The Celtics go from the crew with the worst report within the league to the crew with the second worst report as they host the Detroit Pistons. That is the 2nd of three video games between these two groups this season. The Celtics gained the primary sport 128-122 in extra time on December 28. They are going to meet once more at Detroit on March 22. The Celtics gained the collection 4-0 final season.
Each of those groups are enjoying on the second night time of again to again video games. The Celtics gained 130-104 at Washington on Sunday whereas the Pistons lost104-101 at residence to the Miami Warmth. The Celtics are 9-2 on the second night time of again to again video games and 5-0 when the second sport is at residence. The Pistons are 3-7 on the second night time of again to again video games. The Celtics are 251-140 general all time in opposition to the Pistons and they’re 123-46 all time at residence.
The Celtics stay 1st within the East, 9.5 video games forward of 2nd place Milwaukee, 11 video games forward of third place Cleveland, 13 video games forward of 4th place New York, 14 video games forward of fifth place Orlando, and 15.5 video games forward of sixth place Indiana. They’re 30-3 at residence and 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’re 34-7 in opposition to Jap Convention groups and have gained their final 5 video games.
The Pistons are 14th within the East, 1.5 video games forward of final place Washington. They’re 4.5 video games behind thirteenth place Charlotte, 11 video games behind twelfth place Toronto, and 17.5 video games behind tenth place Atlanta and the ultimate play-in spot. They’re 5-27 on the street and 4-6 of their final 10 video games. They’re 9-33 in opposition to Jap Convention groups they usually have misplaced their final 2 video games.
After a 3-2 street journey, the Celtics performed one sport at residence in opposition to the Suns after which went on the street for a sport in Washington earlier than returning residence to face Detroit. They are going to face Milwaukee at residence after which head out on a 6 sport street journey by way of Detroit, Chicago, 2 video games in Atlanta, New Orleans and Charlotte. They are going to 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.
The Pistons simply completed a 6 sport residence stand the place they beat Brooklyn, Charlotte and Toronto and misplaced to Miami twice and Dallas. After this one street sport, they may play Indiana, Boston and New Orleans at residence. Subsequent they play at New York, Minnesota, and Washington earlier than enjoying Mamphis at residence. They are going to play 6 of their final 7 video games on the street.
It’s onerous to foretell who will play and who will sit on this one. Al Horford is out for relaxation. Jrue Vacation is out on account of a shoulder harm. Kristaps Porzingis has missed 5 straight video games with a strained hamstring and he has been upgraded to possible for this sport. Derrick White and Jaylen Brown missed Sunday’s sport and I’d guess that they each return for this sport. Nevertheless, Brown is listed as questionable with ankle soreness.
Tatum can also be listed as questionable with an ankle impingement. Sam Hauser left Sunday’s sport with an ankle harm and is out for this sport. I’m guessing that Derrick White will transfer to level guard with Jrue out and Oshae Brissett will begin at taking pictures guard. Nevertheless, Payton Pritchard might get the beginning on the level with White remaining at taking pictures guard. These choices can be made nearer to sport time.
For the Pistons, Quentin Grimes has been restricted to a few appearances in March on account of proper knee soreness and is out for this sport. Ausar Thompson has missed 4 straight video games with in sickness and can also be out for this sport. Cade Cunningham was questionable for Sunday’s sport with knee soreness however he ended up enjoying and is as soon as once more questionable for this sport. Simone Fontecchio is questionable with a toe harm. I’m undecided who would begin if both or each are out.
Possible Celtics Starters
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PG: Derrick WhiteSG: Oshae BrissettSF: Jaylen BrownPF: Jayson Tatum C: Kristaps Porzingis
Celtics ReservesLuke KornetSvi MykhailiukPayton PritchardJordan WalshXavier TillmanJaden Springer
2 Method PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonNeemias Queta
Accidents/OutJrue Vacation (shoulder) outKristaps Porzingis (hamstring) probableJaylen Brown (ankle) questionableSam Hauser (ankle) outAl Horford (relaxation) out Jayson Tatum (ankle) questionable
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
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PG: Cade CunninghamSG: Jaden IveySF: Simone FontecchioPF: Isaiah StewartC: Jalen Duren
Pistons Reserves Troy Brown, JrMalachi FlynnEvan FournierTaj GibsonMarcus SasserStanley Umude James Wiseman
Two Method Gamers Buddy BoeheimJared RhodenTosan Evbuomwan
Accidents/OutAusar Thompson (sickness) outQuentin Grimes (knee) out Simone Fontecchio (toe) questionableCade Cunningham (knee) questionable
Head Coach Monty Williams
Key Matchups
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Jrue Vacation
Cade Cunningham
Picture by Stephen Gosling/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures
Jrue Vacation vs Cade CunninghamCunningham is averaging 22.3 factors, 4.3 rebounds, and seven.5 assists per sport. He’s taking pictures 45% from the sector and 35% from past the arc. Within the first sport in opposition to the Celtics, Cunningham completed with 31 factors, 6 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 steals and a couple of blocks whereas taking pictures 54.5% from the sector and 66.7% from past the arc. The Celtics must defend him higher on this sport.
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Derrick White
Picture by Maddie Meyer/Getty Pictures
Jaden Ivey
Picture by Dustin Satloff/Getty Pictures
Derrick White vs Jaden IveyIvey is averaging 15.3 factors, 3.5 rebounds and three.8 assists per sport. He’s taking pictures 43.4% from the sector and 32.9% from past the arc. Within the first sport in opposition to the Celtics, Ivey completed with 22 factors, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 block whereas taking pictures 53.3% from the sector and 60% from past the arc. As with Cunningham, the Celtics must do a greater job of defending him on this sport.
Honorable MentionKristaps Porzingis vs Jalen DurenDuren is averaging 14.1 factors, 12.0 rebounds and a couple of.6 assists per sport. He’s taking pictures 63.7% from the sector and isn’t a risk to shoot from 3. Within the first sport in opposition to the Celtics, he completed with 15 factors, 14 rebounds and a couple of assists whereas taking pictures 83.3% from the sector. The Celtics must defend him higher on this sport and in addition maintain him off the boards.
Keys to the Recreation Protection – Protection will at all times be key to successful each sport. The Celtics are 2nd within the league with a 110.4 defensive score whereas the Pistons are twenty seventh with a defensive score of 118.5. The Pistons are twenty second within the league, averaging 112.1 factors per sport. They’ve a 111.5 defensive score for March (seventh) and they’re coming off a sport by which they misplaced by simply 4 factors to the Warmth. It took extra time for the Celtics to beat them at residence of their first assembly. The Celtics have to return into this sport with the mindset that they should play robust protection and never underestimate the Pistons, who’ve numerous younger and hungry gamers.
Rebound – Rebounding is essential to provide the Celtics further possessions and to restrict possessions for his or her opponents. The Celtics are averaging 46.9 rebounds per sport (2nd) whereas the Pistons are averaging 44 rebounds (twelfth). Over their final 5 video games, the Pistons have 78 extra rebounds their opponents. Of their first assembly, the Pistons out-rebounded the Celtics 57-43 and the Celtics need to do higher on this sport. Rebounding takes effort and the Celtics want to provide further effort to beat the Pistons to rebounds. After they present further effort on the boards, it typically reveals up in different areas of the sport as effectively.
Be Aggressive – The Celtics can’t come into the sport anticipating a straightforward sport and to have the ability to take it straightforward on each ends of the court docket as a result of the Pistons are on the backside of the league. 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 enjoying as a crew. If they permit the Pistons to play more durable than them they might simply be stunned with a loss. They’ll’t underestimate the Pistons and need to play onerous and provides it their all for 48 minutes.
Reserve Play – Each groups are enjoying on the second night time of again to again video games. the Pistons sport went all the way down to the wire whereas the Celtics sport was just about over on the half. Each groups can be relying on their reserves to get by way of this sport. The Celtics could also be quick handed and that may put much more stress on the reserves to carry out effectively.
X-Components Again to Again at House – The Celtics are again at residence they usually want come out prepared to guard residence court docket. Younger groups typically battle on the street and hopefully the Backyard can be loud and can have the ability to distract the younger Pistons crew who additionally need to face the distractions of journey. The Celtics will probably be quick handed and so each participant has to step up their sport, even in opposition to the crew on the backside of the East. Too typically we’ve seen the Celtics calm down and let up and lose to groups they need to completely beat.
Officiating – Officiating is at all times 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 crew whereas others name each side evenly. The Celtics have to regulate to the best way the refs are calling the sport and never permit the no calls and dangerous calls to have an effect on their deal with enjoying the sport.
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