The Celtics host the Toronto Raptors for the second of again to again preseason residence video games. The Celtics beat the Raptors 4-0 final season. Toronto comes into the sport having gained their first sport 125-98 over the Wizards in Montreal they usually misplaced their second sport 113-95 in opposition to those self same Wizards in Washington.
The Celtics will full their preseason slate on Tuesday in opposition to these identical Raptors in Toronto. These two groups will play 4 occasions this season on November 16, December 31, January 15, and February 25. The Celtics are 70-42 all time general in opposition to the Raptors and they’re 42-14 in video games performed in Boston.
As with each preseason sport, it’s laborious to inform which gamers will begin since coaches prefer to relaxation vets and common rotation gamers to present rookies, finish of bench gamers and camp contract gamers an opportunity to point out what they will do. That is very true of the Celtics, who’re taking part in on the second night time of again to again video games.
Kristaps Porzingis is stays out for the Celtics as he rehabs from off season ankle surgical procedure. For the Raptors, 4 gamers are on the harm checklist. Immanuel Quickley is questionable with a sprained thumb. RJ Barrett is out with a shoulder sprain. Ja’Kobe Walter can be out with a shoulder sprain. Bruce Brown is out after present process arthroscopic surgical procedure on his proper knee.
Possible Celtics Starters
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Celtics ReservesSam HauserAl HorfordPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaBaylor ScheiermanJaden SpringerXavier Tillman, SrJordan Walsh
2 Approach PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonAnton Watson
Coaching Camp ContractsRon Harper, JrJay ScrubbDmytro SkapintsevLonnie Walker IV
Accidents/OutKristaps Porzingis (ankle) out
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Raptors Starters
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Raptors Reserves Jonathan MogboJared RhodenGarrett TempleJamal SheadBruno FernandoChris BoucherJahmi’us RamseyKelly Olynyk Jamison Battle
2 Approach Gamers DJ CartonUlrich ChomcheBranden Carlson
Accidents/Out Immanuel Quickley (thumb) questionable RJ Barrett (shoulder) outJa’Kobe Walter (shoulder) outBruce Brown (knee) out
Head CoachDarko Rajakovic
Key Matchups
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Jayson Tatum
Photograph by Brian Babineau/NBAE by way of Getty Photos
Scottie Barmes
Photograph by Jordan Jones/NBAE by way of Getty Photos
Jayson Tatum vs Scottie BarnesAssuming that Jayson Tatum performs in again to again video games, this ought to be matchup. Barnes had 16 factors, 8 rebounds, 1 help and a pair of steals on Friday vs the Wizards. He shot 46.7% from the sphere however went 0-5 from three.
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Luke Kornet
Photograph by Brian Babineau/NBAE by way of Getty Photos
Jakob Poeltl
Photograph by Vaughn Ridley/NBAE by way of Getty Photos
Luke Kornet vs Jakob PoeltlKornet could begin right here, or it’s potential that one of many different facilities begin since they’re taking part in again to again. Poeltl has began each of the video games for the Raptors to this point, but it surely’s potential that they could select to begin one other middle on this sport. Poeltl completed Friday’s sport with 10 factors, 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal whereas taking pictures 33% from the sphere and 40% from past the arc.
Honorable Point out Sam Hauser vs Chris BoucherBoucher got here off the bench for the Raptors on Friday to attain 22 factors and seize 7 rebounds. He shot 70% from the sphere and 75% from past the arc in 18 minutes of play. Sam Hauser has performed nicely for the Celtics to this point within the preseason and this may very well be a matchup between sixth males.
Keys to the Recreation Protection – Protection will at all times be the important thing to profitable. If the Celtics hope to win the championship once more this season, it should be with protection first. Within the preseason, the Raptors are fifth with 55 factors within the paint and twenty fifth with 35 three pointers tried per sport. The Celtics should attempt to hold the Raptors out of the paint and pressure them to play out of their consolation zone.
Rebound – The Raptors are sixth with 48 rebounds per sport whereas the Celtics are twenty seventh with 41 rebounds per sport. Final season, the Celtics had been 2nd knocking down 46.3 rebounds per sport. Rebounding is essential to restrict second likelihood baskets and quick breaks. The Raptors are 1st within the preseason with 22 2nd likelihood factors per sport. A lot of rebounding is effort and hustle. The Celtics should put out extra effort to beat the Raptors to rebounds.
Depth – With the Celtics taking part in in again to again video games and the Raptors taking part in with out 3 key gamers, and presumably additionally resting starters, depth will show to be key to the win. Coaches can be taking part in their 2 method gamers, camp gamers and position gamers to get an thought of what they’ve in them and the way they match into the offensive and defensive schemes.
3 Level Taking pictures – The Celtics relied on taking pictures 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 in opposition to 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 laborious to beat, however after they wrestle to make 3’s, the sport will get actually ugly.
X-Components Again to Again at House – The Celtics are taking part in of their 2nd sport in as many nights and so fatigue could also be an element. Additionally I doubt the Celtics starters will play a lot, if in any respect on the second night time of again to again video games within the preseason. However the Celtics are at residence and whoever performs ought to get a lift from the followers whereas the Raptors are on the highway for the second straight sport and can be taking part in in entrance of a hostile crowd.
It’s the Preseason – Participant growth, constructing chemistry, and participant analysis are an important factor for coaches within the preseason. We are going to in all probability 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. Each crew calls the sport in a different way whether or not they name each little ticky tack foul or they let a variety of contact go and let the groups play. The refs are of their preseason additionally, so it?s laborious to know the way they may name this one. The Celtics have gotten to regulate to the best way the sport is being known as and never let the calls have an effect on their focus or their play.
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