Celts17Pride wrote:Last game against the Knicks the Celtics were pushed around. Celtics had no answer for the Knicks physicality. Expecting more of the same. One of these days the Celtics will show some heart and fight. Right?
1) One of the main big guys who did the pushing around for the Knicks (Mitchell Robinson) is on the injured list and will not play tonight
2) That game was probably the absolute worst the Celtics have played all year and for the most part is an outlier, one of those weird game you just chalk it up and say "we didn't have it this game", happens one game to every team each season when they just lay an egg
3) Tatum was out that game
4) It was literally the first game Kemba played in all year after sitting out training camp, sitting out preseason and sitting out our first 11 games..he was on mins restriction and only played 20 mins
5) We didn't have Langford that game
Both Celtics and Knicks are 5-5 in their last 10. They don't have Robinson but we're missing Fournier, Kemba and Thompson. We're at home but they've had an extra day of rest. You have to call Knicks slight favorite in this one but I'm optimistic that the Celtics are a little ticked off about how they played last night and really come out with some more intensity tonight.
Barrett averages 17 points a game. I want to see lots of Langford tonight (yes, LOL), especially with Fournier and Kemba out. In a small sample size of 2 games, Langford has been really freaking good on defense. I might even put him in the starting lineup. Barrett averages 34 mins a game. I'm not saying you put Langford on the court whenever Barrett is out there and you take Langford out when barrett sits (not going that extreme because it would be way too much of a jump in mins for Langford. He played 12 mins vs Charlotte and 14 vs Philly. It's 2nd night of back to back so you don't want to push him too much. I say you give Langford 17-19 mins tonight should overlap with barrett's 34 mins so when langford is out there he is always covering Barrett (even though I know we switch on everything but still) More mins will also help him get in more of a rhythm on offense.