Pre-Game Jazz

OK, we've reached the last game of the West Road Trip.  Unfortunately, it's against another top team, i.e. the top team in the West.  Good news is we tend to show up for the big games!  Just ask the Clippers.    

I've heard rumors that JB may be back for tonight's game.  That can definitely help.

Somewhat of a mental hurdle, we are currently 2-2 on this road trip.  A win and we can all feel comfortable coming back home with a 3-2 record.  There also seems to be some recent space developing in the East between 1st and 2nd and everybody else. So another loss and we keep pushing ourselves insidiously further down the list, finding ourselves coming fact-to-face with the potentially dreadful one and done playoff scenario becoming a reality.

The good news here is it's only about 1/3 of the way through the season.  Things can and will change and improve.  But as of late it is starting to sense the broken record of the Celtics which looks like what you might read on the shampoo bottle.

Brief flashes of brilliance and encouragement.
Injuries and waiting for guys to come off injured reserve.  
Line up shuffles on the fly.  
Losing games we should be winning.
Insidious sliding down the greased East pole.
Repeat.

How do we break the current rinse cycle beginning tonight?

Jazz -4 current line.

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Tatum, Boston set for matchup against Utah

https://www.espn.com/nba/preview?gameId=401267539

Boston Celtics (12-10, fourth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Utah Jazz (19-5, first in the Western Conference)

Salt Lake City; Tuesday, 10 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Jayson Tatum leads Boston into a matchup with Utah. He currently ranks ninth in the NBA scoring 27.0 points per game.

The Jazz are 9-2 on their home court. Utah is the league leader with 38 defensive rebounds per game led by Rudy Gobert averaging 9.9.

The Celtics are 7-7 on the road. Boston ranks ninth in the Eastern Conference scoring 45.8 points per game in the paint led by Jaylen Brown averaging 11.2.

The teams face off Tuesday for the first time this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Gobert is averaging 13.3 points, 13.5 rebounds and 2.7 blocks for the Jazz. Joe Ingles is averaging 9.7 points and 5.9 assists over the last 10 games for Utah.

Tatum leads the Celtics averaging 3.2 made 3-pointers while scoring 27 points per game and shooting 41.9% from beyond the arc. Kemba Walker is averaging 3.2 assists and 13.4 points over the last 10 games for Boston.

LAST 10 GAMES: Jazz: 9-1, averaging 118.7 points, 49.4 rebounds, 24.4 assists, 6.1 steals and 5.6 blocks per game while shooting 46.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.5 points on 44.2% shooting.

Celtics: 4-6, averaging 111.2 points, 42.8 rebounds, 22.2 assists, 8.2 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 46.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.9 points on 48.1% shooting.

INJURIES: Jazz: Juwan Morgan: day to day (illness), Elijah Hughes: day to day (ankle), Mike Conley: day to day (hamstring).

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