The Celtics proceed their 3 recreation highway journey with a cease in Philadelphia to tackle their division rivals, the Philadelphia 76ers. That is the 2nd of 4 matches between these two groups this season. The Celtics misplaced the primary recreation 118-114 on Christmas Day in Boston. They are going to play two extra occasions after this on February 20 in Philadelphia and on March 6 in Boston. The Celtics gained the sequence 3-1 final season, shedding one recreation in Philadelphia.
Though Joel Embiid says that this isn’t a rivalry as a result of the Celtics at all times win, it positively has the makings of being a divisional rivalry. The Celtics are 270-198 general all time in opposition to the 76ers and they’re 113-141 all time in video games performed in Philadelphia. The Celtics and 76ers have met 22 occasions in NBA playoff historical past. Of these 22 playoff sequence, the Celtics have gained 15 of them.
The 76ers had a quite massive turnover in gamers this season and which may be one cause for his or her struggles this season together with horrible luck with accidents. They added Paul George, Caleb Martin, Andre Drummond, Eric Gordon and Guerschon Yabusele. Additionally they drafted Jared McCain and Adem Bona. They misplaced Mo Bamba, Robert Covington, Tobias Harris, Buddy Hield, Cameron Payne, Paul Reed, Nicolas Batum, Darius Bazley and DeAnthony Melton.
The Celtics are 2nd within the East, and are 5.5 video games behind the primary place Cavaliers who’ve gained their final 3 video games. They’re 2 video games forward of third place New York, who gained 5 straight video games earlier than shedding their final recreation, and 6.5 video games forward of 4th place Milwaukee. The Celtics are 18-6 on the highway and 6-4 of their final 10 video games. They’re 24-9 in opposition to Jap Convention opponents and 5-2 in opposition to the Atlantic Division. They’ve gained their final 2 video games.
The 76ers are eleventh within the East. They had been anticipated to problem the Celtics on the prime of the East, however not a lot has gone proper for them this season they usually sit 19.5 video games out of first place. They’re 4.5 video games behind sixth place Detroit and 1 recreation behind tenth place Chicago. They’re 4.5 video games forward of twelfth place Toronto. They’re 9-14 at house and 4-6 of their final 10 video games. They’re 14-14 in opposition to Jap Convention groups and 3-3 in opposition to the Atlantic Division. They’re coming off a loss of their final recreation.
The Celtics simply accomplished a 1-1 house stand, shedding to the Rockets and beating the Bulls. They started a 3 recreation highway journey with a 2 level win over the short-handed Pelicans, they are going to play 1 extra recreation on this highway journey in Cleveland after this recreation. Then they’ve one recreation at house in opposition to Dallas earlier than enjoying at New York and at Miami and at last, at house in opposition to San Antonio earlier than the All Star Break.
The 76ers are enjoying within the 4th recreation of a 6 recreation house stand. They started the house stand with wins over the Lakers and Kings earlier than shedding to the Nuggets. After this recreation they are going to host Dallas and Miami to finish the house stand. After that they are going to play at Detroit and Milwaukee earlier than a house recreation in opposition to Toronto. They are going to play at Brooklyn to shut out the primary half of the season earlier than the All Star Break.
The Celtics have Payton Pritchard on the damage checklist as questionable with a non-covid sickness. For the 76ers, Joel Embiid will miss his fifteenth straight recreation with a knee damage. Paul George will miss his fourth straight recreation as a result of an extensor tendon damage on his left hand. KJ Martin will miss his twenty first straight recreation as a result of a left foot damage. Jared McCain is out for the season with a lateral meniscus tear. Andre Drummond has missed the final 5 video games with a toe damage and is questionable for this recreation. Additionally questionable is Celtics killer Caleb Martin who has missed the final 11 video games with a proper hip pressure. Drummond and Martin might be a recreation time resolution.
Possible Celtics Starters
Grid View
Celtics ReservesLuke KornetAl HorfordPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaBaylor ScheiermanJaden SpringerJordan WalshXavier TillmanSam Hauser
2 Manner PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonAnton Watson
Accidents/OutPayton Pritchard (sickness) questionable
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible 76ers Starters
Grid View
76ers Reserves Adem BonaRicky Council IVReggie Jackson Kyle Lowry
2-Manner PlayersJeff Dowtin, JrJustin EdwardsPete Nance
Accidents/Out Andre Drummond (toe) questionable Caleb Martin (hip) questionableJared McCain (knee) out KJ Martin (foot) outJoel Embiid (knee) out Paul George (finger) out
Head CoachNick Nurse
Key Matchups
Grid View
Jrue Vacation
Photograph by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs
Tyrese Maxey
Photograph by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs
Jrue Vacation vs Tyrese Maxey Maxey has blossomed now that he has the keys to the workforce. Maxey is averaging 27.5 factors, 3.5 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.9 steals per recreation. He’s taking pictures 44.2% from the sphere and 34.3% from past the arc. Within the first recreation in opposition to the Celtics he completed with 33 factors, 4 rebounds, 12 assists, 1 blocks and three steals whereas taking pictures 52.2% from the sphere and 33.3% from past the arc. He’s very fast and troublesome to stick with within the open court docket. I’m hoping that Vacation and White can gradual him down.
Grid View
Jayson Tatum
Photograph by Harry How/Getty Photographs
Kelly Oubre, Jr
Photograph by Mitchell Leff/Getty Photographs
Jayson Tatum vs Kelly Oubre, JrOubre is averaging 14.4 factors, 6.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.5 steals per recreation. he’s taking pictures 46.3% from the sphere and 28.6% from past the arc. Within the first recreation in opposition to the Celtics, he completed with 4 factors, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks and 1 steal whereas taking pictures 33.3% from the sphere with no 3 pointers.
Honorable MentionKristaps Porzingis vs Guerschon YabuseleWith Embiid out with a knee damage, the 76ers have been beginning former Celtic Guerschon Yabusele who’s averaging 10.8 factors, 5.5 rebounds, and a couple of.0 assists per recreation. He’s taking pictures 51.1% from the sphere and 40% from past the arc. There have been rumors that the Celtics are enthusiastic about a commerce for his or her former draft choose. If he has a giant recreation, they could get extra critical about commerce talks.
Keys to the GameDefense – Protection will at all times be key to successful each recreation. The Celtics are fifth within the league with a defensive ranking of 109.6. The 76ers are twenty third with a defensive ranking of 114.7. The 76ers are twenty fifth within the league, averaging 109 factors per recreation. The Celtics are fifth, averaging 117.3 factors per recreation. The Celtics have to do a greater job of defending the three level line as it appears that evidently each recreation somebody goes off for a profession excessive on 3’s. They allowed the Pelicans to shoot 40.5% from past the arc. They need to do higher. They need to make protection their precedence for each possession of the sport as a result of that’s how they’ll win.
Rebound – Rebounding is second to protection as a key to successful. The Celtics are twelfth within the league, knocking down 44.8 rebounds per recreation whereas the 76ers are thirtieth with 38.8 rebounds per recreation. It takes effort to get rebounds and the Celtics should go all out of their effort to beat the Sixers on the boards. The Celtics additionally want to present themselves further possessions by rebounding on the offensive finish and hold the 76ers from getting 2nd likelihood factors on the defensive finish. The Celtics had been out-rebounded by the Pelicans 48-35. If the Celtics need to win this one, it’s essential that they go all out to crash the boards and win the rebounding battle.
Transfer the Ball Rigorously – The Celtics want to maneuver the ball with a view to discover the most effective shot on every possession. When the ball sticks and gamers attempt to do an excessive amount of, the Celtics wrestle. They’re at their finest after they go the ball and hold it transferring. They’re 14-0 after they have 30 ore extra assists. However they need to make cautious passes and never get sloppy as a result of the 76ers common 19.8 factors off turnovers per recreation (4th).
Focus and Vitality – Too many occasions, when the Celtics face a shorthanded workforce, particularly one lacking a number of stars, they arrive out sluggish and are out-played and out-worked. The Celtics want to come back out with vitality and provides the identical effort that they might if going through the highest workforce at full power. Additionally they have to remain targeted. They missed 8 free throws in opposition to the Pelicans and that may occur when gamers aren’t targeted. They’ve to remain targeted on making their pictures and enjoying workforce ball they usually need to play with full effort and vitality.
X-FactorsOn the Street – The Celtics are enjoying on the highway as soon as once more. Whether or not it’s the journey, lodge residing, or an unfamiliar enviornment and hostile followers, there are many distractions to hinder a workforce enjoying on the highway. The Celtics want to come back in targeted and never permit the distractions of enjoying away from house to maintain them from enjoying their finest.
Officiating – Officiating at all times has the chance to be an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport in another way. Some name each little bit of contact whereas some allow them to play. Some favor the house workforce and a few name it evenly and a few are simply unhealthy. Hopefully the Celtics get a crew that calls it even and lets each groups play. Nevertheless the sport is known as, they should concentrate on the sport and never permit unhealthy or no calls to take that focus away.
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