Boston Celtics (1-1) at Charlotte Hornets (0-2) Preseason Game #3 10/7/22

This is the second one preseason recreation for either one of those groups. The Celtics received their first recreation 134-93 over those similar Hornets in Boston. The Celtics then misplaced on Wednesday to the Raptors whilst the Hornets misplaced 122-97 to the Pacers on Wednesday. These two groups have met 116 instances within the common season with Boston main the sequence 71-45. Charlotte received 43 video games ultimate season and completed tenth within the East whilst the Celtics received 51 video games and completed 2d within the East.

I used to be guessingthat each groups would cross with the similar starters and prohibit their mins. Both coaches most probably know what they’ve of their starters and would possibly need to give their camp invitations some further taking part in time. Gary Washburn of the Globe tweeted that the entire first unit guys have been at the court docket understanding smartly after the shoot round ended and he didn’t be expecting any of them to play on this recreation, so who is aware of who will probably be beginning.

The Celtics will as soon as once more be with out Robert Williams, who’s convalescing from contemporary surgical procedure to scrub up some harm in his knee. They can be with out Danilo Galinari, who tore his ACL whilst taking part in for the Italian National staff. Luke Kornet neglected the primary two video games and is questionable for this recreation. Blake Griffin was once no longer signed in time for the primary recreation and didn’t play in the second one recreation. He is predicted to play on this recreation, most likely round 10-12 mins.

For the Hornets, Cody Martin might be out because of left knee tendinitis. Dennis Smith neglected Wednesday’s recreation for private causes and is predicted to omit this recreation additionally. Gordon Hayward was once a past due scratch for Sunday’s recreation with a knee harm and neglected Wednesday’s recreation and is unsure for this recreation. Xavier Sneed was once signed on Thursday to an Exhibit 10 contract and would possibly or is probably not to be had for this recreation.

Probable Celtics Starters

PG: Marcus Smart
SG: Derrick White
SF: Jaylen Brown
PF: Jayson Tatum
C: Al Horford

Celtics Reserves
Malcolm Brogdon
Sam Hauser
Payton Pritchard
Grant Williams
Blake Griffin
JD Davison (2 Way)
Justin Jackson
Mfiondu Kabengele (2 Way)
Jake Layman
Luka Samanic
Brodric Thomas
Noah Vonleh

Out/Injuries
Danilo Gallinari (ACL) out
Luke Kornet (ankle) day after day
Robert Williams III (knee) out
Blake Griffin (conditioning) possible

Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla

Probable Hornets Starters

PG: LaMelo Ball
SG: Terry Rozier
SF: Kelly Oubre, Jr
PF: PJ Washington
C: Mason Plumlee

Hornets Reserves
Jaylen Sims
Jalen Crutches
Mark Williams
Bryce McGowens (two means)
Anthony Duruji
Isaiah Whaley
James Bouknight
Jalen McDaniels
Nick Richards
JT Thor
Kai Jones
LiAngelo Ball

Injuries/Out
Cody Martin (knee) out
Dennis Smith, Jr (non-public) out
Gordon Hayward (knee) out
Xavier Sneed (conditioning) questionable

Head Coach
Steve Clifford

Key Matchups

Derrick White vs Terry Rozier
Former Celtic Terry Rozier at all times takes video games towards the Celtics very significantly and approaches them with a chip on his shoulder. Last season he averaged 19.3 issues, 4.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.3 steals according to recreation. He shot 44.4% from the sector and 37.4% from past the arc. He might be matched with Derrick White, who may be very able to restricting Rozier’s scoring.

Marcus Smart vs LaMelo Ball
Former Rookie of the Year, LaMelo Ball, performed rather well ultimate season. He averaged 20.1 issues, 6.7 rebounds, 7.6 assists and 1.6 steals according to recreation. He shot 42.9% from the sector and 38.9% from past the arc. Defensive Player of the Year, Marcus Smart will do his highest to sluggish Ball down on this one.

Honorable Mention
Jayson Tatum vs PJ Washington
With the Celtics taking part in small, Tatum might be matched up with Washington at energy ahead. Last season, Washington averaged 10.3 issues, 5.2 rebounds, and a pair of.3 assists. Tatum has began off slightly slowly within the first video games up to now, going 10-27 (37%) from the sector and 2-15 (13%) from past the arc within the two video games up to now. Hopefully he’s going to get again heading in the right direction on this recreation.

Keys to the Game
Defense – Defense is at all times a key to successful video games. The Celtics have been first in protection ultimate season and they’ve the avid gamers to be an elite defensive staff this season as smartly. The Hornets have been twenty eighth in issues allowed on drives within the paint ultimate season however Steve Clifford has vowed to show that round this season. The Celtics rotation avid gamers have picked up the place they left off ultimate season, taking part in difficult protection within the first two video games. They want to proceed that emphasis on protection on this recreation.

Rebound – Second to protection is rebounding. Much of rebounding is effort and hustle. The Celtics want to crash the forums as a staff and combat for each rebound. The Celtics should beat the Hornets to rebounds to present themselves further possessions and to stay the Hornets from getting the similar. The Celtics averaged 50.5 rebounds within the first two video games whilst the Hornets averaged 46 rebounds of their first two video games.

Be Aggressive – The Celtics must paintings arduous proper from the end and vow that groups is not going to out-work them. The Celtics have a large number of skill, however skill with out effort received’t win video games. The Celtics should be extra competitive at the forums, on protection, on going for free balls they usually need to be competitive in going to the basket. They can’t permit the Hornets to play tougher than them. The Hornets might be having a look to avenge their loss to the Celtics on Sunday and the Celtics want to be in a position for his or her highest effort on this one.

Take Care of the Ball – In the preseason, we ceaselessly see groups devote a large number of turnovers because of seeking to figure out the kinks and being used to taking part in with every different. The Celtics became the ball over 23 instances on Sunday and they’ve to do significantly better on this recreation. They must paintings to restrict the ones turnovers. If the Celtics can handle the ball and prohibit turnovers, they’ve a great opportunity to get a win on this recreation.

X-Factors
Preseason – It’s nonetheless the preseason and each groups are nonetheless running on lineups and chemistry and conditioning. We would possibly see restricted mins for the starters and likewise some inventive lineups as each coaches glance to guage the camp avid gamers as Mazzulla did on Wednesday towards the Raptors. It is probably not very beautiful basketball if the tip of the bench avid gamers as soon as once more get a large number of taking part in time.

On the Road – The Celtics are taking part in their first preseason recreation at the street. The starters and key reserves will have to do tremendous at the street as all were there prior to they usually performed rather well at the street ultimate season. Younger avid gamers ceaselessly fight at the street and so we would possibly see one of the more youthful avid gamers fight greater than standard. Also, the officers generally tend to choose the house staff so the Celtics is probably not getting a large number of favorable calls on this one.