The Celtics host the Toronto Raptors for the second of again to again preseason house video games. The Celtics beat the Raptors 4-0 final season. Toronto comes into the sport having gained their first sport 125-98 over the Wizards in Montreal and so they misplaced their second sport 113-95 towards those self same Wizards in Washington.
The Celtics will full their preseason slate on Tuesday towards these identical Raptors in Toronto. These two groups will play 4 instances this season on November 16, December 31, January 15, and February 25. The Celtics are 70-42 all time general towards the Raptors and they’re 42-14 in video games performed in Boston.
As with each preseason sport, it’s onerous to inform which gamers will begin since coaches wish to relaxation vets and common rotation gamers to present rookies, finish of bench gamers and camp contract gamers an opportunity to point out what they’ll do. That is very true of the Celtics, who’re enjoying on the second night time of again to again video games.
Kristaps Porzingis is stays out for the Celtics as he rehabs from off season ankle surgical procedure. For the Raptors, 4 gamers are on the damage record. Immanuel Quickley is questionable with a sprained thumb. RJ Barrett is out with a shoulder sprain. Ja’Kobe Walter can be out with a shoulder sprain. Bruce Brown is out after present process arthroscopic surgical procedure on his proper knee.
Possible Celtics Starters
Celtics Reserves
Sam Hauser
Al Horford
Payton Pritchard
Neemias Queta
Baylor Scheierman
Jaden Springer
Xavier Tillman, Sr
Jordan Walsh
2 Method Gamers
JD Davison
Drew Peterson
Anton Watson
Coaching Camp Contracts
Ron Harper, Jr
Jay Scrubb
Dmytro Skapintsev
Lonnie Walker IV
Accidents/Out
Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) out
Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla
Possible Raptors Starters
Raptors Reserves
Jonathan Mogbo
Jared Rhoden
Garrett Temple
Jamal Shead
Bruno Fernando
Chris Boucher
Jahmi’us Ramsey
Kelly Olynyk
Jamison Battle
2 Method Gamers
DJ Carton
Ulrich Chomche
Branden Carlson
Accidents/Out
Immanuel Quickley (thumb) questionable
RJ Barrett (shoulder) out
Ja’Kobe Walter (shoulder) out
Bruce Brown (knee) out
Head Coach
Darko Rajakovic
Key Matchups
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Jayson Tatum
Picture by Brian Babineau/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs
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Scottie Barmes
Picture by Jordan Jones/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs
Jayson Tatum vs Scottie Barnes
Assuming that Jayson Tatum performs in again to again video games, this needs to be a great matchup. Barnes had 16 factors, 8 rebounds, 1 help and a couple of steals on Friday vs the Wizards. He shot 46.7% from the sector however went 0-5 from three.
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Luke Kornet
Picture by Brian Babineau/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs
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Jakob Poeltl
Picture by Vaughn Ridley/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs
Luke Kornet vs Jakob Poeltl
Kornet could begin right here, or it’s doable that one of many different facilities begin since they’re enjoying again to again. Poeltl has began each of the video games for the Raptors to date, nevertheless it’s doable that they could select to begin one other middle on this sport. Poeltl completed Friday’s sport with 10 factors, 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal whereas capturing 33% from the sector and 40% from past the arc.
Honorable Point out
Sam Hauser vs Chris Boucher
Boucher got here off the bench for the Raptors on Friday to attain 22 factors and seize 7 rebounds. He shot 70% from the sector and 75% from past the arc in 18 minutes of play. Sam Hauser has performed properly for the Celtics to date within the preseason and this may very well be a matchup between sixth males.
Keys to the Recreation
Protection – Protection will all the time be the important thing to profitable. If the Celtics hope to win the championship once more this season, it should be with protection first. Within the preseason, the Raptors are fifth with 55 factors within the paint and twenty fifth with 35 three pointers tried per sport. The Celtics should attempt to hold the Raptors out of the paint and power them to play out of their consolation zone.
Rebound – The Raptors are sixth with 48 rebounds per sport whereas the Celtics are twenty seventh with 41 rebounds per sport. Final season, the Celtics had been 2nd flattening 46.3 rebounds per sport. Rebounding is essential to restrict second likelihood baskets and quick breaks. The Raptors are 1st within the preseason with 22 2nd likelihood factors per sport. A lot of rebounding is effort and hustle. The Celtics should put out extra effort to beat the Raptors to rebounds.
Depth – With the Celtics enjoying in again to again video games and the Raptors enjoying with out 3 key gamers, and probably additionally resting starters, depth will show to be key to the win. Coaches will probably be enjoying their 2 method gamers, camp gamers and position gamers to get an thought of what they’ve in them and the way they match into the offensive and defensive schemes.
3 Level Capturing – The Celtics relied on capturing threes final season. They had been first within the league, taking 43.5 three pointers per sport. They had been additionally 1st within the league, making 16.5 threes a sport. Over their 2 video games towards the Nuggets, the Celtics tried a whopping 54 threes per sport and made 35% of them. When the Celtics are making their 3’s they’re onerous to beat, however once they wrestle to make 3’s, the sport will get actually ugly.
X-Elements
Again to Again at Residence – The Celtics are enjoying of their 2nd sport in as many nights and so fatigue could also be an element. Additionally I doubt the Celtics starters will play a lot, if in any respect on the second night time of again to again video games within the preseason. However the Celtics are at house and whoever performs ought to get a lift from the followers whereas the Raptors are on the street for the second straight sport and will probably be enjoying in entrance of a hostile crowd.
It’s the Preseason – Participant improvement, constructing chemistry, and participant analysis are a very powerful factor for coaches within the preseason. We’ll in all probability see extra of the rookies on this sport 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 sport, however the officiating can all the time be an x-factor even within the preseason. Each crew calls the sport in another 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 onerous to know the way they may 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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