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Post by FLCeltsFan on Mar 5, 2007 21:08:24 GMT -5
 at  Houston Rockets (36-23) at Celtics (17-42)
Wednesday, March 7, 2007 • 7:30 PM ET
Regular Season Game #60 • Home Game #29
TD Banknorth Garden • Boston, MA  Probable Starters    PG: Delonte West PPG 11.7 RPG 3.1 APG 4.6 SG: Paul Pierce PPG 25.4 RPG 6.5 APG 4.1 C: Kendrick Perkins PPG 3.9 RPG 4.4 APG 1.2 PF: Al Jefferson PPG 14.9 RPG 11.1 APG 1.1 SF: Brian Scalabrine PPG 4.2 RPG 2.0 APG 1.0 Off the Bench   ![]() assets.espn.go.com/i/nba/profiles/players/65x90/4177.jpg[/img]  Green/Rondo/Gomes/ PowePlayer to Watch Al Jefferson has been on fire lately and was very deservedly named the EC player of the week. It will be interesting to see how he and Perk do against Yao Ming. Notes: I expect Doc to go with the same starting lineup he has been using. but Gomes clearly deserves to be starting instead of Scal. We definitely need Perk starting since Yao Ming is back for the Rockets. Celtics are on a roll and their confidence will be high. Hopefully their chemistry and team play will continue.  Probable Starters     PG: Rafer Alston PPG 13.6 RPG 3.2 APG 5.3 SG: Tracy McGrady PPG 24.5 RPG 5.3 APG 6.0 C: Yao Ming PPG 25.9 RPG 9.4 APG 2.1 PF: Shane Battier PPG 10.5 RPG 4.2 APG 2.3 SF: Chuck Hayes PPG 4.7 RPG 6.1 APG 0.5 Off the Bench     Head/Mutombo/Howard/SnyderPlayer to Watch McGrady is always a threat to take over a game. He is going to be looking for payback for the loss in Houston. I am not sure we have anyone except perhaps Green who can guard him. Notes: The team we face this time is a completely different team than we played in Houston. Yao Ming will be playing his second game back after the injury and even with some rust will be a force to be reckoned with. McGrady will also be playing and with both of them back, they will be tough to beat, even though they are on a road trip. Key Match Up  vs  This should be a good matchup, but with Pierce still being a step slow, McGrady should get the better of it. Keys to the GameTeam Play This team is building chemistry and Al and Pierce are working together well. Pierce is trusting his teammates more and not trying to take over games as he once did. Inside Play We out rebounded the Wolves by 30. The work on the boards has to continue, especially against the Rockets. We also have to take the ball to the basket and not settle for jumpers. And we have to defend the paint to keep them from scoring inside. Limit Turnovers We have been taking better care of the ball lately but it still needs to improve. |
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Post by The Eye of the Q is upon you! on Mar 7, 2007 10:00:34 GMT -5
What about get a new coach, FL?
In reality this is going to be a chore to get to 5 wins in a row because Yao and T-MAC are walking through that door. But with Boston playing with renewed spunk, this should be worthwhile watching.
I'll be reporting in tonight, back from my personal West Coast trip. Portland came up short last night in San Antonio as Ginobli drained 3 after 3 in the 4th qtr. San Antonio is going to be a tough out.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Mar 7, 2007 10:45:31 GMT -5
What about get a new coach, FL? In reality this is going to be a chore to get to 5 wins in a row because Yao and T-MAC are walking through that door. But with Boston playing with renewed spunk, this should be worthwhile watching. I'll be reporting in tonight, back from my personal West Coast trip. Portland came up short last night in San Antonio as Ginobli drained 3 after 3 in the 4th qtr. San Antonio is going to be a tough out. We definitely need a new coach. With every win, I am more afraid that Danny will keep Doc than I am of losing ping pong balls. I like this team and really don't feel we need the #1 pick, although it would be nice. But we NEED a new coach. |
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Post by The Eye of the Q is upon you! on Mar 7, 2007 11:55:24 GMT -5
What about get a new coach, FL? In reality this is going to be a chore to get to 5 wins in a row because Yao and T-MAC are walking through that door. But with Boston playing with renewed spunk, this should be worthwhile watching. I'll be reporting in tonight, back from my personal West Coast trip. Portland came up short last night in San Antonio as Ginobli drained 3 after 3 in the 4th qtr. San Antonio is going to be a tough out. We definitely need a new coach. With every win, I am more afraid that Danny will keep Doc than I am of losing ping pong balls. I like this team and really don't feel we need the #1 pick, although it would be nice. But we NEED a new coach. Did Leon Powe even hit the dance floor this weekend? We could use his rebounding and defense tonight. Perkins will have to play Yao, which is a brutal matchup by any account. I wish we had Tony Allen to work on T-Mac. We have a chance if we can move the ball and hit those open threes like San Antonio did in Portland. |
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Mar 7, 2007 19:52:47 GMT -5
West, Pierce, Scal, Al, and Perk starting tonight. Yao wins the tip. McGrady misses and Al rebounds. PP hits a 3 coming off a double screen. Battier misses from the corner. Hayes rebounds and Yao hits a hook shot. PP hits a jumper. Rockets get an easy layup. PP drives into a double team and turns it over. Hayes hits a jumper. Al draws a foul on Yao Ming in the paint. Al misses the first. hits the second FT. Battier hits a 3 from the corner. Yao blocks West's shot in the lane. Perk called for a foul on Yao. Yao hits both FTs. McGrady steals the ball from Al. Rockets miss a baseline jumper and Al rebounds. Hayes with a steal and McGrady gets a layup. Al misses a jumper. Rockets rebound. Rockets miss and Al rebounds. Al called for a travel as he spins for a hook shot. Hayes misses and Yao rebounds. Perk blocks his put back. Pierce hits a jumper. Rockets miss and Celtics rebound. Rockets called for defensive 3 second violation. PP hits the T. Celtics inbound. West misses a jumper and Yao tracks down the rebound. Alston hits a 3. Perk lays it in and is fouled. He hits the FT. Hayes hits a runner in the lane. PP misses a 3 and Al rebounds He misses the put back. Perk rebounds and is fouled by Hayes under the basket. Time out with 5:17 left in the first and Houston up 17-12
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Mar 7, 2007 19:56:57 GMT -5
Celtics inbound on the side. West takes it to the basket and misses. Rockets rebound and get it inside to Yao for an easy layup. Rockets deflect the ball out of bounds as PP tries to lay it down to Al. Celtics turn it over on the inbounds pass. Yao misses on the baseline and Howard with the weak side rebound. Rockets have it blocked and Perk gets the rebound. Celtics miss and Rockets rebound. McGrady hits an open 3 after some nice ball movement by the Rockets. Celtics turn it over on the inbounds pass. Gomes and Green come in for Scal and Perk. Mcgrady misses a jumper and Gomes rebounds. time out with 3:30 left in the 1st and Rockets up 22-12
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Mar 7, 2007 19:59:28 GMT -5
Celtics inbound on the side with 17 on the SC. Al gets the ball inside from Gerald and spins to the basket for a dunk. Howard hits a baseline jumper. PP misses from the top of the key and Al rebounds but misses the put back. Green with a steal and he gets fouled at mid court. Time out with 2:32 left in the 1st and Rockets up 24-14
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Mar 7, 2007 20:06:49 GMT -5
Al hits a short jumper on the baseline. Travelling called on TMac as he tries to split the double team in the lane. Pass gets broken up and goes out off Houston. Celtics inbound with 14 on the SC. Green misses a jumper. Mutombo rebounds. Rockets hit a jumper. Al misses a baseline jumper and Green flies in for the rebound and put back. West with a steal and he takes it to the basket and lays it in. Howard misses but gets his own rebound and lays it in. West takes it to the basket but can't finish. Rockets rebound. Howard called for a loose ball foul. Rondo comes in for West. PP hits the first Powe comes in for Al. PP hits the second FT. Green gives a foul Rockets inbound with 9.9 left in the 1st. West comes in for PP. McGrady hits a runner off the glass. Green just misses a long 3 at the buzzer. Score at the end of one is Houston 30 and Celtics 22.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Mar 7, 2007 20:11:59 GMT -5
Celtics inbound to start the 2nd. Rondo, West, Gomes, Powe, Green on the floor. Gomes is fouled by TMac. Gomes misses both FTs. Mutombo rebounds. TMac hits a 3 from the corner. Gomes hits a jumper from just inside the arc. TMac misses an Mutombo rebounds and gets it to Alston for a 3. Mutombo with a block and TMac hits a 3 from the top of the arc. Time out with Rockets up 39-24 and 10:29 left in the half
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Post by The Eye of the Q is upon you! on Mar 7, 2007 20:20:26 GMT -5
Ouch!!! What can we do to compete tonight?
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Mar 7, 2007 20:23:27 GMT -5
Celtics inbound with 17 on the SC. Gomes misses a jumper. Howard rebounds. Rockets turn it over out of bounds. Rondo loses the dribble and Rockets get an easy layup. Gomes gets inside for a layup. Green fouls McGrady shooting a 3 as Green falls for the upfake. Al comes in for Powe. TMac hits the first. PP comes in for Green. TMac hits the second and third FTs. Al lays it in as the SC winds down. Rockets turn it over. Al goes to the basket and Mutombo called for a goal tend. Head hits a 3. Gomes misses up and under but Al rebounds and puts it in as he draws the foul. Al misses the FT and Yao tracks down the rebound. Howard misses and Al gets the rebound. Al hits a jumper over yao. Al called for a foul on Yao inside. He hits both FTs. Gomes hits a jumper from the top of the key. Head gets inside for a layup. West goes to the basket along the baseline and draws a foul on Yao. He hits both FTs. Head misses along the baseline and rebound goes out of bounds. Time out with 5:49 left in the half and Rockets up 51-38
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Mar 7, 2007 20:32:29 GMT -5
Rockets inbound and Yao misses a short jumper. Celtics rebound. PP misses a jumper but long rebound comes out to gomes. Howard called for a foul. Celtics inbound on the side. Al misses a shot in the lane. Rockets rebound. Battier hits a 3 from the corner. Rockets are 8-11 from beyond the arc. Al takes it to the basket and is fouled by Yao Ming, his 3rd. Al front rims the first, hits the second FT. West called for a foul. Rockets inbound on the side. Battier rims out a 3 and Hayes tips in the miss. Gomes hits a jumper from the FT line but comes up limping. Battier misses and Al rebounds. Gomes goes to the basket and is fouled by Hayes, his 3rd foul and once again Gomes comes up limping. He misses the first. hits the second. Perk is back in. Battier misses a 3 from the corner. Gomes rebounds. Al hits a jumper over Mutombo. Perk is called for a foul. Time out with 2:49 left in the half and Rockets up 56-44.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Mar 7, 2007 20:43:09 GMT -5
Gomes is heading to the locker room after talking to the resident expert on sprained ankles, Wally. Mutombo a the line misses the first and hits the second FT. Starters back on the floor for Boston. Scal misses a jumper from the FT line. Battier with the rebound. McGrady fouled by Scal. TMac hits both FTs. Scal shoots an airball from the corner. Rockets rebound. TMac is fouled by Scal. Doc should NOT have Scal on TMac. McGrady makes the first, misses the second, hits the third. PP misses and Hayes rebounds. Perk called for a foul on McGrady as he was chasing him. TMac misses the first. Green in for Perk. He hits the second. Green misses and Al rebounds. He takes it to the basket and misses the layup but draws the foul. Al hits both FTs. TMac misses a jumper as Green plays good defense. Al rebounds. PP misses a jumper. he misses again and Rockets rebound. Scal with a steal. He gets it ahead to West who takes it to the basket and lays it in as he is fouled. West completes the 3 point play. Battier misses a jumper. Al rebounds. Head steals it from PP miss at the buzzer. Score at the half is Houston 62 and Boston 49
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Post by The Eye of the Q is upon you! on Mar 7, 2007 20:51:04 GMT -5
Q at the half -
Obviously we are having trouble matching up with the Rox tonight. But a lot of that is attributable to starting West at PG and leading to early TO's and subsequently Rox fast break points. 2nd trouble spot is Docs' decision to match up Scalabrine against T-Mac and predictably, T-Mac is having a field day against the C's.
Dufus Doc has forgotten what worked in Houston, evidently. Play Gerald Green against T-Mac, Dufus Doc.
I still like the Celtics to outscore them in the 2nd half, but the Rockets will do what it takes to win this game.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Mar 7, 2007 21:09:04 GMT -5
Gomes won't play in the second half with a sprained left ankle. Starters on the floor for the Celtics. Celtics inbound to start the 3rd. Al misses and Rockets rebound. Rockets miss and first tip misses but second top goes. PP misses a 3 and yao rebounds. Alston hits a 3. Delonte loses the pass and Celtics with a 24 second violation. Yao hits a hook shot over Perk. Rockets with a steal. TMac misses a 3 PP rebounds. PP goes baseline and lays it in off the glass. Hayes misses up and under Al rebounds. PP hits a jumper. Yao misses as Perk plays good defense and Al rebounds. Al misses in the lane and Yao rebounds. Hayes called for a travel. PP takes it to the basket and is fouled by Yao, his 4th. He hits the first and misses the second. Al with a steal PP hits a jumper from the FT line. Battier hits a 3 from the top of the arc. Celtics inbound on the side after shot clock had to be reset. PP lays it down to Perk and he is fouled by Mutombo. Perk hits both FTs. Alston misses and perk rebounds. PP misses a jumper and rebound goes over the top to the Rockets. Hayes takes it to the basket and draws a foul on Perk, his 4th. he hits both FTs. Perk with a pass inside to PP but he couldn't catch it and it goes out of bounds. Mutombo draws a foul. Time out with 5:59 left in the d3rd and Houston up 74-59
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