at Boston Celtics (4-1) at Toronto Raptors (2-4)
Sunday, October 18, 2009
3:00 PM ET
Preseason Game #6 – Road Game #3
TV: CSN HD, DTV 751
Air Canada Centre
Probable Starting Matchups Point Guard vs
Marquis Daniels vs Jose Calderon
Shooting Guard vs
Ray Allen vs Demar DeRozan
Small Forward vs
Paul Pierce vs Hedo Turkoglu
Power Forward vs
Kevin Garnett vs Chris Bosh
Center vs
Kendrick Perkins vs Andrea Bargnani
Reserves
Eddie House
Rasheed Wallace
Marquis Daniels
Shelden Williams
Tony Allen
Brian Scalabrine
Lester Hudson
Michael Sweetney
Big Baby Davis
JR Giddens
Injuries
Tony Allen (ankle) out
Bill Walker (knee) out
Reserves
Reggie Evans
Marco Belinelli
Jarrett Jack
Amir Johnson
Patrick O'Bryant
Marcus Banks
Quincy Douby
Sonny Weems
Injuries
Reggie Evans (foot) out
Antoine Wright (knee) day to day
Team Connections
Joey Graham and Tony Allen are former Oklahoma State Cowboys
Raptors Strength and Conditioning Coach Keith D’Amelio was an assistant to Ed Lacerte for three season
Amir Johnson and Rasheed Wallace were teammates in Detroit from 2006-09
Marcus Banks played for the Celtics from 2003-06
DeMar DeRozan and Brian Scalabrine are former USC Trojans
Reggie Evans and Ray Allen were teammates in Seattle from 2003-06
Rasho Nesterovic, Jarrett Jack and Marquis Daniels were teammates in Indianaduring the 2008-09 season
Nesterovic and Kevin Garnett were teammates in Minnesota from 1998-2003
Patrick O’Bryant played for the Celtics during the 2008-09 season
Quincy Douby and Shelden Williams were teammates in Sacramento during the 2007-08 season
Key Matchups vs
Marquis Daniels vs Jose Calderon
Doc has said that he plans to start Marquis Daniels along with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. Doc is still deciding on the rotation behind Rajon Rondo at the point and will be taking a longer look at Daniels at the point along with Lester Hudson. It will be interesting to see how Calderon defends Daniels and vice versa.
vs
Kevin Garnett vs Chris Bosh
Chris Bosh started Wednesday's game strong and had 20 points in the first half. Then the Celtics upped their defense and got more physical and Bosh disappeared, scoring just 1 point the rest of the game. In spite of all the talk about his putting on muscle and wanting to stand up to the more physical teams, it doesn't seem to be working so far.
Honorable Mention
Paul Pierce vs Hedo Turkoglu
These two always seem to bring out the best in each other. There have been a few games where Turkoglu has hit the winning shot for Orlando against the Celtics and Pierce typically has good games vs Turkoglu. Game Notes
Doc is planning to start Marquis Daniels at the point in this game. It isn't clear whether Rondo will play or if he will be given the day off. Doc could be trying to get an extended look at the players who figure to be in the running for the back up pg spot.
Both teams should be well rested and the starters for both teams are healthy. The Raptors will be looking to avenge Wednesday's loss and the Celtics will be looking to make a statement to a division rival.
When these two teams first met, Rasheed Wallace was sitting off and he should be available for this game. Even without Sheed, the Celtics bench outplayed the Raptors bench and that shouldn't change in this game. The Celtics' bench is much deeper than the Raptors' bench and that will probably be the difference once again.
JE Skeets of Ball Don't Lie on Yahoo Sports posted this to Twitter yesterday and I meant to post it here yesterday but life got in the way of Celtics blogging. This is great! Celtics fans don't need any reminder that KG is back because they have been following every limp, every jump, and every alley oop since he first took the floor in training camp. This is for anyone who may still be wondering.
And in case you missed his Alley Oops in the Raptors game on Wednesday, here is another look at it to savor until they play the Raptors again on Sunday.
And while we are looking at video, in case you missed the NBA team preview of the Celtics or, like me, didn't feel like sitting through the other 29 teams to catch the Celtics preview, here it is. Andre Aldridge, Brent Barry and Eric Snow discuss the Celtics. One thing they mention that is going to be a big factor this season is KG's hunger. He never had to sit out any periods of time in his career until last season. And now coming back, he is hungry and he is more intense than ever, if that is possible. He wants to play and he wants to win. Eric Snow picks the Celtics to win it all this season (smart man). Brent Barry feels they can win the East, but with his West Coast bias, doesn't feel that the Celtics can win the title.
Maybe the Celtics should wear gas masks when they play the Cavs on Wednesday. The Cavs players are dropping like flies with the flu. We don't need any of that stuff here. You would think these guys would get flu shots. With their livelihood so dependent on their health, a flu shot seems like a simple way to avoid a week on the inactive list.
Just a couple player notes. Lester Hudson has been impressive. He isn't the usual rookie. He is more mature and is proving that he can run the team Whether Doc breaks his precedent of not playing rookies remains to be seen. I think our strongest second unit would have Hudson at the point which would allow Daniels to play the 3 and Eddie the 2. There was one play in the Raptors game that shows what he is capable of. He hit Marquis Daniels in stride with a perfect bounce pass. Daniels missed the layup, but Hudson flew in from nowhere to tip in the miss.
I like what I am seeing from JR Giddens also. He has been concentrating on defense and rebounding which shows a certain maturity on his part, realizing that putting up shots won't win him playing time. He can hit his shots though when they are available. I still like Bill Walker a lot, but his unfortunate injury is giving Giddens a chance to move ahead of him in the rotation.
Big Baby has been playing well so far this preseason. He is showing that he can make a difference in whatever minutes he is given. He is playing around the basket more and is fighting hard for rebounds and playing tough defense in the paint. Here is his huge block vs the Raptors from Wednesday, that happened to be the Block of the Night on NBA.com.
And, it wouldn't be a post from me without mentioning Perk. I just love what I am seeing from him so far this season. As he has done every season he has been in the league, he has improved his game over the offseason. I am loving all the articles that are popping up about how important Perk is to the team. I couldn't be happier. And to all who called me crazy back in 2003-04 when I said that Perk was going to be a top 10 center, I told you so.
Of all the teams in the Atlantic Division, the Raptors have the biggest possibility of giving the Celtics problems. They have Bosh and Bargnani inside and have good outside shooters. They also have a good and quick PG in Calderon. But, they also have 9 new players since last season and a lot can be said for continuity and keeping a team together. Last night, the continuity and chemistry of the Celtics won out over the Raptors who hung with the Celtics in the beginning but were out run in the second half. Their starters hung with the Celtics starters, but there was no contest when it came to benches.
The big story from last night were the alley oops from Rondo to Garnett that were converted in spectacular fashion. As we witnessed KG getting back to his above the rim ways, Celtics nation breathed a collective sigh of relief. He converted not one, but 3 alley oops in this game and is looking more and more like the KG of old. The game was physical and KG even took a hard hit on the side of his face and didn't miss a beat.
Lester Hudson is continuing to make Celtics fans take notice. With every game he is improving and maturing. I think it comes from his maturity and age coming into the league. He's actually older than Perk who has been in the league 6 years already. I like what I have seen from Hudson and something tells me that questions about who is our back up PG are going to be answered the more we see him play. I really like the thought of a second unit of Sheed, Big Baby, Daniels, House and Hudson. Hudson can run a team and is showing that he can hit the shots when he needs to as well.
I'm loving what I see from Perk this season. He has improved on both offense and defense since last season. He is much more mobile this season and has more lift as well. His maturity is also showing in some of the plays he makes. There was one rebound that a couple of years ago, Perk would have grabbed and then pulled down to gather for the put back. But last night, he went up and with a soft touch tipped it back in for the score.
These replacement refs are enough to frustrate even the most even tempered player. They seem to call every little incidental bit of contact and it seems as though they are stopping play about every 30 seconds. There are a whole lot of whistled being blown. Someone needs to let them know that a little bit of contact is ok. The Celtics are a physical team and having the refs this whistle happy is not good for this type of team.
For all those worried about Rondo, you can stop worrying now. He has looked great in the last two games. His jumper is still very inconsistent but he still has that quick first step that allows him to get to the hoop to score. I also believe that has the season goes on, he'll get the jumper going.
I like what I am seeing from JR Giddens. He is very active on the boards and on defense. We are deep on the wings, but I can see him earning some playing time this season if he keeps playing like that. He may see time in the D League just because there are players ahead of him but I can see him earning time before Tony Allen does.
At one point toward the end of the game when the Celtics starters were all on the bench and the bench was finishing up the work on the court, well ahead of the Raptors, the cameras focused on a very intense KG screaming instructions and encouragement to the players on the court. Next to him was a very amused Rajon Rondo just cracking up. It was pretty funny. I have no idea what KG could have been yelling so seriously at his teammates on the floor but obviously Rondo found it amusing.
Now we have to wait until Sunday to see another game when the Celtics travel to Toronto to play the Raptors once again. By that time we should have Sheed back full strength and our bench will be even more dominant over theirs.
Boston sat out the big three last night. Do you think it was to have them rested and ready for the Raptors tonight?
I would doubt they would rest them to have them ready to play a meaningless game against a team that won 33 games last year when they'll probobly only play about 20 minutes each anyway
I hate the Celtics and would love to see the Raptors humiliate them--make them look old. Won't happen tonightbut that day is coming. I expect a bad loss by the Raptors. Too much rust on the starting five.
But all jokes aside, I hope Boston plays at full strength (doubtful) to really give us an idea of how our team fairs against theirs.
It would be really nice to see Bosh really take it to KG and Sheed.
It's going to be a strange game where Bosh is going to be chasing Garnett to show him how much bigger he is now, and Garnett is going to be overwhelmed with chasing down Euros.
We'll see Calderon dunking over KG. Book it.
This is a must win game.
Rondo starting tonight. Look for Doc to give him another 40 mins tonight. Ridiculous.
Same thing everytime. Give to Bosh... He screws it up. Boston destroys us
Raptors look very scared.
Celtic broadcasters talk a lot of crap..
Davis pulls down the rebound with four red shirts around him...
Celts might miss a shot this game who knows.
Sweetney is HUGE
Big Baby is killing us
Sweetney was gonna eat Evans
Too many fat ppl playing for Boston
I've seen linebackers smaller than Sweeney.
Woot! We can compete with the Celtics now
We always could
C's have a nice collection of fat bodies.
Andrea got a tech for what? Geeze. Rent-a-ref strikes again
Rondo is a little bitch..he always reaches and never gets called....what a little turd..he's a turd
This game definetly feels like a regular season game. They better leave the scrubs on the becnh
The Celtics are looking really old.....
Take that KG! I hate your face.
DeRozan smacked KG in the mouth with his elbow, atta boy, lay the law down kid
Ray needs to retire
Damn rondo robbing everyone
Celtics are the new Varejao.
Flopping ftw
Sweetney and big baby on the same team? Wow. They're just missing eddy curry
Is this 3nd alleyoop for KG
Man if the raps could play D this game would be way more different.
what's with all the call on the Raps, but the Celtics are allowed to hack our guys all they want.
Celtics look really sharp, and raps are hanging in with them. I'm happy. Big baby and Perkins really impressive to me for them, they look like they've turned into really solid big men for them right now
Why the hell is bargs trying to front kg and perk? Its not workin at all
Wish someone would just knock KG right out
Bosh got schooled by Perkins there...
Our offense ain't clicking tonight...nothing to do with Boston's D
We gotta stop making Eddie House look like an allstar...
Rondo is an elite pg running a contender
Bargs couldn't handle the power of Big Baby in the post.
We got outworked by a championship line up. Pretty simple.
Celtics are in mid season form holy crap. And why was KG limping around in practice and now all of a sudden he's not? It's not like he got any rest. Bunch of sand baggers!
Pierce misses, still dunks it
Only the raptors would let pierce grab his own board like that
Why do people leave house open if he's not shooting 3's then he's completely useless
We really need the refs back. I hate these whistle every 20 secs game.
Why is Lester Hudson destroying us ... He isnt doing anything special either. Too easy
I never understood the Scalabrine chants either... Do they not realize that they're basically making fun of their own player?
Celtics fans are just nostalgic to the era of white dominated Celtic teams.
Sweetney is like 2 big babies
Hopefully O'Bryant can give us some energy in the final moments.
POB has to be one of the most incompetent basketball players I have ever seen. He is completely uninvolved in 90% of what is happening on the court.
I can't stand this commercial, Cs and their fake intensity
We got whooped-KG style alley after oop in the 3rd Q
These are the Celtics at home with replacement refs. We were not getting the 50/50 calls tonight no matter what. The Celts looked good though and they should.
Before I remembered they also got Rasheed, I thought Celtics are going to have problems anytime KG or Perkins gets into foul trouble. Davis & Sweetney are too fat to guard a lot of people.
(photos courtesy of Yahoo)
I got to see this game live as Direct TV finally has begun showing the preseason games. I really like the fact that they offered both the Celtics feed and the Nets feed. I hope they continue to do that during the season. I love watching Mike and Tommy and getting the commentary through green colored glasses. Every season I have sent suggestions to the NBA to offer both feeds like they do with audio league pass and maybe they took my suggestion.
I usually do a Comments from the Other Side post after games and share some of the best comments from game threads for the opposing team. However, the Nets fans don't seem to care one way or another as I had trouble finding any game threads. I mean, even during the 18 game losing streak a few years back there was no shortage of Celtics' game threads. It's kind of sad there isn't more interest for the Nets out there.
Here's a few thoughts from the game. The Celtics bench is deep this season. I've seen a lot of talk about how the Celtics bench could beat a lot of the other teams' starters. Well, we got to see that in part in this game. Yes, Rondo and Perk played but the bench came through big time to get this win. The Celtics didn't have Paul Pierce, Ray Allen or KG at all as they sat out the whole game. They also had limited production from Marquis Daniels, who had a stomach bug and played very sluggishly in the first half and sat out the second half. They also didn't have Rasheed Wallace for much of the second half after he turned his ankle. In spite of all that, and playing against a Nets team that was playing at full force, the Celtics pulled out a win. Here are a couple of observations.
My favorite play of the game was when Scal made a no look bounce pass between his legs and behind him to a cutter. They called him for an illegal screen right after, but it was a pretty bad call. Scal made a great play.
I found it interesting that even though Doc didn't plan to play any of his 3 stars, KG and Paul Pierce were on the bench in suits but Ray Allen chose to dress in uniform even though he wasn't going to play.
The preseason Technical foul count is Sheed 2, Perk 1, and Eddie House 1. These replacement refs are pretty quick to call a T. Actually, they are pretty quick to call absolutely everything. Moves that are legal and that players have been making their whole careers are now being called as travels, fouls, etc. There have been an average of 15 more fouls called per game with the replacement refs and if that continues, I can see a lot more techs being handed out as players get more and more frustrated with the calls.
With Marquis Daniels and then Rondo playing the point and Eddie being allowed to play his natural position at the 2, we can see the benefits. Eddie has the fastest release in the game. When they get him the ball, it's through the hoop before the defense even knows he had it. I love what I have seen from Eddie all around in the preseason so far. He is on the floor scrambling for loose balls, taking charges, and playing defense. He has been very intense out there and it is still only the preseason.
I liked what I saw from JR Giddens last night. He was fighting hard for rebounds and finished with 13 of them. He was also playing very good defense. He probably will spend time in the D League again this season, but he is on track to become a very nice player as long as the attitude problems that plagued him in college don't resurface.
The one area that this team needs to improve is at the free throw line. Last night they shot 53.8% from the free throw line. They have to improve that as 54% from the charity stripe is totally unacceptable for a team that wants to win a championship. For the most part, making free throws is a matter of concentration and so they need to get their heads on straight and make their free throws.
The Celtics showed a lot in last night's game. They could have taken it easy with their 3 stars sitting out the whole game and 2 others sitting out part of it. When Daniels and Sheed both left the game and the Celtics were down, they could have folded and taken that as an excuse. But they didn't. They clawed and scraped and scratched their way to a win. Rondo came up big late as did House and Big Baby with some big plays down the stretch. I like that and hope to see a lot more of that intensity and scrapy play throughout the season.
Reserves
Reggie Evans
Marco Belinelli
Jarrett Jack
Amir Johnson
Patrick O'Bryant
Marcus Banks
Quincy Douby
Sonny Weems
Injuries
Sonny Weems (toe) game time decision
Antoine Wright (knee) day to day
Key Matchups vs
Rajon Rondo vs Jose Calderon
I am sure that Calderon will remember the fact that KG taunted him in a game last season and would love nothing better than to get his revenge with a win in every game these two teams play this season. So far this preseason Rondo's game has been a little off and this would be a good time for him to get into regular season form.
vs
Kevin Garnett vs Chris Bosh
Chris Bosh is one of the best young power forwards in the game and is very dangerous on the offensive end. However in most of the games between these two teams last season, Bosh seemed to be very intimidated by KG.
Game Notes.
Doc had said that he would hold out his three stars from one of the back to back games. Since they didn't play against New Jersey on Tuesday, the will more than likely be playing in this game.
Hedo Turkoglu has been out with a knee problem and will be making his Raptors debut in this game vs the Celtics. He will be playing without having had much practice with the team and so there may be some chemistry issues on the court until he gets used to his new teammates.
Former Celtics Patrick O'Bryant and Marcus Banks are playing for the Raptors this season. In spite of these two players, the Raptors have a nice core of players and should be a tough team once they get everyone healthy. At the least, they will give the Celtics more of a challenge than the Nets did.
The Celtics will see the Raptors once more in the preseason on October 18 at the Air Canada center.
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