The Celtics search for their sixth straight win as they go to the Charlotte Hornets. That is the second of 4 video games between these two groups this season. Within the first assembly, the Celtics beat the Hornets in Boston 140-105. They are going to meet once more in Charlotte in simply two days on Monday, January 16 and they’re going to play the ultimate sport in Boston on February 10. The Celtics received the sequence 3-1 final season, profitable each in Charlotte and shedding one in Boston.
The Celtics are taking part in within the 2nd sport of a 3 sport highway journey and can end up the journey in Charlotte on Monday. They play one sport at dwelling towards the Warriors earlier than heading out for an additional 3 sport highway journey. The Hornets are taking part in within the first sport at dwelling after a 4 sport highway journey. They play Boston at dwelling twice after which head out on one other 4 sport highway journey. That is the Hornets’ second set of consecutive video games towards the identical group. They have been swept in Toronto of their final 2 video games.
The Celtics are 1st within the East and within the league. They’re 3 video games forward of 2nd place Brooklyn, 3.5 video games forward of third place Milwaukee and 4 video games forward of 4th place Cleveland. They’re 14-7 on the highway and 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’re 14-4 towards Jap Convention opponents. They’ve received their final 5 video games.
The Hornets are final within the East and solely the Houston Rockets have a worse file at 10-31. The Hornets are tied with 14th place Detroit and are 5.5 video games behind thirteenth place Orlando. They’re 5-14 at dwelling and 2-8 of their final 10 video games. They’re 6-11 towards Jap Convention opponents. They’ve misplaced their final 3 video games and 6 of their final 7.
Jaylen Brown will miss his second straight sport as a consequence of proper adductor tightness. Danilo Gallinari stays out because of the torn ACL. Malcolm Brogdon is questionable as a consequence of private causes and shall be a sport time choice. I’m guessing that Robert Williams will begin at middle as soon as once more and Al Horford will return to play on the 4. That’s simply my guess.
For the Hornets, former Celtic Gordon Hayward is listed as uncertain. He has missed the final 5 video games with a hamstring harm. Kelly Oubre, Jr injured his hand within the first week of the season and performed by it however it didn’t get higher and so he had surgical procedure on the hand final week and shall be out till a minimum of February 8.
Possible Celtics Starters
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PG: Marcus SmartSG: Derrick White SF: Jayson TatumPF: Al HorfordC: Robert Williams III
Celtics ReservesGrant WilliamsSam HauserPayton PritchardBlake GriffinJustin JacksonLuke Kornet
2 Approach PlayersJD DavisonMfiondu Kabengele
Out/InjuriesDanilo Gallinari (ACL) outJaylen Brown (adductor) out Malcolm Brogdon (private) questionable
Head Coach (Interim)Joe Mazzulla
Possible Hornets Starters
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PG: LaMelo Ball SG: Terry RozierSF: PJ Washington PF: Jalen McDanielsC: Mason Plumlee
Hornets ReservesJames BouknightKai JonesCody MartinNick RichardsDennis Smith, JrJT ThorMark Williams
Two Approach Gamers Theo Maledon Bryce McGowans
Out/Accidents Gordon Hayward (hamstring) doubtfulKelly Oubre, Jr (hand) out
Head Coach Steve Clifford
Key Matchups
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Marcus Sensible vs LaMelo Ball Ball has been taking part in very effectively in his third season with the Hornets. He’s averaging 23.6 factors, 5.3 rebounds, 8.5 assists and 1.2 steals per sport. He’s taking pictures 42.0% from the sector and 38.1% from past the arc. He missed the primary sport between these two groups. The Celtics have to sluggish him down as he’s the Hornets’ high scorer.
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Derrick White vs Terry Rozier Rozier is averaging 21.0 factors, 4.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists per sport. He’s taking pictures 41.2% from the sector and 32.7% from past the arc. A former Celtic, Rozier at all times seems to play his greatest towards his former group and the Celtics ought to anticipate to get his greatest sport on this match. Rozier additionally missed the primary sport between these two groups.
Honorable MentionJayson Tatum vs PJ Washington, Jr.Washington is averaging 15.2 factors, 4.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 blocks per sport. He’s taking pictures 43.5% from the sector and 35.3% from past the arc. Within the November 28 sport, Washington had 16 factors, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 block.
Keys to the GameDefense – Protection is at all times a key to profitable video games. The Celtics should decide to taking part in robust group protection in every sport. They’ve the gamers to be an elite defensive group, however they haven’t been committing to protection as a lot as they need to. The Hornets are twenty second, averaging 112.2 factors per sport. The Celtics are 2nd, averaging 118.4 factors per sport. The Hornets are twenty seventh with a defensive score of 115.4 whereas the Celtics are sixth with a defensive score of 110.9. The Celtics have to make protection a precedence and work more durable on that finish of the court docket.
Rebound – A lot of rebounding is effort and hustle. The Celtics have to crash the boards as a group and combat for each rebound. The Celtics should beat the Hornets to rebounds to present themselves additional possessions and to maintain the Hornets from getting the identical. The Hornets are fifth with 45.5 rebounds per sport whereas the Celtics are eighth with 44.2 rebounds per sport. The Hornets common 15.7 2nd probability factors (sixth) and so the Celtics should work more durable to get rebounds to forestall additional possessions and 2nd probability factors for the Hornets.
Give attention to Enjoying the Proper Approach – The Celtics want to remain centered on taking part in the suitable manner. They should give attention to shifting the ball rigorously because the Hornets are fifth with 19 factors off turnovers per sport. The Celtics additionally should give attention to taking good photographs and hitting them, on going after free balls and on attending to the basket if their 3s aren’t falling. The Celtics have to have every others backs on protection and play as a group with none hero ball.
Don’t Underestimate – The Celtics can’t afford to come back out with lower than 100% effort as a result of despite the fact that the Hornets are struggling considerably, they’re very able to profitable video games if they’re underestimated. Terry Rozier at all times desires to beat his outdated group and they’re going to need to win one for him and for Gordon Hayward over their former group. The Celtics have let down towards the Thunder and Magic and misplaced due to it. They should care for enterprise on this sport with no let down.
Subsequent Man Up – The Celtics will as soon as once more be with out Jaylen Brown and can also be with out Malcolm Brogdon. Each gamers have been taking part in very effectively for the Celtics and different gamers should step as much as make up for his or her absence. The Celtics acquired good contributions from Luke Kornet, Payton Pritchard and Derrick White of their final sport. Jayson Tatum has been scuffling with accidents and will or might not be capable of have a giant sport on this one. Each participant has to step up their sport.
X-Components On the Highway – The Celtics are taking part in of their second of three consecutive highway video games. Fatigue from journey and staying in accommodations together with taking part in in a hostile enviornment can take a toll on gamers, particularly youthful gamers. The Celtics have to play by the distractions of taking part in on the highway and maintain their give attention to taking part in onerous and taking part in the suitable manner.
Officiating – The officiating is at all times an x-factor. Some referees name the sport tight and others allow them to play. Some favor the house group and others name it evenly. At instances, it appears as if among the Celtics focus extra on the officiating than they do on taking part in the sport. The Celtics should play by no matter calls go towards them and never enable unhealthy calls or no calls to remove their give attention to the sport.
