The Celtics host the Orlando Magic for Sport 1 of their first spherical collection. That is the fourth time these two groups have met within the playoffs and the primary time since 2010, when the Celtics received the Jap Convention Finals 4-2. The Magic are 9-8 within the playoffs in opposition to the Celtics and are certainly one of 3 groups which have a successful document in opposition to the Celtics within the playoffs. Charlotte and Brooklyn are the opposite two groups.
The Magic received the primary collection between these two groups 3 video games to 1 within the first spherical of the 1995 playoffs. Sport 4 of that collection was the ultimate sport the Celtics performed within the previous Boston Backyard. Magic received that sport 95-92 and so they received the collection. Their 2nd assembly within the playoffs was in 2009 the place the Magic received the collection 4-3, this time within the Jap Convention semifinals.
The Magic received the collection with the Celtics this season 2-1. Though. we are able to’t take so much from these video games. Within the Celtics 108-104 loss on December 1, the Celtics didn’t have Jayson Tatum and the Magic didn’t have Paolo Banchero or Franz Wagner. Within the Celtics 121-94 win on January 17, the Celtics have been wholesome, however the Magic have been with out Wagner. The Magic 96-76 win on April 9 meant nothing because the Magic have been wholesome and the Celtics sat their high 6 gamers.
This can be an attention-grabbing matchup as illustrated by a number of statistics. The Celtics common the 2nd fewest turnovers (11.9) whereas the Magic are 2nd with 16.2 pressured turnovers per sport. The Celtics are first in fewest capturing fouls dedicated whereas the Magic draw the 2nd most capturing fouls per 100 possessions. Most significantly, the Celtics common 48.2 threes per sport whereas the Magic restrict groups to 31.4 tried 3’s per sport, fewest within the league.
A lot has been product of the Celtics well being over the previous week as we waited for the playoffs to begin. Jaylen Brown missed the ultimate 3 video games of the season resulting from a bone bruise on his knee. He has seemed good in follow and has participated absolutely and may have no restrictions on this sport. Jrue Vacation has been enjoying with a black solid on his pinky finger resulting from mallet finger. He additionally has been a full participant in follow and may play with no restrictions. The Celtics have a transparent damage listing presently.
The Magic have 2 gamers on the damage listing however they’ve been out long run for them and each will miss the playoffs. Jalen Suggs has been out since March 4 after present process profitable arthroscopic surgical procedure to take away a cartilage fragment in his left knee. Moritz Wagner has been out since January 9 when he tore the ACL in his left knee. Apart from these two, the Magic even have a transparent damage report.
Possible Celtics Starters
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PG: Jrue HolidaySG: Derrick WhiteSF: Jaylen BrownPF: Jayson TatumC: Kristaps Porzingis
Celtics ReservesPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaBaylor ScheiermanJordan WalshLuke KornetTorrey CraigSam HauserXavier Tillman, SrJD DavisonAl Horford
2 Approach PlayersDrew PetersonMiles Norris
Accidents/OutNone
Possible Magic Starters
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PG: Cory JosephSG: Kentavious Caldwell-PopeSF: Franz WagnerPF: Paolo Banchero C: Wendell Carter, Jr
Magic ReservesCole AnthonyGoga BitadzeAnthony BlackTristan DaSilvaGary HarrisCaleb HoustanJett HowardJonathan Isaac
2-Approach Gamers Mac McClungTrevelin Queen Ethan Thompson
Accidents/OutMoritz Wagner (knee) out Jalen Suggs (knee) out
Head Coach Jamahl Mosley
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Key Matchups
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Jayson Tatum
Photograph by Elsa/Getty Photos
Paolo Banchero
Photograph by Cole Burston/Getty Photos
Jayson Tatum vs Paolo Banchero Banchero, a former #1 choose within the draft, is averaging 25.9 factors, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per sport. He’s capturing 45.2% from the sphere and 32.0% from past the arc. In 2 video games gainst the Celtics this season, he averaged with 18 factors, 4 rebounds and 5 assists. He shot 37.8% from the sphere and 22.2% from past the arc. The Celtics want Tatum to out-play Banchero in the event that they wish to get a win.
Grid View
Jaylen Brown
Photograph by Brian Babineau/NBAE through Getty Photos
Franz Wagner
Photograph by Nic Antaya/Getty Photos
Jaylen Brown vs Franz WagnerWagner is averaging 24.2 factors, 5.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.3 steals per sport. He’s capturing 46.3% from the sphere and 29.5% from past the arc. In a single sport in opposition to the Celtics this season, he completed with 23 factors, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and a pair of steals. He shot 52.9% from the sphere and 50% from past the arc. He’s very able to having a giant sport and the Celtics must defend him properly. Hopefully Brown’s knee is certainly healed and he can transfer properly sufficient to defend at a excessive stage.
Honorable MentionKristaps Porzingis vs Wendell Carter, JrCarter is averaging 9.1 factors, 7.2 rebounds, and a pair of.0 assists per sport. He’s capturing 46% from the sphere and 23.4% from past the arc. In 3 video games in opposition to the Celtics this season, he averaged 11.3 factors, 6.3 rebounds, and a pair of.7 assists whereas capturing 54.2% from the sphere and 25% from past the arc. Porzingis has a peak benefit over Carter and may be capable to draw him away from the basket together with his outdoors capturing.
Key Matchup off the BenchPayton Pritchard vs Cole AnthonyAnthony appears to discover a approach to have large video games in opposition to the Celtics. He’s averaging 9.4 factors, 3 rebounds, and a pair of.9 assists per sport. He’s capturing 42.4% from the sphere and 35.3% from past the arc. Nevertheless, in 3 video games in opposition to the Celtics this season, he averaged 17 factors, 5.7 rebounds, and a pair of.7 assists, whereas capturing 51.4% from the sphere and 41.2% from past the arc. The Celtics must defend Anthony properly and preserve him from having a giant sport on this one. The Celtics additionally want a giant sport from Pritchard.
Keys to the GameDefense – Protection is all the time the important thing to successful and much more so within the Playoffs. The Celtics are fifth the league with a defensive score of 110.1. The Magic are 2nd within the league with a defensive score of 109.1. The Magic are twenty eighth in scoring at 105.4 factors per sport whereas the Celtics are eighth, scoring 116.3 factors per sport. The Magic have been successful with their protection and if the Celtics hope to beat them, they want match Orlando’s defensive depth and to play powerful lock down protection themselves.
Rebound – As Pat Riley as soon as stated, “No rebounds, no rings.” A lot of rebounding is effort and hustle and if the Celtics put the additional effort into grabbing rebounds, it often interprets to the remainder of their sport. the Celtics are eighth with 45.3 rebounds per sport whereas the Magic are twenty seventh with 41.8 rebounds per sport. The Celtics are 40-7 when tied or out-rebounding their opponents. It’s essential that the Celtics give additional effort on the boards on this sport.
3 Level Taking pictures The Celtics take essentially the most 3’s per sport whereas the Magic enable the fewest 3’s per sport. Within the 3 video games this season, the Magic held the Celtics to 11.3 fewer 3 level makes an attempt than their common. 56.8% of three’s that opponents took in opposition to Orlando have been closely contested (third). Of their win over the Magic this season, the Celtics shot 45.9% on 3’s however within the 2 losses, they shot 24.2% and 17.5%. The Celtics allowed the Magic to shoot 39.4% and 35.6% within the 2 Magic wins however held them to fifteen.6% of their win. The Celtics are powerful to beat after they make their 3’s and so they wrestle when the three’s aren’t falling. They need to discover a approach to neutralize the Magic’s powerful 3 level protection.
Transfer the Ball Fastidiously – The Celtics play finest after they share the ball and preserve it transferring. They will’t attempt to do an excessive amount of individually or the offense will get slowed down. They should transfer the ball to search out the very best photographs as an alternative of taking fast photographs or over dribbling. The Celtics are 44-2 after they have extra assists than their opponents. They’ve to maneuver the ball fastidiously, nevertheless, and never flip the ball over. The Magic are sixth within the league with 19.0 factors off turnovers per sport. If the Celtics get sloppy, the Magic will make them pay.
X-Elements Celtics Delight at Residence – The Celtics may have the playoff Backyard crowd and that ought to give them a lift. The Magic may have all of the distractions of enjoying on the street. Each groups ought to be rested. The Celtics should be prepared for a crew that performs very arduous for 48 minutes and that defends very properly. The Celtics must match the Magic’s effort particularly on the defensive finish. The Celtics have to take pride and play tougher than the Magic to guard their residence courtroom and get a win in opposition to this motivated Magic crew.
Accidents – Phrase off form is that Jaylen Brown seemed actually good and was coming into the playoffs with no restrictions. The Celtics want him at 100% and capable of be bodily in opposition to a really bodily entrance line of the Magic. Any limitations that he has from the knee damage will restrict the Celtics’ effectiveness, particularly on protection. Additionally the Celtics want Jrue Vacation at 100% so as to be at their finest. Each groups come into the sport with a transparent damage listing, though there are some reservations about Brown’s knee and Vacation’s finger. Hopefully there can be no accidents within the video games to alter that. The Celtics want to remain wholesome all through their playoff run so as to repeat as champions.
Officiating – Officiating can all the time be an X-Issue. In some video games, you don’t even discover the referees and in different video games, they appear to make the sport all about them. Some crews name the sport tight and others let the groups play. Some crews favor one of many groups whereas others name it pretty. Regardless of how the sport is known as, the Celtics should modify and never enable the officiating to remove from their focus.
Official Report Crew Chief – Zach Zarba – Zarba known as 60 video games this season. His residence crew win/loss document this season was 37-23. He calls 49.1% of fouls in opposition to the house crew.
Referee – Mitchell Ervin – Ervin has known as 63 video games this season. His residence crew win/loss document was 37-26. He calls 49.9% of fouls in opposition to the house crew.
Umpire – Jacyn Goble – Goble has known as 68 video games this season His residence crew win/loss document was 35-33. He calls 50% of fouls in opposition to the house crew.
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