How the Boston Celtics can stay hot against the San Antonio Spurs

After a lackluster December, the Boston Celtics are riding a two-game winning streak and look to keep that going against the San Antonio Spurs.

Heading into the final month of 2021, the Celtics were sitting at a five-way tie for the #7 seed, one game above .500. They were also tasked with the most difficult schedule in the NBA that month facing 15 teams, all at or above .500.

Fast forward to today and Boston sits in 9th place, one game beneath .500, and taking on the San Antonio Spurs for the second time this season. The first time these two teams met, San Antonio won a close contest, after blowing a 24-point lead.

This time around, Boston is hoping for a different outcome. With Jayson Tatum (who’s averaging 25.6 PPG) being currently designated as questionable, Boston is going to rely on their other young star Jaylen Brown (24.3 PPG), to carry them to the promised land.

With their leading scorer, Dejounte Murray, being questionable, the Spurs will lean on Keldon Johnson and Derrick White to keep them afloat offensively, with the pair averaging 15 and 14.5 points per game respectively.

In order for the Boston Celtics to have a better outcome this time, one key to the game will be having a better first quarter. In their first matchup, the Cs were held to just 14 points on just 5-26 shooting. During their last two games, Boston is averaging 30 points on 50% shooting. If they can keep another hot start, it could be pivotal for them.

Last game, Dejonte Murray had 29 points and 11 rebounds. If he plays this game, keeping their leading scorer under his game average would probably be a good idea. Johnson and White both had 17 last game and if Murray doesn’t play, expect them to both take on bigger roles in that San Antonio offense and really try to run the offense.

Because of their poor first quarter, Boston found themselves down 24 points at one point during their first matchup but managed to claw their way back in the second half. If the game is close during the fourth quarter, they’re going to need to show an improved ability to close things out. Boston is averaging 25.5 points in the 4th quarter this season, the 19th ranked team in the league, while San Antonio is ranked 6th with 27.6 points.

If Tatum does end up playing, obviously he and Brown are going to carry the load for the Celtics but if he doesn’t, it gets a little interesting. Brown would have to pick up most of the slack, which he is very good at. Playing without Tatum, Brown is averaging 32.5 PPG and 10 rebounds.

Another player that I would like to see pick up some extra slack would be Payton Pritchard. After a promising rookie year, Pritchard struggled to play in the beginning of the year due to the number of guards the Celtics have but as of late he has been playing solid, averaging 11.6 points in his last five games.

Hopefully for the collective sanity of those who sport green, the Boston Celtics can manage to win this game, stringing together a nice little three-game win streak to start the new year (even though the first win was in 2021).