The Celtics host the Toronto Raptors for the second of again to again preseason dwelling video games. The Celtics beat the Raptors 4-0 final season. Toronto comes into the sport having gained their first recreation 125-98 over the Wizards in Montreal they usually misplaced their second recreation 113-95 towards those self same Wizards in Washington.
The Celtics will full their preseason slate on Tuesday towards these similar 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 total towards the Raptors and they’re 42-14 in video games performed in Boston.
As with each preseason recreation, it’s exhausting to inform which gamers will begin since coaches prefer to relaxation vets and common rotation gamers to offer rookies, finish of bench gamers and camp contract gamers an opportunity to indicate what they’ll do. That is very true of the Celtics, who’re taking part in on the second evening 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 damage record. Immanuel Quickley is questionable with a sprained thumb. RJ Barrett is out with a shoulder sprain. Ja’Kobe Walter can also be out with a shoulder sprain. Bruce Brown is out after present process arthroscopic surgical procedure on his proper knee.
Possible Celtics Starters
Grid View
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
Grid View
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
Grid View
Jayson Tatum
Picture by Brian Babineau/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs
Scottie Barmes
Picture by Jordan Jones/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs
Jayson Tatum vs Scottie BarnesAssuming that Jayson Tatum performs in again to again video games, this ought to be an excellent matchup. Barnes had 16 factors, 8 rebounds, 1 help and a couple of steals on Friday vs the Wizards. He shot 46.7% from the sector however went 0-5 from three.
Grid View
Luke Kornet
Picture by Brian Babineau/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs
Jakob Poeltl
Picture by Vaughn Ridley/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs
Luke Kornet vs Jakob PoeltlKornet might begin right here, or it’s doable 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, nevertheless it’s doable that they could select to start out one other middle on this recreation. Poeltl completed Friday’s recreation with 10 factors, 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal whereas capturing 33% from the sector 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 sector 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 could possibly be a matchup between sixth males.
Keys to the Recreation Protection – Protection will all the time 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 recreation. The Celtics should attempt to preserve the Raptors out of the paint and drive them to play out of their consolation zone.
Rebound – The Raptors are sixth with 48 rebounds per recreation whereas the Celtics are twenty seventh with 41 rebounds per recreation. Final season, the Celtics have been 2nd flattening 46.3 rebounds per recreation. Rebounding is essential to restrict second likelihood baskets and quick breaks. The Raptors are 1st within the preseason with 22 2nd likelihood factors per recreation. 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 will probably be taking part in their 2 manner gamers, camp gamers and position gamers to get an concept 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 capturing threes final season. They have been first within the league, taking 43.5 three pointers per recreation. They have been additionally 1st within the league, making 16.5 threes a recreation. Over their 2 video games towards the Nuggets, the Celtics tried a whopping 54 threes per recreation and made 35% of them. When the Celtics are making their 3’s they’re exhausting to beat, however once they battle to make 3’s, the sport will get actually ugly.
X-Elements Again to Again at House – The Celtics are taking part in of their 2nd recreation 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 evening of again to again video games within the preseason. However the Celtics are at dwelling and whoever performs ought to get a lift from the followers whereas the Raptors are on the highway for the second straight recreation and will probably be taking part in in entrance of a hostile crowd.
It’s the Preseason – Participant improvement, constructing chemistry, and participant analysis are crucial factor for coaches within the preseason. We are going to in all probability see extra of the rookies on this recreation in addition to the gamers on camp contracts as coaches consider the gamers on the bubble for taking part in time and attempt to protect their starters for the common season.
Officiating – I do know that I say this each recreation, however the officiating can all the time 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 numerous contact go and let the groups play. The refs are of their preseason additionally, so it?s exhausting to know the way they’ll name this one. The Celtics have gotten to regulate to the best way the sport is being referred to as and never let the calls have an effect on their focus or their play.
And ensure to take a look at CelticsBlog’s Playback stream for a dwell dialog concerning the recreation. To take part, simply create a free account, join your LP sub you probably have it, and be part of our group.
