The Celtics face the Hawks in Atlanta for the ultimate recreation of a 4 recreation street journey. They’re 2-1 to date on the journey with their solely loss to the Pacers in additional time. The Hawks are taking part in on the second night time of again to again video games, having performed in New Orleans on Sunday night time. The Hawks gained their first 2 video games after which misplaced 4 in a row earlier than beating the Pelicans on Sunday.
That is the primary of three conferences between these two groups this season. They are going to face off once more on November 12 and January 18, each video games in Boston. The Celtics and Hawks tied the sequence at 2 video games every final season, with each groups successful 2 at dwelling. The Celtics are 244-149 total all time towards the Hawks and they’re 112-95 in video games performed in Atlanta.
The Celtics stood pat for essentially the most half within the off season, bringing again their whole core of gamers and shedding 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 method contract. They’ve one open roster spot that they’re prone to preserve open in case of damage throughout the season. They’ve additionally added a few chips on their shoulder after Olympic snubs and different drama over the summer time.
The Hawks made an enormous commerce to start the off season. They gave up on DeJounte Murray and traded him to the New Orleans Pelicans for Larry Nance, Jr and Dyson Daniels together with 2 first spherical picks. Additionally they had the primary choose within the draft that they used to draft Zaccharie Risacher, a 6’9” ahead from France. Additionally they misplaced Saddiq Bey to the Wizards in free company.
The Celtics shall be with out Kristaps Porzingis, who continues to be rehabbing from off season ankle surgical procedure and isn’t anticipated again till December. Sam Hauser missed 3 video games with soreness in his decrease again however has performed within the final 3 video games and is possible for this recreation. Jaylen Brown will miss his second straight recreation with a hip damage. I’m going to guess that Joe Mazzulla will as soon as once more begin the double large of Al Horford and Luke Kornet in Brown’s absence.
The Hawks are having damage issues of their very own. Vit Krejci is out with a proper adductor damage. Bogdan Bogdanovic is out after a medical process to repair his proper hamstring tendinopathy. Kobe Bufkin is recovering from a shoulder subluxation and can be out. Seth Lundy (ankle), De’Andre Hunter (knee), and Cody Zeller (private) are all questionable for this recreation.
Possible Celtics Starters
Celtics Reserves
Payton Pritchard
Neemias Queta
Baylor Scheierman
Jaden Springer
Xavier Tillman, Sr
Jordan Walsh
Sam Hauser
2 Means Gamers
JD Davison
Drew Peterson
Anton Watson
Accidents/Out
Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) out
Jaylen Brown (hip) out
Sam Hauser (again) possible
Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla
Possible Hawks Starters
Hawks Reserves
Mouhamed Gueye
Garrison Mathews
Onyeka Okongwu
Larry Nance, Jr
David Roddy
2 Means Gamers
Dominick Barlow
Seth Lundy
Keaton Wallace
Accidents/Out
Bogdan Bogdanovic (hamstring) out
Kobe Bufkin (shoulder) out
Vit Kretjci (thigh) out
Seth Lundy (ankle) questionable
De’Andre Hunter (knee) questionable
Cody Zeller (private) questionable
Head Coach
Quin Snyder
Key Matchups
-
Jrue Vacation
Picture by Paul Rutherford/Getty Pictures
-
Trae Younger
Picture by Maddie Meyer/Getty Pictures
Jrue Vacation vs Trae Younger
Younger is averaging 27.7 factors, 5.2 rebounds, 11.7 assists and 1.3 steals per recreation. He isn’t significantly environment friendly and is taking pictures 39.8% from the sector and 30.5% from past the arc. The Celtics have to play him for the shot in addition to the cross as he has been superb at discovering open teammates. He’s additionally very fast within the passing lanes and so the Celtics must be cautious with their passes.
-
Derrick White
Picture by Brian Fluharty/Getty Pictures
-
Dyson Daniels
Picture by Megan Briggs/Getty Pictures
Derrick White vs Dyson Daniels
Daniels is averaging 12.8 factors, 4.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.8 steals and 1.0 block per recreation. He’s taking pictures 50% from the sector and 35.3% from past the arc. It is a matchup between 2 defensive guards, who also can block photographs. The Celtics will want White to step up his recreation with Brown out for this one.
Honorable Point out
Jayson Tatum vs Jalen Johnson
Johnson is averaging 16.3 factors, 10.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.8 steals. He’s taking pictures 41.2% from the sector however simply 25% from past the arc. Tatum shot simply 1-9 from 3 on Saturday towards the Hornets and hopefully he can discover his vary once more on this recreation as they’ll want him to attain with Brown injured.
Keys to the Sport
Protection – Protection is at all times a key to successful video games. Protection is particularly necessary for the Celtics on this recreation as a result of the Hawks are a very good scoring staff, averaging 117.2 factors per recreation, which is ninth within the league. The Celtics are 1st, averaging 123.7 factors per recreation. The Celtics have a defensive ranking of 110.7 which is twelfth whereas the Hawks have a defensive ranking of 118.6, which is twenty eighth. Of their solely loss, the Celtics perimeter protection was missing, permitting the Pacers to shoot 39.5% from three. The Celtics should make protection a precedence on this recreation they usually should play that powerful protection for 48 minutes and never let up.
Rebound – Subsequent to protection, rebounding is a key to successful. A lot of rebounding is effort and need. When the Celtics put out the additional effort on the boards, it normally carries by to the remainder of their recreation. The Hawks are averaging 42.2 rebounds per recreation (twenty third) whereas the Celtics are averaging 42.9 rebounds per recreation (twenty first). The Celtics haven’t been rebounding in addition to they did final season and they should aggressively go after each rebound. They’ll’t afford to provide the Hawks further possessions and 2nd likelihood factors by permitting them to beat them to rebounds.
Effort and Ball Motion – The Celtics misplaced to the Pacers as a result of they have been a step gradual and didn’t transfer the ball very effectively. Their effort within the first 3 quarters was very lackluster. They allowed the Pacers to out rebound them 57-51 they usually have been a step gradual on nearly each play. They weren’t transferring the ball, with simply 23 assists to 33 assists for the Pacers. The Celtics have to maneuver the ball and never play hero ball. Additionally they have to play with most effort for 48 minutes and never permit the Hawks to construct a lead or if the Celtics construct a lead, they should preserve it and never permit the Hawks to come back again.
Bench Play – Of their November 1 recreation towards the Kings, the Hawks’ bench outscored the Kings’ bench 56-26. The Hawks’ reserves shot 51.3% from the sector and 46.4% from past the arc. Even with damage woes, their reserves got here by for them. The Celtics want their reserves to come back by with large video games, particularly on protection.
X-Components
Street Sport and Fatigue – The Celtics are taking part in of their 4th straight recreation on the street and may have the distractions of journey and a lodge keep and taking part in in entrance of hostile followers in an unfamiliar enviornment. Nevertheless, that they had a time without work since their final recreation whereas the Hawks are taking part in within the second of again to again video games and needed to journey after Sunday’s recreation. Fatigue for Atlanta may come into play down the stretch on this recreation. Each groups are additionally taking part in brief handed. The final recreation on a street journey is normally the hardest and so the Celtics should keep centered.
Officiating – Officiating is at all times an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport a little bit in a different way with some calling it tight and others letting them play. Some refs simply make head scratching calls whereas others strive very exhausting to get them proper. Generally they’re tech loopy for each little factor. In some video games they name the two halves utterly in a different way. The Celtics have to regulate to how the sport is being referred to as and give attention to taking part in the sport and never on the officiating.
And ensure to take a look at CelticsBlog’s Playback stream for a stay dialog in regards to the recreation. To take part, simply create a free account, join your LP sub if in case you have it, and be a part of our neighborhood.
