After what was a tough loss at home to an undermanned Knicks team, the Celtics look to bounce back against the Portland Trailblazers tomorrow night at the TD Garden.
Boston will have a few days rest in preparation for the game having not played since Wednesday. Both Avery Bradley for the Celtics and Kristaps Porzingis for the Knicks were out for the game. This was another reason the loss was such a disappointment.
Looking forward, the C’s want to avenge their loss as they take on the Trailblazers. Portland has lost their last three games, and are sitting under .500 at 18-26. The Blazers have one of the strongest back court duos in Lillard and CJ McCollum. This could provide a challenge for the Celtics smaller backcourt, especially if Bradley is still out with an Achilles injury. Both guards average over 20 points per game and even more impressive is their health. Lillard has missed only five games, and McCollum has yet to miss one. The same cannot be said about the Celtics guards.
Even though the Celtics have the better record, they have struggled to stay healthy. Out of the normal starting five, only one has played more than 40 games. All-star Isaiah Thomas missed several games with a groin injury, but has stayed mostly healthy, while Bradley has missed multiple stretches with injuries. The Celtics record could be more impressive if Crowder and Horford didn’t miss time in the beginning of the season.
Boston has the edge over Portland in this matchup. They have a deeper bench and more star power in their lineup overall. In today’s NBA, the 3-ball reigns supreme, and the C’s also have the edge in this category. If they can out duel Portland’s high powered back court, they should come away with a victory.
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