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Post by Admin on Mar 13, 2023 15:49:24 GMT -5
Celtics (47-21, 2nd in the Eastern Conference) vs. Rockets (15-52, 15th in the Western Conference) By AP
BOTTOM LINE: Houston aims to break its three-game losing streak when the Rockets play Boston.
The Rockets are 9-24 in home games. Houston is fourth in the league with 46.4 rebounds led by Alperen Sengun averaging 8.7.
The Celtics have gone 21-12 away from home. Boston is eighth in the league giving up only 112.4 points while holding opponents to 46.6% shooting.
The teams square off for the second time this season. The Celtics won 126-102 in the last matchup on Dec. 28. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 39 points, and Jalen Green led the Rockets with 28 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Sengun is averaging 14.7 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Rockets. Green is averaging 16.1 points over the last 10 games for Houston.
Jayson Tatum is averaging 30.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 4.7 assists for the Celtics. Al Horford is averaging 3.1 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for Boston.
LAST 10 GAMES: Rockets: 2-8, averaging 111.8 points, 45.6 rebounds, 23.2 assists, 7.4 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 46.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 121.7 points per game.
Celtics: 6-4, averaging 118.7 points, 45.5 rebounds, 26.8 assists, 6.9 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 47.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.8 points.
INJURIES:
Rockets: None listed.
Celtics: Payton Pritchard: day to day (ankle), Robert Williams III: out (hamstring), Danilo Gallinari: out (knee).
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Post by petey62 on Mar 13, 2023 16:02:15 GMT -5
Congratulations to coach Damon Stoudamire, who is expected to agree on a five-year deal to become Georgia Tech's next head coach
HUGE loss for us. HUGE win for GA Tech.
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Post by Admin on Mar 13, 2023 17:04:05 GMT -5
Again, non-members/guests can access and respond to game threads now. They are only prohibited from posting new threads and adding polls to threads. So for our guests, feel free to comment or opine on the game tonight or any other subject for that matter in the Hot Topics Board and others.
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Post by Admin on Mar 13, 2023 17:09:15 GMT -5
Smart FinedThe NBA announced just hours before Monday’s game against the Rockets for Boston that Smart was fined $25,000 for initiating an on-court altercation and pulling Young to the floor. Smart and Young were both assessed technical fouls for the incident while Smart was ejected with 1:25 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Celtics’ 134-125 win over the Hawks on Mar. 11. It was the second ejection of the year for Smart, who was also tossed back in January in Oklahoma City after being whistled for two technical fouls. The NBA also fined Smart $35,000 after that ejection for directing inappropriate language toward an official. www.masslive.com/celtics/2023/03/celtics-marcus-smart-fined-25000-for-trae-young-scuffle.html
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Post by Admin on Mar 13, 2023 17:28:30 GMT -5
Congratulations to coach Damon Stoudamire, who is expected to agree on a five-year deal to become Georgia Tech's next head coach HUGE loss for us. HUGE win for GA Tech.
During a crucial stretch of the season, the departure of Stoudamire should cause for concern for Celtics fans.
After Will Hardy departed for the Jazz and Ime Udoka was let go, Stoudamire became Joe Mazzulla’s top assistant this season. His presence has been important for Mazzulla this season as he is dealing with the challenges of being a first-year head coach for a contender.
Mazzulla has counted on Stoudamire this season, and his presence in the locker room has been effective. Stoudamire connected with the players well, and they respected him. When Mazzulla missed a game this season, Stoudamire stepped in to coach, and the Boston Celtics did not miss a beat. The loss of Stoudamire is going to affect Mazzulla, and it is a cause for concern. Although assistant Ben Sullivan is well respected, losing Stoudamire at this point in the season is tough.
The loss of Stoudamire is a major concern for the Celtics, and it could impact them for the rest of this season. The Cs continue to lose top coaches on their staff, and it is going to add up at some point. Most teams don’t lose coaches of the caliber of Hardy, Udoka, and Stoudamire and continue to have great success. I worry that Mazzulla is going to be exposed without Stoudamire because he has shown his flaws this season.
It will be interesting to see how the Celtics maneuver the rest of the way and if Mazzulla is up for the challenge.
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Post by Admin on Mar 13, 2023 17:38:52 GMT -5
Key Matchups
Derrick White vs Jalen Green
Jalen Green is averaging 21.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. He is shooting 41.4% from the field and 33.7% from beyond the arc. The Rockets second year player is playing very well and is leading them in scoring this season. In the first game against the Celtics he finished with 28 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists. He shot 50% from the field and 27.3% from beyond the arc. The Celtics need to defend him well to keep him from having a big game.
Marcus Smart vs Kevin Porter, Jr
Kevin Porter, Jr is averaging 18.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He is shooting 43.2% from the field and 34.8% from beyond the arc. Against the Celtics in the first game, he finished with 22 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists. He shot 44.4% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc. He is capable of having a big game if not defended well.
Honorable Mention
Al Horford vs Alperen Sengun
Sengun is averaging 14.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. He is shooting 55.5% from the field and 31.8% from beyond the arc. In the first game against the Celtics, Sengun did not take a shot or score any points. He did have 9 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal. the Celtics need to keep him out of the paint and off the boards.
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Post by puddin on Mar 13, 2023 17:56:51 GMT -5
Congratulations to coach Damon Stoudamire, who is expected to agree on a five-year deal to become Georgia Tech's next head coach HUGE loss for us. HUGE win for GA Tech. Tech simply cannot compete with other ACC teams.
Small student body.... and jocks have to take full loads and actually go to classes... and pass difficult science/engineering/technical course work.
Difficult to get into..... difficult to remain in good standing.... difficult to graduate from.
Dunno how GT jocks find the energy to meet the demands of playing college sports while maintaining their studies too.
One or the other is hard enough!
Dunno....
Pud
P.S. Dumb asses need not apply for admission.
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Post by kyceltic on Mar 13, 2023 18:48:05 GMT -5
Congratulations to coach Damon Stoudamire, who is expected to agree on a five-year deal to become Georgia Tech's next head coach HUGE loss for us. HUGE win for GA Tech. Tech simply cannot compete with other ACC teams.
Small student body.... and jocks have to take full loads and actually go to classes... and pass difficult science/engineering/technical course work.
Difficult to get into..... difficult to remain in good standing.... difficult to graduate from.
Dunno how GT jocks find the energy to meet the demands of playing college sports while maintaining their studies too.
One or the other is hard enough!
Dunno....
Pud
P.S. Dumb asses need not apply for admission.
Hasn't bothered Duke any!!
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Post by Admin on Mar 13, 2023 18:51:55 GMT -5
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Post by kivancb on Mar 13, 2023 19:09:48 GMT -5
Rockets are 2-14 in their last 16 games, and their 2 wins were against the Spurs, which are also trying to lose games like these Rockets.
I would be very mad if we somehow manage to lose against those chumps.
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Post by dfries13 on Mar 13, 2023 19:11:42 GMT -5
Tech simply cannot compete with other ACC teams.
Small student body.... and jocks have to take full loads and actually go to classes... and pass difficult science/engineering/technical course work.
Difficult to get into..... difficult to remain in good standing.... difficult to graduate from.
Dunno how GT jocks find the energy to meet the demands of playing college sports while maintaining their studies too.
One or the other is hard enough!
Dunno....
Pud
P.S. Dumb asses need not apply for admission.
Hasn't bothered Duke any!! Irving went to Duke didn't he.?. More than Enough proof. Tatum can't string together a full sentence. It’s routine for players to miss six or seven classes a semester, always in catch-up mode, regardless of the review sessions . Practice schedules also limit athlete class choices. “Half-assed,” is how one male athlete described the quality of his Duke education.
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Post by Admin on Mar 13, 2023 19:12:55 GMT -5
Q1:
Rockets lineup change (Kenyon Martin Jr., Kevin Porter Jr., Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, Jalen Green)
Celtics lineup change (Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, Derrick White, Al Horford, Jayson Tatum)
C's win the tip and Brown gets a layup
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Post by drboogiebone on Mar 13, 2023 19:12:57 GMT -5
C's win the tip. Brown right in for the layin.
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Post by drboogiebone on Mar 13, 2023 19:13:43 GMT -5
Smart to Brown cutting on the baseline for the flush. That was nice.
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Post by drboogiebone on Mar 13, 2023 19:15:04 GMT -5
Steal by Smart. Tatum fouled @ the rim on the break.
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Post by Admin on Mar 13, 2023 19:15:23 GMT -5
Smart the steal ... passes up a layup for an assist to Tatum!
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Post by drboogiebone on Mar 13, 2023 19:15:42 GMT -5
Jayson sinks both FT's. 6 - 0 C's
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Post by drboogiebone on Mar 13, 2023 19:16:58 GMT -5
Tatum turnover...
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Post by drboogiebone on Mar 13, 2023 19:17:34 GMT -5
C's giving up multiple chances.
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Post by drboogiebone on Mar 13, 2023 19:17:54 GMT -5
Rockets take the lead.
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Post by drboogiebone on Mar 13, 2023 19:18:40 GMT -5
Smart breaks up the play. C's gain possession.
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Post by drboogiebone on Mar 13, 2023 19:19:00 GMT -5
White gets the putback on the 2nd chance.
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Post by Admin on Mar 13, 2023 19:19:34 GMT -5
Celtics lineup change (Jaylen Brown, Malcolm Brogdon, Marcus Smart, Al Horford, Jayson Tatum)
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Post by drboogiebone on Mar 13, 2023 19:20:28 GMT -5
Brown with a tough shot in the paint for 2.
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Post by drboogiebone on Mar 13, 2023 19:20:51 GMT -5
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