How tired will Boston be?
The Celtics took the short trip from Charlotte, North Carolina to Atlanta to take on the Hawks on the second night of a back-to-back. After handling the surging Hornets, 114-99, Boston now turns its attention back to an Atlanta team it faced Friday at TD Garden.
Back-to-backs are always tricky. Teams have to decide which stars might sit and how to adjust minutes throughout the rotation. In their last meeting, Boston was never out of control and used a big third quarter to take
command, but Atlanta kept it close, losing by just seven. The Hawks will be looking for some revenge on their home floor.
Aside from a 26-point loss back in January, every matchup between these teams has been tight. The Hawks have beaten Boston by 11 and lost by seven, with this game marking the final meeting of the regular-season series.
Who will step up without the Jays?
Jaylen Brown missed his second straight game Sunday night, and there’s a chance he sits again Monday. He’s been dealing with left Achilles tendinitis. The team will also likely be cautious with Jayson Tatum. While he looks like himself on the court, it would be surprising if Boston pushes him in a back-to-back.
That means the Celtics could be without their two best players.
When the stars are out, it opens the door for role players. Against Atlanta on Friday, Payton Pritchard stepped up in Brown’s absence, pouring in 36 points on 13-of-23 shooting, including six 3-pointers. This sets up as another opportunity for Pritchard to take on a bigger offensive role and create his own shot.
Beyond Pritchard and Derrick White, this could also be a chance for Neemias Queta to continue showing his growth. Since joining Boston, his post game has improved, and he’s playing with more confidence around the rim. Queta has become a reliable presence inside, cleaning up on both ends without needing plays called for him.
One of his best performances came against Washington, when he posted 24 points on 11-of-13 shooting to go along with 10 rebounds. With more opportunities, he could have another strong impact.
Who will limit Jalen Johnson?
Last time, the question was, “Who will guard Jalen Johnson?” At this point, it might be more accurate to ask who can slow him down.
Joe Mazzulla will likely throw multiple defenders and schemes at the Hawks forward. In the past, especially under Brad Stevens, the strategy against star players was often to let them get theirs while limiting everyone else. A good example was those matchups against Philadelphia, where Joel Embiid would get his numbers, but the supporting cast struggled.
Against Atlanta, Hugo Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman and Jordan Walsh should all see time defending Johnson. It’s valuable experience against a three-level scorer with elite athleticism, especially as Boston gears up for the postseason.
In the last meeting, Johnson finished with 29 points, six assists and six rebounds in the loss. Slowing him down won’t be easy.
