The Celtics host the Milwaukee Bucks for the third of 4 video games between these two groups this season. The Celtics gained the primary assembly 119-116 on November 22 in Boston. They misplaced the second sport 135-102 on January 11 in Milwaukee. They may meet as soon as extra in Milwaukee on April 9. The Celtics gained the collection 2-1 final season. They gained on Christmas Day in Boston and 1 sport in Milwaukee they usually misplaced one sport in Milwaukee.
The Celtics are first within the East, 10 video games forward of 2nd place Milwaukee, 11 video games forward of third place Cleveland, 13 video games forward of 4th place New York, 13.5 video games forward of fifth place Orlando and 16 video games forward of sixth place Philadelphia. They’re 31-3 at residence and 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’re 35-7 towards Jap Convention groups and have gained their final 6 video games.
The Bucks are 2nd within the East, 10 video games behind first place Boston, 1 sport forward of third place Cleveland, 3 video games forward of 4th place New York, 3.5 video games forward of fifth place Orlando and 6 video games forward of sixth place Philadelphia. They’re 17-17 on the street and 7-3 of their final 10 video games. They’re 30-13 towards Jap Convention groups and have gained their final 2 video games.
After a 3-2 street journey, the Celtics performed one sport at residence towards the Suns after which went on the street for a sport in Washington earlier than returning residence to face Detroit and Milwaukee. They may head out on a 6 sport street journey by means of Detroit, Chicago, 2 video games in Atlanta, New Orleans and Charlotte. They may return residence for 3 video games towards Oklahoma Metropolis, Sacramento, and Portland. Then it’s one sport in Milwaukee earlier than ending the season at residence towards New York, Charlotte and Washington.
Milwaukee simply completed a 2-0 residence stand towards Philadelphia and Phoenix. After this sport on the street, they return residence for 3 video games towards Brooklyn, Oklahoma Metropolis and the Los Angeles Lakers. They then play 3 on the street towards New Orleans, Atlanta, and Washington adopted by 5 extra video games at residence towards Memphis, Toronto, New York, Boston and Orlando. They end the season with video games on the street towards Oklahoma Metropolis and Orlando.
I’m anticipating the Celtics to be at full power if in any respect attainable for this sport. Nevertheless, Jaylen Brown is on the harm report as questionable with a proper ankle sprain. Jrue Vacation can also be listed as questionable with a proper shoulder contusion. Sam Hauser can also be questionable because of a left ankle sprain. I’d guess that Payton Pritchard would begin as soon as once more if Vacation can’t play. It’s attainable that Oshae Brissett would begin instead of Brown except Hauser was in a position to play.
Giannis Antetokounmpo missed Sunday’s win over Phoenix because of left hamstring tendinopathy. He reportedly practiced on each Monday and Tuesday however is listed as out for this sport. I’d anticipate Bobby Portis, Jr to start out in his place if he’s unable to play. Chris Livingson (ankle) is questionable and Marjon Beauchamp (again) is obtainable.
Possible Celtics Starters
Celtics Reserves
Oshae Brissett
Sam Hauser
Luke Kornet
Svi Mykhailiuk
Payton Pritchard
Jordan Walsh
Xavier Tillman
Jaden Springer
2 Manner Gamers
JD Davison
Drew Peterson
Neemias Queta
Accidents/Out
Jaylen Brown (ankle) questionable
Sam Hauser (ankle) questionable
Jrue Vacation (shoulder) questionable
Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla
Possible Bucks Starters
Bucks Reserves
Thanasis Antetokounmpo
Pat Connaughton
Jae Crowder
Danilo Gallinari
AJ Inexperienced
Andre Jackson, Jr
Two Manner Gamers
Jaylin Galloway
TyTy Washington, Jr
Ryan Rollins
Accidents/Out
MarJon Beauchamp (again) accessible
Chris Livingston (ankle) questionable
Giannis Antetokounmpo (hamstring) out
Head Coach
Doc Rivers
Key Matchups
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Jayson Tatum
Picture by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs
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Bobby Portis, Jr
Picture by Rocky Widner/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs
Jayson Tatum vs Bobby Portis, Jr
With Giannis out, I’m guessing that Bobby Portis might get the beginning in his place. He’s averaging 13.4 factors, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per sport. He’s taking pictures 50.4% from the sphere and 39.3% from past the arc. Towards Boston this season, he averaged 16 factors and 9.5 rebounds. He shot 54.2% from the sphere and 83.3% from past the arc. In his final sport towards the Suns with out Giannis, he completed with 31 factors, 10 rebounds, 2 assists and three steals. He shot 65% from the sphere and was 5-5 on three pointers. In fact, Jae Crowder might begin however the important thing matchup would nonetheless be Portis.
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Jrue Vacation
Picture by Dylan Buell/Getty Photographs
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Damian Lillard
Picture by Jeff Haynes/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs
Jrue Vacation vs Damian Lillard
Lillard is averaging 24.4 factors, 4.4 rebounds, and seven.0 assists per sport. He’s taking pictures 42.5% from the sphere and 35.4% from past the arc. Towards the Celtics this season, Lillard averaged 24 factors, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1 steal. He shot 47.2% from the sphere and 33.3% from past the arc. The Celtics have to play Lillard tightly on protection to restrict his manufacturing since he’s the most important risk apart from Antetokounmpo. Jrue ought to have added incentive to beat his former workforce and the purpose guard who changed him.
Honorable Point out
Jaylen Brown vs Khris Middleton
Middleton is averaging 15 factors, 4.3 rebounds and 5.1 assists per sport. He’s taking pictures 48.8% from the sphere and 38.1% from past the arc. Towards Boston this season he averaged 8.5 factors, 3.5 rebounds, 7 assists and 1 steal per sport. He shot 26.1% from the sphere and 30% from past the arc. Middleton has missed 24 video games this season with numerous accidents. He has moved from 2nd star to third star with the addition of Lillard this season. Nevertheless, he’s nonetheless able to having a giant sport and likes to beat the Celtics.
Keys to the Recreation
Protection – Protection is all the time the most important key to successful. Protection actually does win championships. The Celtics are 2nd with a defensive ranking of 110.2. The Bucks have moved up from twenty second to sixteenth with a defensive ranking of 115.4 since Doc Rivers changed Adrian Griffin as coach. Of their January loss to the Bucks, the Celtics allowed the Bucks to shoot 56.5% from the sphere and 42.9% from past the arc. They merely should do a greater job on protection on this sport. The Celtics should work tougher than the Bucks on protection and preserve their deal with the defensive finish in order to not enable any simple baskets for the Bucks.
Rebound – Subsequent to protection, rebounding is all the time a giant key to successful. The important thing to rebounding is effort and focus. When the Celtics improve their rebounding effort, it normally improves their play in different areas as properly. The Bucks are thirteenth with 43.9 rebounds per sport whereas the Celtics are 1st with 46.9 rebounds per sport. Of their loss to the Bucks in January, the Celtics have been out-rebounded 54-31. The Celtics should combat tougher on this sport to beat the Bucks to rebounds.
Be Aggressive – The Celtics should be the extra aggressive workforce in an effort to have an opportunity to beat the Bucks. They should be extra aggressive in going for free balls and in crashing the boards. They should be extra aggressive on protection they usually should be aggressive in going to the basket and never settling for 3’s in the event that they aren’t falling. Typically the extra aggressive workforce will get extra calls. They’ll’t enable the Bucks to play tougher than them.
Most Effort for 48 Minutes – The Celtics are going through their closest rival within the Jap Convention. They may probably meet them within the playoffs sooner or later. The Celtics effort of their loss in Milwaukee left a lot to be desired they usually can’t make that mistake once more on this one. They’ve to return out robust to start out the sport they usually should play with most effort all through the sport proper up till the ultimate buzzer.
X-Elements
House Recreation – The Celtics are residence for the second straight sport. They’ve the house crowd behind them to provide them further motivation. The Bucks are on the street, the place they’re 17-17 this season, and the place they’re confronted with the distractions of journey, lodge stays and a hostile crowd. The Celtics have had in the future off whereas the Bucks have had 2 days off. Hopefully the Celtics catch the Bucks with a little bit rust. The Celtics have to benefit from enjoying at residence and defend their residence courtroom.
Officiating – The officiating can all the time be an x-factor. Some referees name the sport tight and others allow them to play. Some favor the house workforce and others name it evenly. Some refs simply appear to have an agenda that doesn’t match the play on the courtroom. And generally the refs are merely atrocious. Giannis appears to all the time get greater than his share of calls as he plows by means of gamers on his method to the ring, leaving our bodies in his wake. The Celtics should play by means of nevertheless the refs name the sport, whether or not it’s tight or they allow them to play or they make horrible calls. The Celtics can’t enable unhealthy calls or no calls to remove their deal with the sport.
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