The Celtics return dwelling from a 3 sport street journey to host the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Celtics final performed on Monday once they misplaced to the Knicks in New York. The Cavaliers final performed on Sunday once they beat the Raptors at dwelling. The Celtics received 3 straight earlier than their loss on Monday. The Cavs misplaced 3 straight earlier than their win on Sunday.
That is the third of 4 common season video games between these two groups this season. The Celtics are 0-2 to date this season in opposition to the Cavs. They misplaced 132-123 in OT at Boston on October 28 they usually misplaced once more 114-113 in Cleveland on November 2. They’ll meet yet one more time in Cleveland on March 6. The Celtics received the sequence 2-1 final season, profitable as soon as at dwelling and as soon as in Cleveland. The Cavs bought their win at dwelling.
The Celtics are coming off a 2-1 street journey and now have a 3 sport dwelling stand starting with the Cavaliers and also will embrace video games in opposition to the Nets and Knick earlier than dealing with these similar Cavaliers on Monday in Cleveland. The Cavs have been alternating dwelling and away video games for the final 6 video games and could have 2 video games at dwelling after this sport together with internet hosting the Celtics on Monday.
The Celtics have led the East for a lot of the season to date however dropped into second place, half a sport behind the Bucks, who’ve received 15 in a row. They’re 4 forward of third place Philadelphia and 6 forward of 4th place Cleveland. They continue to be half a sport forward of the west main Denver Nuggets. The Celtics are 24-7 at dwelling and 7-3 of their final 10 video games. They’re 27-13 in opposition to Japanese Convention groups and are coming off a loss.
The Cavaliers are in 4th place. They’re 6 video games behind Boston and a pair of video games behind Philadelphia for third place. They’re 2.5 video games forward of the fifth place Knicks and 5 video games forward of seventh place Miami and the play-in. The Cavs are 13-18 on the street and 7-3 of their final 10 video games. They’re 23-12 in opposition to Japanese Convention opponents and they’re on the lookout for their 2nd straight win.
The Celtics anticipate Jaylen Brown to return from Monday’s absence for private causes. Mike Muscala is listed as questionable resulting from proper knee tendinopathy. He will probably be a sport time determination. Danilo Gallinari stays out as he rehabs his torn ACL. The Cavs haven’t any gamers listed on their damage record right now.
Possible Celtics Starters
Grid View
Celtics ReservesMalcolm BrogdonSam HauserPayton PritchardLuke KornetBlake GriffinGrant WilliamsDerrick White
2 Means PlayersJD DavisonMfiondu Kabengele
Out/InjuriesDanilo Gallinari (ACL) outMike Muscala (knee) questionable
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Cavaliers Starters
Grid View
Cavaliers Reserves Danny GreenCaris LeVertRobin LopezRaul NetoCedi OsmanRicky RubioDean WadeDylan Windler
2 Means PlayersMamadi DiakiteIsaiah Mobley
Out/Accidents None listed
Head Coach J.B. Bickerstaff
Key Matchups
Grid View
Jaylen Brown vs Donovan MitchellMitchell came to visit to the Cavaliers in a commerce from the Jazz within the off season. He has slot in very properly with the Cavs. He’s averaging 27.2 factors, 4.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.5 steals per sport. He’s capturing 47.9% from the sphere and 38.9% from past the arc. In opposition to the Celtics this season, he averaged 33 factors, 4 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1 steal and 1 block per sport. He shot 50% from the sphere and 44.4% from past the arc within the first two video games in opposition to the Celtics. Slowing Mitchell down will probably be key to getting a win for the Celtics.
Grid View
Marcus Sensible vs Darius Garland Garland and Donovan have fashioned a formidable backcourt for the Cavs. Garland is averaging 21.9 factors, 2.6 rebounds, 7.9 assists and 1.3 steals per sport. He missed the primary sport in opposition to the Celtics however within the second sport, he had 29 factors, 5 rebounds, 12 assists and three steals. He shot 45% from the sphere and 45.5% from past the arc. As with Mitchell, slowing him down will probably be key to profitable this sport.
Honorable MentionAl Horford vs Evan Mobley Mobley is averaging 16.0 factors, 8.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.3 blocks per sport. He’s capturing 55.2% from the sphere and 22% from past the arc. In opposition to the Celtics this season he averaged 17 factors, 8.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1 block. He shot 70% from the sphere and 25% from past the arc. He is an efficient defender and will make issues tough for the Celtics on offense. He additionally is an efficient rebounder and the Celtics might want to field out to maintain him off the boards.
Keys to the Sport Protection – Protection is at all times a key to profitable video games. The Cavaliers are a great defensive staff with a 109.6 defensive score, which is third within the league. The Celtics have a defensive score of 111.1, which is 4th. The Celtics should make protection a precedence on this sport they usually need to play that powerful protection for 48 minutes and never let up. The Cavs are going to play good protection and so the Celtics might want to match or exceed their defensive depth.
Rebound – Subsequent to protection, rebounding is a key to profitable. A lot of rebounding is effort and need and when the Celtics put out the additional effort on the boards, it normally carries via to the remainder of their sport. The Cavs are averaging 41.8 rebounds per sport (twenty third) whereas the Celtics are averaging 45.0 rebounds per sport (eighth). The Celtics must aggressively go after each rebound. The Cavs could have extra dimension inside and so the Celtics might want to make up for it with further effort in going after rebounds.
Take Care of the Ball – The Cavs common 13.8 turnovers per sport whereas the Celtics common 13.5 turnovers per sport. The Cavs have been profitable in forcing turnovers and are fifth within the league with 18.4 factors off turnovers. The Celtics must make crisp and cautious passes and look ahead to Cavs within the passing lanes. Additionally they must be cautious dribbling and never get careless and dribble right into a crowd or dribble off their toes or step out of bounds. Don’t give the Cavs further possessions.
Effort and Focus – The Celtics want to remain centered on taking part in the sport the correct means. They need to play with effort. The Cavs play laborious and so the Celtics must match that effort and play even more durable. The staff that performs more durable and is extra aggressive is normally the staff that comes out on high. The Celtics even have to remain centered. They need to concentrate on taking good photographs and making them. When they’re centered, they make their photographs. After they play with low effort and with a scarcity of focus, they’ve a sport like they did on Monday the place they shoot 44% from the sphere and 21% from past the arc.
X-FactorsRevenge – The Celtics have been outplayed all the best way round by the Cavaliers within the first sport between them. Within the second sport, the Celtics have been nearer however nonetheless got here up brief. The Cavs are possible considering that in the event that they play laborious, they will pressure the Celtics to wilt and crumble on each ends of the courtroom. The Celtics must be considering that in the event that they let up, the Cavaliers will as soon as once more beat them. The Celtics want to make use of that loss as motivation to play laborious and be aggressive and keep centered from begin to end.
Officiating – Officiating is at all times an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport somewhat in a different way with some calling it tight and others letting them play. The refs have been calling video games pretty tight and have been fast to name techs this season. The Celtics have been on the mistaken finish of huge free throw differentials within the final two video games. Complaining to the refs about dangerous calls simply appears to make it worse. The Celtics have to regulate to how the sport is being known as and concentrate on the sport and never on the officers.
