The Celtics start their two-game mini highway journey with a matchup in opposition to the Miami Warmth this afternoon. The ultimate of three common season video games, the C’s maintain a 2-0 collection lead over Miami. Boston took care of enterprise 119-111 at dwelling again on October twenty seventh. Within the second recreation of the collection, Joe Mazzulla and firm obliterated Miami 143-110 on January twenty fifth. In that matchup, Boston had seven gamers end with double figures in factors.
Lower than per week till the All-Star break, the Celtics stay the primary seed within the East, with a 15-9 file on the highway. 4 and half video games forward of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston is on a three-game win streak. Over the previous week, the C’s have victories over the Memphis Grizzlies and the Atlanta Hawks. On Friday evening, they defeated the Washington Wizards 133-129, because of a 3rd quarter spark. They’re 8-2 of their final 10 video games, and 4-1 of their final 5 video games on the highway.
Up a game-high 15 factors in opposition to Washington, the Celtics had considered one of their most dominant performances inside, outscoring the Wizards 62-42 within the paint. Boston primarily struggled, apart from of Jayson Tatum and Kristaps Porzingis, who mixed for 69 factors. Though it was a tricky capturing evening for quantity 0, Tatum and Porzingis each completed with double-double performances. Should you ask me, it was a little bit too shut for consolation, particularly given the Wizards have simply 9 wins on the season.
Sunday’s matchup will mark the primary highway recreation for Boston since January twenty fifth, sarcastically which was in opposition to the Warmth.
A traditional rematch between two Japanese Convention rivals, Boston has an 82-53 file versus Miami all-time. In these 135 common season video games, the Celtics common almost 100 factors, 21.6 assists, 4.5 blocks, 7.9 steals, and 41.3 rebounds per recreation. For the reason that 2010 season, Boston has confronted Miami six instances within the playoffs.
The Celtics stay a high seed in offensive and defensive ranking. Main the NBA in internet ranking (9.6), Boston stays probably the most prolific three-point capturing groups. First in three-point makes an attempt (42.8), the C’s put up 120.6 factors per recreation. First in rebounding, they’ll search for a full sweep this afternoon in opposition to Miami and intention for 5 consecutive victories.
After this journey to Miami, the Celtics will play their subsequent six of ten video games on the highway in opposition to the Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, and Phoenix Suns.
Submit-trade deadline, the Celtics had been pretty lively, whereas the Warmth remained quiet. Weeks earlier than, Miami acquired Terry Rozier from the Charlotte Hornets for Kyle Lowry. On Friday, Miami signed guard Alondes Williams on a two-way contract.
Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens proved his brilliancy but once more. Boston acquired Xavier Tillman from the Grizzlies, and Jaden Springer from the 76ers. With the acquisitions, the C’s parted methods with Lamar Stevens and Dalano Banton.
28-24 on the yr, Miami hasn’t been as environment friendly, sitting because the quantity 8 seed within the Japanese Convention. 15-12 at dwelling, the Warmth are 4-6 of their final ten video games, and end up a four-game dwelling stand in the present day. The Warmth and Celtics are traditionally identified for his or her rivalry, nevertheless, these groups couldn’t be additional aside on paper.
Nonetheless in playoff rivalry, the Warmth stay half a recreation again behind the Orlando Magic for the seventh seed. A -0.2 level differential on the season, they continue to be 3.5 video games forward of the Bulls.
Just like final season, the Warmth rank twenty third in offensive ranking, placing up a league low 110.5 factors per recreation. Simply above Portland, Charlotte, and Memphis in scoring manufacturing, Miami stays one of many least environment friendly capturing groups from the ground (46 %), and have hassle rebounding the ball, particularly on the offensive boards.
There are a number of damage reviews for in the present day’s afternoon recreation. For the Celtics, Springer stays out with an ankle damage. As well as, newly acquired Tillman gained’t swimsuit up resulting from a knee damage. For the Miami Warmth, Jimmy “Buckets” Butler is listed as a recreation time choice for private causes.
Possible Celtics Starters
Grid View
Celtics Starters
PG, #4 : Jrue HolidaySG, #9: Derrick WhiteSF, #7: Jaylen BrownPF, #0: Jayson TatumC: #8: Kristaps Porzingis
Celtics Reserves
G, #11: Jaden Springer
G, #50: Svi Mykhailiuk
G, #11: Payton Pritchard
G, #27: Jordan Walsh
G, #20: JD Davidson (2-way participant)
F, #12: Oshae Brissett
F, #30: Sam Hauser
F: Xavier Tillman
F, #1: Nathan Knight (2-way participant)
F, #42: Al Horford
C, #40: Luke Kornet
C, #88: Neemias Queta (2-way participant)
Accidents
Xavier Tillman: questionableJaden Springer: questionable
Boston Celtics Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla
Possible Warmth Starters
Grid View
Warmth Starters
PG, #2: Terry RozierSG, #14: Tyler HerroSF, #22: Jimmy ButlerPF, #16: Caleb MartinC, #13: Bam Adebayo
Warmth Reserves
G, #15: Alondes Williams (2-way participant)
G: #9: Dru Smith
G, #0: Josh Richardson
F, #5: Nikola Jovic
F, #55: Duncan Robinson
F, #11: Jaime Jaquez Jr.
F, #42: Kevin Love
F: #24: Haywood Highsmith
F: #8: Jamal Cain (2-way participant)
F: #21: Cole Swider (2-way participant)
C: #25: Orlando Robinson
C, #31 Thomas Bryant
Accidents
Jimmy Butler: game-time-decision (private)
Miami Warmth Head Coach
Erik Spoelstra
Keys for a Cs win
Rebounding: Joe Mazzulla and the Celtics pleasure themselves on defensive, and have constantly constructed that tradition all through the season. First in rebounding within the NBA, Boston had management of the boards by means of their first two matchups. In these two victories, not solely did the Celtics out-rebound Miami 102-76, that they had a degree differential of +41. By solely 12 losses, 7 of the got here when Boston acquired out rebounded by their opponent. As everyone knows, grabbing the boards is. They have to safe the boards on offense.
Make the most of a wholesome C’s lineup: I’ve mentioned this earlier than: it’s all the time a blessing when the Celtics have a wholesome beginning 5, plus Al Horford. Boston is coming off someday of relaxation, and can get a clear invoice of well being for in the present day’s matchup. It’s not on a regular basis the place this group will get to play collectively, and every time they do, they proceed to develop and construct chemistry.
Boston is on the highway: Solely 15-9 away from TD Backyard this season, the Celtics have gained 4 straight on the highway, together with ending 4-1 on a rigorous west coast journey on the finish of December. Though they don’t have the perfect file away from Beantown, the Celtics dominated Miami by a margin of 33 factors on the Kaseya Heart final matchup.
Don’t get overly assured: The Celtics are at the moment up 2-0 in opposition to the Warmth this season, nevertheless, that doesn’t imply a lot. Having led the collection 3-1 final yr in opposition to Miami, Boston went on to face a heartbreaking Recreation 7 loss in opposition to them within the Japanese Convention Finals. It’s important the Cs don’t let their foot off the fuel, and play them as if was a playoff collection, In any case, the chance of Boston seeing Miami within the playoffs is pretty excessive.
Restrict turnovers and quick break factors: On Friday night, the Celtics performed an unrecognizable second quarter, during which they allowed the Wizards to attain 18 quick break factors. Though they declared victory, Washington scored a season-high 36 quick break factors in opposition to Boston. With a complete of 26 turnovers within the first two video games in opposition to Miami, it is going to be crucial to deal with the ball, and get defensive stops.
Attacking within the paint: It’s no secret that the Celtics like to shoot threes, and have a number of gamers that may hit from deep. With that mentioned, they’ve been determining varied methods to attain, particularly after their paint domination Friday evening. In two video games in opposition to Miami, Boston has performed an incredible job of making mismatches, and discovering methods to attain within the put up. In two matchups this season, Boston outscored Miami 96-78 within the paint.
Protection: Very like final matchup, in the present day is a traditional instance of a high defensive crew vs. a crew that struggles to attain. That is the case particularly if Jimmy Butler can’t swimsuit up this afternoon. Though they’ve gained two straight in opposition to the Wizards and Kings, the Warmth are solely placing up simply over 111 factors over the past 5 video games. Mix that the Celtics protection, Boston can put them again within the chamber by making offensive performs troublesome for them. During the last 5 video games, Boston is limiting opponents to 115 factors per recreation.
Matchup of the sport:
Bam Adebayo vs. Kristaps Porzingis
In the present day would be the battle between two defensive facilities, Bam Adebayo and Kristaps Porzings. In two video games this yr, Adebayo is averaging 23 factors, 1.5 blocks, and 6.0 rebounds in opposition to Boston. Towards Miami, Porzingis is placing up 18 factors, 1.5 steals, and 6.5 in opposition to Miami. Given Adebayo is a paint man, KP is averaging 50 % from deep in opposition to Miami.
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