Celtics (60-15) at Bobcats (28-47)

[FLCeltsFan]

at
Boston Celtics (60-15) at Charlotte Bobcats (28-47)
Saturday, April 5
7:00 PM ET
TV: NBA LP Ch 752, CSN HD, News 14 Carolina
Game #76, Away Game #37
Charlotte Bobcats Arena



Probable Starters

Rajon Rondo/ Ray Allen/ James Posey*/ Kevin Garnett/ Kendrick Perkins
*Pierce is expected to miss this game for the birth of his first child. No word has been given as to who will start in his place, but the logical choice seems to be James Posey.
Off the Bench
Eddie House, Tony Allen, Leon Powe, Big Baby Davis, Sam Cassell, PJ Brown, Brian Scalabrine

Key Off the Bench

Powe has been playing very well and his toughness and defense will be needed in this game.

Injuries
Scott Pollard, ankle, out
Paul Pierce, may miss game due to birth of child





Raymond Felton/Jason Richardson/ Gerald Wallace/ Jared Dudley/ Emeka Okafor/

Off the Bench
Matt Carroll, Ryan Hollins, Jermareo Davidson Nazr Mohammed, Earl Boykins, Derek Anderson

Key off the Bench

Matt Carroll (brother of Pat, who played for the Celtics Summer League team) can put up points in a hurry and will need to be covered outside the arc. He has been shooting 51% from beyond the arc over his last 19 games.

Injuries
Othella Herrington, knee, out
Sean May, knee, out
Morrison, ACL, out

Key Matchups
vs
Rajon Rondo PPG 10.6 RPG 4.10 APG 5.1 EFF + 14.17
Raymond Felton PPG 14.1 RPG 2.80 APG 7.2 EFF + 14.81
Felton has been averaging 18.7 points and 9.0 assists in the 3 contests so far. Rondo needs to slow him down on the defensive end along with making him work on the offensive end.

vs
Ray Allen PPG 18.0 RPG 3.80 APG 3.1 EFF + 16.29
Jason Richardson PPG 21.4 RPG 5.30 APG 3.1 EFF + 18.83
Jason Richardson leads the league with 219 3-pointers this season. He has averaged 26.7 points against the Celtics so far this season. Ray has been shooting the ball well lately and this should be a good matchup.

Honorable Mention
Kevin Garnett vs Jared Dudley
KG has a big height advantage over Dudley as well as the experience edge. The Celtics should look to exploit this early and often.

Coaching Matchup:
vs
The Bobcats are coached by former Celtic Sam Vincent in his first year as head coach. Doc is a candidate for Coach of the Year and so he should be able to out coach a rookie coach.

Keys to the Game

Limit Turnovers The Celtics still turn the ball over too many times. A running team like the Bobcats will capitalize on those turnovers.

Defense
The Bobcats have bigs who can take the ball to the hoop as well as deadly shooters from the perimeter. The Celtics need to continue to play tough defense both in the paint and on the perimeter.

Crash the Glass The Bobcats are a very good rebounding team and if the Celtics don't hustle for rebounds, they could find themselves getting beat by second chance points and fast breaks.

Game Notes
This is the 4th matchup between these two teams this season. The Celtics lead the series 2-1 but the Bobcats have given them problems in every game. The Celtics won the first game by 1 point on a Ray Allen 3 at the buzzer. The Bobcats beat the Celtics 95-83 in their second game, handing the Celtics one of only 2 double digit losses this season. The Celtics won the third match 108-100.

The Bobcats are 19-19 at home while the Celtics are 27-9 on the road. The Cats are 4-6 in their last 10 games and have lost their last 2 games. The Celtics are 8-2 in their last 10 games and have won 5 in a row. The Bobcats will be playing in the second of back to back games as they play in Toronto the night before so the Celtics could catch them tired.

With a win in this game, the Celtics could clinch the best record throughout the playoffs. Doc has said that he will give the starters more rest in this game in preparation for the playoffs. While I don't expect anyone other than Pierce to sit out, expect fewer minutes for KG and Ray in particular.

[kofanis0880]

I think G-Wall/Okafor will end up guarding KG.

[Celtic17]

Sounds like KG and Ray might have the night off, along with PP.

I could see Rondo, House, Posey, Powe & Perkins strarting this one.

[FLCeltsFan]

We have the Celtics feed tonight even though they are on the road! YEA!!! Pierce, KG and Ray will all be sitting out this game. A win in this game would clinch home record for the entire playoffs and would also put them in the record books for the biggest turn around in NBA history.

[FLCeltsFan]

Posey Powe Perk, Tony and Rondo starting. Celtics win the tip. Rondo misses a jumper from the top of the key. Cats rebound. Okafor hits a baseline jumper. Tony feeds the ball to Powe in the post for a dunk. Rondo with a steal. Posey hits a 3 that bounces off the front of the rim up and in. Davidson hits a jumper. Rondo misses a layup. Cats rebound. Okafor gets the ball inside for a dunk. Posey drives to the hoop and lays it in. Tony called for a blocking foul. Cats inbound on the side. Rondo knocks it away and Posey comes up with it. Tony hits a jumper in the paint. Felton misses a 3 and Celtics rebound. Powe muscles his way to the hoop and lays it in. Cats miss and Perk rebounds. Tony drives into the lane and has it knocked away by Okafor. Celtics inbound. Posey hits a 3 from the corner. Carroll hits a wide open 3 from the corner. Celtics turn it over and Richardson finishes with a dunk on the other end. Rondo hits a floater in the lane. Powe picks off the pass and Rondo finishes with an easy layup. Time out with Celtics up 18-11 and 6:41 left in the first

[FLCeltsFan]

Davidson hits a jumper at the SC. Perk is fouled as he spins in the paint. Celtics inbound and then turn it over. Richardson misses and Rondo rebounds. Tony misses a floater in the lane. Rebound tipped out of bounds by Okafor. Celtics inbound with 16 on the SC. Posey hits a 3 from the side. Cats miss and Powe grabs the rebound. Rondo loses it in the paint. Posey with a block. Celtics come away with it. Tony takes it to the hoop and is fouled but no call. Powe rebounds and is fouled as he goes back up but no call. Tony called for a foul on the rebound. Felton misses a long jumper. Rebound comes out to Tony on the FT line. Tony is fouled going to the hoop. He hits both FTs. Okafor hits a jumper. Tony is fouled going to the hoop. Tony hits both FTs. Carroll misses a 3 from the corner. Powe with the rebound. Posey takes it to the hoop and lays it in and is fouled but no call. Carroll hits a jumper. Tony misses a baseline jumper. Powe is fouled as he attempts the put back. time out with Celtics up 27-17 and 2:54 left in the first.

Dickerson said that Pierce, KG and Ray would probably all sit out one more game down the stretch although not necessarily all at the same time. Rondo also may get a game off, but he plans to play Perk every game to keep h is conditioning up .

[FLCeltsFan]

Picking up start of 2nd Celtics up 37-25. Cats inbound to start the second. Dudley hits a jumper. Posey called for a foul. Scal comes in to the game for Posey. Davis, Scal, PJ, Sam, House on the court. He misses the first and hits the second. Celtics miss and Dudley rebounds. Cats miss and Baby gets the rebound in traffic. Sam misses a jumper. Scal tips the rebound out to Sam. Baby lays it in. Okafor misses and Scal rebounds. Scal loops it ahead to House who hits a turn around jumper. Felton hits a jumper. House hits a 3 off the catch. Dudley misses and Baby rebounds. Sam pulls up and hits a jumper. Time out with Celtics up 46-30 and 8:41 left in the half

[FLCeltsFan]

Okafor hits a jumper. PJ misses in the lane and Cats rebound. Dudley lays it in. Sam backs in and posts up Boykins but misses. Cats rebound and miss and Celtics rebound. Okafor blocks PJ's shot. Looked like a goal tend but wasn't called. Cats rebound. Brown with a block and Scal comes away with it and then turns it over. Boykins hits a jumper in the lane and is fouled. He hits the FT. House gets it across against pressure. Dudley with a steal and Boykins hits a jumper. House pulls up and hits a jumper. Boykins gets into the paint and hits another jumper. Scal drives into the lane and hands off to PJ for a dunk. Okafor spins to the hoop and lays it in. Davis misses a hook shot in the lane but gets his own rebound. Sam is fouled. Time out with Celtics up 50-43 and 4:26 left in the half

[FLCeltsFan]

Davis, Posey, Tony, PJ and Sam on the court. Sam at the line. He hits both FTs. Boykins hits a 3. Brown is fouled in the lane by Richardson. He misses the first. hits the second. Boykins looks so little out there, but he is causing a lot of trouble for the Celtics. Okafor misses and Celtics rebound. Tony takes it to the hoop and lays it in. Cats miss. Dudley rebounds and misses the put back. Baby comes away with it. Celtics called for a 3 second violation. Time out with Celtics up 55-46 2:40 left in the half

[FLCeltsFan]

cats inbound Ricardson rims out a 3 and Celtics rebound. Rondo misses a fall away jumper and Perk is there for the rebound and put back. Boykins is fouled and hits both FTs. Tony misses a pull up jumper. Rondo with the rebound in traffic. Powe takes it to the hoop and is fouled. He hits both FTs. Cats miss and Tony rebounds. Tony misses a layup. Powe muscles the rebound down and then lays it in off the glass and is fouled. He hits the FT. Felton hits a jumper. Posey drives to the hoop and draws the foul. He hits both FTs. Richardson misses a layup but is fouled by Perk. He misses both FTs. Posey rebounds. Powe has it stripped in the lane. Cats miss at the buzzer. Score at the half is Celtics 64 and Bobcats 50

[FLCeltsFan]

Cats inbound to start the 3rd and turn it over. Rondo misses a pull up jumper. Mohammed rebounds. Cats miss. Celtics rebound. Celtics called for a travel. defensive 3 seconds on the Celtics. Felton hits the T. Cats inbuond on the side with 17 on the SC. Cats miss and Perk rebounds. Rondo has it knocked away and recovers just in time to toss it up from half court and misses. Cats rebound. Richardson hits a 3. Time out with Celtics up 64-56. 9:32 left in the 3rd. Not a very good start for the Celtics in the third as the Cats go on a 6-0 run to start the period

[FLCeltsFan]

Tony takes it down the lane and lays it in. Cats miss but get the rebound back. Celtics deflect the ball out of bounds. Charlotte inbounds with 19 on the SC. Okafor hits a jumper. Perk passes inside to Powe and he is fouled with 1 second on the SC. He hits both FTs. Blocking foul on Powe. Cats inbound on the side. Richardson misses and Cats get the rebounds. Okafor hits a jumper. Rondo pulls up and hits a jumper. Richardson misses a long jumper a the SC. Perk rebounds. Celtics turn it over on a bad pass out of bounds. Cats miss and Perk rebounds. Perk has hit knocked out of bounds as he backs into the basket. Celtics inbound with 9 on the SC. Posey misses a 3 in the corner. he his knocked down by Richardson but no call. Cats rebound and miss a jumper. Powe has the rebound. Rondo misses and Cats rebound. Tony with a steal. Posey drives baseline and lays it in up and under. Time out with Celtic sup 72 -60 and 5:37 left in the 3rd.

[FLCeltsFan]

cats inbound and bring it up and then turn it over. perk misses a turn aruond on the baseline. Cats rebound. Mohammed takes it to the hoop for a layup. Powe gets a pass inside and is fouled. Powe hits both FTs. Cats miss inside and Perk rebounds. Richardson with a steal and layup. Rondo misses a jumper. Cats rebound. Felton misses a jumper. Posey has the rebound but Mohammed knocks it out of bounds. Celtics inbound. Posey hits a hook shot in the lane at the SC. Mohammed hits a jumper from the FT line. Posye misses a runner but Perk grabs the rebound and lays it in. Perk called for a foul as Felton takes it baseline. Sam and Baby come in for Rondo and Perk. Cats inbound on the side. Richardson drives to the hoop and Baby is called for a blocking foul although it was clearly a charge. Baby was set and outside the circle but they called the foul on Baby. Okafor hits the first and misses the second. Celtics rebound. House drops it inside to Baby who is fouled. He misses both FTs. Whistle on the rebound and they call a foul on Dudley. Powe goes to the line. He hits both FTs. Sam draws the charge. Sam misses a 3 and House tracks down the long rebound. Sam misses a jumper and Cats rebound. Okafor is fouled as he takes it to the hoop. He misses both FTs. Posey rebounds in traffic. Sam takes it to the hoop and misses a layup. Cats rebound. Richardson misses a 3 and Baby rebounds. Sam pulls up and hits a jumper over the defender. Richardson misses a 3 at the buzzer. Score at the end of 3 is Celtics 82 and Bobcats 69.

[FLCeltsFan]

Celtics inbound to start the 4th. Celtics miss. Okafor hits a jumper. Davis takes it to the hoop and lays it in. Carroll has it stripped taking it to the hoop. Sam takes it into the paint and is fouled. He hits both FTs. Richardson loses it as he bounces off Baby. Baby called for setting a moving screen. Richardson called for a technical foul as he complains about not getting a call. House hits the T. House called for a foul as Boykins lays it in. He took 2 steps and dribbled the ball after the foul but they count the basket and give him a FT which he makes. House hits a runner in the lane. Dudley fouled by Baby as he goes to the hoop. Cats inbound. Felton misses a 3 and PJ rebounds. Sam misses a 3. Carroll rebounds. Boykins finds Okafor under the basket and lays it in. House misses a 3 off the catch but Baby is there to grab the rebound and is fouled. Time out with Celtics up 89-76 and 10:20 left in the 4th

[FLCeltsFan]

Baby at the line hits the first and misses the second. Cats rebound. Carroll misses a jumper and House rebounds. Sam misses a jumper. Cats rebound. Sam with a block on Felton and Celtics come away with it. House hits a 3 on a pass from PJ in the lane. PJ gets a piece of the shot and Celtics get it back. Sam with a pass over the top to PJ inside and he is fouled. He hits the first and misses the second. Cats rebound. Sam gets a piece of Felton's shot from behind. Celtics come away with it. Davis spins in the lane and lays it in. Cats miss a 3 and Sam rebounds. Scal takes it hard to the hoop and is fouled. Time out with Celtics up 96-76 and 5:38 left in the 4th