The Celtics return dwelling from their highway journey as they tackle the Phoenix Suns. That is the 2nd and last recreation between these two groups. The Celtics received the primary recreation 117-107 on their latest highway journey. The Suns and Celtics break up the sequence 1-1 final season with every crew profitable on their dwelling courtroom. The Celtics are 76-60 general all time and 42-24 in video games performed in Boston.
The Celtics are 1st within the East, 9.5 video games forward of 2nd place Milwaukee, 10 video games forward of third place Cleveland, 13 video games forward of 4th place New York, 14 video games forward of fifth place Orlando, and 14.5 video games forward of sixth place Indiana. They’re 29-3 at dwelling and 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’re 17-7 in opposition to Western Convention groups and have received their final 3 video games.
The Suns are sixth within the West, 7 video games behind 1st place Oklahoma Metropolis, 3.5 video games behind the 4th place Clippers and 1.5 video games behind fifth place New Orleans. They’re half a recreation forward of seventh place Sacramento and 1 recreation forward of eighth place Dallas. They’re 17-13 on the highway and 5-5 of their final 10 video games. They’re 16-8 in opposition to Japanese Convention groups. They’re coming off a win of their final recreation.
The Celtics are coming off a 3-2 highway journey, dropping to Cleveland and Denver and ending the journey with 3 wins over Phoenix, Portland and Utah. They are going to return dwelling to face the Suns earlier than a recreation in Washington. They then have dwelling video games in opposition to Detroit and Milwaukee earlier than a 6 recreation highway journey by way of Detroit, Chicago, 2 video games in Atlanta, New Orleans and Charlotte.
The Suns are are coming off a 1-1 dwelling stand, beating Toronto and dropping to the Celtics. They’re taking part in within the 2nd recreation of a 4 recreation highway journey. They began off with a win over Cleveland. After this recreation, they are going to go to Charlotte and Milwaukee. They are going to return dwelling in opposition to Philadelphia and Atlanta earlier than occurring a 5 recreation highway journey beginning with 2 video games in San Antonio after which Denver, Oklahoma Metropolis and New Orleans.
Jaylen Brown is questionable for this recreation. He missed the sport in Utah with a sacroiliac damage and is questionable for this recreation with a hip contusion. His standing is a recreation time resolution. Kristaps Porzingis will miss his 4th straight recreation with a hamstring damage. I anticipate Al Horford will as soon as once more get the beginning in his absence. If Brown is out, I might guess that Sam Hauser begins in his place as soon as once more.
For the Suns, Eric Gordon is questionable with a knee damage. He was restricted in follow on Wednesday and should miss his 2nd straight recreation. Damion Lee stays out after meniscus surgical procedure he underwent in October. Josh Okogie will miss his sixth straight recreation with an stomach damage. Nassir Little is possible for this recreation after going by way of a full follow on Wednesday.
Possible Celtics Starters
Celtics Reserves
Oshae Brissett
Sam Hauser
Luke Kornet
Svi Mykhailiuk
Payton Pritchard
Jordan Walsh
Xavier Tillman
Jaden Springer
2 Approach Gamers
JD Davison
Neemias Queta
Drew Peterson
Accidents/Out
Kristaps Porzingis (hamstring) out
Jaylen Brown (hip) questionable
Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla
Possible Suns Starters
Suns Reserves
Bol Bol
Drew Eubanks
Royce O’Neale
David Roddy
Thaddeus Younger
Two Approach Gamers
Udoka Azubuike
Saben Lee
Ish Wainright
Accidents/Out
Eric Gordon (knee) questionable
Damion Lee (knee) out
Nassir Little (knee) possible
Josh Okogie (stomach) out
Head Coach
Frank Vogel
Key Matchups
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Jrue Vacation
Picture by Alex Goodlett/Getty Photographs
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Devin Booker
Picture by Christian Petersen/Getty Photographs
Jrue Vacation vs Devin Booker
Booker missed the sport in Phoenix however is again and able to play on this one. He’s averaging 27.5 factors, 4.6 rebounds, and 6.8 assists. He’s capturing 49.4% from the sphere and 37.4% from past the arc. Over his profession, he has averaged 26.8 factors in opposition to the Celtics, together with a TD Backyard finest 70 factors on 3/24/17. The Celtics must defend him properly as a result of as they know from expertise, he can put up a whole lot of factors if left open.
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Jayson Tatum
Picture by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Photographs
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Kevin Durant
Picture by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Photographs
Jayson Tatum vs Kevin Durant
Durant stays top-of-the-line gamers within the league and is hard to cowl and in addition remains to be an excellent defender. He’s averaging 28.5 factors, 6.7 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.3 blocks. He’s capturing 52.59% from the sphere and 42.5% from past the arc. Within the recreation in Phoenix he completed with 45 factors, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal. He shot 69.2% from the sphere and 57.1% from past the arc. The Celtics must do a greater job of defending him on this one.
Honorable Point out
Derrick White vs Bradley Beal
Beal has performed in simply 36 of the Suns video games to date this season as a result of an assortment of accidents. He’s averaging 18.6 factors, 4.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists per recreation. He’s capturing 49.7% from the sphere and 37.7% from past the arc. Within the first recreation in Phoenix, Beal completed with 25 factors, 1 rebound, 4 assists and three steals. He shot 50% from the sphere and 60% from past the arc. The Celtics must do a greater job of defending him on this recreation.
Keys to the Sport
Protection – Protection is at all times a key to profitable. The Celtics have a defensive score of 110.4 (2nd) whereas the Suns have a defensive score of 114.2 (thirteenth). The Suns are an excellent capturing crew and the Celtics might want to up their protection in the event that they wish to beat the Suns at dwelling. The Suns are twelfth, scoring 117.1 factors per recreation they usually shot 50.6% from the sphere of their first assembly. They shoot a whole lot of midrange pictures and so the Celtics must defend these pictures higher.
Rebound – The Celtics must rebound on the offensive finish to present themselves additional possessions and to forestall the Suns from racking up quick break factors. In addition they must crash the boards on the defensive finish to forestall the Suns from getting tip ins and second probability factors. The Celtics are 1st with 47.2 rebounds per recreation whereas the Suns are twelfth with 44.0 rebounds per recreation. The Celtics are going to must put out additional effort to win the battle of the boards on this one.
Be Aggressive – The Celtics have to return out and be aggressive proper from the opening tip. They must be aggressive on protection, driving to the basket, rebounding, diving for unfastened balls and simply taking part in tougher usually. They should get off to a powerful begin and play exhausting proper up till the ultimate buzzer. They’ll’t let the Suns outwork them for any time frame as a result of even one of the best crew within the league can lose to the worst in the event that they don’t play with effort.
Play Laborious 48 Minutes – The Celtics appear to have lapses the place they let up on their effort and the place they lose focus for awhile. We noticed what occurs once they keep targeted for 48 minutes and play exhausting the complete time in opposition to the Warriors. They allowed the Jazz to chop the Celtics result in 2 earlier than they constructed the lead again up. They’ll’t afford to let the Suns play tougher than them for any time frame or they might not be capable of get better. They need to come out able to play proper from the opening tip they usually must play exhausting and keep targeted by way of all 4 quarters proper up till the ultimate buzzer.
X-Components
Dwelling Sport – The Celtics are again at dwelling the place they need to get a lift from the house crowd. They should deal with the sport and acquire motivation from having the followers behind them. The primary recreation at dwelling after a highway journey is at all times a troublesome recreation and so the Celtics want to remain targeted and provides 100% effort. The Suns are taking part in within the 2nd recreation of a 4 recreation highway journey and must be coping with distractions from journey, staying in a lodge, and taking part in in a hostile enviornment in addition to fatigue from touring. The Celtics want to guard dwelling courtroom and are available out able to play exhausting.
Accidents and Returns – The Celtics are as soon as once more with out Kristaps Porzingis they usually could also be with out Jaylen Brown. The opposite starters and the reserves must all play tougher to make up for the absence of their teammates. The Suns have Devin Booker again of their lineup they usually had been lacking him in Phoenix. He’ll make a giant distinction for them and so the Celtics must be prepared for him and up their protection.
Officiating – I do know that I say this each recreation, however the officiating at all times has the chance to be an x-factor in each recreation. Each crew calls the sport in a different way, whether or not they name each little ticky tack foul or they let a whole lot of contact go and let the groups play. Some refs favor the house crew and a few name for each groups evenly. The Celtics have gotten to regulate to the best way the sport is being known as and never enable the officiating to remove from their focus.
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