The Boston Celtics used their full complement of players to defeat the New York Knicks in their last preseason home game.
The Charlotte Hornets, their last preseason opponent, are now 1-2, while the Boston Celtics are 3-1.
What type of lineups can we anticipate from both teams on Thursday? Will the Celtics play at full strength once again to maintain their form and momentum going into the regular season?
Joe Mazzulla says he's looking to ramp up minutes for our top players tonight and Thursday, and that they're all likely to play in each game.
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) October 17, 2023
Will Joe Mazzulla start the same Celtics lineup against the Hornets in their last preseason game?
For the first time since their first preseason game against the Philadelphia 76ers, the Boston Celtics showed off their strength on Tuesday night against the New York Knicks by using their whole starting five.
Should we anticipate Mazzulla to start the same lineup against the Hornets on Thursday night given how effectively the squad has been functioning as a unit?
Starting 🖐️@DraftKings pic.twitter.com/hYp2m1eX9R
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) October 17, 2023
The extraordinary accuracy of the Celtics’ three-pointers during Tuesday night’s game against the Knicks was one of the main talking points. They attempted 52 3-pointers in total as a team, making 23 (44.2%) of them.
Some players stood out more than others, like as Jayson Tatum, who connected on 5/8 of his 3-point tries (62.5%), and his teammates Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, and Al Horford, who all shot an astounding 50% from beyond the arc. Fans of the Boston Celtics will be in for a treat if this shooting form carries over into the regular season.
Despite Payton Pritchard’s incredible preseason performance, I don’t believe he starts before Derrick White or Justin Holiday because I anticipate the All-Defensive backcourt pair to make back-to-back starts. Despite not playing as well as we know he can against the Knicks, White’s performance against the 76ers on October 11th was sufficient for me to anticipate seeing his name in the starting lineup. White established himself as an important starter for the Celtics during that game against the Sixers by recording 11 points, three rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and one steal in only 17 minutes on the field.
During Tuesday night’s win against the Knicks, White’s backcourt partner upped his game, turning in a well-rounded effort, and achieving a solid stat line of 10 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals. I believe it’s crucial for him to make a start once more in order to keep the momentum going and strengthen the camaraderie on the squad.
Is the defensive backcourt of White and Holiday the greatest in the league?
gimme that pic.twitter.com/K3N0NCDgOc
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) October 17, 2023
The star power the Boston Celtics have heading into the 2023–24 season was on full display, and on Tuesday night in front of their home crowd, we got a sneak peek of what’s to come. Tatum, Porzingis, and Jaylen Brown all displayed their hoops prowess while dominating on both ends of the floor.
Brown had 17 points, three rebounds, six assists, a field goal percentage of 40%, and a three-point percentage of 42.9% against the Knicks.
28 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, 60% from the field, and 62.5% from beyond the arc for Tatum against the Knicks.
20 points, 8 rebounds, one steal, two blocks, 61.5% from the field, and 50% from beyond the arc for Porzingis against the Knicks.
On Thursday night against the Hornets, I anticipate that all three will be in the starting lineup once again, enabling the team’s chemistry to grow even further. I am bursting with expectation and excitement because of the tantalizing quality and depth of the Celtics this season.
Following the win, Porzingis had the following to say regarding starting positions and switching up the starting five:
“I think we all are wiling to take whatever the situation is going to be, whoever is going to start, whoever, whatever. I don’t think these guys care at all, all we care about is winning and playing the right way. We got to trust Joe (Mazzulla) with thise kind of things, and the rotations. There’s going to be some nights somebody is going to rest, and the starting fives going to look different, so we’re prepared for it all, and it doesnt really make a huge difference for us.”
Horford would therefore have to be handed a bench position once again if a small-ball lineup with White and Holiday in the starting five was anticipated. But what a fantastic backup option he is. The skill is still there even at the age of 37; it has matured like a beautiful wine, as they say. Horford demonstrated in the few minutes he had during the Knicks game why he is still an essential part of this Celtics squad this year, particularly if banner 18 is to be raised to the rafters of TD Garden.
Since starting lineups and bench assignments are expected to vary often depending on the opposition, as Porzingis said, the team’s main concern is winning.
Boston Celtics Predicted Lineup
PG: Jrue Holiday
SG: Derrick White
SF: Jaylen Brown
PF: Jayson Tatum
C: Kristaps Porzingis
What lineup would the Charlotte Hornets’ starting five use if they want to beat the Boston Celtics to cap off their preseason?
The Charlotte Hornets preseason campaign hasn’t produced the results that their supporters may have hoped for, and with one game left, they’ll be trying to finish it strong by beating the Boston Celtics at home. I anticipate Steve Clifford to announce a full-strength side as a result, but who does that comprise?
Puttin' in work on both ends of the court 💪#LetsFly35 | @PJWashington pic.twitter.com/HVAms3m5lL
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) October 15, 2023
For the Hornets organization, this offseason has been a rollercoaster of emotions, from the highs of selecting Brandon Miller to the lows of letting go of Kai Jones and Miles Bridges’ most recent suspension. The team’s desire to steer the organization in the proper path is crucial given that they struggled last season, ending No. 14 in the NBA Eastern Conference with a record of 27-55, as well as the addition of the previously stated summer problems.
The second overall pick, which led to the selection of the forward Miller from Tennessee, was one positive outcome of last season’s dismal performances. Miller hasn’t scored more than nine points in any of his two preseason games, but I have no doubts about his ability, and I don’t think this trend will go for long since I think he’ll start Thursday’s game against the Celtics with LaMelo Ball, the Hornets’ standout guard.
P.J. Washington has started the Hornets’ first three preseason games, and after putting on an outstanding effort in their defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder, I anticipate that he will start the fourth and final game.
He scored an amazing 31 points throughout the game, with Terry Rozier finishing in second with a respectable 19 points. Both Washington and Rozier must start and perform well for the Hornets to have any type of momentum and form heading into the regular season.
I anticipate Mark Williams to be in the starting five once again on Thursday night because to the lack of depth at the center position and the fact that he has started the first three preseason games.
The Virginia-born Centre, who was selected with the 15th overall selection in 2022, has a lot to show as he nears his second NBA season. As the season approaches, this is the ideal opportunity for him to show the franchise that he is the one who can replace the Hornets’ center position moving ahead. His preseason stat lines haven’t been anything to write home about so far.
Charlotte Hornets Predicted Lineup
PG: LaMelo Ball
SG: Terry Rozier
SF: Brandon Miller
PF: P.J. Washington
C: Mark Williams
Injury Report for October 19th Boston Celtics vs Charlotte Hornets preseason game
Boston Celtics: Jay Scrubb – OUT (Torn ACL)
Charlotte Hornets: None
Score Prediction:
Boston Celtics 125, Charlotte Hornets 101
See you soon, Charlotte ✈️ pic.twitter.com/h6Sn7FCDkb
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) October 18, 2023
