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Grizzlies (1-2) at Celtics (2-2) Game #5 12/30/20
« on: December 29, 2020, 09:58:11 PM »

Offline FLCeltsFan

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Memphis Grizzlies (1-2) at Boston Celtics (2-2)
Wednesday, December 30,2020
7:30 PM ET
Regular Season Game #5, Home Game #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 
Robert Williams  vs Kyle Anderson

Center
vs
Daniel Theis vs Jonas Valanciunas

Celtics Reserves
Carsen Edwards
Aaron Nesmith
Semi Ojeleye
Payton Pritchard
Tremont Waters
Grant Williams
Jeff Teague

Injuries
Romeo Langford (wrist) out
Kemba Walker (knee) out
Tacko Fall (eye) questionable
Jayson Tatum (thumb) questionable
Tristan Thompson (hamstring recovery) out
Javonte Green (covid 19 protocols) 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) out
Jontay Porter (knee) out
Justise Winslow (hip) out
Jaren Jackson, Jr (knee) out
DeAnthony Melton (covid) not with team

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 have started the same 5 players in all 4 games so far and will likely start them again in this game. 

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. 
« Last Edit: December 30, 2020, 02:18:08 PM by FLCeltsFan »

Re: Grizzlies (1-2) at Celtics (2-2) Game #5 12/30/20
« Reply #1 on: December 29, 2020, 09:59:38 PM »

Offline jambr380

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First?! Great job as always FLC - TP! Let's get 2 in a row! ;D

Re: Grizzlies (1-2) at Celtics (2-2) Game #5 12/30/20
« Reply #2 on: December 29, 2020, 10:00:09 PM »

Offline FLCeltsFan

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TP to  jambr380   for being the first to post in the game thread!!!

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Celtics!! 

Beat the Grizzlies!!!! 

Re: Grizzlies (1-2) at Celtics (2-2) Game #5 12/30/20
« Reply #3 on: December 29, 2020, 10:00:39 PM »

Offline kraidstar

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Keep it rollin, C's!!!

Re: Grizzlies (1-2) at Celtics (2-2) Game #5 12/30/20
« Reply #4 on: December 29, 2020, 10:00:56 PM »

Offline Ogaju

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Gooooooooooo CLETICS!!! TP FLCF for another great game thread

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO CELTICS

BEAT THE grizzlies!!

Re: Grizzlies (1-2) at Celtics (2-2) Game #5 12/30/20
« Reply #5 on: December 29, 2020, 10:01:59 PM »

Offline kraidstar

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Now is the time to get above .500 and stay there. Wreck this league.

Re: Grizzlies (1-2) at Celtics (2-2) Game #5 12/30/20
« Reply #6 on: December 29, 2020, 10:02:01 PM »

Offline footey

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Let's start a winning record Celtics!!!

Re: Grizzlies (1-2) at Celtics (2-2) Game #5 12/30/20
« Reply #7 on: December 29, 2020, 10:02:19 PM »

Offline liam

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Oooooooooooo!

celtics go.

FLCeltsFan TP

Thanks for the game thread!



Re: Grizzlies (1-2) at Celtics (2-2) Game #5 12/30/20
« Reply #8 on: December 29, 2020, 10:06:04 PM »

Offline kraidstar

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So why are back to backs either home/road or road/road, and never home/home? What is the league's agenda there? Why not at least give some benefit to the b2b team by allowing both games at home?

Re: Grizzlies (1-2) at Celtics (2-2) Game #5 12/30/20
« Reply #9 on: December 29, 2020, 10:08:42 PM »

Offline Somebody

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Let's go Celtics!
Jaylen Brown for All-NBA

Re: Grizzlies (1-2) at Celtics (2-2) Game #5 12/30/20
« Reply #10 on: December 29, 2020, 10:18:38 PM »

Online Silas

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Let's make it two in a row!  Go Cs.
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Re: Grizzlies (1-2) at Celtics (2-2) Game #5 12/30/20
« Reply #11 on: December 29, 2020, 11:10:58 PM »

Offline slamtheking

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TP for another great game thread FL.

anyone else with Directv getting the hawks/nets game in their schedule on NBCSB instead of the C's game?  never saw that before and not getting that issue on any other C's game

Re: Grizzlies (1-2) at Celtics (2-2) Game #5 12/30/20
« Reply #12 on: December 29, 2020, 11:50:32 PM »

Offline Celtics Mike

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Let's Go Celtics !

Re: Grizzlies (1-2) at Celtics (2-2) Game #5 12/30/20
« Reply #13 on: December 30, 2020, 12:12:43 AM »

Offline Rikibellevie

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Without Ja Morant against a team that I guess is still dispaointed about last year and globaly limited, it shoud be an easy win. We have to still give everything and avoid somebad loss we had last year (ag them for exemple).
Go C's ! Hope to see some playing time for Nesmith, as Stevens said he wanted to integrate him ag weakest team.

Re: Grizzlies (1-2) at Celtics (2-2) Game #5 12/30/20
« Reply #14 on: December 30, 2020, 12:32:17 AM »

Offline hwangjini_1

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Thanks flc and a tp for you.

The win steak starts here.

Goooooooooooooooooooooooooo Celtics!!  ;D
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