Post by FLCeltsFan on Mar 19, 2008 19:23:36 GMT -5
at 
Boston Celtics (54-13) at Dallas Mavericks (44-24)
Thursday, March 20
8:00 PM ET
Game #68, Road Game #34
TV: TNT, KTXA HD
Radio: WEEI, Sirius 127
American Airlines Center
Probable Starters
PG: Rajon Rondo PPG 10.6 RPG 4.20 APG 5.0 EFF + 14.03
SG: Ray Allen PPG 18.3 RPG 4.00 APG 3.0 EFF + 16.65
SF: Paul Pierce PPG 20.0 RPG 5.30 APG 4.7 EFF + 20.06
PF: Kevin Garnett PPG 18.8 RPG 9.40 APG 3.5 EFF + 24.86
C: Kendrick Perkins PPG 7.5 RPG 6.20 APG 1.0 EFF + 12.14
Off the Bench
Leon Powe, Big Baby Davis, Eddie House, James Posey, PJ Brown, Sam Cassell, Brian Scalabrine
Injuries
Scot Pollard, ankle, out
Ray Allen, foot, day to day
Tony Allen, back, day to day
Probable Starters
PG: Jason Kidd PPG 10.8 RPG 7.60 APG 10.2 EFF + 20.41
SG: Jerry Stackhouse PPG 10.2 RPG 2.20 APG 2.5 EFF + 8.47
SF: Josh Howard PPG 19.4 RPG 7.10 APG 2.1 EFF + 18.52
PF: Dirk Nowitski PPG 23.8 RPG 8.70 APG 3.7 EFF + 25.91
C: Erick Dampier PPG 5.9 RPG 7.50 APG 0.9 EFF + 12.83
Off the Bench
Jason Terry, Brandon Bass, Tyronn Lue, Malik Allen, Antoine Wright, Juwan Howard, Jamaal Magloire, Eddie Jones, Devon George, Juan Jose Barea
Injuries
None
Key Matchups
vs 
Rajon Rondo vs Jason Kidd
The tests just keep coming for Rondo as he faces yet another of the league's top point guards in Jason Kidd. Rondo has the speed advantage, but Kidd has the experience advantage.
vs 
Kevin Garnett vs Dirk Nowitski
This is a matchup between a former MVP and the reigning MVP. This should be a good matchup as both can go inside and shoot on the perimeter. Should be some good battles between these two.
Keys to the Game
Hustle and Energy The Celtics have been aggressive and have been diving after loose balls and have been the more aggressive team in their last two games and need to continue that in this game.
Crash the Boards The Mavs are a good rebounding team. They are 8th in overall rebounding and 5th in offensive rebounding. The Celtics have to beat them to the boards and limit their second chance points.
Defense The Celtics played incredible defense in the second half against Houston and have been winning with their defense. They need to keep up that defensive intensity.
Game Notes
The Mavericks are a very good home team with a 29-5 record. They are 6-4 in their last 10 and are coming off a tough 2 point loss to the Lakers. They are 28-11 against Eastern Conference teams. The Celtics are 22-4 against the West.
The Celtics won the first matchup between these two teams 96-90 but the lineups for both teams were much different. The Mavericks have brought Jason Kidd into the starting lineup at the point and Stackhouse is starting at the 2 guard. The Celtics had both KG and Ray Allen out and started Tony and Scal in their place.
The Celtics are looking to sweep the Texas Triangle for the first time since 1987. Both teams have had the day off previously and should be rested.
