boar’s headThe Celtics head to Charlotte for again to again video games towards the Hornets. The Celtics are coming off their first lack of the season to the Indiana Pacers, the Celtics Japanese Convention Finals opponent. Charlotte is 2-2 on the season, beating Houston and Toronto and dropping to Atlanta and Miami.
That is the primary assembly between these two groups this season. They may meet once more on Saturday in again to again video games, additionally in Charlotte. They may shut out the sequence in Boston on April 11 and 13. The Celtics received the sequence 2-1 final season, Profitable their solely sport in Boston and successful one and dropping one ni Charlotte. The Celtics are 77-46 general all time towards the Hornets and 36-26 in video games performed in Charlotte.
The Celtics stood pat for probably the most half within the off season, bringing again their total core of gamers and dropping simply Svi Mykhailiuk and Oshae Brissett. They added Baylor Scheierman, who was the thirtieth decide within the draft and signed 2nd spherical decide, Anton Watson to a 2 means contract. They’ve additionally added a few chips on their shoulder after a few Olympic snubs.
The Charlotte Hornets’ new possession has been busy within the off season, hiring a brand new head coach, common supervisor and group president. Former Celtics assistant coach Charles Lee is the brand new Hornets head coach. The group drafted French ahead Tidjane Sala?n sixth and KJ Simpson forty second. In addition they signed middle Taj Gibson and guard Seth Curry as free brokers.
For the Celtics, Al Horford can be out for this sport for relaxation functions on the primary half of the again to again. I’m guessing that Luke Kornet will begin in his place. They may even as soon as once more be with out Kristaps Porzingis, who continues to be rehabbing from off season ankle surgical procedure. The Hornets can be with out DaQuan Jeffries who’s out with a hand damage and Mark Williams who’s out with a foot damage. Neither has performed but this season. Brandon Miller is questionable with a glute damage.
Possible Celtics Starters
Grid View
PG: Jrue HolidaySG: Derrick WhiteSF: Jaylen BrownPF: Jayson Tatum C: Luke Kornet
Celtics ReservesPayton PritchardSam HauserNeemias QuetaBaylor ScheiermanJaden SpringerXavier Tillman, SrJordan Walsh
2 Manner PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonAnton Watson
Accidents/OutKristaps Porzingis (ankle) outAl Horford (relaxation) out
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Hornets Starters
Grid View
PG: LaMelo BallSG: Seth CurrySF: Josh GreenPF: Miles Bridges C: Nick Richards
Hornets Reserves Grant Williams Nick Smith, JrCody Martin Vasa MicicTre MannTidjane SalaunTaj Gibson
2 Manner PlayersMoussa Diabate KJ Simpson Jared Rhoden
Accidents/Out DaQuan Jeffries (hand) out Mark Williams (foot) out Brandon Miller (glute) questionable
Head Coach Charles Lee
Key Matchups
Grid View
Jrue Vacation
Picture by Maddie Meyer/Getty Photographs
LaMelo Ball
Picture by Wealthy Schultz/Getty Photographs
Jrue Vacation vs LaMelo Ball Ball has been enjoying very properly this season, averaging 28.5 factors, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1.3 steals per sport. He’s taking pictures 42.7% from the sector and 37.5% from past the arc. He can be robust to decelerate but when anybody can, it’s the Celtics defensive again courtroom.
Grid View
Payton Pritchard
Picture by Justin Casterline/Getty Photographs
Tre Mann
Picture by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Photographs
Payton Pritchard vs Tre Mann It is a matchup of key subs off the bench who each shoot the three very properly. Mann is averaging 20.5 factors, 3.8 rebounds, and three.3 assists per sport whereas taking pictures 44.6% from the sector and 42.9% from past the arc. Pritchard is averaging 16.2 factors, 3.1 rebounds and a pair of.6 assists per sport whereas taking pictures 45.6% from the sector and 46.9% from past the arc.
Honorable Point out Jayson Tatum vs Miles Bridges Tatum is coming off a sport the place he scored 37 factors, however shot simply 40% from the sector and 27.8% from past the arc on 18 tries. The Celtics want him to be extra environment friendly on this one. Bridges is averaging 15 factors, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1 block per sport. He’s taking pictures 39.6% from the sector and 25% from past the arc.
Keys to the Sport Protection – Protection is all the time the important thing to successful. It was an absence of protection that dug a 23 level gap towards the Pacers and it was good protection that obtained them again into the sport and compelled time beyond regulation. The Celtics are eleventh with a defensive score of 111.5. The Hornets are twenty ninth with a defensive score of 118.7. The Hornets are 4th in scoring with 118.5 factors per sport. The Celtics are 1st in 3 level makes an attempt with 42.4 and 2nd in 3 level proportion at 40.7%. The Hornets are 4th with 44 three level makes an attempt per sport and fifth in 3 level proportion at 39.2%. The Celtics must particularly guard the Hornets on the perimeter.
Rebound – Rebounding is necessary to offer the Celtics further possessions and to restrict possessions for his or her opponents. The Celtics are averaging 43 rebounds per sport (18th) whereas the Hornets are averaging 48.3 rebounds (third). Rebounding takes effort and the Celtics want to offer further effort to beat the Hornets to rebounds. The Hornets are 1st with 22.8 second probability factors per sport and the Celtics must restrict these by placing extra effort into grabbing rebounds.
Most Effort for 48 Minutes – The Celtics effort for the primary 3 quarters towards the Pacers left a lot to be desired, touchdown them in a 23 level gap. They lastly discovered some power and energy within the 4th quarter and battled again to power time beyond regulation. The Celtics effort of their earlier 2 video games was good at instances and never so good at different instances. The Celtics have to offer max effort on the boards and on protection they usually have to offer that effort for the complete sport and never simply 1 or 2 quarters.
Bench Play – The Hornets have 3 gamers off the bench who’re taking pictures over 40% from the perimeter. Tre Mann (20.5 factors, 42.9% from three), Cody Martin (11.5 factors, 42.1% from three) and Grant Williams (10.3 factors, 47.4% from three) The Celtics reserves want to come back into the sport and play laborious on the defensive finish to restrict their 3 level taking pictures. In addition they want to provide on the offensive finish.
X-Elements On The Highway – The Celtics are enjoying of their 4th sport on the highway this season. The Celtics are dealing with the distractions of journey and a hostile crowd they usually can’t permit these distractions to remove from their deal with the sport. Then again, they’ve the motivation of getting misplaced their final sport because of poor play on their half to steadiness out the distractions of enjoying on the highway.
Teaching – Charles Lee helped to guide the Celtics to their 18th championship as an assistant coach. He’s now main the Charlotte Hornets as their head coach. I’m positive these two coaches share some teaching philosophies, together with the technique of taking pictures a number of 3’s. Which coach will come out on prime on this one?
Officiating – Officiating is all the time an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport in a different way. Some name it tight and name each little bit of contact whereas others permit extra bodily play. Some favor the house group whereas others name each side evenly. The Celtics have to regulate to the way in which the refs are calling the sport and never permit no calls and unhealthy calls to have an effect on their deal with enjoying the sport.
And ensure to take a look at CelticsBlog’s Playback stream for a dwell dialog concerning the sport. To take part, simply create a free account, join your LP sub when you have it, and be a part of our neighborhood.
