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Pistons (27-23) at Celtics (28-22) Game #51 2/3/16
« on: February 02, 2016, 10:28:30 PM »

Offline FLCeltsFan

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Detroit Pistons (27-23) at Boston Celtics (28-22)
Wednesday,  February 3, 2016
7:30 PM ET
Regular Season Game #51, Home Game #25
TV: CSNNE, FS Detroit, NBA-LP 753(xfinity), 755(DTV)
Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, 105.1 FM
TD Garden




Probable Starters

PG: Isaiah Thomas
SG: Avery Bradley
SF: Jae Crowder
PF: Amir Johnson
C:  Jared Sullinger

Celtics Reserves
Kelly Olynyk
Jonas Jerebko
Terry Rozier
James Young
Evan Turner
Jordan Mickey
Tyler Zeller
David Lee
RJ Hunter
Marcus Smart

Injuries
Jordan Mickey (ankle)  out

Head Coach

Brad Stevens




Probable Starters

PG: Reggie Jackson
SG: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
SF: Marcus Morris
PF: Ersan Ilyasova
C:  Andre Drummond

Pistons Reserves
Joel Anthony
Aron Baynes
Steve Blake
Reggie Bullock
Spencer Dinwiddie
Darrun Hilliard
Stanley Johnson
Anthony Tolliver
Brandon Jennings

Injuries
Jodie Meeks (foot)  out

Head Coach

Stan Van Gundy 

Game Notes

The Celtics host the Detroit Pistons for the 4th and final game this season.  Detroit leads the series 2-1 with Boston winning one game in Detroit and Detroit winning one in Detroit and one in Boston.  All 3 games were fairly close with the Celtics winning by 6 and the Pistons winning by 3 and then 5. 

This is the second of back to back games for the Celtics.  They played the Knicks on the road on Tuesday night and then traveled home to face the Pistons in this one.  The Celtics are 8-3 overall in the second of back to back games.  They are 3-1 in the second game when the series is road/home. 

Both teams are looking for their second straight win.  The Celtics are now 4th in the East, tied with Atlanta, who owns the tie breaker.  The Celtics are 1/2 game ahead of Chicago(5) and Miami who has slipped to 6th.  Detroit is in the 7th spot, 1.5 games behind the Celtics. 

Jae Crowder was questionable for Tuesday night's game vs the Knicks but played and didn't seem to be hampered by the shin/calf injury that he suffered on Sunday against the Magic.  Jordan Mickey is still out with the ankle injury but probably would go back to the Red Claws before getting meaningful minutes for the Celtics.  Jodie Meeks is out for the Pistons with a foot injury. 


Key Matchups

vs
Isaiah Thomas vs Reggie Jackson
Jackson is very quick and is always a threat to drive to the basket.  He is averaging 19.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 0.9 steals. We will probably see Avery Bradley covering Jackson if he starts to get hot. 

vs
Jared Sullinger vs Andre Drummond
Drummond is a beast in the paint on both ends of the court and is averaging 17.2 points, 15.0 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game.   Last season in the 3 games against the Celtics, he averaged 22.3 point and 16.7 rebounds.  In the three games this season, he is averaging 17 points and 13 rebounds.   Drummond's weakness seems to be from the line where he is shooting just 34.6%.   The Celtics will have their hands full trying to slow him down on offense and on the boards. 

Honorable Mention

Avery Bradley vs Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
In the first game between these two teams, Caldwell-Pope scored a career high 31 points and he hit 4 clutch free throws down the stretch.   He came back to earth with just 6 points in the second game.  But he is capable of having a big game and so the Celtics need to stay with him on defense. He is averaging 14.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game for the season. 

Keys to the Game
Run, Run, Run - The Celtics have proved that when they run and move the ball up the court quickly, good things happen.  When they over dribble and slow the game down, they struggle all the way around. They need to push the ball on every opportunity and push the pace,  but also play under control. 

Be Aggressive - The Celtics need to be aggressive in going for loose balls, rebounding and defending. They also have to be aggressive in going to the basket and not settle for long jumpers, especially when those long jumpers aren't falling.   Good things happen when they get into the paint.  They have to be hungry and play like the team that wants it more.  They have to play aggressively for 48 minutes. 

Rebound - Rebounding takes effort and desire.  The Celtics will need both in order to beat the big front line of the Pistons to the rebounds.  The Pistons are 3rd in the league in rebounding with 47.2  per game.  They are just 3-13 when they are out rebounded by their opponents.  The Celtics will have to work extra hard to beat them to the boards.

Defense- The Celtics need to play tough team defense, especially in the paint. It doesn't matter how much they score if they can't stop the Pistons from scoring more.  Both teams pride themselves on defense.  The Pistons are allowing just 100.6 points per game while the Celtics are allowing 100.7 points per game.  The Pistons are 20-6 when allowed to score 100 points or more.  They are 19-5 when they shoot 33% or higher from beyond the arc.  The Celtics must play tough team defense and get stops especially at the end of the game. No let ups!

Play as a Team - The Celtics have to play as a team and move the ball to find the open man.  They have to defend as a team and rebound as a team.  Hero ball rarely wins games and so they need to have each other's backs and play together.   The Celtics are best when they spread the scoring and play as a team. 

Move the Ball - The Celtics must move the ball and find the open man. They struggle to score when the ball stops moving. In the Celtics most recent  losses they averaged 18 assists.  They are 5th in the league in assists with 24.3 and it's not a coincidence that they win when their assist total is higher and they lose when it is lower.

X-Factors
Home Factor - Usually playing at home means that the team will get a boost from the home crowd and it gives them an advantage.   It is also the second of back to back games and the Celtics pride themselves in playing well in those games. 

Officiating -  The officiating is always an x-factor in every game. Will the refs let them play or will they call every little bit of contact. Will they call it evenly or will they favor one team or the other.  In the first game vs the Pistons, the Celtics took just 24 free throws to 43 for the Pistons and the Pistons got the benefit of quite a few questionable calls.   In the second game, the Celtics win, The Pistons took 25 free throws to 23 for the Celtics and the officiating was  more even and fair.  This time?  Who knows?

Re: Pistons (27-23) at Celtics (28-22) Game #51 2/3/16
« Reply #1 on: February 02, 2016, 10:30:01 PM »

Offline Rondo9

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Continue the streak!

Re: Pistons (27-23) at Celtics (28-22) Game #51 2/3/16
« Reply #2 on: February 02, 2016, 10:33:36 PM »

Offline csfansince60s

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TP FL CeltsFan!!! Back to back, Baby...you ARE dedicated!

We owe Deee-troit Basketball one!!!

Smart/Bradley HAVE to shut down Jackson.... He stole one from us last time.

What's the over/under on Hack-a-Drummond?

I say 3 1/2!

Go Cs !!!!!!

Re: Pistons (27-23) at Celtics (28-22) Game #51 2/3/16
« Reply #3 on: February 02, 2016, 10:39:21 PM »

Offline FLCeltsFan

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TP Rondo9 for being the first to post in the game thread! 

Go Celtics!!! 

Re: Pistons (27-23) at Celtics (28-22) Game #51 2/3/16
« Reply #4 on: February 03, 2016, 06:00:59 AM »

Offline SHAQATTACK

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Can't stop Drummond

Need to put the brakes on Jackson with Smart and AB though

Re: Pistons (27-23) at Celtics (28-22) Game #51 2/3/16
« Reply #5 on: February 03, 2016, 03:09:15 PM »

Offline arctic 3.0

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Can't stop Drummond

Need to put the brakes on Jackson with Smart and AB though
I'd play a lot of small ball with Oly at the 5 To pull Drummond out of the paint.
On D don't double, shut down everyone else and make him try and win it on his own.


Re: Pistons (27-23) at Celtics (28-22) Game #51 2/3/16
« Reply #6 on: February 03, 2016, 03:17:40 PM »

Offline BudweiserCeltic

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Here's to Bradley guarding KCP well...

Re: Pistons (27-23) at Celtics (28-22) Game #51 2/3/16
« Reply #7 on: February 03, 2016, 03:38:26 PM »

Offline hwangjini_1

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celtics should win another one and create a second winning streak.

i look forward to a big game by olly.

goooooo celtics!!!!  ;D
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Re: Pistons (27-23) at Celtics (28-22) Game #51 2/3/16
« Reply #8 on: February 03, 2016, 07:17:53 PM »

Offline greece66

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i might take a quick look every now and then, but I won't be able to watch the whole game, just wanted to say hello to the fans

Re: Pistons (27-23) at Celtics (28-22) Game #51 2/3/16
« Reply #9 on: February 03, 2016, 07:25:25 PM »

Offline positivitize

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LETS GO C's!
My biases, in order of fervor:
Pro:
Smart, Brown, Hayward, Tatum, Kemba, Grant Williams, Sleepy Williams, Edwards!

Anti:
Kanter, Semi, Theis, Poierier

Re: Pistons (27-23) at Celtics (28-22) Game #51 2/3/16
« Reply #10 on: February 03, 2016, 07:32:25 PM »

Offline SHAQATTACK

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I d like to,be there .

Re: Pistons (27-23) at Celtics (28-22) Game #51 2/3/16
« Reply #11 on: February 03, 2016, 07:33:11 PM »

Offline SHAQATTACK

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i might take a quick look every now and then, but I won't be able to watch the whole game, just wanted to say hello to the fans

Hello !

Hurray!


Re: Pistons (27-23) at Celtics (28-22) Game #51 2/3/16
« Reply #12 on: February 03, 2016, 07:40:40 PM »

Online jpotter33

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Let's go!

Re: Pistons (27-23) at Celtics (28-22) Game #51 2/3/16
« Reply #13 on: February 03, 2016, 07:42:15 PM »

Offline positivitize

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I really hate starting IT.
My biases, in order of fervor:
Pro:
Smart, Brown, Hayward, Tatum, Kemba, Grant Williams, Sleepy Williams, Edwards!

Anti:
Kanter, Semi, Theis, Poierier

Re: Pistons (27-23) at Celtics (28-22) Game #51 2/3/16
« Reply #14 on: February 03, 2016, 07:42:49 PM »

Online jpotter33

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Bradley needs to understand that his shot isn't falling right now and take it into the paint.