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Post by DERRENMATTS on Jan 30, 2006 3:32:31 GMT -5
Lets get ready and brace ourselves for Ricky. We know that he's going to want to come out and have a big game against us. I'm still trying to get over the fact that Ricky's no longer a Celtic. Its like giving away a dog you loved so much, to a friend, and then seeing the dog over at your friend's house for the first time. Lots of mixed emotions.
Doc was calling for different plays in lat night's loss to the Bucks, and Wally wasn't familiar with them. We don't have the luxury of having some practice time to familiarize him with more plays because we have a back to back tonight against the Wolves. It may be another shaky night, and it may continue to be like this until Wally can get a good amount of practice time with the team and get his feel for his teammates, and vice versa.
I do hope that Rivers will lessen the load he puts on Pierce and Wally. There still playing 40+ minutes a game. Tony needs to be inserted more because 14 minutes per game is not going to help him get better.
I think Tony can defend Ricky--that's the matchup Rivers needs to use. On the other end, Ricky is probably going to guard Wally because Trenton Hassel is going to be guarding Pierce. Wally needs to post up Ricky because he's not strong enough to push Wally back.
Jefferson had a good game against the Bucks' big men (12 pts, 12 rebs in only 16 minutes) and hopefully he'll be able to continue that good play. Perkins needs to come in and control the boards. Hopefully Blount starts--that way Perkins can demolish him and prove to Doc that he was wrong for keeping Perk on the bench ;D
Should be an interesting first matchup after the trade.
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Post by BCHISTORIAN on Jan 30, 2006 6:40:27 GMT -5
so - ricky is your dog now? ;D
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Jan 30, 2006 10:34:09 GMT -5
Eh, more like my gold fish. I would never put corn rows on my dog ;D
Al said he's going to be more aggressive. Said that Doc showed him some videos of him playing and pointed out that he needs to be more aggressive. Al said that he was embarrassed to see what was being shown. Can we expect a 20 and 10 peformance tonight?
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Post by The Eye of the Q is upon you! on Jan 30, 2006 12:58:34 GMT -5
We must rely on our big men (Perkins and Jefferson) to win this game in Minnesota tonight. This is how we beat them convincingly last time around just before the trade. No need to worry about Blount tonight, in fact I look forward to a Blount bludgeoning . Good call with Allen on RD, there Derren. Trent Hassell makes life miserable for Pierce. Wally should be a new father about now, congratulations to Wally.
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Post by esco33 on Jan 30, 2006 15:01:34 GMT -5
Hopefully, this game does not become Wally versus Ricky but stays Celtics versus Timberwolves. I expect big games from former Celtics Ricky and Blunt. We can talk stuff about Blunt all day and all night, but when he comes to play he is very decent. And do you all think that he will slouch off on the team that didn't want him, refused to keep him, refused to play him, was desperate to get rid of him and thought he sucked???...Exactly, he will come to play tonight. I expect a 15-10 performance from him with tough D. I am not "afraid" of him by any means, but he will be fired up. Ricky will go off also I believe for anywhere from 25-30 points. I do not expect to win this game, although I agree the bigs Perk and Big Al have to play well for us to win this game. They need to push around Griffin and Blunt in the post. KG will have his regular dynamic game, (unless we stick Perk on him ) Pierce needs to get back in sync and play within the flow of the offense. He needs to have better shot selection then in the Milwaukee game. Look for Kandi to possibly play against his old team tonight as well. Go Celtics!
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Jan 30, 2006 15:39:28 GMT -5
Not only against us, but Blount seems to be re-energized in Minny. I watched Saturday's game and he was skipping up the floor after a made basket. He was actually fighting for rebounds instead of standing there and hoping one came to him. He could have played like that for us but didn't want to for some reason. Sometimes when Ricky wants to prove a point he pushes things too hard. Every game that we have played Chicago since the 6th man thing he just couldn't get going. Likewise when we played the Cavs, he didn't play his best - He averaged 13 points in 4 games against them last year - and I think because he gets so hyped up he forces it. I hope this holds true. As much as I love Ricky I love the Celts more and hope he has an off game tonight and then goes on a tear the rest of the year!!
I really hope Perk and Al eat Blount alive in the paint, though.
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Post by esco33 on Jan 30, 2006 16:00:30 GMT -5
Sometimes when Ricky wants to prove a point he pushes things too hard. Every game that we have played Chicago since the 6th man thing he just couldn't get going. Likewise when we played the Cavs, he didn't play his best - He averaged 13 points in 4 games against them last year - and I think because he gets so hyped up he forces it. I hope this holds true. As much as I love Ricky I love the Celts more and hope he has an off game tonight and then goes on a tear the rest of the year!! I really hope Perk and Al eat Blount alive in the paint, though. I agree with what you said here 100%.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Jan 30, 2006 20:06:19 GMT -5
Yahoo!!! Got the Celtics feed tonight. In the pregame they interviewed Ricky and he said it was hard being traded but it would have been different if it wasn't a place he wanted to be and that he likes it there. That was good to hear. It was great also that they showed a big group hug with all Ricky and PP and Al and Raef and everyone all hugging this afternoon. Congrats to Wally. He got to hold his baby and is going to be able to stay with his wife and baby tomorrow but is ready to play tonight. I am getting excited!!!! gonna be a good game!!!
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Post by longtimefan on Jan 30, 2006 20:08:48 GMT -5
I would think that, with the team we now have, that very other week getting blown out by another crappy team is a thing of the past. If not, then Doc Rivers will be under a lot of pressure. thios is a quality starting 5 and decent bench. NO MORE BLOW OUTS!
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Jan 30, 2006 20:20:19 GMT -5
Starting lineup is West, Perk, PP, Raef, and Wally. Garnett easily controls the tip. Ricky gets his first touch passes it in to Griffin for a jam. Wally misses his first shot and Garnett rebounds. Griffin hits a jumper. Raef misses a 3 and Griffin gets the rebound. Misses and follows his own shot and gets 2. PP's floater in the lane no good and Perk gets the rebound but Ricky steals it and hassel gets an easy 2 on the other end. Wally misses a jumper and Wolves rebound. Perk called for a foul on Garnett. he hits his FTs. PP takes it to the basket for 2. My cable is messing up so may miss a play or so because it keeps freezing. Jaric hits a jumper. Wolves extending the pressure to full court. Ricky knocks it out of bounds with 7 on the SC. Raef swoops in for the inbound catch and in one motion puts it up and in. perk called for a goaltend on Griffin's layup. Delonte for 2 in the paint. Wolves shot no good adn Raef rebounds. Wally called for a travel. Ricky misses and Griffin rebounds and puts back. Wally takes it strong to the basket on a fast break and slams it. Griffin gets an O rebound and
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Jan 30, 2006 20:29:19 GMT -5
hits a jumper. Pierce is fouled by griffin and will go to the line. PP hits both FTs. Wally hits a 3. Ricky goes baseline and is fouled by Raef and will go to the FT line. He hits one of 2. PP misses a jumper and Garnett rebounds. Al is in for Perk. Griffin misses a 3 from the corner and Raef grabs the rebound. PPmisses a jumper and Al is there for the rebound and put back. Hassell misses a jumper and Garnet gets the rebound. Jaric misses a layup and Celts come away with it. Blount blocks a shot and Woves come away with it. Pp steals a pass from Garnett. Foul by Hassel on the other end. Time out Called with Wolves up 23 - 19
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Jan 30, 2006 20:32:33 GMT -5
PP misses the 1st and makes the 2nd. Blount hits a jumper. Wally draws a foul on Ricky as he goes for the up fake. Wally hits both FTs. Ricky is stripped by Wally on the way to the basket. brb
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Jan 30, 2006 20:44:14 GMT -5
Score at the end of 1 Wolves up 28-26 Kandi came in at the end of the 1st and got soundly booed by the crowd. Celts inbound to start the 2nd. Reed is on PP. Al called for a travel. PP blocks Reed's jumper. Greene throws it away. Reed hits a jumper. McCants called for a foul and Celts inbound. PP spins in the lane and lays it down to Al who is blocked by Blount. Celts called for a 24 sec violation. Garnett hits a hook shot. PP misses a jumper and Blount rebounds. Garnett hits a jumper. Greene's jumper is way off and Wolves rebound. Blount called for a travel. First call was a blocking foul by PP but the lead ref called a travel before the foul. Scal and Wally back in. Reed called for a foul on Wally Time out called with Wolves up 36-28
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Jan 30, 2006 20:48:40 GMT -5
Celts inbound. Wally misses a jumper and Blount comes up with the rebound. Greene gets a steal. Ball is knocked out off Wolves with 10 on the SC. Allen misses a short jumper and Greene misses the putback but Al swoops in and jams home the miss. McCants hits a 3 from the corner. Wolves lead by 9. Wally misses a deep 3 and McCants rebounds. Tony called for a foul as McCants makes a move around him. PP in for Tony.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Jan 30, 2006 20:51:40 GMT -5
Wolves inbound. Blount turns it over. Greene taking it to the basket and is tied up. Wolves win the tip. Blount misses and Madsden rebounds. Ricky misses and Blount grabs the rebound over Scal and hits a short jumper. Scal misses and Ricky grabs the rebound. Wolves miss a jumper and Wally rebounds. PP is fouled on the arm as he goes in for a dunk and will go to the line. Time out called with Wolves up 41-30.
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