The Celtics proceed their highway journey with a recreation in opposition to their very long time rival, the Los Angeles Lakers. That is the primary of two video games between these two groups this season. They may meet for a second time in Boston on March 8. The collection was tied 1-1 final season with every group profitable on the highway. The Celtics are 166-134 total all time in opposition to the Lakers. They’re 55-77 on the highway in opposition to them.
The Celtics stay 2nd within the East and after a win by the Celtics and a loss by the Cavs on Wednesday, they’re 5.5 video games behind first place Cleveland. They’re 2.5 video games forward of the third place Knicks and 5.5 video games forward of 4th place Milwaukee. The Celtics are 16-5 on the highway and 6-4 of their final 10 video games. They’re 7-4 in opposition to Western Convention groups and have gained their final 2 video games.
The Lakers are sixth within the West, 11.5 video games behind 1st place Oklahoma Metropolis and half a recreation behind the fifth place Los Angeles Clippers. They’re 1 recreation forward of seventh place Dallas. The Lakers are 15-6 at residence and 5-5 of their final 10 video games. They’re 7-7 in opposition to Jap Convention opponents and are coming off a win of their final recreation.
The Celtics are taking part in the third recreation of a 4 recreation highway journey that began with a 40 level win over the Warriors and a 4 level win over the quick handed LA Clippers. They may go to Dallas to complete the highway journey. They then face Houston and Chicago at residence earlier than 3 extra on the highway via New Orleans, Philadelphia and Cleveland. Then one recreation at residence in opposition to Dallas earlier than taking part in at New York and Miami and residential in opposition to San Antonio earlier than the All Star Break.
The Lakers are taking part in within the second straight residence recreation They beat the Wizards at residence on Tuesday. After this recreation, they’ll head out on a 6 recreation highway journey that can take them via Golden State, Charlotte, Philadelphia, Washington, New York, and at last the Los Angeles Clippers. They may then play Golden State, Indiana, and Utah at residence and at Utah earlier than the All Star Break.
The stood pat for probably the most half this off season, bringing again the core group to attempt for a second championship. The Lakers added Dalton Knecht and Bronny James, Jr via the draft. They misplaced Taurean Prince and Spencer Dinwiddie to free company. They traded D’Angelo Russell and Maxwell Lewis for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton. Their largest transfer was to fireplace head coach Darvin Ham and rent JJ Redick.
Since Jrue Vacation, Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis all have been out in opposition to the Clippers on Thursday, I’m guessing that every one three will play on this one, regardless that at the moment all 3 are listed as questionable. For the Lakers, Jalen Hood-Schifino (hamstring), Jarred Vanderbilt (foot) and Christian Wooden (knee) are all out. LeBron James (foot) and Anthony Davis (calf) are listed as questionable, however I’m guessing that each will play.
Possible Celtics Starters
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Celtics ReservesLuke KornetPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaSam HauserBaylor ScheiermanJaden SpringerXavier Tillman, SrJordan WalshAl Horford
2 Manner PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonAnton Watson
Accidents/OutAl Horford (toe) questionable Kristaps Porzingis (sickness) questionable Jrue Vacation (shoulder) questionable
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Lakers Starters
Grid View
Lakers ReservesDorian Finney-SmithJaxon HayesBronny James, JrDalton KnechtShake Milton Cam ReddishGabe Vincent
2 Manner Gamers Trey Jemison III Christian Koloko Armel Traore
Accidents/Out Jalen Hood-Schifino (hamstring) out Jarred Vanderbilt (foot) out Christian Wooden (knee) out LeBron James (foot) questionable Anthony Davis (calf) questionable
Head Coach JJ Redick
Key Matchups
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Kristaps Porzingis
Picture by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Pictures
Anthony Davis
Picture by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Pictures
Kristaps Porzingis vs Anthony Davis Davis has been taking part in nicely and is averaging 25.6 factors, 11.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.3 steals and a couple of.2 blocks per recreation. He’s capturing 52% from the sphere and 31.8% from past the arc. I’m hoping that Porzingis performs to gradual Davis down as protecting him in verify will likely be essential if the Celtics hope to win this recreation. Davis is listed as a recreation time choice however I‘m guessing that he’ll play.
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Jayson Tatum
Picture by Brian Babineau/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures
LeBron James
Picture by Bob Levey/Getty Pictures
Jayson Tatum vs LeBron James LeBron is averaging 23.8 factors, 7.4 rebounds, 8.9 help and 1.1 steals per recreation. He’s capturing 51.4% from the sphere and 40.3% from past the arc. Even at 40 years previous, LeBron is making a distinction for the Lakers. He all the time appears to place out further effort when he performs in opposition to the Celtics as nicely. The Celtics must attempt to stop him from getting inside and from getting open photographs since he has been capturing very nicely from the perimeter.
Honorable MentionJrue Vacation vs Austin ReevesReeves is averaging 18.4 factors, 4.2 rebounds and 6.0 assists per recreation. He’s capturing 44.5% from the sphere and 36.9% from past the arc. The Celtics must play Reeves for each the shot and the move.
Keys to the Recreation Protection – I can’t say it sufficient that protection is an important key to profitable. The Celtics are fifth within the league with a defensive score of 109.3. The Lakers are twenty second with a defensive score of 115.0. The Celtics have performed good protection on and off in current video games however they nonetheless are usually not constant on that finish. They need to keep dedicated to taking part in robust, lock down protection, particularly in opposition to a Lakers group with some excellent offensive weapons. The Celtics should particularly defend within the paint because the Lakers are twelfth within the league with 49.7 factors within the paint per recreation.
Rebound – Rebounding takes effort and vitality and the Celtics will want each to out-rebound the Lakers. The Celtics must crash the boards and preserve the Lakers from getting second probability factors and quick breaks. The Celtics are averaging 45.3 rebounds per recreation (tenth) whereas the Lakers are averaging 41.0 rebounds per recreation (twenty eighth). The Celtics should put out further vitality and energy to beat the Lakers to rebounds.
Be Aggressive – The Celtics have to be the extra aggressive group. They must be aggressive in going to the basket, in diving for unfastened balls, and on protection. They must aggressively crash the boards. They must be the group that desires it extra. In most of their losses, they’ve allowed their opponents to play more durable and be extra aggressive. They completely can’t let the Lakers play more durable than them in the event that they need to have an opportunity to win.
Play Group Ball – The Celtics are at their finest once they preserve the ball transferring and discover the open man and the perfect shot. After they play iso ball and gamers attempt to do an excessive amount of individually, they falter. They should transfer the ball rigorously to keep away from turnovers and they should play group ball with none participant making an attempt to do an excessive amount of.
X-Components
Again to Again on the Highway – The Celtics are taking part in within the second of again to again video games on the highway. They’re 5-2 up to now on the second evening and 3-0 when each video games are on the highway. Nevertheless, they performed a troublesome recreation in opposition to the Clippers that went to time beyond regulation and fatigue may come into play on this recreation. The Celtics must dig deep and play via the fatigue. The Celtics will even want contributions from their reserves to maintain the starters recent for the top of the sport. Additionally they must battle the distractions of taking part in on the highway and preserve their concentrate on taking part in the fitting approach.
Pleasure – “Beat LA” is without doubt one of the most iconic chants in sports activities. It is a storied rivalry and regardless of the circumstances, the Celtics all the time need to beat the Lakers and vice versa. The Celtics must concentrate on the sport and on taking part in aggressive basketball. It’s a matter of satisfaction and the Celtics must get the job accomplished and “Beat LA”. Alternatively, LeBron all the time has a chip on his shoulder in opposition to the Celtics and LeBron and his teammates are going to provide further effort to beat certainly one of their largest rivals.
Officiating – The officiating is all the time an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport otherwise and the Celtics must adapt to how the sport is being known as and never enable unhealthy calls and no calls to remove their focus. Should you doubt that officiating is an x-factor, simply suppose again to the final Finals between these two groups. In recreation 7, the Celtics have been up 6 going into the 4th quarter. The refs had known as the sport evenly up till then. However within the 4th quarter, the referees took over and it price the Celtics that recreation. The Lakers took 21 free throws within the 4th quarter alone whereas the Celtics took 6. The Lakers took extra free throws within the 4th quarter than they did within the first 3 quarters mixed. (Sure, I’m nonetheless bitter about this.) Hopefully they name it truthful on this recreation and let each groups play.
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