The Utah Jazz will be visiting the TD Garden tonight looking to keep their winning streak going against a tough Celtics team.
Boston is coming off of four days rest with their last win coming against Miami on Friday night. Isaiah Thomas dropped a career high 52 points, scoring a franchise record 29 in the final quarter. The dagger came with under a minute as Thomas nailed his 9th three pointer, sealing the game for Boston.
Utah is currently sitting at the number four spot in the West. Some of their biggest contributors this season have been Gordon Hayward and Rudy Gobert. Hayward has asserted himself as the star, leading the Jazz with 22.4 PPG, while Gobert averages a double-double. The Celtics’ should be familiar with Utah’s star player, considering Brad Stevens coached Hayward at Butler. With Hayward becoming a free agent at the end of the season, rumors are circling that he could be reunited with Stevens.
With Boston being the shortest team in the NBA, this could provide some problems considering Utah’s height. Boston ranks 29th in rebounding. It’s clear rebounding is an issue when your 6’2″ SG leads the team in rebounding. Further compounding the problem is the recent hospitalization of two of Boston’s key bench players. Marcus Smart and Tyler Zeller were released earlier today but their status for tonight’s contest is still undetermined.
Boston is in the middle of a four game home stand, a rarity this season for the C’s. The Celtics have played more games on the road this year, and even have a better record when playing away from Beantown. Watching this team, one thing shines in their style of play. In today’s NBA it seems that style is rewarded over substance. Individual players are more valuable than the team as a whole. This is where Boston differs. The Celtics rank fourth in the NBA in assists per game. The Utah Jazz on the other hand rank 29th. This camaraderie can be seen in every game, with players exchanging high fives and smiles on and off the court.
Another key attribute this season is the play of the bench. Players like Terry Rozier and Jonas Jerebko have improved and are playing with greater confidence. Rookie Jaylen Brown is an exciting talent that can only get better as the season progresses.
The Celtics look to kick off 2017 in the win column against the Utah Jazz, with tip-off at 7:30 PM.
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