Team Profile
Boston Celtics
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118.0 2ndOffensive Rating
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107.5 24thDefensive Rating
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10.6 4thNet Rating
2024 Team Stats
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Points per game121.3 2nd
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Points per game Against110.5 6th
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Rebounds per game42.8 7th
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Assists per game25.1 8th
According to ESPN's Lisa Salters, reporting during the second quarter of Thursday's postseason matchup between the Celtics and Pacers, center Kristaps Porzingis (calf) hasn't participated in practice. However, he's still been around the team. The veteran has been sidelined for nearly a month because of a right Soleus strain. While a report indicated Porzingis could be back for Game 4 on Monday night, head coach Joe Mazzulla stressed that he remains without a timetable for a return. With that said, it's not uncommon for Mazzulla to withhold information on an injured player, although the latest update isn't good news for the C's. But until he's back on the floor, Al Horford will get most of the minutes in the middle and remain a relatively reliable DFS option.
According to Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, forward Jayson Tatum could spend time at center at some point during the Eastern Conference Finals versus the Pacers. While Mazzulla wasn't definitive about it, Tatum's potential move to the middle could mean less work for Al Horford, who has been starting in place of Kristaps Porzingis. With that in mind, Porzingis could be back for Game 4 on Monday, meaning Horford's DFS outlook for the rest of the series doesn't look as promising as it was during the Conference semifinals. It is even worse news for Luke Kornet, although the door could be open for Sam Hauser to get more action.
Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (calf) won't play on Thursday night versus the Pacers. The veteran has been sidelined for nearly a month because of a right Soleus strain. Fortunately, it appears Porzingis is moving in the right direction, with ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reporting that he could be back for Game 4 on Monday night. With Xavier Tillman Sr. (personal) questionable, Al Horford and Luke Kornet should continue to absorb nearly all of the minutes in the middle. However, Horford is the better DFS option by far.
Boston Celtics forward/center Xavier Tillman Sr. (personal) is questionable for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Pacers. He wasn't available for the overtime win on Monday night. However, the 25-year-old has logged just eight minutes throughout the postseason, averaging 2.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks, meaning he likely wouldn't have received much (if any) work. That likely won't change, considering there's a chance Kristaps Porzingis (calf) will be back for Game 4 on Monday. In the meantime, Al Horford will hold things down in the middle, keeping him on the DFS radar, with Luke Kornet coming in off the bench.
Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday had by far the best offensive outing of the 2024 postseason on Tuesday, finishing a 133-128 overtime victory against Indiana in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals with 28 points on 10-for-16 shooting. Entering Tuesday, Holiday hasn't managed more than 18 points in any playoff game this year, finishing with less than 10 points in four of 10 games, but he looked like a different man on the court Tuesday night. As usual, Holiday, who finished 4-for-8 with the three-ball, also made his mark defensively, snagging three steals, and he capped off his line with seven rebounds and eight assists. This could be another quick series for Boston if Holiday can keep up his form for the rest of the week.