Celtics (2-2) at Thunder (0-3) Game #5 10/25/18

[nickagneta]

  vs 
Boston Celtics (2-2) at Oklahoma City Thunder (0-3)
Thursday October 25, 2018
8:00 PM EST
Game #5, Road Game #3
TV: TNT, NBCSB, FSOK
Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, WWLS 98.1 FM
Chesapeake Energy Arena



Probable Starters
PG SG SF PF C
PG: Kyrie Irving
SG: Jaylen Brown
SF:  Gordon Hayward 
PF:  Jayson Tatum
C:   Ai Horford

Celtics Reserves
Terry Rozier
Marcus Morris
Marcus Smart
Daniel Theis
Guerschon Yabusele
Semi Ojeleye
Robert Williams
Brad Wanamaker

Injuries
Jabari Bird
Aron Baynes

Two Way Players
Walt Lemon, Jr.
P. J. Dozier

Head Coach
Brad Stevens




Probable Starters
PG SG SF PF C
PG: Russell Westbrook
SG:  Terrance Ferguson
SF:  Paul George
PF:  Patrick Patterson
C:   Steven Adams

Thunder Reserves
Alex Abrines
Hamidou Diallo
Raymond Felton
Jerami Grant
Timothe Luwawu-Caborret
Abdel Nader
Nerlens Noel
Dennis Schroder

Injuries
Andre Roberson


Two Way Players
Tyler Davis
Deonte Burton


Head Coach
Billy Donovan

Game Notes

The Celtics travel to Oklahoma City to taken on the Thunder tonight as they embark on a two game road trip. The Celtics will finish up the trip in Detroit on Saturday night. Boston comes off a poor offensive showing against the Orlando Magic which led to a 93-90 loss at the TD Garden. The Thunder are one of two NBA teams that are still winless in this young season, having lost their last three. OKC's last game was an embarrassing loss to the lowly Kings, 131-120 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena.

The Celtics will, once again, be without the services of Aron Baynes. Baynes is a key player in the Celtics defense and especially against big men who can do damage underneath. But the area where the Celtics really need to do better is on the offensive side where they have been awful. The Celtics' shooting numbers are among the worst in the league with only 41.2% FG%(28th in the league) and 31.2% 3PT%(26th in the league). The Celtics are also last in the league in FTA and next to last in the league in FTM. Lastly, Boston is scoring the 2nd least amount of points per game at 99.5.

Not to be undone if offensive futility, the Thunder have the worst FG% in the NBA at 39% and have the worst 3PT% in the NBA at 23.9%. Oklahoma City also struggles to put points on the board as they only scor 104points per game good for 27th in the league.

For Boston to pull this game out they will need to continue to play some of the best defense in the league(they have the best defensive rating in the league at 97.0) but also, shake off the early season shooting rust. The starting unit has to get their chemistry going and learn when to shoot and when to continue to search for the open man. Also, the entire team needs to become more aggressive in taking it to the basket for easy baskets and/or creating contact and getting to the line. I wish I could praise the play of certain Celtics, but the fact is not one Celtic as been consistently good this year. It's time to get and time to put some wins up on the board.

[bdm860]

I think the C's will come out with a good game tonight.

They played good against the Sixers and Raptors (well for about 46 minutes anyway), and struggled against lesser teams in New York and Orlando.  I don't think the C's take weak opponents seriously enough, but they'll respect OKC.  Plus they've had a couple of days to regroup and practice.   They should come out strong and be able to maintain it all game.

And Smart often plays good @ OKC (went to OK State after all).  The 2 highest scoring games of his career were both @ OKC.  And for his career, by opponent, Smarts has his highest career scoring, rebounding, a 3P% numbers against OKC (a Curry-esque 43.3% ). Unfortunately that's all driven by his 2 highest scoring games which happened back in '15 and '16, not so spectacular in '17 and '18.

[Ogaju]

LETS GO CELTICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TP NICK for the game thread.

[hodgy03038]

Let's Go Celts!! I am worried that if Baynes doesn't play then Adams will have 22 points and 22 rebounds. We can still win if we play great defense and make some open shots.

[blink]

Cmon Celtics, time to show what you guys are capable of doing this year.  Time for an impressive west conf road win.  Thanks Nick for filling in on the game threads.  TPs all around.

[CF033]

Let's get some minutes for Robert Williams tonight, train him against Steve Adams in the absence of Baynes.

I think the Celts will have a good shooting night.

[slamtheking]

hoping to see a much better effort tonight from everyone.  plenty of practice time between games to get a more cohesive unit out on the floor

[Birdman]

OKC first win

[nickagneta]

TP to bdm860 for being first to post in thread.

[A Future of Stevens]

I will admit, I kind of wrote this game off in my head. I hadn't realized Westbrook was back to playing. I may have to watch this tonight.

[Celtics4ever]

GO C's!

[rondofan1255]

Go c’s

[LilRip]

I hope the C's offense starts clicking tonight! I can see us getting wrecked inside by Steven Adams though

[gouki88]

Good job Nick!

Hopefully we're up 20 in the last quarter so we can see old friend Nader get some run. Go C's

[apc]

I want to see Theis gets at list 20 minutes.
Unless miraculously Horford does fine vs Adams.