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Celtics (35-15) at Nuggets (26-23) Game #51 1/29/18
« on: January 28, 2018, 10:18:46 PM »

Offline FLCeltsFan

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  vs 
Boston Celtics (35-15) at Denver Nuggets (26-23)
Monday, January 29, 2018
9:00 PM ET
Regular Season Game #51 Road Game #25
TV: NBA-TV, NBCSB, Altitude
Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, 950 AM
Pepsi Center



Probable Starting Matchups
Point Guard

vs
Kyrie Irving vs Will Barton

Shooting Guard
vs
Jaylen Brown vs Gary Harris

Small Forward

vs
Jayson Tatum vs Torrey Craig

Power Forward
vs
Al Horford vs Nikola Jokic

Center
vs
Aron Baynes vs Mason Plumlee


Celtics Reserves
Shane Larkin
Abdel Nader
Semi Ojeleye
Daniel Theis
Guerschon Yabusele
Terry Rozier
Marcus Morris
Jarell Eddie

Injuries
Gordon Hayward (ankle)  out
Marcus Smart (hand)  out

Two-Way Players
Kadeem Allen
Jabari Bird

Head Coach

Brad Stevens




Nuggets Reserves
Darrell Arthur
Malik Beasley
Kenneth Faried
Juancho Hernangomez
Richard Jefferson
Tyler Lydon
Trey Lyles
Emmanuel Mudiay
Jamal Murray

Injuries
Paul Millsap  (wrist)  out
Tyler Lydon (knee) out
Wilson Chandler (illness)  probable

Two Way Players
Torrey Craig
Monte Morris

Head Coach
Michael Malone

Game Notes
The Celtics complete their 4 game road trip with a stop in the Mile High city to play the Denver Nuggets.  The Celtics are 1-2 on their trip so far, losing to the Warriors and Lakers and beating the Clippers.  A win here would salvage their trip with a 2-2 record.  However, winning in Denver is always a tough task.

The Nuggets have won 10 of their last 13 games against the Celtics in Denver.  However,  they have lost 17 of the last 20 in Boston.  The Nuggets swept the series 2-0 last season while the Celtics swept the series the two previous seasons.  The Nuggets are 26-17 vs the Celtics all time in Denver,  but only 8-36 all time in Boston. 

The Celtics are 17-7 on the road and 13-5 vs Western Conference teams.  The Nuggets are 19-6 at home and 10-7 vs Eastern Conference teams.  Both teams are 5-5 in their last 10 games.  The Celtics are still the top seed in the East in spite of losing 5 of their last 6 games.  However, the Raptors have climbed to within 1 game of the Celtics with the Cavs still 5 back.  The Nuggets are 8th in the West 1 game ahead of the Clippers.

The Celtics will once again be without Marcus Smart after he injured his hand hitting a picture frame at his hotel before the Clippers game.  Guerschon Yabusele is dealing with a sprained ankle and is listed as out.  Gordon Hayward (ankle) remains out.   For the Nuggets, Wilson Chandler is probable after dealing with an illness.  Paul Millsap (wrist) and Tyler Lydon (knee) are both listed as out. 

The starting lineups are the ones given on the game notes for each team and could change closer to game time. 

Key Matchups 
vs
Jaylen Brown vs Gary Harris
Harris is averaging 17.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists.  He is also shooting 38.8% from beyond the arc.  Harris is also 6th in the league averaging 1.93 steals per game.  The last time these two met in December, Harris led the Nuggets with 36 points.  It will be important to keep him from having another big game.   

vs
Al Horford vs Nikola Jokic
Jokic is playing very well for the Nuggets and will be tough to contain.  He posted a triple double in his last game on Saturday with 11 points, 11 assists and 15 rebounds.  Has recorded a 19
double-doubles  this season and is tied for 2nd among NBA centers in assists per game. He is averaging 16.1 points, 10.5 rebounds and 5.3 assists this season.  Both of these players missed the first meeting between these two teams this season.

Honorable Mention
Terry Rozier vs Jamal Murray
The Celtics will miss Marcus Smart's defense once again in this game as Murray is averaging 16.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists off the bench for Denver.  He tallied 28 points and 10 rebounds in the Celtics' win in Boston earlier this season.  He is the only player other than Stephen Curry to have a game with 38+ points, 5+ rebounds, and 6+ assists in under 34 minutes this season.  With Smart out, Terry Rozier will need to up his defense and keep Murray from having a big game.

Keys to the Game
Defense - Defense is the key to every game.   The Celtics still have the #1 defensive rating at 100.0 but at times they have let their defense slip need to be sure to make defense a priority and work hard on that side of the court in every game.  The Nuggets are 19th with a defensive rating of 106.6 but since 12/8, Denver has had a defensive rating of 105.4 (9th).  They held the Warriors to 81 points and so should not be taken for granted. 

Be Aggressive - The Celtics must be the more aggressive team.  They have to fight for loose balls,  defend aggressively,  be aggressive in driving to the basket, and just play harder than the Nuggets for the entire game.  They have to be the team that wants it more.  They can't let the Nuggets outwork them as they did the Lakers in their first game on this trip.   

Rebound
- Both teams are good rebounding teams.  The Nuggets have a slight edge with 45.2 rebounds per game to 44.4 rebounds per game for the Celtics.  Rebounding takes effort and the Celtics have to work harder to grab rebounds to limit the Nuggets second chance points as the Nuggets are 3rd in the league with 14.2 second chance points per game.  The Celtics can't allow the Nuggets to outwork them on the boards. 

Move the Ball - The Celtics play very well when they move the ball and find the open man.  When the ball sticks and players try to do too much, take quick shots, and dribble too much, the Celtics struggle.  It's the difference between the game vs the Lakers and the game vs the Clippers.   They have to move the ball and look for the best shot and not force shots and not take quick shots.  The Nuggets average 17.1 points off turnovers so while they need to move the ball,  they have to make careful passes and not allow the Nuggets to get steals and fast break points. 

X-Factors
Mile High Denver -  One of the factors that makes Denver a tough place to play is their high altitude.  The air is a bit thinner there and teams coming in and not used to it may be at a distinct disadvantage to the home team, who are used to the thinner air there.  Hopefully the Celtics got there a day early and got somewhat acclimated to the altitude. 

Missing Marcus
- Marcus Smart may take some bad shots and may not have the highest shooting average,  but he brings toughness, defense and does a lot of the things that helps the team win.  Marcus would have made a difference against the Warriors and they will miss him in this game.  Hopefully the other guards step up to fill in the gap. 

Road Weary- The Celtics are at the end of a very tiring road trip and are coming off of a tough game vs the reigning champion Golden State Warriors.  They have traveled thousands of miles and have played 3 tough games.  Hopefully, they have enough in the tank to pull out a win in this game. 


Re: Celtics (35-15) at Nuggets (26-23) Game #51 1/29/18
« Reply #1 on: January 28, 2018, 10:19:41 PM »

Offline KGs Knee

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Go C's!!!

Re: Celtics (35-15) at Nuggets (26-23) Game #51 1/29/18
« Reply #2 on: January 28, 2018, 10:19:53 PM »

Offline FLCeltsFan

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TP to  KGs Knee  for being the first to post in the game thread!!


GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Celtics!!!!!   

Re: Celtics (35-15) at Nuggets (26-23) Game #51 1/29/18
« Reply #3 on: January 28, 2018, 10:20:51 PM »

Offline tarheelsxxiii

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frist
The Tarstradamus Group, LLC

Re: Celtics (35-15) at Nuggets (26-23) Game #51 1/29/18
« Reply #4 on: January 28, 2018, 10:21:32 PM »

Offline KGs Knee

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TP to  KGs Knee  for being the first to post in the game thread!!


GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Celtics!!!!!   

LOL....Thanks

TP FL

Re: Celtics (35-15) at Nuggets (26-23) Game #51 1/29/18
« Reply #5 on: January 28, 2018, 10:22:48 PM »

Offline KGs Knee

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Nope

Once again....

Duke >>>>>>>> UNC

hahahahaha!!!!!!

Re: Celtics (35-15) at Nuggets (26-23) Game #51 1/29/18
« Reply #6 on: January 28, 2018, 10:29:04 PM »

Online liam

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Go Celtics.

TPs for everyone who posted above me!

Re: Celtics (35-15) at Nuggets (26-23) Game #51 1/29/18
« Reply #7 on: January 28, 2018, 10:42:28 PM »

Offline GetLucky

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(before you quote yourself :P)

TP to  tarheelsxxiii for being the first to post in the game thread!!


GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Celtics


Re: Celtics (35-15) at Nuggets (26-23) Game #51 1/29/18
« Reply #8 on: January 28, 2018, 10:44:21 PM »

Offline hodgy03038

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Go Celts. Get your courage back Jayson.

Re: Celtics (35-15) at Nuggets (26-23) Game #51 1/29/18
« Reply #9 on: January 29, 2018, 03:56:19 AM »

Offline azzenfrost

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I think we've had enough of "almost but not quite" games. Win this one C's.
I moved the cheese.

Re: Celtics (35-15) at Nuggets (26-23) Game #51 1/29/18
« Reply #10 on: January 29, 2018, 04:28:42 AM »

Offline trickybilly

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I don't often make predictions, but predict Cs play well this game. Maybe even blowout.
"Gimme the ball, gimme the ball". Freddy Quimby, 1994.

Re: Celtics (35-15) at Nuggets (26-23) Game #51 1/29/18
« Reply #11 on: January 29, 2018, 08:08:51 AM »

Offline jambr380

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Actually flying from Florida to Denver right now to go to the game tonight (and then go snowboarding). Hoping the Cs can make me proud!

Great job again, FLC!!

Re: Celtics (35-15) at Nuggets (26-23) Game #51 1/29/18
« Reply #12 on: January 29, 2018, 08:21:36 AM »

Offline saltlover

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Actually flying from Florida to Denver right now to go to the game tonight (and then go snowboarding). Hoping the Cs can make me proud!

Great job again, FLC!!

Enjoy the game and the trip!

Re: Celtics (35-15) at Nuggets (26-23) Game #51 1/29/18
« Reply #13 on: January 29, 2018, 08:57:48 AM »

Online celticinorlando

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Denver has been a house of horrors for Boston. Need to play with the same energy as vs GS

Re: Celtics (35-15) at Nuggets (26-23) Game #51 1/29/18
« Reply #14 on: January 29, 2018, 01:34:20 PM »

Offline FLCeltsFan

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Rozier missed shootaround with sprained ankle.  50-50 for tonight.  Kadeem Allen called up from Maine and is with the team for shoot around.