Boston Celtics (0-3) at New Orleans Pelicans (0-2)Monday, October 27, 20258:00 PM ETRegular Season Recreation #4 Street Recreation #3TV: NBCSB, Gulf Coast Sports activities, NBA-LPRadio: 98.5 Sports activities Hub, WWL 870 AM, Sirius XMSmoothie King Heart
The winless Celtics tackle the winless Pelicans in New Orleans. Boston is enjoying within the second of again to again video games whereas the Pelicans haven’t performed since Friday. That is the primary of two video games between these groups this season. They are going to meet for a 2nd, and ultimate, time in Boston on April 10. The Celtics received the collection 2-0 final season. The Celtics are 28-21 general all time and they’re 12-13 in video games performed in New Orleans.
Just like the Celtics, the Pelicans have had just a few modifications since final season. They traded Kelly Olynyk and CJ McCallum to the Washington Wizards in alternate for Jordan Poole and Saddiq Bey. They added Kevon Looney as a free agent and misplaced Bruce Brown to Denver as a free agent. In addition they added Jeremiah Fears with the seventh choose within the draft, Derik Queen with the thirteenth choose and Micah Peavy with the fortieth choose.
The Celtics are break up about evenly between returning and new gamers. They’ve 9 returning gamers and eight new gamers on the crew this season. Gone are Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, Jrue Vacation and Luke Kornet. New gamers embody Anfernee Simons, Josh Minott, Chris Boucher, Hugo Gonzalez, Luka Garza, Max Shulga, Amari Williams, and Ron Harper, Jr. The Celtics have a core of fine gamers returning together with some younger gamers who’re excited to point out what they will do.
After enjoying the Pistons on Sunday and the Pelicans on Monday, they’ll then return house for one recreation towards the Cavaliers earlier than happening the highway to Philadelphia for his or her first NBA cup recreation. Then it’s two video games again at house towards Houston and Utah earlier than 2 video games in Orlando after which, at Philadelphia as soon as once more. Then they’ve 2 extra video games at house towards the Grizzlies and the Clippers.
The Pelicans opened on the highway in Memphis after which hosted San Antonio for his or her house opener. After this recreation towards the Celtics, they’ll have a 3 recreation highway journey by Denver, the LA Clippers, and Oklahoma Metropolis. After one recreation at house towards Charlotte, they’ll go on the highway once more towards Dallas, San Antonio and Phoenix earlier than a 5 recreation house stand.
Jayson Tatum stays on the damage checklist as he rehabs from the Achilles damage. Jaylen Brown is again on the damage checklist as questionable with the hamstring damage. The Pelicans have 2 gamers out and 1 participant questionable. Kevon Looney is out with a knee damage. Dejounte Murray is out as he rehabs from an Achilles tear. Zion Williamson is questionable with a foot damage.
After beginning the identical lineup for the primary 2 video games, Joe began Hugo Gonzalez towards the Pistons. I’ve included the identical beginning lineup from the Pistons recreation, however starters and rotations are nonetheless fluid for the Celtics and we could or could not see the identical starters, particularly since Zion Williamson is the Pelicans’ beginning energy ahead. I’ve listed the Pelicans starters from their recreation notes, which had been additionally their starters from Friday’s recreation.
Possible Beginning MatchupsPG: Derrick White vs Jordan Poole
SG: Payton Pritchard vs Herb Jones
SF: Jaylen Brown vs Trey Murphy III
PF: Hugo Gonzalez vs Zion Williamson
C: Neemias Queta vs Yves Missi
Celtics ReservesAnfernee SimonsJosh MinottXavier TillmanJordan WalshSam HauserLuka GarzaBaylon ScheiermanChris Boucher2-Means PlayersRon Harper, JrMax ShulgaAmari WilliamsInjuries/OutJayson Tatum (Achilles) outJaylen Brown (hamstring) questionable
Pelicans ReservesJose AlvaredoSaddiq BeyJeremiah FearsJordan HawkinsDeAndre JordanMicah PeavyDerik QueenKarlo MatkovicTwo Means PlayersTrey AlexanderHunter DickensonBryce McGowens
Accidents/OutKevon Looney (knee) outDejounte Murray (Achilles) outZion Williamson (foot) questionable
Key MatchupsHugo Gonzalez vs Zion WilliamsonWilliamson is averaging 27 factors, 9.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 4.0 steals in his first video games to date. He’s taking pictures 46.2% from the sphere with no 3 pointers. Gonzalez began at energy ahead towards the Pistons and he could or could not begin on this recreation. Whoever Joe begins right here may have his arms full towards Williamson.
Derrick White vs Jordan PoolePoole is averaging 19 factors, 2 rebounds, and three.5 assists whereas taking pictures 41.2% from the sphere and 37.5% from the sphere. Will probably be essential for the Celtics to defend him nicely and preserve him from having an enormous recreation.Honorable MentionJaylen Brown vs Trey Murphy IIIMurphy is averaging 18.5 factors, 8.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.5 assists whereas taking pictures 42.4% from the sphere and 28.6% from past the arc. Jaylen Brown is coming off an enormous recreation towards the Pistons and hopefully will be capable to play nicely on this recreation as nicely.Keys to the GameRebound – I’m placing rebounding as the largest key to profitable for the reason that Celtics have misplaced their first 3 video games largely as a result of they weren’t in a position to rebound. The Celtics led the league with 52 rebounds per recreation within the preseason, however they solely averaged 39.0 of their first 3 video games, which is twenty fifth. The Knicks out rebounded them by 17 and the Pistons out rebounded them by 17 and put up 32 second probability factors. They merely must combat more durable to seize rebounds. A lot of rebounding is effort as evidenced by Payton Pritchard grabbing 10 rebounds towards the Pistons. Each Celtic has obtained to crash the boards and combat for each rebound.
Protection – As all the time, protection is a key to profitable this, and each, recreation. The Celtics had been second within the preseason with a defensive score of 100.2. They struggled on the defensive finish towards each the 76ers, Knicks and Pistons and slipped to twenty second with a defensive score of 116.8. The Pelicans are fifteenth with a defensive score of 114.8. The Celtics should make protection a precedence in the event that they hope to win this season.
Consistency – The Celtics have been in a position to construct a lead in all 3 of their video games to date. They led by 13 towards the 76ers, 8 towards the Knicks and 17 towards the Pistons. Nonetheless, they weren’t in a position to preserve or construct on these leads. They allowed the 76ers to out-score them 42-30 within the 4th quarter. They allowed the Knicks to out rating them 42-14 within the 2nd quarter and so they allowed the Pistons to outscore them 36-25 within the 2nd quarter and 34-23 within the third quarter. They should play exhausting and nicely on each ends of the courtroom for all 4 quarters and never permit the Pelicans to have an enormous quarter to bury them.
Decide up the Tempo – After loads of discuss enjoying sooner within the preseason, the Celtics slowed it down of their first 3 video games. They had been seventh in tempo within the preseason (106.13) however they’re twenty fifth after their first 3 video games (97.5) Their greatest hope this season is to play quick and exhausting. They should play sooner and more durable to be able to get again to profitable.
X-FactorsBack to Again On the Street – The Celtics are on the highway as soon as once more and enjoying on the 2nd night time of again to again video games. The Celtics are youthful this season than final and generally younger gamers wrestle extra on the highway than they do at house. They should overcome the distractions of enjoying on the highway and in entrance of a hostile crowd and keep targeted on enjoying the correct approach. Fatigue could also be an element for the reason that Celtics performed the night time earlier than and the Pelicans haven’t performed since Friday.
Officiating – Officiating all the time has the chance to be an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport otherwise. Some name each little bit of contact whereas some allow them to play. Some favor the house crew and a few name it evenly and a few are simply unhealthy. Hopefully the Celtics get a crew that calls it even and lets each groups play. Nonetheless the sport is named, they should deal with the sport and never permit unhealthy or no calls to take that focus away.
