RJ Barrett displayed all facets of his game against Boston Celtics: catch-and-shoot threes, off-the-dribble jumpers, pull-up jumpers in transition and tough finishes – it was refreshingly diverse performance coming from someone on a team which has struggled mightily with shooting beyond three this season.
In this article, we will discuss the main points or top players of Toronto Raptors Vs Boston Celtics Match Player Stats.
RJ Barrett
RJ Barrett is the star player on the Toronto Raptors. Drafted third overall in 2019, RJ’s scoring abilities are unparalleled in the league; his defense skills have helped the Raptors secure multiple victories over this season.
Barrett is a Canadian professional basketball player currently playing for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Born and raised in Mississauga, Ontario – Barrett attended St Marcellinus Secondary School before transferring to Montverde Academy in Florida where he became one of their five-star recruits, earning Naismith Prep Player of the Year and Gatorade National Player of the Year awards while in high school.
The Celtics may have suffered an unexpected defeat against the Pelicans recently, but they remain one of the top teams in the league. Averaging almost 50 three-point attempts each game and making over 50% of them – an attack-oriented approach can sometimes hurt their defensive efforts but still proves extremely dangerous against opponents.
While the Raptors possess considerable talent, they are currently struggling to make shots and break into the paint. Therefore, they need to improve their execution and aim for better three-pointers or continue suffering as an underachieving team.
RJ Barrett will not play Wednesday against the Hornets due to illness; however, he’s expected back against Orlando on Friday for limited minutes but still represents an ideal fantasy option given his size and skill set. Ochai Agbaji should return to the bench once RJ returns and thus should also be included into your lineups for added value.
Boston Celtics vs Toronto Raptors: Preview and Prediction
Kawhi Leonard
Kawhi Leonard decided to join the Los Angeles Clippers after seven seasons with San Antonio Spurs as a free agent, looking to regain his place at the top of his game and win championships – something which happened during 2019 with Toronto Raptors when Kawhi won two Finals MVP awards – to pursue.
The Celtics come into this game boasting an undefeated 4-0 preseason record and appearing to be one of the strongest teams in the NBA this year. But their regular-season performances have been less-than-stellar, so whether they can continue their impressive start without entering an early-season slump remains to be seen.
Boston has had success this season making threes, led by Jayson Tatum’s dominance from beyond the arc. However, their January 3-point attempt total was lower than any other month and their 37.1 percent shooting from deep wasn’t up to par.
Toronto was dominant in the first quarter, pushing and moving the ball while taking and making open and wide-open threes at will. Scottie Barnes excelled here as he hit four of five three-point attempts and helped Toronto build up a 46-27 advantage by the end of this opening period.
In the second, Toronto continued their offensive momentum and took advantage of Kawhi Leonard’s effective playmaking to gain a 64-58 advantage at halftime. Kawhi Leonard played a vital role in driving to the basket and finishing plays effectively for Toronto during this stretch.
The third quarter was more of a defensive battle for both teams, with Toronto narrowly leading at the end of it by seven points with less than six minutes left in play.
In the fourth quarter, both teams found it more evenly balanced as each side traded leads back and forth until Jayson Tatum hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to give Boston a 123-119 win.
Pascal Siakam
Pascal Siakam has become an essential piece of Toronto’s offense and one of the Raptors best players since joining. Able to score and rebound efficiently in multiple ways, Siakam makes him a valuable member of his team who can contribute points or boards as needed. A major factor in recent road victories, Pascal was essential in leading Toronto back home – expect him to play well against Sacramento this time out too.
The Celtics have always relied heavily on shooting from outside, yet have had difficulty with consistency in execution. Ranked 11th in 3-point percentage, they should focus on limiting turnovers and contesting shots from opponents as much as possible in order to keep up their winning streak. If they can avoid giving away too many easy threes they should continue winning games!
Boston defeated the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday, with Jayson Tatum scoring 38 points – his career high! However, while they managed to hold off New Orleans, they struggled to stay out of foul trouble and allowed opponents to shoot at an alarming rate. Boston will look to improve its defense when facing Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night.
On Thursday night during their comeback win over the Clippers, Siakam recorded his career-best 33 points (13-19 FG, 5-6 3Pt and 2 FT), 13 rebounds and two assists over 35 minutes – his fifth 20-point, 10-rebound performance this season and breaking Chris Bosh’s franchise record with 23 points, 10 rebounds and five assists combined!
The Celtics have lost six out of seven regular-season meetings against the Raptors, including both contests this year. When these teams meet again on Saturday for the conclusion of a three-game home stand for both clubs, we can expect another victoryless affair on both sides of the floor.
On Monday night at TD Garden, the Celtics will have a strong chance to prevail against Toronto Raptors without Kawhi Leonard but can still score many points.
Jakob Poeltl
On Friday night, the Boston Celtics will face the Toronto Raptors for the first time this season. While Boston boasted an undefeated preseason record en route to an undisputed title defence, Toronto remains in contention and could make an unlikely turnaround with this matchup.
Jakob Poeltl will make his NBA debut for the Boston Celtics against Toronto Raptors on Friday, after being selected in the 9th round (first round, 9th overall) of 2016 NBA Draft by Toronto Raptors. He was selected by them during this draft process.
Poeltl has spent much of his career in the G League, but is eager to prove himself at NBA level. The 7-foot center boasts considerable potential and is capable of filling multiple positions: scoring from the floor, playing defense and rebounding.
Jakob Poeltl has made an immediate impactful debut to the NBA. Throughout this season he has averaged 8.8 points and 7.0 rebounds per game while providing 1.8 assists and 1.3 blocks per contest. Boston will look for ways to add depth in their frontcourt; Jakob Poeltl will certainly do that.
The Boston Celtics enter this game hampered by several injuries: Isaiah Thomas is out due to shoulder issues while Kyrie Irving and Jayson Tatum both suffer knee injuries that will make this contest extremely challenging, yet ultimately successful for them.
The Boston Celtics have struggled early this season to score, yet have kept opponents under 100 points per game and maintained an excellent home record, giving them a chance at reaching the playoffs.
The Celtics boast an excellent defensive unit and the league’s best rebounding unit, and should easily win this matchup. To compete against them, however, Toronto must improve its shooting.
