The Celtics shut out their two-game street journey with a go to to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. That is the primary of two conferences between these two group this season. They may meet for the second time this season in Boston on April 3. These two groups had been 1-1 final season with every group profitable on their house court docket. The Celtics are 78-65 general all time in opposition to the Thunder and 39-38 in video games performed in Oklahoma Metropolis.
The Celtics stay in first place within the East. They’re 2.5 video games forward of second-place Milwaukee, 4 forward of third-place Philadelphia, and 7 video games forward of fourth-place Orlando and seven.5 video games forward of fifth place Miami. The Celtics are 10-6 on the street and 9-1 of their final 10 video games. They’re 5-2 in opposition to Western Convention opponents. They’ve received their final six video games general and so they have received their final 4 street video games.
The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder are second within the West. They’re one and a half video games behind first-place Minnesota. They’re half a sport forward of third-place Denver, and three video games forward of the fourth-place Clippers and fifth-place Kings. They’re 13-5 at house and 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’re 8-1 in opposition to Jap Convention opponents. They’ve received their final 4 video games.
The Celtics have performed three of the underside groups within the league over their final three video games. They struggled to get the win in opposition to each the Pistons and the Raptors, however they did get the wins. Then that they had a wire-to-wire blow out win in opposition to the Spurs. The Celtics had been quick handed for every of these wins. Nevertheless, as of now, they’ve a transparent damage report for this sport. Issues don’t get simpler for the Celtics in January. They’ve the third hardest schedule with opponent profitable proportion of .554 and 4 again to backs within the month.
The Thunder have wins over Minnesota, New York, Denver and Brooklyn of their four-game win streak. They’ve the twentieth hardest energy of schedule in January, going through groups with a win proportion of .484 and so they have 5 again to backs. The Thunder had a five-game house stand earlier than taking part in at Denver and they’re now taking part in of their second straight house sport earlier than heading out on a four-game street journey. The Thunder even have a transparent damage report as of now.
Possible Celtics Starters
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Celtics ReservesDalano BantonOshae BrissettSam HauserAl HorfordSvi MykhailiukPayton PritchardLamar StevensJordan WalshLuke Kornet Al Horford
2 Manner PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonNeemias Queta
Accidents/OutNone
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Thunder Starters
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PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
SG: Josh Giddey
SF: Lugentz Dort
PF: Jalen Williams
C: Chet Holmgren
Thunder ReservesDavis BertansOusmane DiengIsaiah Joe Tre MannVasilije MicicAleksej PokusevskiCason Wallace Aaron WigginsJaylin Williams Kenrich Williams
2 Manner Gamers Keyontae Johnson Olivier SarrLindy Waters III
Out/Accidents None
Head Coach Mark Daigneault
Key Matchups
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Jrue Vacation vs Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderGilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.2 factors, 5.7 rebounds, 6.3 assists and a couple of.6 steals per sport. He’s capturing 54.6% from the sector and 31.7% from past the arc. Jrue was questionable in opposition to the Raptors after which out with a sprained elbow in opposition to the Spurs. Fortunately, he’s again within the beginning lineup for this one, as a result of they are going to want his protection to attempt to decelerate SGA.
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Kristaps Porzingis vs Chet HolmgrenPorzingis goes from one Rookie of the 12 months candidate to a different, as he will probably be matched up with 7’1” Chet Holmgren. Holmgren is averaging 17.7 factors, 7.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and a couple of.7 blocks per sport. He’s capturing 54.3% from the sector and 40% from past the arc. He’s a troublesome cowl for any group.
Honorable MentionJayson Tatum vs Jalen Williams Williams is averaging 18 factors, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.0 assists. He’s capturing 54.3% from the sector and 41.6% from past the arc. Williams can rating each in and out, so the Celtics should stick with him on protection whether or not he’s within the paint or on the perimeter.
Keys to the Recreation Protection – Protection is all the time a key to profitable. The Thunder common 121.3 factors per sport (fourth) and they’re second with a defensive score of 110.3. The Celtics common 120.8 factors per sport (sixth) and they’re third with a defensive score of 110.4. The Celtics have to tighten up their protection and make taking part in protection a precedence, particularly in opposition to this Thunder group that averages extra factors than the Celtics and have a greater defensive score. The Celtics have to particularly defend the paint because the Thunder are seventh within the league with 53.3 factors within the paint per sport.
Rebound – Rebounding can be a key to profitable. The Celtics have to rebound on the defensive finish to maintain the Thunder from getting second likelihood factors and they should rebound on the offensive finish to offer themselves additional possessions. The Thunder are twenty eighth with 41.0 rebounds per sport whereas the Celtics are first with 47.3 rebounds per sport. A lot of rebounding is need and energy and the Celtics as a group must put within the additional effort to seize rebounds.
Take Care of the Ball – The Celtics have to preserve their focus and never flip the ball over. The Thunder are first within the league with 20.3 factors off turnovers per sport. The Celtics have to maneuver the ball as a result of they’re a a lot better group after they transfer the ball and don’t over dribble. However they have to focus and make cautious passes and never get sloppy. Additionally they must bear in mind when dribbling the ball in order to not enable the Thunder to get steals. The Thunder will make them pay in the event that they get sloppy and switch the ball over.
Be Centered and Prepared for a Powerful Recreation – The Celtics have had some simpler video games these days after going through Detroit, Toronto and San Antonio. The Thunder are on the different finish of the league, sitting second within the West and are a really powerful group defensively. The Celtics must be able to go to the basket in the event that they wrestle from three. Additionally they must be able to shoot from midrange if each the paint and the perimeter are defended tightly. The Celtics should keep targeted on taking part in arduous for 48 minutes and on taking part in powerful protection and on taking part in the precise approach.
X-Elements On the Street – The Celtics are taking part in of their second straight street sport. The Celtics have the benefit of getting a wholesome roster — however then, so do the Thunder. The Thunder have the benefit of being at house in entrance of their followers and so they have nice followers. Can the Celtics overcome the distractions of taking part in on the street and get a win on this one?
Officiating – Officiating is all the time an x-factor. How the refs name the sport has an enormous affect on how the groups play. Will they allow them to play or name each little little bit of contact? Will they name it evenly, or will they favor one group or the opposite. All of it results the result of the sport and the Celtics have to play the precise approach and never enable the officiating to take them out of their sport. The Celtics ought to by no means be caught complaining to the refs whereas the opposite group goes in for a rating.
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