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Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 15, 2007 20:26:54 GMT -5
 at  Miami Heat (1-7) at Boston Celtics (7-0) Friday, November 16 7:30 PM ET TV: CSN HD, Sun Sports, LP Ch 753 TD Banknorth Garden  Probable Starting Matchups Point Guard vs  Rajon Rondo vs Jason Williams Shooting Guard vs  Ray Allen vs Dwayne Wade Small Forward  vs  Paul Pierce vs Penny Hardaway Power Forward  vs  Kevin Garnett vs Udonis Haslem Center vs  Kendrick Perkins vs Shaquille O'Neal   Off the Bench James Posey, Tony Allen, Big Baby Davis, Leon Powe, Scot Pollard, Brian Scalabrine, Gabe Pruitt Injuries: Eddie House - day to day Key Bench Players  James Posey will want to have a good game against his former team. Tony had his best game yet against the Nets and look for his confidence to continue to grow as he works his way back from the injury.  Off the BenchRicky Davis, Alonzo Mourning, Smush Parker, Mark Blount, Daequan Cook, Alexander Johnson InjuriesNone Key Bench Players  With Dwayne Wade back in the starting lineup, expect Ricky D to resume the role he filled in Boston as the 6th man. Ricky always plays big against the Celtics. While Blount has had a very small role in Miami so far, playing behind both Shaq and Mourning, he still holds a grudge against the Celtics and will want to beat them. Who can forget Ricky and Blount hugging after they beat the Celtics last season and Blount skipping across the court the year before. While he may not play a key role on the floor during the game, beating him sure will feel good. Keys to the Game: Don't take them for granted. Too often teams lose to lesser teams because they take them for granted. Any team with Shaq and D Wade is still a dangerous team in spite of their slow start. Defense. This will be the key to every single game this season and it has been the cornerstone of this team so far. As long as they play tough defense, everything else will fall into place. Ball Movement. When we stop moving the ball and there is too much dribbling and there are too many iso's, we aren't near as dominant. When they are unselfish and move without the ball and look for the open man, they are almost unstopable. Home Court Advantage. This isn't to be underestimated. The Garden crowd has been great the players have mentioned how fired up the crowd gets them. It also has to be intimidating to the visiting teams. Key Match Ups:  vs  Wade came back from his injury in the last game and played 24 minutes off the bench scoring 15 points and dishing out 5 assists. I expect him to be back in the starting lineup and ready to go, although he may still be a bit out of condition. Wade is the Heat's most dominant player and Ray is due for a big game so this should be a good matchup.  vs  Although Shaq isn't as dominant as he once was, he still can be a force. Perk has played well against him in the past and should be able to hold his own against Shaq. His play in the middle will be key. Game Notes The Heat have had a rough start. Pat Riley is questioning their motivation and heart. Here is what Riley had to say about his team after they lost to the Bobcats. Two things can happen from a coach calling out his team like this. One, they can tune him out and rebel, or two, they will take it to heart and come out all fired up to prove him wrong. The combination of Wade's return to the starting lineup and their coach calling them out publicly should give them a boost so they shouldn't be taken lightly. |
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Nov 15, 2007 23:44:18 GMT -5
Ricky Davis and Mark Blount return to the Gahden. That's always fun.
I hope Ainge watches this game closely. The Heat have two young SG's who can turn out to be solid players: Dorrell Wright and Daquan Cook. I like Cook and wish we can get our paws on him somehow. As much as I like Gerald Green's potential, I think Daquan has a better chance to fulfill his potential.
I really hope we don't suffer our first loss to the Heat. They don't deserve to tarnish our perfect record.
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cfoo
Welcome To Celtics Green!
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Post by cfoo on Nov 16, 2007 6:39:06 GMT -5
I can't believe we get to see Penny Hardaway.
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Post by freshnthehouse on Nov 16, 2007 6:57:18 GMT -5
I can't believe we get to see Penny Hardaway. Keep your eyes peeled when the camera pans the crowd. One of my insiders has heard that lil' Penny may be in attendance tonight. |
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Post by The Eye of the Q is upon you! on Nov 16, 2007 13:15:07 GMT -5
I thought the Wooden Nickel retired five years ago. Where the heck did he come from? Shaq is not the same player he once was. Still am gonna watch the Kendrick Perkins - Shaq matchup with a great deal of interest. Udonis Haslem is a solid pro - He won't quit just because he is overmatched with KG.
Posey and Scalabrine will be huge tonight. Not sure if Eddie House is available.
Somebody needs to knock Blount and RD to the floor to send them a message. Gawd Blount is terrible.
Bottom line - Miami is a mess right now and I want the Celtics to KO these twerps early.
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Post by Celtic17 on Nov 16, 2007 15:33:10 GMT -5
I really hope we don't suffer our first loss to the Heat. They don't deserve to tarnish our perfect record. That's what has me on the edge of my seat. Nothing like a 1-7 team wanting to knock off the last undefeated team.  |
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cfoo
Welcome To Celtics Green!
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Post by cfoo on Nov 16, 2007 18:03:20 GMT -5
I like what Q said about Blount. Here are two guys who kicked us when we were down. Payback is a (censored).
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 16, 2007 19:30:39 GMT -5
House is playing tonight. Mike just said that Shaq is mad about the comments that have been made about his conditioning and desire. It may be a tough game tonight.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 16, 2007 19:50:27 GMT -5
Ricky D starting at small forward and will match up with Pierce. Should be good. Perk will have his hands full with Shaq having a chip on his shoulder. Perk wins the tip. RA misses a jumper from behind a screen. Heat rebounds. Haslem gets a pass inside from Shaq and lays it in. KG misses a fall away over Haslem and Heat rebounds. RA called for a foul on Wade as he bumps him on the way by. Heat inbounds on the side. Ricky hits a jumper from the FT line. Crowd is rather quiet so far. PP hits a fall away from the top of the key. Shaq misses a layup. rebound is tipped around and shaq gets it and a monster dunk. KG misses a jumper and Heat rebound. Shaq bulls his way in and throws his shoulder into Perk and they call the foul on Perk. Not a good call. Should have been offensive foul. Shaq hits both FTS. Heat off to an 8-2 start. KG is fouled by Williams as he tries to split the double team with the SC winding down. KG hits both FTS. Ricky misses a 3 and the rebound comes out to Shaq who misses inside and KG rebounds. Outlet to Rondo and Ricky called for a foul on PP. Celtics inbound on the side. Perk misses a jumper from the FT line. Heat rebound. Williams hits a jumper. Heat up 10-4 KG gets inside and lays it in. Wade hits a jumper. KG gets a pass over the top and is fouled by Shaq as the goes up for the layup. KG hits both FTs. Wade drives the lane and hands off the Shaq for a dunk. PP drives baseline with Wade on him and kicks out to RA in the corner for 3. Travelling called on Shaq... good D by Perk to cause it. KG hits a fall away jumper. Wade hits a jumper. RA drives to the hoop and draws a foul on Shaq, his second. Time out with Heat up 16-13 and 5:49 left in the first quarter
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 16, 2007 19:57:25 GMT -5
RA at the line and Mourning in for Shaq with 2 early fouls. RA hits both FTS. Heat miss and Perk rebounds. Good hand off from Rondo to PP for a layup. Ricky hits a jumper. KG hits a jumper on the baseline. Ricky misses up and under. Celtics rebound. PP's pass inside to Perk goes out of bounds and Celtics turn it over. Ricky misses and Rondo rebounds. KG's pass inside to PP is tipped out of bounds. Celtics inbound on the baseline with 11 on the SC. RA's jumper goes in and out and Heat rebounds. Heat miss and KG rebounds. RA for 3 is no good and Rondo flies in from nowhere and grabs the rebound from among several Heat players and flips it up and in. Incredible play by Rondo. Time out with Celtics up 21-18 3:15 left in the first
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 16, 2007 20:06:51 GMT -5
Heat inbound on the side. Haslem misses on the baseline Mourninig gets the rebound and Rondo takes it away. Perk has his layup partially blocked by Mourning. Heat miss and Celtics rebound. RA gets the ball inside to PErk for a dunk. Heat turn it over and PP is fouled He misses the first FT. Posey comes in for RA. PP hits the second FT. Parker misses a runner in the lane. Rebound is tipped around and Rondo comes away with it. PP's pass is picked off and PP commits the foul to prevent a layup. Pollard comes in for KG. Haslem hits both FTs. PP drives to the lane and has hit shot blocked. Heat come away with it. Mourning misses a hook shot but gets his own rebound and puts it back in and draws the foul. He hits the FT. Scal dibbles the length of the floor and misses a layup. Heat rebound. Parker misses adn Posey rebounds. Rondo misses a baseline jumper. Ricky rebounds. Mourning gets the ball inside and draws a foul on PP. He misses the first FT. hits the second. Celtics inbound with .8 on the Clock. He misses a 3/4 court shot at the buzzer. Score is tied at 24 at the end of the first quarter.
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Post by CelticsLoyalist on Nov 16, 2007 20:14:49 GMT -5
Blount getting only a handful of boos. Wow! Thought it would be bigger. Anyway, Blount in trouble as KG jsut checked in.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 16, 2007 20:16:14 GMT -5
House, Pollard, Scal, Posey, RA on the floor. Ricky misses Pollard rebounds. Scal called for travelling. Heat hit a runner in the lane. RA misses a leaner in the lane. Scal misses the tip. Heat rebound. Ricky misses a jumper. Rebound goes out of bounds to Boston. House has his jumper blocked by Parker. Pollard gets the loose ball. Pollard goes inside and lays it in and is fouled. Blount checked in to a chorus of boos from the crowd. Pollard hits the FT. Heat miss and House rebounds. House's pass to Pollard is too low and goes out of bounds. Blount shoots an airball on the baseline and Pollard rebounds. Shaq with a block and Heat come away with it. Steal by RA and he gets it to House who lays it in. RA is fouled before the shot and so basket doesn't count. Celtics inbound on the side. House's shot goes in and out. Heat rebound. Shaq gets inside and lays it in. Perk gets the ball inside from RA and dunks, Parker hits a 3. House, KG, Posey, RA, Perk on the floor. Posey hits a 3 from the top of the arc. Heat with a back court violation. Time out with Celtics up 32-31 and 7:42 left in the half.
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Post by The Eye of the Q is upon you! on Nov 16, 2007 20:17:07 GMT -5
Q at the qtr - The game is intense as Miami is playing like a desperate team. I guess now we are into the 2nd qtr as Miami is bothering the offense and creating some matchup troubles. The Celtics talent is not shining yet.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 16, 2007 20:22:53 GMT -5
Tony has his shot blocked by Parker. Heat come away with the rebound. Celtics with a steal. Pierce and Rondo back in so starters are back on the floor. RA misses a 3 off the catch of the inbounds pass. Heat rebound. Shaq hits a hook shot in the lane. Heat with a 3 defensive 3 second violation. RA hits the T. Celtics inbound on the side. PP misses a fall away. Heat rebound. Wade is fouled by RA on the drive. RA's second foul. Wade hits both FTs. KG brings the ball up the court and misses a layup. Perk tips the rebound back inside to KG who is fouled by Shaq, his third. Time out with Miami up 35-33 and 5:58 left in the half
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