Bulls (16-20) at Celtics (27-10) 1/14 « Thread Started on Jan 12, 2010, 8:51pm »
at Chicago Bulls (16-20) at Boston Celtics (27-10) Thursday, January 14 8:00 PM ET Game #38, Home Game #17 TV: TNT Radio: WEEI, WMVP TD Garden
Probable Starting Matchups Point Guard vs Rajon Rondo vs Derrick Rose
Shooting Guard vs Ray Allen vs Kirk Hinrich
Small Forward vs Paul Pierce vs Luol Deng
Power Forward vs Brian Scalabrine vs Taj Gibson
Center vs Kendrick Perkins vs Joakim Noah
Coach: Doc Rivers Average Age: 27.8 Average Height: 6-6 Average Weight: 224
Reserves Eddie House Shelden Williams Big Baby Davis JR Giddens Tony Allen Bill Walker
Injuries Marquis Daniels (thumb) out Kevin Garnett (knee) out Rasheed Wallace (foot) day to day
Coach: Vinny Del Negro Average Age: 27.1 Average Height: 6-7 Average Weight: 225
Reserves Lindsey Hunter James Johnson Jannero Pargo Aaron Gray Brad Miller Tyrus Thomas John Salmons
Injuries Jerome James (achilles) out
Key Matchups vs Rajon Rondo vs Derrick Rose It is personal between these two point guards ever since they faced each other in the opening round of the playoffs last season. Rondo has clearly had the edge in their matchups so far. Derrick Rose has been playing very well and Rondo has been playing big minutes because of all the injuries on the Celtics. This should be a fun matchup to watch once again.
vs In the past, Deng has defended Pierce as well as anyone in the league, but in their last meeting, Pierce seemed to have found the secret to beating Deng's defense as he scored 22 points to just 4 for Deng. The Celtics will need Pierce's scoring in this game and hopefully he will once again be able to get past Deng's defense.
Honorable Mention vs Kendrick Perkins vs Joakim Noah There seems to be no love lost between these two centers. Noah has to be one of the most irritating players in the league and he tends to get under his defenders' skin. Noah plays hard and will be a tough matchup for Perk. Hopefully Perk will be able to keep his cool and avoid getting technicals in this one.
Team Connections Celtics Assistant Coach Clifford Ray played for the Bulls from 1971-7 Paul Pierce and Kirk Hinrich are former Kansas Jayhawks Tyrus Thomas and Glen Davis were teammates at Louisiana State Taj Gibson and Brian Scalabrine are former USC Trojans Lindsey Hunter and Rasheed Wallace were teammates with the Detroit Pistons from 2003-08 Brad Miller and John Salmons were teammates with Shelden Williams in Sacramento during the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons.
Game Notes • The C’s are currently leading the season series 2-0; the Celtics won the season series 2-1 against Chicago in 2008-09 • Eddie House is currently leading the C’s with an average of 18.5 points per game against the Bulls this season • Derrick Rose is leading the Bulls with an average of 14.5 points per game against the C’s this year • It marked the second straight season that the C’s had won the season series and the first time since the 85-86 and 86-87 seasons that they had done so • The Celtics are leading the all-time series 109-84 with the Celtics 61-31 at home
It's the Bulls again. This Bulls team has a chip on their shoulder and would love nothing more than to beat the Celtics. This is their 3rd meeting this season with the Celtics winning the first two easily. The Celtics are still short handed and the Bulls would love to beat them even if they aren't at full strength.
The Celtics are playing in yet another back to back situation while the Bulls have been off since Monday. At least the Celtics had an easy time with the Nets with the starters able to sit out the 4th quarter and with no starter playing more than 30 minutes.
Keys to the Game Defense - Defense is the key to every game this season. The Celtics need to guard the perimeter as well as the interior because the Bulls have outside scorers as well as guys who can take it to the basket.
Rebound - The Celtics need to put out the effort to go after rebounds on both ends. When the Celtics get the offensive rebounds, it not only gives them second chance baskets, but it also prevents the Bulls from getting out on the break and the Celtics need to grab the defensive rebounds to prevent the Bulls from getting second chance points.
Keep Cool - This could be a physical game and both teams have some very combustible players. They need to keep their cool and not let the Bulls goad them into technical fouls.
Take Care of the Ball The Celtics have been turning the ball over way too much and must focus on taking better care of the ball and making their possessions count instead of turning the ball over.
Fast Start It is important for the Celtics to get off to a fast start in this one and take the Bulls out of the game early. If they allow them to hang around, the Bulls may steal this one at the end.
X Factor Fatigue The Celtics are playing in the 4th game in 5 days. The starters have had to log big minutes because of the injuries and Doc's refusal to play the young guys on the bench. At least the starters got somewhat of a rest vs the Nets in the first half of this back to back set. If the Celtics allow the Bulls to run, they could very well run out of gas before the end of the game. [/center]
« Last Edit: Jan 13, 2010, 10:38pm by FLCeltsFan »
Joined: Aug 2003 Gender: Male Posts: 12,903 Location: Worcester, MA Karma: 145
Re: Bulls (16-20) at Celtics (26-10) 1/14 « Reply #1 on Jan 13, 2010, 2:46am »
i'd like to get our of our crappy play a bit here. it's ok somewhat that we've been kind of coasting, but this team needs to show up at some point and show they can win without kg or whoever.
Joined: Nov 2009 Gender: Male Posts: 4,688 Karma: 78
Re: Bulls (16-20) at Celtics (27-10) 1/14 « Reply #4 on Jan 14, 2010, 9:38pm »
Okay slowly we're climbing back into this after a bad first quarter.. Doc should realize Pierce isn't having one of his best days but Tony is playing pretty decent so maybe we'll see Tony more in the second half. Rondo Rondo Rondo..where the heck did your decent FT shooting % go? Lets hope he gets it back in the next half. We need to step up our defensive intensity before Deng rains more points on us.
Joined: Aug 2003 Gender: Male Posts: 12,903 Location: Worcester, MA Karma: 145
Re: Bulls (16-20) at Celtics (27-10) 1/14 « Reply #6 on Jan 14, 2010, 10:48pm »
damn. we are a different team right now. you'd think we can beat a good bulls team without kg. we beat them in the playoffs last year. i was hoping we'd show up for this one and go into the 3 days off on a good note.
Joined: Aug 2003 Gender: Male Posts: 12,903 Location: Worcester, MA Karma: 145
Re: Bulls (16-20) at Celtics (27-10) 1/14 « Reply #8 on Jan 14, 2010, 11:37pm »
yeah i usually dont really get too down on the c's when we have talent but this team is showing their lack of depth righ tnow behind the big 3. we are also showing our age a bit. it's somewhat concerning. we have a ton of injuries obviously which has alot to do with it. Daniels, Wallace and KG are out but still. we play good team defense and we are just getting beat right now because of our lack of depth.
Joined: Oct 2004 Gender: Male Posts: 2,338 Location: West Chester, OH Karma: 87
Re: Bulls (16-20) at Celtics (27-10) 1/14 « Reply #9 on Jan 14, 2010, 11:57pm »
The more I watch this team play, the more disheartened I get. This frankly goes back to last year, and to me the injuries are just an excuse and mask the flaws on this team. The players who are in the game and healthy enough to play are simply not playing good basketball. We turn the ball over too much, don't bring the intensity we used to bring, lack mental focus, give up way too many offensive rebounds and rely too much on the 3 pt shot.
For example, tonight in the fourth quarter we came within 6, then gave up an offensive rebound and put-back, followed by a bad pass by Rondo and a Chicago dunk -- the lead was back to 10. We cut it to 6, make a defensive stop, but then a bad pass leads to a Chicago basket, then another turnover and Chicago dunk and once again it is a 10 point game. Plus I felt ill late in the second quarter when three consecutive possessions culminated in Scal missing a 3 pt shot. When he is a key part of our rotation, we are in big trouble. I would much prefer a three man rotation of Perk, Davis and Williams.
KG being out doesn't make the bad passes and bad defense happen -- the players playing poor basketball make those bad plays happen. Recently Philadelphia, the Clippers, Golden State, Atlanta twice, and now a mediocre Chicago team out play us in the fourth quarter. I don't see the execution magically getting better once players come back from injury. Plus with KG and Rasheed in the lineup we have had bad strectches, like losing 3 out of 4 after the 6-0 start, and losing at home to Philadelphia.
Ever since last year's 27-2 start, this has not been the same team. What looked like one of the great Celtic teams has quickly deteriorated. The injuries don't help but they are not the sole cause of the probelm. The Celtics need to stop relying on excuses (injuries, the refs, the scheudle, age, etc.) and have some urgency in correcting the problems on the basketball court. If they don't, they will have been a flash-in-the-pan and we will be right back to rebuilding.
Joined: Aug 2003 Gender: Male Posts: 12,903 Location: Worcester, MA Karma: 145
Re: Bulls (16-20) at Celtics (27-10) 1/14 « Reply #10 on Jan 15, 2010, 12:03am »
our problems more stem on teh offensive end. we dont reall yhave a post presence. kg usually gives us just enough and baby doesnt fully have his legs yet. we've never really had a post presence or a go to guy down there in the halfcourt, but we've usually been able to supplant that by certain things. playing off our defense and getting out on the break, and having just enough down there.
i am starting to appreciate guys like Mchale and Al Jefferson just a bit more lately though and guys that can really do things on the block.
Joined: Aug 2003 Gender: Male Posts: 12,903 Location: Worcester, MA Karma: 145
Re: Bulls (16-20) at Celtics (27-10) 1/14 « Reply #12 on Jan 15, 2010, 12:13am »
the thing is its more we are just playing stupid though. there really is no reason why we should be turning it over that much. doc was yelling at guys because they were just being careless and weren't coming off screens correctly and completing the plays. Guys out of position and just being careless.
Joined: Oct 2008 Gender: Male Posts: 320 Karma: 14
Re: Bulls (16-20) at Celtics (27-10) 1/14 « Reply #13 on Jan 15, 2010, 12:17am »
We're just missing too many bodies. Pierce and Allen just won't do it without KG and Wallace. I never thought the bench was deep anyway. It has had flashes at best. Not even half the season gone and we're nearly worn out.
Joined: Nov 2009 Gender: Male Posts: 4,688 Karma: 78
Re: Bulls (16-20) at Celtics (27-10) 1/14 « Reply #14 on Jan 15, 2010, 4:27am »
ESPN calls the Cs weary after playing so many games within such a short stretch..what this shows is how badly our bench is exposed. If we had not been playing so many 40 minute games with our starters, we wouldn't be as tired as we are now. The only time our starters actually got to rest was against the Nets but even then, Doc still put them in for more than half of the third quarter for reasons I can't fathom. Ainge needs to do something about our bench and also start to consider options beyond the end of this season because its obvious our Big 3 can't sustain any sort of rhythm any longer. We seem to play badly after long rest because of rust and play badly after so many games because of rust on old legs. Either way you look at it, the Big 3 have only this year and at the very very most, next year left.
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