Final: Celtics 119, Pacers 100 - Celtics actually keep composure, cruise to an easy win

GAME 42
Boston Celtics (20-21, 7-13 road, T-10th) vs. Indiana pacers (15-26, 6-13 home, 13th NBA)
Gainbridge Fieldhouse
7:00 PM - NBC Sports Boston

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS

Boston: Dennis Schröder, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Robert Williams, Al Horford

Indiana: Justin Holiday, Macolm Brogdon, Caris LeVert, Domantas Sabonis, Myles Turner

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

- Marcus Smart is out with a right thigh contusion. “Still tight, swollen, bothering him,” Ime Udoka said of the injury. 

- Payton Pritchard returns from Health & Safety Protocols. “He’s just getting his wind back up. Just like everybody, it affects people differently,” Udoka said. “But he’s a guy that I'm sure wasn't just sitting still, doing nothing. I’m sure he’ll be ready to roll and excited to come back for us. We’re glad to have him.”

- Sam Hauser has been assigned to the Maine Celtics

- TJ Warren is the only Pacer remaining in Health & Safety Protocols

- Other Pacers injuries: Torrey Craig (Return to Competition Reconditioning) is questionable. TJ McConnell (wrist) and Chris Duarte (personal reasons) are out.

- Boston is favored by 2.5

GOING A LITTLE DEEPER

Ime Udoka sounding like Brad Stevens: 

The Celtics continue to be a turnover machine. So far this month, they're averaging 15.4 turnovers per game, fourth-worst in the league.  

“Some are being aggressive and being caught playing to the crowd, and then there’s the careless variety,” Udoka said. “What I’ve talked to the guys about is hitting singles. You don’t always need the home run. Singles add up, and a lot of times when we’re playing well, rolling, we sometimes go for the home-run plays.”

If that sounds familiar, it’s because Stevens used to say that all the time. Maybe it’s just being around his boss that makes Udoka pick up some of those foibles, or maybe they’ve had some recent conversations. 

“I’d say no different than at any point this year,” Udoka said of his conversations with Stevens. “We’ve been in constant contact and being in the same building, as I’ve mentioned, down the hall. But if he’s not traveling and he’s at home, or text, email, in person. So, no different than before. He gives his opinion on certain things, points of view, and being that he coached these guys for seven years or so, that’s all valuable. Like I said at the start of the year, it’s an invaluable asset to have him in the same building.”

Both have faced similar issues with many of these same players. The goal now for Udoka is to find his way past it. The Celtics have two shaky wins they hope to build on after some very shaky losses.

“We’ve played well and lost and played poorly as well, so finishing the deal, which is what we were looking forward to the second half of the season,” Udoka said. “So you talk about the New York game, one of our last road games, was obviously a tale of two halves. We played well enough to win and didn’t close the game, so it’s been a variety of ways. I don’t want to attribute anything specific to the road losing streak, but just our overall improvement and consistency is what we’re trying to see, whether it’s at home or on the road.”

THREE THINGS TO WATCH FOR

1. Protect the ball: So with all that in mind, let’s continue looking for the simple things. Protect the ball and stop turning the ball over. Maximize possessions because, chances are, you won’t shoot well. The best way to account for that is to get as many shots as possible. 

2. MOVE! Indiana will switch one-through-four and leave a big to defend the rim. The best way to beat that is with ball movement and baseline cuts. Get the ball into the middle of the paint and cut behind the shot blocker for layups.

3. REBOUND! Second chance points are killers. Robert Williams can be a big culprit if he chases and overhelps. When he’s patient and make the right reads on the weak side, he can be an amazing rim protector. If he’s not, then it’s put-backs galore.

“Starting to read and learn and watch the defender on ball and see if they need help or not,” Udoka said of Williams figuring out when to help and not. “I think he’s gotten better in all aspects. And we watched a good amount of film on that. And he’ll even say it in the timeouts, ‘I shouldn’t have went for that one’ and boxed this man out and not gave up an offensive rebound. Or vice versa. So I think he’s been doing a great job with that. And we’re happy with what he’s doing all year so far.”

GAME THREAD

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