The Celtics return from their 4 sport Western highway journey to tackle the Houston Rockets. That is the second and last sport between these two groups this season. The Celtics gained the primary sport 109-86 in Houston on January 3. The Celtics gained the collection 2-0 final season. They’re 98-56 general all time towards the Rockets and they’re 52-20 all time at dwelling.
After a giant off season final 12 months the place the Rockets signed Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks and several other different veterans, they’d a comparatively quiet off season this 12 months. They signed Aaron Vacation as a free agent. They exercised the crew possibility on Jeff Inexperienced and Jae’Sean Tate. They signed Reed Sheppard, who was the #3 decide within the 2024 draft. They misplaced Reggie Bullock and Boban Marjanovic. Their beginning lineup has been the identical for the second 12 months in a row.
The Celtics stay 2nd within the East, despite their current struggles. They’ve moved to 4.5 video games behind 1st place Cleveland, who’ve misplaced their final 3 video games. They’re 2 video games forward of third place New York and 5.5 video games forward of 4th place Milwaukee. They’re 15-8 at dwelling and 6-4 of their final 10 video games. They’re 9-5 towards Western Convention groups. They’re coming off a win of their final sport.
The Rockets are 2nd within the West, 6 video games behind first place Oklahoma Metropolis. They’re tied with third place Memphis and a couple of.5 video games forward of 4th place Denver. They’re 15-6 on the highway and 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’re 11-5 towards Jap Convention opponents. They’ve gained their final 2 video games, each of which had been towards the Cavaliers.
The Celtics are enjoying within the first sport again at dwelling after a 4 sport highway journey that began with a 40 level win over the Warriors and a 4 level win over the quick handed LA Clippers together with a 21 level loss to the Lakers. They closed the highway journey with a win over the Mavericks. Subsequent, they are going to face Chicago at dwelling earlier than 3 extra on the highway via New Orleans, Philadelphia and Cleveland. Then one sport at dwelling towards Dallas earlier than enjoying at New York and Miami and residential towards San Antonio earlier than the All Star Break.
The Rockets are coming off a house and residential collection towards the Cavaliers the place they gained each video games. That is the 2nd of a 4 sport highway journey for the Rockets that may proceed via Atlanta and Memphis. They are going to face Brooklyn at dwelling earlier than one other 4 sport highway journey via New York, Brooklyn, Minnesota, and Dallas. They are going to then host Toronto, Phoenix, and Golden State earlier than the All Star Break.
The Celtics have 3 gamers on the damage listing presently. Derrick White is questionable with a shin damage that should have occurred within the Dallas sport. Sam Hauser is questionable with a hip impingement. Additionally, Al Horford is questionable with a toe sprain. Each are a sport time resolution. For the Rockets, Jabari Smith, Jr is out with a hand damage and Cam Whitmore is questionable with an sickness.
Possible Celtics Starters
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Celtics ReservesLuke KornetPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaSam HauserBaylor ScheiermanJaden SpringerXavier Tillman, SrJordan Walsh
2 Manner PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonAnton Watson
Accidents/OutDerrick White (shin) questionable Al Horford (toe) questionableSam Hauser (hip) questionable
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Rockets Starters
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Rockets Reserves Steven AdamsJeff GreenAaron HolidayJock LandaleReed SheppardJae’Sean TateTari EasonJock Landale
2-Manner Gamers N’Faly DanteJack McVeighNate Williams
Accidents/Out Cam Whitmore (sickness) questionableJabari Smith, Jr (hand) out
Head CoachIme Udoka
Key Matchups
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Derrick White
Picture by Jason Miller/Getty Photographs
Jalen Inexperienced
Picture by Michael Hickey/Getty Photographs
Derrick White vs Jalen GreenGreen is averaging 21.4 factors, 4.3 rebounds, and a couple of.8 assists per sport. He’s taking pictures 43.2% from the sector and 36.3% from past the arc. Inexperienced is the Rockets’ main scorer and the Celtics must be conscious that he can put up quite a lot of factors if not defended properly. If White is out I count on Jaylen Brown to maneuver to taking pictures guard.
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Kristaps Porzingis
Picture by Andy Lyons/Getty Photographs
Alperen Sengun
Picture by Jeff Haynes/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs
Kristaps Porzingis vs Alperen SengunSengun is averaging 19.3 factors, 10.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.3 steals per sport. He’s taking pictures 49.1% from the sector and 23.4% from past the arc. Sengun just isn’t a giant menace from the perimeter, however he can hit 3’s if left open. The Celtics must field out as he is an effective rebounder. He’s additionally a really bodily participant so that they must be prepared for that.
Honorable Point out Jayson Tatum vs Amen Thompson Thompson is averaging 13.2 factors, 8.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.1 blocks per sport. He’s taking pictures 55.6% from the sector and 23.4% from past the arc. He’s coming off a 23 level, 14 rebound, 10 help triple double towards the Cavaliers and is averaging 17.7 factors in his final 10 video games. He didn’t play within the first sport between these two groups and the Celtics must be able to play good protection on him on this sport.
Keys to the Recreation Protection – Protection is all the time a key to successful. Gamers wrestle on offense in some video games, however they will all the time play protection. The Rockets are averaging 114.2 factors per sport (thirteenth). The Celtics are averaging 117.3 factors per sport (4th). The Rockets are 4th with a defensive ranking of 108.4 whereas the Celtics are fifth with a defensive ranking of 109.6. The Celtics have to stay to their defensive id on this one as a result of the Rockets play powerful protection and the Celtics can’t rely on a shoot out to win. Protection will probably decide the winner of this sport.
Rebound – With a view to rating, the Celtics want the ball and to get the ball, they might want to crash the boards as a crew. The Celtics common 45.1 rebounds per sport (tenth) whereas the Rockets common 48.4 rebounds per sport (1st). A lot of rebounding is effort and when the Celtics put out additional effort on the boards, it normally carries over into the remainder of their sport. The Rockets are 1st within the league with 17.6 second likelihood factors per sport. The Rockets are an excellent rebounding crew and so the Celtics should come into the sport decided to place out additional effort and to hustle for each rebound to restrict 2nd likelihood factors for the Rockets.
Be Aggressive and Keep Centered – The Celtics should be aggressive in taking the ball to the basket and never settling for 3 tips on each possession, particularly if the 3s aren’t falling. Additionally they should be aggressive in hustling for rebounds and for free balls. And so they should be aggressive on protection. The Rockets win by enjoying onerous and the Celtics should play more durable than the Rockets in the event that they need to win this sport. Additionally they want to hold that aggressiveness via all 4 quarters with no let up. Additionally they want to remain centered on taking good pictures and making them. They should preserve their give attention to enjoying crew ball.
Be Constant – The Celtics have been up and down now for a lot of the months of December and January. One sport they lose to a crew that they clearly ought to have beat. The following sport they win in a blowout over a contender. One sport they provide up a giant lead and lose down the stretch. The following sport they arrive from behind to get a win. The Celtics must get again to giving constant effort each sport and each quarter. No let up and no straightforward straightforward pictures for his or her opponent.
X-Components At Dwelling After a Highway Journey – The Celtics are at dwelling the place they haven’t been their finest this season. already shedding twice as many video games at dwelling than they did all final season. The Celtics have the group behind them and if they provide effort, win or lose, the followers will cheer them on and assist to encourage them. The primary sport at dwelling after a highway journey is all the time a tricky sport. The Celtics will want additional focus and energy to get a win on this one.
Teaching – The Rockets are led by former Celtics coach Ime Udoka, who left Boston underneath lower than fascinating circumstances. He was suspended for violating crew guidelines and assistant coach Joe Mazzulla was made interim coach. Finally, Udoka was formally launched and Mazzulla was made head coach. I’m certain that Udoka would love nothing greater than to beat the crew that permit him go after he led that crew to the Finals. He will even have his crew motivated to avenge 2 losses to the Celtics final season and another in Houston this season
Officiating – The officiating is all the time an x-factor. Some referees name the sport tight and others allow them to play. Some favor the house crew and others name it evenly. The Celtics should play via no matter calls go towards them and never permit dangerous calls or no calls to remove their give attention to the sport.
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