Celtics (41-12) at Blazers (29-26) 2/24

[FLCeltsFan]

at
Boston Celtics (41-12) at Portland Trail Blazers (29-26)
Sunday, February, 24
6:00 PM ET
Game #54, Road Game #27
TV: NBA LP ch 754, CSN ch37, CSN HD
Radio: Sirius 119, WEEI
Rose Garden Arena



Probable Starters

PG: Rajon Rondo PPG 10.7 | APG 4.7 | SPG 1.7
SG: Ray Allen PPG 18.7 | APG 3.1 | 3P% .378
SF: Paul Pierce PPG 20.5 | RPG 5.6 | APG 4.8
PF: Kevin Garnett PPG 18.8 | RPG 9.9 | BPG 1.4
C: Kendrick Perkins PPG 7.1 | RPG 5.5 | BPG 1.3

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

Injuries
Brian Scalabrine, groin, day to day




Probable Starters

PG: Jarrett Jack PPG 9.4 l APG 4.0 l SPG .7
SG: Steve Blake PPG 7.6 | APG 4.6 | SPG 0.8
SF: Brandon Roy PPG 19.5 | APG 5.8 | 3P% .325
PF: LaMarcus Aldridge PPG 17.0 | RPG 7.5 | BPG 1.4
C: Joel Pryzbilla PPG 4.7| RPG 7.2 | BPG 1.2

Off the Bench
Martell Webster, Travis Outlaw, Canning Frye, Sergio Rodriguez, Raef LaFrentz, Von Wafer, Josh McRoberts

Injuries
Darius Miles, knee, out
Greg Oden, knee, out
James Jones, knee, out

Key Matchups
vs
Paul Pierce PPG 20.5 | RPG 5.6 | APG 4.8
Brandon Roy PPG 19.5 | RPG 4.9 | APG 5.8
This should be a good matchup. Their stats are very similar and both have similar games in that they are slashers but who can hit from the outside. Both are strong and have an all around game. Hopefully Pierce will shoot better than he did against Phoenix.

vs
Kevin Garnett PPG 18.8 | RPG 9.9 | BPG 1.4
LaMarcus Aldridge PPG 17.0 | RPG 7.5 | BPG 1.4
This should also be a good matchup of similar players. Hopefully KG will be back to 100% for this game as we will need him.

Honorable Mention
Rajon Rondo vs Jarrett Jack. Rondo has the speed advantage. He should be able to get past Jack and get to the hoop at will. His defense should also cause Jack some problems on the other end.

Game Notes
The Blazers are one of the surprises this season. They started out very strong but have slipped recently. They are 3-7 in their last 10 games. The Blazers have a 12-12 record against Eastern conference teams. They are a young and athletic team and could give the Celtics problems, especially since the Celtics are playing in the 4th game on this trip and have had 3 very physical games where they had to run. The Blazers are 21-7 at home.

Keys to the Game
Be Aggressive The Celtics need to be agressive in going after loose balls and rebounds and in taking the ball to the hoop and not settling for outside shots. The Celtics were outrebounded by the Suns and they will need to be aggressive on the boards to avoid that again.

Bench Play The Blazers have a very good bench and the Celtics will need to get some production from their bench to match up. House has been very streaky and his shot hasn't been falling. Posey seems to be struggling and for some reason Doc played Leon Powe only 4 minutes iin Phoenix in spite of the fact that he had 2 rebounds and 2 points in those 4 minutes. They will need more production from the bench if they want to win this one.

Defense The Celtics got back to playing defense against the Suns, and hopefully they will continue to play defense in this game. They can't outscore teams and need to get stops if they want to win.

Ball movement The Celtics have gotten away from moving the ball and finding the open man. They aren't looking to go inside as much in recent games (which could be the result of some very poor officiating) and need to get back to what made them so successful early. They have to stop taking quick shots and going one on one and move without the ball to get open shots.

[sexyscottish]

The Blazers are a decent young team but are outmatched at every position. They will have to shoot the lights out and get every call, like every other team does against us, in order to win this game. I think our guys will be so pissed about people questioning their elite status again, they'll blow this team out. 115-91 Celtics.

[eja117]

I think now that the Celts have had some rest they will be ready to pick up where they left off before the hiccup

[Roadrunner]

Celtic pride comes through. Expect a big win.

[FLCeltsFan]

I won't be able to do the play by play until after the half because my daughter had to work and I have to hold the baby till he goes to bed which is around half time

We have the Blazers feed. I really miss Mike and Tommy. Can't wait to get back home to get the Celtics game feeds again.

[FLCeltsFan]

Change of plans. Hubby is holding baby so I can do play by play until he needs me to take him. picking up with 10:11 in the first. Portland up 4-2. Portland with the ball. RA called for a foul on Jack. Blazers in bound on the side. RA pokes the ball away and RA with an alley oop to KG for a strong one handed dunk. Przybilla is fouled under the basket by Perk. That was a bad call. one ref called the foul and the other didn't. Announcers agree it was a bad call. Pollard comes in for Perk as that was his second foul. Przybilla makes 1 of 2. KG working on the baseline and hits a short jumper. Roy lets the defender go by and hits a jumper. PP loses the ball and it goes out off Blazers. Celtics inbound on the baseline. Rondo misses a floater in the lane. REbound goes out off Blazers. Celtics inbound with a new 24. Przybilla called for a foul. Celtics inbound on the side. PP misses from the top of the key and Aldridge rebounds. Aldridge misses and Przybilla rebounds and is fouled by Pollard. He hits both FTs. KG gets the ball inside and is doubled. He misses over the double team and Blazers rebound. Roy hits a jumper. Rondo takes it into the paint and hits a jump hook. Roy passes inside to Przybilla for a dunk. Rondo drives into the paint and kicks out to KG who hits a jumper from the corner. Roy misses a jumper and Aldridge gets the rebound and puts it in. KG's jumper goes in and out and Blazers rebound. Jack hits a jumper in transition. Technical foul on Przybilla. Time out with Blazers up 18-10 and 4:44 left in the first

[The Eye of the Q is upon you!]

No rebounds + no defense = 8 point early deficit.

NBA math 101.

[runrondo]

Tommy isn't on the trip, it's Donny Marshall..Tommy is ALOT better anyway...This game is exactly like the other ones..No effort, and we're sloppy on offense again...I really think we won't stop this slump until we get back home and just get to relax, talk, and practice..We look pretty bad again right now...

[The Eye of the Q is upon you!]

This is simply bad. The Celtics appeared to have left their game in Golden State. Maybe Doc needs to bench the starters and put in Scalabrine.

[FLCeltsFan]

Przybilla is just too hard to type out every time with all those consonants together. He shall henceforth be known as Joel. Sooooo. It is getting chippy inside with KG, Joel, Perk and Pollard. RA misses the T. Celtics inbound on the side. PP drives down the lane and dunks. Rondo with good defense on Jack. Aldridge misses and Blake gets the rebound and hits a jumper. Rondo misses a jumper on the baseline and Blazers rebound. Webster hits a 3 over RA. Roy tips the ball away from RA from behind. Aldridge hits a jumper over KG. This is not looking good. Blazers hitting everything and being the more aggressive team on the boards. The Celtics are missing everything (AGAIN) and not going for the rebounds. Time for some Powe. Blazers have 11 rebounds to 3 for the Celtics. That is inexcusable. Time out with Portland up 26-12 2:34 left in the first.

[runrondo]

here we go Doc..No rebound so put in Baby and Powe..You definitely won't have a lack of effort!..hopefully it works out...

[The Eye of the Q is upon you!]

Poor Energy.

[FLCeltsFan]

Raef comes in for Joel. Celtics inbound. PP hits a jumper in the lane. Rondo steals the ball from Roy and takes it all the way to the hoop for a layup. Blake misses a 3 and Baby grabs the rebound. PP called for an offensive foul as Raef takes the charge. Baby called for a foul. Powe in along with Baby. Outlaw hits both FTs. Jack steals the ball from PP and as he is falling out of bounds throws it off Pierce. House tips the pass away out of bounds and Blazers inbound with 9 on the SC. Webster misses a 3. Posey saves the ball in to Raef. Blazers turn it over out of bounds. Tony, Powe, Posey, Baby and House on the floor. Ball almost stolen and then Tony called for a foul as he dove for the loose ball. Jack at the line hits both FTs. Powe passes to Baby under the basket and he misses the layup. Blazers rebound. Outlaw hits a jumper with 5 left in the quarter. House dribbles to just past half court and misses a long 3 at the buzzer. Score at the end of 1 is Blazers 32 and Celtics 16.

[FLCeltsFan]

Celtics inbound to start the second. Same lineup on the floor. Powe goes up for a layup and is fouled hard. He hits both FTs. Raef misses a layup. Tony tracks down the rebound. Raef with a steal and Portland gets to the hoop for a layup. Celtics with a bad pass but goes out off Portland. Celtics inbound with 7 on the SC. Posey dribbles the ball off his foot and Celtics turn it over. Ouelaw misses and Powe rebounds. House pulls up and hits a jumper. Sergio hits a 3 from the corner. Rony misses a 3 from the corner. Baby rebounds and House hits a 3 from the top of the arc. Sergio takes it to the hoop and lays it in. Celtics turn it over and then Blazers lose it out of bounds. Time out with Blazers up 39-23 and 8:56 left in the half

[FLCeltsFan]

Ray comes back in. Blazers inbound on the baseline and brings it up. Outlaw misses a jumper. Posey takes it to the hoop and lays it in. Webster misses and outlaw rebounds. Ball tipped out of bounds with 20 on the SC. Outlaw takes it baseline and lays it in and is fouled by Baby. Outlaw misses the FT and Baby grabs the rebound. House hits a 3 from the top left of the arc. Outlaw hits a 3 after Posey was fouled by Jack who dipped his shoulder into him and no call. Davis goes to the rim and Joel is called for a foul. Baby hits the first and misses the second. Joel rebounds. Roy misses a jumper with 3 on the SC. PP rebounds. RA misses the rim completely on a 3. Jack misses a 3 and Baby rebounds. PP has it knocked away as he drives to the hoop. Replay shows the PP just lost the ball and it wasn't knocked out. Posey misses a 3. Joel grabs the rebound. Joel gets the ball on the baseline for a 2 handed dunk. Ray drives down the lane and lays it in. Time out with Blazers up 46-31 and 5:15 left in the half.