After their roughest stretch in two-years, the Boston Celtics have bounced again with some power. They’re presently on a 3-game win streak whereas having simply confronted two top-10 defenses on back-to-back nights, beating the Minnesota Timberwolves and Houston Rockets. Right this moment, they’ve their work lower out for them once more.
They’ll be dealing with off towards a red-hot Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder group that’s on a franchise-record 14-game win-streak. What makes the Thunder’s streak much more spectacular is that they’ve been doing it with out their second-best participant, Chet Holmgren, who has been sidelined with a hip fracture since early November. They’ve additionally been lacking one other key rotation man, Alex Caruso, who will likely be lacking his seventh straight recreation at this time. For the Celtics, Jaylen Brown returns to the lineup after lacking the final two video games, that means Boston is at full energy.
OKC is the #1 group within the West in the intervening time, presently 7 video games forward of the remainder of their convention. Additionally they lead the Celtics by 3.5 video games in the intervening time, and are extensively thought-about to be the largest risk to Boston’s purpose of repeating this 12 months. Their star participant, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, has been placing up some sensational performances recently, and lots of see him because the chief of the MVP race. Right this moment’s recreation might have plenty of huge implications for a number of completely different causes.
Which can prevail, offense or protection?
There’s little doubt that at this time’s matchup is a heavyweight one. Oklahoma Metropolis has the league main internet ranking at 12.1, whereas Boston isn’t far behind in third with a internet ranking of 11.0. The 2 groups are pretty evenly matched, each excelling on each ends of the ground. The one group inside 3 of both of them is the Cleveland Cavaliers, who’re proper within the center with a ranking of 11.6.
In at this time’s bout, every group’s largest energy is barely inversed, although. The Thunder are available in to at this time’s recreation with the very best defensive ranking within the league (103.6). The Celtics presently maintain the twond greatest offensive ranking within the league (121.3). On the reverse finish, OKC is ranked 7th offensively (115.7) whereas Boston is ranked 7th defensively (110.3).
That leaves the query, will the Celtics have the ability to overpower the Thunder with their elite offense, or will OKC’s protection give them sufficient of an edge to beat out Boston?
Who controls the tempo?
The Thunder are a group that may transfer at break-neck speeds at occasions. They’ve spent giant parts of the season with one or much less true facilities energetic, which has pushed them to play plenty of small-ball. Just like the Celtics, their offense comprises plenty of drive-and-kicks that result in open threes. Shai can also be one of many league’s premier gamers on the subject of attacking the paint, main all guards in factors within the paint and 5th amongst all gamers league-wide. They’ve plenty of methods to place the ball via the ring, and may drop an avalanche on groups after they get in a rhythm.
OKC is among the many league leaders in tempo and fastbreak factors, presently 10th and 9th within the league respectively. They’re additionally in sole possession of the highest spot when it comes to each forcing and changing off of turnovers, forcing 18.9 turnovers per recreation whereas producing 23.4 factors off of them. If Boston performs loosely with the ball, OKC may have their means with this recreation. Not solely that, however the Celtics want to provide additional consideration on the glass, securing boards and getting again in transition shortly after they can’t.
Can Boston maintain Shai off of the free throw line?
SGA is amongst league leaders on the subject of drawing fouls, free throw makes an attempt, and free throw share. He’s 11th in fouls drawn (5.6), 6th in FTA (7.9), and 20th amongst qualifying gamers in FT% (88.5%). Given his tendency to drive to the bucket, Boston goes to have to seek out methods to maintain him out of the paint and play him bodily with out fouling.
He’ll probably see quite a lot of completely different matchups between Derrick White, Jrue Vacation, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown. The final time Boston noticed SGA he had his means with our backcourt, scoring 25 factors on 10/15 capturing towards Derrick, Jrue, and Jaylen. He struggled a bit extra when coated by Jayson, although, who held him to three factors on 1-4 capturing. Shai is taller than your common guard, standing at 6’6”, so Jayson’s measurement and size was essential in slowing him down, and sure will likely be once more at this time.
