Fans could catch a preview of the NBA Finals on Thursday when the Boston Celtics take on the Denver Nuggets.
Here’s a look at Thursday’s injury report in what could be one of the best games of the year.
Denver:
Vlatko Čančar — OUT (left knee surgery)
Boston:
Jaylen Brown — QUESTIONABLE (sacroiliac strain)
JD Davidson — OUT (two-way G League assignment)
Drew Peterson – OUT (G League two-way assignment)
Neemias Queta — OUT (right knee hyperextension)
Jordan Walsh – OUT (G League Assignment)
The defending champion, the Denver Nuggets, will face the Boston Celtics, holders of the best record in the NBA. That alone should be a fantastic selling point.
Additionally, both teams left the All-Star break on absolutely hot streaks. Boston won 11 straight games before blowing a 21-point lead to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday. Denver was also on a 6-game winning streak before Tuesday’s heartbreaking 117-107 loss to the Phoenix Suns in overtime… meaning both teams will definitely have something to play for on Thursday; they will want to avenge their disparaging losses earlier in the week.
After finishing one win away from a spot in the NBA Finals last season, Boston spent the offseason improving its roster. They acquired Kristaps Porziņģis in a trade with the Washington Wizards, which was a real revelation for the Celtics. Kristaps spaced the floor with an above-average 37.8 percent accuracy as a pick-and-pop man, and he performed like one of the best post-up players in the association. Not to mention his defense, where he blocks 1.8 shots per game.
Boston lost fan favorite Marcus Smart in the Porziņģis trade, but Celtics general manager Brad Stevens quickly got to work replacing the former Defensive Playmaker of the Year. Damian Lillard’s blockbuster sent Jrue Holiday to Portland, and Stevens quickly scooped him up from the rebuilding Trail Blazers.
Overall, Boston’s new starting lineup of Porziņģis, Holiday, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White has been the third-best five-man starting unit in the NBA, just behind the Milwaukee Bucks and, yes, the Denver Nuggets with their championship-winning starting five of Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr.
Overall, the Celtics are outscoring their opponents by 11.3 points per 100 possessions, the best net rating since the 2016-17 Golden State Warriors. Yep, the same Warriors team that had the best Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. Boston leads the NBA in offensive efficiency with a ridiculous 122.8 offensive rating, according to Cleaning the Glass, and they are second in defense with just 111.4 points per 100 possessions allowed.
Boston leads the NBA in shooting accuracy near the basket with 70.5 percent. They are first in corner three-point percentage with 43.3 percent and fourth in overall three-point accuracy with 39.2 percent. In short, they’re analytical darlings, and that’s to say nothing of Boston’s mid-range shooting… because, well, they’re Also a top 10 team in this area.
Their defense is just as ridiculous. Boston’s rim protection ranks third in the NBA, it is First of all league-wide in three-point percentage from opposing corners, and the Celtics are fourth in overall three-point percentage allowed. Lowest ranking of Boston’s defense any of them floor surface is 12th (short midrange, according to CTG). So yes, still above average.
This is an offense with excellence on three levels and a largely impenetrable defense. Thursday should be a great test for Denver. They’re already 1-0 against the Celtics this season, but Boston is really starting to get going as the playoffs approach. A showdown between the two prohibitive favorites in their respective conferences is certainly not a matchup to be missed.
TO AGREE: Thursday 8:00 p.m. MT, TNT and Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM
