The Celtics host the Raptors for the second of 4 common season video games. The Celtics received the primary recreation 126-123 in time beyond regulation on November 16 in Boston. They’ll meet once more 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 71-42 general all time in opposition to the Raptors and they’re 43-14 in video games performed in Boston.
The Celtics received the sequence 4-0 final season. Toronto hasn’t received in Boston since October 22, 2021. 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.
The Celtics are 2nd within the East, 5 video games behind the primary place Cleveland Cavaliers, who’ve received their final 7 video games. They’re simply half a recreation forward of the third place Knicks, who’ve received 8 straight video games. The Celtics are 12-6 at residence, already shedding 2 extra video games at residence than they did all final season. They’re 5-5 of their final 10 video games. They’re 21-7 in opposition to Japanese Convention groups and are coming off a loss of their final recreation.
The Raptors are 14th within the East, 20.5 video games behind first place Cleveland. They’re 10 video games behind sixth place Milwaukee, 7 video games behind tenth place Detroit and half a recreation forward of fifteenth place Washington. They’re 1-14 on the street and 0-10 of their final 10 video games. They’re 4-14 in opposition to Japanese Convention opponents and so they have misplaced their final 10 video games.
The Christmas Day loss to the 76ers was the primary recreation of a 4 recreation residence stand. They received 1 recreation in opposition to the Pacers and misplaced a second recreation in opposition to the Pacers as the house stand continued. That is the 4th and ultimate recreation of the house stand. They’ll then head out on a 4 recreation Western street journey by means of Minnesota, Houston (and Ime Udoka), Oklahoma Metropolis and Denver that may begin on January 2. They’ll return residence to face 2 extra Western groups, Sacramento and New Orleans. They then head to Toronto to face these similar Raptors for the third time..
That is the primary of again to again video games for the Raptors as they are going to play at residence in opposition to the Brooklyn Nets on New Yr’s Day. They’ll then face Orlando and Milwaukee at residence earlier than heading out on the street to play at New York, Cleveland, and Detroit. Then it’s again residence to face Golden State after which Boston for his or her third assembly on January 15. Then it’s at Milwaukee and residential in opposition to Orlando and a couple of video games in a row at Atlanta.
Jrue Vacation Vacation has missed the final three video games for the Celtics with a proper shoulder impingement and is questionable for this recreation. There have been experiences that he was going to attempt to give it a go on Sunday however he didn’t play. As soon as once more, I’m guessing that Vacation can be again for this recreation but when he isn’t capable of play, Sam Hauser could as soon as once more begin and Derrick White will transfer to the purpose. Kristaps Porzingis additionally missed his second straight contest Sunday on account of a left ankle sprain and is questionable for this recreation. I’m guessing they maintain him out one other recreation. If he’s unable to play, Al Horford will doubtless begin in his place.
For the Raptors, RJ Barrett is out with an sickness. Bruce Brown will doubtless get the beginning in his place. Immanuel Quickley suffered a partial UCL tear in his left elbow in mid-November and also will be out on this recreation. Fernando hasn’t suited up since Dec. 12 on account of a toe harm and is questionable for this recreation. Davion Mitchell is questionable on account of an sickness. Gradey Dick is questionable on account of hamstring tightness. If he’s out, Ja’Kobe Walker could get the beginning.
Possible Celtics Starters
Celtics Reserves
Luke Kornet
Payton Pritchard
Neemias Queta
Baylor Scheierman
Jaden Springer
Jordan Walsh
Xavier Tillman
Sam Hauser
2 Manner Gamers
JD Davison
Drew Peterson
Anton Watson
Accidents/Out
Jrue Vacation (shoulder) questionable
Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) questionable
Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla
Possible Raptors Starters
Raptors Reserves
Chris Boucher
AJ Lawson
Jonathan Mogbo
Kelly Olynyk
Jamal Shead
Garrett Temple
Ja’Kobe Walker
2 Manner Gamers
Ulrich Chomche
Jamison Battle
Accidents/Out
Immanuel Quickley (elbow) out
RJ Barrett (sickness) out
Bruno Fernando (toe) questionable
Immanuel Quickley (elbow) questionable
Gradey Dick (hamstring) questionable
Head Coach
Darko Rajakovic
Key Matchups
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Jrue Vacation
Photograph by Michael Reaves/Getty Photos
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Scottie Barmes
Photograph by Jordan Jones/NBAE by way of Getty Photos
Jrue Vacation vs Scottie Barnes
Barnes is averaging 19.9 factors, 7.8 rebounds, 7.1 assists, and 1.4 steals per recreation. He’s taking pictures 45.5% from the sector and 28% from past the arc. He missed the primary recreation in opposition to the Celtics in November and so that is the primary time the Celtics will face him this season. Jrue is questionable at the moment and if he can’t go, will probably be Derrick White matched up in opposition to Barnes on the level.
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Al Horford
Photograph by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photos
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Jakob Poeltl
Photograph by Vaughn Ridley/NBAE by way of Getty Photos
Al Horford vs Jakob Poeltl
Poeltl is averaging 15.4 factors, 10.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1 steal and 1.3 blocks per recreation. He’s taking pictures 59% from the sector however 0% on threes. Within the first recreation in opposition to the Celtics, Poeltl completed with 35 factors, 12 rebounds, and 1 steal. He shot 84.2% from the sector with no threes. The Celtics have to defend Poeltl significantly better on this recreation and they should hold him out of the paint.
Honorable Point out
Derrick White vs Gradey Dick
Dick is averaging 17.6 factors, 3.5 rebounds and a couple of.1 assists per recreation. He’s taking pictures 41.6% from the sector and 34.8% from past the arc. Within the first recreation in opposition to the Celtics, he completed with 9 factors, 2 rebounds, and 5 assists. He shot simply 25% from the sector and 20% from past the arc. Relying on accidents, this can be Jaylen Brown vs Ja’Kobe Walker.
Keys to the Recreation
Protection – Protection will all the time 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 hassle into it. Thus far 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 the moment with a defensive score of 110.1. The Raptors are twenty sixth with a defensive score of 116.5. The Celtics have to put out most effort on protection whether or not they’re going through the highest crew or the underside crew. The Celtics allowed the Pacers to shoot 52.9% from the sector and 39.1% from past the arc. They should tighten up their protection in the event that they wish to win.
Rebound – Rebounding is second solely to protection as a key to successful. The Raptors are eighth with 45.0 rebounds per recreation whereas the Celtics are sixth with 45.4 rebounds per recreation. Final season, the Celtics had been 2nd knocking down 46.3 rebounds per recreation. Rebounding is essential to restrict second probability baskets and quick breaks. The Raptors are 4th with 16.1 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 – A number of of the Celtics losses this season have come by the hands of groups they need to have beat however didn’t as a result of they failed to offer the hassle wanted to get the win. The primary recreation in opposition to the Raptors this season went to time beyond regulation when it ought to have been a blow out. The Celtics have to return into this recreation prepared to offer most effort and to play the Raptors like they’re the highest crew within the league. They’ll’t underestimate them due to their document or their accidents. In the event that they do, they might find yourself with one other misplaced recreation that they need to have received.
Most Effort for 48 Minutes – The Celtics effort of their 3 latest losses was good at occasions and never so good at different occasions. The Celtics have to play more durable and provides extra effort than the Raptors. The Celtics have to offer most effort on the boards and on protection and in diving for free balls and forcing turnovers, and so they have to offer that effort for all the recreation and never simply 1 or 2 quarters.
X-Components
Dwelling Recreation – The Celtics are at residence and they need to get a lift from the followers whereas the Raptors are on the street and can be enjoying in entrance of a hostile crowd. The Raptors could have the distractions of journey and staying in inns and enjoying in an unfamiliar enviornment. The Celtics misplaced 4 residence video games all final season and so they have already misplaced 6 residence video games this season. They should buckle down and defend their residence courtroom.
Officiating – I do know that I say this each recreation, however the officiating can all the time be an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport in another way whether or not they name each little ticky tack foul or they let numerous contact go and let the groups play. Generally they only make unhealthy, head scratching calls. 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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