Cavs (32-24) at Celtics (43-12) 2/27

[FLCeltsFan]

at
Cleveland Cavaliers (32-24) at Boston Celtics (43-12))
Wednesday, February 27
7:30 PM ET
Game #56, Home Game #28
TV: NBA TV HD, CSN HD, FSN Ohio
Radio: WEEI, Sirius 121
TD Banknorth Garden



Probable Starting Lineup
PG Rajon Rondo PPG 10.7 RPG 4.30 APG 4.7 EFF + 14.45
SG Ray Allen PPG 18.6 RPG 4.00 APG 3.2 EFF + 16.47
SF Paul Pierce PPG 20.6 RPG 5.60 APG 4.8 EFF + 20.47
PF Kevin Garnett PPG 18.5 RPG 9.70 APG 3.7 EFF + 25.28
C Kendrick Perkins PPG 7.0 RPG 5.60 APG 0.9 EFF + 10.69

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

Injury Report
Brian Scalabrine, groin, day to day




Probable Starting Lineup
PG Delonte West PPG 6.8 RPG 2.70 APG 3.3 EFF + 7.22
SG Devin Brown PPG 6.4 RPG 3.20 APG 2.0 EFF + 7.27
SF LeBron James PPG 30.1 RPG 8.20 APG 7.5 EFF + 31.18
PF Ben Wallace PPG 5.2 RPG 8.80 APG 1.8 EFF + 13.04
C Zydrunas Ilgauskas PPG 13.6 RPG 9.60 APG 1.5 EFF + 18.32

Off the Bench
Wally Szczerbiak, Joe Smith, Damon Jones, Dwayne Jones, Eric Snow, Kaniel Dickens, Billy Thomas

Injury Report
Sasha Pavlovic, foot sprain, out
Daniel Gibson, ankle, out
Anderson Varejao, ankle, day to day

Key Matchups
vs
Rajon Rondo vs Delonte West
This should be a good matchup. Rondo started his career in Boston playing behind Delonte and will want to prove that he is the better point guard head to head. As with all the players who get traded, Delonte will play his best to show the Celtics they should have kept him (and with being a free agent this summer, maybe look at him again).

vs
Paul Pierce vs LeBron James
This is one of the best matchups in the league. They have a history and often their matchups get quite heated. They seem to bring out the best in each other.

Honorable Mention
Kevin Garnett vs Ben Wallace
Kendrick Perkins vs Zydrunas Ilgauskas
Wallace likes to play inside and Ilgauskas would rather play facing the basket. Expect to see Perk on Wallace and KG on Ilgauskas. Both should be good matchups with lots of physical play.

Keys to the Game:
Team Play. In their last two games out West, the Celtics got back to playing team ball on both ends of the court. They have to make the extra pass and find the open man. They can't get caught up in iso's and trying to to too much individually.

Defense. When the Celtics play the tough team defense they are capable of, they are tough to beat. When they try to outscore teams and not play defense, they usually lose. They need to remember that defense is what is going to get them a championship and keep playing it. They have to defend the perimeter as well as inside since the Cavs have several very good 3 point shooters.

Rebound. The Celtics have been outrebounded in some of their recent games. They have to be aggressive on the boards and put the effort out to limit the Cavs second chance points.

No Let Down When teams return home after road trips, they sometimes fall flat and face a let down. The Celtics should have no problem getting up for the Cavs since they are the reigning Eastern conference champs and have beaten the Celtics twice already. They have to come out strong and play 48 minutes.

Game Notes
The Cavaliers now have joined the club with 2 former Celtics on them. They are still working the new players into the system and so the Celtics may catch a break in that sense. Also, the Cavs are playing in the second of back to back games and the Celtics had the night before off, even though they are coming off a tough road trip. The Cavs lead the series 2-1, having won 2 games in Cleveland (114-113 and 109-104 OT) and losing one in Boston 80-70. The Cavs are 15-14 on the road and 6-4 in their last 10 games.

[FLCeltsFan]

Celtics win the tip. Pierce misses a quick jumper and Wallace rebounds. Brown loses the handle and Rondo scoops it up and takes it to the hoop but misses the layup. Cavs rebound and LeBron takes it to the hoop and is fouled by KG. He hits both FTs. KG's jumper bounced up off the rim and in. Wallace hits a turn around jumper. Perk is fouled in the lane as he goes to make a pass. Celtics inbound on the side. Perk with a touch pass to KG who is fouled by LeBron. KG hits both FTs. James misses a jumper and KG hustles to try to save it and falls into the crowd. the ball goes off RA and Cavs inbound. Ilgauskas misses and Pierce chases down the rebound. Perk with a great pass inside to KG for a layup. Z misses and Rondo rebounds. Rondo misses a pull up jumper and Perk tries to tip the rebound but Z comes away with it. Pass goes off his foot and Celtics come away with it. RA takes it to the hoop and lays it in. James hits a 3. PP misses a 3 and the rebound goes over the backboard to the Cavs. Perk with a steal and he beats Delonte and drives all the way to the hoop and lays it in. Wallace misses a shot in the lane and is called for a foul over the back on the rebound. PP hits a jumper over LeBron. Wallace gets the ball inside from LeBron and lays it in. KG hits a jumper. Perk with a block on LeBron and KG comes up with it. Rondo takes it to the hoop and lays it in. Time out with Celtics up 16-9 and 5:47 left in the first

[FLCeltsFan]

Cavs miss and KG rebounds. Pierce misses a jumper and Cavs rebound. Wally hits a jumper. Pierce steps out of bounds on the baseline. James with a pass inside to Wallace who misses a layup. KG rebounds. Rondo called for an offensive foul as he runs into Wallace. Wally misses and Celtics rebound. West with pressure on Rondo as he brings the ball up. RA hits a 3 from the top of the arc. West misses a jumper and KG rebounds. PP front rims a 3 and Wally rebounds. Time out with Celtics up 19-13 and 2:45 left in the first

[FLCeltsFan]

Baby called for a foul, his second. Team limit so James goes to the line. He hits the first and misses the second. PP grabs the rebound. RA called for a travel. Powe comes in for KG. Jones misses a 3 and Powe grabs the rebound. Rondo drives down the lane and lays it down for Powe who gets a 2 handed dunk. James loses the ball and PP takes it to the hoop and misses a layup. RA swoops in for the rebound. He misses and Baby gets the rebound and misses the put back. Gets the rebound again and is fouled by Varejao. He hits 1 of 2 FTs. James gets the ball inside and gets a monster 1 handed dunk. RA fakes and takes one dribble and hits a jumper. Wally misses and Posey gets the rebound. He has it knocked out of bounds but it stays Celtics ball. Celtics inbound and Rondo brings it up looking for the last shot. RA misses a jumper at the buzzer. Score at the end of 1 is Celtics 25 and Cavs 16

[FLCeltsFan]

James misses a dunk and Smith gets the rebound and put back. Wally called for a foul on RA. Celtics inbound on the side. RA hits a jumper off the dribble as Wally chased him around 3 picks. Powe called for a foul. Cavs inbound on the side. Cavs miss and Baby gets the rebound in a crowd. Nice pass inside and good hands by Leon for the catch and an up and under layup. Leon called for a foul and Cavs inbound on the side. Celts deflect the pass out of bounds. Cavs inbound with 5 on the SC. Cavs lose the ball and BAby races to the Ball and gets it and they blow the whistle and call a 24 second violation, robbing the Celtics of a fast break basket. Posey passes to a cutting Baby who is fouled as he goes up for a layup. He hits both FTs. Wally shoots an air ball and RA rebounds. Baby gets the ball inside and lays it in. Time out with the Celtics up 33-18 and 8:43 left in the half

[runrondo]

We can't get comfortable..We have to continue this aggression cause with Lebron, any comeback is possible...I just love we're doing this with our bench and defense...

[FLCeltsFan]

Cavs inbound on the side. James misses a runner and Z tips in the miss. Posey misses a 3 and Z grabs the rebound. James drives down the lane and Baby is called for a blocking foul as James plows him over. James misses the first. Perk and PP come in for Baby and RA. He msses the second and Posey gets the rebound. PP fumbles a pass and Brown takes it all the way for a layup. Powe hits a jumper on the baseline. Z misse an open jumper. Powe grabs the rebound. House misses a jumper and Powe misses the tip. Cavs come away with it. James misses a jumper and Posey is called for a foul. James hits the first FT and KG comes back into the game for Powe. He hits the second. Posey playing James. West pressing House as he brings the ball up. House banks one in off the glass. Brown misses a jumper and Celtics rebound and turn it over on a bad pass up court. Time out with Celtics up 37-25 and 5:40 left in the half

[FLCeltsFan]

Offensive foul on Wallace setting a screen. Wallace called for his third foul as he trips up Rondo. Celtics inbound on the side. Offensive foul called on Pierce as he runs over Varejao. James misses a jumper but the rebound comes back out to him and he drives to the hoop and lays it in. James comes up limping and sits down in front of the announcers. The play goes on and Perk gets the ball inside from KG and lays it in. Time out as the doctors come out to check on LeBron. Celtics up 39-27 and 4:24 left in the half

[FLCeltsFan]

James went back to the locker room. He was putting pressure on it when he walked to the locker room but limping. Wally comes in for James. Rondo with a steal and tried to throw it out off Delonte but it goes to Varejao. PP called for his second foul and Celtics are over the limit and Brown goes to the line. He hits the first and misses the second. KG grabs the rebound. KG backs in and misses a turn around jumper. Wally grabs the rebound and hits a 3 from the top of the arc. RA misses a jumper and Z rebounds. West hits a 3 and after a 7-0 it is a 5 point game. Time out with Celtics up 39-34 and 2:57 left in the half.

[FLCeltsFan]

Celtics inbound on the side. Rondo drives to the hoop and lays it in and draws the foul. He misses the FT and Cavs rebound. West takes it down the lane and lays it in. Perk misses a dunk as he is fouled hard by Z. Perk misses both FTs. Cavs rebound. Z misses and Rondo gets the rebound. Ball is kicked out of bounds. Celtics inbound with 21 on the SC. PP takes it into traffic and Wally is called for a foul. PP hits the first and misses the second. Cavs rebound. Brown steps out of bounds as Celtics trap him on the baseline. Rondo has his shot blocked but he gets it back and kicks out to RA in the corner for a 3. Smith hits a baseline jumper. Celtics turn it over. West takes it to the hoop and lays it in. Rondo drives to the hoop and misses a flip shot Cavs rebound. Delonte takes it to the hoop and misses a layup. KG with the rebound. PP shoots an airball from the free throw line but Perk is there to grab it and lay it in. Cavs miss at the buzzer and Score at the half is Celtics 47 and Cavs 40 LeBron has a sprained right ankle. Xrays were negative and is return is questionable.

[FLCeltsFan]

Cavs inbound to start the third. Lebron is in and takes it to the hoop and lays it in. KG misses in the paint. West rebounds. Brown throws it away. Rondo to PP who cuts down the lane for a dunk. James misses Rondo rebounds and gets it ahead to PP who is called for an offensive foul, his third. Delonte misses a 3 and cavs rebound. James misses a 3 but Delonte is there for the rebound and put back. RA hits a 3. James misses a 3 and KG tracks down the rebound. PP drives around West and lays it in. Ilgauskas misses and KG tips the rebound to Rondo . Pass way too high for Perk to get and Celtics turn it over. James misses and Z gets the rebound. He misses the put back but gets it back again and lays it in. PP hits a straight away 3. Lebron misses a jumper from the corner and KG rebounds. Z called for a foul. Celtics inbound on the side. PP to KG inside for a layup. Time out with Celtics up 59-46 and 7:42 left in the 3rd

[FLCeltsFan]

Z hits a jumper frm the corner. RA hits a runner in the lane and lays it in and is fouled. he misses the FT. Wallace gets the ball inside from James and lays it in. Rondo with an over the shoulder pass to KG who misses a jumper. James misses and Z gets the rebound and lays it in. KG misses a jumper and James gets the weak side rebound. RA called for his first foul. Z travels all over the place but they call a jump ball. Cavs win the tip with 8 on the SC. Cavs turn it ove. RA splits the defense and goes to the hoop and is fouled by West. He hits both FTs. James with an alley oop in to Wallace and Rondo called for a foul as Wallace goes up for it. Cavs inbound. Perk tips a pass to Rondo. James deflects a pass out of bounds. Celtics inbound iwth 18 on the SC. PP turns it over and James takes it in for a dunk. That was his 10,000th point. Rondo hits a runner in the lane. RA tips the pass out of bounds with 3 seconds on the SC. Wally misses at the buzzer and Rondo rebounds. KG hits a jumper off the catch. Wally misses and Wallace misses the put back. Celtics come away with it. KG with a no look pass inside to Perk for a dunk. West hits an open jumper. PP turns it over. James is fouled on his second attempt at a layup. Time out with Celtics up 69-56 and 2:22 left in the third

[FLCeltsFan]

PJ Brown was just announced as the newest Celtic and got a bit round of applause. James misses the first. hits the second. RA brings the ball up. Davis lays it in as he draws the charge on Smith. He misses the FT and Varejao rebounds. Smith hits the jumper as he is fouled by Baby. He hits the Ft. RA misses a 3 and rebound goes out of bounds. Powe comes in for Perk. Wally misses a 3 and rebound goes out of bounds. Time out with Celtics up 71-60 and 1:21 left in the third

[FLCeltsFan]

House, Posey, Powe, Baby, RA on the floor. Powe misses in the lane and Cavs rebound. Varejao turns it over. Powe takes it to the hoop and lays it in and draws the foul. Mike Brown just jumped off the bench and runs at the ref screaming and yelling and got thrown out of the game. RA hits the T. Powe hits the FT. James misses a jumper and Smith rebounds. Wally is fouled hard by Powe as he takes it to the hoop. Wally hits both FTs. Posey misses a 3 an Cavs rebound at the buzzer. Score at the end of 3 is Celtics 75 and Cavs 62

[mev17]

PJ Brown could be a nice addition to our bench -- gives us some more size and some saavy.