The Celtics return residence from a 2-0 street journey the place they simply beat Washington and received an in depth one towards Detroit. The Celtics simply beat the Knicks on opening night time at residence. The Bucks beat Philadelphia 124-109 and misplaced to the Bulls and the Nets up to now. The Bucks are enjoying on the second night time of again to again video games after dropping to the Nets in Brooklyn on Sunday.
That is the primary of three video games between these 2 groups this season. They may play once more on November 10 in Milwaukee and at last on December 6 in Boston. The collection was tied 2-2 final season with every workforce successful 2 video games at residence. The Celtics are 118-114 total all time towards the Bucks, and they’re 75-40 in video games performed in Boston.
The Celtics stood pat for essentially the most half within the off season, bringing again their complete core of gamers and dropping simply Svi Mykhailiuk and Oshae Brissett. They added Baylor Scheierman, who was the thirtieth choose within the draft and signed 2nd spherical choose, Anton Watson to a 2 method contract. They’ve one open roster spot. They’ve additionally added a few chips on their shoulder after Olympic snubs and different drama over the summer time.
The Bucks made a number of modifications after a disappointing 49-33 end within the 2023-24 season. They parted methods with Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Jae Crowder, Danilo Gallinari and Thanasis Antetokounmpo. They added veterans Taurean Prince, Gary Trent, Jr, and Delon Wright. In addition they added rookies AJ Johnson and Tyler Smith.
The Celtics will probably be with out Kristaps Porzingis, who continues to be rehabbing from off season ankle surgical procedure. He isn’t anticipated to return till someday in December. Sam Hauser missed the final 2 video games with soreness in his decrease again and is questionable for this recreation. Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) and AJ Inexperienced (toe) are possible for this recreation whereas Khris Middleton is predicted to overlook his 4th straight recreation to start out the season as he rehabs from off season ankle surgical procedure.
Possible Celtics Starters
Grid View
Celtics ReservesLuke KornetPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaBaylor ScheiermanJaden SpringerXavier Tillman, SrJordan Walsh
2 Approach PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonAnton Watson
Accidents/OutKristaps Porzingis (ankle) outSam Hauser (again) questionable
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Bucks Starters
Grid View
Bucks ReservesMarJon BeauchampPat Connaughton Andre Jackson, JrAJ JohnsonChris Livingston Bobby Portis, JrTyler SmithDelon Wright
Two Approach Gamers Liam RobbinsRyan RollinsStanley Umude
Accidents/OutAJ Inexperienced (toe) possible Khris Middleton (ankle) out Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) possible
Head Coach Doc Rivers
Key Matchups
Grid View
Jaylen Brown
Picture by Brian Babineau/NBAE by way of Getty Photos
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Jaylen Brown vs Giannis AntetokounmpoLast season, Antetokounmpo averaged 30.4 factors, 11.5 rebounds, and 6.5 assists. He shot 61.1% from the sphere and 27.4% from past the arc. In his first 2 video games this season, he averaged 31.5 factors, 12.5 rebounds, and 6.0 assists whereas capturing 67.8% from the sphere. He didn’t hit a 3 in both recreation. We are going to possible see others, particularly Jayson Tatum matched up with him at occasions.
Grid View
Jrue Vacation
Picture by Dylan Buell/Getty Photos
Damian Lillard
Picture by Jeff Haynes/NBAE by way of Getty Photos
Jrue Vacation vs Damian LillardLast season, Lillard averaged 24.3 factors, 4.4 rebounds, and seven.0 assists. He shot 42.4% from the sphere and 35.4% from past the arc. Over the primary 2 video games this season, Lillard averaged 29 factors, 6.5 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 1.0 steal whereas capturing 50% from the sphere and 37.5% from past the arc. This ought to be a superb matchup between one of many higher shooters within the league and the most effective perimeter defenders.
Honorable MentionPayton Pritchard vs Bobby Portis It is a matchup between key subs off the bench for every workforce. Pritchard comes off the bench for the Celtics and brings vitality and well timed pictures. Portis does a lot of the identical for the Bucks. Final season Portis averaged 13.8 factors, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists whereas capturing 50.8% from the sphere and 40.7% from past the arc. In two video games this season, he’s averaging 13.5 factors, 7.5 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.5 steals per recreation. He’s capturing 57.9% from the sphere and 50% from past the arc.
Keys to the GameDefense – Protection is all the time the largest key to successful. Protection actually does win championships. The Celtics are thirteenth with a defensive score of 113.1. The Bucks are twentieth with a defensive score of 115.8. Towards the Pistons, the Celtics allowed them to shoot 48.9% from the sphere and 35.9% from past the arc. They performed good protection initially of the sport and clamped down on the finish, however in between, they let up on the defensive finish and it allowed the Pistons to return again from 23 factors down and to virtually steal the sport. The Celtics should work tougher than the Bucks on protection and hold their deal with the defensive finish in order to not permit any simple baskets for the Bucks.
Rebound – Subsequent to protection, rebounding is all the time an enormous key to successful. The important thing to rebounding is effort and focus. When the Celtics improve their rebounding effort, it normally improves their play in different areas as nicely. The Bucks are eleventh with 46.5 rebounds per recreation whereas the Celtics are nineteenth with 42.0 rebounds per recreation. Towards the Pistons, the Celtics have been out rebounded 44-37. The Celtics must battle tougher on this recreation to beat the Bucks to rebounds.
Most Effort for 48 Minutes – The Celtics are dealing with considered one of their closest rival within the Japanese Convention. There’s a good chance that they may them within the playoffs sooner or later. The Celtics effort of their win over Detroit was good at occasions and never so good at others. The Celtics have to present max effort on the boards and on protection and so they have to present that effort for all the recreation and never simply 2 quarters.
Transfer the Ball – For a lot of Saturday’s recreation, the Celtics saved the ball transferring each inside out and across the perimeter. However for some purpose, the Celtics went away from that and there was much less motion and extra iso play. The Celtics must hold the ball transferring to search out the most effective shot on each possession. When the ball stops transferring, they aren’t almost as dominant.
Factors within the Paint – The Celtics think about capturing from the perimeter and normally that may result in a dominant win for them since, as Joe Mazzulla says, 3 is greater than 2. Nevertheless, they’ve been outscored within the paint in all 3 of their video games up to now by a big margin. The Celtics are final within the league with simply 34.7 factors within the paint per recreation. The Bucks are 14th with 47 factors within the paint per recreation. The Celtics want to attain inside extra, particularly when the three’s aren’t falling. In addition they must defend inside higher to stop opponents from getting simple buckets within the paint.
X-Components Residence Sport and Fatigue – The Celtics are residence as soon as once more for the second recreation this season. They’ve the house crowd behind them to present them further motivation. The Bucks are on the street enjoying within the 2nd recreation in as many days. The Celtics have had at some point off whereas the Bucks are enjoying on the second night time of again to again video games. The Celtics have to reap the benefits of enjoying at residence and play with vitality and energy to benefit from the Bucks’ fatigue.
Teaching – The Bucks are coached by former Celtics coach Doc Rivers, who give up the Celtics after Pierce and Garnett have been traded as a result of he didn’t wish to coach a rebuild. Since then, the Celtics have accomplished nothing however win whereas Doc’s groups have struggled, despite the truth that he was teaching a number of stars at every cease. I’m positive Doc will probably be further motivated to beat his former workforce whereas Joe Mazzulla will probably be motivated as a result of he’s Psycho Joe and is simply further motivated to win each single recreation.
Officiating – The officiating can all the time be an x-factor. Some referees name the sport tight and others allow them to play. Some favor the house workforce and others name it evenly. Some refs simply appear to have an agenda that doesn’t match the play on the courtroom. And typically the refs are merely atrocious. Giannis appears to all the time get greater than his share of calls as he plows by gamers on his technique to the ring, leaving our bodies in his wake. The Celtics must play by nonetheless the refs name the sport, whether or not it’s tight or they allow them to play or they make horrible calls. The Celtics can’t permit dangerous calls or no calls to remove their deal with the sport.
And ensure to take a look at CelticsBlog’s Playback stream for a dwell dialog in regards to the recreation. To take part, simply create a free account, join your LP sub in case you have it, and be part of our neighborhood.
