Boston kicks off the primary of two consecutive matchups towards the Brooklyn Nets tonight. The Celtics are in search of their third straight win, whereas the Nets attempt to decide up their third win of the season. Listed below are some elements that would decide which aspect comes out on prime.
Can Jordan Walsh assist decelerate Michael Porter Jr.?
Porter Jr. resides as much as the hopes Brooklyn had after they traded Cameron Johnson for him. He’s shortly transitioned from a extra fluid function in Denver, into that of a #1 scoring possibility with the Nets. He’s at the moment averaging 24 PPG on 18 FGA, and simply scored a season-high 34 factors towards the Wizards.
Since breaking into the rotation, Jordan Walsh has basically turn into Boston’s wing stopper – drawing the matchup towards the opposite staff’s finest perimeter participant. Every has required a special focus, and Porter Jr. will, too.
Whereas he’s stepped up into a bigger function, Porter Jr. thrives when he can curl round screens and discover openings off the ball. He’ll catch and hearth in tight home windows, or use a number of dribbles to get to a pull-up jumper. This season, 85% of Porter Jr.’s FGA makes an attempt have come from 0-2 dribbles.
The keys for Walsh and the Celtics can be consciousness, ball denial and profitable display navigation. If they’ll maintain Porter Jr. from getting simple catches and keep away from being caught on screens, they’ll take away a major supply of Brooklyn’s offense.
Will Payton Pritchard and Derrick White preserve their sizzling capturing?
The Celtics beginning guards would probably be the primary to confess that their begin to the season hasn’t been as much as their requirements. They’ve had their moments, and impacted video games in several methods, however each have been surprisingly chilly from three.
If the previous few video games are any indication, we’d see a fast correction to the norm.
By means of the primary 12 video games, White has shot a irritating 28% from three, whereas Pritchard has had even much less luck at 25.6%. Of their present two-game win streak, White and Pritchard are at 50% and 56.5% respectively.
That inconsistency is pretty much as good of a proof as any for Boston’s uneven play. If these two can proceed to return their traditional reliable selves, the staff may actually get right into a groove.
The Nets have given up the fourth fewest 3PA per recreation this season, whereas the Celtics are trying the second most per recreation. Of their wins, they’ve shot 37.3%, however solely 30.5% within the losses.
With a wide range of succesful wings and cellular facilities, Brooklyn is comfy switching ball screens and having their bigs up excessive within the decide and roll. If White and Pritchard can proceed their sizzling streak and discover the gaps on this protection, they’ll have the ability to put a variety of stress on the Nets.
Who wins the Neemias Queta vs. Nic Claxton matchup?
This isn’t the headliner that will get everybody tuning into the sport, however it’s an fascinating matchup between two bigs which might be enjoying high quality basketball and doubtless flying beneath the radar a bit.
Each facilities are of their age-26 season and proceed to enhance their recreation, although their trajectories have been fairly totally different. Claxton has been a full-time starter for the previous 4 seasons, whereas Queta is getting his first crack at that function.
Claxton is averaging 15 factors and 7 rebounds with over a block per recreation. Queta is at 9 factors and eight rebounds per night time with an equal quantity of blocks to his title.
Whereas every heart spends a substantial period of time because the screener within the decide and roll, Claxton is leaned on lots to provoke the offense for the Nets. He’s averaging a hair beneath 4 assists per recreation, setting teammates up in dribble handoff situations.
That is significantly efficient mixed with Porter Jr.’s aforementioned off-ball means. Claxton helps free him up together with his screening and passing means. They’ve shortly developed a two-man connection that may both open a window for Porter Jr. or depart Claxton uncovered as a curler.
That is probably to attract Queta out of the paint, and if Boston is a step behind it might be a tougher cowl than one would possibly count on by wanting on the Web’s document. It’s one other alternative for Queta to get examined towards a strong beginning huge, and to this point, he’s been up for the check.
