Boston Celtics (21-6) at Los Angeles Clippers (15-13) Recreation #28

The Celtics proceed their street journey as they tackle the Los Angeles Clippers. That is the primary of two video games between these two groups this season. They are going to meet once more in Boston on December 29. The Clippers received the sequence between them 2-0 final season, profitable in LA and in Boston. The Celtics are 91-45 all time general in opposition to the Clippers and they’re 44-28 all time in LA.

The Clippers are enjoying within the first sport at house after coming back from a 4 sport street journey at Washington on Saturday. This sport is the primary of a 5 sport house stand for them. The Celtics are enjoying within the fifth sport of a 6 sport street journey and they’re going to conclude the journey on Tuesday in the identical area in opposition to the LA Lakers. They are going to return house for a 7 sport house stand that begins on Friday.

The Celtics have been enjoying very nicely this season with the perfect report within the league at 21-6. They’re coming off a really disappointing loss to the Golden State Warriors in a rematch of the Finals. Jayson Tatum particularly struggled in opposition to the Warriors, capturing 28.6% from the sector and 22.2% from past the arc and 57.1% on free throws. I count on a a lot better effort from Tatum and the Celtics on this one. Giannis and the Bucks struggled in opposition to the Rockets of their final sport additionally, protecting the Celtics lead on the 2nd place group at 1.5 video games.

The Celtics stay in first place within the East. They’re 10-4 on the street, after their loss to the Warriors on this journey, and 8-2 of their final 10 video games. The Celtics are 7-1 in opposition to Western Convention groups. They misplaced their final sport however received the primary 3 video games on this journey. The Clippers are seventh within the West, 4 video games behind first place New Orleans. They’re 7-6 at house and 4-6 of their final 10 video games. A lot of their struggles are the results of a number of accidents this season however they look like largely wholesome for this sport. They’re 5-3 in opposition to Jap Convention groups.

After lots of pleasure that Robert Williams III was very near a return in opposition to the Warriors, he’s as soon as once more listed as out for this sport. There may be nonetheless a chance that he might return within the second half of the again to again in opposition to the Lakers on Tuesday. Al Horford additionally stays out in Well being and Security Protocols and can miss his 4th straight sport. Danilo Gallinari additionally stays out. Norman Powell (groin) is the one participant listed as out for the Clippers.

Possible Celtics Starters

Celtics Reserves
Malcolm Brogdon
Sam Hauser
Payton Pritchard
Luke Kornet
Derrick White
Justin Jackson
Noah Vonleh

2 Method Gamers
JD Davison
Mfiondu Kabengele

Out/Accidents
Danilo Gallinari (ACL) out
Robert Williams III (knee) out
Al Horford (covid) out

Head Coach (Interim)
Joe Mazzulla

Possible Clippers Starters

Clippers Reserves
Nicolas Batum
Brandon Boston, Jr
Amir Coffey
Robert Covington
Reggie Jackson
Luke Kennard
Terrance Mann
Jason Preston

2 Method Gamers
Moses Brown
Moussa Diabate

Out/Accidents
Norman Powell (groin) out

Head Coach
Tyronn Lue

Key Matchups

Jaylen Brown vs Paul George
Paul George leads the Clippers this season with 23.7 factors, 6.1 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.5 steals per sport. He’s capturing 45.9% from the sector and 38.3% from past the arc. It will likely be key for the Celtics to gradual him down on this sport. Jaylen Brown is coming off a 31 level sport in opposition to the Warriors and the Celtics will want him to step up on each ends of the courtroom on this sport as nicely.

Grant Williams vs Marcus Morris, Sr
Former Celtic, Marcus Morris, Sr is averaging 13.7 factors, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per sport. He’s capturing 44.6% from the sector and 38.5% from past the arc. Given the tendency for former Celtics to play nicely in opposition to the Celtics, I count on an enormous effort from Morris. Grant Williams must play nicely on offense in addition to protection.

Honorable Point out
Marcus Good vs John Wall
Wall is joyful to be enjoying after lacking final season and is rounding into kind for the Clippers. He’s averaging 12.6 factors, 2.5 rebounds, and 5.6 assists. In November, he posted a season excessive of 26 factors in opposition to the Jazz and 15 assists in opposition to the Spurs. He’s capturing 42.4% from the sector and 27.4% from past the arc. He’s able to having an enormous sport and so the Celtics want to stick with him, particularly on drives to the basket.

Keys to the Recreation
Protection – As all the time, protection is a key to getting a win on this sport and in each sport. The Clippers common 107.7 factors per sport (thirtieth) whereas the Celtics common 120.3 factors per sport. The Celtics are ninth with a defensive score of 111.1 whereas the Clippers are fifth with a defensive score of 110.1. The Celtics turning the nook with their protection after which allowed the Warriors to shoot 51.1% for the sport. The Clippers protection could restrict the Celtics on offense on this sport simply because the Warriors’ protection disrupted them on Saturday. The Celtics should match the Clippers’ defensive effort in the event that they hope to get the win.

Rebound – The Celtics can’t rating in the event that they don’t have the ball. A lot of rebounding is effort and want and so the Celtics should put out the additional effort on the boards to provide themselves further possessions in addition to to restrict the Clippers quick break alternatives and second likelihood factors. The Celtics have been out-rebounded 53-39 in opposition to the Warriors and so they want a a lot larger effort on this sport. When the Celtics put out further effort on the boards, it typically carries by way of to different areas of their sport.

Power and Effort – The Celtics have to return out with power and must play more durable than the Clippers from the opening tip till the ultimate buzzer. 100% effort from each Celtic shall be wanted to get a win on this one. The wholesome Clippers are a lot better than their report and the Celtics can’t count on to win with lower than 100% effort. They must be the extra aggressive group and the group that desires it extra. They are going to get the Clippers greatest effort and they also merely should work more durable to get a win.

Focus – The Celtics should keep centered for all 48 minutes. There appear to be stretches throughout many video games the place the Celtics lose focus and switch the ball over and miss straightforward photographs. Towards the Warriors, they didn’t appear centered in any respect, lacking layups and free throws. They’ve to remain centered and never let up and permit the Clippers to get straightforward baskets from Celtics sloppiness. The Clippers common 15.8 factors off turnovers and so the Celtics can’t afford to lose focus and miss straightforward photographs and switch the ball over.

X-Components
Street Fatigue – The Celtics are enjoying within the fifth sport of a 6 sport street journey and they’re enjoying on the primary evening of again to again video games. They’ve additionally been enjoying quick handed with out Al Horford on the journey up to now. Fatigue might develop into an element for the Celtics however hopefully their depth will permit them to have sufficient within the tank to get the win.

Teaching – Tyronn Lue received his begin within the teaching ranks on the Celtics when he was named the director of basketball improvement in 2013. He’s now the top coach of the Clippers. Will he be extra motivated to get a win over the group that gave him his begin? The Celtics below first yr coach Joe Mazzulla have been enjoying very well however hit a hiccup in opposition to Steve Kerr and the Warriors. Can he get the perfect of second yr coach Tyronn Lue?

Officiating – I do know that I say this each sport, however the officiating all the time might be an x-factor in each sport. Each crew calls the sport in a different way whether or not they name each little ticky tack foul or they let lots of contact go and let the groups play. Some refs favor the house group and a few not a lot. The Celtics have gotten to regulate to the best way the sport is being referred to as and never let the officiating take away from their focus.