The San Antonio Spurs cut up a double-header with the Portland Path Blazers the place they performed an uneven two video games. As they head again residence, they’ll be tasked with the very best group within the Jap Convention. The Boston Celtics are coming to the Frost Financial institution Middle for Victor Wembanyama’s first matchup with the historic franchise.
It would additionally mark the return of Derrick White, who has made his manner into the All Star dialog. The Celtics are top-five in each offensive and defensive score. They’ve some of the stacked beginning fives within the league, in addition to capturing and measurement off the bench. This shall be one of many Spurs hardest opponents but.
December 31, 2023 | 6 PM CT
Watch: BSSW | Pay attention: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs Accidents: Charles Bassey – Out (left knee,) Dominick Barlow – Questionable (G League,) Zach Collins – Out (proper ankle,) David Duke Jr. – Out (G League,) Devonte’ Graham – Possible (sickness)
Celtics Accidents: JD Davison – Out (G League,) Jrue Vacation – Questionable (proper elbow,) Drew Peterson – Out (G League,) Jordan Walsh – Out (G League)
What to observe for
Defending the perimeter
Boston has a humiliation of riches on their roster. Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Vacation, Kristaps Porzingis and White are a murderers row of gamers who can damage you inside and outside. The Celtics are first within the league in three-pointers made per sport. The Spurs permit probably the most threes per sport. It’s an equation that’s not within the Spurs favor. San Antonio must defend the three-point line to provide themselves a shot on the upset.
San Antonio’s massive man rotation
Zach Collins is out with a sprained proper ankle, which implies the Spurs solely have three facilities obtainable. Wembanyama is on a minutes restriction, and Dominick Barlow is listed as questionable to play proper now. There’s a good probability we see Sandro Mamukelashvili play massive minutes agains the Celtics. Boston has plenty of bigs who can area the ground in addition to play inside. Porzingis poses a tricky matchup along with his size, Al Horford is a stable veteran and Luke Kornet has been stable for the Celtics. San Antonio will want an enormous sport from it’s rookie and stable performances from Mamu and Barlow if he performs.
A constant sport
San Antonio has not put collectively 48 minutes of constant basketball this season. Each sport goes to have it’s runs, however sustaining a degree of high quality for a complete sport is a vital step within the group’s improvement. Meaning they’re avoiding stretches the place the offense stagnates, the place their defensive depth or communications falters and sloppy turnovers for all 4 quarters. Particularly in a sport the place the chances are stacked in opposition to them, it could be nice to see an entire sport, win or lose, from the younger squad.
