After a wild time beyond regulation win by the Celtics over the Pacers in Sport 1 of the Japanese Convention Finals, the Celtics as soon as once more host the Pacers, trying to go up 2-0 within the collection earlier than heading to Indiana for Video games 3 and 4. The Pacers stayed with the Celtics all through the primary recreation and it was solely attributable to their miscues and lack of poise on the finish of regulation and in OT that the Celtics have been capable of pull out the win.
Within the first two rounds, in opposition to each the Warmth and Cavaliers, the Celtics received Sport 1 simply after which went on to lose Sport 2 in each collection. The Celtics simply barely scraped by in Sport 1 in opposition to the Pacers and they also don’t have any motive to com into this recreation complacent or anticipating a simple win. They should come into this recreation able to play laborious and defend for 48 minutes as they gave the Pacers some confidence within the final recreation and must beat them proper from the start on this recreation with no let up.
That is the Celtics sixth look within the Japanese Convention Finals in 8 years. It’s also their third straight Japanese Convention Finals look. The Pacers haven’t been within the Japanese Convention Finals since 2014 after they misplaced in 6 video games to the Warmth. The Pacers final look within the playoffs was in 2018-19 after they have been swept by the Celtics within the first spherical. That is the seventh time that the Celtics and Pacers are assembly within the playoffs.
The Celtics received 4 of the 6 collection between these two groups thus far and all of them have been within the first spherical. That is Indiana’s ninth look within the Japanese Convention Finals, with all these look coming within the final 30 years. Solely 4 groups have extra convention finals appearances over that span: the Spurs with 11 and the Lakers, Warmth, and Celtics with 10 every. The Pacers have only one win within the ECF of their historical past and that was in 2000, over the New York Knicks.
There’s a huge hole in playoff expertise between these two groups. The Celtics have a wealth of playoff and Convention Finals expertise that features the starters and a number of other of the reserves. The Pacers have simply 3 gamers who’ve been to this stage of the playoffs with their earlier groups. Nevertheless, the Pacers usually are not afraid of the massive stage or the brilliant lights of the Convention Finals. Nevertheless, their inexperience could have been one of many causes behind their meltdown on the finish of the sport.
Kristaps Porzingis has been dominated out for this recreation. He’s nonetheless coping with a calf harm that he suffered in Sport 4 of Boston’s first-round collection in opposition to the Warmth. The Celtics are being cautious with him however are hoping to get him again for Sport 4 of this collection. Xavier Tillman is questionable for this recreation because of the loss of life of his father. For the Pacers, solely Benedict Mathurin is out after present process season-ending surgical procedure to restore a torn labrum.
Possible Celtics Starters
Grid View
Celtics ReservesOshae BrissettSam HauserSvi MykhailiukPayton PritchardJordan WalshJaden SpringerNeemias QuetaLuke KornetXavier Tillman
2 Manner PlayersJD DavisonDrew Peterson
Accidents/OutKristaps Porzingis (calf) outXavier Tillman (private) accessible
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Pacers Starters
Grid View
Pacers ReservesIsaiah JacksonQuenton JacksonJames JohnsonTJ McConnellDoug McDermottBen Sheppard Jalen SmithObi ToppinJarace Walker
Two Manner PlayersKendall Brown Oscar TshiebweIsaiah Wong
Accidents/Out Benedict Mathurin (shoulder) out
Head Coach Rick Carlisle
Key Matchups
Grid View
Jrue Vacation
Picture by Elsa/Getty Photos
Tyrese Haliburton
Picture by Dylan Buell/Getty Photos
Jrue Vacation vs Tyrese Haliburton In Sport 1, Haliburton completed with 25 factors, 3 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block. He shot 44.4% from the sphere and 42.9% from past the arc. Vacation performed very nicely in Sport 1, on each ends of the courtroom and the Celtics will want him to proceed that on this recreation. The Celtics must play robust protection on Haliburton on this recreation whereas additionally making him defend.
Grid View
Jayson Tatum
Picture by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE through Getty Photos
Pascal Siakam
Picture by Ron Hoskins/NBAE through Getty Photos
Jayson Tatum vs Pascal SiakamSiakam completed Sport 1 with 24 factors, 12 rebounds, 7 assists and 1 steal whereas taking pictures 52.2% from the sphere and was 0-2 from past the arc. Tatum struggled at instances, particularly within the 4th quarter of Sport 1 however he “awoke” and performed very nicely in Extra time to assist the Celtics get the win. The Celtics want extra from him on each ends of the courtroom all through the sport on this one.
Honorable Point out Al Horford vs Myles Turner Turner completed Sport 1 with 23 factors, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and a pair of blocks whereas taking pictures 69.2% from the sphere and 75% from past the arc. The Celtics have to concentrate on his presence within the paint as he is an effective rim protector and in addition a superb rebounder. In addition they have to stick with him on the perimeter as he has been taking pictures very nicely from past the arc.
Participant to WatchAaron NesmithNesmith was drafted by the Celtics and performed his first two seasons there earlier than being despatched to Indiana within the commerce for Malcolm Brogdon. Since going to Indiana, he has blossomed and has began each playoff recreation for them thus far. In opposition to the Celtics this season, he averaged 14.8 factors, 4.4 rebounds, and a pair of.2 assists per recreation whereas taking pictures 50.8% from the sphere and 32.1% from past the arc. In Sport 1, he completed with 14 factors, 6 rebounds, 1 help, and a pair of steals whereas taking pictures 50% from the sphere however simply 20% from past the arc. He appears to take video games in opposition to the Celtics personally and performs tougher in opposition to his former crew. He’s additionally the Pacers’ go to defender and can doubtless be defending whichever Celtic is taking part in the perfect in any given recreation.
Keys to the GameDefense – Protection is the important thing to successful each single recreation and particularly in opposition to the Pacers as they lead the playoffs with 121.2 offensive score. The Celtics are 2nd within the playoffs with a 118.1 offensive score. The Celtics are third within the playoffs with a defensive score of 107.1. The Pacers are thirteenth with a defensive score of 118.1. The Celtics must make protection their id and their precedence. In Sport 1, the Pacers shot 53.3% from the sphere to 47.5% for the Celtics. The Pacers additionally shot 37.1% from past the arc to simply 33.3% for the Celtics. The Celtics should step up their protection on this collection as they doubtless received’t win a shoot out in opposition to the excessive scoring Pacers. The Celtics should defend them each within the paint and on the perimeter. Protection down the stretch helped to drag out Sport 1 and protection will decide the winner of this collection. The Celtics must play lock down protection for 48 minutes and never simply in spurts.
Rebound – The Celtics are third within the playoffs, knocking down 44.7 rebounds per recreation. The Pacers are12th with 41.1 rebounds per recreation. In Sport 1, the Pacers out-rebounded the Celtics 44-43, and the Celtics virtually misplaced the sport. A lot of rebounding is need and energy and the Celtics have gotten to place out extra effort on the boards than the Pacers in the event that they wish to get a win on this recreation. Aside from Sport 1, the Celtics have received each recreation within the playoffs that they’ve out rebounded their opponent they usually have misplaced the two video games the place they have been out-rebounded. As with protection, rebounding can be key to successful this recreation.
Bench Play – The Celtics must get assist from their reserves. The Celtics bench loses loads with Al Horford shifting into the beginning lineup and the Celtics have been relying on simply 3 gamers to contribute off the bench. Of their first 2 rounds, the Pacers reserves averaged 32 factors or extra per recreation. TJ McConnell will particularly be an issue for the Celtics as he’s a pesky defender and brings numerous power to the Pacers when he enters the sport. In Sport 1, the Pacers obtained 30 factors off their bench whereas the Celtics obtained simply 13 factors from theirs. The Celtics want for his or her reserves to attain and to defend nicely to take a number of the stress off the starters.
Effort and Focus for 48 Minutes – The Celtics should play each minute with additional effort. The Pacers play laborious and quick and so the Celtics must match that effort and play even tougher. The crew that performs tougher and is extra aggressive is normally the crew that comes out on high and that additionally will get the higher whistle. The Celtics even have to remain centered. They should deal with taking good pictures and making them and on taking part in as a crew and making the correct play each time. In addition they should maintain that effort and focus up for 48 minutes with no let up and no collapse, particularly on protection.
Transfer the Ball – The Celtics are robust to beat after they maintain the ball shifting they usually make the additional cross to seek out the perfect shot. They wrestle after they lapse into iso ball and when gamers maintain the ball too lengthy. The Pacers transfer the ball very nicely and are 1st within the league, averaging 30.6 assists per recreation. They racked up 38 assists on 53 area objectives in Sport 1. The Celtics are fifth within the league with 23.4 assists per recreation they usually completed with 30 assists on 47 area objectives in Sport 1. However, they nonetheless lapsed into iso-ball at instances and they should restrict these instances on this recreation.
X-FactorsHome Sport – The Celtics labored laborious within the common season to get residence courtroom for the playoffs. They misplaced solely 4 video games at residence within the common season. Nevertheless, they’ve struggled at residence for some motive within the playoffs, They’re simply 16-14 at residence within the final 3 postseasons. The one video games they’ve misplaced in these playoffs have been at residence. They virtually misplaced a third recreation at residence on Tuesday however managed to drag it out ultimately. The Celtics want to guard residence courtroom and use the gang assist for motivation. The Pacers should take care of journey and staying in lodges and taking part in on an unfamiliar courtroom and in entrance of hostile followers. The Celtics want to make use of residence courtroom to their benefit and combat laborious for a win on this recreation.
Officiating -Officiating is at all times an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport a bit in another way with some calling it tight and others letting them play. They appear to be letting them play extra in these playoffs thus far, however that might change with any given crew and any given recreation. In Sport 1, the Celtics shot 30 free throws to simply 10 for the Pacers. The Celtics doubtless received’t have a free throw benefit like that once more however the Pacers are 14th within the playoffs, trying simply 16.4 free throws per recreation. The Celtics have to regulate to how the sport is being referred to as and deal with the sport and never on the officers.
Official Report Crew Chief – Scott Foster -Foster has a house win/loss report of 47-27 In these playoffs he calls 50% of fouls on the street crew and 50% on the house crew. Boston is 9-1 of their final 10 video games with Foster as an official, together with the Sport 1 win over the Cavs. Indiana is 4-6 of their final 10 with Foster, together with Sport 5 loss to the Knicks and Sport 5 loss to the Bucks. Foster is named the Fixer and The Extender and is understood for making an attempt to maintain video games aggressive. He was voted the worst ref within the league in a ballot taken of league referees (simply forward of Tony Brothers, who referred to as Sport 1). Simply the identify Scott Foster tends to trigger concern and gnashing of enamel by each fan base within the league. He could be excellent however he may also be very unhealthy.
Referee- James Williams Williams has a house win/loss report of 45-28. He calls 53% of fouls on the street crew and 47% on the house crew. The Celtics are 6-4 of their final 10 video games with Williams on the crew together with Sport 3 win over the Cavs, Sport 3 win over the Warmth and a 2 level loss to the Pacers within the common season. The Pacers are 6-4 of their final 10 video games with Williams, together with Sport 5 loss to the Knicks and Sport 2 win over the Bucks. Williams has confronted criticism for unhealthy calls throughout video games on consecutive nights this season, which added to a collection of high-profile errors.
Umpire – Sean Wright – Wright has a house win/loss report of 38-34 this season. The Celtics are 9-1 of their final 10 video games with Wright, together with the Sport 2 loss to Miami. The Pacers are 6-4 of their final 10 video games with Wright, together with Sport 2 loss to New York and Sport 5 loss to the Bucks. He calls 52% of fouls in opposition to the street crew and 48% in opposition to the house crew.
And ensure to take a look at CelticsBlog’s Playback stream for a stay dialog concerning the recreation. To take part, simply create a free account, join your LP sub in case you have it, and be a part of our group.
