Tip: 7pm Court: Amway Center Watch it: CSNNE Hear it: 98.5 Sports Hub
Referees: Tony Brothers, Steven Anderson, Tre Maddox
Spread: BOS +6 (o/u 191)
The Matchup
 |
 |
| Record: 1-4 | Record: 3-2 |
| On road: 0-3 | At home: 3-0 |
| Streak: Won 1 | Streak: Won 3 |
| Leaders | Leaders |
| Buckets: Jeff Green (17.0 ppg) | Buckets: Arron Afflalo (18.8 ppg) |
| Boards: Vitor Faverani (6.4 rpg) | Boards: N. Vucevic (13.2 rpg) |
| Dimes: Jordan Crawford (3.0 apg) | Dimes: Jameer Nelson (6.6 apg) |
| For the Stat Geeks: | For the Stat Geeks: |
| Offensive Rating: 96.7 (27th NBA) | Offensive Rating: 104.0 (11th NBA) |
| Defensive Rating: 101.1 (10th NBA) | Defensive Rating: 97.2 (4th NBA) |
| Pace: 92.5 (25th NBA) | Pace: 97.4 (12th NBA) |
Last time
The Celtics swept the Magic 3-0 last season. We’ll see Orlando again Monday at the Garden.
This time
Get it to: Jeff, er, Gerald, er… How about Jared Sullinger?
Do you have confidence in any one player’s offensive game? The team’s offensive numbers are hideous. The Celtics are dead last in PPG, 28th in turnovers and 26th in 3FG%. Let’s go with Jared Sullinger because… I said so.
Gotta stop: Nikola Vucevic
The 23-year old 7-footer is off to a fantastic start. He’s averaging 17.8 and 13.2 rpg with a 24.90 PER. He’s coming off a 30 and 21 performance against the Clippers. According to Hoops Habit, Vucevic has “an array of post moves now, including fade away jumpers, improved footwork, and most importantly, he’s a big man who can hit free throws (75% this season).” Gulp.
Good luck, Vitor and Kelly.
The Wild Card: Jordan Crawford
It appears Brad Stevens will start Crawford once again at PG. Stop laughing for a moment at look at his numbers: 8 assists, 1 turnover in his last 52 minutes on the court. Now it’s not like Stevens is asking Crawford to be Rajon Rondo, but the guy is playing smart basketball. And he averaged 20.7 points and 59.5 percent shooting while making eight of 14 from 3-point range in the three games against Orlando last season
How we see it goin’ down
Can the Celtics string together TWO wins? Are the Magic capable of winning FOUR straight?
I fear that Nikola Vucevic will have his way with the Celtics front line and when the defense collapses, Arron Affalo, Jamer Nelson and Victor Oladipo will unleash a barrage of three-pointers. As a team, Orlando is shooting 41% from three. Add in the fact that the Magic are playing some very good defense and I don’t like the Celtics chances.
BOS 92
ORL 99
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