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Boston Celtics (3-2) at Detroit Pistons (4-0)
Saturday October 27, 2018
7:00 PM ET
Regular Season Game #6, Road Game #4
TV: NBCSB, FS Detroit, NBA-LP 750(xfinity), 751(DTV)
Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, 97.1 FM The Ticket
Little Caesars ArenaProbable Starters PG: Kyrie Irving
SG: Jaylen Brown
SF: Gordon Hayward
PF: Jayson Tatum
C: Al Horford
Celtics ReservesTerry Rozier
Marcus Smart
Marcus Morris
Guerschon Yabusele
Semi Ojeleye
Robert Williams
Brad Wanamaker
InjuriesJabari Bird
Aron Baynes
Daniel Theis (questionable)
Two Way PlayersWalt Lemon, Jr.
P. J. Dozier
Head CoachBrad Stevens
Probable Starters PG: Reggie Jackson
SG: Reggie Bullock
SF: Stanley Johnson
PF: Blake Griffin
C: Andre Drummond
Pistons ReservesBruce Brown
Jose Calderon
Henry Ellenson
Langston Galloway
Zaza Pachulia
Ish Smith
Khyri Thomas
Injuries Luke Kennard
John Leuer(questionable)
Two Way Players Zach Lofton
Keenan Evans
Head Coach Dwane Casey
Game Notes The Celtics travel to Detroit tonight to take on the undefeated Pistons. Boston is coming off a comeback victory over the Thunder in Oklahoma City where they had a tale of two halves. In the first half the Celtics went 0-11 from the three point line and was almost as bad from the field and free throw line. But in the second half the Celtics got hot, hit 11 three pointers, scored 67 points and finished the game on a 16-1 run to take the victory.
Tatum, Morris and Horford all started in the game and even though the Celtics were cold in the first half of Thursday's game, the offense was flowing and creating lots of open looks. In the second half those shots went down and we got a glimpse of just how powerful this Celtics' offense could be once everyone is back to 100% and establish their roles in the offense.
The Pistons are the surprise team in the East thus far in this young season. They are scoring 116 points per game and have won all 4 games they have played. They are led by the resurgent Blake Griffin who is showing once again why he is one of the best players in the league, averaging 33.8 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists per game. Andre Drummond has also been dominant, averaging 18.5 points and 17.6 rebounds per game. In this young season Griffin and Drummond are showing they may be the best frontcourt in the game.
While Detroit is undefeated their victories have not been against very good competition with wins over Brooklyn, Chicago, Cleveland and an as yet to being playing up to their potential Philadelphia team. The Pistons do a lot of iso ball and have been shooting at a probably unsustainable 37.8% from three. Detroit also gives up a lot of points a game with their opponents averaging 112.2 points per game.
In order for Boston to win this game they are going to have to continue where they left off in the second half of the Thunder win. They need to play within themselves, find the open man and hit those wide open shots. With Aron Baynes possibly returning, the Celtics will need him to contain Drummond while Horford tries to slow down Blake Griffin. When Tatum is guarding Griffin look for the Pistons to go at Tatum as he probably is not a great physical matchup for the very strong Griffin.
The Celtics' defense needs to be the league leading defense they are and use their length and quickness to run Detroit off the three point line and contain Detroit's outside game, especially PG Reggie Jackson and Griffin who are both shooting extremely well from three. Boston is also going to need to gang rebound to hold Detroit off the offensive boards getting easy put back points.
Tonight will be a good test for this Celtics team as, including this game, Boston plays six of their next 8 games on the road. Wins over the Thunder and the Pistons on the road will help to bolster the Celtics confidence as they build towards being one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.