2021 NBA Play In: Bullets (8) @ Boston Celtics (7) 5/18 Tuesday @ 9 PM (TNT)

[Kanyewest]

Washington goes up against a Boston Celtics a team that has typically given the Wizards trouble- having eliminated the Wizards in the 2017 playoffs in game 7. The only player that remains from that Washington team is Bradley Beal while Marcus Smart is the only Celtic who will be active given that Jaylen Brown has been ruled out for the season due to a wrist injury.

The Wizards do matchup well with the Celtics and have played them tough recently. However in their last matchup, the Wizards managed to blow a 5 point lead with 47 seconds - keyed by a Bradley Beal turnover. If all other results had held, that potential win over the Celtics would have given Washington homecourt advantage as the 7th seed against the Celtics. Still, the Celtics have been struggling recently, having lost 6 of their last 8 games with their wins coming against the Magic and the Timberwolves. The Wizards in the meantime are 17-6 in their last 23 games.

Can the Wizards beat the Boston Celtics to clinch their first playoff spot since 2018 or will Washington have to play another play in game?

[Dan Z]

What's the latest on Bradley Beal's health?

[JWizmentality]

Ugh why so late.

[NatP4]

Pumped for this game. The deciding factor will be the matchup between Westbrook and Kemba. Kornet has also been a really good player for them, similar to the effect Gafford has had for us.

[FAH1223]

-------------------------VS-------------------------




Last game
Celtics @ NY Knicks (96-92) - L
Hornets @ Wizards (115-110) - W

Lineups:










Bench:

[dobrojim]

Ugh why so late.

Second game of national tv schedule?

The IND-CHA playin game starts at 630 eastern.
That’s gotta hurt tv ratings out west.

[FAH1223]

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[closg00]

The playoffs just won't be the same without Phil & Buck.
Bertans, time to earn that contract.

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

Any chance we see Gafford start with the change we saw at halftime yesterday?

[queridiculo]

What's the latest on Bradley Beal's health?

He's probably going to be day-to-day, those kind of injuries have a tendency to flare up and he looked hobbled for most of the game against Charlotte.

Miraculously looked ok in the 4th quarter on Sunday, but he may have just been running off adrenaline at that point.

I'm sure he'll want to give it a go on Tuesday, but it doesn't bode well for a real playoff series where the team will have to lean on him to stand even the slightest chance against a tier 1 contender.

[queridiculo]

Any chance we see Gafford start with the change we saw at halftime yesterday?

For all the good we have seen from Gafford, there's also some bad, I don't think he particularly earned the coaches trust yet so if Len gets bumped, I'd expect it to be in favor of Lopez.

The Celtics are thin at the position and I think the combination of bigs Washington can throw at that position will outplay anything Boston can throw into the ring regardless.

Williams is probably the best matchup for Gafford, I could see Brooks try to match his minutes with that matchup if the other two centers struggle to match his energy and athleticism.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Really good playoff preview:

https://www.nba.com/news/numbers-preview-east-play-in-tournament-2021

Boston is going to get Westbrook in isolation and hope he takes the majority of shots.

Washington needs to maximize the post up ability of Brook Lopez.

[dobrojim]

Any chance we see Gafford start with the change we saw at halftime yesterday?

For all the good we have seen from Gafford, there's also some bad, I don't think he particularly earned the coaches trust yet so if Len gets bumped, I'd expect it to be in favor of Lopez.

The Celtics are thin at the position and I think the combination of bigs Washington can throw at that position will outplay anything Boston can throw into the ring regardless.

Williams is probably the best matchup for Gafford, I could see Brooks try to match his minutes with that matchup if the other two centers struggle to match his energy and athleticism.

My expectation is that Len will continue to start, for now. One advantage to the 3 headed
monster is the ability to change on the fly. Go with what's working or adapt as needed.
Len probably figures to get 8-10 minutes regardless, unless he picks up two (or three) quick fouls.
Another advantage to the 3 man rotation is foul trouble is less likely to be problematic.

[dobrojim]

Really good playoff preview:

https://www.nba.com/news/numbers-preview-east-play-in-tournament-2021

Boston is going to get Westbrook in isolation and hope he takes the majority of shots.

Washington needs to maximize the post up ability of Brooks Lopez.

Good preview- agreed.

One thing about it from our perspective is most of the statistical analysis relied on
full season data. That makes us seem much worse defensively than is probably true
at the present time. In spite of that, our best defensive game of the year (according to them)
was against BOS in the game we won. Beal had an amazing year against BOS, except for
the end of game TO he was charged with (controversial play) in the third game which we
should have won. Westbrook, OTOH, had an awful year against BOS, maybe in part because
those games were earlier in the year before he really went into full beast mode.

It would be interesting to reexamine those data based only on post trade deadline data.

[closg00]

Really good playoff preview:

https://www.nba.com/news/numbers-preview-east-play-in-tournament-2021

Boston is going to get Westbrook in isolation and hope he takes the majority of shots.

Washington needs to maximize the post up ability of Brooks Lopez.

That is their hope, get Wes jacking shots and making poor decisions, they are going to pack the paint also.

[dobrojim]

wonder how available Neto is going to be?

[likwitdesi]

wonder how available Neto is going to be?

Really need Neto. He is a heady solid linchpin.

[BearlyBallin]

What's the latest on Bradley Beal's health?

He's probably going to be day-to-day, those kind of injuries have a tendency to flare up and he looked hobbled for most of the game against Charlotte.

Miraculously looked ok in the 4th quarter on Sunday, but he may have just been running off adrenaline at that point.

I'm sure he'll want to give it a go on Tuesday, but it doesn't bode well for a real playoff series where the team will have to lean on him to stand even the slightest chance against a tier 1 contender.

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[BearlyBallin]

wonder how available Neto is going to be?

Really need Neto. He is a heady solid linchpin.

Brooks saying Neto will be a game time decision.

[BearlyBallin]

wonder how available Neto is going to be?

Really need Neto. He is a heady solid linchpin.

Brooks saying Neto will be a game time decision.

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?s=20
Good news