The Celtics transfer on to the second sport of their 4 sport Western journey as they go to Houston to tackle the Rockets. That is the primary of two video games towards the Rockets this season. They’ll face off for a second time on January 27 in Boston. The Celtics gained the collection 2-0 final season. The Celtics are 97-56 general all time towards the Rockets and they’re 41-34 all time in video games performed in Houston.
The Celtics are 2nd within the East, 4.5 video games behind first place Cleveland, who’ve gained 8 video games in a row. They’re simply 1 sport forward of the New York Knicks, who’ve gained 9 straight video games. The Celtics are 12-3 on the highway and 6-4 of their final 10 video games. They’re 3-2 towards Western Convention opponents they usually have gained their final 2 video games.
The Rockets are third within the West, 6 video games behind first place Oklahoma Metropolis, who’ve gained 12 straight video games. They’re 1 sport behind 2nd place Memphis and they’re 1.5 video games forward of the 4th place Dallas Mavericks. They’re 11-5 at house and 6-4 of their final 10 video games. They’re 8-3 towards Japanese Convention opponents and, after 2 straight losses, gained their final sport.
After an enormous off season final yr the place the Rockets signed Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks and a number of other different veterans, that they had a comparatively quiet off season this yr. They signed Aaron Vacation as a free agent. They exercised the workforce choice on Jeff Inexperienced and Jae’Sean Tate. They signed Reed Sheppard, who was the #3 decide within the 2024 draft. They misplaced Reggie Bullock and Boban Marjanovic. Their beginning lineup has been the identical for the second yr in a row.
The Celtics simply accomplished a 4 sport house stand the place they beat the Pacers and Raptors and misplaced to the Pacers and 76ers. That is the second sport of a 4 sport Western highway journey that began with a win in Minnesota on Thursday, and can proceed by Oklahoma Metropolis and Denver. They’ll return house to face 2 extra Western Convention groups, Sacramento and New Orleans. They then head to Toronto to face the Raptors once more for the third time..
That is the third sport of a 5 sport house stand for the Rockets. They misplaced the primary two video games to Minnesota and Miami after which beat Dallas within the sport earlier than this one. They’ll shut out the house stand towards the Lakers. They then head out on a 3 sport highway journey by Washington, Memphis, and Atlanta earlier than a house sport towards Memphis. Then, they play at Denver, Sacramento and Portland.
Jaylen Brown missed Thursday’s sport with a shoulder harm he sustained within the Raptors sport. He’s listed as out for this sport and I’m guessing that Sam Hauser will substitute him within the beginning lineup. Kristaps Porzingis missed his 4th straight sport with a sprained ankle on Thursday. Porzingis is listed as obtainable for this sport and may begin on this sport. Al Horford is out for relaxation, as anticipated.
For the Rockets, Tari Eason is uncertain with a leg harm. Jock Landale is questionable with a knee harm. Jabari Smith, Jr. was a late addition to the harm listing for the Rockets. He broke his left hand at present and can be evaluated in 4-6 weeks. Tari Eason is subsequent on their depth chart at energy ahead. Since he’s uncertain, I’m guessing that Cam Whitmore will get the beginning in Smith’s place.
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Possible Celtics Starters
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Celtics ReservesLuke KornetPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaBaylor ScheiermanJaden SpringerXavier Tillman, SrJordan Walsh
2 Method PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonAnton Watson
Accidents/OutKristaps Porzingis (ankle) availableJaylen Brown (shoulder) outAl Horford (relaxation) out
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Rockets Starters
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Rockets Reserves Steven AdamsJeff GreenAaron HolidayReed SheppardJae’Sean Tate
2-Method Gamers N’Faly DanteJack McVeighNate Williams
Accidents/Out Tari Eason (leg) doubtfulAmen Thompson (out) suspensionJock Landale (knee) questionableJabari Smith, Jr (hand) out
Head CoachIme Udoka
Key Matchups
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Derrick White
Picture by Jason Miller/Getty Photos
Jalen Inexperienced
Picture by Michael Hickey/Getty Photos
Derrick White vs Jalen GreenGreen is averaging 19.3 factors, 4.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1 steal per sport. He’s taking pictures 40.7% from the sphere and 32% from the sphere. Inexperienced is the Rockets’ main scorer and the Celtics should be conscious that he can put up numerous factors if not defended nicely.
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Kristaps Porzingis
Picture by Andy Lyons/Getty Photos
Alperen Sengun
Picture by Jeff Haynes/NBAE through Getty Photos
Kristaps Porzingis vs Alperen SengunSengun is averaging 18.9 factors, 10.8 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.2 steals per sport. He’s taking pictures 49.1% from the sphere and 22.9% from past the arc. Sengun shouldn’t be an enormous risk from the perimeter, however he can hit 3’s if left open. The Celtics must field out as he is an effective rebounder.
Honorable MentionJrue Vacation vs Fred VanVleetVanVleet is averaging 15.4 factors, 4.4 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.4 steals per sport. He’s taking pictures 37.9% from the sphere and 32.5% from past the arc. VanVleet may be very able to placing up numerous factors when he performs nicely. The Celtics must preserve him from getting comfy and from entering into the offense early within the clock.
Keys to the Sport Protection – Protection is all the time a key to profitable. Gamers battle on offense in some video games, however they will all the time play protection. The Rockets are averaging 113 factors per sport (twelfth). The Celtics are averaging 119.6 factors per sport (4th). The Rockets are 2nd with a defensive ranking of 105.8 whereas the Celtics are seventh with a defensive ranking of 109.7. The Celtics have to stay to their defensive id on this one as a result of the Rockets play powerful protection and the Celtics can’t rely on a shoot out to win.
Rebound – With a purpose to rating, the Celtics want the ball and to get the ball, they might want to crash the boards as a workforce. The Celtics common 45.5 rebounds per sport (sixth) whereas the Rockets common 49.7 rebounds per sport (1st). A lot of rebounding is effort and when the Celtics put out further effort on the boards, it normally carries over into the remainder of their sport. The Rockets are third within the league with 17.1 second probability factors per sport. The Rockets are an excellent rebounding workforce and so the Celtics should come into the sport decided to place out further effort and to hustle for each rebound to restrict 2nd probability factors for the Rockets.
Be Aggressive and Keep Centered – The Celtics need to be aggressive in taking the ball to the basket and never settling for 3 tips about each possession, particularly if the 3s aren’t falling. Additionally they need to be aggressive in hustling for rebounds and for unfastened balls. And so they need to be aggressive on protection. They need to play tougher than the Rockets and play just like the workforce that desires this sport extra. Additionally they want to hold that aggressiveness by all 4 quarters with no let up. Additionally they want to remain centered on taking good pictures and making them. They need to preserve their deal with taking part in workforce ball.
Be Constant – The Celtics have been up and down now for many of the month of December. One sport they lose to a workforce that they clearly ought to have beat. The following sport they win in a blowout over a contender. One sport they provide up an enormous lead and lose down the stretch. The following sport they arrive from behind to get a win. The Celtics must get again to giving constant effort each sport and each quarter. No let up and no straightforward straightforward pictures for his or her opponent.
X-Components Again to Again Street Sport – The Celtics are on the highway the place they’ve an 11-3 report. The Celtics are taking part in on the second night time of again to again video games whereas the Rockets are taking part in within the third sport of a 5 sport house stand. The Celtics needed to journey from Minnesota after their Thursday night time sport, keep in a lodge, play in entrance of a hostile crowd and on an unfamiliar courtroom whereas the Rockets ought to get a lift from being on their house courtroom.
Teaching – The Rockets are led by former Celtics coach Ime Udoka, who left Boston beneath lower than fascinating circumstances. He was suspended for violating workforce guidelines and assistant coach Joe Mazzulla was made interim coach. Finally, Udoka was formally launched and Mazzulla was made head coach. I’m certain that Udoka would love nothing greater than to beat the workforce that allow him go after he led that workforce to the Finals. He may even have his workforce motivated to avenge 2 losses to the Celtics the earlier yr.
Officiating – The officiating is all the time an x-factor. Some referees name the sport tight and others allow them to play. Some favor the house workforce and others name it evenly. Just lately the officiating has been getting some scrutiny for being visibly dangerous. The Celtics need to play by no matter calls go towards them and never permit dangerous calls or no calls to remove their deal with the sport.
