The Celtics host the New York Knicks for the second of 4 conferences this season. The Celtics gained the primary assembly at New York 133-118 on November 5. They’ll meet once more at Madison Sq. Backyard on March 1. They’ll meet once more in Boston on February 27. They tied the sequence 2-2 final season with every crew profitable twice on their residence courtroom.
The Knicks are coming off a win at residence over the Cavaliers. That is the primary of two video games on the highway for them with the second in Brooklyn on Saturday. The Celtics simply completed a 3 recreation highway journey that led to 2 losses to the Magic and the Warmth. That is the primary of a 4 recreation residence stand that can even embody the Lakers, Nets and Suns.
The Celtics stay 1st within the East. They’re 3 video games forward of 2nd place Philadelphia, 3.5 video games forward of third place Milwaukee and 5 video games forward of 4th place Brooklyn. They’re 18-5 at residence and 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’re 20-10 towards Japanese Convention opponents and 6-0 towards the Atlantic Division. They’ve misplaced their final 2 video games.
The Knicks are seventh within the East, within the first play-in place. They’re 1 recreation behind Miami for the sixth spot and a playoff berth. They’re 4 forward of eleventh place Cleveland to maneuver out of the play-in spots. They’re 14-10 on the highway (however simply 12-13 at residence) and 5-5 of their final 10 video games. They’re 17-14 towards Japanese Convention groups and 2-6 towards the Atlantic Division. They’re in search of their second straight win.
The Celtics shall be with out Marcus Good for the third straight recreation as he recovers from an ankle sprain. I’m going to guess that Derrick White will begin in his place. Danilo Gallinari stays out as he rehabs from the torn ACL. Malcolm Brogdon (private) and Jaylen Brown (adductor) are each anticipated to return for this recreation. For the Knicks, Mitchell Robinson is out after having thumb surgical procedure. Evan Fournier is a recreation time resolution as a result of private causes.
Possible Celtics Starters
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PG: Derrick WhiteSG:Jaylen BrownSF: Jayson TatumPF: Al HorfordC: Robert Williams III
Celtics ReservesMalcolm BrogdonGrant WilliamsSam HauserLuke KornetBlake GriffinJustin Jackson
2 Approach PlayersJD DavisonMfiondu Kabengele
Out/InjuriesDanilo Gallinari (ACL) outMarcus Good (ankle) out
Head Coach (Interim)Joe Mazzulla
Possible Knicks Starters
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PG: Jalen BrunsonSG: Quentin GrimesSF: RJ BarrettPF: Julius Randle C: Jericho Sims
Knicks ReservesRyan ArcidiaconoIsaiah HartensteinMiles McBrideSvi MykhailiukImmanuel QuickleyCam ReddishDerrick RoseObi Toppin
2 Approach PlayersDaquan JeffriesTrevor Keels
Out/InjuriesMitchell Robinson (thumb) outEvan Fournier (private) questionable
Head CoachTom Thibodeau
Key Matchups
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Derrick White vs Jalen BrunsonBrunson came visiting to the Knicks from the Mavericks this off season and has match very properly with the Knicks. He’s averaging 22.3 factors, 3.5 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.0 steal per recreation. He’s capturing 46.8% from the sphere and 40.4% from past the arc. Within the first recreation towards the Celtics he completed with 22 factors, 3 rebounds, and 10 assists. He shot 58.8% from the sphere and didn’t take a 3 pointer.
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Al Horford vs Julius Randle Randle is averaging 24.6 factors, 10.9 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per recreation. He’s capturing 46% from the sphere and 34.5% from past the arc. Within the first recreation this season Randle had 29 factors, 9 rebounds and a pair of assists whereas capturing 52.6% from the sphere and 42.9% from past the arc. The Celtics must hold him out of the paint as a result of he can do harm there on the boards and inside scoring however additionally they want to stick with him on the perimeter as a result of he can rating from there as properly.
Honorable MentionJayson Tatum vs RJ BarrettBarrett is averaging 20.3 factors, 5.4 rebounds and a pair of.9 assists per recreation this season. He’s capturing 43.4% from the sphere and 33.8% from past the arc. Within the first recreation this season, he completed with 27 factors, 4 rebounds 4 assists and 1 steal whereas capturing 60% from the sphere and on 3’s.
Keys to the Recreation Protection – Enjoying powerful crew protection is the important thing to profitable each recreation. The Celtics want to focus on getting stops and retaining the Knicks’ offense off stability. The Knicks have a defensive ranking of 113.2 (14th), which is stunning for a Tom Thibodeau coached crew. Alternatively, the Celtics have a defensive ranking of 110.8 (fifth). The Celtics have proven they’re able to taking part in excellent protection however they have to be constant and decide to it each quarter of each recreation. The Celtics should particularly guard the paint because the Knicks common 51.8 factors within the paint per recreation.
Rebound – The Celtics are averaging 44.5 rebounds per recreation (eighth) whereas the Knicks are averaging 47.3 rebounds per recreation (third). Rebounding is necessary to maintain the Knicks from getting second probability factors and further possessions because the Knicks are 1st within the league with 17.8 second probability factors per recreation. A lot of rebounding is effort and need as evidenced by gamers like Payton Pritchard getting offensive rebounds when surrounded by a lot taller gamers. When the Celtics put out additional effort on the boards it often transfers to the remainder of their recreation.
Play Laborious 48 Minutes – At occasions the Celtics have come out slowly and allowed their opponent to construct an enormous first quarter lead. At different occasions the Celtics have constructed a lead after which stopped taking part in exhausting and allowed their opponent to return again and surge forward. Different occasions, they play their opponent even up till the ultimate minutes after which can’t appear to shut out as we noticed on Tuesday towards the Warmth. They’ve to start out sturdy and play exhausting all through the sport proper up till the ultimate buzzer.
Play the Proper Approach – The Celtics have to remain targeted and play the proper approach. They should transfer the ball and look to get the most effective photographs on each possession. They should play as a crew and belief one another and have every others’ backs on protection. They should care for the ball and make good passes and never dribble right into a crowd. If the 3s aren’t falling, they should take the ball into the paint. They should hold their heads within the recreation and never lose focus.
X-FactorsHome Once more – The Celtics are at residence and have the benefit of the gang behind them and never having to journey and having the comforts of residence round them. Despite the fact that the Knicks are higher on the highway than they’re at residence, taking part in on their residence courtroom nonetheless ought to give the Celtics the sting on this one.
Officiating – Officiating at all times has the potential to be an x-factor. Every officiating crew calls the sport in a different way. The Celtics wrestle extra when refs name each little ticky tack foul. Hopefully they name it evenly and let each groups play. The Celtics want to regulate to how the refs are calling the sport and never enable unhealthy calls or no calls to remove their deal with taking part in the sport. Most of all, they should cease complaining each time they get a name they don’t like.
