The Boston Celtics have looked cool, calm and collected over the last few games and they have the opportunity to be the first team with 30 wins this season tonight. The three teams that follow closely behind with 27 wins a piece are the Nuggets, Nets and Grizzlies.
The Celtics match up tonight, January 11th against the Pelicans in the first night of a back-to-back this week. This is the Celtics first back-to-back game stretch since December 12th, where they played the Clippers and Lakers on the road.
The Celtics currently have the best record in the league, representing the most wins at the halfway point in the season. Tonight against the Pelicans kicks off the second half of the season and the opportunity to continue leading the pack. The Pelicans will be without their stars Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, as they are both currently sidelined and recovering from injuries. Put simply, advantage Boston.
This is just the second meeting of these two teams this season, with Boston having taken game 1 in November. So how do these teams match up? Let's take a look below.
The Celtics vs Pelicans Match Up:
Boston Celtics:
Boston currently holds the number 1 spot in the Eastern Conference and in the NBA.
Celtics have won 3 in a row, they are 29-12 and have gone 7-3 in their last 10.
They currently have the number 1 offensive rating in the league.
They currently have the 9th best defensive rating in the league.
They will be potentially be down a few players tonight and will need a full defensive effort from their role players.
New Orleans Pelicans:
New Orleans currently holds the number 3 spot in the Western Conference and 8th in the NBA.
Pelicans won their last outing, they are 25-16 and have gone 6-4 over their last 10.
They currently have the 6th best offensive rating in the league.
They currently have the 5th best defensive rating in the league.
Both of the above stats might start to change with Zion and Ingram sidelined.
What the Celtics Need to Stay Focussed on:
With the reigning DPOY, Marcus Smart likely sidelined with a knee injury, the remaining Celtics will need to continue to prove their worth on both sides of the floor.
Rob Williams is also listed as questionable tonight, so the Celtics will need to find their usual boost from Derrick white.
uThey need to stay committed on CJ McCollum as he will likely be leading the show for New Orleans.
The Celtics should continue to play-make, drive and dish to the open player as they have been doing exceedingly well over the recent stretch of games.
More to come from Boston tonight, let's go!
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