Preview: Celtics (2-0) vs Spurs (2-0) Utah SL Game 3 7/7/16

   vs 
Boston Celtics (2-0) vs San Antonio Spurs (2-0)
July 7, 2016
7:00 PM ET
Utah Summer League Game 3
TV:  CSNNE, NBA-TV
Jon M Huntsman Center   The final game of the Utah Summer League for the Celtics is a battle between the two undefeated teams.  The Celtics beat the Sixers 102-94 and the Jazz 89-82 while the Spurs beat the Jazz 90-69 and the Sixers 95-91 so far. 

The Celtics were without both RJ Hunter (sore wrist) and Jaylen Brown (knee injury) in their second game.  It was originally reported that Brown would return for this game. His MRI on Wednesday was negative but revealed a bone bruise and so he will probably be held out of today's game as a precaution.  Hopefully RJ will be good to go for this game.   Jordan Mickey missed both games in Utah with a sore shoulder but is expected to join the team for Saturday's game against the Bulls in the Vegas Summer League. 

The Spurs' only draft pick this year, Dejounte Murray is not participating in the Utah Summer League with the team due to contract concerns.  They feature Johnathon Simmons, who averaged 6 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists last season for the Spurs and Kyle Anderson who has averaged 4.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists in his two seasons with the Spurs.  Cady Lalanne played for the Austin Spurs.      Both teams have used the many of the same players in their starting lineups for the two games so far.  The Celtics had to change their lineup due to injuries to Jaylen Brown and RJ Hunter.  The Spurs changed only their center for the second game.  Summer League play is hard to predict because sometimes coaches go with the same lineups and sometimes they change them up to give all of the players a chance.  My guess is that we will see a starting lineup of Terry Rozier, RJ Hunter, James Young, Malcolm Miller, and Gerschon Yabusele


Celtics Summer League Roster
Player..... Number
Ben Bentil 50
Jaylen Brown 9
RJ Hunter 28
Demetrius Jackson 26
Jordan Mickey 55
Malcolm Miller 48
Abdel Nader 51
Jayvaughn Pinkston 52
Terry Rozier 12
Marcus Thornton 27
Corey Walden 46
Guerschon Yabusele 30
Mouphtaou Yarou 63
James Young 13
Coach: Micah Shrewsberry

Starters
First Game
Terry Rozier, RJ Hunter, James Young, Jaylen Brown, Gerschon Yabusele
Second Game
Terry Rozier, Marcus Thornton, James Young, Malcolm Miller, Gerschon Yabusele



Spurs Summer League Roster
Player     Number
Kyle Anderson  1
Ryan Arcidiacono  16
Will Cummings  3
Quenton DeCosey  29
Bryn Forbes  11
Ilja Gromovs  27
Alex Kirk  53
Cady Lalanne  25
Erazem Lorbek  26
Angel Rodriguez  13
Johnathon Simmons 17
CJ Williams  22
Eric Wise  43 

Starters
First Game
Bryn Forbes, Ryan Arcidiacono, Kyle Anderson, Johnathon Simmons, Cady Lalanne
Second Game
Bryn Forbes, Ryan Arcidiacono, Kyle Anderson, Johnathon Simmons, Alex Kirk 
Players to Watch

Terry Rozier has led the young Celtics team and has shown considerable poise on both ends of the court.  He scored 17 points 6 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in the two games in Utah.  His defense has also been very good.

James Young has a lot riding on this Summer League.  This is his 3rd year playing in Summer League and after two years spent mostly playing for the Red Claws, he has to start showing something if he wants to stay with the Celtics.  After a forgettable first game, he shot very well in the second game, scoring 17 points including 4-5 from beyond the arc.  He is averaging 12.5 points. 5.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.5 steals.  Hopefully he can continue to show improvement through the rest of Summer League. 

RJ Hunter looked good against the Sixers.  He finished with 17 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 block after the first game.  Hopefully the sore wrist is feeling better and he will be able to play in this game. 


Johnathon Simmons has been playing very well for the Spurs.  He is coming off a game in which he scored 35 points and is averaging 26.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.5 steals in the Spurs' two wins.   The Celtics will need to find a way to slow him down.

Bryn Forbes is another player who is putting up points for the Spurs.  He averaged 19.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in the first two games for the Spurs.

Kyle Anderson has two seasons under his belt with the Spurs and is playing very well in Summer League for him.  He is averaging 24 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.5 steals. The Celtics will need to keep a defender on him. 

Keys to the Game
Defense - Defense is always a key to winning, whether in Summer League, the regular season or in the playoffs.  The Celtics must play tough defense and get stops.  They especially need to keep the high scoring Kyle Anderson and Johnathon Simmons  from having another big game.   Rebound - Once again the Celtics have a height disadvantage and will need everyone to crash the boards and put forth the extra effort it takes to beat out taller players to rebounds. 
Be Aggressive - The Celtics must be aggressive in going to the basket and in diving for loose balls. Especially in games like this where fouls are freely called, the team that enforces their will on the game by being aggressive will usually get more calls going their way.  
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