Sonics (25-36) at Boston (17-43)

[FLCeltsFan]

at

Seattle Supersonics (25-36) at Boston Celtics (17-43)
Friday, March 9, 2007 • 7:30 PM ET
Regular Season Game #61 • Home Game #30
TD Banknorth Garden • Boston, MA


Probable Starters
Point Guard
#9 Rajon Rondo PPG 5 | APG 3.1 | SPG 1.36
#25 Earl Watson PPG 8.6 | APG 5.7 | SPG 1.2

Shooting Guard
#34 Paul Pierce PPG 25.2 | RPG 6.4 | APG 4
#34 Ray Allen PPG 26.6 | APG 4.2 | 3P% .374

Small Forward
#44 Brian Scalabrine PPG 4.1 | RPG 2 | BPG 0.3
#7 Rashard Lewis PPG 21.9 | RPG 6.9 | APG 2.6

Power Forward
#7 Al Jefferson PPG 15 | RPG 11.2 | BPG 1.5
#54 Chris Wilcox PPG 12.5 | RPG 7.5 | BPG 0.5

Center
#43 Kendrick Perkins PPG 4 | RPG 4.4 | BPG 1.3
#4 Nick Collison PPG 9.8 | RPG 8.1 | BPG 0.8

Coaching Matchup
vs
Doc Rivers vs Bob Hill





Off the Bench

Telfair/Green/ Powe

Injuries
Delonte West - concussion - day to day
Ryan Gomes - foot - questionable
Wally Szczerbiak - ankle - out
Theo Ratliff - back - out
Tony Allen - knee - out

Notes: Without knowing the status of Delonte West for tomorrow night, I put Rondo into the starting lineup. We all know that if West can play, he will - so that may change. The cat scan came back negative and he was released from the hospital and will be re-evaluated on Friday. Xrays on Gomes foot were negative and he is listed as questionable and won't be re-evaluated until Sunday.



Off the Bench

Petro/ Wilkins/ Wilks

Injuries
Danny Fortson - knee - day to day
Ridnour - herniated disc - out
Swift - knee - out

Notes: Seattle will be playing the 3rd game of a road trip. They beat the Knicks on a last second shot by Allen and lost to Philly.

Key matchup
vs

Interesting Fact
When we played the Sonics on December 31, our starting lineup was West, Allen, Green, Gomes, and Jefferson and their starting lineup was Ridnour, Watson, Allen, Wilcox, and Glyniadakis.
Final score was Sonics 101 and Celtics 95.

[img src="i17.photobucket.com/albums/b58/FLCeltsFan12/keys_togame.jpg"][/img] to the game

Don't play Scal on Ray Allen. I have no idea why Doc would put Scal on Tracy McGrady and then leave him there as he got burned time after time. Hopefully, Doc won't try to use Scal to guard Ray Allen.

Rebound. When we hit the boards we usually have a good chance to win. We need to be aggressive in going to the basket for rebounds and chasing down the long rebounds.

Pass the ball Against Houston, we were holding the ball way too much instead of moving it to find the open man. Gerald needs to shoot it when he gets an open shot also. He was either holding it too long or passing up open shots. He is best when he can catch and shoot.

Defend. We have to get stops. Our offense seems to feed off of our defense. When we hustle on defense, we seem to be more effective on the offensive end as well. We proved during the winning streak that we can win games by playing defense. And we proved against Houston that we can lose games by not playing defense.

[DERRENMATTS]

We've gotten into a lot of bad habits lately, which we need to quit right away. Like you've mentioned, FL, we are holding onto the ball far too long and setting up our offense way too slowly. Our execution isn't crisp and I hate it when we can't abort a set play and go with a play that is available--there were numerous times when Jefferson had positioning on his man and was waiting for the entry pass, but the ball had to be swung back around to the other side of the court where Pierce was setting up, or it was Perk's call to get the ball so Jefferson had to backout out of the post and make way for Perk to post up. It just doesn't make sense.

I'm hoping Doc plays Rajon at the 1 and puts Delonte at the 2. Its now been back to back games where Tommy has criticized our PG play while Delonte was handling the ball--both times he was subtly upset that the ball wasn't advanced up the court quicker. Yes Delonte is playing better, but there's no reason why he shouldn't be starting at the 2 so that we can move Scalabrine back to the bench. Delonte can still get his 30+ minutes and put up more points as the off guard and let the ball handling duties go to Rajon and Telfair.

Pierce has been playing at a subpar level the past 3 games. He's forcing shots and shooting at a poor percentage. He's moving a step slower than his defender and can't get into the lanes like he normally can. I'd rather Jefferson take 23 shot attempts rather than watching Pierce struggle to get his shot off. Its best for Pierce to get his offense going through catch-and-shoots curling off of picks. Isolations aren't doing well for him right now.

[The Eye of the Q is upon you!]

Having West sit out a couple of games will force Doc to use Rondo and Telfair at PG's. That would not be a bad thing as that would force Paul to move without the ball and give him catch and shoot situations he seems to be good at. Or he can set up Jefferson down low. I look for Perkins and Jefferson to emerge together as the season winds down. Pull Scalabrine out of the SL and put Green in to work with Pierce on the other wing. Come on Doc, coach 'em up better.

[FLCeltsFan]

5:44 left in the 1st and Sonics up 19-17 and 5:44 left in the first. Celtics inbound with 4 on the SC and Rondo hits a 3. Lewis hits a fall away. Green fakes a 3 and drives baseline and lays it down for Al who dunks it. Wilcox hits a jumper. Green misses a jumper. Al rebounds. PP misses a jumper. Perk keeps it alive but Collison comes away with it. Watson is fouled by Rondo. Rondo takes it to the basket and misses but Al is there for the rebound and put back. Wilcox misses a dunk. Perk is called for a foul on a very late call. Scal comes in for Perk. Wilcox makes both FTs. Telfair misses from the corner and Collison rebounds. Wiilcox misses and Collison keeps it aive back to Wilcox who takes it to the basket and Scal is called for a goal tend. Celtics miss and Al rebounds. Al gets through a double team hits a jump shot and is fouled. Time out with Sonics up 30-26 and 2:45 left in the 1st.

[FLCeltsFan]

Al misses the FT gets the rebound, misses a jumper in the lane. Sonics rebound. Refs are conferring about something or other. I think it was a shot clock issue. Sonics inbound on the side. Wilkins misses in the lane and gets his own rebound. Sonics throw it away out of bounds. Scal hits a 3 from the top of the arc. Wilcox gets to the basket, lays it in and draws the foul on Al, his second. Powe comes in for Al. Wilcox hits the FT. ball kicked by Petro out of bounds. Celtics inbound with 16 on the SC. Telfair misses a jumper. Wilkins turns it over. pp misses a jumper. Powe gets the rebound in the midst of 4 Sonics players. offensive foul on Scal. Wilkins gets up the court quickly for an easy layup. Green hits a baseline jumper. Watson misses. Green gets the rebound and misses a runner at the Buzzer. Score at the end of one is Sonics 35 Celtics 31.

[FLCeltsFan]

Sonics inbound to start the second. Scal, Powe, Telfair, Green and Ray on the floor. Allan Ray is guarding Ray Allen. Celtics extending their pressure and Sonics don't get it cross the line on time and turn it over. Green misses a jumper. Petro called for a foul over the back on Powe. Celtics inbound on the side. Scal misses from the corner. Sonics rebound. Petro hits a jumper from the FT line. Ray misses a jumper. Sonics rebound. Allen misses a jumper. Sonics get the rebound. Wilkins hits a jumper. Telfair drives to the basket and misses the layup but is fouled. Telfair hits 1 of 2. Allen hits a runner in the lane. Powe gets the ball inside and loses it out of bounds. Allen hits a jumper. Green goes baseline and is fouled under the basket. Green hits both FTs. Petro shoots and Green flies in from nowhere to swat the ball away but it is called a goal tend. Time out with Sonics up 45-34 with 8:53 left in the 2nd. Rondo was doing great and making things happen and was aggressive and hit 4-5 shots and Doc pulls him out. WHY?

[FLCeltsFan]

He misses the FT and there is a scramble for the ball and Scal draws the foul in the scramble. Al is in for Powe. Al with a nice pass to a cutting Telfair for a layup. Green called for a foul. Pierce comes in for Green. Sonics inbound. Sonics with a 24 second violation. Scal misses a 3 and Allen rebounds. Wilks is fouled by Ray. Wilkins misses and Al rebounds. Al is fouled by Wilcox as he makes a move on the baseline. Al at the line He hits the first and front rims the second. Lewis hits a 3 off the catch. PP hits a jumper. Allen misses and Al rebounds. PP misses a jumper and Al with the rebound and put back. Sonics miss and Al rebounds. Al is doubled and throws it away. Allen lays it in. PP hits a jumper over Wilks. Collison takes it to the basket and lays it in. PP hits a jumper over Allen. Wilks misses and Al rebounds. PP is doubled and gets tied up. Jump ball called. Time out with Seattle up 52-45 and 4:15 left in the half

[FLCeltsFan]

Sonics win the tip. Collison lays it in. Rondo back in for Celtics. Ray shoots an airball from the corner and Celtics have a 24 second violation. Perk back in for Al. Allen hits a runner in the lane. PP misses from the FT line and Watson gets the rebound. Allen hits a 3. Time out with Sonics up 59-45 and 2:53 left in the half.

[FLCeltsFan]

Celtics inbound and Rondo brings it up. Green misses a 3 and Perk grabs the rebound and lays it in. Wilkins quickly gets back and hits a jumper. Watson tips the ball away. Allen comes away with it and is fouled by PP. It is called a clear path foul. Allen hits both FTs. Sonics inbound on the side. Rondo tips the ball away and force the Sonics into a 24 second violation. Perk gets the ball inside and kicks it out to PP who hits a 3 off the catch. Collison called for an offensive foul as PP takes the charge. Rondo takes ot to the basket and lays it in. Watson called for an offensive foul. Technical foul called on the Sonics. PP hits the T. Rondo drives to the basket and draws a foul on Watson. He misses the first. hits the second. Time out called with 32.8 left in the half and Sonics up 63-54

[FLCeltsFan]

sonics inbound. Travelling called on Sonics. Scal hits a 3 from the corner. Sonics inbound with 9.8 in the half. Watson hits a 3. Scal gets a long pass under the basket and lays it in but they call no basket. Score at the half is Sonics 66 and Celtics 57.

[FLCeltsFan]

Experience Giddyupidness ... Experience Rondoism... I love that commercial. Rondo is proving tonight why he should be the starting PG. He just makes things happen. He is also proving he can score - 5-6 from the field for 13 points. Jefferson with 9 points and 9 rebounds. We need to play some defense as we haven't been able to get any stops.

[FLCeltsFan]

Sonics inbound to start the 3rd. Lewis misses a flip shot in the lane and Perk rebounds. PP misses a jumper and Al rebounds. PP misses and Allen rebounds. Allen misses Wilcox misses the put back and Perk rebounds. Green hits a jumper in the lane. Watson hits a fall away in the paint. Lewis with a steal and Green fouls him. Perk with a block and travel called on Wilcox. PP drives down the lane and is fouled. PP front rims the first FT. back rims the second. Lane violation against the Celtics. Seattle ball. Watson misses a 3 and Collison rebounds. Allen drives to the basket and is fouled by Perk. He hits both FTs. Perk's pass to Pierce is too high and Sonics come away with it and score on the other end. PP misses a jumper and Sonics rebound. Sonics miss PP rebounds. Al gets the ball inside and lays it in. Lewis hits a jumper. Rondo misses a jumper in the lane but draws the foul on Watson, his 4th. He hits both FTs. Collison hits a layup. Al's shoots a hook shot and Sonics called for a goal tend. Rondo with a steal and he takes it to the basket and is fouled. He hits both FTs. He almost gets another steal but Watson recovers. Lewis hits a 3. Rondo throws it away trying to get it across court. Basket interference called and Celtics get it back. Green loses the ball as he makes a move to the basket. Allen misses and PP comes away with it. PP gets it ahead to Green who lays it in. Wilks misses and Al rebounds. Rondo takes it to the basket and lays it in. Sonics miss and PP rebounds. Perk with a nice pass inside to Al who lays it in. Time out with Sonics up 79-73 and 4:31 left in the third.

[FLCeltsFan]

Sonics inbound and bring it up. Perk or Al blocks the shot and Green almost ends in the crowd trying to save it. Lewis misses a runner and PP rebounds. Green hits a 3 from the corner off the catch. Allen misses a 3 and Al rebounds. They get it ahead to Green for a dunk and the Celtics are within 1. Sonics miss and Green rebounds. Al misses a hook shot and Sonics rebound. Sonics turn it over. Kicked ball. Time out with Sonics up 79-78 and 2:42 left in the third.

[FLCeltsFan]

Al, Perk, Green, PP, Rondo on the floor. Celtics inbound with 18 on the SC. PP doubled on the side and has to call time out as there is nowhere for him to go. Celtics inbound with 6 on the SC. Rondo misses and Celtics PP rebounds. Al takes it inside and lays it in. Celtics go up by 1. Watson misses and Collison rebounds. Wilcox misses and Celtics rebound. PP hits a jumper. Green called for a foul, his 4th. Ray comes in for Green. PP with a steal and he takes it all the way for a layup. Watson hits a 3. PP misses and Ray gets the rebound. PP misses a deep 3 at the buzzer. The last 2 possessions ended with iso's for PP and both ended poorly. Back to bad habits. Score at the end of 3 is Celtics 84 and Sonics 82

[cfoo]

I love seeing Perk and Al together. Green and Rondo have really been impressive. Rondo, Green, Pierce, Al and Perk is a very good unit potentially.