtics Reserves
Payton Pritchard
Neemias Queta
Sam Hauser
Baylor Scheierman
Jaden Springer
Xavier Tillman, Sr
Luke Kornet
2 Approach Gamers
JD Davison
Drew Peterson
Anton Watson
Accidents/Out
Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) out
Jaylen Brown (hip) out
Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla
Possible Hornets Starters
PG: LaMelo Ball
SG: Seth Curry
SF: Josh Inexperienced
PF: Miles Bridges
C: Grant Williams
Hornets Reserves
Nick Smith, Jr
Cody Martin
Vasa Micic
Tre Mann
Tidjane Salaun
Taj Gibson
2 Approach Gamers
Moussa Diabate
KJ Simpson
Jared Rhoden
Accidents/Out
DaQuan Jeffries (hand) out
Mark Williams (foot) out
Brandon Miller (glute) questionable
Nick Richards (shoulder) out
Head Coach
Charles Lee
Key Matchups
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Jrue Vacation
Photograph by Maddie Meyer/Getty Photos
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LaMelo Ball
Photograph by Wealthy Schultz/Getty Photos
Jrue Vacation vs LaMelo Ball
Ball has been taking part in very nicely this season, averaging 28.5 factors, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1.3 steals per recreation. He’s capturing 42.7% from the sector and 37.5% from past the arc. On Friday, he completed with 31 factors, 2 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal whereas capturing 48% from the sector and 35.7% from past the arc. The Celtics must attempt to gradual him down a bit extra on this recreation.
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Payton Pritchard
Photograph by Justin Casterline/Getty Photos
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Tre Mann
Photograph by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Photos
Payton Pritchard vs Tre Mann
It is a matchup of key subs off the bench who each shoot the three very nicely. Mann is averaging 20.5 factors, 3.8 rebounds, and three.3 assists per recreation whereas capturing 44.6% from the sector and 42.9% from past the arc. Pritchard is averaging 16.2 factors, 3.1 rebounds and a couple of.6 assists per recreation whereas capturing 45.6% from the sector and 46.9% from past the arc. On Friday, Mann completed with 23 factors, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 block whereas capturing 55.6% from the sector and 50% from past the arc. Pritchard had a uncommon off capturing evening however was lively on protection. He completed with 7 factors on 16.7% capturing from the sector and was 0-5 on threes. He additionally had 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 5 steals.
Honorable Point out
Jayson Tatum vs Miles Bridges
Bridges is averaging 15 factors, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1 block per recreation. He’s capturing 39.6% from the sector and 25% from past the arc. On Friday, he completed with 14 factors, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal whereas capturing 31.3% from the sector and simply 20% on threes. He additionally bought pissed off on the finish of the sport and was ejected.
Keys to the Sport
Protection – Protection is at all times the important thing to successful. It was an absence of protection that dug a 23 level gap towards the Pacers and it was good protection that bought them again into the sport and compelled time beyond regulation. The Celtics are twelfth with a defensive score of 111.5. The Hornets are thirtieth with a defensive score of 120.0. The Celtics are 1st in 3 level makes an attempt with 50 whereas the Hornets are third with 44.8 three level makes an attempt per recreation. They’re tied for fifth in 3 level share at 39.3%. The Celtics must particularly guard the Hornets on the perimeter.
Rebound – Rebounding is vital to offer the Celtics additional possessions and to restrict possessions for his or her opponents. Rebounding takes effort and the Celtics want to offer additional effort to beat the Hornets to rebounds. The Hornets are 1st with 21 second probability factors per recreation and the Celtics must restrict these by placing extra effort into grabbing rebounds. On Friday, the Hornets had 1 extra rebound and 1 extra offensive rebound than the Celtics. The Celtics need to work tougher on the boards on this one.
Most Effort for 48 Minutes – The Celtics effort for the primary 3 quarters towards the Pacers left a lot to be desired, touchdown them in a 23 level gap. They lastly discovered some power and energy within the 4th quarter and battled again to drive time beyond regulation. The Celtics effort of their earlier 2 video games was good at occasions and never so good at different occasions. On Friday, the Celtics upped their effort within the 4th quarter to drag away from the Hornets. The Celtics have to offer max effort on the boards and on protection and so they have to offer that effort for the whole recreation and never simply 1 or 2 quarters.
Bench Play – The Hornets have 3 gamers off the bench who’re capturing over 40% from the perimeter. Tre Mann (20.5 factors, 42.9% from three), Cody Martin (11.5 factors, 42.1% from three) and Grant Williams (10.3 factors, 47.4% from three) The Celtics reserves want to return into the sport and play laborious on the defensive finish to restrict their 3 level capturing. Additionally they want to provide on the offensive finish.
X-Components
On The Street and Feelings – The Celtics are taking part in of their fifth recreation on the highway this season. The Celtics are dealing with the distractions of journey and a hostile crowd and so they can’t enable these distractions to remove from their deal with the sport. The top of Friday’s recreation was emotional with Grant Williams ejected for a flagrant 2, Miles Bridges ejected for two technicals and LaMelo Ball assessed a technical. Each coaches additionally bought technicals. The Celtics want to remain calm and never let feelings get in the way in which of taking part in the suitable manner.
Teaching – Charles Lee helped to guide the Celtics to their 18th championship as an assistant coach. He’s now main the Charlotte Hornets as their head coach. I’m certain these two coaches share some teaching philosophies, together with the technique of capturing a whole lot of 3’s. Joe Mazzulla win their first assembly. Which coach will come out on high on this one?
Officiating – Officiating is at all times an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport in a different way. Some name it tight and name each little bit of contact whereas others enable extra bodily play. Some favor the house workforce whereas others name each side evenly. The Celtics have to regulate to the way in which the refs are calling the sport and never enable no calls and unhealthy calls to have an effect on their deal with taking part in the sport.
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