Boston Celtics (5-1) at Charlotte Hornets (2-3) Recreation #7 11/2/24

The Celtics face the Charlotte Hornets for the second time in as many days. The Celtics got here out on prime on Friday, beating the Hornets 124-109. That win offers the Celtics a 5-1 document, with their solely loss to the Indiana Pacers in Additional time. Charlotte is 2-3 on the season, beating Houston and Toronto and shedding to Atlanta, Miami and Boston.

That is the second assembly between these two groups this season, having crushed the Hornets on Friday. They’ll shut out the collection in Boston on April 11 and 13. The Celtics gained the collection 2-1 final season, Profitable their solely recreation in Boston and successful one and shedding one in Charlotte. The Celtics are 78-46 total all time towards the Hornets and 37-26 in video games performed in Charlotte.

The Celtics stood pat for essentially the most half within the off season, bringing again their complete core of gamers and shedding simply Svi Mykhailiuk and Oshae Brissett. They added Baylor Scheierman, who was the thirtieth choose within the draft and signed 2nd spherical choose, Anton Watson to a 2 method contract. They’ve additionally added a few chips on their shoulder after a few Olympic snubs.

The Charlotte Hornets’ new possession has been busy within the off season, hiring a brand new head coach, common supervisor and workforce president. Former Celtics assistant coach Charles Lee is the brand new Hornets head coach. The workforce drafted French ahead Tidjane Salaun sixth and KJ Simpson forty second. Additionally they signed heart Taj Gibson and guard Seth Curry as free brokers.

Al Horford missed Friday’s recreation for relaxation, however I’m guessing he will likely be again for this one. They’ll as soon as once more be with out Kristaps Porzingis, who remains to be rehabbing from off season ankle surgical procedure. Jaylen Brown injured his hip within the third quarter of Friday’s recreation and will likely be out for this recreation. I’m taking a wild guess that Jordan Walsh will begin, however it’s potential that Sam Hauser may get the beginning right here as properly.

The Hornets will likely be with out DaQuan Jeffries who’s recovering from a hand damage. Mark Williams can also be out as he recovers from a tendon pressure in his foot. Neither has performed but this season. Brandon Miller is questionable with a glute damage. Nick Richards injured his shoulder in Friday’s recreation and is out for this recreation. I’m undecided who they may begin however I’m going to guess Grant Williams.

Possible Celtics Starters

PG: Jrue Vacation
SG: Derrick White
SF: Jordan Walsh
PF: Jayson Tatum
C: Al Horford

Celtics Reserves
Payton Pritchard
Neemias Queta
Sam Hauser
Baylor Scheierman
Jaden Springer
Xavier Tillman, Sr
Luke Kornet

2 Method Gamers
JD Davison
Drew Peterson
Anton Watson

Accidents/Out
Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) out
Jaylen Brown (hip) out

Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla

Possible Hornets Starters

PG: LaMelo Ball
SG: Seth Curry
SF: Josh Inexperienced
PF: Miles Bridges
C: Grant Williams

Hornets Reserves
Nick Smith, Jr
Cody Martin
Vasa Micic
Tre Mann
Tidjane Salaun
Taj Gibson

2 Method Gamers
Moussa Diabate
KJ Simpson
Jared Rhoden

Accidents/Out
DaQuan Jeffries (hand) out
Mark Williams (foot) out
Brandon Miller (glute) questionable
Nick Richards (shoulder) out

Head Coach
Charles Lee

Key Matchups

Jrue Vacation

Picture by Maddie Meyer/Getty Photos
LaMelo Ball

Picture by Wealthy Schultz/Getty Photos

Jrue Vacation vs LaMelo Ball
Ball has been taking part in very properly this season, averaging 28.5 factors, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1.3 steals per recreation. He’s capturing 42.7% from the sector and 37.5% from past the arc. On Friday, he completed with 31 factors, 2 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal whereas capturing 48% from the sector and 35.7% from past the arc. The Celtics must attempt to sluggish him down a bit extra on this recreation.

Payton Pritchard

Picture by Justin Casterline/Getty Photos
Tre Mann

Picture by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Photos

Payton Pritchard vs Tre Mann
It is a matchup of key subs off the bench who each shoot the three very properly. Mann is averaging 20.5 factors, 3.8 rebounds, and three.3 assists per recreation whereas capturing 44.6% from the sector and 42.9% from past the arc. Pritchard is averaging 16.2 factors, 3.1 rebounds and a couple of.6 assists per recreation whereas capturing 45.6% from the sector and 46.9% from past the arc. On Friday, Mann completed with 23 factors, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 block whereas capturing 55.6% from the sector and 50% from past the arc. Pritchard had a uncommon off capturing evening however was lively on protection. He completed with 7 factors on 16.7% capturing from the sector and was 0-5 on threes. He additionally had 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 5 steals.

Honorable Point out
Jayson Tatum vs Miles Bridges
Bridges is averaging 15 factors, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1 block per recreation. He’s capturing 39.6% from the sector and 25% from past the arc. On Friday, he completed with 14 factors, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal whereas capturing 31.3% from the sector and simply 20% on threes. He additionally received annoyed on the finish of the sport and was ejected.

Keys to the Recreation
Protection – Protection is all the time the important thing to successful. It was a scarcity of protection that dug a 23 level gap towards the Pacers and it was good protection that received them again into the sport and compelled additional time. The Celtics are twelfth with a defensive score of 111.5. The Hornets are thirtieth with a defensive score of 120.0. The Celtics are 1st in 3 level makes an attempt with 50 whereas the Hornets are third with 44.8 three level makes an attempt per recreation. They’re tied for fifth in 3 level share at 39.3%. The Celtics must particularly guard the Hornets on the perimeter.

Rebound – Rebounding is essential to offer the Celtics additional possessions and to restrict possessions for his or her opponents. Rebounding takes effort and the Celtics want to offer additional effort to beat the Hornets to rebounds. The Hornets are 1st with 21 second probability factors per recreation and the Celtics must restrict these by placing extra effort into grabbing rebounds. On Friday, the Hornets had 1 extra rebound and 1 extra offensive rebound than the Celtics. The Celtics must work more durable on the boards on this one.

Most Effort for 48 Minutes – The Celtics effort for the primary 3 quarters towards the Pacers left a lot to be desired, touchdown them in a 23 level gap. They lastly discovered some vitality and energy within the 4th quarter and battled again to drive additional time. The Celtics effort of their earlier 2 video games was good at instances and never so good at different instances. On Friday, the Celtics upped their effort within the 4th quarter to drag away from the Hornets. The Celtics have to offer max effort on the boards and on protection and so they have to offer that effort for all the recreation and never simply 1 or 2 quarters.

Bench Play – The Hornets have 3 gamers off the bench who’re capturing over 40% from the perimeter. Tre Mann (20.5 factors, 42.9% from three), Cody Martin (11.5 factors, 42.1% from three) and Grant Williams (10.3 factors, 47.4% from three) The Celtics reserves want to come back into the sport and play onerous on the defensive finish to restrict their 3 level capturing. Additionally they want to supply on the offensive finish.

X-Elements
On The Highway and Feelings – The Celtics are taking part in of their fifth recreation on the street this season. The Celtics are dealing with the distractions of journey and a hostile crowd and so they can’t enable these distractions to remove from their give attention to the sport. The tip of Friday’s recreation was emotional with Grant Williams ejected for a flagrant 2, Miles Bridges ejected for two technicals and LaMelo Ball assessed a technical. Each coaches additionally received technicals. The Celtics want to remain calm and never let feelings get in the way in which of taking part in the fitting method.

Teaching – Charles Lee helped to steer the Celtics to their 18th championship as an assistant coach. He’s now main the Charlotte Hornets as their head coach. I’m certain these two coaches share some teaching philosophies, together with the technique of capturing a variety of 3’s. Joe Mazzulla win their first assembly. Which coach will come out on prime on this one?

Officiating – Officiating is all the time an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport in another way. Some name it tight and name each little bit of contact whereas others enable extra bodily play. Some favor the house workforce whereas others name either side evenly. The Celtics have to regulate to the way in which the refs are calling the sport and never enable no calls and dangerous calls to have an effect on their give attention to taking part in the sport.

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