The Celtics look to bounce again from their first residence loss as they host the Brooklyn Nets. That is the primary of 4 conferences between these two groups this season. They are going to face off once more on November 13 in Brooklyn after which on March 15 in Brooklyn and eventually, on March 18 in Boston. The Celtics received the collection 4-0 final season. The Celtics are 141-73 general all time in opposition to the Nets and they’re 75-33 all time in Boston.
That is the primary of three highway video games for the Nets and the primary night time of again to again video games for them. They are going to play the Cavaliers on Saturday after which on the Pelicans. They are going to then return residence to face the Celtics on Wednesday. The Celtics are enjoying of their second straight residence sport. They are going to head to Milwaukee on Sunday after which residence in opposition to the Hawks on Tuesday and again to again at Brooklyn on Wednesday.
The Celtics stood pat for essentially the most half within the off season, bringing again their complete core of gamers and dropping simply Svi Mykhailiuk and Oshae Brissett. They added Baylor Scheierman, who was the thirtieth decide within the draft and signed 2nd spherical decide, Anton Watson to a 2 manner contract. They’ve one open roster spot that they’re more likely to preserve open in case of damage through the season. It additionally is obvious that a number of of the returning Celtics have improved fairly a bit over the summer season.
The Nets determined to enter a rebuild mode this season after they traded their most dear participant, Mikal Bridges, to the Knicks. They acquired Shake Milton in an indication and commerce from the Knicks. They received Bojan Bogdanovic and Ziaire Williams from Memphis. They acquired their very own ‘25 and ‘26 draft picks again from Houston and 5 first spherical picks within the Bridges commerce. They misplaced Keita Bates-Diop, Jacob Gilyard, Dennis Smith, Jr, and Lonnie Walker IV.
The Celtics will probably be with out Kristaps Porzingis, who remains to be rehabbing from off season ankle surgical procedure and isn’t anticipated again till December. Jaylen Brown will miss his fourth straight sport with a hip damage. I’m going to guess that Joe Mazzulla will as soon as once more begin the double bigs with Queta beginning once more. Luke Kornet is uncertain for this sport after leaving Wednesday’s sport with hamstring tightness.
Bojan Bogdanovic will miss this sport whereas he continues to rehab from off season foot surgical procedure. He has but to go well with up and play this season. Day’Ron Sharpe will probably be out till at the least mid November with a hamstring pressure. Trendon Watford is predicted to overlook at the least the Nets’ 3 sport highway journey with a hamstring damage. Noah Clowney is questionable with an sickness.
Possible Celtics Starters
Celtics Reserves
Payton Pritchard
Luke Kornet
Jaden Springer
Xavier Tillman, Sr
Jordan Walsh
Sam Hauser
2 Approach Gamers
JD Davison
Drew Peterson
Anton Watson
Accidents/Out
Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) out
Jaylen Brown (hip) out
Baylor Scheierman (GLeague) out
Luke Kornet (hamsting) uncertain
Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla
Possible Nets Starters
Nets Reserves
Keon Johnson
Shake Milton
Ben Simmons
Dariq Whitehead
Ziaire Williams
Jalen Wilson
2 Approach Gamers
Jaylen Martin
Tyrese Martin
Cui Yongsi
Accidents/Out
Bojan Bogdanovic (foot) out
Day’Ron Sharpe (hamstring) out
Trendon Watford (hamstring) out
Noah Clowney (sickness) questionable
Head Coach
Jordi Fernandez
Key Matchups
-
Derrick White
Picture by Megan Briggs/Getty Photos
-
Cam Thomas
Picture by Elsa/Getty Photos
Derrick White vs Cam Thomas
Thomas is averaging 24.9 factors, 3.1 rebounds 3.1 assists and 1 steal per sport. He’s capturing 42.3% from the sphere and 30.6% from past the arc. The Celtics positively must defend him nicely. Derrick White has been enjoying very nicely to assist make up for the absence of Jaylen Brown and the Celtics will want him to proceed to step up his sport on this one.
-
Jrue Vacation
Picture by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Photos
-
Dennis Schroder
Picture by Luke Hales/Getty Photos
Jrue Vacation vs Dennis Schroder
Schroder is averaging 19.9 factors, 3.0 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and 1.4 steals. He’s capturing 50.5% from the sphere and 49% from past the arc. The Celtics should defend him each inside and outside as he’s capturing very nicely. Additionally they must play him for the move as he has been transferring the ball very nicely.
Honorable Point out
Jayson Tatum vs Cam Johnson
Johnson is averaging 16.6 factors, 3.9 rebounds, and three.0 assists per sport. He’s capturing 36.4% from the sphere and 45.5% from past the arc. The Celtics must particularly stick with Johnson on the perimeter as he’s capturing very nicely from there.
Keys to the Sport
Protection – Protection is all the time the important thing to profitable. The Celtics are seventh within the league with a defensive score of 109.3. The Nets are nineteenth within the league with a defensive score of 114.2. The Nets are averaging 113.5 factors per sport (fifteenth). The Celtics are third within the league averaging 122.3 factors per sport. The Celtics must particularly guard the perimeter because the Nets are sixth with 40.1 three pointers tried per sport. On Wednesday, the Celtics allowed the Warriors to shoot 41.2% on threes. The Celtics must defend a lot better on this one.
Rebound – The Celtics should field out and crash the boards. They’ll’t rating with out the ball and it’ll take further effort on their half beat the Nets on the boards. The Nets are twenty ninth with 39 rebounds per sport. The Celtics are 18th with 44.1 rebounds per sport. The Celtics have been out rebounded 53-47 on Wednesday and they should do higher on this sport. The Celtics must put out extra effort to get to the rebounds earlier than the Nets and stop second and third probability photographs.
Be Aggressive – The Celtics have to come back 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 enjoying more durable usually. What the Nets lack in star energy, they make up for with effort. The Celtics must match their effort and aggressiveness. Additionally they must play onerous proper up till the ultimate buzzer. This Nets workforce with out stars play onerous and win by giving extra effort than their opponents.
Transfer the Ball and Play the Proper Approach – At instances in opposition to the Warriors, particularly on the finish, the Celtics stopped transferring the ball and gamers tried to do an excessive amount of as a substitute of enjoying workforce ball. They weren’t transferring the ball and so they have been speeding photographs. That they had simply 22 assists for the sport. They should belief one another and never lapse into hero ball. They must get again to enjoying Celtics ball, particularly on protection.
X-Components
Residence Sport and Bounce Again – The Celtics performed very nicely at residence final season, dropping solely 4 video games on the TD Backyard all season. They should feed off the power of the gang and hopefully, the Nets will probably be distracted by journey and the very loud crowd. The Celtics must take dropping on their residence court docket personally and bounce again to win this one. The Celtics want to guard residence court docket.
Officiating – The officiating is all the time 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 occasions on the court docket. At instances they miss necessary calls that change the momentum of the sport. The Celtics must play nicely sufficient to not go away the sport within the palms of the officers on the finish and so they can’t let dangerous calls take away from their focus.
And ensure to take a look at CelticsBlog’s Playback stream for a reside dialog concerning the sport. To take part, simply create a free account, join your LP sub when you’ve got it, and be a part of our group.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25743116/usa_today_24801836.jpg?w=360&resize=360,180&ssl=1 "Cleveland Cavaliers lived as much as the hype as Boston Celtics’ prime challenger within the East")
