Celtics (52-19) at Kings (35-34) Game #72 3/24/25

[SparzWizard]

-Kings beat up themselves but probably play like world beaters.

-Could see Boston resting JB, Al and JT tonight. Would think they would want everyone available for the Suns game as they have 2 days off after that.

-C's pretty much locked into that 2 seed so the resting will constant.

7 game lead with 11 to play....rest, rest, and more rest.

The Knicks are the main concern but we also don't want to lose home court in the finals on the off chance that someone other than OKC gets there from the west.  The lead over HOU, DEN, LAL is pretty safe also, but something to be cognizant of.

We're safe in that regard unless we truly have a terrible next 3 weeks. We're not catching OKC and CLE anyways. The other teams are all 6+ games behind us and all have much harder remaining schedules than us.

Get JB healthy and hope KP stays on track.  He is been such a steady force when he's in there.  25 & 10 without blinking an eye.  I think they've really been able to figure out how to use him a lot better this year.  We just haven;t really seen what the team looks like much when they're "whole".  But maybe that's the beauty of this team.

That would be a treat if we suddenly see this starting lineup intact for the postseason. Last playoffs we only saw like 3 games of Porzingis in the lineup.

[Phantom255x]

-Kings beat up themselves but probably play like world beaters.

-Could see Boston resting JB, Al and JT tonight. Would think they would want everyone available for the Suns game as they have 2 days off after that.

-C's pretty much locked into that 2 seed so the resting will constant.

7 game lead with 11 to play....rest, rest, and more rest.

The Knicks are the main concern but we also don't want to lose home court in the finals on the off chance that someone other than OKC gets there from the west.  The lead over HOU, DEN, LAL is pretty safe also, but something to be cognizant of.

We're safe in that regard unless we truly have a terrible next 3 weeks. We're not catching OKC and CLE anyways. The other teams are all 6+ games behind us and all have much harder remaining schedules than us.

Get JB healthy and hope KP stays on track.  He is been such a steady force when he's in there.  25 & 10 without blinking an eye.  I think they've really been able to figure out how to use him a lot better this year.  We just haven;t really seen what the team looks like much when they're "whole".  But maybe that's the beauty of this team.

That would be a treat if we suddenly see this starting lineup intact for the postseason. Last playoffs we only saw like 3 games of Porzingis in the lineup.

We really need Porzingis this year IMO. I know we won it all last year without him for 70% of it, but this year's path is definitely gonna be a lot harder. More contenders and a stronger field. KP will make a difference if he's out there.

[Redz]

-Kings beat up themselves but probably play like world beaters.

-Could see Boston resting JB, Al and JT tonight. Would think they would want everyone available for the Suns game as they have 2 days off after that.

-C's pretty much locked into that 2 seed so the resting will constant.

7 game lead with 11 to play....rest, rest, and more rest.

The Knicks are the main concern but we also don't want to lose home court in the finals on the off chance that someone other than OKC gets there from the west.  The lead over HOU, DEN, LAL is pretty safe also, but something to be cognizant of.

We're safe in that regard unless we truly have a terrible next 3 weeks. We're not catching OKC and CLE anyways. The other teams are all 6+ games behind us and all have much harder remaining schedules than us.

Get JB healthy and hope KP stays on track.  He is been such a steady force when he's in there.  25 & 10 without blinking an eye.  I think they've really been able to figure out how to use him a lot better this year.  We just haven;t really seen what the team looks like much when they're "whole".  But maybe that's the beauty of this team.

That would be a treat if we suddenly see this starting lineup intact for the postseason. Last playoffs we only saw like 3 games of Porzingis in the lineup.

We really need Porzingis this year IMO. I know we won it all last year without him for 70% of it, but this year's path is definitely gonna be a lot harder. More contenders and a stronger field. KP will make a difference if he's out there.

It's weird.  I feel like he's played a much more effective brand of hoops this year, but it's hard to really gauge how much it's contributed to winning.  It seems like he's figured out his piece of the puzzle, but I'm still not sure JB has has figured out how to play with him.  Might just be be a misguided impression. 

[keevsnick]

-Kings beat up themselves but probably play like world beaters.

-Could see Boston resting JB, Al and JT tonight. Would think they would want everyone available for the Suns game as they have 2 days off after that.

-C's pretty much locked into that 2 seed so the resting will constant.

7 game lead with 11 to play....rest, rest, and more rest.

The Knicks are the main concern but we also don't want to lose home court in the finals on the off chance that someone other than OKC gets there from the west.  The lead over HOU, DEN, LAL is pretty safe also, but something to be cognizant of.

We're safe in that regard unless we truly have a terrible next 3 weeks. We're not catching OKC and CLE anyways. The other teams are all 6+ games behind us and all have much harder remaining schedules than us.

Get JB healthy and hope KP stays on track.  He is been such a steady force when he's in there.  25 & 10 without blinking an eye.  I think they've really been able to figure out how to use him a lot better this year.  We just haven;t really seen what the team looks like much when they're "whole".  But maybe that's the beauty of this team.

That would be a treat if we suddenly see this starting lineup intact for the postseason. Last playoffs we only saw like 3 games of Porzingis in the lineup.

We really need Porzingis this year IMO. I know we won it all last year without him for 70% of it, but this year's path is definitely gonna be a lot harder. More contenders and a stronger field. KP will make a difference if he's out there.

It's weird.  I feel like he's played a much more effective brand of hoops this year, but it's hard to really gauge how much it's contributed to winning.  It seems like he's figured out his piece of the puzzle, but I'm still not sure JB has has figured out how to play with him.  Might just be be a misguided impression.

The net rating data would tend to disagree. KP very easily has the lowest net rating amongst the regualr rotation guys:

Kornet: +13
Horford: +10.7
Hauser: 10.2
Tatum: 9.8
Pritchard: 9.8
White: 9.2
Brown: 9.0
Holiday: 6.3
Porzingis: 3.7

Now net rating isn't ALL on a single guy, but for whatever reaosn the C's have REALLY struggled offensively when KP is on the floor.

[Phantom255x]

-Kings beat up themselves but probably play like world beaters.

-Could see Boston resting JB, Al and JT tonight. Would think they would want everyone available for the Suns game as they have 2 days off after that.

-C's pretty much locked into that 2 seed so the resting will constant.

7 game lead with 11 to play....rest, rest, and more rest.

The Knicks are the main concern but we also don't want to lose home court in the finals on the off chance that someone other than OKC gets there from the west.  The lead over HOU, DEN, LAL is pretty safe also, but something to be cognizant of.

We're safe in that regard unless we truly have a terrible next 3 weeks. We're not catching OKC and CLE anyways. The other teams are all 6+ games behind us and all have much harder remaining schedules than us.

Get JB healthy and hope KP stays on track.  He is been such a steady force when he's in there.  25 & 10 without blinking an eye.  I think they've really been able to figure out how to use him a lot better this year.  We just haven;t really seen what the team looks like much when they're "whole".  But maybe that's the beauty of this team.

That would be a treat if we suddenly see this starting lineup intact for the postseason. Last playoffs we only saw like 3 games of Porzingis in the lineup.

We really need Porzingis this year IMO. I know we won it all last year without him for 70% of it, but this year's path is definitely gonna be a lot harder. More contenders and a stronger field. KP will make a difference if he's out there.

It's weird.  I feel like he's played a much more effective brand of hoops this year, but it's hard to really gauge how much it's contributed to winning.  It seems like he's figured out his piece of the puzzle, but I'm still not sure JB has has figured out how to play with him.  Might just be be a misguided impression.

Yeah I actually think Jaylen needs to lock in and be more consistent himself too. There's been stretches this season where he's inconsistent or just had some terrible games, and even his defense at times is subpar. Idk if it's anything injury related or fatigue, but I hope this current time off is gonna help.

[SHAQATTACK]

I?m questionable for this game


If I can possibly not fall asleep before it over 

[Phantom255x]

Interesting. Jaylen is upgraded to questionable for tonight. Only him and Hauser questionable. Horford out as expected

I thought Jaylen's thing was a bit serious? Like a 1-2 weeks thing

[FLCeltsFan]

Latest Injury Report: 
Horford (toe) out
Brown (knee) questionable
Tillman (knee) out
Hauser (back) questionable
Holiday/Porzingis (available)

[FLCeltsFan]

A couple of notes from Sean Grande on X

Jaylen Brown has to play in 9 of the final 11 in order to meet the 65 game minimum to qualify for any post season awards including All NBA and All Defensive teams.

The Celtics arrive in Sacramento having won 12 of 13 on the road since beating Dallas January 25th.
It's just the 2nd time they've done that in the last 15 years (Jan.-Mar. 2022), and the 6th time in the last 50 years (the New Big 3 Celtics did it four times.)

Also worth noting...it's happened quietly amid the profile losses (OKC, Cleveland), but the Celtics have won 20 of 24.  Another 60-win, title-defense season, is very much back in play.    8-3 in the final 11, with several opponents playing Capture the Flagg, is not unreasonable.

[Neurotic Guy]

A couple of notes from Sean Grande on X

Jaylen Brown has to play in 9 of the final 11 in order to meet the 65 game minimum to qualify for any post season awards including All NBA and All Defensive teams.

The Celtics arrive in Sacramento having won 12 of 13 on the road since beating Dallas January 25th.
It's just the 2nd time they've done that in the last 15 years (Jan.-Mar. 2022), and the 6th time in the last 50 years (the New Big 3 Celtics did it four times.)

Also worth noting...it's happened quietly amid the profile losses (OKC, Cleveland), but the Celtics have won 20 of 24.  Another 60-win, title-defense season, is very much back in play.    8-3 in the final 11, with several opponents playing Capture the Flagg, is not unreasonable.

I truly hope JB doesn?t play just so he can be considered for All-NBA teams.  Rest, get healthy.  Playoffs is all that should matter, especially since I don?t think there is monetary difference pertaining to All-NBA.  But maybe there is an incentive I?m not aware of. I know he can use the extra cash.

[Silas]

Boston Celtics
@celtics
44m
Celtics Injury Report Update vs. Sacramento:
Jaylen Brown - AVAILABLE
Sam Hauser - Low Back Stiffness - OUT

[Phantom255x]

Interesting that everyone is basically playing today, only Hauser + Horford are out.

I wonder if White is ever gonna get a game or two off, feels like he's playing all the time lol.

[jpotter33]

Let's go C's! Keep the winning streak rolling.

[jpotter33]

Tatum simply has to be better taking care of the ball. He's been super, super sloppy and nonchalant with his passing lately leading to lots of turnovers.

[Atzar]

We don't look engaged.  Still very early but if we want to win this game, we need to play.