In what very effectively could also be a preview of this 12 months’s NBA Finals, the Celtics tackle the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder within the third sport of a 4 sport highway journey. The Celtics opened the journey with wins over the Timberwolves and the Rockets. that is the primary of two video games between these two groups this season. They’ll meet for the 2nd and last time in Boston on March 12. They break up the collection 1-1 the final two seasons with every crew profitable on their dwelling court docket. The Celtics are 79-66 general all time towards the Thunder and they’re 39-38 in video games performed on the highway.
The Celtics stay 2nd within the East, 4.5 video games behind the primary place Cleveland Cavaliers, who’ve win their final 8 video games. The Celtics are actually 2 forward of the third place Knicks, who received 9 straight earlier than shedding their final sport to the Thunder. The Celtics are 12-3 on the highway and they’re 6-4 of their final 10 video games. They’re 4-2 towards Western Convention opponents and have received their final 3 video games.
The Thunder are in first place within the West. They’re 6.5 video games forward of 2nd place Memphis and seven forward of third place Houston. They’re 9 video games forward of the 4th place Los Angeles Lakers. They’re 15-2 at dwelling and they’re 10-0 of their final 10 video games. They’re 10-0 towards Jap Convention opponents and so they at the moment have a 14 sport win streak.
The Thunder made a number of key strikes within the off season. The largest transfer could have been signing Isaiah Hartenstein away from the NY Knicks. He has particularly been necessary as a result of absence of Chet Holmgren. Additionally they traded Josh Giddey for Alex Caruso. They drafted Nikola Subject, who will miss your entire season with a torn ACL. Additionally they drafted Dillon Jones and Ajay Mitchell, with a watch to the long run. Lastly, they signed undrafted Alex Ducas to a 2 method contract.
That is the third sport of a 4 sport Western highway journey that began with again to again wins in Minnesota on Thursday and in Houston on Friday. After this sport, they’ll end the highway journey in Denver on Tuesday. They’ll return dwelling to face 2 extra Western Convention groups, Sacramento and New Orleans. They then head to Toronto to face the Raptors once more for the third time. They’ll then host Orlando and Atlanta earlier than their 2nd Western highway journey of the month by Golden State, Los Angeles Clippers and Lakers and Dallas.
Kristaps Porzingis returned to the beginning lineup within the Celtics’ final sport towards the Rockets after lacking 4 straight video games with a sprained ankle. He needs to be able to play on this sport as effectively. Al Horford sat out Friday’s sport for relaxation however is anticipated to return for this sport. Jalen Brown has missed the Celtics’ final two video games with a shoulder pressure and is questionable for this sport. I’m utilizing wishful pondering and together with him within the beginning lineup. If he can’t play as soon as once more, Sam Hauser ought to as soon as once more get the beginning in his place.
For the Thunder, Alex Caruso will miss his seventh sport with a hip pressure. Cason Wallace will seemingly proceed to begin in his place. Chet Holmgren is out with a proper iliac hip fracture. I anticipate Isaiah Hartenstein will proceed to begin in his place. The Thunder’s 3 two method gamers are all additionally out with accidents. Alex Ducas (again), Adam Flagler (finger), and Ajay Mitchell (toe) are all out for this sport. Rookie Nikola Subject is out for the season with an ACL tear.
Possible Celtics Starters
PG: Jrue Vacation
SG: Derrick White
SF: Jaylen Brown
PF: Jayson Tatum
C: Kristaps Porzingis
Celtics Reserves
Luke Kornet
Payton Pritchard
Neemias Queta
Sam Hauser
Baylor Scheierman
Jaden Springer
Xavier Tillman, Sr
Jordan Walsh
2 Means Gamers
JD Davison
Drew Peterson
Anton Watson
Accidents/Out
Jaylen Brown (shoulder) questionable
Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla
Possible Thunder Starters
PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
SG: Cason Wallace
SF: Lugentz Dort
PF: Jalen Williams
C: Isaiah Hartenstein
Thunder Reserves
Branden Carlson
Ousmane Dieng
Isaiah Joe
Dillon Jones
Aaron Wiggins
Jaylin Williams
Kenrich Williams
2 Means Gamers
Alex Ducas
Adam Flagler
Ajay Mitchell
Accidents/Out
Alex Caruso (hip) out
Alex Ducas (again) out
Ajay Mitchell (toe) out
Chet Holmgren (hip) out
Adam Flagler (finger) out
Nikola Subject (ACL) out
Head Coach
Mark Daigneault
Key Matchups
-
Jrue Vacation
-
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Photograph by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Pictures
Jrue Vacation vs Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.2 factors, 5.4 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.1 blocks per sport. He’s taking pictures 52.5% from the sphere and 35.6% from past the arc. Gilgeous-Alexander is tied for the lead within the MVP race and is the important thing to the Thunder’s profitable methods. As a way to gradual the Thunder, the Celtics should decelerate SGA.
-
Photograph by David Berding/Getty Pictures
-
Jalen Williams
Photograph by Joshua Gateley/Getty Pictures
Jayson Tatum vs Jalen Williams
Williams is averaging 20.9 factors, 5.8 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.8 steals per sport. He’s taking pictures 48.1% from the sphere and 35.3% from past the arc. Williams can rating each in and out and so the Celtics should stick with him on protection whether or not he’s within the paint or on the perimeter. Jayson Tatum has been enjoying very effectively on this highway journey and the Celtics want him to proceed that development on each ends of the court docket on this sport.
Honorable Point out
Kristaps Porzingis vs Isaiah Hartenstein
Hartenstein is averaging 12.2 factors, 12.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.3 blocks per sport. He’s taking pictures 57.3% from the sphere and 0% from past the arc. He’s a menace to attain inside and is an excellent rebounder and shot blocker. The Celtics must maintain him out of the paint and away from the rim.
Keys to the Sport
Protection – Protection is all the time a key to profitable. The Thunder common 115.4 factors per sport (tenth) The Celtics common 119.4 factors per sport (4th). That is going to be a troublesome matchup for the Celtics because the Thunder are first within the league with a defensive ranking of 102.9 whereas the Celtics are sixth with a defensive ranking of 109.4. The Celtics must tighten up their protection and make enjoying protection a precedence particularly towards this Thunder crew that performs lock down protection. The Celtics must particularly defend the paint because the Thunder are tenth within the league with 49.9 factors within the paint per sport.
Rebound – Rebounding can be a key to profitable. The Celtics must rebound on the defensive finish to maintain the Thunder from getting second probability factors and they should rebound on the offensive finish to present themselves additional possessions. The Thunder are 18th with 43.6 rebounds per sport whereas the Celtics are eighth with 45.0 rebounds per sport. A lot of rebounding is need and energy and the Celtics as a crew need to put within the additional effort to seize rebounds.
Take Care of the Ball – The Celtics must maintain their focus and never flip the ball over. The Thunder are 1st within the league with 23.4 factors off turnovers per sport. They’re additionally 1st with 11.8 steals per sport. The Celtics have to maneuver the ball as a result of they’re a a lot better crew once they transfer the ball and don’t over dribble. However they have to focus and make cautious passes and never get sloppy. Additionally they need to remember when dribbling the ball in order to not enable the Thunder to get steals. The Thunder will make them pay in the event that they get sloppy and switch the ball over.
Be Targeted and Prepared for a Powerful Sport – The Thunder haven’t misplaced to an Jap Convention crew this season. They’ve additionally solely misplaced 5 video games. The Celtics need to be able to go to the basket in the event that they battle from three. Additionally they need to be able to shoot from midrange if each the paint and the perimeter are defended tightly. The Celtics should keep centered on enjoying laborious for 48 minutes and on enjoying robust protection and on enjoying the precise method.
X-Elements
On the Street – The Celtics are enjoying of their third straight highway sport. The Celtics have the benefit of getting a principally wholesome roster however then, the Thunder have received 14 straight video games regardless of lacking some gamers. The Thunder have the benefit of being at dwelling in entrance of their followers and so they have nice followers. The Celtics want to beat the distractions of journey and enjoying on the highway in entrance of hostile followers.
Teaching – Joe Mazzulla led the Celtics to a championship in simply his second season however Mazzulla didn’t win the Coach of the 12 months final season. It was Thunder coach, Mark Daigneault that received the Coach of the 12 months honor. He’s additionally the Coach of the Month for December this season. Each rosters are deep and proficient and so teaching could also be an element on this sport.
Officiating – Officiating is all the time an x-factor. How the refs name the sport has a giant affect on how the groups play. Will they allow them to play or name each little little bit of contact? Will they name it evenly or will they favor one crew or the opposite. All of it results the end result of the sport and the Celtics must play the precise method and never enable the officiating to take them out of their sport. The Celtics ought to by no means be caught complaining to the refs whereas the opposite crew goes in for a rating.
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 have it, and be part of our group.
