We noticed the Celtics stumble a bit over the course of December, ending the month with an 8-6 file. They completed off 2024 with a bang, although, destroying the Raptors with their largest win of the season, a whopping 54-point victory. Tonight, they play their first sport of the brand new yr, a battle towards the Minnesota Timberwolves who’re led by their younger star, Anthony Edwards. Minnesota presently holds the 8th seed within the West, going through a so-far disappointing season provided that they had been the threerd seed and made all of it the way in which to the Western Convention Finals final yr.
Following their success, they made an surprising transfer, buying and selling away their longest-tenured participant, Karl Anthony Cities, to the Knicks for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. Minnesota remains to be attempting to work out the kinks following the commerce, however they appeared like they could have been discovering some rhythm lately. They had been on a 3-game successful streak earlier than dropping a hard-fought sport to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder on the final day of 2024 off of an MVP-level efficiency from Shai Gilgeous Alexander. Tonight, they’ll be hungry to get again on monitor towards our Celtics.
How do the Celtics method stability their offensive assault?
Whereas his place in historical past is extremely debated, there isn’t any taking away Rudy Gobert’s 4 Defensive Participant of the Yr awards and his 7 All-Defensive staff alternatives which got here because of his elite shot-blocking. Throughout his 12-year profession, he averages over 2 blocks per sport, though this yr he’s averaging 1.4 BPG, his fewest since his rookie yr. That doesn’t imply he’s any much less of a menace within the paint. The Celtics might want to attempt to pull Gobert to the perimeter as a lot as doable in the event that they wish to open up driving lanes.
That’s normally simpler when you’ve got stretch-bigs like Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis. Sadly for the Celtics, Porzingis will miss his 4th consecutive sport as he’s been dominated out for tonight. Whereas Al nonetheless could warrant some consideration, he’ll must rediscover his rhythm from vary as effectively. Throughout the final two video games, Horford has made 1 measly three out his 16 makes an attempt. That received’t minimize it towards a staff like Minnesota, particularly with him being the one floor-spacing large accessible for Boston tonight.
So as to add insult to harm (or perhaps harm to insult?) Jaylen Brown has been dominated out for the sport attributable to a shoulder harm. Jaylen is arguably the Celtics’ finest in-and-out participant, perhaps second solely to Jayson Tatum. Brown is relentless when he assaults the rim, and is all the time a menace from deep too, each of which Boston will sorely miss tonight. Of their earlier matchup, the Celtics scored simply 30 of their 107 factors within the paint whereas Jaylen poured on 7 threes in 10 makes an attempt. With him and Kristaps absent, the Celtics could have a tricky time various their assault.
Who takes the project of guarding Anthony Edwards?
Not solely do the Celtics endure from dropping Jaylen on offense, in addition they lose out on their finest defender for Minnesota’s star participant. Within the earlier matchup, Brown guarded Edwards for over 7 minutes of sport time, essentially the most on the staff by far. Jaylen held Ant to only 3 factors, 4 assists, and a pair of turnovers on 1/4 capturing. The subsequent three commonest defenders had been Jrue Vacation, Jayson Tatum, and Derrick White, who mixed to protect Edwards for simply beneath 7 minutes. Collectively, they held Ant to 9 factors and 1 help on 3/13 capturing.
With fewer elite defenders, it turns into simpler to hunt matchups, although. Ant discovered essentially the most success when he was defended by both Al Horford or Xavier Tillman, scoring 15 factors on 6/10 capturing. In all probability, he’ll be seeking to assault Boston’s large males once more tonight. The Celtics must lock in defensively, and we’ll see in the event that they proceed to modify all the pieces with Jaylen out of the lineup.
Will Boston concede the paint defensively?
Minnesota has been having an incredible yr from behind the arc, capturing 37.2% from three as a staff, presently ranked 9th within the league. They do it on high-volume too, averaging 40 3PA per sport, ranked 6th within the league. That’s a 22.4% improve from the place they had been final yr. On the flip aspect, they common 45.9 2PA per sport this season, ranked 28th within the league. With virtually half of the Timberwolves’ shot makes an attempt coming from behind the arc, we may even see the Celtics hunker down on the perimeter and push the Wolves to the paint. With Kristaps absent tonight, that will change into extra attractive for Minnesota to assault as effectively, although the Celtics will want somebody to step as much as at the least problem the pictures when the Wolves do enter the paint.
