The Boston Celtics have gone 15-13 since they traded Jeff Green in January, and most losses have looked like winnable games, except for the 110-79 blowout against the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 3rd.
In almost every recent interview, the Celtics players talk about how they play for each other. After his game-winning shot against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night, shooting guard Avery Bradley credited head coach Brad Stevens for that.
”Brad is getting us all together, having us believe in one another,” Bradley said to the press after the game.
Isaiah Thomas is still out for Boston
The Celtics won against the Grizzlies even without their most prolific scorer lately, Isaiah Thomas, who injured his back and elbow in the win against the Miami Heat on Monday. He will probably be out for the next two games as well. Brad Stevens hopes to have him ready for the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday.
Meanwhile, the Orlando Magic have a couple of their injured players, who weren't available in the two teams' last meeting, back. Nikola Vucevic was back in the starting lineup Wednesday night against the Milwaukee Bucks, and led his team in scoring and rebounding. Also Luke Ridnour is back in the rotation, while Willie Green is doubtful. Evan Fournier has been ruled out for the game.
Celtics have answers for most lineups
Over the season, it has become less and less relevant to talk about matchups when you talk about the Boston Celtics. They seem to have answers for most lineups and with Brad Stevens' tendency to ride the hot hands on the team that even might switch during the game.
The key is versatility, and almost all players on the team can cover two or more positions on defense. Most of the team is also able to stretch the floor on offense, which is key to Stevens' ball-sharing, equal opportunity offense.
Two teams with close to equal talent
In the last game between the two teams, attacking the painted area was key to Orlando Magic's success, and it may be actually be in Boston's favor that Vucevic is back, since he helps clog up the lane when he plays in the post. On the other hand, Vucevic is also a handful in himself, so it can go both ways.
Boston might look like favorites when you look at win-loss record and urgency, but the two teams are not far from each other, talent-wise. The winner will probably be the team that can steer the other team into taking inefficient shots on offense, one way or another.