When these two teams entered the season, it was obvious that Orlando was in a development year for their young core, while Boston with Rajon Rondo and Jeff Green on the team looked more like they were competing for a playoff spot.
Now we are almost three quarters into the season. The Celtics have turned their roster over several times during season, and while they have traded Rondo and Green (plus several others), it still looks like they are competing for a playoff spot. Meanwhile, Orlando is clearly a lottery team, but they are competitive against most teams, and have stolen some impressive wins against teams such as the Chicago Bulls and the Houston Rockets.
The Celtics need momentum to make the playoffs
The Celtics have had troubles all season getting some real momentum going. Their longest win streak is three games – the same as the Magic – but they are 9-5 in their last 14 games, a mix of both strong and weak opponents. This is the time to put together some longer win streaks, if they want to make the seventh or eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.
The Magic is 5-6 under their new coach, James Borrego, after firing Jacque Vaughn, who wasn't able to develop the players as fast as the front office had hoped for. Rather the team defense had regressed, and it seemed like he wasn't getting through to his players anymore.
Both teams have some injury issues. The Celtics will be without Jared Sullinger (out for the season) and Avery Bradley (strained elbow), who didn't travel with the team. The Magic have four questionable players for the game - Evan Fournier (hip), Luke Ridnour (hamstring), Willie Green (sore Achilles), and Nikola Vucevic (ankle).
Isaiah Thomas wants to start
In Friday night's away win against the New Orleans Pelicans, Celtics coach Brad Stevens used Jae Crowder in the starting lineup instead of Avery Bradley and moved Evan Turner from defending the small forward to a guard position. That might seem surprising since on his bench he has point guard Isaiah Thomas, who was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week last week and who has averaged 21 points in his eight games for the Celtics. Thomas even expressed that he would "love" to be a starter.
Brad Stevens explained that he likes having Thomas coming in from the bench, and that Thomas has been finishing games for the Celtics and will still be doing that.
Orlando won the two teams' last meeting on December 23rd, which was during the Celtics' worst part of the season, right after the Rondo trade. The season series is tied 1-1.
The Celtics are favored to win this one, especially if Fournier and Vucevic are out of the game.