The Celtics host the Raptors for the primary of 4 common season video games. They’ll meet once more on December 31 in Boston and in Toronto on January 15 and February 25. They Performed twice in Boston within the preseason with the Celtics successful the primary recreation 115-111 and The Raptors successful the second recreation 119-118. The Celtics are 70-42 total all time in opposition to the Raptors and they’re 42-14 in video games performed in Boston.
The Raptors returned from a 5 recreation street journey to host the Detroit Pistons on Friday night time for an Emirates NBA Cup loss 99-95. That was their second Emirates NBA Cup recreation. They misplaced to the Bucks on Tuesday of their first. This recreation in opposition to the Celtics is the second of again to again video games That is their 4th again to again set already this season. They’re 1-2 to date within the second recreation. The Celtics gained the collection 4-0 final season.
The Celtics haven’t performed since Wednesday and gained’t play once more till Tuesday after they host the Cavaliers in an Emirates NBA Cup recreation. They then have 2 extra days off earlier than enjoying at Washington on Friday for his or her 2rd Emirates Cup recreation. They then host Minnesota and the Clippers earlier than enjoying at Chicago and Cleveland. They then have a 5 recreation house stand in opposition to Miami, Detroit, Milwaukee, Memphis and Chicago.
After this recreation at Boston, the Raptors will face the Indiana Pacers and Minnesota Timber Wolves at house. They’ll then head out for a 4 recreation street journey by means of Cleveland, Detroit, New Orleans and Miami. After that, they’ve a 7 recreation house stand the place they may host Miami, Indiana, Oklahoma Metropolis, Dallas, New York, Brooklyn and Houston.
The Raptors modified their roster this off season with free agent signings, trades and the draft. They signed Immanuel Quickley, Garrett Temple, Bruno Fernando, and Jamison Battle as free brokers. They traded Jalen McDaniels for Davion Mitchell. They drafted Ulrich Chomche (57), Jamal Sheed (45), Jonathan Mogbo (31) and Ja’Kobe Walter (19). They misplaced Jordan Nwora, Gary Trent, Jr, and Malik Williams to free company.
Al Horford missed Wednesday’s recreation in opposition to the Nets however needs to be again within the lineup for this recreation. Jaden Springer has missed the final 3 video games with a knee harm and is questionable for this recreation. Jrue Vacation has been added to the harm checklist as questionable with left knee tendinopathy. If Jrue can’t play, Payton Pritchard will probably get the beginning. Kristaps Porzingis is getting nearer to a return to the crew however stays out for this recreation.
The Raptors have a number of key gamers out. Scottie Barnes is out with an orbital harm. Bruce Brown is out with a knee harm. Immanual Quickley is out with an elbow harm. Ja’Kobe Walter has missed the final 4 video games with a shoulder harm and is questionable for this recreation. Kelly Olynyk has a again straing and has but to go well with up for the Raptors this season. He’s questionable for this recreation.
Possible Celtics Starters
Celtics Reserves
Payton Pritchard
Luke Kornet
Jaden Springer
Xavier Tillman, Sr
Jordan Walsh
Sam Hauser
Baylor Scheierman
Neemias Queta
2 Manner Gamers
JD Davison
Drew Peterson
Anton Watson
Accidents/Out
Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) out
Jaden Springer (knee) questionable
Jrue Vacation (knee) questionable
Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla
Possible Raptors Starters
Raptors Reserves
Chris Boucher
Bruno Fernando
Jonathan Mogbo
Jamal Shead
Garrett Temple
2 Manner Gamers
DJ Carton
Ulrich Chomche
Jamison Battle
Accidents/Out
Immanuel Quickley (elbow) out
Scottie Barnes (orbital) out
Ja’Kobe Walter (shoulder) questionable
Bruce Brown (knee) out
Kelly Olynyk (again) questionable
Head Coach
Darko Rajakovic
Key Matchups
-
Jayson Tatum
Picture by Sarah Stier/Getty Photos
-
RJ Barrett
Picture by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE through Getty Photos
Jayson Tatum vs RJ Barrett
Barrett is averaging 21.3 factors, 5.8 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.1 steals per recreation. He’s taking pictures 41.5% from the sphere and 31.6% from past the arc. Tatum is coming off a giant recreation in opposition to the Nets and hopefully will preserve that very same mindset on this recreation. Barrett missed the 2 preseason video games in opposition to the Celtics.
-
Derrick White
Picture by Stacy Revere/Getty Photos
-
Gradey Dick
Picture by Stacy Revere/Getty Photos
Derrick White vs Gradey Dick
Dick is averaging 20.1 factors, 2.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 steal per recreation. He’s taking pictures 44.8% from the sphere and 37.3% from past the arc. Within the first preseason recreation in opposition to the Celtics, he scored 18 factors on 33.3% taking pictures from the sphere and 50% taking pictures from past the arc. Within the second preseason recreation, he scored 27 factors, whereas taking pictures 57.1% from the sphere and 37.5% on threes.
Honorable Point out
Al Horford vs Jakob Poeltl
Poeltl is averaging 13.9 factors, 11.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.3 blocks per recreation. He’s taking pictures 55.8% from the sphere and hasn’t hit a 3 this season. Within the first preseason recreation, he completed with 14 factors and 13 rebounds whereas taking pictures 60% from the sphere. Within the second preseason recreation, he completed with 15 factors, and 16 rebounds whereas taking pictures 75% from the sphere. He isn’t a risk from the perimeter, however the Celtics want to stick with him within the paint and particularly field him out on the boards.
Keys to the Sport
Protection – Protection will at all times be the important thing to successful. If the Celtics hope to win the championship once more this season, it must be with protection first. The Celtics are able to locking down groups with suffocating protection, however they should put the trouble into it. To date this season, they’ve put that sort of effort out at occasions and at different occasions have slacked off. They had been 1st within the common season and 1st within the playoffs on protection final season. The Celtics are eighth at present with a defensive ranking of 110.0. The Raptors are twenty eighth with a defensive ranking of 118.4. The Celtics must put out most effort on protection whether or not they’re going through the highest crew or the underside crew.
Rebound – The Raptors are eleventh with 44.7 rebounds per recreation whereas the Celtics are nineteenth with 42.8 rebounds per recreation. Final season, the Celtics had been 2nd flattening 46.3 rebounds per recreation. Rebounding is essential to restrict second probability baskets and quick breaks. The Raptors are 2nd 18.5 second probability factors per recreation. A lot of rebounding is effort and hustle. The Celtics should put out extra effort to beat the Raptors to rebounds.
Don’t Underestimate – The final time the Celtics confronted a struggling crew with a number of key gamers out, they misplaced to the Hawks attributable to an absence of effort on their half. The Celtics have to come back into this recreation prepared to present most effort and to play the Raptors like they’re the highest crew within the league. They’ll’t underestimate them due to their report or their accidents. In the event that they do, they might find yourself with one other misplaced recreation that they need to have gained.
Play Arduous for 48 Minutes – The Celtics have been getting off to a sluggish begin in latest video games, discovering themselves in a gap that they should dig out of. They’ve been enjoying laborious for intervals through the recreation and that has resulted in an early deficit or dropping a lead. They’ve to come back out robust and take management of the sport from the beginning after which play laborious proper up till the ultimate buzzer. Don’t give the Raptors any hope.
X-Components
House and Fatigue – The Celtics are at house and they need to get a lift from the followers whereas the Raptors are on the street and will likely be enjoying in entrance of a hostile crowd. The Celtics have been off since Wednesday and so needs to be rested whereas the Raptors are enjoying on the second night time of again to again video games and needed to journey after Friday’s recreation to get to Boston.
Officiating – I do know that I say this each recreation, however the officiating can at all times be an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport otherwise 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 Celtics have gotten to regulate to the best way the sport is being referred to as and never let the calls have an effect on their focus or their play.
And ensure to take a look at CelticsBlog’s Playback stream for a dwell dialog concerning the recreation. To take part, simply create a free account, join your LP sub when you have it, and be part of our neighborhood.
