The Celtics and Nuggets meet for the second time in 3 days as they proceed their preseason slate of video games. The Celtics gained the primary sport between these two groups 107-103 on Friday in Abu Dhabi. After this sport, each groups will return residence to finish their preseason. On Friday, the starters performed simply the primary half after which sat within the second half and let the reserves end the sport. I anticipate that sample to proceed on this sport as nicely.
The Celtics misplaced the collection to the Nuggets 0-2 final season, dropping 109-115 in Denver and 100-102 in Boston. The Celtics return final yr’s workforce principally intact, dropping simply Svi Mykhailiuk and Oshae Brissett. They’ve added Baylor Scheierman and Anton Watson by way of the draft and Lonnie Walker IV as a free agent on a coaching camp contract. On Friday, Scheierman performed simply over 7 minutes whereas Walker and Watson noticed simply over 4 minutes of motion. I anticipate that we may even see extra of these 3 on this sport.
The Nuggets misplaced their beginning two guard, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the Orlando Magic in free company. In addition they misplaced Reggie Jackson and Justin Vacation. They’ve added a few very key gamers in Russell Westbrook and Dario Saric together with DaRon Holmes II. Westbrook performed 18 minutes whereas Saric performed 14 minutes, with each taking part in pretty nicely for the Nuggets.
The most important query for the Nuggets is who will inherit the beginning capturing guard spot with Caldwell-Pope gone. Most imagine that Christian Braun will fill that spot however Malone might go along with Julian Strawther, and even Russell Westbrook. Braun began on Friday and performed 13 strong minutes. Strawther got here off the bench to play very nicely for 22 minutes.
The most important query for the Celtics would be the middle rotation with Kristaps Porzingis out till December. I anticipated Al Horford to get the beginning on Friday however Luke Kornet received the beginning and Horford obtained a DNP-CD. Kornet performed 21 very strong minutes. Xavier Tillman and Neemias Queta performed nearly 15 and 13 minutes respectively. Horford might begin on this sport or he might come off the bench or he might obtain one other DNP-CD. I’m going to incorporate him within the starters as a result of that’s as seemingly as anybody else.
Kristaps Porzingis is the one participant on the harm record for the Celtics. He’s out after having ankle surgical procedure after the playoffs and is anticipated to be out till at the least December. For the Nuggets, Peyton Watson stays out with a hamstring harm. The harm will not be severe however he’s anticipated to overlook at the least the primary two preseason matchups. DaRon Holmes is out after tearing his Achilles tendon in Summer time League.
Possible Celtics Starters
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Celtics ReservesSam HauserLuke KornetPayton PritchardNeemias Queta Baylor ScheiermanJaden SpringerXavier Tillman, SrJordan Walsh
2 Manner PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonAnton Watson
Coaching Camp ContractsTristan EnarunaRon Harper, JrDmytro SkapintsevLonnie Walker IV
Accidents/OutKristaps Porzingis (ankle) out
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Nuggets Starters
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Nuggets Reserves Vlatko CancarDeAndre JordanZeke Nnaji Dario SaricJulian StrawtherHunter TysonRussell Westbrook
2 Manner PlayersTrey AlexanderPJ HallSpencer Jones
Coaching Camp Contracts Gabe McGlothanJaylin Williams Jahmir Younger
Out/Accidents DaRon Holmes II (Achilles) out Peyton Watson (hamstring) out
Head Coach Michael Malone
Key Matchups
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Payton Pritchard
Photograph by Adam Glanzman/Getty Pictures
Russell Westbrook
Photograph by Francois Nel/Getty Pictures
Payton Pritchard vs Russell Westbrook These two gamers got here off the bench to guide their respective groups. Payton Pritchard completed with 21 factors, 4 rebounds and 6 assists whereas capturing 46.2% from the sector and 50% from past the arc. Westbrook completed with 12 factors, 4 rebounds and eight assists whereas capturing 30% from the sector and 50% from past the arc.
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Al Horford
Photograph by Adam Glanzman/Getty Pictures
Nikola Jokic
Photograph by Matthew Stockman/Getty Pictures
Al Horford vs Nikola Jokic Horford didn’t play in Friday’s sport and we might or might not see him on this sport. Kornet held his personal in opposition to Jokic on Friday ending with 6 factors, 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal whereas capturing 60% from the sector. Jokic completed with 14 factors, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and a couple of steals whereas capturing 71%. If Horford doesn’t begin, Kornet will seemingly begin as soon as once more.
Honorable MentionDrew Peterson vs Julian StrawtherI’m guessing that the starters will play restricted minutes as soon as once more and so the reserves will likely be key to profitable this sport. Peterson performed nicely in his 12 minutes and was the star of the 4th quarter. He completed with 10 factors, 3 rebounds, and 1 steal whereas capturing 44% from the sector and 40% from past the arc. Strawther completed with 11 factors, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 block in 22 minutes whereas capturing 50% from the sector and 33% from past the arc.
Keys to the Sport Protection – Whether or not it’s preseason, common season or put up season, protection will at all times be the important thing to profitable video games. Final season, the Celtics had been first within the league with a defensive ranking of 108.2 and the Nuggets had been fifth with a defensive ranking of 110.9. The Celtics have to make protection a precedence as soon as once more this season in the event that they need to repeat as champions.
Rebounding – Rebounding is one other key to profitable each sport. Final season, the Celtics had been 1st within the league, averaging 46.3 rebounds per sport. The Nuggets had been 2nd within the league with 44.4 rebounds per sport. On Friday, the Celtics pulled down 44 rebounds to 49 for the Nuggets. Rebounding takes effort and the Celtics need to work more durable to seize rebounds to restrict the Nuggets second likelihood factors and quick breaks. The Celtics can’t permit the Nuggets to outwork them on the boards.
3 Level Capturing – The Celtics relied on capturing threes final season. They had been first within the league, taking 43.5 three pointers per sport. They had been additionally 1st within the league, making 16.5 threes a sport. On Friday, they took capturing 3’s to a different stage, taking a report 61 three pointers. Michael Malone has stated that he desires his workforce to shoot extra threes this season. Final season they had been tenth in 3 level proportion with 37.4% however they had been thirtieth in 3 level makes an attempt with simply 31.2 per sport. On Friday, they took 32 threes. The Celtics made simply 32.8% whereas the Nuggets made 37.5% of their 3’s.
Depth – With the starters taking part in restricted minutes, the depth of those groups will likely be examined. In Friday’s sport, the Celtics starters had been outplayed by the Nuggets starters. On the half, when the starters had been completed, the Nuggets led 63-56. The Celtics’ reserves had been capable of outplay the Nuggets’ reserves 51 to 40 within the second half to drag out the win for the Celtics.
X-Components It’s the Preseason – Regardless that these are particular video games in Abu Dhabi, it’s nonetheless the preseason. Participant growth, constructing chemistry, and participant analysis are nonetheless a very powerful factor for coaches within the preseason. We’ll most likely see extra of the rookies on this sport in addition to the gamers on camp contracts as coaches consider the gamers on the bubble for enjoying time and attempt to protect their starters for the common season.
Officiating – I do know that I say this each sport, however the officiating can at all times be an x-factor even within the preseason and even in Abu Dhabi. Each crew calls the sport in a different 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. The refs are of their preseason additionally, so it’s onerous to understand how they’ll name this one. The Celtics have gotten to regulate to the way in which the sport is being known as and never let the calls have an effect on their focus or their play.
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