Pre-Game Suns

Another Top West team, the 4th Place Phoenix Suns, await us this afternoon @ 2pm here on Super Bowl Sunday.  Can't even call this a trap game since PHX is legit and up in the standings.  PHX actually has the exact same record as we do @ 12-9.  

Current line is PHX -3.5 so the oddsmakers aren't putting up with our up and down line up crap and betting against us despite BOS being short-handed and beating the Clips on Friday.  Probably a safe bet.  We know they won't give us the line Tuesday vs. Jazz.  We just haven't earned the respect with our play.  

Again, no JB so another chance for Kemba to have a great game.  PP back for 2nd game after injury.  Without looking, let me guess that PHX has all of their players available.        

Thanks to BKN not showing up, Harden looking lost in the 3rd and Nash pulling the plug in the 4th vs PHI, we edged up into 3rd place in the East percentage-wise.  We're still only 2 games behind PHI in the loss column.  Pretty amazing given our play to this point with our ever elongating losing list of woulda/coulda/shoulda games.  But we're holding tough.    

Not counting chickens, just speculating, but if the playoffs started today and everything were to go as planned in the 1st Round, we'd see MIL in the 2nd Round.  PHI vs. BKN would be the other EC Semifinal series.  So far this season until we see evidence to the contrary, the longer we can avoid BKN the better.

Today's question?  Are the oddsmakers wrong today?  Can we and if so, how do we beat PHX on their own floor?  Bonus question...who's starting for us?  

I'd like to see PP start with Kemba at the 2.  Brad will default to two Bigs and JaT.  Let's go with the obvious Theis and TT again.  

db

Saris is out I think and our old friend Crowder was listed as doubtful last i looked.

Booker
CP3
Ayton
M. Bridges
Crowder
C. Johnson
Saric
A. Nader _ I remember that guy!
C. Payne

are the top players for them this year. So they may be down 1-2 of their rotation also.

Tatum, Celtics set for matchup against the Suns

https://www.espn.com/nba/preview?gameId=401267525

Boston Celtics (12-9, fourth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Phoenix Suns (12-9, fifth in the Western Conference)

Phoenix; Sunday, 2 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Jayson Tatum leads Boston into a matchup against Phoenix. He ranks sixth in the league averaging 27.3 points per game.

The Suns are 5-4 on their home court. Phoenix is 5-2 in games decided by 10 or more points.

The Celtics are 7-6 in road games. Boston ranks ninth in the NBA allowing just 109.7 points while holding opponents to 46.9% shooting.

The matchup Sunday is the first meeting of the season between the two teams.

TOP PERFORMERS: Chris Paul is shooting 47.4% and averaging 16.4 points. Mikal Bridges is averaging 12.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists over the last 10 games for Phoenix.

Tristan Thompson leads the Celtics with 8.4 rebounds and averages 7.1 points. Daniel Theis is shooting 58.1% and averaging 11.1 points over the last 10 games for Boston.

LAST 10 GAMES: Suns: 5-5, averaging 109.2 points, 46.6 rebounds, 25.7 assists, 6.9 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 45.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.4 points on 45.2% shooting.

Celtics: 4-6, averaging 109.6 points, 43 rebounds, 21.8 assists, 8.6 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 46.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.4 points on 47.9% shooting.

INJURIES: Suns: Cameron Payne: out (foot), Dario Saric: out (health and safety protocols), Abdel Nader: day to day (left ankle), Jae Crowder: day to day (right foot).

Celtics: Romeo Langford: out (right wrist), Marcus Smart: out (calf), Jaylen Brown: out (knee).

Super Bowl pre-game matchup of two very similar teams stat-wise.

The difference being Boston is stronger at the wing, Phoenix is stronger along the frontline.

Should be entertaining.

Also; Kansas City by 3.

I meant to mention the Super Bowl spread, too, NYCelt. Thanks for the catch!

db