Raptors (22-19) at Celtics (33-6) 1/23

[FLCeltsFan]

at
Toronto Raptors (22-19) at Boston Celtics (33-6)
Wednesday, January 23
7:30 PM ET
Regular Season Game #40, Home Game #22
TV: NBA LP ch 754, CSN HD, SCORE
Sirius 143
TD Banknorth Garden



Probable Starting Lineup
PG Rajon Rondo PPG 9.1 | APG 4.7 | SPG 1.7
SG Ray Allen PPG 18.2 | APG 3 | 3P% .376
SF Paul Pierce PPG 20.4 | RPG 5.5 | APG 4.9
PF Kevin Garnett PPG 19.3 | RPG 9.8 | BPG 1.4
C Kendrick Perkins PPG 7.2 | RPG 5.8 | BPG 1.2

Off the Bench
Eddie House, Brian Scalabrine, Scot Pollard, Leon Powe, Big Baby Davis, Tony Allen, Gabe Pruitt

Injury Report
James Posey, hand, day to day




Probable Starters
PG Jose Calderon PPG 11.8 | APG 8.4 | SPG 1
SG Anthony Parker PPG 11.5 | APG 1.9 | 3P% .477
SF Jamario Moon PPG 8.3 | RPG 6.5 | APG 1.1
PF Chris Bosh PPG 22.2 | RPG 9.3 | BPG 1.1
C Andrea Bargnani PPG 8.7 | RPG 3.4 | BPG 0.5

Off the Bench
Carlos Delfino, Kris Humphries, Jason Kapono, Maceo Baston, Juan Dixon, Joey Graham, Rasho Nesterovic

Injuries
Jorge Garbajosa, ankle, out
TJ Ford, neck, out

Key Matchups:
Kevin Garnett PPG 19.3 | RPG 9.8 | BPG 1.4
Chris Bosh PPG 22.2 | RPG 9.3 | BPG 1.1
vs
Kevin Garnett is one of the best power forwards ever and Chris Bosh is one of the best up and coming power forwards. This should be a good match up with KG having the advantage because of experience and a height advantage.

Kendrick Perkins vs Andrea Bargnani
vs
Kendrick Perkins PPG 7.2 | RPG 5.8 | BPG 1.2
Andrea Bargnani PPG 8.7 | RPG 3.4 | BPG 0.5
Andrea Bargnani is a #1 draft pick and has shown some promise so far. Perk and Bargnani have two very different games with Bargnani playing more on the perimeter and Perk playing inside. Perk is coming off a huge game against the Knicks and may be able to exploit this matchup as well.

Keys to the Game
Defend the Perimeter. The Raptors are the top 3 point shooting team in the league and have 3 players in the top 15 three point shooters: Jason Kapono leads the team in shooting at 51%,
followed by Anthony Parker (48%) and Jose Calderon at 42%. They can beat you from long distance and so the Celtics must pay attention to their defense on the perimeter.

Ball Movement The Celtics play best when they move the ball and find the open man. When players try to do to much and when they go one on one, the ball stops and so does the offense. They need to continue to move the ball and make the Raptors use up energy on defense as they chase the ball.

Be aggressive. The Celtics need to be aggressive on the boards and attacking the the basket. They shouldn't settle for outside shots but should try to get into the paint. They also need to limit the Raptors' second chance baskets by going after and grabbing rebounds.

Game Notes
In their first meeting in Toronto, Ray Allen had 33 points and hit the game winner at the buzzer in overtime. In their second meeting in Boston, The Celtics won easily 112-84 but the Raptors were without both Bosh and Bargnani. The third meeting was again a Celtics victory and this time, the Celtics were without Ray Allen. The Raptors are playing for pride in this one. They are the defending Atlantic Division champs and have lost to the Celtics in all three meetings this season already, plus a loss in the preseason.

The Raptors are also one of the best free throw shooting teams in the NBA and are shooting 80.4% from the line as a team. They have 9 players who are shooting over 80% from the line and so the Celtics will need to be careful fouling them. They are also only turning the ball over 11.9 times per game. The Celtics catch a break in that TJ Ford will be out as he is one of the point guards who seems to give Rondo trouble.

This should be a good game a rivalry has developed between the two teams. Hopefully, Pierce and company will learn from the last game and not let emotions get away from them.

[The Eye of the Q is upon you!]

While I look for a closer game than 112-84, the Celtics have too many weapons and they have solved their rebounding problems by inserting Leon Powe into the rotation.

[FLCeltsFan]

quinielabox said:

While I look for a closer game than 112-84, the Celtics have too many weapons and they have solved their rebounding problems by inserting Leon Powe into the rotation.

You are assuming that Doc will keep him there. He has already said that Scal may see more time with Posey out.

[FLCeltsFan]

Raps win the tip and turn it over before getting a shot off. PP lays it down to Perk who is hammered as he goes up for a dunk. He hits the first and misses the second. Raps rebound. Parker hits a jumper. Rondo drives and passes out to RA who drives the lane and loses it on the way up. Raptors miss and Celtics rebound. KG get the ball at the hoop and dunks it. Bargnani hits a jumper. RA shoots and airball and Celtics rebound. Calderon gets to the hoop for a layup. Bargnani called for a foul on KG. KG lays it in. Bargnani hits a jumper. KG leans in and draws the foul on Bosh. He hits both FTs. Perk called for a foul on Bargnani. He hits both FTs. Rondo misses a runner in the lane and Raps rebound. Moon misses and Perk grabs the rebound. Pierce fakes and then passes out to KG who passes back to PP for a jumper. RA called for a foul on Bosh as he lays it in. He hits the FT. PP misses a jumper from the side. Parker rebounds. Moon misses on the baseline and Rondo rebounds. KG misses a jumper. Raps rebound. Raptors turn it over on a bad pass out of bounds. RA hits a 3. Raps turn it over on a bad pass into the back court. RA misses a 3 and Bosh grabs the rebound. Bargnani misses PP rebounds. Alley oop pass up court to KG for a dunk. Rondo with a steal and he takes it in for a layup. Time out with Celtics up 16-14 5:52 left in the first

[runrondo]

I'm liking the way we came out..2 alley-oops and we're pretty aggressive..Hope we keep this up offensively and the pressure on defense..Raptors just throw the ball away sometimes..

[runrondo]

There ya go Rondo, take advantage of Calderon..Your the fastest guy on the court..

[FLCeltsFan]

Raps inbound on the side and turn it over on a bad pass into the back court. Celtics inbound on the side. Perk with a pass inside to PP who can't handle the pass and Raps come away with it. Raptors miss and KG rebounds. Perk misses a layup and Raps rebound. Bosh hits a jumper. Rondo drives down the paint to the hoop for a layup. Calderon hits a 3. Rondo drives and passes off to KG who hits a jumper. RA deflects the pass out of bounds. Raps inbound with 13 on the SC. Kapono comes in for the Raptors and missses his first shot. Celtics rebound. RA dribbles through a crowd to the hoop and his shot is blocked. Raptors rebound and Bargnani hits a jumper. RA hits a jumper. Kapono misses and Rondo gets the rebound under the basket. RA drives baseline and hands off to Perk for a layup. Calderon hits a jumper. RA with a behind the back bounce pass to KG who drives to the hoop for a layup. Calderon misses and Rondo rebounds. He skips it to PP who pulls up for a straight away 3. Calderon misses a 3. KG rebounds and his outlet pass is picked off and Calderon hits a jumper. Perk called for an offensive foul. Time out with Boston up 29-26 and 23 seconds left in the first.

[FLCeltsFan]

Raptors inbound on the baseline and bring it up. Powe called for a foul on Bosh. Raptors inbound as Celtics had a foul to give. Powe called for a foul again. Bosh hits the first. Rondo comes in for Powe. Bosh hits the second. Rondo is fouled with 1.9 as Toronto had a foul to give. Celtics inbound with 1.9. PP gets it to Scal who tips the pass back to PP who misses a jumper at the buzzer. Score at the end of 1 is Boston 29 and Raptors 28

[FLCeltsFan]

Celtics inbound to start the second. Bosh hits a jumper. House, Scal, PP, Powe , Tony on the floor. PP missses a jumper and Bosh rebounds. Tony with a steal. Tony hits a pull up jumper. Raptors turn the ball over as they lose the ball out of bounds. Tony driving down the lane to the hoop is fouled. He hits both FTs. Scal with some pressure in the back court. Offensive foul on Bosh as Power takes the charge. Bosh goes to the bench and Rasho comes in. Tony misses a jumper and rebound goes out off Raptors. PP fakes the shot and then is called for a travel as he makes the move. Raps miss and Tony rebounds and brings the ball up. He takes it all the way to the hoop and lays it in as he is fouled. He hits the FT. Scal called for a foul. Time out with Celtics up 38-30 and 8:51 left in the half.

[FLCeltsFan]

Picking up with Celtics 43 and Raps 35. 7:29 in the half. RA misses in the paint and Bargnani rebounds. House with a steal and he gets it to a cutting Tony for a layup. House gets inside for a layup. Celtics up 47-37. Nesterovic hits a shot in the lane and is fouled. Time out with Celtics up 47-39 and 5:38 left in the half. Sorry I am missing some of the plays but my daughter keeps asking for math help.

[FLCeltsFan]

Rasho hits the FT. KG misses a jumper and is fouled by Nesterovic. Celtics inbound on the side. KG spins into the lane and tries to pass inside to Perk who coudn't get to the Pass. Parker hits a 3. KG misses a turn around jumper. Raps rebound. Moon misses as KG bothers the shot. Celtics rebound. RA misses a jumper and Bargnani rebounds. Calderon hits a jumper. Time out with Celtics up 47-45 and 3:47 left in the half

[runrondo]

Didn't like our moment of snooze since it looked like we might have had a double digit lead at halftime but instead are losing by 2..but that's what you got to worry about with a team who likes to shoot the 3's..Hope we shut them down in the 3rd...

[FLCeltsFan]

Score at the half is Raptors 57 and Celtics 55.

[CelticsLoyalist]

Celtics Lose 114 to 112

[cfoo]

tough loss. We needed to step up our defense. Toronto shot lights out.