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RETRIEVING CONTENT...PLEASE WAIT
Celtics Go for 6-0 in Indy
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
by FLCeltsFan 12:00 PM
 at 
Boston Celtics (5-0) at Indiana Pacers (3-3)
Tuesday, November 13
7:00 PM ET
TV: NBA LP ch 753, FSI, CSN
Conseco Fieldhouse
Tonight the Celtics will take on the Pacers at the Conseco Field House. There are a few sub-plots in the Celtics/Pacers matchup. One is that former Celtics coach, Jim O'Brien is the new coach of the Pacers. He left under less than happy circumstances when Danny traded Tony Battie, Eric Williams and Kedrick Brown for Ricky Davis, Chris Mihm, and Michael Stewart. Danny was building the team one way and O'Brien didn't like the direction it was going and so he quit mid-season. Needless to say, Obie would love nothing better than to beat his old team. Another sub-plot is the rivalry that has arisen between these two teams as a result of their first round playoff matchup. Although the Celtics are a completely different team from that last playoff team, I am sure Paul Pierce remembers all too well being unceremoniously bounced from the playoffs by the Pacers and his meltdown when he was tossed from the game and showed up at the press conference with his jaw bandaged. Finally there is the GM angle. The Pacers GM, Larry Joe Bird, and the Celtics GM, Danny Ainge, were teammates on the Celtics last chamionship team. Larry always got the headlines on that team, but it looks like Danny has stolen the headlines as GM. I am sure there are some bragging rights between former teamates to be had.
Probable starters
PG: Rajon Rondo (6'1") vs Jamaal Tinsley (6'3")
SG: Ray Allen (6'5") vs Mike Dunleavy (6'9")
SF: Paul Pierce (6'7") vs Danny Granger (6'8")
PF: Kevin Garnett (6'11") vs Jermaine O'Neal (6'11")
C: Kendrick Perkins (6'10") vs Troy Murphy (6'11")
Key Matchups
 vs 
Kevin Garnett PPG 22.6 RPG 15.80 APG 6.0 EFF + 37.40
Jermaine O'Neal PPG 13.8 RPG 7.80 APG 3.4 EFF + 14.40
O'Neal has moved from center to power forward this season and his numbers are down slightly. Garnett should have the upper hand in this matchup but will need Perk's help to keep O'Neal out of the paint.
 vs 
Paul Pierce PPG 23.6 RPG 4.20 APG 4.6 EFF + 21.20
Danny Granger PPG 18.7 RPG 6.50 APG 1.8 EFF + 16.17
Granger is playing very well and always plays well against Pierce. Pierce doesn't have to be the go to guy this year and should be able to concentrate on defending Granger.
Key off the Bench:
Posey's return tonight will give the bench a boost. His leadership, defense and ability to hit the 3 all figure to be big for our bench this season.
Jeff Foster always seems to have his best games against the Celtics. He should have a bit more trouble with this version of the Celtics, though.
Keys to the Game:
Defense: This is the key to every game and to winning the championship. The Celtics must continue to make defense their calling card and work at shutting other teams down. When their defense lets up, the rest of their game seems to falter as well.
Limit Turnovers: The Celtics did much better in the last game limiting the themselves to 11 turnovers after committing 20 or more in several games. Turnovers lead to easy baskets for the opposing team so it is important to take care of the ball.
Ball movement: The Celtics offense has been so effective because they have been moving the ball and finding the open man. When the ball movement slows and they go into ISO's they aren't near as effective.
Conseco Fieldhouse has always been a tough place to play for visiting teams. Good teams win on the road and so this is yet another test for this Celtics team.
[Join us on Celtics Green for the play by play and game discussion]
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