The Celtics host the Chicago Bulls for the second of 4 video games this season. They met in Chicago for the 4th and remaining group play sport for the Emirates NBA Cup on November 29. They may play one another as soon as once more in simply 2 days in Chicago on Saturday December 21 and their remaining assembly shall be in Boston on January 29. The Celtics swept the collection 3-0 final season, successful 2 in Chicago and one in Boston.
Each groups have had a protracted relaxation because of the in season event. The Celtics final performed on Sunday once they beat the Washington Wizards and the Bulls final performed on Monday once they beat the Toronto Raptors. The Bulls are 2-8 of their final 10 video games in opposition to the Celtics. The Celtics are 134-109 general all time in opposition to the Bulls and they’re 77-38 in video games performed in Boston.
The Celtics 2nd within the East, 1.5 video games behind first place Cleveland and they’re 5 video games forward of third place Orlando. They’re are 11-3 at house and they’re 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’re 19-3 in opposition to Jap Convention groups and have received their final 2 video games. The Bulls are ninth within the East, 11 video games out of first place and a couple of video games behind seventh place Atlanta. They’re 8-6 on the street (and 4-9 at house). They’re 5-5 of their final 10 video games. They’re 10-8 in opposition to Jap Convention groups and have received their final 2 video games.
The Celtics begin the put up event stretch with a house and residential collection in opposition to the Bulls. They play this sport in Boston after which once more on Saturday in Chicago. They then journey to Orlando for a sport earlier than one other 4 sport house stand the place they host Philadelphia, Indiana twice, and Toronto. Then it’s a 4 sport Western street journey by Minnesota, Houston, Oklahoma Metropolis and Denver earlier than dealing with Sacramento and New Orleans again at house.
The Bulls additionally begin with the house and residential set in opposition to the Celtics enjoying this sport in Boston and on Saturday in Chicago. They then face Milwaukee at house adopted by Atlanta on the street. Then it’s again house for an additional sport in opposition to Milwaukee earlier than enjoying at Charlotte and at Washington. Then it’s again house for video games in opposition to the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs.
After lacking Sunday’s sport, Al Horford must be again for the Celtics. Kristaps Porzingis left Sunday’s sport with a heel harm however practiced on Wednesday and is listed as questionable for this sport but when there aren’t any setbacks on Thursday, he’ll seemingly play. If he’s unable to go, I count on Al Horford to get the beginning. Sam Hauser is questionable with decrease again spasms. Xavier Tillman is questionable with a non-covid sickness. All 3 are thought of a sport time determination.
For the Bulls, Zach LaVine missed Monday’s sport with again soreness and was initially questionable for this sport however has been faraway from the checklist as of now. Josh Giddey left Monday’s sport with an ankle harm. Though the harm isn’t thought of to be severe, he’s listed as uncertain for this sport. EJ Liddell is questionable because of a sore left knee. Dalen Terry was a restricted participant in Wednesday’s follow and is listed as questionable for this sport with a bruised proper knee.
Possible Celtics Starters
Celtics Reserves
Luke Kornet
Al Horford
Payton Pritchard
Neemias Queta
Baylor Scheierman
Jaden Springer
Jordan Walsh
2 Method Gamers
JD Davison
Drew Peterson
Anton Watson
Accidents/Out
Sam Hauser (again) questionable
Kristaps Porzingis (heel) questionable
Xavier Tillman (sickness) questionable
Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla
Possible Bulls Starters
Chicago Bulls Reserves
Ayo Dosunmo
Lonzo Ball
Matas Buzelis
Jevon Carter
Torrey Craig
Chris Duarte
Talen Horton-Tucker
Julian Phillips
Jalen Smith
2-Method Gamers
EJ Liddell
Adama Sonogo
DJ Steward
Accidents/Out
EJ Liddell (knee) questionable
Dalen Terry (knee) questionable
Josh Giddey (ankle) uncertain
Head Coach
Billy Donovan
Key Matchups
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Jaylen Brown
Picture by Brian Fluharty/Getty Photos
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Zach LaVine
Picture by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Photos
Jaylen Brown vs Zach LaVine
LaVine is averaging 21.7 factors, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists. He’s taking pictures 50.1% from the sphere and 42.8% from past the arc. Within the first sport in opposition to the Celtics, he completed with 29 factors, 1 rebound and 1 help whereas taking pictures 50% from the sphere and 36.4% from past the arc. Slowing LaVine down will go a great distance in direction of slowing the Bulls down.
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Kristaps Porzingis
Picture by Brian Fluharty/Getty Photos
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Nikola Vucevic
Picture by Michael Reaves/Getty Photos
Kristaps Porzingis vs Nikola Vucevic
Vucevic is averaging 21.1 factors, 9.6 rebounds, and three.2 assists. He’s taking pictures 58.7% from the sphere and 47.5% from past the arc. Within the first sport in opposition to the Celtics, he completed with 32 factors, 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 block whereas taking pictures 68.8% from the sphere and 66.7% from past the arc. The Celtics have to preserve Vucevic off the boards and restrict his pictures each within the paint and on the perimeter, as he shoots the ball very properly.
Honorable Point out
Derrick White vs Coby White
Coby White is averaging 18.1 factors, 3.7 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.1 steals per sport. He’s taking pictures 41.9% from the sphere and 36.7% from past the arc. Within the first sport in opposition to the Celtics, he completed with 11 factors, 6 rebounds and 4 assists whereas taking pictures 27.3% from the sphere and 14.3% from past the arc. I doubt he’ll play as poorly on this sport and the Celtics have to defend him properly.
Keys to the Sport
Protection – Protection is all the time a key to successful. The Celtics are eighth within the league with a defensive ranking of 109.7. The Bulls are twenty fifth with a defensive ranking of 116.2. The Bulls are sixth, scoring 118.9 factors per sport whereas the Celtics are third, scoring 119.9 factors per sport. The Celtics have to win this sport with their protection and never attempt to win a shoot out. The Celtics have to get a robust defensive effort from each participant on the court docket and they should make protection a precedence for all 48 minutes with no slacking off. The Celtics have to particularly guard the three level line because the Bulls try the 2nd most threes per sport (43.7) and make the second most threes per sport (16.5).
Rebound – The Celtics should field out and crash the boards. They’ll’t rating with out the ball and it’ll take additional effort on their half to beat the Bulls on the boards. The Celtics are averaging 44.8 rebounds per sport, which is eleventh within the league. The Bulls are averaging 44.3 rebounds per sport, which is twelfth. The Celtics need to put out extra effort to get to the rebounds earlier than the Bulls and provides themselves additional possessions and restrict these possessions for the Bulls.
Three Level Taking pictures – The Celtics typically shoot 3s at a historic fee however there are occasions when their pictures simply aren’t falling. The Celtics are first within the league, taking 51.1 threes per sport. The Bulls are 2nd, taking 43.7 threes per sport. The Bulls are extra environment friendly, taking pictures 37.8% from past the arc (ninth) whereas the Celtics shoot 37.2% from past the arc (thirteenth). The Celtics have to deal with taking good pictures and they should transfer the ball in order to get open pictures. If the 3s aren’t falling, they should get to the basket.
Most Effort for 48 Minutes – The Celtics losses this season might be traced again to an absence of effort. Additionally, at instances evidently they both begin off slowly and find yourself in a gap that they should dig themselves out of or they leap out to a lead solely to let up within the second half and permit their opponent to get again into the sport and make it shut. The Celtics need to get again to enjoying arduous on each ends of the court docket for the complete 48 minutes with no let up.
X-Elements
Dwelling Sport and Rust – The Celtics are at house and could have the gang behind them to offer them additional motivation. The Bulls have all of the distractions of enjoying on the street together with journey, staying in lodges, enjoying in entrance of a hostile crowd and on an unfamiliar court docket. Each groups could also be a bit rusty firstly after enjoying simply 2 video games in 11 days. Hopefully the Celtics can shake off the rust first and play properly.
Officiating – The officiating is all the time an x-factor. Generally a crew will name the sport tight and blow a whistle on each play. Different instances they’ll allow them to play and let the sport get bodily. Generally they’ll favor one crew over the opposite and different instances they’ll name it even. Generally they’re simply dangerous. The Celtics want to regulate to the best way the sport known as and never let missed calls or dangerous calls have an effect on their focus. If the calls are dangerous, they simply have to play tougher to make up for them and never waste time arguing with the officers.
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