The Celtics host the Detroit Pistons for the primary of three video games this season. They may meet once more in Boston on March 18 after which once more in Detroit, 4 days later, on March 22. The Celtics gained the sequence 4-0 final season and have gained their final 6 conferences with the Pistons. The Celtics are 250-140 general all time in opposition to the Pistons and they’re 40-14 at dwelling.
The Celtics stay in 1st place within the East. They’re 1 sport forward of 2nd place Milwaukee, 2.5 video games forward of third place Philadelphia and 5.5 video games forward of 4th place Orlando. They’re 14-0 at dwelling and 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’re 19-4 in opposition to Japanese Convention opponents. They’ve gained their final 3 video games.
The Detroit Pistons are final within the East. They’re 21.5 video games behind the Celtics. They’re 3.5 video games behind 14th place Washington and 11 video games out of tenth place and play in competition. They’re 1-14 on the street and they’re 0-10 of their final 10 video games. They’re 2-19 in opposition to Japanese Convention opponents. They’ve misplaced 27 straight video games and now maintain the document for many consecutive losses in a single season.
The Pistons simply accomplished a house and residential set in opposition to the Nets. After this sport they return dwelling for a sport in opposition to the Raptors after which they’ve a 4 sport street journey via Houston, Utah, Golden State and Denver, so issues don’t get a lot simpler for them. The Celtics are taking part in within the first of again to again video games. They play Toronto on Friday at dwelling after which they face San Antonio and Oklahoma Metropolis on the street.
For the Celtics, Svi Mykhailiuk is possible with a heel contusion. Lamar Stevens is possible with a non-covid sickness. Jaylen Brown has been listed as out with a again contusion after taking a knee to the again from LeBron James on Monday. Jayson Tatum was initially listed as questionable however is now anticipated to play. I’m guessing that Hauser will begin in Brown’s place.
For the Pistons, Killian Hayes is possible with a non covid sickness. Ausar Thompson can also be possible with a non-covid sickness. Monte Morris is out with a quad harm. Isaiah Stewart is out with a toe harm. Since Ausar Thompson is possible, I’m going to guess that he’ll get the beginning instead of the injured Isaiah Stewart.
Possible Celtics Starters
PG: Jrue Vacation
SG: Derrick White
SF: Sam Hauser
PF: Jayson Tatum
C: Kristaps Porzingis
Celtics Reserves
Delano Banton
Al Horford
Svi Mykhailiuk
Payton Pritchard
Lamar Stevens
Jordan Walsh
Oshae Brissett
2 Approach Gamers
JD Davison
Drew Peterson
Neemias Queta
Accidents/Out
Svi Mykhailiuk(heel) out there
Lamar Stevens (sickness) out there
Jayson Tatum (ankle sprain administration) out there
Jaylen Brown (again contusion) out
Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla
Possible Pistons Starters
PG: Cade Cunningham
SG: Jaden Ivey
SF: Bojan Bogdanovic
PF: Ausar Thompson
C: Jalen Duren
Pistons Reserves
Alec Burks
Joe Harris
Kevin Knox II
Isaiah Livers
Marcus Sasser
Ausar Thompson
James Wiseman
Two Approach Gamers
Malcolm Cazalon
Jared Rhoden
Stanley Umude
Accidents/Out
Monte Morris (quad) out
Isaiah Stewart (toe) out
Ausar Thompson (sickness) possible
Killian Hayes (sickness) possible
Head Coach
Monty Williams
Key Matchups
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Jrue Vacation
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Cade Cunningham
Photograph by Stephen Gosling/NBAE by way of Getty Photos
Jrue Vacation vs Cade Cunningham
Cunningham is averaging 23 factors, 4.1 rebounds, 7 assists and 1 steal per sport. He’s taking pictures 44.5% from the sector and 33.1% from past the arc. He’s coming off a 41 level sport on Tuesday and so the Celtics must defend him nicely as he’s able to having a giant sport.
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Oshae Brissett
Photograph by Maddie Meyer/Getty Photos
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Bojan Bogdanovic
Photograph by Mike Mulholland/Getty Photos
Oshae Brissett vs Bojan Bogdanovic
Bogdanovic is averaging 19.9 factors, 2.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1 steal per sport. He’s taking pictures 46.6% from the sector and 39% from past the arc. As I stated above, I’m unsure who will begin right here so Brissett is only a guess.
Honorable Point out
Kristaps Porzingis vs Jalen Duren
Duren is averaging 12.5 factors, 11.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 blocks per sport. He’s taking pictures 62.3% from the sector and doesn’t shoot from the perimeter. The Celtics must field him out and hold him out of the paint.
Keys to the Sport
Protection – Protection will all the time be key to profitable each sport. The Celtics are fifth within the league with a 110.5 defensive score whereas the Pistons are twenty sixth with a defensive score of 119.0. The Pistons are twenty eighth within the league, averaging 109.3 factors per sport. The Celtics have to come back into this sport with the mindset that they should play powerful protection and never underestimate the Pistons, who’ve a whole lot of younger and hungry gamers and, despite their 27 sport dropping streak, if the Celtics don’t take them severely, the Pistons might shock them.
Rebound – Rebounding is necessary to offer the Celtics additional possessions and to restrict possessions for his or her opponents. The Celtics are averaging 47.0 rebounds per sport (2nd) whereas the Pistons are averaging 43.3 rebounds (twentieth). Rebounding takes effort and the Celtics want to offer additional effort to beat the Pistons to rebounds. After they present additional effort on the boards, it usually reveals up in different areas of the sport as nicely.
Keep Targeted – The Celtics should keep targeted on taking part in the best approach. They must handle the ball they usually must give attention to making crisp passes and on cautious ball dealing with. Additionally they must give attention to taking good pictures and making them. The Celtics have to come back into the sport targeted and hold that focus all through the sport. The Celtics mustn’t underestimate this Pistons crew as a result of they’re very hungry for a win and so if the Celtics lose focus they could simply get beat.
Be Aggressive – The Celtics can’t come into the sport anticipating a straightforward sport and to have the ability to take it straightforward on each ends of the court docket as a result of the Pistons are on the backside of the league and are on a historic dropping streak. They’ve to come back in and be aggressive on protection, on taking the ball to the basket, on diving for unfastened balls, on rebounding and on taking part in as a crew. If they permit the Pistons to play tougher than them, particularly taking part in brief handed, they may very well be shocked by a loss.
X-Components
Pitiful Pistons – The Celtics are again at dwelling they usually want come out prepared to guard dwelling court docket. Younger groups usually wrestle on the street and hopefully the Backyard might be loud and can be capable to distract the younger Pistons crew who additionally must face the distractions of journey. The Celtics will probably be brief handed if Tatum and Brown are out, and so each participant has to step up their sport, even in opposition to the crew on the backside of the East. Too usually we’ve got seen the Celtics loosen up and let up and lose to groups they need to completely beat.
Officiating – Officiating is all the time an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport in a different way. Some name it tight and name each little bit of contact whereas others permit extra bodily play. Some favor the house crew whereas others name each side evenly. The Celtics have to regulate to the best way the refs are calling the sport and never permit the no calls and dangerous calls to have an effect on their give attention to taking part in the sport.