Post by FLCeltsFan on Dec 29, 2020 21:59:07 GMT -5
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Memphis Grizzlies (1-2) at Boston Celtics (2-2)
Wednesday, December 30,2020
7:30 PM ET
Regular Season Game [HASH]5, Home Game [HASH]3
TV: NBCSB, FSSE, NBA-LP
Radio: WBZ-FM, WMFS
TD Garden
Probable Starting Matchups
Point Guard
vs
Marcus Smart vs Tyus Jones
Shooting Guard
vs
Jaylen Brown vs Grayson Allen
Small Forward
vs
Jayson Tatum vs Dillon Brooks
Power Forward
vs
Tristan Thompson vs Kyle Anderson
Center
vs
Daniel Theis vs Jonas Valanciunas
Celtics Reserves
Carsen Edwards
Aaron Nesmith
Semi Ojeleye
Payton Pritchard
Tremont Waters
Grant Williams
Robert Williams III
Jeff Teague
Javonte Green
Injuries
Romeo Langford (wrist) out
Kemba Walker (knee) out
Tacko Fall (eye) out
Head Coach
Brad Stevens
Grizzlies Reserves
Brandon Clarke
Desmond Bane
Grogui Dieng
John Konchar
Sean McDermott
Injuries
Ja Morant (ankle) out
Xavier Tillman (knee) out
Killian Tillie (hamstring) day to day
Jontay Porter (knee) out
Justise Winslow (hip) out
Jaren Jackson, Jr (knee) out
DeAnthony Melton (covid) questionable
Game Notes
Coming off a two game series in Indiana, the Celtics are back at home to host the Memphis Grizzlies. The Celtics were 2-0 vs the Grizzlies last season and have won 9 straight against them. Overall the Celtics are 30-18 overall vs the Grizzlies. They will likely have one more meeting in the second half of the season but that schedule hasn't been released yet.
The Grizzlies are coming off a win over the Brooklyn Nets but it was a costly win. Ja Morant left the game late in the 2nd quarter when he rolled his ankle and will likely miss this game. Tyus Jones finished the game at the point after Morant went down and will likely get the start in this one.
The Celtics may be playing several young players, but the Grizzlies are the 2nd youngest team in the league with an average age of 24.3, second only to the Timberwolves with an average age of 23.9. The Celtics are playing on the second night of back to back games after getting a win over the Pacers in Indiana. The Grizzlies last played on Monday when they beat the Nets in OT.
The Celtics will be without Kemba Walker (knee), Romeo Langford (wrist), and Tacko Fall (eye). The Grizzlies were short handed before Morant went down with the ankle injury. Xavier Tillman (knee), Jontay Porter (knee), Justise Winslow (hip). and Jaren Jackson, Jr (knee) are all out. Killian Tillie (hamstring) and DeAnthony Melton (covid) are both day to day.
Key Matchups
vs
Jayson Tatum vs Dillon Brooks
Brooks is averaging 19.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. With Morant out, Brooks will have to step up and it will be up to Jayson Tatum to keep him from doing so.
vs
Tristan Thompson vs Kyle Anderson
Anderson is averaging 18.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists. He is coming off a 20 point, 14 rebound and 2 block game. It will be important to keep Anderson off the boards and out of the paint.
Honorable Mention
Daniel Theis vs Jonas Valanciunas
Valanciunas is averaging 14 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists and 1.7 blocks. As with Anderson, the Celtics need to keep Valanciunas out of the paint and off of the boards. The Celtics center rotation will need to play well, especially on defense.
Keys to the Game
Defense - Defense is always a key to winning. I'm not sure why the Celtics' defense has dropped off so much since last season's top 4 rating, but it is something they must fix if they hope to be contenders. Celtics are currently 29th in the league with a defensive rating of 116.0. This more than anything else is causing the Celtics struggles. They must get back to playing tough team and individual defense.
Rebound - The Celtics can't score if they don't have the ball and to get the ball, they have to grab rebounds. The Celtics are 25th in the league, grabbing just 41.3 rebounds per game. The Grizzlies are 9th, with 48 rebounds per game. The Celtics out-rebounded the Pacers on Tuesday 52-42. They will need that kind of effort on the boards once again in this one.
Move the Ball - The Celtics at times move the ball very well and find the open man but then lapse into old habits and play iso ball and hero ball. When the Celtics play as a team and move the ball, they are tough to beat but when they go away from it, they usually struggle. Each player has to resist the urge to try to do too much and to consistently play team ball.
Play 4 Quarters - The Celtics have tended to let down after the half so far this season. They need to come out of the half with more intensity and more effort and not come out playing sloppy. They have to play hard all 4 quarters and not just 2 or 3.
X-Factors
Trap Game - It would be easy for the Celtics to underestimate the Grizzlies in this one. With the Grizzlies being short handed and Ja Morant out, the Celtics might think that this will be an easy game. But, the Grizzlies will play hard and challenge the Celtics and it would be a mistake to take them for granted.
Back to Back - The Celtics are coming off of a tough series against the Pacers and will be playing on the second night of back to back games along with having to travel overnight. The Celtics may be tired, especially Jayson Tatum who played 40 minutes on Tuesday. Hopefully they have enough gas in the tank to pull out a win.
Officiating - Officiating is always an X-Factor. Some crews call it tight and some let them play. Some crews will favor the home team and some won't. The Celtics have to adjust to the way the game is being called.
Memphis Grizzlies (1-2) at Boston Celtics (2-2)
Wednesday, December 30,2020
7:30 PM ET
Regular Season Game [HASH]5, Home Game [HASH]3
TV: NBCSB, FSSE, NBA-LP
Radio: WBZ-FM, WMFS
TD Garden
Probable Starting Matchups
Point Guard
vs
Marcus Smart vs Tyus Jones
Shooting Guard
vs
Jaylen Brown vs Grayson Allen
Small Forward
vs
Jayson Tatum vs Dillon Brooks
Power Forward
vs
Tristan Thompson vs Kyle Anderson
Center
vs
Daniel Theis vs Jonas Valanciunas
Celtics Reserves
Carsen Edwards
Aaron Nesmith
Semi Ojeleye
Payton Pritchard
Tremont Waters
Grant Williams
Robert Williams III
Jeff Teague
Javonte Green
Injuries
Romeo Langford (wrist) out
Kemba Walker (knee) out
Tacko Fall (eye) out
Head Coach
Brad Stevens
Grizzlies Reserves
Brandon Clarke
Desmond Bane
Grogui Dieng
John Konchar
Sean McDermott
Injuries
Ja Morant (ankle) out
Xavier Tillman (knee) out
Killian Tillie (hamstring) day to day
Jontay Porter (knee) out
Justise Winslow (hip) out
Jaren Jackson, Jr (knee) out
DeAnthony Melton (covid) questionable
Game Notes
Coming off a two game series in Indiana, the Celtics are back at home to host the Memphis Grizzlies. The Celtics were 2-0 vs the Grizzlies last season and have won 9 straight against them. Overall the Celtics are 30-18 overall vs the Grizzlies. They will likely have one more meeting in the second half of the season but that schedule hasn't been released yet.
The Grizzlies are coming off a win over the Brooklyn Nets but it was a costly win. Ja Morant left the game late in the 2nd quarter when he rolled his ankle and will likely miss this game. Tyus Jones finished the game at the point after Morant went down and will likely get the start in this one.
The Celtics may be playing several young players, but the Grizzlies are the 2nd youngest team in the league with an average age of 24.3, second only to the Timberwolves with an average age of 23.9. The Celtics are playing on the second night of back to back games after getting a win over the Pacers in Indiana. The Grizzlies last played on Monday when they beat the Nets in OT.
The Celtics will be without Kemba Walker (knee), Romeo Langford (wrist), and Tacko Fall (eye). The Grizzlies were short handed before Morant went down with the ankle injury. Xavier Tillman (knee), Jontay Porter (knee), Justise Winslow (hip). and Jaren Jackson, Jr (knee) are all out. Killian Tillie (hamstring) and DeAnthony Melton (covid) are both day to day.
Key Matchups
vs
Jayson Tatum vs Dillon Brooks
Brooks is averaging 19.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. With Morant out, Brooks will have to step up and it will be up to Jayson Tatum to keep him from doing so.
vs
Tristan Thompson vs Kyle Anderson
Anderson is averaging 18.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists. He is coming off a 20 point, 14 rebound and 2 block game. It will be important to keep Anderson off the boards and out of the paint.
Honorable Mention
Daniel Theis vs Jonas Valanciunas
Valanciunas is averaging 14 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists and 1.7 blocks. As with Anderson, the Celtics need to keep Valanciunas out of the paint and off of the boards. The Celtics center rotation will need to play well, especially on defense.
Keys to the Game
Defense - Defense is always a key to winning. I'm not sure why the Celtics' defense has dropped off so much since last season's top 4 rating, but it is something they must fix if they hope to be contenders. Celtics are currently 29th in the league with a defensive rating of 116.0. This more than anything else is causing the Celtics struggles. They must get back to playing tough team and individual defense.
Rebound - The Celtics can't score if they don't have the ball and to get the ball, they have to grab rebounds. The Celtics are 25th in the league, grabbing just 41.3 rebounds per game. The Grizzlies are 9th, with 48 rebounds per game. The Celtics out-rebounded the Pacers on Tuesday 52-42. They will need that kind of effort on the boards once again in this one.
Move the Ball - The Celtics at times move the ball very well and find the open man but then lapse into old habits and play iso ball and hero ball. When the Celtics play as a team and move the ball, they are tough to beat but when they go away from it, they usually struggle. Each player has to resist the urge to try to do too much and to consistently play team ball.
Play 4 Quarters - The Celtics have tended to let down after the half so far this season. They need to come out of the half with more intensity and more effort and not come out playing sloppy. They have to play hard all 4 quarters and not just 2 or 3.
X-Factors
Trap Game - It would be easy for the Celtics to underestimate the Grizzlies in this one. With the Grizzlies being short handed and Ja Morant out, the Celtics might think that this will be an easy game. But, the Grizzlies will play hard and challenge the Celtics and it would be a mistake to take them for granted.
Back to Back - The Celtics are coming off of a tough series against the Pacers and will be playing on the second night of back to back games along with having to travel overnight. The Celtics may be tired, especially Jayson Tatum who played 40 minutes on Tuesday. Hopefully they have enough gas in the tank to pull out a win.
Officiating - Officiating is always an X-Factor. Some crews call it tight and some let them play. Some crews will favor the home team and some won't. The Celtics have to adjust to the way the game is being called.