Post by FLCeltsFan on Jan 12, 2010 14:26:53 GMT -5
at
Boston Celtics (26-10) at New Jersey Nets (3-34)
Wednesday, January 13
7:30 PM ET
Game #37 Road Game #21
TV: CSN-NE, YES HD, NBA-LP 755, 756
Izod Center
ProbableStarting Matchups
Point Guard
vs
Rajon Rondo vs Devin Harris
Shooting Guard
vs
Ray Allen vs Courtney Lee
Small Forward
vs
Paul Pierce vs Chris Douglas Roberts
Power Forward
vs
Brian Scalabrine vs Yi Jianlian
Center
vs
Kendrick Perkins vs Brook Lopez
Reserves
Eddie House
Shelden Williams
Big Baby Davis
Tony Allen
Bill Walker
JR Giddens
Injuries:
Kevin Garnett (knee) out
Rasheed Wallace (foot) out
Marquis Daniels (thumb) out
Reserves
Josh Boone
Bobby Simmons
Trenton Hassell
Keyon Dooling
Tony Battie
Jarvis Hayes
Shawne Williams
Kris Humphries
Chris Quinn
Injuries
Devin Harris (wrist) probable
Key Matchups
vs
Rajon Rondo vs Devin Harris
The first time these two teams met this season, Harris was out with an injury. Last season, Harris beat out Rondo for a spot on the All Star team and hopefully Rondo will remember that and be motivated for a big game instead of taking this team for granted because of their poor record. Harris missed the Nets' game vs the Spurs with a sore wrist but with 3 days rest since their last game, he is expected to play in this one.
vs
Kendrick Perkins vs Brook Lopez
Lopez has been one of the bright spots for the Nets in an otherwise dismal season. Lopez is ranked 3rd among centers in scoring at 18.6 points per game and has 15 (20point, 10rebound) double doubles this season which is first among all centers.
Honorable Mention
Brian Scalabrine vs Yi Jianlian
Assuming that Doc goes with Scal for the start again, he will be matched up against Yi Jianlian who has been playing very well lately. Over the last 9 games, Yi has been averaging 18.4 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. He plays mostly on the perimeter rather than banging inside and so it would seem that Scal would be the best available big man to guard him.
Team Connections
Brian Scalabrine played for the Nets from 2001-05
Josh Boone and Ray Allen are former UConn Huskies
Eddie House played for the Nets during the 2006-07 season
Assistant Coaches Doug Overton (1999-2001) and Roy Rogers (1997-98) both played for the Celtics
Eddie House and Keyon Dooling were teammates with the Clippers during the 2003-04 season
Tony Battie played for the Celtics from1998-2004 and drove Paul Pierce to the hospital after he was stabbed in 2000
Trenton Hassell and Kevin Garnett were teammates in Minnesota from 2003-07
Marquis Daniels and Devin Harris were teammates in Dallas from 2004-06
Jarvis Hayes and Rasheed Wallace were teammates in Detroit during the 2007-08 season
Game Notes
• The C’s are leading the season series 1-0; Celtics swept the season series 4-0 against New Jersey in 2008-09
• Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 19.0 points per game last season
• Devin Harris averaged 16.3 points per game against the Celtics last season in four games
• The Celtics are currently on a nine game winning streak against the Nets which marks their longest winning streak against the Nets since an 11
game winning streak that spanned the 1980-81 and 1981-82 season
• The Celtics are leading the all-time series 103-54 with the Celtics 55-24 at home
The Nets have won only 3 games so far this season but they shouldn't be taken for granted because they have some players who are capable of big games. We remember Courtney Lee going off on the Celtics when he played for Orlando in last year's playoffs. Yi and Brook Lopez have been playing well. Devin Harris is an all star. They also have Chris Quinn who can get hot from beyond the arc.
The Nets are 1 -9 in their last 10 games while the Celtics are 5-5, as they battle through a series of injuries and illnesses. The Celtics are 15-5 on the road and the Nets are just 2-15 at home. The Nets have been resting since losing to the Spurs on Sunday while the Celtics are playing in their 3rd game in 4 nights.
While posting the Nets' roster, I kept thinking: "He's still in the league?" They have a nice starting lineup, but their bench is mostly expiring contracts waiting for the big 2010 free agent class. But, in spite of all this, the Celtics can't overlook this team. The Celtics have a game on Thurs vs the Bulls and it would be nice to put the Nets away early and get the starters some rest.
Keys to the Game
Limit Turnovers The Celtics must take better care of the basketball. They have been turning the ball over at an alarming rate and must make better passes and keep their focus so as to limit these turnovers.
Rebound Rebounding shows the amount of effort and desire a team has. The Celtics must bring both effort and desire and crash the boards on both ends.
Defense No explanation needed. Defense is the key to winning. Period.
Play 48 Minutes The Celtics seem to either be hot at the beginning and then let up at the end of games or they come out sluggish and have to play catch up the entire game. They must come out focused and stay focused for the full 48 minutes.
X-Factor
Fatigue
The Celtics starters have been playing big minutes recently. Key players have been out and Doc refuses to play the young guys and so Ray especially is logging 40+ minutes per game. They are playing in the 3rd game in 4 nights along with travel after each game and so fatigue could come into play in this one.
Boston Celtics (26-10) at New Jersey Nets (3-34)
Wednesday, January 13
7:30 PM ET
Game #37 Road Game #21
TV: CSN-NE, YES HD, NBA-LP 755, 756
Izod Center
ProbableStarting Matchups
Point Guard
vs
Rajon Rondo vs Devin Harris
Shooting Guard
vs
Ray Allen vs Courtney Lee
Small Forward
vs
Paul Pierce vs Chris Douglas Roberts
Power Forward
vs
Brian Scalabrine vs Yi Jianlian
Center
vs
Kendrick Perkins vs Brook Lopez
Reserves
Eddie House
Shelden Williams
Big Baby Davis
Tony Allen
Bill Walker
JR Giddens
Injuries:
Kevin Garnett (knee) out
Rasheed Wallace (foot) out
Marquis Daniels (thumb) out
Reserves
Josh Boone
Bobby Simmons
Trenton Hassell
Keyon Dooling
Tony Battie
Jarvis Hayes
Shawne Williams
Kris Humphries
Chris Quinn
Injuries
Devin Harris (wrist) probable
Key Matchups
vs
Rajon Rondo vs Devin Harris
The first time these two teams met this season, Harris was out with an injury. Last season, Harris beat out Rondo for a spot on the All Star team and hopefully Rondo will remember that and be motivated for a big game instead of taking this team for granted because of their poor record. Harris missed the Nets' game vs the Spurs with a sore wrist but with 3 days rest since their last game, he is expected to play in this one.
vs
Kendrick Perkins vs Brook Lopez
Lopez has been one of the bright spots for the Nets in an otherwise dismal season. Lopez is ranked 3rd among centers in scoring at 18.6 points per game and has 15 (20point, 10rebound) double doubles this season which is first among all centers.
Honorable Mention
Brian Scalabrine vs Yi Jianlian
Assuming that Doc goes with Scal for the start again, he will be matched up against Yi Jianlian who has been playing very well lately. Over the last 9 games, Yi has been averaging 18.4 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. He plays mostly on the perimeter rather than banging inside and so it would seem that Scal would be the best available big man to guard him.
Team Connections
Brian Scalabrine played for the Nets from 2001-05
Josh Boone and Ray Allen are former UConn Huskies
Eddie House played for the Nets during the 2006-07 season
Assistant Coaches Doug Overton (1999-2001) and Roy Rogers (1997-98) both played for the Celtics
Eddie House and Keyon Dooling were teammates with the Clippers during the 2003-04 season
Tony Battie played for the Celtics from1998-2004 and drove Paul Pierce to the hospital after he was stabbed in 2000
Trenton Hassell and Kevin Garnett were teammates in Minnesota from 2003-07
Marquis Daniels and Devin Harris were teammates in Dallas from 2004-06
Jarvis Hayes and Rasheed Wallace were teammates in Detroit during the 2007-08 season
Game Notes
• The C’s are leading the season series 1-0; Celtics swept the season series 4-0 against New Jersey in 2008-09
• Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 19.0 points per game last season
• Devin Harris averaged 16.3 points per game against the Celtics last season in four games
• The Celtics are currently on a nine game winning streak against the Nets which marks their longest winning streak against the Nets since an 11
game winning streak that spanned the 1980-81 and 1981-82 season
• The Celtics are leading the all-time series 103-54 with the Celtics 55-24 at home
The Nets have won only 3 games so far this season but they shouldn't be taken for granted because they have some players who are capable of big games. We remember Courtney Lee going off on the Celtics when he played for Orlando in last year's playoffs. Yi and Brook Lopez have been playing well. Devin Harris is an all star. They also have Chris Quinn who can get hot from beyond the arc.
The Nets are 1 -9 in their last 10 games while the Celtics are 5-5, as they battle through a series of injuries and illnesses. The Celtics are 15-5 on the road and the Nets are just 2-15 at home. The Nets have been resting since losing to the Spurs on Sunday while the Celtics are playing in their 3rd game in 4 nights.
While posting the Nets' roster, I kept thinking: "He's still in the league?" They have a nice starting lineup, but their bench is mostly expiring contracts waiting for the big 2010 free agent class. But, in spite of all this, the Celtics can't overlook this team. The Celtics have a game on Thurs vs the Bulls and it would be nice to put the Nets away early and get the starters some rest.
Keys to the Game
Limit Turnovers The Celtics must take better care of the basketball. They have been turning the ball over at an alarming rate and must make better passes and keep their focus so as to limit these turnovers.
Rebound Rebounding shows the amount of effort and desire a team has. The Celtics must bring both effort and desire and crash the boards on both ends.
Defense No explanation needed. Defense is the key to winning. Period.
Play 48 Minutes The Celtics seem to either be hot at the beginning and then let up at the end of games or they come out sluggish and have to play catch up the entire game. They must come out focused and stay focused for the full 48 minutes.
X-Factor
Fatigue
The Celtics starters have been playing big minutes recently. Key players have been out and Doc refuses to play the young guys and so Ray especially is logging 40+ minutes per game. They are playing in the 3rd game in 4 nights along with travel after each game and so fatigue could come into play in this one.