Post by FLCeltsFan on Feb 18, 2008 23:08:33 GMT -5
at 
Boston Celtics (41-10) at Golden State Warriors (32-21)
Wednesday, February 20
10:30 PM ET
Game #52, Away Game #25
TV: NBA LP Ch 759, FSBay HD, CSN HD
Radio: Sirius 126, WEEI
Oracle Arena
Coach: Doc Rivers
Average Age: 26.3
Average Height: 6-6
Average Weight: 224
Probable Starters
PG: Rajon Rondo PPG 10.4 l APG 4.8 l SPG 1.8
SG: Ray Allen PPG 18.5 | APG 3.0 | 3P% .375
SF: Paul Pierce PPG 20.6 | RPG 5.6| APG 4.8
PF: Kevin Garnett PPG 19.2 | RPG 9.9 | BPG 1.4
C: Kendrick Perkins PPG 7.3 | RPG 5.6 | BPG 1.3
Off the Bench
Leon Powe, Tony Allen, Big Baby Davis, Scott Pollard, James Posey, Eddie House, Gabe Pruitt
Injuries:
Brian Scalabrine, groin, out
Coach: Don Nelson
Average Age: 25.0
Average Height: 6-7
Average Weight: 221
Probable Starters
PG: Baron Davis PPG 21.7 | APG 8.1 | SPG 2.5
SG: Monta Ellis PPG 18.7 | RPG 4.5 | APG 3.5
SF: Stephen Jackson PPG 20.9 | RPG 4.4 | APG 4.2
PF: Matt Barnes PPG 8.2 | RPG 5.0 | BPG 0.6
C: Chris Webber PPG 2.7 | RPG 3.3 | BPG 0.0
Off the Bench
Mickael Pietrus, Kelenna Azubuke, Andris Biedrins, Austin Croshere, Brandan Wright, CJ Watson, Al Harrington
Injuries
Marco Belinelli, out
Patrick O'Bryant, out
Kosta Petrovic, out
Key Matchups
vs 
Rajon Rondo PPG 10.4 l APG 4.8 l SPG 1.8
Baron Davis PPG 21.7 | APG 8.1 | SPG 2.5
This will be a tough matchup for Rondo but he should be up to that task. Baron Davis has been playing very well and is a very strong point guard. Rondo will have to be strong on defense to keep Davis from taking over the game. In their first matchup, Rondo held Davis to 13 points on 3-13 shooting.
vs 
Kevin Garnett PPG 19.2 | RPG 9.9 | BPG 1.4
Matt Barnes PPG 8.2 | RPG 5.0 | BPG 0.6
This should be the matchup that Boston looks to exploit as Barnes gives up 4 inches to KG. Garnett should be able to beat Barnes every time down and the Celtics should look to get him the ball early and often.
Honorable Mention
Paul Pierce Paul Pierce PPG 20.6 | RPG 5.6| APG 4.8
Stephen Jackson PPG 20.9 | RPG 4.4 | APG 4.2
This should be a good matchup for both sides. Going all the way back to when Jackson played for Indiana, these two players have gone at it. Pierce needs to keep his composure and not get caught up in trash talking.
Keys to the game
Bench Play With both teams playing in the second of back to back games, fatigue could be a factor and both teams will need to depend on the benches to give the starters a rest.
Defense The Warriors are a high scoring team and the Celtics will need to concentrate on defense to win this game. Hopefully they will play better defense than they played against the Nuggets or it will be over early.
Keep their composure The Warriors play some tough defense themselves. They force 17.2 turnovers per game which is 2nd in the league. The Celtics need to take care of the ball and keep their composure and not allow the Warriors to hassle them into making mistakes.
Game Notes
The Warriors play the Jazz in Utah the night before and so both teams will be playing in the second of back to back games and both will be travelling afterward. The Jazz are 7-5 in the second of back to back games.
The Warriors are first in the league in scoring with 109.7 points per game. The Celtics are tops in defense, holding teams to 88.2 points per game. Something will have to give in this game. It will all depend on whether the Celtics slack off on defense. If they play their regular brand of defense, the Warriors will not be able to score as they usually do. In their first meeting, the Celtics held them to 82 points while scoring 105 points themselves.
The Warriors are a good home team with a 17-9 home court record. They are 7-3 in their last 10 games and have won 3 in a row. The Warriors are also 14-0 when holding teams under 100 points.
