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Post by Admin on Mar 18, 2023 11:31:16 GMT -5
How Celtics can clinch NBA playoff berth Saturday with win over Jazz
By Souichi Terada |
The Celtics still have a chance to earn the No. 1 overall seed in the East as they look to keep up with the Bucks with less than a dozen games remaining in the season. But as long as the Celtics beat the Jazz on Saturday as part of a back-to-back, the C’s will become the second team in the NBA to officially clinch a playoff berth.
While the Celtics already earned a play-in berth, a win Saturday will guarantee a top-6 finish in the East. If the Celtics lose to the Jazz, a Heat loss to the Bulls will also clinch Boston a playoff berth. It’s been a foregone conclusion that the Celtics will get into the playoffs, but a win Saturday will make all of that official.
The Bucks are 1.5 games ahead of the Celtics, so Boston is still within striking distance for the No. 1 seed.
But the top of the East is getting a little jammed with the third-place 76ers only one game behind the Celtics. The C’s and Sixers are also tied in the loss column, meaning Philadelphia can catch up to Boston. Of course, it’s important to note that the C’s have already clinched the season series against the Sixers with a 3-0 advantage.
More importantly, the Celtics are tied 1-1 with the Bucks in the season series. The March 30 game in Milwaukee between the Celtics and Bucks could all but decide who ends up with best record in the East.
On the other side of the NBA, the C’s currently have a better record than the Nuggets. So there’s a good chance that whoever ends up on top between the Celtics and Bucks will have the best record in the league and have home-court advantage throughout the entire playoffs.
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Post by Admin on Mar 18, 2023 14:27:25 GMT -5
Celtics vs Jazz Injury Report, Starting Lineup, Predictions for March 18 by Andrew Hughes
Utah enters having lost five of their last seven games, but they’ve had off since last Monday following a close road loss to the Heat in Miami. While their season started off looking like one that could end up making an unlikely postseason run, the Jazz have fallen off a cliff. Utah is currently the No. 11 seed in the Western Conference. Boston will be playing on the second night of a back-to-back and will be missing several key rotational pieces, but the Jazz organization has made it clear that winning this season isn’t a priority.
Boston Celtics Projected Starting LineupPG – Marcus Smart, SG – Derrick White, SF – Jaylen Brown, PF – Jayson Tatum, C – Al Horford
Utah Jazz Projected Starting LineupPG – Talen Horton-Tucker, SG – Ochai Agbaji, SF – Lauri Markkanen, PF – Kelly Olynyk, C – Walker Kessler
Boston Celtics vs Utah Jazz Injury ReportCeltics PG Malcolm Brogdon (right Achilles soreness) – Questionable
Celtics C Robert Williams III (hamstring) – Out Celtics PG Payton Pritchard (heel) – Out Jazz PG Jordan Clarkson (finger) – QuestionableJazz PG Collin Sexton (hamstring) – Out
Boston Celtics vs Utah Jazz PredictionFacing Walker Kessler without a healthy Robert Williams III is what makes this matchup so close to Las Vegas sportsbooks, and realistically, there’s a chance a well-rested Jazz gives the Celtics a run for their money in the first half, if not until the final minutes of the game. But Boston’s mission is a banner. Utah’s is a rebuild. Lay the chalk. Celtics 130 Jazz 125
hardwoodhoudini.com/2023/03/18/boston-celtics-injury-report-march-18/
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Post by Admin on Mar 18, 2023 20:04:44 GMT -5
Wow ... everyone's out tonight!
Looking forward to seeing my guy Markkanen for an entire game so I can sulk some more about not getting to see him in a C's uniform. Attachments:
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Post by Admin on Mar 18, 2023 20:08:54 GMT -5
Q1:
Jazz lineup change (Walker Kessler, Lauri Markkanen, Talen Horton-Tucker, Ochai Agbaji, Kelly Olynyk)
Celtics lineup change (Jaylen Brown, Blake Griffin, Derrick White, Jayson Tatum, Grant Williams)
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Post by Admin on Mar 18, 2023 20:14:35 GMT -5
JB a 3 from Blake White the floater +1 ... he converts ... 6-2 C's
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Post by Admin on Mar 18, 2023 20:15:51 GMT -5
Grant for 3
Markkanen - Olynyk - Kessler is a long frontline!
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Post by Admin on Mar 18, 2023 20:21:34 GMT -5
White a floater from the elbow
JB a 3
TIME OUT JAZZ ... 14-13 C's
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Post by fierce on Mar 18, 2023 20:25:06 GMT -5
60 games for Brogs.
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Post by Admin on Mar 18, 2023 20:25:17 GMT -5
Celtics lineup change (Malcolm Brogdon, Jaylen Brown, Blake Griffin, Derrick White, Grant Williams)
Kelly wins the jump but then travels for a TOV
Jazz lineup change (Walker Kessler, Talen Horton-Tucker, Simone Fontecchio, Ochai Agbaji, Kelly Olynyk)
Grant a 3 from JB
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Post by Admin on Mar 18, 2023 20:26:47 GMT -5
JB a layup
Blake an OR then he's fouled ... makes 1-2
Jazz lineup change (Damian Jones, Rudy Gay, Talen Horton-Tucker, Simone Fontecchio, Ochai Agbaji)
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Post by Admin on Mar 18, 2023 20:28:40 GMT -5
JB a driving layup
Olynyk "T'd" up ... Brogs hits it Jazz lineup change (Damian Jones, Rudy Gay, Simone Fontecchio, Kris Dunn, Ochai Agbaji) Celtics lineup change (Sam Hauser, Malcolm Brogdon, Luke Kornet, Jaylen Brown, Mike Muscala)
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Post by Admin on Mar 18, 2023 20:30:33 GMT -5
Hauser a 3 from Moose
Brogs a 3 (C's 6-11 so far)
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Post by fierce on Mar 18, 2023 20:32:22 GMT -5
JB wants to make All-NBA.
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Post by Admin on Mar 18, 2023 20:32:39 GMT -5
TIME OUT CELTICS ... 29-19 C's
Jazz lineup change (Damian Jones, Lauri Markkanen, Rudy Gay, Simone Fontecchio, Kris Dunn)
Celtics lineup change (Sam Hauser, Malcolm Brogdon, Luke Kornet, Mike Muscala, Jayson Tatum)
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Post by Admin on Mar 18, 2023 20:34:41 GMT -5
Kornet TOV - travel
Hauser to Kornet for the low post bunny
Moose a corner 3 ... 34-21
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Post by Admin on Mar 18, 2023 20:36:46 GMT -5
Marrkanen 3 at the buzzer to end Q1 ... 34-24 Celtics
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Post by Admin on Mar 18, 2023 20:39:18 GMT -5
Q2:
Jazz lineup change (Damian Jones, Lauri Markkanen, Rudy Gay, Kris Dunn, Johnny Juzang)
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Post by Admin on Mar 18, 2023 20:43:30 GMT -5
Brogs misses a 3 but Kornet a tip in!
JT a running dunk from outlet by Hauser
Brogs blocked
Tatum a block
Jazz lineup change (Damian Jones, Lauri Markkanen, Kris Dunn, Johnny Juzang, Juan Toscano-Anderson)
Celtics lineup change (Sam Hauser, Malcolm Brogdon, Luke Kornet, Jayson Tatum, Grant Williams)
Tatum a 3 +1 from Kornet ... Under review for a Flagrant
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Post by Admin on Mar 18, 2023 20:45:44 GMT -5
Defender landed under JT's feet ... foul upgraded to FL1 ... 2 shots for 1 and the ball back ... he gets the 1
Next pt for JT will be his 2000th
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Post by Admin on Mar 18, 2023 20:47:23 GMT -5
Celtics lineup change (Sam Hauser, Luke Kornet, Derrick White, Jayson Tatum, Grant Williams)
Sam a corner 3
45-31 BOS
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Post by fierce on Mar 18, 2023 20:49:49 GMT -5
This game is no good.
Celts are facing a lottery team.
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Post by Admin on Mar 18, 2023 20:51:23 GMT -5
Jazz lineup change (Lauri Markkanen, Talen Horton-Tucker, Johnny Juzang, Kelly Olynyk, Juan Toscano-Anderson)
Tatum 3 (2002pts in book)
Grant a 3 from JB
Grant a driving dunk from Tatum
TIME OUT JAZZ ... 53-34 C's (6:32 to go in Q3)
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Post by cole on Mar 18, 2023 20:52:05 GMT -5
The jazz need Andrei Kirilenko
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Post by Admin on Mar 18, 2023 20:52:36 GMT -5
No good how?
We need an easy win ... nothing wrong with it on a B2B
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Post by Admin on Mar 18, 2023 20:53:45 GMT -5
Jazz lineup change (Walker Kessler, Talen Horton-Tucker, Simone Fontecchio, Ochai Agbaji, Kelly Olynyk)
Grant short on the step-back in the paint!
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