Celtics (29-4) at Nets (18-17) 1/11

[FLCeltsFan]

at
Boston Celtics (29-4) at New Jersey Nets (18-17)
Friday 1/11
7:30 PM ET
TV: NBA LP ch 752, Yes HD, CSN
Continental Airlines Arena



Probable Starters

PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Ray Allen
SF: Paul Pierce
PF: Kevin Garnett
C: Kendrick Perkins

Off the Bench

Allen/House/Pollard/Scal/Powe/Davis/Posey/Pruitt

Injuries:
Ray Allen, pinched nerve, probable
Big Baby Davis, knee, probable




Probable Starters

PG: Jason Kidd
SG: Vince Carter
SF: Richard Jefferson
PF: Sean Williams
C: Josh Boone

Off the Bench

Nachbar/Allen/Magloire/Armstrong/Williams/Collins

Injuries:
Antoine Wright, ankle, questionable
Nenad Krstic, knee, out

Key Matchups
vs
Rajon Rondo PPG 9.3 RPG 4.00 APG 5.0 EFF + 13.34
Jason Kidd PPG 11.6 RPG 8.70 APG 10.7 EFF + 21.97
Jason Kidd is one of the best PG's in the league and has been playing very well. Rondo has to figure out how to take him out of his game on the defensive end and try to use his speed to create a mismatch on the offensive end.

vs
Paul Pierce PPG 21.2 RPG 5.70 APG 4.9 EFF + 21.00
Richard Jefferson PPG 24.6 RPG 4.40 APG 2.8 EFF + 19.49
Jefferson has been playing very well. He is first in the league in free throws made and and 4th in free throws attempted. Pierce will have to figure out how to stop Jefferson without getting into foul trouble.

Honorable mention:
KG vs Sean Williams
Kevin Garnett PPG 19.2 RPG 10.00 APG 3.6 EFF + 26.73
Sean Williams PPG 7.2 RPG 5.30 APG 0.5 EFF + 11.47
KG will have the height advantage as well as experience. Sean Williams is a strong player and shot blocker but KG should be able to exploit this matchup.

Keys to the Game:
Defense. The Celtics trademark defense was nowhere to be found against the Bobcats. They need to get back to playing the defense that we are used to seeing from them as that is how they will win games.

Shot Selection The Celtics need to try to get the ball inside and not settle for contested jumpers. The Nets don't have a dominant front line and the Celtics should seek to take advantage of those matchups inside.

Intensity and Energy The Celtics lost the last game because they showed no intensity or energy for much of the game. They must come out with intensity and maintain that for the entire game.

Game Notes
The Nets have been playing very well, having won 8 of their last 10. They are 9-11 at home. The Celtics split 2 preseason games with the Nets, They won the first meeting that was stopped at the half because of a wet floor and lost the second 71-82. The Celtics won their 2 regular season games so far this season, winning the first meeting in New Jersey 112-101 and the second meeting at home 91-69, with Vince Carter out that game.

Coming off their worst game of the season, I expect the Celtics to come back strong in this game. They won't take the Nets for granted and should play with more intensity than they did against the Bobcats.

[FLCeltsFan]

Stuck with the NJ announcers tonight. I hate it when I don't get Mike and Tommy. Perk wins the tip. Celtics wearing the alternate road unis with the black. KG takes it at Williams and gets him to fall for the fake and is fouled. KG hits the first and misses the second FT. Nets rebound. Carter misses over Rondo but Nets rebound and Kidd hits a jumper. RA hits a jumper from the FT line. Kidd misses a jumper and rebound goes out of bounds off Boston. Nets inbound on the baseline with a new 24. Jefferson drives down the lane and draws the foul. He hits the first and misses the second. Perk grabs the rebound. KG misses a jumper and Nets rebound. Boone gets the ball inside and misses a layup but tips in his own miss. Celtics miss and Nets rebound. Kidd misses inside and Celtics rebound. KG misses at the SC and Nets rebound. Boone goes down the lane and lays it in, Lob inside to KG and Williams with good defense prevents the basket. Nets rebound. Nets miss and Celtics rebound. RA hits a jumper from the corner. Carter hits a jumper over RA at the SC. Rondo with a crossover and he misses a layup. Nets rebound and Williams gets a dunk on the other end. PP gets into the paint and hits a scoop shot. PP with good defense and Celtics come away with the ball. KG gets to the hoop for a layup. Jefferson gets to the hoop for a layup. RA misses on the baseline. Perk with the rebound in traffic and he lays it down to KG for a dunk. Nets turn it over. Jefferson fouls PP before the shot. Time out with Nets up 13-11 and 5:49 left in the first

[FLCeltsFan]

Celtics inbound on the side. House is in for the Celtics. PP misses a jumper and rebound is deflected out by the Celtics. Jefferson hits an open 3. Perk with a lob inside to KG for a dunk. Nice play. Williams misses a jumper on the baseline. KG does a good job to tip the rebound away from Williams and then come up with it. PP takes it to the hoop and misses a layup. He looked for the foul but none called. Nets come away with it. Jefferson is fouled by House to prevent a layup. He hits the first. Carter is headed to the locker room. Jefferson misses the second. Celtics rebound. Refs stop play because Jefferson has a cut on his arm. They just showed where Carter took an elbow to the face from Ray Allen. Nice one! Celtics inbound on the side with 17 on the SC. PP takes it to the hoop and misses a layup but tips in his own miss. Kidd drives to the hoop and lays it in. Travelling called on Pierce. Kidd hits a pull up jumper. Posey fumbles a pass inside but recovers and passes back out. PP hits a jumper. Kidd passes out to Nachbar who hits a 3 from the corner. RA hits a jumper from the top of the key. Allen hits a jumper from the corner. KG called for a foul. Time out with NJ up 26-20. 2:03 left in the first

[FLCeltsFan]

Nets inbound and bring it up MAllen misses a jumper. Celtics rebound. Posey's shot blocked by Boone. Nets rebound. Kidd called for an offensive foul. Kidd poked the ball away from House who chases it into the backcourt. Celtics miss at the SC. Kidd rebounds and Nets quickly get up court and get to the hoop for a layup. Posey drives to the hoop and lays it in. Boone missses a jumper. Wright rebounds and misses a jumper Kidd rebounds and kicks out to Wright who misses a jumper from the corner. Nachbar rebounds. M Allen hits a jumper from the top of the key at the buzzer. TErrible end to the quarter giving up a lot of offensive rebounds. Score at the end of 1. Nets 30 and Celtics 22

[FLCeltsFan]

Nets inbound and score right away. Celtics miss and Nets rebound. Carter misses and Boone is there for the tip in. Carter called for a foul away from the ball. Nets up 34-22. Celtics once again playing terrible defense and out of sync. Posey takes it down the lane and lays it in. Offensive foul against Armstrong. Pierce comes in for RA. Posey hits a jumper from the side of the FT line after faking a 3. Wright misses a 3 and is fouled hard by Davis as he goes in for his own rebound. He misses the first. and hits the second FT. Tony is doubled and can't handle the pressure and jump ball called. Tony wins the tip. Celtics miss at the jumper. Wright rebounds. Nets turn it over and House comes away with it. Pierce is tripped and foul is called on Boone. Posey gets the ball on the baseline and spins to the basket and lays it in. Carter misses a layup. Posey rebounds. Posey called for an offensive foul as he drives down the lane to the basket. Time out with Nets up 35-28 and 8:13 left in the half

[FLCeltsFan]

Nets inbound in the back court and bring it up. Rondo called for a reach in foul. Rondo ties up Nachbar and jump ball called. Rondo wins the tip. Rondo takes it to the hoop and lays it in. Nachbar hits a jumper on the baseline. Nets pick off Tony's pass. Jefferson hits a jumper over Pierce. Rondo drives to the hoop and lays it in and draws the foul. Rondo misses the FT. rebound goes out of bounds to the Nets. Jefferson drives to the hoop and misses a layup. He gets his own rebound and draws a foul. Nets inbound on the side. Nachbar misses a 3 and Rondo with the weak side rebound. PP passes inside to KG who hits a hook shot. Offensive foul called on Jefferson. Time out with Nets up 39-34 and 5:44 left in the half.

[FLCeltsFan]

Celtics inbound and bring it up. KG finds PP inside for a layup. Carter drives to the hoop and misses a layup. Williams misses the put back and KG gets the rebound but is hit in the face. He goes to the line because Nets are over the limit. KG misses the first. He hits the second. Kidd drives baseline and is fouled by Rondo. Nets inbound on the side. M Allen's shot blocked by PP and Rondo comes away with it. Kidd strips it out of bounds. Celtics inbound with 19 on the SC. KG hits a tough shot over Williams to tie the game at 39. M Allen misses and Celtics rebound. PP is fouled shooting a 3 as Jefferson falls for the fake. PP front rims the first FT. He hits the second and misses the 3rd. Nets rebound. Defensive 3 seconds on the Celtics. Kidd hits the T to tie the game at 40. Boone is fouled by PP. He misses both FTs and KG rebounds. Perk gets the ball on the baseline and is held to prevent a layup. Perk hits the first and misses the second. Nets rebound. Carter misses a jumper over RA and KG rebounds. Ball deflected out of bounds by Nets and Time out with Celtics up 41-40 and 2:59 left in the half

[FLCeltsFan]

Celtics inbound with 9 on the SC. KG hits a jumper on the baseline. Boone is fouled by Perk to prevent the layup. He misses both FTS and Perk rebounds. KG with two fakes and then hits a jumper. Celtics on a 15-1 run. Kidd misses a jumper and RA tracks down the rebound. PP is fouled as he hits the floor. He hits both FTs. M Allen misses and Nets rebound. Loose ball and PP called for a foul in the back court chasing down the ball. Nachbar hits both FTs. PP fakes the 3 and Drives into the paint and is called for a travel. Kidd walks the ball up the court. Wright has his shot blocked by KG but Boone gets the ball and dunks. PP spins and drives into the lane and has it stolen by Kidd. Nets turn it over. Celtics inbound with 28.8 left in the half and up 3. Rondo inbounds to KG who tips it back to Rondo to bring it up. Rondo misses a jumper and Nachbar rebounds with 8 seconds left. Kidd gets it all the way to the hoop and kicks it out to the corner and Wright misses a jumper at the buzzer. Score at the half is Celtics 47 and Nets 44

[FLCeltsFan]

Nets inbound to start the third. Jefferson takes the ball into the paint and scores. KG misses a jumper at the SC. Kidd rebounds. Jefferson picks up his 4th foul as Pierce takes the charge. PP misses a 3. Williams rebounds. Carter hits a jumper and Nets go back up by 1. RA finds KG inside who is fouled by Williams as he goes up for a layup. KG hits both FTs. Jefferson is tied up and loses the ball inside. Celtics come away with it. Rondo takes it to the hoop and misses a layup. Nets rebound and Carter hits a jumper from the corner. RA misses a 3 and Nets rebound. Kidd misses a jumper. Williams keeps it alive but Rondo comes away with it. PP hits a jumper. Kidd misses a 3 and Rondo runs down the long rebound. He dribbles behind the back to get it across mid court. he dishes to PP who hits a 3 off the catch. time out with Celtic sup 54-50 and 8:20 left in the 3rd

[FLCeltsFan]

Nets inbound and bring it up court. Kidd stops and hits a jumper from the top of the key. PP hits a jumper from the top of the key. Carter misses a runner as RA is called for a foul. Carter misses the first FT. misses the second. KG rebounds. Perk gets the ball inside and is fouled by Williams, his 4th. Celtics inbound on the side with 14 on the SC. Rondo misses a jumper at the SC. Jefferson drives hard to the hoop and Rondo goes down hard and lands in the front row as they call the foul. RJ misses the first and hits the second FT. KG misses a jumper in the lane and nets rebound. Kidd with a bullet pass inside to Boone for a layup. Perk's shot is batted away by Boone. KG intercepts the pass up court. Perk called for a technical arguing the no call. KG talking to Perk very serously. Nets hit the T. Posey comes in for Perk. Posey turns it over. Boone is fouled as he shoots in the lane. He front rims the first FT. Back rims the second. Celtics rebound. RA misses from the FT line. Nets rebound. Jefferson feeds Boone inside for a layup. Time out with Nets up 58-56 and 5:03 left in the third

[runrondo]

Rondo's out for the rest of the game..Our offense is very poor, i can't believe we have 3 allstars and can't get good looks or good offensive production..Don't know if you should blame Doc or just the chemistry for the poor offense...Our Defense is on and off and it looks like we don't care again about this game..All the rebounds seem to get the Net's way and we pretty much deserve to lose this game unless our bench can spark us again...

[FLCeltsFan]

KG fakes and then misses a jumper. Nets rebound. Kidd misses a jumper. Boone's tip no good. M Allen's tip no good. Celtics rebound. House misses a 3 and Nets rebound. M Allen misses a runner in the lane. Boone's tip no good. Rebound goes out off Boston. Net inbound with 6 on the SC. Nets miss and Boone rebounds. KG with a block and House comes away with it. KG goes baseline and draws the foul. KG hits both FTs to tie the game at 58. Celtics deflect the pass out of bounds. Nets inbound with 13 on the SC. Carter hits a fade away jumper. KG lays it in. Carter hits a straight away 3. RA misses a 3. Kidd rebounds and RA takes it away but is called for the foul. Nets inbound. Nachbar hits a 3. Nets up 66-60. Posey misses a layup. Williams rebounds. Kidd misses a 3 and PP rebounds. Tony runs into Kidd at midcourt. Looked like an offensive foul but they call ball out off Kidd. Celtics turn it over. Rondo didn't return to the game due to sore back. Carter misses a 3. Kidd rebounds and gets it inside to Carter for a layup. Davis gets inside and misses the layup but will go to the line. Williams called for a technical. House hits the T. Davis hits the first and misses the second. nets rebound. Carter drives and is called for an offensive foul as PP draws the charge. Celtics inbound. Tony brings it up. Nets miss and Nachbar called for a foul on the rebound. Posey misses the first. hits the second. Nets inbound with 7 in the quarter. Carter misses and Davis grabs the rebound at the buzzer. Score at the end of 3 is Nets 68 and Celtics 65

[FLCeltsFan]

Celtics inbound to start the 4th. Davis called for an offensive foul. Wright hits a jumper. Tony hits a jumper. Nachbar misses a jumper. Collins gets the rebound and is fouled. He misses both FTs. Celtics inbound. Davis plows over Collins and lays it in. Jefferson drives to the basket and misses a layup. PP rebounds and is called for a travel. Nets miss from the corner. PP rebounds. Pierce misses and Davis grabs the rebound and is fouled. Celtics inbound on the side. Boone blocks Davis' shot but he gets it back and lays it in. Time out with Nets up 70-69 and 9:27 left in the 4th

[FLCeltsFan]

Nets inbound on the baseline. Nets turn it over. Davis gets the ball inside and lays it in. Nets turn it over on a bad pass out of bounds. RA loses the handle in the lane and turns it over. Nets turn it over. House gets it ahead for a layup. Nets miss. Put back no good. Kidd rebounds. Jefferson misses. Wright rebounds but is called for a foul as he pushes off to get it. Celtics inbound and House brings it up. RA hits a straight away 3. Time out with Celtics up 76-70 and 6:11 left in the 4th

[FLCeltsFan]

Carter hits a wide open 3 from the side. KG misses a jumper in the lane. Nets rebound. Boone misses a scoop shot and KG rebounds. House hits a 3. Jefferson drives to the hoop and is fouled hard by KG. Time out with Celtics up 79-73 and 4:33 left in the game