After an enormous win in Sport 1 of the primary spherical in opposition to the Miami Warmth, the Celtics will try and go up 2-0 within the collection as they host the Warmth for Sport 2. These two groups are very aware of one another having met within the playoffs in 4 of the final 5 years. The Warmth lead the Celtics 4-2 all time in playoff collection wins. They’ve performed in 2 of the final 3 Japanese Convention finals and in addition within the 2020 Japanese Convention Finals. They lead the Celtics 20-17 in playoff video games gained.
Going into Sport 1, the Celtics had been off for every week whereas the Warmth had performed 2 video games after the season ended with a purpose to simply make the playoffs they usually had performed on Friday earlier than Sunday’s matinee recreation in opposition to the Celtics. Each groups have had 2 days off since their final assembly on Sunday and so the Celtics gained’t have an enormous relaxation benefit and the Warmth can be a bit extra rested than they had been coming into the primary recreation.
In Sport 1, the Celtics took 49 threes and made 22, which is a franchise playoff document. The Celtics had been first within the league, averaging 42.5 threes a recreation within the common season. The Warmth averaged 33.7 threes a recreation within the common season and took 37 in Sport 1, making simply 12. Erik Spoelstra has vowed to beat that disparity in made 3’s. If the Warmth can defend the perimeter higher, the Celtics might want to change up their technique and go to the basket if the threes cease falling for them. And, if the Warmth look to take extra 3’s this recreation, the Celtics want to extend their perimeter protection.
Many of the dialogue after Sport 1 was in regards to the onerous foul that Caleb Martin dedicated on Jayson Tatum. Fortunately Jayson wasn’t severely damage, but it surely may have precipitated critical harm. Each groups talked about this collection being a warfare previous to Sport 1 and if there may be one factor that’s sure in regards to the Miami Warmth, it’s that they’ll play onerous and attempt to muddy up the collection. The Celtics should be prepared for extra onerous fouls and never enable that kind of play to frustrate them and take them out of their recreation.
The Celtics should be prepared for the Warmth to come back out trying to be higher on this recreation. Spoelstra could have his gamers able to take the combat to the Celtics. The Celtics jumped out to an enormous lead proper from the start of Sport 1 and the Warmth will attempt to keep away from that on this recreation by being aggressive proper from the start. The Celtics must be prepared for his or her physicality and extra protection on the perimeter they usually might look to be extra bodily themselves. The query can be how a lot the referees enable and in the event that they name the sport a bit extra carefully after the onerous foul by Martin in Sport 1.
Quotes from the Celtics present that they’re anticipating a bodily and aggressive Warmth group. Jaylen Brown expects a combat and expects the Celtics to reply in variety: “They’re going to be hungry. Determined. They’re going to come back out quick, much more aggressive. Making an attempt to show us over. Simply attempting to crash the glass onerous, be bodily – knocking us to the bottom. Simply attempting to win that physicality match any means they’ll. That’s what I foresee. However we’ll be able to do the identical factor.”
The Celtics stay principally wholesome, though Jayson Tatum could also be a bit sore after the autumn he took after the foul from Caleb Martin. He’s not on the injured listing so that’s good. Luke Kornet stays out for the Celtics with a calf harm. For the Warmth, Jimmy Butler is out with an MCL sprain and is prone to miss the remainder of the collection. Terry Rozier is out with a neck sprain and is taken into account week to week. Josh Richardson is out after having shoulder surgical procedure.
Possible Celtics Starters
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PG: Jrue HolidaySG: Derrick WhiteSF: Jaylen BrownPF: Jayson TatumC: Kristaps Porzingis
Celtics ReservesOshae BrissettSam HauserAl HorfordSvi MykhailiukPayton PritchardJordan WalshJaden SpringerXavier TillmanNeemias Queta
2 Approach PlayersJD DavisonDrew Peterson
Accidents/OutLuke Kornet (calf) out
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Warmth Starters
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PG: Tyler HerroSG: Caleb MartinSF: Jaime Jaquez, JrPF: Nikola JovicC: Bam Adebayo
Warmth ReservesThomas Bryant Haywood HighsmithKevin LovePatty MillsDuncan RobinsonOrlando RobinsonDelon Wright
Out/Accidents Jimmy Butler (MCL) outJosh Richardson (shoulder) outTerry Rozier III (neck) out
Two Approach Gamers Jamal CainCole Swider Alondes Williams
Head Coach Erik Spoelstra
Key Matchups
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Kristaps Porzingis
Picture by Elsa/Getty Photos
Bam Adebayo
Picture by Michael Reaves/Getty Photos
Kristaps Porzingis vs Bam AdebayoWith Jimmy Butler out, the Warmth rely upon Adebayo to choose up the slack and be their greatest participant. In Sport 1, he completed with 24 factors, 6 rebounds, and three assists. He shot 55.6% from the sector bu was 0-2 capturing threes. Porzingis completed with 18 factors, 4 rebounds, 1 help, 1 steal and a couple of blocks. He was 4-8 from past the arc. The Celtics will want one other sturdy recreation from him on this one.
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Jaylen Brown
Picture by Stacy Revere/Getty Photos
Jaime Jaquez, Jr
Picture by Wealthy Storry/Getty Photos
Jaylen Brown vs Jaime Jaquez, Jr As soon as once more, with Butler out, the Warmth predict extra from their rookie. He performed nicely in Sport 1, ending with 16 factors, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists. He shot 50% from the sector however went 0-3 from past the arc. He shot 32.2% on threes in the course of the common season. Typically the Celtics discovered him to be a weak hyperlink within the protection.
Honorable Point out Sam Hauser vs Delon Wright Usually, I might count on Herro to be key, however in Sport 1, between Jrue Vacation and Derrick White defending him, he was unable to get something going offensively and he’s a weak defender additionally. I count on extra of the identical on this recreation. Wright, nevertheless, got here off the bench and completed with 17 factors, 1 rebound, 3 assists and a couple of steals whereas capturing 85.7% from the sector and going 5-5 from past the arc. Hauser was key for the Celtics, coming off the bench to hit 4-6 from 3.
Keys to the Sport Protection – As soon as once more, protection is the largest key to successful this recreation and each recreation. Protection turns into much more essential within the playoffs. The Celtics had been 2nd within the common season with a defensive score of 110.6. However, the Warmth had been additionally defensive group with a defensive score of 111.5, fifth within the league. The Celtics performed very nicely on the defensive finish for many of Sport 1 and might want to play powerful group protection as soon as once more on this recreation. The group that performs the hardest protection gained Sport 1 and can possible get the win on this one additionally.
Rebound – As with protection, rebounding will at all times be a key to successful. A lot of rebounding is effort and hustle and when the Celtics put out that further effort to seize rebounds, it normally interprets to different areas of the sport as nicely. The Celtics had been 2nd with 46.3 rebounds per recreation within the common season whereas the Warmth had been twenty sixth with 42.3 rebounds per recreation. In Sport 1, the Celtics out-rebounded the Warmth 44-34 and 10-5 on offensive rebounds. The Celtics should work more durable on the boards than the Warmth as soon as once more on this recreation and win the rebounding battle.
Be Aggressive – The Warmth will play onerous and can be aggressive and the Celtics should be much more aggressive and play even more durable than the Warmth. They should be extra aggressive in going after free balls, in grabbing rebounds, in defending, and in going to the basket. The Warmth are happy with having a group of “canines” who hustle and scrap for all the pieces. The Celtics must “out-dpg” the Warmth and hustle and be aggressive for 48 minutes. They’ll win plenty of video games by taking part in more durable than their opponents they usually can lose plenty of video games by permitting their opponents to be the group that performs more durable.
Do Not Let Up – The Celtics want to come back out sturdy proper from the opening tip and never enable the Warmth to get snug or to realize any confidence. They should play onerous via out every quarter and never let their foot off the gasoline. The Celtics had been up 91-59 on the Warmth going into the 4th quarter they usually had been up by as many as 34 factors at one time. They let up on their defensive effort within the 4th quarter and allowed the Warmth to come back to inside 14 factors. That may possible give them a bit confidence going into Sport 2 and so the Celtics must play all out for all 48 minutes with no let up.
Keep Targeted – The Celtics have to remain centered and play the precise means as a group. The Warmth wish to muddy up video games and get their opponents to lose their focus by giving onerous fouls and entering into opponents’ heads as they did with the Caleb Martin foul and I can think about that they’ll double down on that on this recreation. The Celtics should keep centered on taking part in their recreation, on grabbing rebounds, on taking good pictures and on taking part in powerful protection. They’ll’t let the Warmth’s fashion of play frustrate them.
X-Components Dwelling Courtroom – The Celtics fought all season to have the most effective document within the league and to have house court docket all through the playoffs. The Backyard must be loud and rowdy and will give the Celtics a lift. They solely misplaced 4 video games all season at house and they should hold that mindset all through the playoffs. Maintain house court docket. The Warmth could have distractions of journey and taking part in in entrance of a really hostile crowd and the Celtics must benefit from that.
Teaching – Erik Spoelstra is believed by many to be the most effective coach within the league. He will be anticipated to provide you with a wrinkle or two to shock the Celtics and attempt to give the Warmth a bonus. He has coached 2 championship groups, has taken his groups to six finals, and his groups have gained 6 Japanese Convention Championships. He’ll come out on this recreation with a brand new recreation plan and will be anticipated to vary issues up a bit for Sport 2 and Joe Mazzulla must be able to counter no matter Spoelstra comes up with. It’s simply Joe Mazzulla’s 2nd season as a head coach, however he has carried out an excellent job this season and hopefully can counter no matter surprises Spoelstra has in retailer for him.
Officiating -Officiating is at all times an x-factor in each recreation. Each crew officiates otherwise. Some name it tight, others allow them to play. After Martin’s onerous foul and all that was made from it, the officers could also be watching extra carefully and cease any shenanigans earlier than they go too far. We noticed within the Knicks/76eers recreation that the refs missed 2 huge calls in opposition to the Knicks, permitting them to get the sport successful shot. The Celtics want to regulate to how the refs are calling the sport and never enable dangerous calls or no calls to remove their focus from taking part in the sport. In addition they must be sure that they play onerous all through the sport in order to not enable the sport to come back all the way down to a remaining shot for both group.
Official ReportCrew Chief – David GuthrieReferee – Sean Wright Umpire – JB DeRosaAlthernate – Scott Twardoski There was plenty of speak in regards to the officiating in a number of the collection to date. After the final recreation between the Lakers and Nuggets, LeBron James was seen arguing with an official proper after the sport and has been very vocal about that crew’s shortcomings as he seen them. Within the final recreation between the Knicks and the 76ers, the refs missed 4 key calls within the remaining 2 minutes that possible modified the end result.
There are 3 veteran officers for this recreation. The Celtics are 8-2 of their final 10 video games officiated by David Guthrie, together with 3 wins in opposition to Miami. The Warmth are 3-7 of their final 10 video games with Guthrie. Dwelling groups are 22-32 this season with Guthrie as a referee.
The Celtics are 10-0 of their final 10 video games with Sean Wright as an official. The Warmth are 5-5 with Wright. Dwelling groups are 35-32 this season with Wright officiating. The Celtics are 6-4 of their final 10 video games with JB DeRosa officiating. The Warmth are 8-2 with DeRosa. Dwelling groups are 35-28 this season with DeRosa as an official.
