The Celtics are on the lookout for their 4th straight win as they tackle the Wizards in Washington. That is the 2nd of three video games between these two groups this season. The Celtics beat the Wizards 122-102 in Washington of their 2nd recreation of the season. They are going to play one another for the third and ultimate time in Boston on April 6. The Celtics swept the sequence 4-0 final season. The Celtics are 203-120 total all time and they’re 83-74 in Washington.
The Celtics final performed on Tuesday, whereas the Wizards final performed on Monday, so each groups ought to be properly rested. Though, the Celtics spent Thursday on the White Home being honored because the 2024 NBA Champions so they might be a bit hung over from that ceremony. The Celtics have received their final 3 video games whereas the Wizards have misplaced their final 9 video games. The Wizards are 1-4 at house whereas the Celtics are 7-1 on the street.
Within the off season, the Wizards added 3 first spherical picks from this 12 months’s draft: 2nd choose Alex Sarr, 14th choose Carlton “Bub” Carrington, and twenty fourth choose Kyshawn George. Additionally they added Key veterans Jonas Valenciunas, former Celtic Malcolm Brogdon, Saddiq Bey, and Anthony Gill. Additionally they traded Deni Avdija and misplaced Tyus Jones to free company. The Celtics, as we all know, are principally the identical group as final 12 months’s championship group.
After this Emirates Cup recreation, the Celtics will host the Minnesota Timberwolves and and the LA Clippers earlier than enjoying at Chicago and at Cleveland. They then have a 5 recreation house stand in opposition to Miami, Detroit, Milwaukee, Memphis and Chicago. They then go to Chicago and Orlando earlier than one other 4 recreation house stand the place they host Philadelphia, Indiana twice, and Toronto.
After enjoying at New York on Monday, the Wizards play this recreation at house in opposition to the Celtics, the Wizards will journey to Indiana to tackle the Pacers after which return house for video games in opposition to Chicago and the Los Angeles Clippers. They then play at Milwaukee and Cleveland earlier than a 4 recreation house stand in opposition to Dallas, Denver, Memphis and Charlotte.
For the Celtics, solely Kristaps Porzingis is out as he completes his rehab from off season ankle surgical procedure. He has practiced with the Maine Celtics and is nearing a return however will miss this recreation. For the Wizards, Saddiq Bey and Tristan Vukcevicis are each out with a knee damage. Bilal Coulibaly is possible after lacking Monday’s recreation with a head damage, however going by means of a full follow on Thursday. Marvin Bagley III is questionable with a groin damage.
Possible Celtics Starters
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Celtics ReservesLuke KornetPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaSam HauserBaylor ScheiermanJaden SpringerXavier Tillman, SrJordan Walsh
2 Manner PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonAnton Watson
Accidents/OutKristaps Porzingis (ankle) out
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Wizards Starters
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Wizards Reserves Patrick Baldwin, JrMalcolm BrogdonJohnny DavisKyshawn George Anthony Gill Richaun HolmesCorey Kispert Jonas Valanciunas
2-Manner PlayersJared ButlerJustin ChampagnieTristan Vukcevic
Accidents/Out Saddiq Bey (knee) out Tristan Vukcevic (knee) out Marvin Bagley III (groin) questionable
Head Coach Brian Keefe
Key Matchups
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Derrick White
Picture by Stacy Revere/Getty Photos
Jordan Poole
Picture by Patrick Smith/Getty Photos
Derrick White vs Jordan PoolePoole is averaging 21.1 factors, 2.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.9 steals per recreation. He’s taking pictures 45.8% from the sector and 44.4% from past the arc. Within the first recreation in opposition to the Celtics, Poole completed with 26 factors, 1 rebound, 4 assists, 1 block and 4 steals whereas taking pictures 44.3% from the sector and 38.4% from past the arc. The Celtics want to stick with him on the perimeter as he’s a menace to hit his 3’s. He’s additionally a menace to steal the ball if the Celtics get sloppy.
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Jayson Tatum
Picture by Winslow Townson/Getty Photos
Kyle Kuzma
Picture by Scott Taetsch/Getty Photos
Jayson Tatum vs Kyle KuzmaKuzma is averaging 17.9 factors, 6.6 rebounds, and a pair of.1 assists per recreation. He’s taking pictures 40.9% from the sector and 29.1% from past the arc. Within the first recreation in opposition to the Celtics, Kuzma completed with 12 factors, 2 rebounds, 1 help, 1 block and 1 steal. He shot 37.5% from the sector however didn’t hit a 3.
Honorable MentionJaylen Brown vs Bilal CoulibalyCoulibaly is averaging 14.8 factors, 5.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 steals per recreation. He’s taking pictures 57.1% from the sector and 37.1% from past the arc. Within the first recreation in opposition to the Celtics, Coulibaly completed with 8 factors, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal whereas taking pictures 50% from the sector however not hitting a 3.
Keys to the Sport Protection – Protection is at all times the important thing to successful. The Celtics received their championship final season with robust, bodily protection. To repeat, they might want to as soon as once more make protection a precedence. The Celtics are thirteenth with a defensive ranking of 111.9 whereas the Wizards are thirtieth with a defensive ranking of 120.3. The Celtics have been first within the league on protection final season and they should get again to enjoying that robust lock down protection each recreation, all recreation once more this season. The Celtics particularly have to defend the paint as a result of they’re twenty seventh, permitting 53.6 factors within the paint per recreation.
Rebound – The Celtics are tenth with 42.7 rebounds per recreation whereas the Wizards are twenty fifth with 41.7 rebounds per recreation. Once more, the Celtics have been 2nd final season with 46.7 rebounds per recreation and principally the identical roster. It’s vital for the Celtics to rebound to offer 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. Every participant must decide to crashing the boards and going after each rebound on each ends of the courtroom.
Most Effort for 48 Minutes – The Celtics losses this season may be traced again to an absence of effort. Additionally, plainly they both begin off slowly and find yourself in a gap that they should dig themselves out of or they leap out to a lead solely to let up within the second half and permit their opponent to get again into the sport and make it shut. The Celtics must get again to enjoying exhausting on each ends of the courtroom for the complete 48 minutes with no let up.
3 Level Capturing – The Celtics lead the league in 3 pointers tried with 50.5 per recreation. They’re eighth within the league, taking pictures 37.9% on 3 pointers. The Celtics are robust to beat when they’re hitting their 3’s however battle to attain when the three’s aren’t falling. They’ve to maneuver the ball and discover the open man to get the very best photographs attainable. Additionally, if the three’s aren’t falling on this recreation they should abandon that technique and take the ball inside.
X-Components On the Highway and Focus – The Celtics are enjoying on the street after celebrating their championship on the White Home on Thursday. They’ve to beat the distractions that include enjoying on the street like journey, staying in resorts, lacking household, an unfamiliar constructing and a hostile crowd. Additionally they must shake off the joy of the White Home go to they usually have to remain centered and never enable these distractions to remove from enjoying the sport the fitting method.
Officiating -Officiating is at all times an x-factor in each recreation. Each crew officiates in a different way. Some name it tight, others allow them to play. Some favor the house group. Some favor the street group. Some simply make unhealthy, head scratching calls. The Celtics want to regulate to how the refs are calling the sport and never enable unhealthy calls or no calls to remove their focus from enjoying the sport.
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