The eventualities are sophisticated, however there are a number of paths for the Celtics of their pursuit of creating the quarterfinals of the In-Season Tournament.
The Celtics maintain a 2-1 report in Group C of the match coming into Tuesday’s remaining group play recreation in opposition to the Bulls at TD Garden. The winners of all six teams plus two wild card groups (one per convention) will advance to subsequent week’s quarterfinals.
The C’s, relying on outcomes across the league, can advance because the Group C winner or the Eastern Conference’s wild card workforce. Here are all of the eventualities in play:
Celtics clinch Group C if:
– Celtics win + Nets win + Celtics win tiebreaker over Magic and Nets.
In this state of affairs, the Celtics, Magic and Nets can be in a three-way tie for first place in Group C with 3-1 data. The first tiebreaker is head-to-head report, and all three groups are 1-1 in opposition to one another. The second tiebreaker is factors differential. Entering Tuesday, the Magic have a plus-22 differential, the Nets are plus-8 and the Celtics are at 0, so the C’s must beat the Bulls by a minimum of 23 factors.
Celtics clinch wild card berth if:
– Celtics win + Nets loss + Knicks loss + Heat loss + Cavaliers loss, OR
– Celtics win, end second in Group C and win tiebreaker over any second-place workforce from one other group with a 3-1 report, OR
– Cavs loss + Knicks loss + Heat loss + Nets loss + Celtics win tiebreaker over any second-place workforce from one other group.
If the Celtics don’t qualify for the quarterfinals, the NBA will schedule them two regular-season video games to be performed subsequent Wednesday and Friday in opposition to opponents to be decided.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla doesn’t appear to be approaching Tuesday’s recreation any otherwise due to the match stakes which can be concerned. While he respects the concept of the match, his precedence and focus has remained on the long-term route of his workforce.
“It’s not that it’s not important, but I haven’t put much thought into it,” Mazzulla mentioned Monday. “I think whether it’s an in-season, preseason or postseason, go back to the Orlando game, if we’re not going to rebound the basketball on both ends of the floor and we’re going to turn it over, it doesn’t matter what game it is, we’re not going to win. So just trying the best we can to stick to the process of winning, and what that looks like regardless of the type of game.”
Luke Kornet echoed these feedback, saying there’s solely been “some awareness” to the match stakes heading into Tuesday.
“We’re also trying to build our habits and trying to just win every game we play in and play as well as we can,” Kornet mentioned. “I don’t know, it’s kind of a strange situation, especially in the NBA. It’s not been a thing that’s really been a thought at all for years. I guess that soccer maybe is more of that type stuff I think? So it’s definitely like a weird core part of it. But I know we’re just trying to compete and get ready for Chicago, first and foremost go and get the win.”
Jayson Tatum mentioned the In-Season Tournament has been cool and one thing to look ahead to early within the season, however the Celtics star doesn’t agree with the point-differential tiebreaker. In Friday’s loss to the Magic, the sport was determined and the Celtics starters have been pulled within the remaining minute when Franz Wagner scored a layup with 9 seconds left to place the Magic up 17. Dalano Banton, seemingly conscious of the stakes, then raced the opposite means and missed a layup on the buzzer.
“The point-differential thing, I’m not the biggest fan of it because there were certain instances, I guess last Friday, where the game is already over and guys are still trying to score,” Tatum mentioned. “It’s all about respecting the game and respecting your opponents so that part I’m really not a fan of because if you were on the opposite end of that you would feel some kind of way. So I understand. So just try to win the game however we can.”
Injury report
Jrue Holiday is questionable for Tuesday evening’s recreation in opposition to the Bulls because of the sprained proper ankle that has compelled him out of the final two video games. Mazzulla mentioned the guard went via a exercise on Monday and Holiday mentioned he was doing “a little bit better.”
“I think we’ll kind of know how he responds to that tomorrow and see how he does in the shootaround,” Mazzulla mentioned.
Kristaps Porzingis will stay out, as anticipated, attributable to his calf pressure. Mazzulla mentioned he’s making progress in his restoration.
“I haven’t quite asked him,” Mazzulla mentioned. “I know we’re just taking it day by day, he seems to be getting a little bit better. It’s not necessarily caution. But, at the same time, I think he’ll be OK. It’s just dependent upon when he feels good.”
Derrick White is possible for Tuesday attributable to a non-COVID sickness. Jaylen Brown was not on the damage report regardless of taking a tough fall in Sunday’s win over the Hawks that left him sore. Brown was chasing a unfastened ball when he collided with De’Andre Hunter, rolled over his again and landed awkwardly on the court docket. He was sluggish to rise up however stayed within the recreation.
“I kind of feel like I got in a little car accident after taking that hit and that fall,” Brown mentioned after the sport. “Adrenaline is starting to wear off now, so I definitely can feel it a little bit. But I’ll be all right. I’m a tough guy.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com