The sequence shifts again to Boston because the Celtics host the Magic for Recreation 5 of the primary spherical sequence. The Celtics received Recreation 1 103-86 in Boston on Sunday with a full roster. They received Recreation 2 109-100 on Wednesday, additionally in Boston, however with out Jayson Tatum. The Magic received Recreation 3 95-93 in Orlando. The Celtics have been with out Jrue Vacation and the Magic continued their reckless play, inflicting one other damage when Cole Anthony pulled Jaylen Brown all the way down to the ground inflicting him to dislocate his finger.
Recreation 4 was additionally in Orlando on Sunday. The Celtics have been as soon as once more with out Jrue Vacation. However, not like in Recreation 3, the Celtics have been in a position to reply to the Magic’s physicality and with the sport tied at 91, with simply over 4 minutes to go within the recreation, the Celtics pulled forward and received the sport 107-98. They have been additionally capable of keep away from one other damage as a result of reckless play of the Magic.
The Celtics enter this recreation up 3 video games to 1. In NBA historical past, 283 groups have had a 3-1 lead in a 7 recreation sequence. Of these 283 groups, 270 groups went on to win the sequence. That,s 95.5% of groups up 3-1 received the sequence. Solely 13 recovered from being down 1-3 and received their sequence. The Celtics have recovered from a 1-3 deficit to win the sequence twice.
In 1968 and in 1981 the Celtics got here from down 1-3 to beat the 76ers within the Japanese Convention Finals. The final time a crew got here again from down 1-3 was in 2020 when the Denver Nuggets did it twice. Former Celtics coach Doc Rivers is the one coach to blow 3-1 leads greater than as soon as, and he has completed it 3 instances.
The Celtics haven’t misplaced a sequence that they lead 3-1. They’re 31-0 all-time when main a sequence 3-1. In these 31 sequence, they closed out the opponent in 5 video games 20 instances. It took them 6 video games 9 totally different instances twice they received the sequence in 7 video games. The Magic are 0-7 in sequence that they have been down 1-3. They’re 0-8 all-time on the street in Recreation 5’s.
That is the fourth time these two groups have met within the playoffs and the primary time since 2010, when the Celtics received the Japanese Convention Finals 4-2. With the loss on Friday, the Celtics have now pulled forward with 11 playoff wins to 10 for the Magic. The Celtics have to win this sequence as rapidly as doable to keep away from extra accidents by the hands of the reckless Magic gamers.
That is an attention-grabbing matchup as illustrated by a number of statistics. The Celtics averaged the 2nd fewest turnovers (11.9) within the common season whereas the Magic are 2nd with 16.2 compelled turnovers per recreation. The primary recreation went the Celtics means on this class. The Celtics had simply 9 turnovers within the recreation whereas the Magic had 15. In Recreation 2, the Celtics had 10 turnovers to 7 for the Magic. In Recreation 3, the Celtics had an uncharacteristic 21 turnovers to 14 for the Magic. In Recreation 4, each groups had 10 turnovers.
The Celtics are first in fewest capturing fouls dedicated whereas the Magic draw the 2nd most capturing fouls per 100 possessions. In Recreation 1, the Celtics have been known as for 13 fouls for the sport whereas the Magic have been known as for 17 fouls. In Recreation 2, the Celtics have been known as for 19 fouls whereas the Magic have been known as for 23. In Recreation 3, The Celtics have been known as for 20 fouls whereas the Magic have been known as for 23 fouls. After a number of Celtics complained in regards to the officiating after Recreation 3, the Celtics have been known as for 17 fouls in Recreation 4 to 24 for the Magic. After Recreation 4, Magic coach Jamahl Mosley complained in regards to the lack of requires the Magic, so we will see how Recreation 5 goes.
Crucial statistic is 3 level capturing. The Celtics averaged 48.2 threes per recreation within the common season whereas the Magic restricted groups to 31.4 tried 3’s per recreation, fewest within the league. In Recreation 1, the Celtics tried 37 threes, which is 11 below their season common. They made 18 of these. The Magic took simply 27 threes and made simply 10. In Recreation 2, The Celtics as soon as once more tried 37 threes and made 12, whereas the Magic tried 29 and made simply 7. In Recreation 3, the Celtics tried a season low 27 threes and hit simply 9 whereas the Magic tried 32 threes and hit 8. In Recreation 4, the Celtics took 31 threes and made 9 whereas the Magic took 30 threes and hit 8.
Jrue Vacation has missed the previous 2 video games for the Celtics. They misplaced Recreation 3 however received Recreation 4 with out him. At the moment, Jaylen Brown is questionable for this recreation with a proper knee posterior impingement. Jrue Vacation will miss a 3rd straight recreation on account of a hamstring pressure. Jaylen Brown has been questionable for the previous 2 video games however performed in each. I’m guessing that Al Horford will get the beginning for Vacation and, if Brown can’t play, Sam Hauser will seemingly get one other begin.
The Magic have 2 gamers on the damage record 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 have a transparent damage report. In fact, the Celtics haven’t been enjoying recklessly and injuring their gamers both.
Possible Celtics Starters
Grid View
PG: Derrick WhiteSG: Jaylen BrownSF: Jayson TatumPF: Al Horford C: Kristaps Porzingis
Celtics ReservesPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaBaylor ScheiermanJordan WalshLuke KornetTorrey CraigSam HauserXavier Tillman, SrJD Davison
2 Manner PlayersDrew PetersonMiles Norris
Accidents/OutJrue Vacation (hamstring) outJaylen Brown (knee) questionable
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Magic Starters
Grid View
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-Manner Gamers Mac McClungTrevelin Queen Ethan Thompson
Accidents/OutMoritz Wagner (knee) out Jalen Suggs (knee) out
Head Coach Jamahl Mosley
Key Matchups
Grid View
Al Horford
Picture by Brian Fluharty/Getty Pictures
Paolo Banchero
Picture by Cole Burston/Getty Pictures
Al Horford vs Paolo Banchero Banchero averaged 25.9 factors, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per recreation within the common season. He shot 45.2% from the sector and 32.0% from past the arc. Within the first 4 video games of the playoffs in opposition to the Celtics up to now, he’s averaging 32 factors, 8.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1 block per recreation whereas capturing 44% from the sector and 43.5% from past the arc. Though, solely Banchero and Wagner have been having large video games for the Magic, it will be good if they will restrict his scoring on this one.
Grid View
Jayson Tatum
Picture by Brian Babineau/NBAE through Getty Pictures
Franz Wagner
Picture by Nic Antaya/Getty Pictures
Jayson Tatum vs Franz WagnerWagner averaged 24.2 factors, 5.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.3 steals per recreation within the common season. He shot 46.3% from the sector and 29.5% from past the arc. Within the first 4 video games in opposition to the Celtics, Wagner is averaging 26 factors, 5 rebounds, 6 assists and 1.3 steals per recreation whereas capturing 44.1% from the sector and 21.2% from past the arc. Hopefully his struggles from the perimeter will proceed on this recreation.
Honorable MentionKristaps Porzingis vs Wendell Carter, JrCarter averaged 9.1 factors, 7.2 rebounds, and a couple of.0 assists per recreation within the common season. He shot 46% from the sector and 23.4% from past the arc. Within the first 4 video games of this sequence, Carter averaged 9.8 factors, 11 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per recreation whereas capturing 53.3% from the sector and 42.9% from past the arc. After struggling within the first 3 video games, Porzingis had a giant recreation in Recreation 4. The Celtics want him to play properly on this recreation additionally.
Keys to the GameDefense – Protection is all the time the important thing to successful and much more so within the Playoffs. The Celtics are 4th the playoffs with a defensive score of 105.9 The Magic are eleventh within the playoffs with a defensive score of 114.4. The Celtics scored simply 103 factors in Recreation 1 however they held the Magic to only 86 factors. In Recreation 2, the Magic scored 100 factors. In Recreation 3, the Magic scored simply 95 factors, however held the Celtics to 93. In Recreation 4, the Celtics held the Magic to 98 factors and scored 107. The Magic play very robust protection and so if the Celtics hope to beat them, they want match Orlando’s defensive depth and to play robust lock down protection themselves.
Rebound – As Pat Riley as soon as mentioned, “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 recreation. The Celtics out-rebounded the Magic 42-41 in Recreation 1. In Recreation 2, the Celtics received the rebounding battle 46-34. In Recreation 3, the Magic out-rebounded the Celtics 42-39. In Recreation 4, the Celtics as soon as once more received the boards 46-38. The Celtics are 43-7 when tied or out-rebounding their opponents. The Celtics have to out-work the Magic on the boards in the event that they need to win this recreation.
3 Level Taking pictures – Within the common season, the Celtics took probably the most 3’s per recreation whereas the Magic allowed the fewest 3’s per recreation. Within the 3 video games this season, the Magic held the Celtics to 11.3 fewer 3 level makes an attempt than their common. In Recreation 1, the Celtics took 37 threes (43.2%) whereas the Magic took 27 threes (37%) In Recreation 2, the Celtics took 37 threes (37%) whereas the Magic took 29 threes (24.2%). In Recreation 3, the Celtics took simply 27 threes (33.3%) whereas the Magic took 32 threes (25%). In Recreation 4, the Celtics took 31 threes (29.0%) whereas the Magic took 30 (26.7%). The Celtics are robust to beat once they make their 3’s and so they battle when the three’s aren’t falling. As soon as once more, they need to neutralize the Magic’s robust 3 level protection and on the similar time play robust protection in opposition to the Magic.
No matter It Takes – If the Magic proceed to close down the three level line, the Celtics need to do no matter it takes to attain, whether or not that’s driving to the basket,taking midrange photographs, or attending to the free throw line. The Celtics had some success in Recreation 4 with the decide and roll and getting downhill to the basket and so hopefully they will flip to these issues once more on this recreation in the event that they battle from the perimeter once more. In addition they have to beat the Magic on the boards. It’s not a coincidence that the one recreation they misplaced the rebounding battle, additionally they misplaced the sport.
X-Components Closeout Recreation at Residence – The Celtics will as soon as once more be enjoying in entrance of their residence crowd and that ought to give them a lift. Though, there have been a whole lot of Celtics followers in Orlando additionally. The Magic may have all of the distractions of enjoying on the street, a hostile crowd, and staying in a resort away from household. Closeout video games are the toughest to win because the opponent can be enjoying their hardest to keep away from elimination. The Celtics have to play even tougher to guard residence court docket and to finish the sequence as quickly as doable. They actually don’t need to have to return to Orlando once more.
Accidents – Jayson Tatum has been enjoying with a extreme bone bruise on his elbow. After lacking Recreation 2, he hasn’t appeared to overlook a beat previously 2 video games, main the Celtics to a win in Recreation 4. Jaylen Brown has been questionable with a bone bruise on his knee for every recreation however has performed in each one. He’s as soon as once more questionable for this recreation and hopefully he can play and will be as efficient as he has been up to now within the sequence. Jrue Vacation will miss his third recreation on this sequence. The Celtics will miss his protection, playmaking and power and others might want to step up in these areas in his absence.
Officiating – Officiating can all the time be an X-Issue. The officiating on this sequence has been a lot mentioned. After Recreation 3, Jaylen Brown and Joe Mazzulla each known as out the officers for not controlling the setting to forestall the reckless play of the Magic. After Recreation 4, Jamahl Mosley known as out the officers for being too lenient with the Celtics. Will probably be attention-grabbing to see how this recreation is named. Regardless of how the sport is named, the Celtics should regulate and never enable the officiating to remove from their focus.
Official Report Crew Chief – Tony Brothers – Brothers has been calling video games for 29 years and is likely one of the most controversial refs within the league. Followers from each crew groan once they see his identify on the sport assignments. In an nameless participant survey final season, 28.9% of the gamers felt that Brothers is likely one of the finest refs. 8.5% of the gamers named him as one of many worst. His residence win/loss document is 34-24. He calls 50.5% of fouls in opposition to the house crew. The Celtics are 5-2 this yr and 10-3 over the previous 2 years with Brothers as an official. The Magic are 2-1 this season and 4-4 over the previous 2 seasons.
Referee – Mark Lindsay – Lindsay has a house win/loss document of 32-34. He calls 50.4% of fouls in opposition to the house crew. The Celtics are 6-0 this season and 13-1 over the previous 2 seasons with Lindsay calling the video games. The Magic are 0-3 this season and 2-6 over the previous two seasons with Lindsay.
Umpire – Gedminas Petraitis – Petraitis has a win/loss document of 38-31. He calls 50.8% of fouls in opposition to the house crew. The Celtics are 6-2 this season and 8-3 over the previous two seasons with Petraitis as a ref. The Magic are 5-0 this season and 11-3 over the previous 2 seasons with Petraitis.
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