The Celtics host the Detroit Pistons for the 2nd of 4 video games between them this season. The Celtics received the primary recreation 124-118 in Detroit on October 26. They may meet for a 3rd time on December 12 in Boston and a ultimate time in Detroit on February 26. The Celtics received the sequence 3-0 final season. They’re 254-140 total all time in opposition to the Pistons and they’re 124-46 all time in video games performed in Boston.
The Celtics are 2nd within the East, 1.5 video games behind Cleveland after their current loss to the Cavs. They’re 8-2 at house and 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’re 15-3 in opposition to Jap Convention opponents and they’re searching for their 2nd straight win. The Pistons are eleventh within the East after their loss on Tuesday to the Bucks. They’re 5-7 on the street and 4-6 of their final 10 video games. They’re 8-11 in opposition to Jap Convention groups. They’ve misplaced their final 2 video games.
The Pistons are enjoying on the second evening of again to again video games. They’re 1-4 within the 2nd of again to again video games. They may play at New York after this recreation after which return house for one recreation in opposition to Utah earlier than occurring a 4 recreation Western street journey that may take them by way of Phoenix, The Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento and Denver. They may then return house for a 4 recreation house stand.
The Celtics are enjoying within the third recreation in 4 nights after again to again video games on Sunday and Monday. That is the second recreation of a 5 recreation house stand with video games in opposition to, Milwaukee, Memphis and Chicago at house developing following this one. They then go to Chicago in a house and residential set after which journey to Orlando earlier than one other 4 recreation house stand the place they host Philadelphia, Indiana twice, and Toronto.
The Celtics had been with out Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis (relaxation) on Monday attributable to it being the 2nd of again to again video games. They had been additionally with out Jrue Vacation (knee). Though Jayson Tatum (proper patella tendinopathy) and Jaylen Brown (sickness) had been on the harm record going into the sport, each performed. Jrue Vacation (knee) and Jayson Tatum (knee) are each on the harm record going into this recreation. I’ve included each within the beginning lineup however they might or might not play and it’s arduous to guess who would begin in the event that they don’t play.
for the Pistons, solely Bobi Klintman is on the harm record with a calf harm. He has but to go well with up and play for them this season. Cade Cunningham missed 4 video games attributable to a Left Sacroiliac Joint; Sprain. He missed video games on 11/23, 11/25, and 11/27. He performed on 11/29 however missed the sport on 11/30. He performed in opposition to the Bucks on Tuesday evening within the first recreation of their again to again set. Presently, he’s not on the harm record however he might or might not sit out this one for harm administration.
Possible Celtics Starters
PG: Jrue Vacation
SG: Derrick White
SF: Jaylen Brown
PF: Jayson Tatum
C: Kristaps Porzingis
Celtics Reserves
Luke Kornet
Payton Pritchard
Neemias Queta
Baylor Scheierman
Jaden Springer
Xavier Tillman, Sr
Jordan Walsh
Sam Hauser
2 Approach Gamers
JD Davison
Drew Peterson
Anton Watson
Accidents/Out
Jrue Vacation (knee) questionable
Jayson Tatum (knee) questionable
Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla
Possible Pistons Starters
PG: Cade Cunningham
SG: Jaden Ivey
SF: Tim Hardaway, Jr
PF: Tobias Harris
C: Jalen Duren
Pistons Reserves
Malik Beasley
Simone Fontecchio
Ron Holland II
Wendell Moore, Jr
Paul Reed
Marcus Sasser
Isaiah Stewart
Ausar Thompson
2-Approach Gamers
Daniss Jenkins
Cole Swider
Alondes Williams
Accidents/Out
Bobi Klintman (calf) out
Head Coach
JB Bickerstaff
Key Matchups
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Jrue Vacation
Photograph by Jason Miller/Getty Pictures
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Cade Cunningham
Photograph by Stephen Gosling/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures
Jrue Vacation vs Cade Cunningham
Cunningham is averaging 23.5 factors, 7.2 rebounds, 9.0 assists and 1 steal whereas taking pictures 44.3% from the sphere and 37.5% from past the arc. Within the first recreation in opposition to the Celtics, he completed with 21 factors, 6 rebounds, 10 assists and 4 blocks. He shot 40.9% from the sphere however simply 25% from past the arc. Cunningham has been out and in of the lineup with an harm and Vacation is questionable so we might or might not see one or each of those gamers.
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Derrick White
Photograph by Maddie Meyer/Getty Pictures
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Jaden Ivey
Photograph by Dustin Satloff/Getty Pictures
Derrick White vs Jaden Ivey
Ivey is one other of Detroit’s younger stars. He’s averaging 18.4 factors, 4.3 rebounds 4.3 assists and 1 steal per recreation. He’s taking pictures 45.2% from the sphere and 38.3 from past the arc. Within the first recreation in opposition to the Celtics, he completed with 26 factors, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal whereas taking pictures 55.6% from the sphere and 40.3% from past the arc. The Celtics must defend him properly on this recreation.
Honorable Point out
Payton Pritchard vs Malik Beasley
Beasley is averaging 15.9 factors, 3.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists per recreation. He’s taking pictures 43.7% from the sphere and 39.9% from past the arc. He’s 4th within the league with 79 three pointers made and made 65 three pointers in November alone. within the first recreation in opposition to the Celtics he completed with 17 factors and three rebounds whereas taking pictures 50% from the sphere and 62.5% from past the arc.
Keys to the Recreation
Protection – Protection will all the time be key to profitable each recreation. The Celtics are eighth within the league with a 110.2 defensive ranking whereas the Pistons are twelfth with a defensive ranking of 118.5. The Pistons are twenty second within the league, averaging 112.1 factors per recreation. The Celtics have to return into this recreation with the mindset that they should play robust protection and never underestimate the Pistons, who’ve lots of younger and hungry gamers.
Rebound – Rebounding is essential to offer the Celtics further possessions and to restrict possessions for his or her opponents. The Celtics are averaging 43.9 rebounds per recreation (14th) whereas the Pistons are averaging 46.2 rebounds (fifth). Of their first assembly, the Pistons out-rebounded the Celtics 44-37 and the Celtics must do higher on this recreation. Rebounding takes effort and the Celtics want to offer further effort to beat the Pistons to rebounds. Once they present further effort on the boards, it typically reveals up in different areas of the sport as properly.
Be Aggressive – The Celtics can’t come into the sport anticipating a simple recreation and to have the ability to take it simple on each ends of the court docket as a result of the Pistons are anticipated to be a tanking group as a result of the younger Pistons play arduous. They’ve to return in and be aggressive on protection, on taking the ball to the basket, on diving for unfastened balls, on rebounding and on enjoying as a group. If they permit the Pistons to play more durable than them they might simply be stunned with a loss.
3 Level Taking pictures – The Celtics are first within the league with 50.9 threes tried per recreation and first with 19 makes per recreation. When the Celtics shoot 3’s within the circulation of the sport they’re often excellent. However once they attempt to power it, they typically go chilly. They should not attempt to power 3’s and proceed to maneuver the ball and take the most effective shot. Additionally, if the three’s aren’t falling on this recreation they should abandon that technique and take the ball inside.
X-Components
Dwelling Recreation and Fatigue – The Celtics are at house they usually want come out prepared to guard house court docket. Younger groups typically wrestle on the street and hopefully the Backyard might be loud and can have the ability to distract the younger Pistons group who additionally must face the distractions of journey. The Celtics will probably be quick handed and so each participant has to step up their recreation. Too typically now we have seen the Celtics loosen up and let up and lose to groups they need to completely beat. The Pistons are enjoying on the second evening of again to again video games whereas the Celtics are enjoying within the third recreation in 4 nights so fatigue might come into play.
Officiating – Officiating is all the time an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport in another way. Some name it tight and name each little bit of contact whereas others permit extra bodily play. Some favor the house group whereas others name each side evenly. The Celtics have to regulate to the best way the refs are calling the sport and never permit the no calls and unhealthy calls to have an effect on their concentrate on enjoying the sport.
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