On the day after an energetic commerce deadline, the Celtics host the Washington Wizards. That is the seventh and remaining recreation in a 7 recreation house stand. That is the 2nd of 4 video games between these 2 groups. The Celtics received the primary recreation 126-107 in Washington on October 30. They may meet once more in Washington on March 17 and in Boston on April 14. The Celtics are 59-43 total all time towards the Wizards and 36-16 in video games performed in Boston. Boston received the collection 2-1 final season.
The Celtics are 1st within the East, 4.5 video games forward of 2nd place Cleveland, 6.5 video games forward of third place Milwaukee and 4th place New York, 8.5 video games forward of fifth place Philadelphia and 11 video games forward of sixth place Indiana. The Celtics are 24-3 at house and 7-3 of their final 10 video games. They’re 26-6 towards different Japanese Convention groups. They’ve received their final 2 video games.
The Wizards are 14th within the East, 2 video games forward of final place Detroit. They’re 1 recreation behind thirteenth place Charlotte, 8.5 video games behind twelfth place Toronto, 12.5 video games behind tenth place Atlanta and a spot within the play-in video games. They’re 6-19 on the highway, which is definitely higher than their 3-22 house report, and they’re 2-8 of their final 10 video games. They’re 6-29 towards Japanese Convention groups and have misplaced their final 4 video games.
The Celtics are 4-2 up to now on their house stand, beating Indiana, New Orleans, Atlanta and Memphis and shedding to the Lakers and Clippers. After this remaining recreation within the house stand, the Celtics will go to the Warmth for a matinee recreation on Sunday after which face the Nets for a again to again house and residential collection, first in Boston after which in Brooklyn. They may then go to Chicago and New York earlier than one other 3 recreation house stand towards Philadelphia, Dallas, and Golden State.
The Wizards simply accomplished a 4 recreation house stand the place they went 0-4, shedding to the Clippers, Miami, Phoenix and Cleveland. They may return house after this one highway recreation in Boston to host Philadelphia earlier than heading out on a 4 recreation highway journey that may take them by means of Dallas, New Orleans, Denver and Oklahoma Metropolis.
Jrue Vacation is not on the harm listing and may play on this recreation. Nevertheless, Jayson Tatum has been added to the listing as a result of an sickness. His standing shall be a recreation time resolution, however I wouldn’t be stunned to see him sit this one out. He was current at shoot round so he could also be on monitor to play on this recreation. If he doesn’t play, I anticipate Al Horford to begin in his place. The Celtics 2 new acquisitions, Xavier Tillman is out as a result of a knee harm. Jaden Springer is questionable as a result of simply being traded.
For the Wizards, Marvin Bagley III is out as a result of a low again contusion. With Daniel Gafford traded and Richaun Holmes additionally out as a result of simply being traded to the Wizards on Thursday, I’m guessing that their two means participant, Eugene Omoruyi, will begin and Kyle Kuzma may even see some minutes at heart. Isaiah Livers is out with a hip harm. He was traded to the Wizards on January 14 however has but to make his debut. Patrick Baldwin can be out as a result of a sprained proper ankle.
Possible Celtics Starters
Celtics Reserves
Oshae Brissett
Sam Hauser
Al Horford
Luke Kornet
Svi Mykhailiuk
Payton Pritchard
Xavier Tillman
Jaden Springer
Jordan Walsh
2 Manner Gamers
JD Davison
Drew Peterson
Neemias Queta
Accidents/Out
Xavier Tillman (commerce) questionable
Jaden Springer (commerce) questionable
Jayson Tatum (sickness) questionable
Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla
Possible Wizards Starters
Wizards Reserves
Bilal Coulibaly
Johnny Davis
Anthony Gill
Corey Kispert
Landry Shamet
Delon Wright
Two Manner Gamers
Jared Butler
Jules Bernard
Eugene Omoruyi
Accidents/Out
Marvin Bagley III (again) out
Richaun Holmes (commerce) out
Isaiah Livers (hip) 0ut
Patrick Baldwin, Jr (ankle) out
Head Coach
Brian Keefe (interim)
Key Matchups
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Jayson Tatum
Photograph by Brian Babineau/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures
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Kyle Kuzma
Photograph by Scott Taetsch/Getty Pictures
Jayson Tatum vs Kyle Kuzma
Kuzma is averaging 21.9 factors, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists. He’s taking pictures 45.5% from the sphere 33.1% from past the arc. In opposition to Boston within the first recreation, he completed with 21 factors, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists. He shot 60% from the sphere and 50% from past the arc. Jayson Tatum is questionable and so Al Horford might get the beginning reverse Kuzma.
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Derrick White
Photograph by Brian Fluharty/Getty Pictures
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Jordan Poole
Photograph by Patrick Smith/Getty Pictures
Derrick White vs Jordan Poole
Poole is averaging 15.9 factors, 2.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1 steal per recreation. He’s taking pictures 40.4% from the sphere and 29.7% from past the arc. Within the first recreation towards the Celtics he completed with 11 factors, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block and three steals. He shot 45.5% from the sphere and 20% from past the arc.
Honorable Point out
Jaylen Brown vs Deni Avdija
Avdija is averaging 12.6 factors, 6.2 rebounds, and three.8 assists per recreation. He’s taking pictures 50.8% from the sphere and 38.9% from past the arc. He is without doubt one of the higher shooters on the Wizards and so Jaylen must sluggish him down and restrict his pictures.
Keys to the Sport
Protection – Protection is all the time the important thing to successful. The Celtics have to defend the paint with out letting up on their perimeter protection. The Wizards are 2nd within the league, averaging 55.8 factors within the paint per recreation. They should make protection their precedence and their id to be able to win each recreation and to win a championship. It can take a variety of effort and dedication from every participant to play nice staff protection together with nice particular person protection.
Rebound – It’s essential for groups to rebound to provide themselves further possessions and to restrict their opponents’ possessions. A lot of rebounding is effort and hustle and when the Celtics give further effort and hustle on the boards, it normally interprets into the remainder of their recreation. The Celtics are 1st within the league with 47.5 rebounds per recreation whereas the Wizards are final within the league with 40.6 rebounds per recreation. Every participant must decide to crashing the boards and going after each rebound on each ends of the court docket.
Be Aggressive – Previously, the Celtics have misplaced video games that they need to have received as a result of they allowed groups to play more durable and be extra aggressive than them. The Celtics should be the extra aggressive staff on protection, in grabbing rebounds, in going after unfastened balls, and in taking the ball to the basket for all 48 minutes. They’ll’t permit the Wizards’ 9-41 report to trigger them to come back into the sport anticipating to win with out placing out the hassle. (See the Lakers Sport).
Keep Targeted – The Celtics have to remain centered. They’ve to remain centered on enjoying the appropriate means, taking and making good pictures, enjoying good protection, boxing out and rebounding, and on having one another’s backs and trusting one another. Additionally they should concentrate on making good passes and taking good care of the ball as a result of the Wizards are 4th with 18.1 factors off turnovers per recreation. It will be straightforward to let their focus go on this one however it could be a giant mistake on their half.
X-Components
House Sport – The Celtics are as soon as once more at house. They need to get a lift from the house crowd and from being in acquainted environment. The Celtics have to have a way of urgency at house to guard house court docket and never anticipate to win as a result of the Wizards haven’t been good up to now this season. Additionally the Wizards must take care of journey, staying in a lodge, and a hostile crowd and hopefully that may give the Celtics a bonus.
Officiating – Officiating is all the time an x-factor in each recreation. Each crew officiates in another way. Some name it tight, others allow them to play. Some favor the house staff. Some favor the highway staff. Some simply make unhealthy, head scratching calls as we’ve got seen many occasions. The Celtics want to regulate to the best way the refs name the sport and never let unhealthy calls and no calls take them out of the sport or have an effect on their focus. They’ve to remain centered on the sport and never on complaining in regards to the officiating.
