The Celtics search for their eighth straight win as they go to the New York Knicks at Madison Sq. Backyard. That is the 4th of 5 video games between these two groups this season. The Celtics are 3-0 to date, profitable 108-104 in New York on 10/25, 114-98 in Boston on 11/13, and 133-123 in Boston on 12/18. They’ve yet another sport after this one on April 11.
The Celtics stay first within the East, 7.5 video games forward of 2nd place Cleveland, 8.5 video games forward of third place Milwaukee, 10 video games forward of 4th place New York, 11 video games forward of fifth place Philadelphia, and 12.5 video games forward of sixth place Indiana. They’re 18-9 on the street and 9-1 of their final 10 video games. They’re 31-6 in opposition to Japanese Convention groups and 13-1 in opposition to Atlantic Division groups. They’ve received their final 7 video games. (Milwaukee remains to be taking part in as I write this).
The Knicks are 4th within the East, 10 video games behind 1st place Boston, 2.5 video games behind 2nd place Cleveland, and 1.5 sport behind third place Milwaukee. They’re 1 video games forward of fifth place Philadelphia, 2.5 video games forward of sixth place Indiana and three video games forward of seventh place Orlando and having to compete within the play in video games. They’re 19-8 at hom and 5-5 of their final 10 video games. They’re 23-12 in opposition to the Japanese Convention and 7-3 in opposition to the Atlantic Division. They’re coming off a win of their final sport.
The Celtics are taking part in of their second straight sport on the street. They beat the Bulls at Chicago 129-112 on Thursday. After this sport, they’ll head residence for 3 straight video games at TD Backyard in opposition to Philadelphia, Dallas, and Golden State. After that, they’ve a 5 sport street journey by means of Cleveland, Denver, Phoenix, Portland and Utah.
The Knicks are coming off a 1-2 street journey and are taking part in within the first of a 4 sport residence stand. After this sport, they’ll play Detroit and New Orleans again to again on Monday and Tuesday after which Golden State. Subsequent they play at Cleveland earlier than returning residence for 4 extra, internet hosting Atlanta, Orlando and a pair of video games in opposition to Philadelphia.
The Celtics have nobody on the damage checklist presently. For the Knicks, OG Anunoby is out after having proper elbow surgical procedure on February 8. Mitchell Robinson has missed the Knicks’ final 34 video games after present process left ankle surgical procedure and can miss this sport as effectively. Julius Randle has been out since he injured his shoulder Jan. 27 and can be out for this sport as effectively.
Possible Celtics Starters
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Celtics ReservesOshae BrissettSam HauserAl HorfordLuke KornetSvi MykhailiukPayton PritchardJordan WalshXavier TillmanJaden Springer
2 Manner Gamers JD Davison Drew PetersonNeemias Queta
Accidents/OutNone
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Knicks Starters
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Knicks Reserves Miles McBride Alec BurksDaquan JeffriesBojan BogdanovicJericho SimsJacob Toppin
2 Manner Gamers Duane Washington, JrCharlie Brown, Jr
Accidents/Out OG Anunoby (elbow) out Mitchell Robinson (ankle) outJulius Randle (shoulder) out Miles McBride (sickness) questionable
Head Coach Tom Thibodeau
Key Matchups
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Jrue Vacation vs Jalen BrunsonBrunson is averaging 27.5 factors, 3.8 rebound, and 6.6 assists per sport. He’s capturing 47.9% from the sphere and 40.6% from past the arc. In opposition to the Celtics this season he averaged 21.3 factors, 2.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.7 steals. He shoots a excessive share from 3 and so the Celtics must defend him effectively on the perimeter.
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Sam Hauser vs Bojan BogdanovicThe Knicks introduced Bojan Bogdanovic over from Detroit on the deadline and he’ll add one other sharpshooter to their staff. He’s averaging 19.8 factors, 3.3 rebounds, and a pair of.3 assists per sport. He’s capturing 47.1% from the sphere and 42.4% from past the arc for the season. In opposition to the Celtics this season, he’s averaging 17 factors, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists per sport. He’ll probably come off the bench for the Knicks and so the Celtics will want their second unit to maintain him off the three level line and off the boards.
Honorable Point out Derrick White vs Donte DiVincenzoDiVincenzo is averaging 13.7 factors, 3.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.2 steals per sport. He’s capturing 45.6% from the sphere and 41.4% from past the arc. He has struggled in opposition to the Celtics this season averaging solely 3.7 factors, 2.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per sport whereas capturing simply 25% from the sphere and 25% from past the arc.
Keys to the Recreation Protection – Protection is the important thing to profitable each sport. The Knicks common 114.4 factors per sport (seventeenth) whereas the Celtics common 120.8 factors per sport (fifth). The Celtics have a defensive score of 110.6 (2nd) whereas the Knicks have a defensive score of 112.8 (seventh). Each groups wish to be defensive minded however each groups overlook their defensive id sometimes. The Celtics have gotten to make protection a precedence and play harder staff protection than the Knicks in the event that they hope to get a win on this sport.
Rebound – The Celtics can’t rating in the event that they don’t have the ball, and one of the simplest ways to get the ball is to seize rebounds. The Celtics must rebound as a staff with each Celtic battling on the boards. It would take a staff effort to beat the Knicks, who’re 4th within the league in rebounding with 45.8 per sport. The Celtics are 1st with 47.1 rebounds per sport however are inclined to get lazy in opposition to bodily groups that struggle for rebounds. The Knicks are tied for first with 16.6 second probability factors per sport and so the Celtics must crash the boards to forestall giving the Knicks additional factors on this sport.
Transfer the Ball Fastidiously – The Celtics want to maneuver the ball and discover teammates for the most effective photographs accessible. They play their greatest when the ball is shifting and they’re discovering the open man. They battle when the ball sticks and gamers attempt to do an excessive amount of and play iso ball. Nevertheless, they should make cautious passes as a result of the Knicks common 16.5 factors off turnovers per sport and if the Celtics get sloppy, they’ll make them pay.
Be Aggressive – The Celtics must be the extra aggressive staff. They must be extra aggressive in going after unfastened balls, in grabbing rebounds, in defending, and in going to the basket. They should hustle and be aggressive for 48 minutes each sport however particularly in opposition to the Knicks as a result of Thibs has them taking part in arduous each sport. They will win numerous video games by taking part in more durable than their opponents they usually can lose numerous video games by permitting their opponents to be the staff that performs more durable.
Play All Out 48 Minutes – The Knicks are taking part in with out key gamers and too typically the Celtics play with lower than 100% effort when dealing with a staff weakened by accidents. They did that in opposition to the Lakers with 2 stars out they usually misplaced a sport they need to have received. They will’t afford to try this in the event that they wish to win this sport. They must play arduous from the opening tip till the ultimate buzzer and never permit the Knicks to out-work them for any stretch throughout the sport.
X-Components On the Highway Once more – The Celtics are taking part in their 2nd straight sport on the street. They should overcome the distractions of taking part in on the street and in entrance of a hostile crowd and keep targeted on taking part in the appropriate method. Even in simply their 2nd straight street sport, groups can get street weary and the Celtics must struggle in opposition to that by staying targeted on taking part in arduous and getting a win.
Officiating – Officiating at all times has the potential to be an x-factor. Every officiating crew calls the sport in another way. Some refs name it tight and always name fouls whereas others allow them to play with few fouls known as. The Celtics want to regulate to how the refs are calling the sport and never permit unhealthy calls or no calls to remove their focus.
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