After letting the Bulls take management within the 4th quarter and steal the win on Thursday, the Celtics responded of their Saturday night time rematch. They led by simply 7 heading in to the third quarter, however due to an enormous sport by Jayson Tatum, Boston was in a position to seize a sport excessive 29-point lead within the 4th, and ended up successful the sport by 25. Tonight, they face a scrappy Orlando group.
The Magic will probably be very brief handed. Their two finest gamers, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, are each sidelined with torn obliques. Orlando additionally simply misplaced one in all their feistiest gamers, somebody who was within the operating for Sixth Man of the 12 months, and a former Celtic, Moritz Wagner, to a torn ACL. They might additionally doubtlessly be with out their place to begin guard, Jalen Suggs, who has been their engine all through the season. If he does miss the sport, Orlando will probably be with out their prime 4 main scorers, their subsequent highest being Goga Bitadze who averages 9.5 factors per sport.
Wil Boston play with its meals, or will they preserve their foot on the fuel pedal from the beginning?
Whereas this isn’t the Celtics group of years previous that persistently performed all the way down to their competitors, they’ve had quite a lot of video games that caught them abruptly this season, and ended up being a lot nearer than they need to have been. We’ve seen shut video games in opposition to Washington, Toronto, and most not too long ago, Chicago. Nobody expects them to win all 82 video games, however their dominance final season did set excessive expectations in opposition to lesser groups.
Video games like this could generally be seen as entice video games, much like the stunning loss the Celtics took in opposition to the Lakers final yr whereas they have been with out LeBron James and Anthony Davis. We’ve additionally seen Boston drop a sport in opposition to Atlanta earlier this season whereas they have been taking part in with out Trae Younger. The Magic have been with out Suggs for his or her matchup in opposition to the Miami Warmth on Saturday, and in that sport, Cole Anthony exploded to steer the group again from a 22-pont 4th quarter deficit to a 7-point win, beautiful Miami.
One sport won’t ever outline a season, however tonight’s sport in opposition to a depleted Magic group may give us have a look at their mindset for this season. As of now they appear to be pacing themselves greater than they have been final season, however they need to nonetheless be capable to come out and dominate video games like tonight’s.
How a lot of Saturday’s efficiency will Tatum carry over?
Jayson Tatum went nuclear in opposition to the Bulls on Saturday night time, pulling out 43 factors, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists on an insane 86.4% true-shooting. Chicago isn’t a group identified for its protection, although, ranked twenty fourth within the league. The Magic are a lot more durable, boasting the third finest defensive ranking within the league.
Jonathan Isaac is an underrated wing defender, and has given Tatum some hassle up to now. His massive 6’10 body, coupled along with his lengthy wingspan and stable defensive instincts makes him a troublesome man to beat. He’s presently second on the group in blocks per sport at 1.4, and averages 0.7 steals to associate with it. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is one other distinctive defender who the Magic introduced on this offseason, primarily for that cause. He’s presently second on the group in steals per sport at 1.6. Orlando additionally has a terrific paint presence with Goga Bitadze, who presently leads the group in blocks at 1.6 per sport.
Even with out Franz, Mo, Paolo, and doubtlessly Suggs, the Magic have a formidable protection. They’re extraordinarily lively on that finish of the courtroom, and will definitely be seeking to comprise Tatum as a lot as potential. We could find yourself seeing a sport the place Tatum is pushed extra in direction of utilizing his playmaking expertise than his scoring means.
Will the Celtics be capable to re-discover their three-point rhythm?
Jayson didn’t get an entire lot of help from past the arc on Saturday. Excluding him, the group was a mixed 6 for 30 from vary, simply 20%. Derrick White and Jaylen Brown have been a mixed 0 for 11. Kristaps Porzingis and Payton Pritchard each knocked down two a bit, and Jrue Vacation and Al Horford each knocked down one every, accounting for all 6 of the non-Tatum makes.
Every of the 4 solely shot 33.3% from three. This comes after the group had its second lowest 3P% of the season in opposition to the Chicago on Thursday, at simply 25%. Since Tatum will probably be the main focus of the Orlando protection, it turns into much more essential for the remainder of the Celtics to step up on the offensive facet and knock down open pictures. That turns into very true in opposition to a top-ranked protection that provides up the fewest threes per sport within the league.
