The Celtics and Nuggets meet for the second time in 3 days as they proceed their preseason slate of video games. The Celtics gained the primary recreation between these two groups 107-103 on Friday in Abu Dhabi. After this recreation, each groups will return residence to finish their preseason. On Friday, the starters performed simply the primary half after which sat within the second half and let the reserves end the sport. I count on that sample to proceed on this recreation as properly.
The Celtics misplaced the collection to the Nuggets 0-2 final season, shedding 109-115 in Denver and 100-102 in Boston. The Celtics return final yr’s crew largely intact, shedding simply Svi Mykhailiuk and Oshae Brissett. They’ve added Baylor Scheierman and Anton Watson by way of the draft and Lonnie Walker IV as a free agent on a coaching camp contract. On Friday, Scheierman performed simply over 7 minutes whereas Walker and Watson noticed simply over 4 minutes of motion. I count on that we might even see extra of these 3 on this recreation.
The Nuggets misplaced their beginning two guard, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the Orlando Magic in free company. In addition they misplaced Reggie Jackson and Justin Vacation. They’ve added a few very key gamers in Russell Westbrook and Dario Saric together with DaRon Holmes II. Westbrook performed 18 minutes whereas Saric performed 14 minutes, with each enjoying pretty properly for the Nuggets.
The most important query for the Nuggets is who will inherit the beginning taking pictures guard spot with Caldwell-Pope gone. Most consider that Christian Braun will fill that spot however Malone could go together with Julian Strawther, and even Russell Westbrook. Braun began on Friday and performed 13 stable minutes. Strawther got here off the bench to play very properly for 22 minutes.
The most important query for the Celtics would be the middle rotation with Kristaps Porzingis out till December. I anticipated Al Horford to get the beginning on Friday however Luke Kornet received the beginning and Horford acquired a DNP-CD. Kornet performed 21 very stable minutes. Xavier Tillman and Neemias Queta performed virtually 15 and 13 minutes respectively. Horford could begin on this recreation or he could come off the bench or he could obtain one other DNP-CD. I’m going to incorporate him within the starters as a result of that’s as possible as anybody else.
Kristaps Porzingis is the one participant on the harm checklist for the Celtics. He’s out after having ankle surgical procedure after the playoffs and is predicted to be out till no less than December. For the Nuggets, Peyton Watson stays out with a hamstring harm. The harm just isn’t critical however he’s anticipated to overlook no less than the primary two preseason matchups. DaRon Holmes is out after tearing his Achilles tendon in Summer time League.
Possible Celtics Starters
Celtics Reserves
Sam Hauser
Luke Kornet
Payton Pritchard
Neemias Queta
Baylor Scheierman
Jaden Springer
Xavier Tillman, Sr
Jordan Walsh
2 Means Gamers
JD Davison
Drew Peterson
Anton Watson
Coaching Camp Contracts
Tristan Enaruna
Ron Harper, Jr
Dmytro Skapintsev
Lonnie Walker IV
Accidents/Out
Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) out
Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla
Possible Nuggets Starters
Nuggets Reserves
Vlatko Cancar
DeAndre Jordan
Zeke Nnaji
Dario Saric
Julian Strawther
Hunter Tyson
Russell Westbrook
2 Means Gamers
Trey Alexander
PJ Corridor
Spencer Jones
Coaching Camp Contracts
Gabe McGlothan
Jaylin Williams
Jahmir Younger
Out/Accidents
DaRon Holmes II (Achilles) out
Peyton Watson (hamstring) out
Head Coach
Michael Malone
Key Matchups
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Payton Pritchard
Picture by Adam Glanzman/Getty Photos
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Russell Westbrook
Picture by Francois Nel/Getty Photos
Payton Pritchard vs Russell Westbrook
These two gamers got here off the bench to steer their respective groups. Payton Pritchard completed with 21 factors, 4 rebounds and 6 assists whereas taking pictures 46.2% from the sphere and 50% from past the arc. Westbrook completed with 12 factors, 4 rebounds and eight assists whereas taking pictures 30% from the sphere and 50% from past the arc.
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Al Horford
Picture by Adam Glanzman/Getty Photos
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Nikola Jokic
Picture by Matthew Stockman/Getty Photos
Al Horford vs Nikola Jokic
Horford didn’t play in Friday’s recreation and we could or could not see him on this recreation. Kornet held his personal towards Jokic on Friday ending with 6 factors, 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal whereas taking pictures 60% from the sphere. Jokic completed with 14 factors, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and a couple of steals whereas taking pictures 71%. If Horford doesn’t begin, Kornet will possible begin as soon as once more.
Honorable Point out
Drew Peterson vs Julian Strawther
I’m guessing that the starters will play restricted minutes as soon as once more and so the reserves shall be key to profitable this recreation. Peterson performed properly in his 12 minutes and was the star of the 4th quarter. He completed with 10 factors, 3 rebounds, and 1 steal whereas taking pictures 44% from the sphere and 40% from past the arc. Strawther completed with 11 factors, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 block in 22 minutes whereas taking pictures 50% from the sphere and 33% from past the arc.
Keys to the Sport
Protection – Whether or not it’s preseason, common season or put up season, protection will all the time be the important thing to profitable video games. Final season, the Celtics had been first within the league with a defensive score of 108.2 and the Nuggets had been fifth with a defensive score of 110.9. The Celtics have to make protection a precedence as soon as once more this season in the event that they wish to repeat as champions.
Rebounding – Rebounding is one other key to profitable each recreation. Final season, the Celtics had been 1st within the league, averaging 46.3 rebounds per recreation. The Nuggets had been 2nd within the league with 44.4 rebounds per recreation. On Friday, the Celtics pulled down 44 rebounds to 49 for the Nuggets. Rebounding takes effort and the Celtics need to work more durable to seize rebounds to restrict the Nuggets second probability factors and quick breaks. The Celtics can’t permit the Nuggets to outwork them on the boards.
3 Level Capturing – The Celtics relied on taking pictures threes final season. They had been first within the league, taking 43.5 three pointers per recreation. They had been additionally 1st within the league, making 16.5 threes a recreation. On Friday, they took taking pictures 3’s to a different degree, taking a file 61 three pointers. Michael Malone has mentioned that he needs his crew to shoot extra threes this season. Final season they had been tenth in 3 level share with 37.4% however they had been thirtieth in 3 level makes an attempt with simply 31.2 per recreation. On Friday, they took 32 threes. The Celtics made simply 32.8% whereas the Nuggets made 37.5% of their 3’s.
Depth – With the starters enjoying restricted minutes, the depth of those groups shall be examined. In Friday’s recreation, the Celtics starters had been outplayed by the Nuggets starters. On the half, when the starters had been completed, the Nuggets led 63-56. The Celtics’ reserves had been capable of outplay the Nuggets’ reserves 51 to 40 within the second half to drag out the win for the Celtics.
X-Components
It’s the Preseason – Although these are particular video games in Abu Dhabi, it’s nonetheless the preseason. Participant improvement, constructing chemistry, and participant analysis are nonetheless a very powerful factor for coaches within the preseason. We’ll most likely see extra of the rookies on this recreation in addition to the gamers on camp contracts as coaches consider the gamers on the bubble for taking part in time and attempt to protect their starters for the common season.
Officiating – I do know that I say this each recreation, however the officiating can all the time be an x-factor even within the preseason and even in Abu Dhabi. Each crew calls the sport in a different way whether or not they name each little ticky tack foul or they let quite a lot of contact go and let the groups play. The refs are of their preseason additionally, so it’s laborious to understand how they are going to name this one. The Celtics have gotten to regulate to the way in which the sport is being referred to as and never let the calls have an effect on their focus or their play.
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