The Celtics host the Milwaukee Bucks for the third of 4 video games between these two groups this season. The Celtics received the primary assembly 119-116 on November 22 in Boston. They misplaced the second sport 135-102 on January 11 in Milwaukee. They’ll meet as soon as extra in Milwaukee on April 9. The Celtics received the sequence 2-1 final season. They received on Christmas Day in Boston and 1 sport in Milwaukee and so they misplaced one sport in Milwaukee.
The Celtics are first within the East, 10 video games forward of 2nd place Milwaukee, 11 video games forward of third place Cleveland, 13 video games forward of 4th place New York, 13.5 video games forward of fifth place Orlando and 16 video games forward of sixth place Philadelphia. They’re 31-3 at dwelling and 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’re 35-7 in opposition to Jap Convention groups and have received their final 6 video games.
The Bucks are 2nd within the East, 10 video games behind first place Boston, 1 sport forward of third place Cleveland, 3 video games forward of 4th place New York, 3.5 video games forward of fifth place Orlando and 6 video games forward of sixth place Philadelphia. They’re 17-17 on the street and 7-3 of their final 10 video games. They’re 30-13 in opposition to Jap Convention groups and have received their final 2 video games.
After a 3-2 street journey, the Celtics performed one sport at dwelling in opposition to the Suns after which went on the street for a sport in Washington earlier than returning dwelling to face Detroit and Milwaukee. They’ll head out on a 6 sport street journey by Detroit, Chicago, 2 video games in Atlanta, New Orleans and Charlotte. They’ll return dwelling for 3 video games in opposition to Oklahoma Metropolis, Sacramento, and Portland. Then it’s one sport in Milwaukee earlier than ending the season at dwelling in opposition to New York, Charlotte and Washington.
Milwaukee simply completed a 2-0 dwelling stand in opposition to Philadelphia and Phoenix. After this sport on the street, they return dwelling for 3 video games in opposition to Brooklyn, Oklahoma Metropolis and the Los Angeles Lakers. They then play 3 on the street in opposition to New Orleans, Atlanta, and Washington adopted by 5 extra video games at dwelling in opposition to Memphis, Toronto, New York, Boston and Orlando. They end the season with video games on the street in opposition to Oklahoma Metropolis and Orlando.
I’m anticipating the Celtics to be at full power if in any respect attainable for this sport. Nonetheless, Jaylen Brown is on the harm report as questionable with a proper ankle sprain. Jrue Vacation can also be listed as questionable with a proper shoulder contusion. Sam Hauser can also be questionable as a consequence of a left ankle sprain. I’d guess that Payton Pritchard would begin as soon as once more if Vacation can’t play. It’s attainable that Oshae Brissett would begin rather than Brown except Hauser was in a position to play.
Giannis Antetokounmpo missed Sunday’s win over Phoenix as a consequence of left hamstring tendinopathy. He reportedly practiced on each Monday and Tuesday however is listed as out for this sport. I’d anticipate Bobby Portis, Jr to begin in his place if he’s unable to play. Chris Livingson (ankle) is questionable and Marjon Beauchamp (again) is out there.
Possible Celtics Starters
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Celtics ReservesOshae BrissettSam HauserLuke KornetSvi MykhailiukPayton PritchardJordan WalshXavier TillmanJaden Springer
2 Approach PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonNeemias Queta
Accidents/OutJaylen Brown (ankle) questionableSam Hauser (ankle) questionableJrue Vacation (shoulder) questionable
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Bucks Starters
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Bucks ReservesThanasis Antetokounmpo Pat Connaughton Jae CrowderDanilo GallinariAJ GreenAndre Jackson, Jr
Two Approach Gamers Jaylin GallowayTyTy Washington, JrRyan Rollins
Accidents/OutMarJon Beauchamp (again) accessible Chris Livingston (ankle) questionableGiannis Antetokounmpo (hamstring) out
Head Coach Doc Rivers
Key Matchups
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Jayson Tatum vs Bobby Portis, Jr With Giannis out, I’m guessing that Bobby Portis could get the beginning in his place. He’s averaging 13.4 factors, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per sport. He’s taking pictures 50.4% from the sector and 39.3% from past the arc. Towards Boston this season, he averaged 16 factors and 9.5 rebounds. He shot 54.2% from the sector and 83.3% from past the arc. In his final sport in opposition to the Suns with out Giannis, he completed with 31 factors, 10 rebounds, 2 assists and three steals. He shot 65% from the sector and was 5-5 on three pointers. In fact, Jae Crowder could begin however the important thing matchup would nonetheless be Portis.
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Jrue Vacation vs Damian LillardLillard is averaging 24.4 factors, 4.4 rebounds, and seven.0 assists per sport. He’s taking pictures 42.5% from the sector and 35.4% from past the arc. Towards the Celtics this season, Lillard averaged 24 factors, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1 steal. He shot 47.2% from the sector and 33.3% from past the arc. The Celtics must play Lillard tightly on protection to restrict his manufacturing since he’s the most important menace aside from Antetokounmpo. Jrue ought to have added incentive to beat his former crew and the purpose guard who changed him.
Honorable MentionJaylen Brown vs Khris MiddletonMiddleton is averaging 15 factors, 4.3 rebounds and 5.1 assists per sport. He’s taking pictures 48.8% from the sector and 38.1% from past the arc. Towards Boston this season he averaged 8.5 factors, 3.5 rebounds, 7 assists and 1 steal per sport. He shot 26.1% from the sector and 30% from past the arc. Middleton has missed 24 video games this season with varied accidents. He has moved from 2nd star to third star with the addition of Lillard this season. Nonetheless, he’s nonetheless able to having an enormous sport and likes to beat the Celtics.
Keys to the Sport Protection – Protection is all the time the most important key to profitable. Protection actually does win championships. The Celtics are 2nd with a defensive ranking of 110.2. The Bucks have moved up from twenty second to sixteenth with a defensive ranking of 115.4 since Doc Rivers changed Adrian Griffin as coach. Of their January loss to the Bucks, the Celtics allowed the Bucks to shoot 56.5% from the sector and 42.9% from past the arc. They merely should do a greater job on protection on this sport. The Celtics should work more durable than the Bucks on protection and preserve their concentrate on the defensive finish in order to not permit any simple baskets for the Bucks.
Rebound – Subsequent to protection, rebounding is all the time an enormous key to profitable. The important thing to rebounding is effort and focus. When the Celtics enhance their rebounding effort, it often improves their play in different areas as effectively. The Bucks are thirteenth with 43.9 rebounds per sport whereas the Celtics are 1st with 46.9 rebounds per sport. Of their loss to the Bucks in January, the Celtics had been out-rebounded 54-31. The Celtics need to struggle more durable on this sport to beat the Bucks to rebounds.
Be Aggressive – The Celtics need to be the extra aggressive crew with a purpose to have an opportunity to beat the Bucks. They need to be extra aggressive in going for unfastened balls and in crashing the boards. They need to be extra aggressive on protection and so they need to be aggressive in going to the basket and never settling for 3’s in the event that they aren’t falling. Usually the extra aggressive crew will get extra calls. They will’t permit the Bucks to play more durable than them.
Most Effort for 48 Minutes – The Celtics are going through their closest rival within the Jap Convention. They’ll probably meet them within the playoffs sooner or later. The Celtics effort of their loss in Milwaukee left a lot to be desired and so they can’t make that mistake once more on this one. They’ve to return out sturdy to begin the sport and so they need to play with most effort all through the sport proper up till the ultimate buzzer.
X-Elements Residence Sport – The Celtics are dwelling for the second straight sport. They’ve the house crowd behind them to provide them additional motivation. The Bucks are on the street, the place they’re 17-17 this season, and the place they’re confronted with the distractions of journey, resort stays and a hostile crowd. The Celtics have had someday off whereas the Bucks have had 2 days off. Hopefully the Celtics catch the Bucks with a bit rust. The Celtics must reap the benefits of enjoying at dwelling and defend their dwelling courtroom.
Officiating – The officiating can all the time be an x-factor. Some referees name the sport tight and others allow them to play. Some favor the house crew and others name it evenly. Some refs simply appear to have an agenda that doesn’t match the play on the courtroom. And typically the refs are merely atrocious. Giannis appears to all the time get greater than his share of calls as he plows by gamers on his method to the ring, leaving our bodies in his wake. The Celtics need to play by nevertheless the refs name the sport, whether or not it’s tight or they allow them to play or they make horrible calls. The Celtics can’t permit unhealthy calls or no calls to remove their concentrate on the sport.
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