The Celtics face their sixth Western Convention group in a row as they host the New Orleans Pelicans. That is the primary of two conferences between these two groups this season. They’ll meet as soon as once more in Boston on January 31. The Celtics have gained their final 6 video games in opposition to the Pelicans. The Celtics are 26-21 total all time in opposition to the Pelicans and they’re 15-8 in video games performed in Boston.
The Pelicans had been lively within the offseason. Their largest transfer was to commerce Dyson Daniels, Cody Zeller, EJ Liddell and Larry Nance, Jr to Atlanta for Dejounte Murray. They signed former Celtic Daniel Theis and Antonio Reeves as free brokers. They claimed Brandon Boston off waivers and signed him to a 2 manner contract. They drafted Yves Missi with the twenty first decide.
The Celtics stay 2nd within the East, however have slipped to six.5 video games behind the primary place Cleveland Cavaliers, who’ve gained 12 straight video games. They’re 2.5 video games forward of third place New York and 6 video games forward of 4th place Milwaukee, who’ve gained their final 3 video games. They’re 13-7 at residence and 5-5 of their final 10 video games. They’re 5-4 vs Western Convention opponents and are coming off a loss of their final sport.
The Pelicans are fifteenth within the West. They’re 24 video games behind the primary place Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. They’re 11.5 video games behind tenth place Golden State and the final play in spot. they’re 2.5 video games behind 14th place Utah. They’re 3-15 on the highway and 3-7 of their final 10 video games. They’re 5-12 in opposition to Jap Convention opponents. They’re coming off a win of their final sport.
After a 3-1 Western highway journey, the Celtics misplaced to the Sacramento Kings of their first sport at residence after the journey. That is the second of two residence video games in opposition to Western Convention groups. They then head to Toronto to face the Raptors for the third time this season. They’ll then host Orlando and Atlanta earlier than their 2nd Western highway journey of the month by Golden State, Los Angeles Clippers and Lakers and Dallas.
The Pelicans are enjoying within the second sport of a 3 sport highway journey. They began the journey with a win in Philadelphia on Friday. They’ll play at Chicago after this sport. They then head residence for a 4 sport residence stand the place they are going to host Dallas, Utah for two video games, and Milwaukee. They then head out on the highway for video games in Memphis, Charlotte and Toronto. After a sport at residence in opposition to Dallas, they are going to play at Boston to complete out the month.
The Celtics have solely Drew Peterson on the harm listing because of concussion protocols. For the Pelicans, Brandon Ingram will miss his sixteenth sport because of a left ankle sprain. Herb Jones has been recognized with a posterior labrum tear in his proper shoulder and can be out. Dejounte Murray is questionable with proper elbow tendonitis and a proper shin contusion. Jose Alvaredo will possible begin in his place if he can’t play.
Possible Celtics Starters
Grid View
Celtics ReservesLuke KornetPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaSam HauserBaylor ScheiermanJaden SpringerXavier Tillman, SrJordan WalshAl Horford
2 Means PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonAnton Watson
Accidents/OutDrew Peterson (concussion) out
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Pelicans Starters
Grid View
Pelicans Reserves Jose AlvaradoJavonte GreenKarlo MatkovicTrey Murphy IIIAntonio ReevesJeremiah Robinson-EarlDaniel Theis
2 Means Gamers Brandon BostonKeion Brooks, JrJamal Cain
Accidents/Out Brandon Ingram (ankle) out Herb Jones (shoulder) outDejounte Murray (elbow/shin) questionable
Head Coach Willie Inexperienced
Key Matchups
Grid View
Jayson Tatum
Photograph by Brian Babineau/NBAE by way of Getty Photos
Zion Williamson
Photograph by Sean Gardner/Getty Photos
Jayson Tatum vs Zion WilliamsonWilliamson is averaging 22.6 factors, 7.7 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.1 blocks per sport. He’s capturing 47.1% from the sector and 25% from past the arc. Williamson has performed in simply 7 video games this season because of quite a lot of accidents. He was suspended for his or her final sport in Philadelphia because of being late for a group flight. He needs to be wholesome and rested for this sport.
Grid View
Derrick White
Photograph by Logan Riely/NBAE by way of Getty Photos
CJ McCollum
Photograph by Ned Dishman/NBAE by way of Getty Photos
Derrick White vs CJ McCollum McCollum is averaging 22.7 factors, 3.6 rebounds, and three.8 assists per sport. He’s capturing 45.8% from the sector and 38% from past the arc. The Celtics must cowl McCollum on the perimeter as a result of he’s very able to hitting threes.
Honorable MentionJrue Vacation vs Dejounte Murray Murray is averaging 16.3 factors, 6.4 rebounds, 7.6 assists and a pair of.4 steals per sport. He’s capturing 38.9% from the sector and 26.1% from past the arc. He’s listed as questionable for this sport with elbow and shin accidents. If he can’t play, Jose Alvarez will possible begin in his place.
Keys to the Recreation Protection – Protection will all the time be the important thing to profitable. The Pelicans common 107.4 factors per sport (twenty seventh) whereas the Celtics common 117.9 factors per sport (fifth). The Celtics are seventh within the league with a defensive score of 109.5. The Pelicans are twenty eighth with a defensive score of 117.7. The Celtics let up on protection in opposition to the Kings and it price them the sport. They need to play robust lock down protection for all 48 minutes in the event that they wish to win this, or every other, sport.
Rebound – The Celtics need to crash the boards as a group. Rebounding takes effort and after they put that further effort out to dominate the boards, it usually interprets to all different areas of the sport as properly. The Pelicans are averaging 42.7 rebounds (twenty fourth) and the Celtics are averaging 44.9 rebounds per sport (eleventh). The Pelicans are seventh within the league with 15.1 second probability factors and so the Celtics are going to need to work onerous to maintain them off the boards to maintain them from scoring second probability baskets.
Keep Targeted – The Celtics have to remain targeted on enjoying the proper manner. They need to deal with their ball dealing with and on their passes and never give the Pelicans free possessions by turning the ball over because the Pelicans common 18 factors off turnovers per sport. They’ve to remain targeted on taking good photographs and on making them. If the surface photographs cease falling, they should get to the basket. They need to deal with enjoying group ball and on enjoying protection.
Be Aggressive – The Celtics have gotten to be aggressive in going to the basket, enjoying protection, diving for unfastened balls and simply play tougher. Their effort and aggressiveness could make them very robust to beat and their lack of it may make them susceptible as we noticed in opposition to the Kings. They’re as soon as once more going through a group that performs onerous and are aggressive and so they can’t afford to return out with lower than 100% effort or to let up earlier than the ultimate buzzer.
X-Elements Dwelling Recreation – The Celtics are at residence for the second straight sport. The Pelicans are enjoying of their second straight highway sport. The Pelicans have struggled on the highway this season with an 3-15 report away from residence. Hopefully the Celtics will come out able to play and get some motivation from the house crowd. They had been embarrassed at residence of their final sport and want to show that round and get a win on this sport. Shield residence courtroom.
Officiating – Officiating is all the time an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport in another way. Some are tyrants with the whistle and a few let the groups play. Some refs are very sensitive and name fast fouls and techs. The Celtics have to regulate their sport to nonetheless the refs are calling it. They’ll’t let missed calls and no calls get to them and make them lose their focus.
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