The Celtics return from their 4 recreation Western street journey to tackle the Houston Rockets. That is the second and remaining recreation between these two groups this season. The Celtics gained the primary recreation 109-86 in Houston on January 3. The Celtics gained the collection 2-0 final season. They’re 98-56 general all time in opposition to the Rockets and they’re 52-20 all time at residence.
After an enormous off season final 12 months the place the Rockets signed Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks and several other different veterans, that they had a comparatively quiet off season this 12 months. They signed Aaron Vacation as a free agent. They exercised the staff possibility on Jeff Inexperienced and Jae’Sean Tate. They signed Reed Sheppard, who was the #3 choose within the 2024 draft. They misplaced Reggie Bullock and Boban Marjanovic. Their beginning lineup has been the identical for the second 12 months in a row.
The Celtics stay 2nd within the East, despite their current struggles. They’ve moved to 4.5 video games behind 1st place Cleveland, who’ve misplaced their final 3 video games. They’re 2 video games forward of third place New York and 5.5 video games forward of 4th place Milwaukee. They’re 15-8 at residence and 6-4 of their final 10 video games. They’re 9-5 in opposition to Western Convention groups. They’re coming off a win of their final recreation.
The Rockets are 2nd within the West, 6 video games behind first place Oklahoma Metropolis. They’re tied with third place Memphis and a pair of.5 video games forward of 4th place Denver. They’re 15-6 on the street and 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’re 11-5 in opposition to Jap Convention opponents. They’ve gained their final 2 video games, each of which have been in opposition to the Cavaliers.
The Celtics are enjoying within the first recreation again at residence after a 4 recreation street journey that began with a 40 level win over the Warriors and a 4 level win over the quick handed LA Clippers together with a 21 level loss to the Lakers. They closed the street journey with a win over the Mavericks. Subsequent, they’ll face Chicago at residence earlier than 3 extra on the street by New Orleans, Philadelphia and Cleveland. Then one recreation at residence in opposition to Dallas earlier than enjoying at New York and Miami and residential in opposition to San Antonio earlier than the All Star Break.
The Rockets are coming off a house and residential collection in opposition to the Cavaliers the place they gained each video games. That is the 2nd of a 4 recreation street journey for the Rockets that may proceed by Atlanta and Memphis. They are going to face Brooklyn at residence earlier than one other 4 recreation street journey by New York, Brooklyn, Minnesota, and Dallas. They are going to then host Toronto, Phoenix, and Golden State earlier than the All Star Break.
The Celtics have 3 gamers on the harm checklist at the moment. Derrick White is questionable with a shin harm that will need to have occurred within the Dallas recreation. Sam Hauser is questionable with a hip impingement. Additionally, Al Horford is questionable with a toe sprain. Each are a recreation time determination. For the Rockets, Jabari Smith, Jr is out with a hand harm and Cam Whitmore is questionable with an sickness.
Possible Celtics Starters
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Celtics ReservesLuke KornetPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaSam HauserBaylor ScheiermanJaden SpringerXavier Tillman, SrJordan Walsh
2 Method PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonAnton Watson
Accidents/OutDerrick White (shin) questionable Al Horford (toe) questionableSam Hauser (hip) questionable
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Rockets Starters
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Rockets Reserves Steven AdamsJeff GreenAaron HolidayJock LandaleReed SheppardJae’Sean TateTari EasonJock Landale
2-Method Gamers N’Faly DanteJack McVeighNate Williams
Accidents/Out Cam Whitmore (sickness) questionableJabari Smith, Jr (hand) out
Head CoachIme Udoka
Key Matchups
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Derrick White
Picture by Jason Miller/Getty Photographs
Jalen Inexperienced
Picture by Michael Hickey/Getty Photographs
Derrick White vs Jalen GreenGreen is averaging 21.4 factors, 4.3 rebounds, and a pair of.8 assists per recreation. He’s capturing 43.2% from the sphere and 36.3% from past the arc. Inexperienced is the Rockets’ main scorer and the Celtics must be conscious that he can put up lots of factors if not defended effectively. If White is out I anticipate Jaylen Brown to maneuver to capturing guard.
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Kristaps Porzingis
Picture by Andy Lyons/Getty Photographs
Alperen Sengun
Picture by Jeff Haynes/NBAE through Getty Photographs
Kristaps Porzingis vs Alperen SengunSengun is averaging 19.3 factors, 10.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.3 steals per recreation. He’s capturing 49.1% from the sphere and 23.4% from past the arc. Sengun will not be an enormous risk from the perimeter, however he can hit 3’s if left open. The Celtics must field out as he is an efficient rebounder. He’s additionally a really bodily participant in order that they must be prepared for that.
Honorable Point out Jayson Tatum vs Amen Thompson Thompson is averaging 13.2 factors, 8.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.1 blocks per recreation. He’s capturing 55.6% from the sphere and 23.4% from past the arc. He’s coming off a 23 level, 14 rebound, 10 help triple double in opposition to the Cavaliers and is averaging 17.7 factors in his final 10 video games. He didn’t play within the first recreation between these two groups and the Celtics must be able to play good protection on him on this recreation.
Keys to the Recreation Protection – Protection is all the time a key to successful. Gamers wrestle on offense in some video games, however they will all the time play protection. The Rockets are averaging 114.2 factors per recreation (thirteenth). The Celtics are averaging 117.3 factors per recreation (4th). The Rockets are 4th with a defensive score of 108.4 whereas the Celtics are fifth with a defensive score of 109.6. The Celtics have to stay to their defensive id on this one as a result of the Rockets play powerful protection and the Celtics can’t rely on a shoot out to win. Protection will doubtless decide the winner of this recreation.
Rebound – So as to rating, the Celtics want the ball and to get the ball, they might want to crash the boards as a staff. The Celtics common 45.1 rebounds per recreation (tenth) whereas the Rockets common 48.4 rebounds per recreation (1st). A lot of rebounding is effort and when the Celtics put out further effort on the boards, it often carries over into the remainder of their recreation. The Rockets are 1st within the league with 17.6 second likelihood factors per recreation. The Rockets are an excellent rebounding staff and so the Celtics should come into the sport decided to place out further effort and to hustle for each rebound to restrict 2nd likelihood factors for the Rockets.
Be Aggressive and Keep Targeted – The Celtics need to be aggressive in taking the ball to the basket and never settling for 3 tips about each possession, particularly if the 3s aren’t falling. Additionally they need to be aggressive in hustling for rebounds and for unfastened balls. They usually need to be aggressive on protection. The Rockets win by enjoying laborious and the Celtics need to play tougher than the Rockets in the event that they need to win this recreation. Additionally they want to hold that aggressiveness by all 4 quarters with no let up. Additionally they want to remain targeted on taking good photographs and making them. They need to preserve their concentrate on enjoying staff ball.
Be Constant – The Celtics have been up and down now for many of the months of December and January. One recreation they lose to a staff that they clearly ought to have beat. The subsequent recreation they win in a blowout over a contender. One recreation they offer up an enormous lead and lose down the stretch. The subsequent recreation they arrive from behind to get a win. The Celtics must get again to giving constant effort each recreation and each quarter. No let up and no straightforward straightforward photographs for his or her opponent.
X-Elements At Residence After a Street Journey – The Celtics are at residence the place they haven’t been their greatest this season. already dropping twice as many video games at residence than they did all final season. The Celtics have the gang behind them and if they offer a superb effort, win or lose, the followers will cheer them on and assist to encourage them. The primary recreation at residence after a street journey is all the time a troublesome recreation. The Celtics will want further focus and energy to get a win on this one.
Teaching – The Rockets are led by former Celtics coach Ime Udoka, who left Boston beneath lower than fascinating circumstances. He was suspended for violating staff guidelines and assistant coach Joe Mazzulla was made interim coach. Ultimately, Udoka was formally launched and Mazzulla was made head coach. I’m positive that Udoka would love nothing greater than to beat the staff that allow him go after he led that staff to the Finals. He may also have his staff motivated to avenge 2 losses to the Celtics final season and another in Houston this season
Officiating – The officiating is all the time an x-factor. Some referees name the sport tight and others allow them to play. Some favor the house staff and others name it evenly. The Celtics need to play by no matter calls go in opposition to them and never permit unhealthy calls or no calls to remove their concentrate on the sport.
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