Boston Celtics (2-3) at Philadelphia 76ers (4-0)Friday, October 31, 20257:00 PM ETRegular Season Sport #6 Street Sport #4Emerates NBA Cup Group B Sport #1TV: Amazon VideoRadio: 98.5 The Sports activities Hub, 97.5 The Fanatic, Sirius XMXfinity Cell Area
The Celtics journey to Philadelphia to tackle the 76ers for the second of 4 video games this season. They performed in Boston within the first sport of the season that Philly gained 117-116. They are going to play yet one more time in Philadelphia on November 11. They are going to play the ultimate sport in Boston on March 1. That is the primary of 4 NBA Cup video games. The opposite 3 groups in Group B are Detroit, Orlando and Brooklyn.
The Celtics beat the 76ers 3-1 final season they usually have been additionally 3-1 in opposition to the 76ers within the 2023-24 season. The 76ers tanked arduous the final a part of final season and completed 24-58 to get the third choose within the draft. The Celtics completed with a 61-21 document final season. The Celtics are 275-197 general all time and they’re 159-57 all time at house in opposition to the 76ers.
The 76ers haven’t modified a lot since final season. They added Trendon Watford as a free agent. Additionally they added Igor Milicic, Jr, who went undrafted on this yr’s draft. They added VJ Edgecombe with the third choose within the draft and Johni Broome with the thirty fifth choose within the draft. They misplaced Guerschon Yabusele, Jared Butler, and Ricky Council IV. The 76ers have a veteran core and an thrilling lottery choose and if they’ll keep wholesome, they could possibly be a great group this season.
After this sport on the highway in opposition to Philadelphia, the Celtics will then play Houston, Utah and Washington at house earlier than a 3 sport highway journey together with 2 video games in Orlando and one at Philadelphia. A kind of video games in Orlando would be the second NBA Cup sport. Then they’ve 2 video games at house in opposition to Memphis and the LA Clippers. Then it’s one sport on the highway at Brooklyn earlier than taking part in Brooklyn, Orlando, and Detroit at house.
The 76ers will play on the highway at Brooklyn, Chicago and Cleveland. Then they face Toronto and Detroit at house. Then they host Boston as soon as once more earlier than one sport on the highway at Detroit. Then they host the Los Angeles Clippers and Toronto Raptors earlier than one sport on the highway at Milwaukee. Then they host Miami and Orlando.
As of proper now, Jayson Tatum is the one participant on the Celtics harm checklist. For the 76ers, Paul George stays out after left arthroscopic knee surgical procedure within the offseason. He’s reportedly near a return. Jared McCain practiced with the group on Thursday however is predicted to overlook this sport with a thumb harm. Dominick Barlow is out with an elbow harm.
I’m together with the identical beginning lineup that the Celtics used of their final 2 video games with Josh Minott beginning at energy ahead. For the reason that Celtics gained each of these video games, I anticipate that they’ll go together with the identical lineup for this sport. For Philadelphia’s starters, I’ve listed the starters from their sport notes. It’s all the time attainable that there could also be a final minute harm or a change by one or each coaches.
Possible Beginning Matchups PG: Derrick White vs Tyrese Maxey
SG: Payton Pritchard vs VJ Edgecomb
SF: Jaylen Brown vs Justin Edwards
PF: Josh Minott vs Kelly Oubre, Jr
C: Neemias Queta vs Joel Embiid
Celtics ReservesAnfernee SimonsChris BoucherXavier TillmanJordan WalshHugo GonzalezLuka GarzaBaylon ScheiermanSam Hauser
2-Manner PlayersRon Harper, JrMax ShulgaAmari Williams
Accidents/OutJayson Tatum (Achilles) out
76ers ReservesJohni BroomeAndre DrummondJustin EdwardsEric GordonQuentin GrimesKyle LowryIgor Milicic, JrTrendon Watford2-Manner PlayersDominick BarlowHunter SallisJabari WalkerInjuries/OutPaul George (knee) outJared McCain (thumb) outDominick Barlow (elbow) outHead CoachNick Nurse
Key MatchupsDerrick White vs Tyrese MaxeyMaxey is averaging 37.5 factors, 3.8 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 1 steal per sport whereas capturing 45.5% from the sphere and 47.4% from past the arc. He’s fast and shoots the ball nicely and so the Celtics may have their palms full defending him. Within the first sport in opposition to the Celtics, he completed with 40 factors, 2 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals and 1 block whereas capturing 54% from the sphere and 77.8% from past the arc. The Celtics should defend him higher on this sport.
Payton Pritchard vs VJ EdgecombeEdgecombe is without doubt one of the leaders for Rookie of the Yr. He’s averaging 22.3 factors, 5.8 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.5 steals per sport whereas capturing 47.1% from the sphere and 42.9% from past the arc. Within the first sport in opposition to the Celtics, he completed with 34 factors, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal whereas capturing 50% from the sphere and 38.5% from past the arc. The Celtics have to do a greater job of defending him on this sport.Honorable MentionNeemias Queta vs Joel EmbiidEmbiid is averaging 16.3 factors, 5 rebounds, and three.7 assists per sport whereas capturing 45.9% from the sphere and 37.5% from past the arc. Towards the Celtics, he completed with simply 4 factors, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 block whereas capturing 11.1% from the sphere with no 3 pointers. Hopefully the Celtics can restrict him once more on this sport with out having Al Horford, the Embiid stopper.
Keys to the GameDefense – As all the time, protection is a key to profitable this, and each, sport. The Celtics have been second within the preseason with a defensive ranking of 100.2. They struggled on the defensive finish in opposition to the 76ers, Knicks and Pistons and slipped to twenty second with a defensive ranking of 116.8. After wins in opposition to the Pelicans and Cavaliers, they now are ninth with a defensive ranking of 111.2. The 76ers are twenty sixth with a defensive ranking of 119.9. The Celtics should play robust lock down protection on this sport in the event that they wish to beat the 76ers.Rebound – Rebounding will be the greatest key to profitable proper now for the reason that Celtics misplaced their first 3 video games largely as a result of they weren’t capable of rebound. The Celtics averaged 39.0 of their first 3 video games they usually misplaced these 3 video games. The Celtics out-rebounded the Pelicans by 19 they usually gained the sport going away. they pulled down 52 rebounds and out-rebounded the Cavaliers by 11 and likewise gained that sport. They merely need to battle more durable to seize rebounds than their opponents. A lot of rebounding is effort as evidenced by Payton Pritchard grabbing 10 rebounds in opposition to the Pistons. Each Celtic has received to crash the boards and battle for each rebound.
Consistency – The Celtics have been capable of construct a lead of their first 3 video games. They led by 13 in opposition to the 76ers, 8 in opposition to the Knicks and 17 in opposition to the Pistons . Nevertheless, they weren’t capable of maintain 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 they usually allowed the Pistons to outscore them 36-25 within the 2nd quarter and 34-23 within the third quarter. The Celtics lastly have been capable of play persistently nicely all through the sport in opposition to the Pelicans and the Cavaliers, particularly within the 4th quarter. They should play nicely on each ends of the courtroom for all 4 quarters and never enable the 76ers to have an enormous quarter to tug forward in the long run.Effort and Vitality – Of their previous 2 video games, the Celtics performed more durable and with extra vitality than their opponents. That needs to be their identification this season. They need to play more durable on protection. They need to rebound more durable. They need to play with vitality and additional effort for each possession. They’ll’t enable the 76ers to play more durable than them and need to play with extra vitality.
X-FactorsOn the Street – The Celtics shall be on the highway and dealing with a really hostile crowd. Philly followers hate the Celtics as a result of they’ve just about owned them lately. They hate Jayson Tatum as a result of the Celtics took him with Philly’s choose after the 76ers traded as much as take Markelle Fultz. There’ll possible be quite a lot of boos and the Celtics have to play by means of them.
Relaxation vs Rust – The Celtics are taking part in of their fifth sport in 7 nights and final performed on Wednesday. The 76ers have had 2 days off since they final performed on Tuesday. For some groups that additional day of relaxation provides them additional vitality. For others, it causes them to come back out rusty. The Celtics have performed 5 video games whereas the 76ers have performed simply 4 video games. Hopefully, the Celtics will are available in with momentum from their more durable schedule.
Officiating – Officiating is all the time an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport in another way. Some name it tight and name each little bit of contact whereas others enable extra bodily play. Some favor the house group whereas others name each side evenly. The Celtics have to regulate to the best way the refs are calling the sport and never enable the no calls and unhealthy calls to have an effect on their concentrate on taking part in the sport.
