The Boston Celtics welcome the Dallas Mavericks to TD Garden on Sunday, Nov. 15, with tipoff scheduled for 6:00 p.m. ET.https://fadeawayworld.net/tag/jayson-tatum
The Celtics lead the Eastern Conference at 10–2 and have won five straight games. Their latest victory was a 98–93 win over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday, giving Boston three full days off before facing Dallas.
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The Mavericks are 10th in the Western Conference at 7–6 and have lost two in a row. They followed a 133–94 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves with a 127–117 defeat against a Cleveland Cavaliers team missing its entire usual starting five. Kyrie Irving scored 34 points and made seven threes against Cleveland, but Dallas still gave up 105 points through three quarters. The Mavericks now have to turn around and play the second night of a road back-to-back against one of the NBA’s best defenses.
Injury Report
Celtics
None
Mavericks
Dereck Lively II L: Out (Foot)
Max Christie: Out (Ankle)
Sergio de Larrea: Out (Knee)
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Tarik Biberovic: Out (Heel)
Daniel Gafford: Questionable (Face)
Why The Celtics Have The Advantage?
The Celtics rank sixth in offensive rating at 117.4, second in defensive rating at 105.6, and second in net rating at plus-11.7. They make 16.0 threes per game on 42.0 attempts and collect 13.1 offensive rebounds. That combination makes them difficult to defend: Dallas has to close out to shooters without leaving itself vulnerable on the glass. A good defensive possession can turn into an open three if the Mavericks fail to secure the rebound.
Jayson Tatum is averaging 26.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists. He’s still shooting just 41.3% from the field and 30.6% from three, but his passing gives Boston a way to keep the offense moving even when his shot isn’t falling.
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Paul George is averaging 22.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists while shooting 48.8% from the field and 44.0% from three. Dallas can live with some contested Tatum jumpers. Leaving George open to help on those possessions is a much riskier choice.
Payton Pritchard has been productive off the bench, averaging 13.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists. His minutes matter more than usual here. Boston can keep a dangerous ball handler on the floor when Tatum sits, while Dallas may have to extend Cooper Flagg’s minutes to keep up. Flagg already played more than 38 minutes in Cleveland.
Why The Mavericks Have The Advantage?
Their best chance to get an edge is on the glass and in transition. Dallas averages 12.7 offensive rebounds, 8.7 steals, and 5.4 blocks. Turning those stops into early offense would give Flagg more room to attack before Boston can get its defense set.
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Cooper Flagg is averaging roughly 24 points, seven rebounds, and six-plus assists. He missed all six of his three-point attempts against Cleveland, so Dallas should look to get him going downhill and let him find teammates when the defense collapses. P.J. Washington is averaging 14.3 points and 7.2 rebounds while shooting 41.8% from three. He’s the player Boston can least afford to leave in the corner when Flagg gets into the paint. staging-aws.sports.yahoo.com
If Irving plays, he gives the Mavericks a way to score when Boston switches and takes away the first option. He’s averaging 21.6 points and 4.3 assists and shooting 39.0% from three. If he rests, Dallas will have to ask Flagg to create more in the half-court, and Boston can devote more attention to closing off his driving lanes.
X-Factors
Derrick White averages 12.8 points and 5.3 assists and can take on the Irving matchup if the Dallas guard plays. Neemias Queta is averaging 9.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks. He’ll have a chance to control the glass if Dallas is short on centers.
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Sam Hauser adds 8.1 points and shoots 43.5% from three. If Dallas sends help toward Tatum, Hauser can turn one late rotation into three points.
Naji Marshall is averaging 11.3 points and 4 assists. He can take some of the playmaking pressure off Flagg, especially if Irving sits. Gafford gives Dallas a lob threat and an offensive rebounder, averaging 9.5 points and 5.3 rebounds on 70.5% shooting.
Zaccharie Risacher scored 22 points against Minnesota and could give the Mavericks another source of offense off the bench. Santi Aldama, who played against Cleveland, offers a different look if Dallas wants a big man who can pull Queta.
Prediction
Dallas can make this interesting if Irving plays, Flagg gets downhill and Washington makes Boston pay for helping. Over four quarters, though, the Celtics have too many ways to pull away. Tatum and George can stretch the defense, Pritchard can keep the offense moving when the starters sit, and Boston has the perimeter defenders to make Dallas work deep into the shot clock.
The rest advantage should become more apparent as the game goes on. I expect Boston to take control in the second half and win
Prediction: Celtics vs. Mavericks 121-110
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
