The Celtics are going by way of perhaps their roughest patch up to now two seasons, though that isn’t essentially saying a lot given their success all through the years. In December, the crew went 7-6, and has misplaced 4 of their final 6 video games. In the present day, they face off towards the Toronto Raptors for the second time this season. Within the final matchup, the Raptors took the Celtics to extra time off of profession nights from RJ Barrett and Jakob Poeltl, however Boston in the end pulled off a 3-point victory. If Toronto can pull off an upset at present, they’d ship the Celtics into the New 12 months with a 2-game shedding streak, and a .500 December.
What do the Celtics do to guard the paint and decelerate Jakob Poeltl?
In Boston’s earlier matchup with Toronto, Jakob Poeltl scored his career-high of 35 factors. 32 of these factors got here within the paint, with the remaining 3 coming off of free throws. He did that on a near-perfect 16-19 taking pictures, a ridiculous 84.2%. He additionally had 12 rebounds to associate with that, 6 of them being offensive, and the opposite 6 defensive. Outdoors of perhaps solely RJ Barrett, he was simply the Raptors’ finest participant. He was nearly unstoppable that evening, and it must be totally different at present. The query is how?
Boston has been missing defensively currently, particularly within the paint. That turns into much more true when Kristaps Porzingis is absent, which would be the case for the third recreation in a row at present as he nurses an ankle sprain. Kristaps was additionally lacking from the earlier matchup with Toronto whereas he was rehabbing from his low season surgical procedure. Of the common rotation guys, Boston lets up their highest points-in-the-paint per recreation complete when Kristaps is off the court docket at 41.6.
What can Jrue Vacation present in his return to the lineup?
Jrue has missed Boston’s final three video games with a shoulder ailment, however at present, he lastly makes his return. In these video games the Celtics went 1-2, with losses coming towards Philly and Indiana. Boston additionally gave up 115.3 factors per recreation in that stretch, up from their season common of 110.1. Jrue is at all times seen as one of many high defensive gamers within the league, however getting back from harm, he could also be barely out of recreation form. It’s to be seen whether or not his day off was a matter of rust or relaxation.
That stays true for his 3-point taking pictures numbers as effectively. Jrue has been having a down 12 months from behind the arc, taking pictures a close to profession low 32.6% from three. For reference, final 12 months he completed with a profession finest at 42.9%. As talked about earlier than, in his current day off, Jrue was nursing a shoulder harm. Will his quick break assist him get again to kind, or may his shoulder presumably be the offender for his poor-shooting?
How does Scottie Barnes change the sport plan?
Within the earlier matchup between these two groups, RJ Barrett put up a tremendous 25 factors, 15 assists, and 10 rebounds, nonetheless, Scottie Barnes missed that recreation. In the present day, the roles are flipped, with Barnes being energetic and Barrett being listed as out with an sickness. They’ve very comparable stats on the season, with RJ being a greater scorer, and Scottie being a barely higher rebounder, passer, and defender. In the present day we may see Barnes taking on the function which RJ performed within the final recreation, however their video games are barely totally different. We may see the Celtics push him to be extra of a shooter, as his 3-point proportion is considerably decrease than RJ’s on the season, although he’s greater and higher at attacking the paint. He may additionally make searching matchups tougher on the opposite finish of the court docket.
