The Celtics are on the lookout for their 4th straight win as they tackle the Wizards in Washington. That is the 2nd of three video games between these two groups this season. The Celtics beat the Wizards 122-102 in Washington of their 2nd sport of the season. They’ll play one another for the third and ultimate time in Boston on April 6. The Celtics swept the collection 4-0 final season. The Celtics are 203-120 total all time and they’re 83-74 in Washington.
The Celtics final performed on Tuesday, whereas the Wizards final performed on Monday, so each groups ought to be properly rested. Though, the Celtics spent Thursday on the White Home being honored because the 2024 NBA Champions so they might be a bit hung over from that ceremony. The Celtics have received their final 3 video games whereas the Wizards have misplaced their final 9 video games. The Wizards are 1-4 at residence whereas the Celtics are 7-1 on the highway.
Within the off season, the Wizards added 3 first spherical picks from this yr’s draft: 2nd decide Alex Sarr, 14th decide Carlton “Bub” Carrington, and twenty fourth decide Kyshawn George. Additionally they added Key veterans Jonas Valenciunas, former Celtic Malcolm Brogdon, Saddiq Bey, and Anthony Gill. Additionally they traded Deni Avdija and misplaced Tyus Jones to free company. The Celtics, as we all know, are principally the identical staff as final yr’s championship staff.
After this Emirates Cup sport, the Celtics will host the Minnesota Timberwolves and and the LA Clippers earlier than enjoying at Chicago and at Cleveland. They then have a 5 sport residence stand in opposition to Miami, Detroit, Milwaukee, Memphis and Chicago. They then go to Chicago and Orlando earlier than one other 4 sport residence stand the place they host Philadelphia, Indiana twice, and Toronto.
After enjoying at New York on Monday, the Wizards play this sport at residence in opposition to the Celtics, the Wizards will journey to Indiana to tackle the Pacers after which return residence for video games in opposition to Chicago and the Los Angeles Clippers. They then play at Milwaukee and Cleveland earlier than a 4 sport residence stand in opposition to Dallas, Denver, Memphis and Charlotte.
For the Celtics, solely Kristaps Porzingis is out as he completes his rehab from off season ankle surgical procedure. He has practiced with the Maine Celtics and is nearing a return however will miss this sport. For the Wizards, Saddiq Bey and Tristan Vukcevicis are each out with a knee harm. Bilal Coulibaly is possible after lacking Monday’s sport with a head harm, however going via a full apply on Thursday. Marvin Bagley III is questionable with a groin harm.
Possible Celtics Starters
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Celtics ReservesLuke KornetPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaSam HauserBaylor ScheiermanJaden SpringerXavier Tillman, SrJordan Walsh
2 Approach PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonAnton Watson
Accidents/OutKristaps Porzingis (ankle) out
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Wizards Starters
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Wizards Reserves Patrick Baldwin, JrMalcolm BrogdonJohnny DavisKyshawn George Anthony Gill Richaun HolmesCorey Kispert Jonas Valanciunas
2-Approach PlayersJared ButlerJustin ChampagnieTristan Vukcevic
Accidents/Out Saddiq Bey (knee) out Tristan Vukcevic (knee) out Marvin Bagley III (groin) questionable
Head Coach Brian Keefe
Key Matchups
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Derrick White
Photograph by Stacy Revere/Getty Photos
Jordan Poole
Photograph by Patrick Smith/Getty Photos
Derrick White vs Jordan PoolePoole is averaging 21.1 factors, 2.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.9 steals per sport. He’s capturing 45.8% from the sphere and 44.4% from past the arc. Within the first sport in opposition to the Celtics, Poole completed with 26 factors, 1 rebound, 4 assists, 1 block and 4 steals whereas capturing 44.3% from the sphere and 38.4% from past the arc. The Celtics want to stick with him on the perimeter as he’s a menace to hit his 3’s. He’s additionally a menace to steal the ball if the Celtics get sloppy.
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Jayson Tatum
Photograph by Winslow Townson/Getty Photos
Kyle Kuzma
Photograph by Scott Taetsch/Getty Photos
Jayson Tatum vs Kyle KuzmaKuzma is averaging 17.9 factors, 6.6 rebounds, and a couple of.1 assists per sport. He’s capturing 40.9% from the sphere and 29.1% from past the arc. Within the first sport in opposition to the Celtics, Kuzma completed with 12 factors, 2 rebounds, 1 help, 1 block and 1 steal. He shot 37.5% from the sphere however didn’t hit a 3.
Honorable MentionJaylen Brown vs Bilal CoulibalyCoulibaly is averaging 14.8 factors, 5.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 steals per sport. He’s capturing 57.1% from the sphere and 37.1% from past the arc. Within the first sport in opposition to the Celtics, Coulibaly completed with 8 factors, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal whereas capturing 50% from the sphere however not hitting a 3.
Keys to the Recreation Protection – Protection is all the time the important thing to profitable. The Celtics received their championship final season with robust, bodily protection. To repeat, they might want to as soon as once more make protection a precedence. The Celtics are thirteenth with a defensive ranking of 111.9 whereas the Wizards are thirtieth with a defensive ranking of 120.3. The Celtics had been first within the league on protection final season and they should get again to enjoying that robust lock down protection each sport, all sport once more this season. The Celtics particularly must defend the paint as a result of they’re twenty seventh, permitting 53.6 factors within the paint per sport.
Rebound – The Celtics are tenth with 42.7 rebounds per sport whereas the Wizards are twenty fifth with 41.7 rebounds per sport. Once more, the Celtics had been 2nd final season with 46.7 rebounds per sport and principally the identical roster. It’s vital for the Celtics to rebound to present themselves further possessions and to restrict their opponents’ possessions. A lot of rebounding is effort and hustle and when the Celtics give further effort and hustle on the boards, it normally interprets into the remainder of their sport. Every participant must decide to crashing the boards and going after each rebound on each ends of the courtroom.
Most Effort for 48 Minutes – The Celtics losses this season could be traced again to a scarcity of effort. Additionally, plainly they both begin off slowly and find yourself in a gap that they should dig themselves out of or they soar out to a lead solely to let up within the second half and permit their opponent to get again into the sport and make it shut. The Celtics need to get again to enjoying laborious on each ends of the courtroom for the total 48 minutes with no let up.
3 Level Taking pictures – The Celtics lead the league in 3 pointers tried with 50.5 per sport. They’re eighth within the league, capturing 37.9% on 3 pointers. The Celtics are robust to beat when they’re hitting their 3’s however wrestle to attain when the three’s aren’t falling. They’ve to maneuver the ball and discover the open man to get one of the best pictures doable. Additionally, if the three’s aren’t falling on this sport they should abandon that technique and take the ball inside.
X-Elements On the Street and Focus – The Celtics are enjoying on the highway after celebrating their championship on the White Home on Thursday. They’ve to beat the distractions that include enjoying on the highway like journey, staying in lodges, lacking household, an unfamiliar constructing and a hostile crowd. Additionally they need to shake off the thrill of the White Home go to they usually have to remain targeted and never enable these distractions to remove from enjoying the sport the appropriate method.
Officiating -Officiating is all the time an x-factor in each sport. Each crew officiates otherwise. Some name it tight, others allow them to play. Some favor the house staff. Some favor the highway staff. Some simply make dangerous, head scratching calls. The Celtics want to regulate to how the refs are calling the sport and never enable dangerous calls or no calls to remove their focus from enjoying the sport.
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