Next Up - Raptors @Celtics Wednesday January 16, 2019 8 PM

As we know Boston split 2 games with Toronto, losing on the road and winning at home.  That has been the pattern for a few years now.

Tonight they get a 3rd crack at a team that  at 33-12. The Raptors are the #1 team in the NBA.  Both them and the Bucks have started to pull away from Boston.  The Raptors are now up 7 and the Bucks are up 6.

Valanciunnas  is out as well as SF OG Anunoby.  CJ Miles is day to day and Van Fleet is questionable.

So here is the deal.  Boston struggles against this team because our strength is their strength.  We have a lot of wings and they do too.  But their strength at 3 and 4 is better than ours.  The rising star on this team is Siakum.  He is a long and very athletic 6'9" PF.  Serge has moved over to the 5 and superstar Leonard starts at SF.  

Lowry continues to struggle shooting the ball.  Danny Green remains the reliable veteran at the 2.  They have a decent bench.

If Boston wants to win this game they must win the tough possessions.  

The Raptors are riding a 5 game winning streak.

Al Horford needs to play well in this game against Serge.  I also think that they will need to use Semi some to play Siakum.  Tatum, Brown, Morris  and Hayward should give Leonard different looks.  The Celtics are probably not going to catch up with this team but they do need to start competing.  The past 3 games have left both the team and the fans in a foul mood.