|
Post by FLCeltsFan on Feb 21, 2007 0:55:32 GMT -5
at Boston Celtics (13-39) at Phoenix Suns (40-12) Wednesday, February 21 9:00 PM Eastern time NBALP (DTV 758), FSNE US Airways Center Probable Starting Matchups:Point Guard West vs Nash Shooting Guard Pierce vs Bell Center Jefferson vs Stoudamire Power Forward Scalabrine vs Marion Small Forward Gomes vs Diaw Key Bench Players Wally/Perk/Rondo/Green Key Bench Players Banks/Barbosa/Jones/Thomas Key Matchup vs Playing against Stoudamire will be good experience for Jefferson. Stoudamire is all the way back from his injury and playing strong. Keys to game: I am not sure there is anything we can do to win this game unless Phoenix plays below their normal level. They are a veteran team with great chemistry and hold the advantage at every position except at Shooting Guard with Pierce. Nash is back and with him at the point they are a very strong team. Both teams are playing the second of back to back games so neither will have the advantage in that area. Doc insists on starting Scal at Center or PF and also West at the point. We are a much better team starting Rondo at the point and NOT starting Scal. I liked the starting lineup that Celtics.com had for the Kings game that Doc didn't use and that is Rondo at the 1, West at the 2, Pierce at the 3, Gomes at the 4, and Al a the 5. If we do win, we will need to Play tough defense without any lapses from start to finish. Against the Kings we played good D at the end but virtually none for the first 3 quarters. We will need to shoot a very good percentage Limit turnovers and play team ball We seemed to get away from the passing game and when we did pass, they were bad passes that ended up in turnovers. RUN! we will have to run on both offenses and defense because we know the Suns will.
|
|
|
Post by DERRENMATTS on Feb 21, 2007 4:07:57 GMT -5
I'm afraid we'll lose this game by 40. We have a hard time guarding the perimeter, and the Suns are tons better from the perimeter than the Kings. Nash and Co. will probably carve apart our defense. I'm usually not a pessimist, but the Suns are ridiculously good at moving the ball and burying jumpers--and we are extremely bad at covering the perimeter.
If Doc plays Delonte at the Point one more time .......... he should be immediately fired. Play Rajon, play Telfair--just keep Delonte at the 2 and have him shoot the ball like he did last night. That's how to improve our lineup.
|
|
|
Post by The Eye of the Q is upon you! on Feb 21, 2007 8:17:13 GMT -5
Likewise, I just enjoy watching Steve Nash run a basketball team. West is a good 6th man, Steve Kerr role player and should be compensated accordingly. I just hope he doesn't bolt for San Antonio after his rookie contract.
Next year's SL: Rajon, TA (PP), PP (possibly GG or Durant), Jeff, and Perk (hopefully Oden). Bench: Gomes (Powe), West, Telfair (Veteran - or trade in), Scalabrine (If we must), Sczczerbiak (oh dear).
Next Years coach: Cowens, Silas, Parish, or DJ
|
|
|
Post by The Eye of the Q is upon you! on Feb 21, 2007 8:19:11 GMT -5
We will lose the game - but it might not be as bad as you think. Gerald Green gets a showcase run here.
|
|
|
Post by FLCeltsFan on Feb 21, 2007 13:06:48 GMT -5
Celtics.com has Rondo starting tonight again. Maybe wishful thinking on their part but Doc went back to the old lineup last night so probablly won't change tonight either. I like Rondo at the point much better than West. I love West as a player but he does so much better at the 2.
|
|
|
Post by The Eye of the Q is upon you! on Feb 21, 2007 13:25:16 GMT -5
Celtics.com has Rondo starting tonight again. Maybe wishful thinking on their part but Doc went back to the old lineup last night so probablly won't change tonight either. I like Rondo at the point much better than West. I love West as a player but he does so much better at the 2. It makes too much sense it start Rondo - ain't no way Doc will start him. And BTW why not start Perkins over Scalabrine and bring in Gomes and Powe off the bench as backup big men. We need a new coach but everyone here already knows that. See you tonight and I will try my level best to keep it civil
|
|
|
Post by FLCeltsFan on Feb 21, 2007 21:03:33 GMT -5
No Mike and Tommy again tonight I really do miss them when I have to listen to the other team's announcers.
|
|
|
Post by FLCeltsFan on Feb 21, 2007 21:21:54 GMT -5
Wally is out as expected. Diaw will also be out with back spasms. Al, Gomes, Scal, Pierce, and West are starting. Doc has got to be an idiot for continually starting Scal at center. We so need a new coach.
Al jumping against Stoudamire and Celtics win the tip. West misses a jumper. Al rebounds. PP hits a 3 from the top of the arc. Bell hits a jumper. Gomes pass across court was hard for West to handle in the corner and he steps out of bounds and turns it over. Nash drives baseline and hits a reverse layup. Scal shoots an airball from beyond the arc. Bell takes it to the basket and lays it in. Celtics turn it over. Suns turn it over on the other end. PP misses a 3 and Thomas rebounds. Suns turn it over out of bounds. West hits a 3 from the corner. Nash turns it over on a bad pass. The announcers are talking about how Wally's tendons in his ankles must be like jello. Scal hits a 3 from the corner. Stoudamire misses and Gomes rebounds. West misses a jumper and Marion rebounds. Nash misses and Al is fouled on the rebound as Nash hits him in the eye. PP takes it to the basket and lays it in. Suns turn it over. Al misses in the lane. Suns get the rebound but turn it over and Scal takes it in for a layup. Stoudamire is fouled and goes to the line. He hits both FTs. West hits a 3 from the left top of the arc. Nash misses and Scal rebounds. PP hits a jumper. Marion misses and Thomas rebounds and lays it in. West misses a 3. Stoudamire rebounds. Thomas gets a pass inside from Nash and lays it in. Al misses a jump hook and Suns rebound. Stoudamire gets inside for a dunk. Al has it knocked out of bounds by Thomas and a foul is called. Time out with Boston up 18-14 and 4:24 left in the first. Our lead isn't so much that we are playing well but that they are playing poorly.
|
|
|
Post by FLCeltsFan on Feb 21, 2007 21:27:54 GMT -5
Al at the line hits both FTs. Suns miss and Amare called for offensive basket interference. Celtics turn it over. Jones hits a 3 from the corner. Al misses a jump hook but gets his own rebound. Gomes hits a jumper in the lane. Stoudamire misses in the lane and PP rebounds. Al hits a hook shot after twisting and turning to get the shot. Barbosa hits a jumper. Celtics miss and Suns rebound. Stoudamire lays it in and is fouled. Time out with Celtics up 24-21 and 2:23 left in the first.
|
|
|
Post by FLCeltsFan on Feb 21, 2007 21:35:30 GMT -5
Stoudamire completes the 3 point play. Rondo is in for Scal. Gomes hits a jumper. Blocking foul called on PP and Stoudamire goes to the line. He hits both FTs. PP misses from the FT line. Suns rebounds. Thomas misses a jumper but Stoudamire is there for the rebound and put back. Perk's hook shot goes in and out and Suns rebound. Stoudamire gets to the basket and lays it in. Offensive foul on Rondo. West with a block on Barbosa and ball goes out off Celtics. Green is in for Pierce. Bell is fouled by Perkins and he will go to the line. He hits the first and Telfair comes in for Perk. Bell hits the second. West misses a 3 from the top of the arc and Suns rebound at the buzzer. Score at the end of 1 is Suns 30 and Celtics 26.
|
|
|
Post by FLCeltsFan on Feb 21, 2007 21:44:43 GMT -5
Gomes is fouled and hits both FTs. The announcers are joking that Doc's job is safe because he has the right brain type. Suns miss and Celtics rebound. Telfair misses and Perk rebounds over Bell. Rondo misses a runner in the lane. Suns rebound and Marion gets inside for a dunk. Suns miss and Celtics rebound. Celtics miss and Perk rebounds. Green has his shot blocked by Jones and Barbosa lays it in and is fouled. he hits the FT. Green hits a 3. Barbosa misses and Thomas rebounds but Green steals it. Telfair hits a jumper. Barbosa hits a jumper. Offensive foul on the Celtics. Time out with 8:19 left in the half and Suns up 36-33
|
|
|
Post by FLCeltsFan on Feb 21, 2007 21:49:17 GMT -5
Green, Telfair, Rondo, Gomes, Jefferson on the floor. Suns inbound and bring it up. Barbosa is blocked and rebound is tipped around and ball goes out of bounds off Suns. Telfair drives down the lane and lays it in. Marion lays it in. Telfair misses a jumper. Suns miss a 3 and Celtics inbound. Telfair takes it all the way for a layup. Suns with an alley oop dunk. Telfair hits a jumper. Suns miss and Al rebounds. Stoudamire fouls Gomes. Time out with 5:58 left in the half and Suns up 40-39
|
|
|
Post by FLCeltsFan on Feb 21, 2007 21:56:01 GMT -5
Gomes is at the line. Telfair, West, Gomes, Green, and Al in for the Celtics. Gomes hits both FTs. Defensive 3 second violation on Al with 2 seconds on the SC. Nash hits the T. Suns inbound with 14 on the SC. Bell misses a 3 and Al rebounds. Pierce is in for Gomes. Pierce is fouled. Celtics inbound and Al misses in the lane. Suns rebound. Suns miss and Al rebounds. Celtics miss and Stoudamire rebounds. Bell hits a 3 from the corner. Green hits a 3 off the catch. Nash hits a jumper from the top of the key. West misses a jumper and Suns rebound. Marion hits a hook shot in the lane. Time out with Suns up 48-44 and 3:19 left in the half.
|
|
|
Post by FLCeltsFan on Feb 21, 2007 22:03:51 GMT -5
Suns miss a layup and Al rebounds. Al misses a jump hook sna Suns rebound. Barbosa lays it in. Green takes it to the basket and lays it in over Bell. Stoudamire hits a jumper. Green misses a jumper at the SC. Suns rebound. Marion hits a jumper. Al called for a travel. Scal fouls Stoudamire. He hits the first and misses the second. Celtics rebound. West misses and Stoudamire rebounds. Nash takes it to the basket for a layup. West hits a 3 but it won't count because he didn't beat the buzzer. Score at the half is Phoenix 57 and Celtics 46. They are playing hard, but the Suns are just too much for them.
|
|
|
Post by FLCeltsFan on Feb 21, 2007 22:26:31 GMT -5
Suns inbound to start the 3rd. Suns miss and Al rebounds. Starters on the floor for Boston. 24 second violation on the Celtics. Nash misses and rebound goes out of bounds off Boston. Stoudamire is fouled by Scal as he goes up for a layup. He hits both FTs. Marion called for a foul and Celtics inbound on the side with 15 on the SC. PP is doubled and his pass is picked off. Bell is fouled going to the basket. He hits the first misses the second and West rebounds. PP hits a jumper. Marion misses a 3 and West corrals the rebound. Gomes hits a jumper. Stoudamire hits a jumper. Gomes goes baseline and misses the layup but draws the foul. He hits both FTs. Suns miss a layup and PP rebounds in traffic. Al hits a bank shot on the baseline. Stoudamire misses and Al rebounds. Gomes misses ajumper and Suns rebound. Bell misses and West chases down the rebound. He gets it ahead to gomes who misses a layup but tips home his own miss. Time out with Suns up 62-56.
|
|