Preview: Boston Celtics vs Utah Jazz

The Boston Celtics look to get revenge on the Utah Jazz, who beat them right after the all-star break

The Boston Celtics had arguably their best showing since the all-star break in their last win against the Miami Heat. They improved to 35-25 and still own the three seed in the Eastern Conference. However, they will be taking on the Utah Jazz, a team that has already beaten them since the all-star break. The Jazz are 28-30 this season and are coming off a brutal loss to the lowly Brooklyn Nets. Since the Jazz’s win against Boston, they’re only 1-3 and their playoff hopes are slipping away.

Kelly Olynyk will once again be out for the Boston Celtics, but Avery Bradley is expected to be fine after tweaking his ankle in their win over the Heat.

Alec Burks is still out for Utah, although he is expected to return very soon

The last time these two teams met, the Jazz were 111-93 winners as the Celtics played some of their worst basketball in the month. Isaiah Thomas had a game-high of 25 points and Jae Crowder chipped in 17, although the rest of the team was very quiet offensively.

All five of the Jazz’s starters scored in double-figures, as Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors combined for 45 points and 10 assists. Rudy Gobert and Favors dominated the glass and were forces inside on defense, combining for 25 rebounds and seven blocks on the night.

The X-Factor in Sunday night’s game for the Celtics is Jared Sullinger. The last game against the Jazz was the one of the few games since the all-star break that Sullinger didn’t record a double-double, nine points and 11 rebounds. He also only shot 4-13 from the field, although much of the team struggled shooting. On offense, he will need to space the floor and attract either Favors or Gobert from the paint to allow the guards to drive in.

Sullinger leads the team in rebounds, averaging 8.6 rebounds per game. It’s a tall task to ask him to out-rebound Favors or Gobert, however, if he’s not able to use his big body to push them around a little then Boston will be in for another long night. He is coming off a 12 rebound game against Hassan Whiteside and has rebound at a higher rate in the month of February, averaging 8.3 rebounds in the month. He has been the best big man as of late for the Celtics, and if they want a chance at winning this game he’ll need to come up big yet again.

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The X-Factor for Utah is Trevor Booker. He has been one of their top choices off the bench this season, averaging 22.1 minutes per game. Booker also gives the Jazz solid numbers every night, 5.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, including 2.4 offensive boards a night. In 20 minutes off the bench in the first meeting, Booker was a solid contributor. He added seven points and eight rebounds, on 3-5 shooting from the field.

He isn’t someone who will go for a double-double, or score 15 points a night, but he is a solid bench player for Utah and moves well for his size. He gave Boston problems off the bench during their last meeting, and having another big, besides Gobert and Favors, is a huge advantage for the Jazz.

Utah has been on a mini-downward spiral as of late. They’re not playing as well as they have been for much of this season, but need to turn it around quick or else they’ll fall out of the playoff picture. The Jazz are a bad matchup for Utah, considering their size and the Celtics are the shortest team in the NBA.

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With that being said, Boston is coming off their most impressive victory since the break and are 2-0 on their current homestand. I think the Jazz post a lot of problems for Boston, but I think they’ll be more prepared for what they’re going to be up against. I like Boston in a close one at home.

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