Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 8, 2007 14:06:13 GMT -5
at
Atlanta Hawks (2-2) at Boston Celtics (3-0)
Friday, November 9
7:30 pm ET
TV: NBA LP, CSNHD, SportsSouth
Radio: WEEI
TDBanknorthGarden
charts.greatseats.com/350x200/td_banknorth_garden350.jpg[/img]
Probable Starters
PG: Rajon Rondo PPG 10.3 | APG 2.7 | STL 3.3
SG: Ray Allen PPG 24 | APG 2.7 | 3P% .522
SF: Paul Pierce PPG 22.3 | RPG 5 | APG 5
PF: Kevin Garnett PPG 22.7 | RPG 15.3 | BPG 1.3
C: Kendrick Perkins PPG 6 | RPG 4.7 | BPG 1.3
Off the Bench:
Eddie House, Brian Scalabrine, Scot Pollard, Tony Allen, James Posey
Team Notes: James Posey left the Denver game with back spasms and is questionable for this game. I would like to see more Leon Powe and less Scal in this game.
Probable Starters
PG: Acie Law PPG 8 | APG 1 | 3P% .333
SG: Joe Johnson PPG 20.3 | APG 5.5 | 3P% .217
SF: Marvin Williams PPG 17.8 | RPG 6 | APG 2.3
PF: Josh Smith PPG 17.8 | RPG 9.5 | APG 4
C: Al Horford PPG 6.5 | RPG 10.8 | BPG 1.3
Off the Bench:
Josh Childress, Tyronne Lue, Sheldon Williams, Salim Stoudamire, Mario West
Team notes: Zaza Pachulia may be making his debut with the team in this game. Atlanta has been trying different PG's in their starting lineup and after starting Tyronne Lue at first, started Acie Law in the game against Phoenix.
Key Matchups
vs
Ray Allen: 6'5", 24 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.7 apg, +25
Joe Johnson 6'7", 20.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 5.5 apg, +16.75
Joe Johnson is younger and quicker than Ray Allen and has a height advantage. JJ is a good defender and so Ray will have to work to get his shots in this game.
vs
Kevin Garnett 6'11", 22/7 ppg, 15.2 rpg, 6.0 apg, +37
Josh Smith 6'9", 17.8 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 4.0 apg, +23.5
KG has the height advantage and the experience advantage but Josh Smith is quicker than KG and is a very good defender. This should be a good matchup.
Honorable Mention: Perk vs Horford. Horford came into the league very highly regarded and has been playing well. Both are strong and will work at getting position and defending the paint.
Game Notes:
The Hawks have a young and talented nucleus built around former Celtic Joe Johnson. They have shown improvement this season beating both the Mavs and the Suns and losing by just 1 to Detroit. They aren't to be taken for granted. They are coming off a win over Phoenix and so will come in with some confidence. The Celtics have shown great intensity and determination in their first 3 games and I look for that to continue. The Celtics starters will have the advantage over the Hawks starters, and the Celtics bench will have to play well in order to keep that advantage.
to the game:
Defense: The Celtics defense has been incredible so far both individually and as a team. Here is what Melo had to say about the Celtics defense:
This defensive intensity is going to be the key to winning not just this game, but the championship.
Ball Movement: The Celtics ball movement has been phenomenal. They had 32 assists on 49 baskets against Denver and every player made the extra pass to get open shots along with moving without the ball in order to get open. After trying to do too much in the Raptor's game, Pierce bounced back with a very unselfish game and had a couple of spectacular assists instead of forcing the shot. If they continue this, they will be almost unbeatable.
Hustle:
We have seen this team dive for loose balls, crash the boards for rebounds and just basically out hustle the other teams. It will be important to continue doing this. We can't take any teams for granted. The Hawks are coming in with a lot of confidence and we need to continue to send the message that the Celtics are going to be dominant by playing with intensity and out hustling them.
Atlanta Hawks (2-2) at Boston Celtics (3-0)
Friday, November 9
7:30 pm ET
TV: NBA LP, CSNHD, SportsSouth
Radio: WEEI
TDBanknorthGarden
charts.greatseats.com/350x200/td_banknorth_garden350.jpg[/img]
Probable Starters
PG: Rajon Rondo PPG 10.3 | APG 2.7 | STL 3.3
SG: Ray Allen PPG 24 | APG 2.7 | 3P% .522
SF: Paul Pierce PPG 22.3 | RPG 5 | APG 5
PF: Kevin Garnett PPG 22.7 | RPG 15.3 | BPG 1.3
C: Kendrick Perkins PPG 6 | RPG 4.7 | BPG 1.3
Off the Bench:
Eddie House, Brian Scalabrine, Scot Pollard, Tony Allen, James Posey
Team Notes: James Posey left the Denver game with back spasms and is questionable for this game. I would like to see more Leon Powe and less Scal in this game.
Probable Starters
PG: Acie Law PPG 8 | APG 1 | 3P% .333
SG: Joe Johnson PPG 20.3 | APG 5.5 | 3P% .217
SF: Marvin Williams PPG 17.8 | RPG 6 | APG 2.3
PF: Josh Smith PPG 17.8 | RPG 9.5 | APG 4
C: Al Horford PPG 6.5 | RPG 10.8 | BPG 1.3
Off the Bench:
Josh Childress, Tyronne Lue, Sheldon Williams, Salim Stoudamire, Mario West
Team notes: Zaza Pachulia may be making his debut with the team in this game. Atlanta has been trying different PG's in their starting lineup and after starting Tyronne Lue at first, started Acie Law in the game against Phoenix.
Key Matchups
vs
Ray Allen: 6'5", 24 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.7 apg, +25
Joe Johnson 6'7", 20.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 5.5 apg, +16.75
Joe Johnson is younger and quicker than Ray Allen and has a height advantage. JJ is a good defender and so Ray will have to work to get his shots in this game.
vs
Kevin Garnett 6'11", 22/7 ppg, 15.2 rpg, 6.0 apg, +37
Josh Smith 6'9", 17.8 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 4.0 apg, +23.5
KG has the height advantage and the experience advantage but Josh Smith is quicker than KG and is a very good defender. This should be a good matchup.
Honorable Mention: Perk vs Horford. Horford came into the league very highly regarded and has been playing well. Both are strong and will work at getting position and defending the paint.
Game Notes:
The Hawks have a young and talented nucleus built around former Celtic Joe Johnson. They have shown improvement this season beating both the Mavs and the Suns and losing by just 1 to Detroit. They aren't to be taken for granted. They are coming off a win over Phoenix and so will come in with some confidence. The Celtics have shown great intensity and determination in their first 3 games and I look for that to continue. The Celtics starters will have the advantage over the Hawks starters, and the Celtics bench will have to play well in order to keep that advantage.
to the game:
Defense: The Celtics defense has been incredible so far both individually and as a team. Here is what Melo had to say about the Celtics defense:
“They beat the (expletive) out of us tonight…..I seen double teams….I’ve never seen defense like that. Every time I touched the ball, I’m playing against my man, I’m playing against Garnett, I’m playing against Perkins, and I’m playing against Ray Allen. He plugging in there, too. I played against four people every time down the court tonight….”
This defensive intensity is going to be the key to winning not just this game, but the championship.
Ball Movement: The Celtics ball movement has been phenomenal. They had 32 assists on 49 baskets against Denver and every player made the extra pass to get open shots along with moving without the ball in order to get open. After trying to do too much in the Raptor's game, Pierce bounced back with a very unselfish game and had a couple of spectacular assists instead of forcing the shot. If they continue this, they will be almost unbeatable.
Hustle:
We have seen this team dive for loose balls, crash the boards for rebounds and just basically out hustle the other teams. It will be important to continue doing this. We can't take any teams for granted. The Hawks are coming in with a lot of confidence and we need to continue to send the message that the Celtics are going to be dominant by playing with intensity and out hustling them.