After 2 video games towards the Denver Nuggets in Abu Dhabi, the Celtics return to the TD Backyard to face the division rival Philadelphia 76ers. Whereas the Celtics stood pat within the off season, bringing again their similar core, the 76ers reworked their roster within the off season in hopes of catching up with the Celtics and hoping to lastly be capable of get out of the second spherical within the playoffs.
Gone are Tobias Harris, Buddy Hield, Nicolas Batum, De’Anthony Melton, Robert Covington, Paul Reed, Cameron Payne, and Mo Bamba. Additions to their roster embody Paul George, Caleb Martin, Guerschon Yabusele, Eric Gordon, Reggie Jackson, Andre Drummond, Jared McCain, and Adem Bona. They’re hoping that Paul George will kind an enormous 3 with Maxey and Embiid to problem the Celtics for the title.
As with every preseason sport, it’s tough to say who will certainly begin for each groups. I’m going to guess that the Celtics will follow the identical 5 that began towards the Nuggets since they haven’t performed since Sunday, October 6. Joe Mazzulla has mentioned that Al Horford will play in not less than 1 or 2 of the remaining preseason video games, however, since Luke Kornet has match properly because the beginning middle, Horford might come off the bench if he performs.
The 76ers began Tyrese Maxey, Eric Gordon, Kelly Oubre, Caleb Martin and Andre Drummond of their first sport and changed Gordon with Paul George for his or her second sport. They’re taking part in again to again video games having misplaced to the Timberwolves 121-111 in Iowa on Friday evening and so I doubt they are going to play him in again to again video games.
Additionally, since Philly’s starters all performed between 23 and 26 minutes on Friday, we most likely gained’t see them in any respect on this sport. As well as, 76ers coach Nick Nurse has mentioned that many of the vets would relaxation on this sport, though solely Embiid is listed on their damage checklist. It’s onerous to guess who will begin so I’ve listed the 2nd choice at every place on their depth chart. However, it’s solely a guess.
The Celtics had been 3-1 towards the 76ers final season. They’ll play 4 occasions this season starting with a Christmas Day conflict. They will even face one another on February 2, February 20, and March 6. The Celtics are 270-197 total all time towards the 76ers and they’re 157-56 in video games performed in Boston.
The Celtics returned from Abu Dhabi with no new accidents. Kristaps Porzingis stays out for the Celtics as he rehabs from offseason surgical procedure on his ankle. Joel Embiid didn’t play in both of Philly’s video games to this point and is questionable for this one as they attempt to begin the season with him wholesome. Embiid is the one participant on the damage checklist however I’m not anticipating any of the starters from their final sport to play.
Possible Celtics Starters
Grid View
Celtics ReservesSam HauserAl HorfordPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaBaylor ScheiermanJaden SpringerXavier Tillman, SrJordan Walsh
2 Manner PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonAnton Watson
Coaching Camp ContractsRon Harper, JrJay ScrubbDmytro SkapintsevLonnie Walker IV
Accidents/OutKristaps Porzingis (ankle) out
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible 76ers Starters
Grid View
Sixers Reserves Adem Bona Tyrese MaxeyKelly Oubre, JrCaleb MartinAndre DrummondPaul GeorgeReggie Jackson Jared McCainJudah Mintz
2 Manner PlayersJeff Dowtin, JrJustin Edwards Lester Quinones
Coaching Camp Contracts Max FiedlerIsaiah MobleyJordan Tucker
Accidents/Out Joel Embiid (relaxation) questionable
Head Coach Nick Nurse
Key Matchups
Grid View
Jrue Vacation
Photograph by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE through Getty Pictures
Kyle lowry
Photograph by David Dow/NBAE through Getty Pictures
Jrue Vacation vs Kyle LowryWith Maxey prone to sit out the second of again to again video games for Philly, I’m guessing that Kyle Lowry will begin, though, being one of many vets and an older participant, Reggie Jackson might get the beginning in Maxey’s place. On Friday, Lowry performed simply 8.5 minutes and completed with 3 factors, 3 rebounds and a couple of assists. He missed each of the photographs he took.
Grid View
Luke Kornet
Photograph by Adam Glanzman/Getty Pictures
Guerschon Yabusele
Photograph by David Dow/NBAE through Getty Pictures
Luke Kornet vs Guerschon YabuseleAndre Drummond began each of the 76ers video games to this point however since he performed 24 minutes on Friday, I doubt we’ll see him on this sport. Luke Kornet began each video games for the Celtics and can doubtless begin this sport however there’s an opportunity that Al Horford might get the beginning as properly. Yabusele wasted no time in benefiting from his second probability within the NBA. Within the first sport towards the Breakers, he was first off the bench and completed with 15 factors, 1 rebound, 2 assists and 1 steal whereas capturing 100% from the sphere and 100% from past the arc. On Friday, he completed with 3 factors, 3 rebounds, 1 help, 1 steal and 1 block in 11 minutes of play.
Honorable MentionJaylen Brown vs Ricky Council IVAs with the opposite starters, I’m simply guessing that Council will get the beginning. Over the primary 2 video games, he averaged 9 factors, 4.5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1.5 steals whereas capturing 67% from the sphere and 67% from past the arc. That is his 2nd season with the 76ers, with a stable first season beneath his belt.
Keys to the Sport Protection – Protection will at all times be key to successful each sport, whether or not Summer time League, preseason, common season or playoffs. The Celtics gained a championship final season as a result of they made protection a precedence. They must make protection their precedence for each possession of each sport.
Rebound – Rebounding is second to protection as a key to successful. It takes effort to get rebounds and the Celtics should go all out of their effort to beat the Sixers on the boards. The Celtics must preserve the 76ers from getting additional factors across the basket as that they had 20 2nd probability factors vs the Breakers. The Celtics additionally want to provide themselves additional possessions by rebounding on the offensive finish. If the Celtics wish to win this one, it’s essential that they go all out to crash the boards.
3 Level Taking pictures – 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. Over their 2 video games towards the Nuggets, the Celtics tried a whopping 54 threes per sport and made 35% of them. When the Celtics are making their 3’s they’re onerous to beat, however after they wrestle to make 3’s, the sport will get actually ugly.
Chemistry – The Celtics are returning mainly the identical staff that gained the championship final season. The 76ers, then again, misplaced 8 gamers from final season and changed them with 8 new gamers. It might take them awhile to construct chemistry with all the brand new faces, whereas the Celtics ought to be capable of choose up the place they left off final season.
X-Elements House Sport – The Celtics return to the Backyard for the primary time since they gained the Championship there final season. The Backyard ought to be rocking and the Celtics ought to draw motivation from their followers.
It’s the Preseason – Participant improvement, constructing chemistry, and participant analysis are a very powerful factor for coaches within the preseason. We are going to 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 taking part in 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. Each crew calls the sport otherwise whether or not they name each little ticky tack foul or they let numerous contact go and let the groups play. The refs are of their preseason additionally, so it’s onerous to understand how they are going to name this one. The Celtics have gotten to regulate to the way in which the sport is being referred to as and never let the calls have an effect on their focus or their play.
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