Post by FLCeltsFan on Apr 6, 2019 21:26:22 GMT -5
at 
Orlando Magic (40-40) at Boston Celtics (48-32)
Sunday, April 7, 2019
7:30 PM ET
Regular Season Game [HASH]81, Home Game [HASH]41
TV: NBCSB, FSFL, NBA-LP 761(DTV), 756(xfinity)
Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, 96.9 The Game
TD Garden
Probable Starting Matchups
Point Guard
vs 
Kyrie Irving vs DJ Augustin
Shooting Guard
vs 
Marcus Smart vs Evan Fournier
Small Forward
vs 
Jayson Tatum vs Jonathan Isaac
Power Forward
vs 
Al Horford vs Aaron Gordon
Center
vs 
Aron Baynes vs Nikola Vucevic
ReservesSemi Ojeleye
Daniel Theis
Brad Wanamaker
Gordon Hayward
Robert Williams
Marcus Morris
Injuries
Jaylen Brown (back) doubtful
Terry Rozier (illness) questionable
Guerschon Yabusele (foot) questionable
Al Horford (knee) probable
Two Way Players
PJ Dozier
RJ Hunter
Head Coach
Brad Stevens
Reserves Khem Birch
Michael Carter-Williams
Melvin Frazier, Jr
Jerian Grant
Wes Iwundu
Jarell Martin
Terrance Ross
Injuries
Mo Bamba (tibia) out
Timofey Mozgov (knee) out
Markelle Fultz (shoulder) out
Two Way Players
Troy Caupain
Amile Jefferson
Head Coach
Steve Clifford
Game Notes
The Celtics will host the Orlando Magic for their final game at TD Garden this regular season. This is fitting as the Magic have a place in Celtics history as the very last team to play the Celtics in the Old Boston Garden before the Celtics moved to TD Garden and the old Garden was demolished. The Magic beat the Celtics 95-92 in that game on May 5, 1995.
The Magic are 2-0 so far this season against the Celtics. They handed the Celtics their first loss at the Garden this season when they beat the Celtics 93-90 on October 22. Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward both missed potential game tying 3's in the final seconds. Then, the Magic beat the Celtics 105-103 in Orlando on 1/12. Jayson Tatum missed a potential game winner at the buzzer.
The Celtics are 4th in the East, 1.5 games behind 3rd place Philadelphia, and 1 game ahead of 5th place Indiana. Orlando is 7th in the East and tied with the Nets who are 6th by virtue of holding the tie breaker. They are half a game ahead of Detroit and 1.5 games ahead of 9th place Miami. The Celtics are 5-5 in their last 10 games while the Magic are 8-2 in their last 10. The Celtics are 28-12 at home while the Magic are 15-24 on the road. The Celtics have won 3 straight while the Magic have won their last 2.
Jaylen Brown is again listed as doubtful with back spasms. Terry Rozier left Friday's game to go to the hospital to receive fluids and is questionable for this game. Guerschon Yabusele is also questionable with a foot injury. Al Horford is again probable with the sore knee. For the Magic, Mo Bamba (tibia), Markelle Fultz (shoulder) and Timofey Mozgov (knee) are all out.
Key Matchups
vs Aron Baynes vs Nikola Vucevic
Vucevic is the Magic's best player. He is averaging 20.8 points, 12.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.1 blocks per game. Vucevic had 24 points and 12 rebounds in the Celtics loss to the Magic in October and 16 points and 13 rebounds in the January loss. Hopefully Aron Baynes can give him enough trouble on the defensive end to slow him down in this one.
vs Al Horford vs Aaron Gordon
Gordon is playing well this season, averaging 15.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. In the January loss, he put up 28 points and 13 rebounds. Al has been playing great defense this season and should be able to slow Gordon down.
Honorable Mention
Marcus Smart vs Evan Fournier
Fournier has put up some big games against the Celtics in the past. He is averaging 15.0 points, 3.7 assists and 3.2 rebounds this season. Smart needs to continue his strong play on the defensive end to keep Fournier from having a big game in this one.
Keys to the Game
Defense - Defense wins games, pure and simple. The Magic are averaging 107.0 points per game, which is 25th in the league. Boston is averaging just 112.4 points per game (14th). Orlando ranks 8th with a defensive rating of 107.4. The Celtics are 5th in the league with a defensive rating of 106.9. The Magic have been winning with tough defense and the Celtics will need to come into this game with a defensive mindset and play tough team defense.
Rebound - The Celtics have to crash the boards in order to give themselves extra possessions as well as to prevent the Magic from getting second chance points and fast breaks. The Magic are averaging 45.5 rebounds per game (15th). The Celtics are averaging 44.6 rebounds per game (22). Much of rebounding is effort and the Celtics need to give extra effort to beat the Magic to the boards.
Be Aggressive - The Celtics need to be the more aggressive team. They must be the first to loose balls and rebounds. They must be aggressive on defense and set the tone for the game. They have to be aggressive in driving to the basket and not always settling for jumpers. It was aggressiveness in going to the basket that helped them to beat the Pacers and they will need that same mindset to win this one.
Move the Ball - The Celtics can dominate teams when they move the ball and find the open man. The more assists the Celtics have, the more successful they are as a team. When they dribble too much and hold the ball and play hero ball, things usually don't end well. They have to move the ball and make the extra pass.
Play 48 Minutes - The game against the Pacers on Friday was the best all around effort from the Celtics so far this season. They didn't give the Pacers any big runs and they didn't let up until the end of the game. They have to play the same way in this game. They have to come out strong and play hard right up until the final buzzer.
X-Factors
Home Game - This is the final home game for the regular season. They need to get a boost from the home crowd and they need to dig deep for their Celtic pride to finish this season strong at home before heading into the playoffs.
Revenge Factor - The Magic came into the Garden and beat the Celtics on their home court in October. They then beat the Celtics in Orlando in January. The Celtics need to be motivated by those losses to come out strong in this game and avoid a sweep by the Magic.
