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Post by cole on Jan 16, 2022 22:30:10 GMT -5
Celts will try to win their second in a row and climb back over 500.
early MLK day start
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Post by Admin on Jan 17, 2022 10:04:48 GMT -5
Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
Since starting the season 1-12, the Pelicans have made a modest run to make the play-in tournament. They’re just a game and a half a game behind the Portland Trail Blazers for the 10th spot in the West. The Celtics are in a similar position. Despite being .500, they’re on the outside looking into a playoff spot, sitting half a game behind the #10 New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference. To their credit, they’re 6-3 since New Year’s Eve and play four of their next five games at TD Garden. A strong push before the February 10 trade deadline could bolster their position and motivate Brad Stevens to make a deal for a postseason push. Despite the absence of Marcus Smart in the league’s health and safety protocols, the Celtics are enjoying a stretch of relatively good health coinciding — surprise, surprise — good play. In January, Boston boasts the 6th best defensive in the league, giving up 106.4 points per 100 possessions and holding five of their last ten opponents under 100 points. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum are averaging a combined 52.2 points per game and Robert Williams has been a consistent double-double threat every night. His 4-for-4 clutch free throw night against the Bulls on Saturday night capped off another strong performance (14 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists, and two blocks) in a stirring comeback win. New Orleans has been without Zion Williamson all year and All-Star Brandon Ingram has missed a chunk of time. However, they’ve found production from unlikely sources. After trading for Jonas Valanciunas, the Lithuanian big man is having arguably the best season of his career. Second round pick Herbert Jones is making a case for All-Rookie first team consideration, averaging 12.6 points and 4.1 rebounds in the new year. They’ve notched wins over Golden State, Cleveland, and Milwaukee over the last month.
Probable Starters & Rotation
Boston Celtics
Dennis Schroder
Jaylen Brown
Jayson Tatum
Al Horford
Robert Williams
Payton Pritchard
Josh Richardson
Grant Williams
New Orleans Pelicans
Davonte Graham
Josh Hart
Brandon Ingram
Herbert Jones
Jonas Valanciunas
Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Jaxson Hayes
Garrett Temple
Key Matchups & Keys to the Game
Jayson Tatum vs. Brandon Ingram: At the end of Saturday’s comeback win against the Chicago Bulls, Tatum thwarted a game-winning shot from DeMar DeRozan with outstanding one-on-one defense. He’s averaging nearly 24 points over the last five games, but his strength and length might be better served stopping New Orleans leading scorer.
Keep the Pelicans off the boards: New Orleans is fourth in the NBA in offensive rebounding and sixth in second chance points with their big frontcourt. The Celtics have started size with their double-big lineup of Al Horford and Robert Williams, so expect a battle on the glass.
Three-point shooting: The Celtics haven’t exactly lit the world on fire from behind the arc, but the Pelicans haven’t defended against the 3 either. New Orleans is 29th in opponent three-point percentage. On the other hand, Boston has seen improvement every month in the regular season; a home-heavy schedule has them shooting 37.2%. They’ve tapered down attempts from the beginning of the year, but against a porous Pelicans perimeter defense, the Celtics could continue their hot shooting at TD Garden.
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Post by elvissurfs on Jan 17, 2022 10:13:54 GMT -5
Crazy early game...enjoy it folks...I am off to work...wish I could reschedule it but too many subs coming...
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Post by DaCeltics on Jan 17, 2022 10:19:24 GMT -5
Go Celtics!
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Post by cole on Jan 17, 2022 10:56:59 GMT -5
Crazy early game...enjoy it folks...I am off to work...wish I could reschedule it but too many subs coming... Just accuse your boss of being a racist for making you work today. |
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Post by cole on Jan 17, 2022 11:15:41 GMT -5
Bad news, Williams is out. Not grant
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Post by kyceltic on Jan 17, 2022 12:09:59 GMT -5
Bad news, Williams is out. Not grant Personal again! |
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Post by cole on Jan 17, 2022 12:13:42 GMT -5
Bad news, Williams is out. Not grant Personal again! I guess he's having a baby. I'll cut him some slack especially if it's his first. Better than being hurt |
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Post by quagmire on Jan 17, 2022 12:21:43 GMT -5
Crazy early game...enjoy it folks...I am off to work...wish I could reschedule it but too many subs coming... Just accuse your boss of being a racist for making you work today. that would be a very California thing to do! |
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Post by cole on Jan 17, 2022 12:32:24 GMT -5
Just accuse your boss of being a racist for making you work today. that would be a very California thing to do! I wasn't really trying for that |
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Post by Admin on Jan 17, 2022 12:56:46 GMT -5
I see we're off to another slow start ... guys just can't seem to wake up for early games either.
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Post by Admin on Jan 17, 2022 13:00:30 GMT -5
Celtics lineup change (Dennis Schroder, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Grant Williams, Al Horford)
JB opens for the C's with a J then we wait till the 8 min mark for Al to score again for the C's ... 8-4 Pels
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Post by Admin on Jan 17, 2022 13:01:57 GMT -5
Brown a J ...
Celtics lineup change (Dennis Schroder, Jaylen Brown, Grant Williams, Josh Richardson, Al Horford)
Grant a three ... 17-12 Pels
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Post by Admin on Jan 17, 2022 13:05:27 GMT -5
Grant a dunk from Josh ...
JB a driving layup ... 17-16
JB Makes a pair of FTs ... Celtics lineup change (Jaylen Brown, Grant Williams, Josh Richardson, Enes Freedom, Payton Pritchard) Celtics lineup change (Jayson Tatum, Grant Williams, Josh Richardson, Enes Freedom, Payton Pritchard) |
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Post by Admin on Jan 17, 2022 13:07:49 GMT -5
Another dry spell ... 29-18 Pels C's turnover in final 24 secs of Q1 ... Pels missed a three to end Q1
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Post by Admin on Jan 17, 2022 13:15:37 GMT -5
Q2:
Celtics lineup change (Jayson Tatum, Romeo Langford, Aaron Nesmith, Enes Freedom, Payton Pritchard)
Celtics lineup change (Jayson Tatum, Romeo Langford, Aaron Nesmith, Payton Pritchard, Al Horford)
Ime looking for some offense ... 2-3 mins into Q2 and unable to score!
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Post by Admin on Jan 17, 2022 13:18:57 GMT -5
Al breaks the ice w/ a put-back layup ... 32-20 Pels Tatum makes a driving hook ... 34-22
Celtics lineup change (Dennis Schroder, Jaylen Brown, Josh Richardson, Payton Pritchard, Al Horford) Dennis a layup ... |
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Post by Admin on Jan 17, 2022 13:22:29 GMT -5
Lot of missing happening here on MLK Day ...
Now C's turnover ... Ugh!
Brown fouls and Dennis gets his shot blocked ... one of those bi-polar performances coming from the C's today
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Post by kivancb on Jan 17, 2022 13:22:49 GMT -5
Playing like crap
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Post by Admin on Jan 17, 2022 13:23:28 GMT -5
Celtics lineup change (Dennis Schroder, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Payton Pritchard, Al Horford)
4:30 left in Q2 and C's have just 6pts!
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Post by Admin on Jan 17, 2022 13:26:31 GMT -5
JB a three ... 42-27
Celtics lineup change (Dennis Schroder, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Grant Williams, Al Horford)
Ime still looking for a winning combination ...
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Post by Admin on Jan 17, 2022 13:27:37 GMT -5
AL with a dunk ...
Al makes a three ... 44-32 Ime found someone who's awake!!! |
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Post by Admin on Jan 17, 2022 13:28:44 GMT -5
Tatum a finger roll layup ... 44-34
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Post by Admin on Jan 17, 2022 13:30:12 GMT -5
Dennis makes a three ... 46-37
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Post by Admin on Jan 17, 2022 13:32:36 GMT -5
Grant a block, defensive rebound and Pels score the bucket ... how'd that happen?
Tatum fouled ... makes 2-2 ... 46-39
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