The Celtics return house to host the Detroit Pistons for the 4th and closing assembly between them. The Celtics gained in Boston 128-112 on November 9. They gained in Detroit 117-108 on November 12 and once more in Detroit 111-99 on February 6. The Celtics gained the collection 3-1 final season, with their solely loss coming in Boston. The Celtics are 249-140 total all time in opposition to the Pistons and they’re 120-57 all time in video games performed in Boston.
The Celtics are enjoying on the second evening of again to again video games. They performed the primary sport in Milwaukee in opposition to the Bucks and needed to journey again house after the sport. The Celtics are 8-1 on the second evening of again to again video games and they’re 6-1 when the video games are on the highway. Their solely loss coming in Miami to the Warmth after enjoying the evening earlier than in opposition to the Magic in Orlando.
The Celtics performed 3 at house earlier than touring to Milwaukee for the sport on Tuesday after which again house for the sport in opposition to the Pistons. The Pistons are enjoying within the second straight sport on the highway. They final performed in Toronto on Sunday so they need to be rested. The Celtics performed in Milwaukee on Tuesday and was shorthanded in that sport. That is the final sport for each groups earlier than the All Star break.
The Celtics stay 1st within the league, half a sport forward of the 2nd place Bucks after their win over the Celtics on Tuesday evening. They’re 3 video games forward of third place Philadelphia and 4 video games forward of 4th place Cleveland. They’re 1 sport forward of the Nuggets for the perfect file within the league. They’re 23-7 at house and 6-4 of their final 10 video games. They’re 24-12 in opposition to Jap Convention opponents. They’d gained 4 straight earlier than their loss on Tuesday to the Bucks.
The Pistons are on the alternative finish of the standings. They’re fifteenth within the East, half a sport behind 14th place Charlotte and 9 behind thirteenth place Orlando. They’re 1.5 video games forward of Houston and half a sport forward of San Antonio for the worst file within the league. They’re 7-22 on the highway and 3-7 of their final 10 video games. They’re 6-26 in opposition to Jap Convention opponents and misplaced their final sport.
Marcus Sensible, who has been sidelined since Jan. 23 with a proper ankle sprain is concentrating on this sport for his return. Jaylen Brown, who remains to be recovering from a facial fracture will miss the sport. I’m guessing that Robert Williams will likely be out since he performed on Tuesday in Milwaukee. Jayson Tatum missed Tuesday’s sport and is predicted to play on this sport. Derrick White is possible after having ear ache after the Bucks sport. Mike Muscala is out for ankle harm administration.
For the Pistons, James Wiseman was simply traded from the Warriors and after a maintain up on the commerce attributable to Gary Payton II not passing his bodily, Wiseman was anticipated to observe on Monday and needs to be obtainable to play on this sport. Marvin Bagley III is near return after hand surgical procedure in January however stays out for this sport. Nerlens Noel is out attributable to private causes. Cade Cunningham is out for the season attributable to a leg harm.
Possible Celtics Starters
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PG: Marcus SmartSG: Derrick WhiteSF: Jayson TatumPF: Grant WilliamsC: Al Horford
Celtics ReservesMalcolm BrogdonPayton PritchardBlake GriffinLuke Kornet Sam Hauser
2 Method PlayersJD DavisonMfiondu Kabengele
Out/InjuriesDanilo Gallinari (ACL) outDerrick White (ear ache) possible Jaylen Brown (face) out Mike Muscala (ankle) out Robert Williams (ankle) questionable
Head Coach (Interim)Joe Mazzulla
Possible Pistons Starters
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PG: Killian HayesSG: Jaden IveySF: Bojan BogdanovicPF: Isaiah StewartC: Jalen Duren
Pistons Reserves Alec BurksHamidou DialloCory JosephIsaiah LiversRodney McGruderStanley Umude
2 Method Gamers Buddy Boeheim Jared Roden
Out/Accidents Marvin Bagley III (hand) outCade Cunningham (leg) out Nerlens Noel (private) outJames Wiseman (commerce) possible
Head CoachDwane Casey
Key Matchups
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Sam Hauser vs Bojan BogdanovicAt this level, I’m simply guessing that Hauser will begin right here. Bogdanovic is averaging 21.5 factors, 3.6 rebounds and a couple of.6 assists per sport. He’s taking pictures 48.7% from the sphere and 40.8% from past the arc. In opposition to the Celtics this season, Bogdanovic is averaging 21.7 factors, 3.6 rebounds, and a couple of.6 assists. He shot 48.7% from the sphere and 40.8% from past the arc. The Celtics particularly have to stay with Bogdanovic on the perimeter the place he’s the Pistons greatest 3 level shooter.
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Derrick White vs Jaden IveyIvey is averaging 15.2 factors, 4.0 rebounds and 4.6 assists per sport. He taking pictures 41.8% from the sphere and 33.5% from past the arc. In opposition to the Celtics this season he averaged 19.7 factors, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per sport. He shot 48.7% from the sphere and 50% from past the arc. Once more, relying on who performs and who’s out, White could or could not begin at taking pictures guard.
Honorable MentionGrant Williams vs Isaiah Stewart As soon as once more I’m simply guessing that Grant will play and begin on the 4. Stewart is averaging 11.3 factors, 8.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists. He’s taking pictures 44.1% from the sphere and 31.3% from past the arc. In opposition to the Celtics this season, he averaged 10.0 factors, 10.3 rebounds, and 1.0 assists and shot 38.5% from the sphere and 20% from past the arc.
Keys to the GameDefense – Protection will at all times be key to profitable each sport. The Celtics are 4th within the league with a 110.5 defensive ranking whereas the Pistons are twenty ninth with a defensive ranking of 117.7. The Pistons are twenty fifth within the league, averaging 112.3 factors per sport. The Celtics have to come back into this sport with the mindset that they should play powerful protection and never underestimate the Pistons, who’ve a variety of younger and hungry gamers and if the Celtics don’t take them critically, they’ll shock them.
Rebound – Rebounding is essential to offer the Celtics further possessions and to restrict possessions for his or her opponents. The Celtics are averaging 45.1 rebounds per sport (sixth) whereas the Pistons are averaging 42.3 rebounds (twenty first). The Pistons are eighth with 15.1.0 second probability factors per sport. Rebounding takes effort and the Celtics want to offer further effort to beat the Pistons to rebounds. After they present further effort on the boards, it usually reveals up in different areas of the sport as properly.
Keep Centered – The Celtics should keep targeted on enjoying the precise means. They must maintain the ball and so they must deal with making crisp passes and on cautious ball dealing with. In addition they must deal with taking good pictures and making them. The Celtics have to come back into the sport targeted and preserve that focus all through the sport. Their offense has been superb, however they nonetheless lapse into iso ball once in a while and they should keep away from that and preserve the ball transferring.
Be Aggressive – The Celtics can’t come into the sport anticipating a simple sport and to have the ability to take it simple on each ends of the court docket 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 more durable than them, particularly enjoying quick handed, they could possibly be shocked by a loss.
X-Components Brief Handed Again to Again – The Celtics are again at house and so they want come out prepared to guard house court docket. Younger groups usually battle on the highway and hopefully the Backyard will likely be loud and can be capable to distract the younger Pistons crew who additionally must face the distractions of journey. The Celtics stay quick handed and are enjoying again to again and so each participant has to step up their sport, even in opposition to the crew on the backside of the East.
Officiating – Officiating is at all times an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport in a different 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 best way the refs are calling the sport and never permit the no calls and unhealthy calls to have an effect on their deal with enjoying the sport.
