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RETRIEVING CONTENT...PLEASE WAIT
The Depleted Celtics Host the Short Handed Raptors
Saturday, January 2, 2010
by FLCeltsFan 2:13 PM
 at 
Toronto Raptors (16-17) at Boston Celtics (23-8)
Saturday, January 2
7:30 PM ET
Regular Season Game #32, Home Game #15
TV: CSN HD, TSN 2, LP 758
Radio WEEI, CJCL
TD Banknorth Garden
Today's Referees: Dan Crawford, John Goble, Josh Tiven
The Celtics will once again be missing several key players. KG, Pierce, Rondo and Daniels are all expected to miss this game. The Raptors will be missing Calderon and Turkoglu. JR Giddens is expected to get the first start of his NBA career in this game, moving Tony Allen over to the starting point guard spot. Playing Tony at the point, let alone starting him there is a very puzzling move. This will be a very interesting game, if nothing else.
The Raptors have won 5 games in a row and would love to keep their streak going. The Celtics have lost 3 in a row and would very much love to stop their streak at 3.
Winning this game isn't as important as making sure that the team is healthy for the stretch run and the playoffs. This game is winnable for the Celtics even with the injuries if the others step up their games.
 Probable Starters
![[image]](http://a.espncdn.com/i/headshots/nba/players/65/2367.jpg)   ![[image]](http://a.espncdn.com/i/headshots/nba/players/65/883.jpg) ![[image]](http://assets.espn.go.com/i/nba/profiles/players/65x90/3730.jpg)
TAllen/ R Allen/ Giddens / Wallace / Perkins
 Probable Starters
![[image]](http://a.espncdn.com/i/headshots/nba/players/65/2768.jpg) ![[image]](http://a.espncdn.com/i/headshots/nba/players/65/3978.jpg)  ![[image]](http://assets.espn.go.com/i/headshots/nba/players/65/1977.jpg) ![[image]](http://assets.espn.go.com/i/headshots/nba/players/65/2987.jpg)
Jack/ DeRozan/ Wright/Bosh/ Bargnani
![[image]](http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/detroit/SheedDet.jpg) vs ![[image]](http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/toronto/BoshTor.jpg)
Rasheed Wallace vs Chris Bosh
Chris Bosh has been playing very well in recent games. In the past, he has played timidly against KG, but Sheed probably won't have the same effect on him. Bosh leads all forwards with 24 double doubles and needs nust 39 points to tie Vince Carter as the team's all time leading scorer. This will be a tough matchup for the Celtics and Sheed has got to play inside if he is going to counteract Bosh's play. With Turkoglu and Calderon out, Bosh will be the main scoring threat for Toronto.
Game Notes
• The Suns are currently leading the season series 1-0; Celtics won the season series 2-0 against the Suns in 2008-09
• Rajon Rondo led the Celtics with 27.5 points per game last season
• Steve Nash averaged 15.5 points per game in the two match-ups
• It marked the first time since the 2000-01 season that the Celtics had swept the season series.
• The Celtics are leading the all-time series 61-48 with the Celtics 35-18 at home
Keys to The Game
Defense, Defense, Defense The Celtics must find their defense again. They have been allowing way too many open shots and easy baskets recently. They need to get back to what has made them such a tough team. Against the Raptors, they especially need to tighten up their perimeter defense as they are a very good 3 point shooting team.
Rebound The Celtics have to crash the boards on both ends. Defensive rebounds prevent second chance opportunities for the Raptors and Offensive rebounds given them extra shots along with preventing the fast break for the Raptors. Rebounding is mostly effort and desire and the Celtics need to be showing both of those things. Sheed needs to play inside more and forget about the 3 point line.
Take it To the Hoop The Celtics need to take the ball into the paint and either get the score or draw the foul. Quick 3's are not good offense, especially the way they haven't been falling for them recently. They need to run the offense and move the ball and make the extra pass.
X-Factor
Injuries
Both teams have key injuries and the play of the benches and subs will be key to determining which team gets the win.
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Lessons from the Past Going Forward
Friday, January 1, 2010
by FLCeltsFan 12:50 PM
There is some concern in Celtics nation right now about the team and their current injuries and struggles. For those who are ready to jump ship, don't go just yet. We need only to look at a couple of great Celtics teams in the past to see that this team will be just fine.
First, they have lost 3 in a row and are struggling with some injuries. If we look back at the 1985-86 Celtics team that is one of the greatest teams ever and a team that won the title in impressive fashion. If we look back on this team, they struggled in the early going too. They started the season with an impressive 17-2 record. But then, they lost 5 of their next 9 games. Between 12/18 and 12/25, they lost 3 games in a row and Celtics fans started to panic.
On Christmas Day 1985, the Celtics allowed an inferior Knicks team to come back from a 25 point deficit to hand the Celtics a humiliating defeat. A couple of days before that defeat, with the Celtics having lost a couple of games in a row already, Dan Shaughnessy called out KC Jones for not using his bench and over playing the starters (Thanks Lex).
Early in the season, Jones played a lot of his subs (he calls the second unit "The Green Team"), and they helped rest the vets while the Celtics trucked to a 17-2 mark. Jones has abandoned the bench during this slump. It's not unusual for four Celtics starters to be on the floor for 40 minutes a night. Bird played a season-high 47 minutes against the Sixers, McHale matched his top minute mark (44), and Ainge did not leave the floor after DJ was ejected in the second quarter. The 85-86 Celtics had a record of 23-7 on January 1 going into the new year. This team isn't far off of that pace. They also have lost 3 in a row as that team did in December, and Doc is over using his starters just as KC Jones did with that team. But, after the Christmas Day debacle, KC started using his bench more and the team rallied to finish the season strong, going on to win 67 games. Unlike that team, this edition won their Christmas day game and then lost the 3 following it. And unlike that team, this team is struggling with injuries. But, there is one element that both teams have that can't be overlooked. Pride. Celtics' Pride. Things didn't work out so badly for the 85-86 team and I believe that things are going to turn out fine for this team as well. So, if you are ready to jump ship because of the recent losses, take heart from the past. This team will be just fine.
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Comments from the Other Side - Suns 12/30
Thursday, December 31, 2009
by FLCeltsFan 10:55 AM
Time to end 2009 with a bang as we take on the injury-filled Celtics.
Beating LA and BOS in the last two games of the year would completely make up for our awful December. Plus we'd be alone in 3rd place.
Depends which Suns team we see. If it's the Suns team that dominated the Lakers, Suns should win. If it's the Suns team that wants to run and gun with the Warriors without feeding the beast in the middle than we lose.
Not much to that bench of theirs with Pierce and KG out Need to get and keep Perkins off the boards
Suns if they get on them early could really kill these guys. LEAVE RONDO WIDE OPEN anywhere outside of 15ft, and if he comes into the lane make him shoot 50% on free throws....
Anyone thinking this is A win just cos some Celtics are out obviously
Forgets we are the suns. We play down to our opponents level too often
Wow, I was predicting a Suns loss, but seeing how banged up they are, I am liking the Suns in this one. I'm not gonna predict anything though BC I'm usually wrong... Scratch that, I predict a Celtics win... Lol
Garnett, Pierce, and Big Baby are all out for sure. Rondo is questionable, which means he'll probably play.
Watch em sit both players. This way they have a legitimate excuse as to why the Suns swept them this season.
If the Suns lose to a Celtics team without Pierce, KG, Davis and Rondo I don't know what to say...
Boston is missing Pierce and that should be a big help. Rondo is the one I'm mostly concerned with, especially if he gets into the paint...
If? He gets into the paint?
I think J-Rich will have a good game tonight. Based on the fact that Ray Allen is like 40 and plays defense about as well as Nash.
Wow, this should be very much in our favor with them missing so many key people...but we also should have beat the Warriors with all the guys they were missing too. Lets hope they don't take Boston lightly. Even if they're not at full strength, they are still very dangerous. Never sleep on good teams even when they're down.
I'm just concerned that with the players the Celtics are missing that we'll ease up on our defensive intensity and take the injured Celtics too lightly.
I want to see them feed J-Rich the ball and have him expose Ray Allen as the weak point of the Celtics defense. I'm expecting a big game from J-Rich tonight. Hopefully he'll tire Allen out with his offense so that Allen will have problems getting shots up.
As for Davis not playing it really doesn't matter either way. The guy was out of sync due to his dumb mistake at the beginning of the season. If he was playing we might have even gotten a couple of mistakes from him on the court.
Rivers takes the long view 5th road game, aging banged up players, an opponent that will embarrass a tired team, a break in the schedule where you can get a weeks rest and only miss 2 games….. You might think Boston has mailed this one in.
It's a trap! Stop playing games with my mind!!!
Trap Shmap. We need to eat their babies.
Doesn't matter that they're missing KG and Davis - they still have some great post players that will D up ours anyday. Pierce - good for us, and if Rondo misses then AWESOME for us b/c no Rondo on Nash.
See, I didn’t know that Boston would be so crippled. If we don’t win, I’ll be gutted. This is a no-win though. We win it’s because the Celts are depleted. We lose and we’re a joke.
You never no though, Scalabrine could go off for 47.
Perkins be a load and can frustrate a guy like Amare. Cant let Ray Allen get it going tonight, cuz hes hurt us in the past when hes gotten hot. Cant let a bench guy like Tony Allen get off either
.I'm hoping that we know how to handle Perkins and Sheed because those are the only 2 big men they are going to have tonight.
Rondo is playing but the question for how long and how effective with that hamstring.
Suns the only team in the NBA to beat the Celtics AND Lakers? That's an uplifting tidbit.
Well, J-rich is starting to get more consistant... For every 5 bad plays/shots, he makes 1 good one.
This is crazy to watch. Would have loved to have seen this team play against a full strength Celtics.
Rondo is a punk.
Amare with as many points as the Celts plus 5 rebs already.
House stepped out of bounds and it wasn't called
WOW NO FRIGGIN CALL on the Hill eye poking... NICE OFFICIATING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Amare always follows up greatness with stupidity
Eddie House playing well
Can't let that little rat Eddie House get hot.
I'm watching on edge because the suns are refusing to close it out and bury these guys. Amare, despite his awesomeness, is partly responsible with a dumb third foul.
Anyone else notice the hard pick (and ensuing shove) by Rasheed Wallace on Nash? Steve went down hard. It pisses me off that no one on this team protects Nash now that Raja's gone.
Rasheed looks really old out there
He looks uninterested and out of shape...he needs to start caring
I'm not saying that the refs are swinging the game. The Suns aren’t playing the way they should be right now. But I hate it when then make up for a bad call with a “make-up” call. And it’s been happening consistently against both teams since the 2nd quarter. Let them play the game. They’re the stars — you’re just there to facilitate.
Damn Rondo and his flops
Frye's too short, the Celtics can't see him
Rondo looks like he is struggling
Kendrick Perkins needs to smile
Channing showing Sheed how a big man shots threes
And then Sheed showed him his championship ring and said “ba-zingo”
Channing was in the paint for a LOOOONG time
Frye & Dudley need to go to the 3pt contest
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KG, Rondo Questionable for Suns, Hudson Recalled
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
by FLCeltsFan 4:49 PM
Steve Bulpett reports in the Herald that even though KG went through a full shoot around and post practice shooting session, Doc has listed him as questionable for tonight's game.
Doc doesn't like what he has seen from KG lately and feels that it is time to rest him with an eye on the big picture.
Garnett missed one game last week with a right thigh bruise, and he got kicked in the same leg in Monday’s loss to Golden State. Though these latest issues are in the same area, trainer Ed Lacerte said, through the team, that this current situation is not related to the problems that caused Garnett to get surgery on the right knee this past offseason. Rondo also participated in the shootaround but after having tweaked his hamstring against Golden State, Doc lists him as questionable for tonight as well. Although, even though Doc is leaning toward keeping him out, Rondo has said that he plans to play tonight.
In other news, with the possibility of Rondo missing a game, the Celtics have recalled Lester Hudson from the Maine Red Claws. Teams are only allowed to assign players to their D-League affiliate 3 times and this was Lester's second stint with the Red Claws. He can be sent down just one more time.
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Celtics Hoping to Stop Skid as the Vist the Scorching Suns
by FLCeltsFan 1:37 PM
 at 
Boston Celtics (23-7) at Phoenix Suns (20-12)
Wednesday, December 30
9:00 PM ET
Game #31, Road Game #17
TV: NBA TV, CSN-NE, FSA
Radio: KTAR, WEEI
US Airways Center
Tonight's Referees Monty McCutchen | Curtis Blair | Zach Zarba
The Suns are coming off a big 15 win over the Lakers while the Celtics are coming off a close loss to the Warriors. The Suns, however, lost to those same Warriors on Christmas Day 132-127.
The Suns are a tough team to face in their building. They have a 12-2 home record and have won 20 of their last 23 home games. The Celtics are 13-3 on the road with 2 of those losses coming in their last two games on this road trip. The Suns beat the Celtics in Boston earlier this season and so the Celtics will be looking to even the series in this game.
The Suns are a high scoring team and are averaging 109.5 points per game, good for first in the league. They are averaging an even better 115.2 points per game at home. However, they don't play a lot of defense, allowing over 106 points per game. They prefer to outscore their opponents rather than trying to stop them from scoring. The Celtics will not be able to beat the Suns in a shoot out. They need to find their defense and find a way to stop the Suns running game if they hope to win this game.
![[image]](http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/boston/00-Celticslogos.gif)
Probable Starting Lineup
![[image]](http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/4149.jpg) ![[image]](http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3080.jpg)
PG: Rajon Rondo PPG 13.2 RPG 4.1 APG 9.7
SG: Ray Allen PPG 16.2 RPG 3.3 3P% .354
![[image]](http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3730.jpg)
C: Kendrick Perkins PPG 11.9 RPG 8.0 BPG 2.0
![[image]](http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3842.jpg) ![[image]](http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3007.jpg)
SF: Tony Allen PPG 7.9 RPG 3.8 APG 1.4
PF: Kevin Garnett PPG 15.0 RPG 7.6 BPG 0.9
![[image]](http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/phoenix/00-Sunslogo.gif)
Probable Starting Lineup
![[image]](http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3103.jpg) ![[image]](http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3515.jpg)
PG: Steve Nash PPG 18.6 APG 11.3 SPG 0.4
SG: Jason Richardson PPG 15.5 APG 2.0 3P% .374
![[image]](http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3934.jpg)
C: Channing Frye PPG 12.4 RPG 5.9 BPG 0.9
![[image]](http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/2626.jpg) ![[image]](http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3607.jpg)
SF: Grant Hill PPG 11.7 RPG 5.6 APG 2.3
PF: Amare Stoudamire PPG 20.3 RPG 8.5 BPG 0.8
Key Matchups
![[image]](http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/boston/RondoBos.jpg) vs ![[image]](http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/phoenix/NashPhx.jpg)
Rajon Rondo vs Steve Nash
Rondo gets a chance to show what he can do against one of the premier PG's in the league and a 2 time MVP. He should have a speed advantage over Nash, but he will have to work on the defensive end as Nash can burn you from anywhere on the floor if you give him a step. Rondo is coming off of an excellent game vs the Warriors, but tweaked a hamstring so that may become a factor in this game.
![[image]](http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/boston/KGBos.jpg) vs ![[image]](http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/phoenix/Amarephx.jpg)
Kevin Garnett vs Amare Stoudamire
This is a battle of two of the league's top power forwards. KG looked a step slow on defense in the Warriors game, which could be from fatigue or he could still be battling back pain from his fall a couple of games back. The Celtics need KG on defense especially in this game as Amare is averaging over 20 points per game and is one of the Suns' key weapons.
Honorable Mention
Celtics Bench vs Suns Bench
The Suns have a very good starting five and the two starting units match up fairly well. But with all the injuries on the Celtics, the Suns' bench has an advantage. Jared Dudley is becoming one of the top subs in the league and leads the league in 3 point percentage. Leandro Barbosa is faster than anyone on the Celtics second unit and will give anyone who guards him fits. They also have a very good center in Robin Lopez and an up and coming PG in Goran Dragic. The Celtics' bench must come to work in this one or by the time the starters return, the game will be out of reach.
Keys to the Game
Defense - This is the key to every win this season and to a championship as well. The Celtics played defense in spurts against the Clippers and the Warriors, and they lost both games. If they try to play defense in spurts in this game they will probably lose this one as well. The Celtics need to especially guard the perimeter as the Suns can be dangerous from out there. Jared Dudley leads the league in 3 point percentage. The Suns have made 10 or more 3 pointers in 19 of their games this season.
Ball Movement - The Celtics need to move the ball and find the open man in order to stretch the Suns weak defenses. They also need to stop taking quick 3's and try to work the ball inside. If they get the ball into the post they will be able to score, draw the foul or kick out for an open jumper. Shooting 3 pointers every time down just isn't working for this team and they need to abandon that strategy and get the ball into the paint.
Crash the Boards - The Celtics must make an effort to grab rebounds, especially on the offensive end, in this game. By grabbing offensive rebounds it will prevent the Suns from getting out on the break and it will also give the Celtics second chance points. Rebounding is mostly desire and effort and the team that wants it most will win the rebounding battle.
Play 48 Minutes - In their last two games, the Celtics have built a lead only to ease up and allow their opponents back into the game. The Celtics must play 48 minutes. They can't let up if they get a lead and they can't come out flat and play catch up the rest of the game. They have to keep their focus and intensity for the entire game.
X-Factor
Focus and Fatigue
The Celtics looked like a tired team against the Warriors. They have a day off to get some rest before this game, but Doc has been playing his starters too many minutes and it is showing in their jumpers falling short. Hopefully the Celtics focus will be strong enough to overcome their fatigue.
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Comments from the Other Side - Warriors 12/28
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
by FLCeltsFan 10:04 AM
One thing you can tell from the other team's boards is when the officiating is truly going against you. Sometimes a team's fans will only see the calls against them when the bad calls are actually going both ways and you will find a lot of the same complaints on both boards. But when you see posters on the other team commenting about all the calls going their way, you know that your team is getting shafted by the refs. The Tech on Perk was particularly a bad call. I guess since Perk wasn't giving them anything to call a tech on they had to make something up to win the pool on who was the first to give him one. The jumping jacks by Perk and KG had the Warriors' fans cracking up and they cracked me up too. That would be a pretty intimidating sight to see Perk and KG jumping in your face. It's a wonder the poor guy trying to inbound didn't soil himself. These are a lot more fun when we win, but still good stuff, especially the one about Radmanovic shooting like Stevie Wonder in a crosswind.
Cannot see how KG is going to play after that horrible spill he took.........dudes ass bone must be like a second skull right now.
Whatever though, we are going to get trashed anyway............and don't give me that "Ohh, look how we played against Phoenix"
No way, look how good we played against Phoenix!
No Paul Pierce and a half injured Garnett, but still they have tall people, be very afraid.
It's great we beat Phoenix, but the Celts ain't no Phoenix, with or without KG and Pierce. The Warriors will have to play their best game of the season and the Celts will have to play their worst for us to even have a chance.
Baron and the Clippers whooped on the Celtics.
If by "whooped" you mean the Celts lost by two on a buzzer beater, then yes the Celts were "whooped."
Now the Celts are going to be pissed off and looking to make an example of their next team i.e.. The Warriors.
The Celts just lost a fatigued road game. Hopefully they'll remain fatigued... I doubt it though.
I just see the Warriors getting horribly dominated on the boards tonight.
The way Boston gets calls, Monta will have 6 charges in the first 4 minutes. I expect Curry to do all right against Rondo if he can stay out of foul trouble. Ray Allen has stunk this season: therefore he will make 5 3pters and score 23 points.
They don't get nearly the calls a orlando, lakers, miami, cleveland do don't whine because they have a great team and we frankly suck
I call a blowout tonight... Yes,I said it.
Boston is coming off a heart-breaker so their morale is currently down,this is where we attack and bring it right to their face.
Cheap shot but, a win is a win
Warriors by 25
What are yall smokin on? The day we beat the Celtics by 25 is the day hell freezes over. I believe we do have a good chance to win but it’ll be an extremely close game that we win by 1 or 2 points. And that’s IF we find a way to win.
KG not exactly in blisstering form and a pretty rough loss last night…. I believe we have one option tonight and that is to RUN RUN RUN and RUN some more….
*The Golden State Warriors runs the Boston Celtics right out of Oracle with the final score of , 124-96. [No,I’m not high.]
We might not blow them out like I predicted but we have a great shot at beating Boston while they’re down
3 point contest.... Morrow vs Allen… who wins? I’d go with Morrow, who definitely should be in this year’s all-star 3Point Shoot out. He got snubbed last year!
I can't even remember the last time Morrow made even three 3’s in a game.
OT: Artest didn’t travel with the Lakers to Saturday’s game at Sacramento after tripping over a box and falling down a flight of stairs at his home on Christmas night…
Sounds like a bunch of BS to me.
Yep, no way Ron artest gets hurt at home by tripping over a box. there’s a much crazier story here. There has to be.
i say he was robbing somebodys house and tripped down the stairs.
Seems just as likely as the story they’ve put out there.
I don't want another upset stomach with a Warrior loss and 90% of the Oracle Arena filled with Boston Celtics fans cheering the loudest… So I'm going to wish for a tie. No overtime.
Predictions: Warriros by 17.
Nellies goes Hack a Rondo in 2nd quarter Rondo goes 9-22 from the line
Leave Rondo wide open anywhere from outside Knicks did it last year and they destroyed Boston.
I hope KG gets kicked in the mouth so we don't have to hear his bitching for 48 minutes. An amazing player but an even better complainer.
We need to bring back Bellie for this game to get in KGs grill like he did last time we played him. Who'll do the honors, Maggette? That ought to be funny.
I bet it's AR who exchanges words with KG if/when Garnett mouth goes off
Todays the official Maggette showcase in the T-Mac stakes.
If worse comes to worse we can play hack-a-rondo. He’s shooting 52.7% from the FT line this season, the worst of his career.
That’s pretty crazy for a pg, his poor free throw shooting cost them the game last night too
He really has no range at all.
He can’t really hit anything, especially the free throws.
If the Celtics use the same lineup they used last night Maggette would match up with ray Allen, should be easy pickings for maggette
Curry's ability to consistently miss open jumpers is just flabbergasting.
Seriously, I don't know what to do with 11 players!
Omg omg omg A normal starting lineup!!!!
We're like a real team now
AR got stuffed at the rim. Perkins grabbed that thing with one hand.
Defense... The Celtics sure know how to play it
We're going to need a Celtics collapse to win because they know what they’re doing
Unlike the Suns, the Celtics play defense.
Curry is like a short Pietrus
We need a real PG in the worst way
Maggette's windmill dunk better be in the night's top plays
No Lebron's fart will be #1 Sorry to dissapoint.
Lol at fake Boston fans here
Sure their defense is strong but it’s the fact that we’re scared that’s killing us.
Rondo refuses to be nice for the league's pansy ass marketing BS.
Rondo just posted up Monta, actually... he's doing most of his good work on Monta
Nellie's so miserable right now...He's cant do this. He's either going to have a stroke or go back to smallball.
If we could only score with this group in.
It's tough for anyone to score on the Celts. Because they play defense.
NOW Rondo's abusing Curry
Good foul. Rondo won’t hit ’em.
Wboops Gee, that went well.
wow Rondo hit an interesting shot there.
They’re shooting 65 percent and we’re at 24 percent? That’s absurd.
Allen and Rondo They’ve outscored our whole team.
Allen is so good!
As a fan of the game I could watch that man’s jumper all night…it’s beautiful….
Damn Baron! This is his fault – he got the Celtics all mad.
Rondo with 7 ast 1st qtr. Warriors have 2
That's not going to get it done against a real basketball like the Celts. Ball movement must be excellent to beat these guys
big baby davis schooling maggette
I like big baby He also looks like he’s slimmed down even more
I wanted us to draft him..Not that he fits with Nelson’s insanity
Rondo is a monster Look at him @ this pace of a game…. If we had him he’d be better than monta
He wouldn’t have the weapons around him to set up… Without a jumper on this team, he would be almost worthless…
This is probably the best all-around pure effort we've played with in the last 15 years
Hell of a game here. Doc Rivers wishes he had a bench.
CJ Watson and Anthony Morrow wish they had a legit coach
Vladrad is a total failure at both big and smallball...
He shoots like Stevie Wonder in a crosswind
Nellie may have a problem losing this one. Will have to be a blatant tank in order to do so. These guys want to and can win.
Nellie doesn't tank..he just gets lazy. Boston iis a team he always WANTS to whip. He's gonna be unusually pragmatic tonight.
LOL. Worst technical call ever on Perkins. We'll take it though!
That's a bad call on the Celtics Gave us a free point, though
Perkins did nothing LOL
Make up calls for Boston due about now after Ronny got 3-4 ugly ones for us throughout the game.
Getting bailed out once again
Perkins looks like he's gonna shoot somebody
It's just ridiculous how much rough play the Celtics and Lakers are allowed to get away with because they have defensive credibility. They've been slapping and reaching all quarter long with total impunity and the refs are scared to upset the champs by calling the obvious fouls.
Boston slaps like little girls ALL game. Perimeter hand check rules don't even apply to them. I think they'll be ok with a couple bad calls.
Rasheed hits a 3... Nice to find out he’s shooting 28% for 3 this season
Ronny's playing dirty.
Bless his heart NBA hoops is a dirty dirty business. (on cue...Rondo with an acting job)
We NEED to learn to play the game how the game IS. Thuggish ball, flopping,cheap shots,"playin' the refs".....these are the SKILLS that separate the "crafty veteran" and the top coaches too. Phil Jackson, Popovich,Pat Riley,Sloan, Larry Brown all teach the fine art of dirty tricks.
You have to protect Maggette from himself passing it to him at the 3 point line with no time on the shot clock is like giving crack to a druggie or guns to Delonte West.
Refs not giving any leeway to the Celtics
Dirrrrrty Rondo
Thought so too! Such a punk.
He was definitely trying to send a message
Really?
Cause it looked like he was trying to hurt somebody
The message was “Quit stealing the ball from us, you bastid.”
He was probably taught by Garnett.
Garnett looked like he was about to eat the ref
HAHAHA Someone took out Rondo
Randolph - A young KG
The scary part is he has BETTER handles than KG has ever had
KG cannot initiate a break off a board like Randolph can at all…
When did Rondo learn how to shoot?
I seriously hate Eddie House
Wow! Were getting some reallllllyyyy nice calls
The refs getting Boston on a few of those. They do it so often
Refs love us today
Correction: Refs hate Perkins
That was hilarious Perkins and Garnett doing jumping jacks.
Rondo Is carrying the Celtic’s team, props to him
I'm still laughing about the jumping jacks
We own them leprachauns.
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Celtics Continue Road Trip vs a Speedy Warriors Team
Monday, December 28, 2009
by FLCeltsFan 1:36 PM
![[image]](http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/boston/Celticslogo.gif) at ![[image]](http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/goldst/Warriorslogo.gif)
Boston Celtics (23-6) at Golden State Warriors (8-21)
Monday, December 28
10:30 PM ET
Game #30, Home Game #16
TV: CSN-NE, CSN BA, NBA LP 758, 759
Oracle Arena
Referees: Derrick Stafford l Brian Forte l Gary Zielinski The Celtics' 9 game road win streak was snapped last night vs a Clippers team that they should have dominated. Tonight they face another team that they should dominate, even without the Captain. But, the Warriors are a team that love to run and in the 3rd game of a 4 game road trip and playing back to back games, the Celtics are definitely not going to want to get into a running game with the Warriors.
The Warriors' record isn't indicative of the talent on this team. They have been devastated by injuires and have missed 124 player games to injuries so far this season. This is an average of 4.3 players out with injuries per game. With all the injuries their lineups have been in constant flux. But, in spite of all the injuries, here are some surprising stats:
The Warriors are 3rd in points per game at 106.3
They are 1st in the league in steals at 9.82 per game
They are first in fast break points with 23.0 per game
They are 1st in points off turnovers at 22.1 per game and
They are 1st in turnovers forced per game at 18.5
Also. they have a strong bench, and even with all the injuries, their bench is 4th in the league in scoring with 36.8 points per game. Their reserves have outscored their counterparts in 16 of their 29 games.
The Warriors used just 6 players in a win over the Mavs on 11/24. This is the first time that a team won using just 6 players since 1952 when the Baltimore Bullets beat the Fort Wayne Pistons using just 6 players.
Former Celtic, Don Nelson, is just 16 wins away from becoming the winningest coach in the NBA. He is currently at 1317 victories. Currently in his 46th year in the NBA as a player, coach, GM or consultant, no one has
participated in more games as a player and head coach than the 3,398 that “Nellie” has notched in his career. He played 14 seasons in the league, all with the Celtics, and won 5 championship rings as a Celtic.
This team is not to be taken lightly. They can score quickly and a lot. And they get into the passing lanes and can disrupt the offense. The Celtics have to stay focused against them or they could end up with a loss.
Probable Starters
![[image]](http://msn.foxsports.com/fe/img/NBA/Headshots/140x170/4149.jpg) PG Rajon Rondo
![[image]](http://msn.foxsports.com/fe/img/NBA/Headshots/140x170/3080.jpg) SG Ray Allen
![[image]](http://msn.foxsports.com/fe/images/NBA/Headshots/140x170/3842.jpg) SF Tony Allen
![[image]](http://msn.foxsports.com/fe/img/NBA/Headshots/140x170/3007.jpg) PF Kevin Garnett
![[image]](http://msn.foxsports.com/fe/img/NBA/Headshots/140x170/3730.jpg) C Kendrick Perkins
![[image]](http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/goldst/00-GSWarriorslogos.gif)
PG Stephen Curry
![[image]](http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3966.jpg) SG Monta Ellis
![[image]](http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/4527.jpg) SF Anthony Morrow
![[image]](http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3336.jpg) PF Corey Maggette
![[image]](http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/4476.jpg) C Anthony Randolph
Key Matchups
![[image]](http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/media/act_rajon_rondo.jpg) vs![[image]](http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/media/act_stephen_curry.jpg)
Rajon Rondo vs Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry is a good young point guard and had been impressive so far in his rookie season. Against Chris Paul recently, Curry had 17 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists. He sometimes has lapses on defense and Rondo needs to be aggressive and take advantage of those lapses.
![[image]](http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/media/act_ray_allen.jpg) vs![[image]](http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/media/act_monta_ellis.jpg)
Ray Allen vs Monta Ellis
Ellis is averaging over 25 points per game and could be a tough matchup for Ray on defense. Look for Tony to slide over and cover Ellis to allow Ray to concentrate more on his offense.
Honorable Mention
Kevin Garnett vs Corey Maggette
Maggette has been playing well for the Warriors and is averaging 17.6 ppg. KG has a big height advantage in this matchup and so should be able to have a big game.
Game Notes
• Celtics split the season series 1-1 against Golden State in 2008-09
• Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 21.0 points per game last season
• In his one appearance against the C’s, Corey Maggette netted 38 points for the Warriors
• The Celtics are 4-6 against Golden State since the 2004-05 season
• The Celtics are leading the all-time series 194-127 with the Celtics 108-34 at home
Keys to the Game
Defense - The Warriors can put points on the board quickly and in bunches. It will be important for the Celtics to bring their defensive intensity into this game, especially shutting down their fast breaks.
Rebound - The Celtics need to crash the boards to keep the Warriors from igniting their fast breaks. In the second game of back to backs, the Celtics legs may be getting tired and they can also give themselves some second chance points if they are aggressive in grabbing the rebounds.
Take Care of the Ball - The Warriors can be very disruptive by getting into the passing lanes. They average 9.82 steals a game and are best in the league at forcing turnovers. The Celtics need to stay focused and not give the Warriors any easy opportunities to steal the ball.
X-Factor
Fatigue
The Celtics are playing in the second of back to back games and in the 3rd game of a 4 game road trip. Their legs were looking tired in the second half of the Clippers game as they were short on a lot of jumpers. Fatigue could be the difference in this game.
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