The Celtics start their 4 recreation Western a part of their 5 recreation highway journey with a cease in Denver to tackle the Nuggets. Denver is a troublesome place to play as a result of altitude. The Celtics gained the collection 2-0 final season and have gained the final 6 conferences between these two groups and seven of the final 10 video games between them. That is the 2nd and closing recreation between them this season. The Nuggets gained 102-100 on January 19 in Boston.
If any recreation will be mentioned to be an enormous recreation, this one would qualify. The Celtics are coming off a recreation through which they gave up a 22 level lead and fell asleep down the stretch and fully blew the ultimate play. They’re dealing with the defending champions, who by most experiences are favorites to win the Western Convention and return to the Finals this yr. The Celtics misplaced to them by 2 factors in Boston and so this can be a huge recreation as a result of 1) The Celtics have to get the style of that Cavs loss out of their mouths, 2) They might face the Nuggets within the Finals and might want to win there then and they should show they will, and three) they should avenge that January loss to the Nuggets in Boston.
They had been 1-1 final season with every workforce successful on their house courtroom. The Celtics are 60-39 general all time in opposition to the Nuggets and they’re 20-29 in video games performed in Denver. Each groups had lengthy win streaks damaged by a loss of their final recreation. The Nuggets 6 recreation win streak was damaged by a loss at house to the Phoenix Suns. The Celtics 11 recreation win streak was damaged by a loss on the highway to the Cavaliers.
The Celtics stay first within the East. They’re 8 video games forward of 2nd place Milwaukee, 8.5 video games forward of third place Cleveland, 12 video games forward of 4th place Orlando, 12.5 video games forward of fifth place New York, and 13 video games forward of sixth place Miami. They’re 19-10 on the highway and 9-1 of their final 10 video games. They’re 15-6 in opposition to Western Convention opponents. They’re coming off a loss of their final recreation.
The Nuggets are third within the West. They’re 1 recreation behind first place Minnesota and 2nd place Oklahoma Metropolis. They’re 1.5 video games forward of the 4th place Clippers, 5 video games forward of fifth place New Orleans, and 6 video games forward of sixth place Phoenix. They’re 24-6 at house and 6-4 of their final 10 video games. They’re 18-6 in opposition to Jap Convention groups. They’re coming off a loss of their final recreation.
The Celtics are enjoying within the 2nd recreation of a 5 recreation highway journey. They misplaced the primary recreation 104-105 in Cleveland on Tuesday. They may proceed their Western swing by means of Phoenix, Portland, and Utah. They may then head house to play Phoenix earlier than one recreation at Washington after which house video games in opposition to Detroit and Milwaukee. They then head out on a 6 recreation highway journey.
Denver is enjoying within the 2nd recreation of a 4 recreation house stand. They misplaced the primary recreation to Phoenix and can host Utah and Toronto earlier than a 4 recreation highway journey by means of Miami, San Antonio, Dallas and Minnesota. They may play New York at house after which at Portland earlier than a 5 recreation house stand in opposition to Memphis, Phoenix, Minnesota, Cleveland and San Antonio.
Jaylen Brown was questionable with knee soreness earlier than the Cleveland recreation however ended up enjoying. He’s now questionable for this recreation with a sacroiliac pressure. His standing might be a recreation time resolution. If he can’t play, I’d count on Sam Hauser to get the beginning. Neemias Queta is out with a knee harm. For Denver, solely Vlatko Cancar is out with a knee harm.
Possible Celtics Starters
Grid View
Celtics ReservesOshae BrissettSam HauserAl HorfordLuke KornetSvi MykhailiukPayton PritchardJordan WalshXavier TillmanJaden Springer
2 Means PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonNeemias Queta
Accidents/OutNeemias Queta (knee) out Jaylen Brown (sacroiliac) questionable
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Nuggets Starters
Grid View
Nuggets Reserves Christian Braun Justin HolidayReggie Jackson DeAndre JordanZeke Nnaji Jalen PickettJulian StrawtherHunter TysonPeyton Watson
2 Means PlayersCollin Gillespie Jay HuffBraxton Key
Out/Accidents Vlatko Cancar (knee) out
Head Coach Michael Malone
Key Matchups
Grid View
Kristaps Porzingis vs Nikola JokicJokic is has gained again to again MVP’s and is within the dialog for MVP each season for a cause. He’s averaging 25.9 factors, 12.3 rebounds, 9.2 assists and 1.2 steals per recreation. He’s taking pictures 57.9% from the sphere and 35% from past the arc. He’s a handful and the Celtics have to attempt to sluggish him down by any means mandatory.
Grid View
Jrue Vacation vs Jamal MurrayMurray is averaging 20.8 factors, 4.0 rebounds and 6.5 assists. He’s taking pictures 47.9% from the sphere and 41.7% from past the arc. The Celtics will want Jrue Vacation to proceed to play effectively on each ends of the courtroom and they should defend Murray very effectively as he can put up factors in a rush each on 3’s and within the paint.
Honorable Point out Jaylen Brown vs Michael Porter, JrPorter is averaging 16.6 factors, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists. He’s taking pictures 48% from the sphere and 39.6% from past the arc. Porter is an excellent 3 level shooter and they also have to stick with him on the perimeter however he may also rating within the paint. Jaylen is questionable for this recreation and if he can’t play Sam Hauser might begin or they might go together with double bigs by beginning Al Horford.
Keys to the Sport Protection – Protection is the important thing to successful each recreation. The Celtics are 2nd with a defensive ranking of 110.2 The Nuggets have a defensive ranking of 113.0, which is twentieth. The Celtics common 118.7 factors per recreation (2nd), whereas the Nuggets common 113.0 factors per recreation (ninth). The Nuggets are twenty eighth within the league in 3 level makes an attempt however sixth with 53.2 factors within the paint They do have some good 3 level shooters, however the Celtics have to notably hold them out of the paint.
Rebound – Rebounding is one other key to successful each recreation. The Celtics are 1st within the league, averaging 47.2 rebounds per recreation. The Nuggets are ninth within the league with 44.5 rebounds per recreation. Rebounding takes effort and the Celtics must work more durable to seize rebounds to restrict the Nuggets second likelihood factors and quick breaks. Of their loss in January, the Nuggets out-rebounded them 47-38. They’ll’t enable the Nuggets to outwork them on the boards once more.
Effort and Power for 48 Minutes – The Celtics should be the extra aggressive workforce. They must combat for free balls, defend aggressively, be aggressive in driving to the basket, and simply play more durable than the Nuggets for the complete recreation. They must be the workforce that desires it extra and play prefer it. They particularly have to start the sport with vitality and never enable the Nuggets to race out to an enormous lead they usually can’t let up all through the sport. They particularly have to come back out sturdy within the third quarter and play exhausting till the ultimate buzzer.
Transfer the Ball Rigorously – The Celtics have to hold shifting the ball to search out the open man and make it a lot more durable to protect them. Nonetheless, they must watch out with their passes and never flip the ball over because the Nuggets common 15.1 factors per recreation off turnovers. The Celtics additionally should be cautious after they dribble the ball and never drive right into a crowd and switch the ball over. They should keep targeted on enjoying the suitable means.
X-FactorsMile Excessive on the Highway- It’s robust to win in Denver due to the altitude that the groups are enjoying at. Denver is named the Mile Excessive Metropolis as a result of it’s 5,280 ft above sea stage. Nuggets gamers are used to the altitude however visiting groups usually wrestle with enjoying there and infrequently are fatigued earlier than the tip of the sport. It’s a very distinctive house courtroom benefit. The Celtics additionally must shake off the distractions of journey and enjoying in entrance of a hostile crowd.
Officiating – I do know that I say this each recreation, however the officiating can all the time be an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport in another way whether or not they name each little ticky tack foul or they let a whole lot of contact go and let the groups play. Some crews favor the house workforce and the Celtics should be prepared for that. The Celtics have gotten to regulate to the best way the sport is being known as and never let the calls have an effect on their focus or their play. Additionally they have to hold their minds on the sport and never consistently complain concerning the calls as that does little to alter the calls and solely irritates the referees.
And ensure to take a look at CelticsBlog’s Playback stream for a dwell dialog concerning the recreation. To take part, simply create a free account, join your LP sub in case you have it, and be a part of our neighborhood!
