The Celtics host the Portland Path Blazers as they give the impression of being to get again on observe after 3 straight disappointing losses. That is the primary of two video games between these two groups this season. They’ll meet in Portland on March 17. These two groups cut up the collection final season with every staff successful on the street. The Celtics are 71-49 general all time towards the Path Blazers and are 38-22 all time towards them in Boston.
For the Path Blazers, that is the 4th sport of a 6 sport street journey. They began the journey with a loss to the Hawks in Atlanta however then beat the Magic in Orlando and the Pistons in Detroit. They’ll end the street journey in Philadelphia and New Orleans earlier than heading again residence for a 3 sport residence stand that can embrace the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics.
The Celtics accomplished a 3 sport residence stand the place they went 1-2 earlier than taking part in the Cavaliers in Cleveland. They now have one sport at residence towards the Path Blazers earlier than heading out on a 6 sport street journey that can take them by way of Atlanta, Houston, Minnesota, Portland, Utah and Sacramento. The Celtics are hoping to beat Portland and break their 2 sport residence dropping streak earlier than heading out on the street journey.
The Celtics stay 2nd within the East, though the standings are getting nearer with each Celtics loss whereas the opposite groups maintain successful. They’re now 2.5 video games behind first place Milwaukee and 1.5 video games forward of third place Philadelphia. They’re 4.5 video games forward of 4th place Cleveland. The Celtics are 25-9 at residence and 5-5 of their final 10 video games. They’re 17-5 towards Western Convention opponents. They’ve misplaced their final 3 video games.
The Path Blazers are tenth within the West. They’re tied with ninth place Utah and a pair of video games behind seventh place Dallas. They’re 2.5 video games behind sixth place Minnesota and the ultimate playoff spot within the West earlier than the play-in event spots. They’re tied with eleventh place Lakers and twelfth place Pelicans and out of the play-in. The Blazers are 14-19 on the street and 4-6 of their final 10 video games. They’re 10-15 towards East groups. They’ve received their final 2 video games.
Jayson Tatum missed Monday’s sport with a knee contusion and Al Horford missed Monday’s sport with again tightness however each had been off the harm listing on Tuesday and are anticipated to play on this sport. Payton Pritchard injured his ankle towards Cleveland on Monday and is listed as questionable. He’s a sport time resolution. Robert Williams (hamstring) and Danilo Gallinari (ACL) are each out for this sport. I’m going to guess that Derrick White begins for Robert Williams and Brown, Tatum and Horford transfer up a spot.
For the Path Blazers, Ryan Arcidiacano has been out since February 23 with a again harm and is anticipated to overlook this sport as effectively. Anfernee Simons is out with an ankle harm. Justise Winslow can be out with an ankle harm. Jusuf Nurkic has missed 14 video games with a calf harm. He’s listed as questionable and shall be a sport time resolution.
Possible Celtics Starters
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Celtics ReservesMalcolm BrogdonGrant WilliamsSam HauserLuke KornetBlake GriffinMike Muscala
2 Method PlayersJD DavisonMfiondu Kabengele
Out/InjuriesDanilo Gallinari (ACL) outPayton Pritchard (ankle) questionableRobert Williams III (hamstring) out
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Path Blazers Starters
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Path Blazers ReservesKeon JohnsonKevin Knox IINassir LittleShaedon Sharpe Jabari WalkerTrendon Watford
Two-Method PlayersIbou BadjiJohn Butler, Jr
Out/Accidents Ryan Arcidiacano (again) questionableJusuf Nurkic (calf) questionable Anfernee Simons (ankle) questionable Justise Winslow (ankle) out
Head CoachChauncey Billups
Key Matchups
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Marcus Sensible v Damian Lillard Lillard is averaging 32.4 factors, 4.6 rebounds and seven.2 assists per sport. He’s taking pictures 46.8% from the sector and 37.7% from past the arc. Lillard has wonderful vary on his shot and if he’s on the courtroom, he’s a menace to shoot. The Celtics should stick with him wherever he’s on the courtroom. Slowing him down will go an extended methods towards getting a win.
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Jayson Tatum vs Jerami GrantGrant is averaging 20.8 factors, 4.4 rebounds, and a pair of.4 assists per sport. He’s taking pictures 47.6% from the sector and 40.2% from past the arc. He’s an excellent 3 level shooter and the Celtics want to stick with him particularly on the perimeter. He is also a menace to drive as effectively so the Celtics want to stick with him wherever he’s with the ball.
Honorable MentionDerrick White vs Cam Reddish Reddish is averaging 10.3 factors, 2.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 steals per sport. He’s taking pictures 45.5% from the sector and 35.0% from past the arc. If Nurkic is ready to play on this one, he can be one of many key matchups.
Keys to the GameDefense – I do know I say it each sport, however protection is the important thing to successful each sport. The Trailblazers common 114.9 factors per sport (fifteenth) and the Celtics common 117.7 factors per sport (4th). The Celtics are 4th within the league with a defensive score of 111.2 whereas the Blazers are twenty seventh with a defensive score of 117.0. The Celtics have to make powerful protection their precedence and identification. In the event that they battle on offense however play powerful protection, they’ll nonetheless get a win.
Rebound – The Celtics should make an additional effort to seize rebounds with a purpose to give themselves additional possessions in addition to to maintain the Blazers from cashing in with second probability factors. The Celtics have to be the staff that works tougher on the boards in the event that they need to win this one. A lot of rebounding is effort and want and the Celtics want each to get a win on this sport.
Be Aggressive – The Celtics must be the staff that works tougher and needs the win extra. They must dive for free balls, go for each rebound and simply hustle on each play on each ends of the courtroom. They must be aggressive in attending to the basket as effectively and never accept outdoors pictures, particularly in the event that they aren’t falling. They will’t let the Blazers be the staff that works tougher in the event that they need to win this sport.
Focus – The Celtics want to come back in targeted and keep targeted all through the sport. They should give attention to their pictures and shot choice. They should give attention to making their free throws. They should give attention to taking part in protection and making the correct switches. They should give attention to making good passes and never turning the ball over. And they should give attention to sharing the ball and making the correct play. Lack of focus ends in these horrible taking pictures nights and excessive turnover video games.
Play 48 Minutes – Over the past 3 Celtics losses they’ve performed effectively for many of the sport and have constructed leads of 14 or extra factors in every of these video games. Nonetheless, down the stretch and in crunch time, they only haven’t been capable of get it executed and have allowed their opponents to not solely erase the Celtics’ leads however to additionally win the sport. The Celtics should play arduous for all 48 minutes and never let up for any time period through the sport.
X-Components Dwelling Recreation – The Celtics are as soon as once more at residence however it’s the final residence sport earlier than a 6 sport street journey. They need to get a lift from taking part in at residence in entrance of their residence crowd. The Blazers haven’t been a very good street staff thus far with a 14-19 street file and so the Celtics want to remain targeted and never give them any confidence or assist them by turning the ball over or taking pictures poorly.
Officiating – I do know that I say this each sport, however the officiating actually is at all times an x-factor in each sport. Each crew calls the sport in another way whether or not they name each little ticky tack foul or they let quite a lot of contact go and let the groups play. Some refs favor the house staff and a few not a lot and generally they only make a bunch of head scratching calls. The Celtics have gotten to regulate to the best way the sport is being referred to as and never let themselves get annoyed by the officiating.
