Post by FLCeltsFan on Apr 8, 2008 15:37:36 GMT -5
at
Boston Celtics (62-15) at Wizards (40-37)
Wednesday, April 9
7:00 pm ET
Game #78, Road Game #39
TV: ESPN, CSN HD
Verizon Center
Probable Starters
PG Rajon Rondo PPG 10.6 RPG 4.20 APG 5.1 EFF + 14.08
SG Ray Allen PPG 18.0 RPG 3.80 APG 3.1 EFF + 16.29
SF Paul Pierce PPG 19.9 RPG 5.30 APG 4.6 EFF + 20.19
PF Kevin Garnett PPG 18.9 RPG 9.40 APG 3.5 EFF + 25.02
C Kendrick Perkins PPG 7.3 RPG 6.20 APG 1.1 EFF + 12.12
Off the Bench
James Posey, Eddie House, Gabe Pruitt, Leon Powe, Big Baby Davis, Tony Allen, PJ Brown, Sam Cassell, Brian Scalabrine
Injuries
Scot Pollard, ankle, out
Probable Starters
PG Antonio Daniels PPG 8.6 RPG 2.90 APG 4.9 EFF + 11.89
SG DeShawn Stevenson PPG 11.2 RPG 2.90 APG 3.1 EFF + 10.51
SF Caron Butler PPG 20.7 RPG 6.80 APG 4.8 EFF + 23.09
PF Antawn Jamison PPG 21.5 RPG 10.20 APG 1.5 EFF + 22.13
C Brendan Haywood PPG 10.8 RPG 7.20 APG 0.9 EFF + 15.07
Off the Bench
Darius Songaila, Roger Mason, Andre Blatche, Neil Young, Dominic McGuire, Oleksey Pecherov, Gilbert Arenas,
Injuries
Etan Thomas, heart surgery, out
Antawn Jamison, shoulder, probable
Key Matchups
vs
Paul Pierce vs Caron Butler
Pierce PPG 19.9 RPG 5.30 APG 4.6 EFF + 20.19
Butler PPG 20.7 RPG 6.80 APG 4.8 EFF + 23.09
In the previous two games Butler and Pierce were going at each other both verbally and physically the entire time. Pierce is well rested and buoyed by the birth of his daughter and should be ready to play.
vs
Kevin Garnett vs Antawn Jamison
Garnett PPG 18.9 RPG 9.40 APG 3.5 EFF + 25.02
Jamison PPG 21.5 RPG 10.20 APG 1.5 EFF + 22.13
KG is also well rested and will be looking to ramp it up for the playoffs. He also hates losing and will be looking to avenge the previous two losses to this team.
Keys to the Game
Rebound The Celtics were out rebounded 49-30 by the Wizards in their last matchup in the Verizon Center and the Wizards turned those rebounds into 26 second chance points. The Celtics need to crash the boards and keep the Wizards from getting second chance points.
Consistent Effort and Energy The Celtics need to come out strong and play consistently the entire game. They have to go after loose balls and rebounds and be aggressive on both ends of the court. In their last loss to the Wizards, the Celtics were ahead 77-63 with just over 6 minutes left and the Wizards out scored them 25-6 to end the game. The Celtics have to play 48 minutes and not let up if they get a lead.
Hit Free Throws
The Celtics missed 11 free throws in their game against the Bucks. It almost cost them the game. They need to make free throws as they can prove very costly in close games. Just ask Memphis.
Game Notes:
The Celtics beat the Wizards on opening night, in spite of a guarantee of a Wizards win from Arenas. The Celtics then lost a home and home series to the Wizards in January. The Wizards, Cavs and Magic are the only 3 teams to beat the Celtics twice this season. No team has beaten them 3 times and the Celtics will want to keep the Wizards from becoming the only team to beat them 3 times. This one is about pride.
The Celtics stars have gotten a good rest and are coming into this game rested. Doc is going to need to get the team back into a regular rotation so that they are in their rhythm and have momentum going into the playoffs. He played them around 21 minutes in the Bucks game and said that he may play them a little more in this game. Gilbert Arenas is back and coming off the bench for the Wizards. Antawn Jamison has been out with a sore shoulder but has said he will be back for the Celtics game.
The Wizards are currently in the 5th spot for the playoffs, 2 behind the Cavs for the 4th spot and 1 ahead of Philly for the 6th spot. Every game is important for them as they jockey for playoff position and they will give the Celtics everything they've got. The Celtics need to be ready for it and come back at them just as strong.
The Wizards are 22-16 at home and are 6-4 in their last 10 games. The Wizards could be a second round matchup for the Celtics. It would not be good for the Celtics if they were to win the series. The Celtics can't allow them to get one up mentally on them and so need to win this one. The is the second of back to back games but the starters all played 22 minutes or less and so it shouldn't affect their play in this one.
Boston Celtics (62-15) at Wizards (40-37)
Wednesday, April 9
7:00 pm ET
Game #78, Road Game #39
TV: ESPN, CSN HD
Verizon Center
Probable Starters
PG Rajon Rondo PPG 10.6 RPG 4.20 APG 5.1 EFF + 14.08
SG Ray Allen PPG 18.0 RPG 3.80 APG 3.1 EFF + 16.29
SF Paul Pierce PPG 19.9 RPG 5.30 APG 4.6 EFF + 20.19
PF Kevin Garnett PPG 18.9 RPG 9.40 APG 3.5 EFF + 25.02
C Kendrick Perkins PPG 7.3 RPG 6.20 APG 1.1 EFF + 12.12
Off the Bench
James Posey, Eddie House, Gabe Pruitt, Leon Powe, Big Baby Davis, Tony Allen, PJ Brown, Sam Cassell, Brian Scalabrine
Injuries
Scot Pollard, ankle, out
Probable Starters
PG Antonio Daniels PPG 8.6 RPG 2.90 APG 4.9 EFF + 11.89
SG DeShawn Stevenson PPG 11.2 RPG 2.90 APG 3.1 EFF + 10.51
SF Caron Butler PPG 20.7 RPG 6.80 APG 4.8 EFF + 23.09
PF Antawn Jamison PPG 21.5 RPG 10.20 APG 1.5 EFF + 22.13
C Brendan Haywood PPG 10.8 RPG 7.20 APG 0.9 EFF + 15.07
Off the Bench
Darius Songaila, Roger Mason, Andre Blatche, Neil Young, Dominic McGuire, Oleksey Pecherov, Gilbert Arenas,
Injuries
Etan Thomas, heart surgery, out
Antawn Jamison, shoulder, probable
Key Matchups
vs
Paul Pierce vs Caron Butler
Pierce PPG 19.9 RPG 5.30 APG 4.6 EFF + 20.19
Butler PPG 20.7 RPG 6.80 APG 4.8 EFF + 23.09
In the previous two games Butler and Pierce were going at each other both verbally and physically the entire time. Pierce is well rested and buoyed by the birth of his daughter and should be ready to play.
vs
Kevin Garnett vs Antawn Jamison
Garnett PPG 18.9 RPG 9.40 APG 3.5 EFF + 25.02
Jamison PPG 21.5 RPG 10.20 APG 1.5 EFF + 22.13
KG is also well rested and will be looking to ramp it up for the playoffs. He also hates losing and will be looking to avenge the previous two losses to this team.
Keys to the Game
Rebound The Celtics were out rebounded 49-30 by the Wizards in their last matchup in the Verizon Center and the Wizards turned those rebounds into 26 second chance points. The Celtics need to crash the boards and keep the Wizards from getting second chance points.
Consistent Effort and Energy The Celtics need to come out strong and play consistently the entire game. They have to go after loose balls and rebounds and be aggressive on both ends of the court. In their last loss to the Wizards, the Celtics were ahead 77-63 with just over 6 minutes left and the Wizards out scored them 25-6 to end the game. The Celtics have to play 48 minutes and not let up if they get a lead.
Hit Free Throws
The Celtics missed 11 free throws in their game against the Bucks. It almost cost them the game. They need to make free throws as they can prove very costly in close games. Just ask Memphis.
Game Notes:
The Celtics beat the Wizards on opening night, in spite of a guarantee of a Wizards win from Arenas. The Celtics then lost a home and home series to the Wizards in January. The Wizards, Cavs and Magic are the only 3 teams to beat the Celtics twice this season. No team has beaten them 3 times and the Celtics will want to keep the Wizards from becoming the only team to beat them 3 times. This one is about pride.
The Celtics stars have gotten a good rest and are coming into this game rested. Doc is going to need to get the team back into a regular rotation so that they are in their rhythm and have momentum going into the playoffs. He played them around 21 minutes in the Bucks game and said that he may play them a little more in this game. Gilbert Arenas is back and coming off the bench for the Wizards. Antawn Jamison has been out with a sore shoulder but has said he will be back for the Celtics game.
The Wizards are currently in the 5th spot for the playoffs, 2 behind the Cavs for the 4th spot and 1 ahead of Philly for the 6th spot. Every game is important for them as they jockey for playoff position and they will give the Celtics everything they've got. The Celtics need to be ready for it and come back at them just as strong.
The Wizards are 22-16 at home and are 6-4 in their last 10 games. The Wizards could be a second round matchup for the Celtics. It would not be good for the Celtics if they were to win the series. The Celtics can't allow them to get one up mentally on them and so need to win this one. The is the second of back to back games but the starters all played 22 minutes or less and so it shouldn't affect their play in this one.