The Celtics host the Detroit Pistons for the third of 4 video games between them this season. The Celtics received the primary sport 124-118 in Detroit on October 26. They received the second sport 130-120 in Boston on December 4. This sport was added after each groups did not advance within the Emirates NBA Cup match. They may meet for a 4th and ultimate time in Detroit on February 26. The Celtics received the collection 3-0 final season. They’re 255-140 total all time towards the Pistons and they’re 125-46 all time in video games performed in Boston. They’ve received their final 11 video games towards the Pistons.
The Celtics are 2nd within the East, 1.5 video games behind Cleveland after their current loss to the Grizzlies. They’re 10-3 at residence and 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’re 17-3 towards Japanese Convention opponents and so they misplaced their final sport. The Pistons are eleventh within the East after their loss on Tuesday to the Bucks. They’re 6-8 on the highway and 3-7 of their final 10 video games. They’re 9-13 towards Japanese Convention groups. They’re coming off a win over the Knicks of their final sport.
The Pistons final performed on December 7 and so they received’t play once more till December 16. They may play They may play at residence towards Miami and Utah earlier than happening a 4 sport Western highway journey that can take them by Phoenix, Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento and Denver. They may then return residence for a 4 sport residence stand, internet hosting Orlando, Charlotte, Minnesota and Portland.
The Celtics simply completed a troublesome stretch or 5 video games in 7 nights however haven’t performed since Saturday 12/7. That is the ultimate sport of a 5 sport residence stand after video games towards Miami, Pistons, Milwaukee, and Memphis as the primary 4 video games within the residence stand. They may play at Washington earlier than dealing with Chicago at residence and at Chicago in a house and residential set. They then journey to Orlando earlier than one other 4 sport residence stand the place they host Philadelphia, Indiana twice, and Toronto.
Jayson Tatum was as soon as once more questionable on the damage report as a result of proper patella tendinopathy. He has commonly been on the report however has solely missed one sport to this point, the December 4 sport towards the Pistons. He has been downgraded to out for this sport. I’d guess that Queta, Kornet or Tillman would begin if he cannot. Jaden Springer is out as a result of an sickness.
Sam Hauser was initially questionable after injuring his adductor within the sport towards Memphis. He left the sport and was unable to return. He has been downgraded to uncertain for this sport and his ultimate standing can be a sport time choice. For the Pistons, solely Bobi Klintman is on the damage checklist with a calf damage. He has but to go well with up and play for them this season.
Possible Celtics Starters
Grid View
PG: Jrue HolidaySG: Derrick WhiteSF: Jaylen BrownPF: Jayson Tatum C: Kristaps Porzingis
Celtics ReservesLuke KornetPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaBaylor ScheiermanXavier Tillman, SrJordan Walsh
2 Manner PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonAnton Watson
Accidents/OutJaden Springer (sickness) out Jayson Tatum (knee) outSam Hauser (adductor) out
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Pistons Starters
Grid View
PG: Jaden IveySG: Cade CunninghamSF: Tim Hardaway, JrPF: Tobias HarrisC: Jalen Duren
Pistons Reserves Malik BeasleySimone Fontecchio Ron Holland IIWendell Moore, JrPaul Reed Marcus SasserIsaiah StewartAusar Thompson
2-Manner Gamers Daniss Jenkins Cole SwiderAlondes Williams
Accidents/OutBobi Klintman (calf) out
Head CoachJB Bickerstaff
Key Matchups
Grid View
Derrick White
Picture by Brian Babineau/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures
Cade Cunningham
Picture by Stephen Gosling/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures
Derrick White vs Cade Cunningham Cunningham is averaging 23.9 factors, 7.2 rebounds, 9.1 assists and 1 steal whereas capturing 45.5% from the sphere and 39.3% from past the arc. Within the first 2 video games towards the Celtics, he averaged 24 factors, 7.5 rebounds, 12 assists and a pair of.5 blocks. He shot 46.5% from the sphere however simply 29.4% from past the arc. The Celtics particularly want to stick with him on protection and hold him from capturing and from making a cross to the open man.
Grid View
Jrue Vacation
Picture by Brian Babineau/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures
Jaden Ivey
Picture by Dustin Satloff/Getty Pictures
Jrue Vacation vs Jaden IveyIvey is one other of Detroit’s younger stars. He’s averaging 17.6 factors, 4.2 rebounds 4.3 assists and 1 steal per sport. He’s capturing 44.5% from the sphere and 37.8% from past the arc. Within the first 2 video games towards the Celtics, he averaged 18.5 factors, 3.5 rebounds, and 4 assists whereas capturing 54.2% from the sphere and 37.5% from past the arc. The Celtics must defend him higher on this sport than they did within the final one.
Honorable MentionPayton Pritchard vs Malik BeasleyBeasley is averaging 16 factors, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per sport. He’s capturing 43.7% from the sphere and 41.3% from past the arc. He’s 4th within the league with 85 three pointers made. Within the final sport towards the Celtics he went 2-4 and that moved him into one centesimal on the all time 3 factors made checklist. Within the 2 sport towards the Celtics he averaged 20 factors and three.5 rebounds whereas capturing 50% from the sphere and 57.9% from past the arc. The Celtics want their very own sixth man sharpshooter to have sport on each ends of the court docket.
Keys to the Sport Protection – Protection will at all times be key to profitable each sport. The Celtics are tenth within the league with a 110.8 defensive score whereas the Pistons are fifteenth with a defensive score of 113.4. The Pistons are twenty first within the league, averaging 110.5 factors per sport. Within the final sport towards the Pistons, the Celtics allowed them to shoot 51.2% from the sphere and 51.3% from past the arc and so they allowed them to attain 120 factors. After watching the Thunder play, I spotted how far the Celtics have slipped from final season on the defensive finish. The Celtics have to return into this sport with the mindset that they should play robust protection and never underestimate the Pistons, who’ve a number of younger and hungry gamers.
Rebound – Rebounding is vital to offer the Celtics further possessions and to restrict possessions for his or her opponents. The Celtics are averaging 44.0 rebounds per sport (14th) whereas the Pistons are averaging 45.4 rebounds (seventh). Of their first assembly, the Pistons out-rebounded the Celtics 44-37 and within the second sport the Celtics out rebounded the Pistons 43-34 and the Celtics must as soon as once more crash the boards and out-rebound the Pistons. The Celtics are 11-0 once they out-rebound or tie their opponents and are simply 8-4 when they’re out-rebounded. Rebounding takes effort and the Celtics want to offer further effort to beat the Pistons to rebounds. After they present further effort on the boards, it usually reveals up in different areas of the sport as properly.
Be Aggressive – The Celtics can’t come into the sport anticipating a straightforward sport and to have the ability to take it simple on each ends of the court docket as a result of they count on the Pistons to roll over and quit as a result of the younger Pistons play onerous. They’ve to return in and be aggressive on protection, on taking the ball to the basket, on diving for free balls, on rebounding and on taking part in as a staff. If they permit the Pistons to play tougher than them they could simply be shocked with a loss.
3 Level Taking pictures – The Celtics are first within the league with 51.4 threes tried per sport and first with 19 makes per sport. They’re thirteenth, capturing 37% from three whereas the Pistons are sixteenth capturing 36.3% on threes. When the Celtics shoot 3’s within the circulate of the sport they’re often superb. However once they attempt to power it, they usually go chilly. They should not attempt to power 3’s and proceed to maneuver the ball and take the perfect shot. Additionally, if the three’s aren’t falling on this sport they should abandon that technique and take the ball inside. In addition they must defend the perimeter higher as they allowed the Pistons to shoot 52.3% from past the arc of their final sport.
X-Elements Dwelling Sport – The Celtics are at residence and so they want come out prepared to guard residence court docket. Younger groups usually wrestle on the highway and hopefully the Backyard can be loud and can have the ability to distract the younger Pistons staff who additionally must face the distractions of journey. The Celtics will probably be brief handed and so each participant has to step up their sport. Too usually we’ve seen the Celtics calm down and let up and lose to groups they need to completely beat. Each groups are properly rested having final performed on December 7.
Officiating – Officiating is at all times an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport in another way. Some name it tight and name each little bit of contact whereas others permit extra bodily play. Some favor the house staff whereas others name either side evenly. The Celtics have to regulate to the way in which the refs are calling the sport and never permit the no calls and dangerous calls to have an effect on their deal with taking part in the sport.
And ensure to take a look at CelticsBlog’s Playback stream for a stay dialog concerning the sport. To take part, simply create a free account, join your LP sub if in case you have it, and be part of our neighborhood.
