The Celtics go to the Washington Wizards for the third of 4 conferences this season. The Celtics gained the primary assembly 126-107 in Washington on October 30. They gained the second assembly 133-129 in Boston on February 9. They’ll meet yet another time in Boston on April 14. The Celtics gained the sequence 2-1 final season, successful 2 in Boston and dropping 1 in Washington.
The Celtics are 200-120 general all time and they’re 81-74 all time in video games performed in Washington. The Wizards are enjoying on the second evening of again to again video games, having misplaced at Chicago on Saturday evening. The Wizards are 0-11 on the second evening of again to again video games. The Celtics are enjoying on the primary evening of again to again video games. They’re 10-1 on the primary evening of again to again video games and they’re 4-1 when that first sport is on the highway.
The Celtics stay 1st within the East, 9.5 video games forward of 2nd place Milwaukee, 10.5 video games forward of third place Cleveland, 13 video games forward of 4th place New York, 13.5 video games forward of fifth place Orlando, and 15 video games forward of sixth place Indiana. They’re 22-11 on the highway and 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’re 33-7 in opposition to Japanese Convention groups and have gained their final 4 video games.
The Wizards are fifteenth within the East. They’re 1 sport behind 14th place Detroit, 5.5 video games behind thirteenth place Charlotte, 11.5 video games behind twelfth place Toronto and 15 video games behind eleventh place Brooklyn. They’re `8 video games behind Atlanta within the tenth and ultimate play in spot. They’re 4-26 at residence and 2-8 of their final 10 video games. They’re 8-33 in opposition to Japanese Convention groups and have misplaced their final 2 video games.
The Celtics simply completed a 5 sport highway journey the place they went 3-2. They performed one sport at residence in opposition to the Suns and are on the highway for simply this one sport earlier than returning residence to face Detroit and Milwaukee. They then head out on a 6 sport highway journey by means of Detroit, Chicago, 2 video games in Atlanta, New Orleans and Charlotte. They’ll return residence for 3 video games in opposition to Oklahoma Metropolis, Sacramento, and Portland. Then it’s one sport in Milwaukee earlier than ending the season at residence in opposition to New York, Charlotte and Washington.
Kristaps Porzingis will miss his fifth straight sport with a strained hamstring. He’s thought-about day after day. Derrick White is out with a left hand sprain. Jaylen Brown is out for this sport with an ankle sprain. Jayson Tatum was listed as questionable with an ankle impingement however is now listed as obtainable. Al Horford is more likely to begin in Porzingis’ place. I’m going to guess that Sam Hauser will begin in Brown’s place. I’m unsure who will begin in White’s place, probably Brissett or Pritchard. Pritchard bought the beginning in opposition to the Jazz so I’m going to guess Brissett begins this one.
For the Wizards, Marvin Bagley III has missed the final 6 video games with again spasms and is out for this sport. Landry Shamet has missed the final 3 video games with a calf harm and is out for this sport. Tyus Jones is out with decrease again spasms after lacking Saturday’s sport. Deni Avdija was a late scratch on Saturday and is uncertain with a proper knee contusion. Tristan Vukcevic was not too long ago signed however hadn’t reported to the group as of Saturday. Isaiah Livers is out with a hip harm. Kyle Kuzma was a late addition and is questionable with a shoulder harm. I actually do not know who they are going to begin if Kuzma can’t play.
Possible Celtics Starters
Grid View
Celtics ReservesLuke KornetSvi MykhailiukJordan WalshXavier TillmanJaden Springer
2 Means PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonNeemias Queta
Accidents/OutDerrick White (hand) out Kristaps Porzingis (hamstring) out Jaylen Brown (ankle) out Jayson Tatum (ankle) obtainable
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Wizards Starters
Grid View
Wizards Reserves Patrick BaldwinJohnny DavisAnthony GillEugene Omoruyi
Two Means Gamers Jared ButlerJustin ChampagnieJules Bernard
Accidents/Out Marvin Bagley III (again) outLandry Shamet (calf) out Tristan Vukcevic (not harm associated) questionable Tyus Jones (again) outDeni Avdija (knee) uncertain Kyle Kuzma (shoulder) questionableIsaiah Livers (hip) out
Head Coach Brian Keefe (interim)
Key Matchups
Grid View
Jayson Tatum
Photograph by Brian Babineau/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs
Kyle Kuzma
Photograph by Scott Taetsch/Getty Photographs
Jayson Tatum vs Kyle KuzmaKuzma is averaging 22.5 factors, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists. He’s capturing 46.5% from the sphere and 33.6% from past the arc. Within the final sport in opposition to the Celtics he completed with 17 factors, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists. He’s the Wizards greatest participant and so slowing him down would go a good distance towards getting a win.
Grid View
Jrue Vacation
Photograph by Alex Goodlett/Getty Photographs
Jordan Poole
Photograph by Patrick Smith/Getty Photographs
Jrue Vacation vs Jordan PoolePoole is averaging 16.5 factors, 2.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.1 steals per sport. He’s capturing 40.7% from the sphere and 31.9% from past the arc. Within the final sport in opposition to the Celtics he completed with 19 factors, 2 rebounds and 5 assists. If Tyus Jones is ready to play, he ought to return to the beginning lineup.
Keys to the Sport Protection – Protection is at all times a key to successful. The Celtics have a defensive ranking of 110.4 (2nd) whereas the Wizards have a defensive ranking of 119.4 (thirtieth). The Wizards are sixteenth, scoring 114.2 factors per sport. They shoot 35.1 three pointers per sport (14th) however are simply twenty ninth in 3 level share. They’re third with 55.1 factors within the paint and so the Celtics need to defend them within the paint and on the basket.
Rebound – It’s necessary for groups to rebound to provide themselves additional possessions and to restrict their opponents’ possessions. The Celtics are 1st with 46.9 rebounds per sport whereas the Wizards are thirtieth with 40.6 rebounds per sport. A lot of rebounding is effort and hustle and when the Celtics give additional effort and hustle on the boards, it often interprets into the remainder of their sport. Every participant must decide to crashing the boards and going after each rebound on each ends of the courtroom.
Keep Targeted – The Celtics have to remain targeted. They’ve to remain targeted on enjoying the precise means, taking and making good pictures, enjoying good protection, boxing out and rebounding, and on having one another’s backs and trusting one another. In addition they need to concentrate on making good passes and caring for the ball. The Wizards are 4th with 17.7 factors off turnovers per sport and they’re 2nd with 18 quick break factors per sport. If the Celtics lose focus and get sloppy, the Wizards will make them pay.
Don’t Get Complacent – They’re first within the league, 9.5 video games forward of the 2nd place Bucks. They’re enjoying a foul Wizards group with a number of gamers out. The Celtics want to return out able to play their greatest and never play all the way down to a brief handed Wizards group pondering they’ll coast to a win with out giving a robust group effort. If a number of of the Celtics starters sit, then the reserves who exchange them have to up their sport to make up for taking part in brief handed. The Wizards led the final sport at Boston by as many as 8 factors and pulled to inside 4 factors within the final minute. The Celtics can’t take this group without any consideration in the event that they hope to win.
X-Elements On the Street vs Again to Again – The Celtics are as soon as once more enjoying on the highway. They’ve to beat the distractions that include enjoying on the highway like journey, staying in inns, lacking household, an unfamiliar constructing and a hostile crowd. They’ve to remain targeted and never enable these distractions to remove from enjoying the sport the precise means. The Wizards are enjoying on the second evening of again to again video games and needed to journey after their Saturday sport in Chicago which can have an effect on the Wizards effort.
Officiating -Officiating is at all times an x-factor in each sport. Each crew officiates in a different way. Some name it tight, others allow them to play. Some favor the house group. Some favor the highway 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.
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’ve got it, and be part of our neighborhood!
