The Celtics start a 6 recreation highway journey with a cease in Detroit to tackle the Pistons. That is the third and closing recreation between these two groups this season. The Celtics gained the primary recreation 128-122 in time beyond regulation on December 28 in Boston. The Celtics gained the second recreation 119-94 on March 18, additionally in Boston. The Celtics gained the sequence 4-0 final season. The Celtics are 252-140 total all time towards the Pistons and they’re 128-94 all time on the highway.
The Celtics stay 1st within the East, 11 video games forward of 2nd place Milwaukee, 12 video games forward of third place Cleveland, 13.5 video games forward of 4th place New York, 14 video games forward of fifth place Orlando, and 16.5 video games forward of sixth place Indiana. They’re 23-11 on the highway and 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’re 36-7 towards Jap Convention groups and have gained their final 7 video games.
The Pistons are 14th within the East, 1 recreation forward of final place Washington. They’re 5 video games behind thirteenth place Charlotte, 11 video games behind twelfth place Toronto, and 19.5 video games behind tenth place Atlanta and the ultimate play-in spot. They’re 43 video games behind 1st place Boston. They’re 7-29 on the highway and 3-7 of their final 10 video games. They’re 9-35 towards Jap Convention groups and so they have misplaced their final 4 video games.
The Celtics are enjoying within the first of again to again video games. They’re 11-1 on the primary night time of again to again video games and 3-1 when each video games are on the highway, dropping solely at Golden State. On their present 6 recreation highway journey, solely the New Orleans Pelicans have a profitable report. The Pistons have to win a minimum of 5 extra video games this season to keep away from setting a franchise worst season report.
The Celtics simply completed up 2 video games at residence, beating these identical Pistons and in addition the Milwaukee Bucks. They’re beginning on a 6 recreation highway journey by means of Detroit, Chicago, 2 video games in Atlanta, New Orleans and Charlotte. They are going to return residence for 3 video games towards Oklahoma Metropolis, Sacramento, and Portland. Then it’s one recreation in Milwaukee earlier than ending the season at residence towards New York, Charlotte and Washington.
The Pistons simply completed a 6 recreation residence stand the place they beat Brooklyn, Charlotte and Toronto and misplaced to Miami twice and Dallas. They then misplaced to the Celtics on the highway and returned residence to lose to the Indiana Pacers. That is the second straight residence recreation for them and they’ll end the house stand towards New Orleans at residence. Subsequent they play at New York, Minnesota, and Washington earlier than enjoying Mamphis at residence. They play 6 of their final 7 video games on the highway.
It’s exhausting to foretell who will play and who will sit on this one. It’s the first of again to again video games and the Pistons are lacking 6 gamers. Nonetheless, video games towards quick handed groups have been the Celtics weak spot prior to now. As of now, Jrue Vacation is out with a shoulder contusion. Al Horford (toe), Jaylen Brown (ankle), Jayson Tatum (ankle), and Kristaps Porzingis (hamstring) are all questionable.
Sam Hauser (ankle) is possible. I’m guessing that a few of the starters will sit out this recreation and a few will sit out Saturday’s recreation in Chicago. I’m guessing that Payton Pritchard will begin on the level rather than Vacation. With Hauser possible to come back again, he might begin rather than Brown if he’s out. Luke Kornet or Al Horford might begin if Porzingis or Tatum is out. I’m anticipating that one among Porzingis or Horford will miss this recreation and the opposite will miss Saturday’s recreation. I’m additionally guessing that both Tatum or Brown will miss this recreation whereas the opposite will miss Saturday’s recreation.
The Pistons are additionally quick handed for this recreation. Simone Fontecchio (toe), Stanley Umude (ankle) Quentin Grimes (knee), Taj Gibson (hamstring), Isaiah Stewart (hamstring), and Ausar Thompson (sickness) are all out for this recreation. I’m guessing that Evan Fournier begins at small ahead and Tosan Evbuomwan will begin at energy ahead for them.
Possible Celtics Starters
Grid View
PG: Payton PritchardSG: Derrick White
SF: Jaylen BrownPF: Jayson Tatum
C: Kristaps Porzingis
Celtics ReservesOshae BrissettLuke KornetSvi MykhailiukJordan WalshXavier TillmanJaden Springer
2 Method PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonNeemias Queta
Accidents/OutKristaps Porzingis (hamstring) questionableJaylen Brown (ankle) questionableSam Hauser (ankle) probableAl Horford (toe) questionableJrue Vacation (shoulder) out Jayson Tatum (ankle) questionable
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Pistons Starters
Grid View
PG: Cade CunninghamSG: Jaden IveySF: Evan FournierPF: Tosan EvbuomwanC: Jalen Duren
Pistons Reserves Troy Brown, JrMalachi FlynnMarcus SasserJames Wiseman
Two Method Gamers Buddy BoeheimJared RhodenTosan Evbuomwan
Accidents/OutAusar Thompson (sickness) outQuentin Grimes (knee) out Taj Gibson (hamstring) out Stanley Umude (ankle) out Simone Fontecchio (toe) out Isaiah Stewart (hamstring) out
Head Coach Monty Williams
Key Matchups
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Payton Pritchard vs Cade CunninghamCunningham is averaging 22.3 factors, 4.3 rebounds, and seven.5 assists per recreation. He’s capturing 45% from the sector and 35% from past the arc. Within the first recreation towards the Celtics, Cunningham completed with 31 factors, 6 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 steals and a couple of blocks whereas capturing 54.5% from the sector and 66.7% from past the arc. The Celtics have to defend him higher on this recreation.
Grid View
Derrick White vs Jaden IveyIvey is averaging 15.3 factors, 3.5 rebounds and three.8 assists per recreation. He’s capturing 43.4% from the sector and 32.9% from past the arc. Within the first video games towards the Celtics, Ivey averaged 21.5 factors, 7.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1 block whereas capturing 52.9% from the sector and 44.4% from past the arc. As with Cunningham, the Celtics have to do a greater job of defending him on this recreation.
Honorable MentionCeltics Middle vs Jalen DurenDuren is averaging 14.1 factors, 12.0 rebounds and a couple of.6 assists per recreation. He’s capturing 63.7% from the sector and isn’t a risk to shoot from 3. Within the first recreation towards the Celtics, he completed with 15 factors, 14 rebounds and a couple of assists whereas capturing 83.3% from the sector. I’m undecided who will begin at heart for the Celtics however whoever begins must defend Duran and in addition hold him off the boards.
Keys to the Recreation Protection – Protection will at all times be key to profitable each recreation. The Celtics are 2nd within the league with a 110.4 defensive score whereas the Pistons are twenty seventh with a defensive score of 118.5. The Pistons are twenty fourth within the league, averaging 111.6 factors per recreation. It took time beyond regulation for the Celtics to beat them at residence of their first assembly at residence. The Celtics have to come back into this recreation with the mindset that they should play powerful protection and never underestimate the Pistons, who’ve quite a lot of younger and hungry gamers.
Rebound – Rebounding is essential to offer the Celtics further possessions and to restrict possessions for his or her opponents. The Celtics are averaging 46.8 rebounds per recreation (2nd) whereas the Pistons are averaging 44 rebounds (eleventh). Of their first assembly, the Pistons out-rebounded the Celtics 57-43 and the Celtics need to do higher on this recreation. Rebounding takes effort and the Celtics want to offer further effort to beat the Pistons to rebounds. Once they present further effort on the boards, it typically exhibits up in different areas of the sport as nicely.
Be Aggressive – The Celtics can’t come into the sport anticipating a simple recreation and to have the ability to take it straightforward on each ends of the courtroom as a result of the Pistons are on the backside of the league. They’ve to come back in and be aggressive on protection, on taking the ball to the basket, on diving for unfastened balls, on rebounding and on enjoying as a crew. If they permit the Pistons to play tougher than them they might simply be stunned with a loss. They’ll’t underestimate the Pistons and need to play exhausting and provides it their all for 48 minutes.
Reserve Play – Each groups are enjoying shorthanded. Each groups might be relying on their reserves to get by means of this recreation. Even when all Celtics on the harm report are out, they nonetheless have some superb gamers to fill in, whereas the Pistons are relying on 2 manner gamers and 10 day contract gamers to fill out their bench. Nonetheless, the Pistons gamers are going to be very hungry and might be seeking to possibly keep on with the crew and so the Celtics should be prepared for them.
X-Components Entice Recreation on the Highway – The Celtics are inclined to underestimate shorthanded and dropping groups and they should keep away from making that mistake on this recreation. The Celtics have already crushed final place Pistons twice but when they arrive into the sport anticipating to simply run over them with out giving any effort, they might find yourself dropping this one. They’ll’t underestimate a crew, even when they’re tanking. The Celtics are additionally on the highway and have to beat the distractions that include journey and enjoying in a hostile enviornment.
Officiating – Officiating is at all times an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport in another way. Some name it tight and name each little bit of contact whereas others permit extra bodily play. Some favor the house crew whereas others name either side evenly. The Celtics have to regulate to the way in which the refs are calling the sport and never permit no calls and unhealthy calls to have an effect on their give attention to enjoying the sport.
