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Boston Celtics (6-4) at Detroit Pistons (1-9)
Sunday, November 18, 2012
7:30 PM ET
Regular Season Game #11, Road Game #6
TV: CSNNE, FSD, LP 757(C's Feed)/758(Pistons Feed)
Radio: WEEI, 97.1 FM The Ticket
Palace of Auburn Hills
Referees: Scott Foster, Mark Ayotte, Gary Zielinski The Celtics face former Celtics assistant Lawrence Frank and his Pistons
for the first of 3 meetings this season. The Pistons won the series
2-1 last season. They have struggled this season and would love to get a
win over the Celtics to boost their confidence.
The Celtics
are 3-2 on the road while the Pistons are 0-3 at home. They have won
just one game against 9 losses, getting a win over the Sixers on the
road. The Celtics are playing in the second of back to back games while
the had Saturday off.
The Pistons have struggled on offense,
scoring just 93 points per game. while the Celtics are averaging 97
ppg. The Pistons aren't much better on the boards than the Celtics,
with the Pistons coming 28th with 38.8 rebounds per game and the Celtics
coming in last with 37.6 rebounds per game.
Even though the
Celtics played on Sunday, it was an afternoon game and so not quite as
bad as if it was a night game. Also, since the Celtics were able to
get a big lead, only Rondo played more than 30 minutes (32) and KG
played only 17. It should be an easy game for the Celtics if they come
in focused and ready to take care of business.
Probable Starters PG
SG
SF
PF
C
Rajon Rondo.... Jason Terry.... Paul Pierce.....Brandon Bass.... Kevin Garnett
Celtics ReservesJared Sullinger
Jason Collins
Jeff Green
Courtney Lee
Leandro Barbosa
Chris Wilcox
Darko Milicic
Leandro Barbosa
InjuredAvery Bradley (shoulders) out
Red ClawsFab Melo
Kris Joseph
Probable Starters PG
SG
SF
PF
C
Brandon Knight...kyle Singler...Tayshaun Prince...Jason Maxiell..Greg Monroe
Pistons Bench Rodney Stuckey
Will Bynum
Corey Maggette
Jonas Jerebko
Austin Daye
Khris Middleton
Charlie Villanueva
Kim English
Viacheslav Kravtsov
Injuries None
Key Matchups 
vs
Rajon Rondo vs Brandon Knight
Rajon
Rondo has been playing MVP level basketball. He seems to keep getting
better and better. Knight has been playing well also, averaging 11.3
points, 4.3 rebounds and 7.1 assists. This should be a good matchup.
vs
Paul Pierce vs Tayshaun Prince
This
has been a great matchup over the years, Prince's length can give
Pierce problems but Pierce's strength can also give Prince problems.
Honorable MentionJason Terry vs Kyle Singler
Singler
is a 6'8" rookie shooting guard. Needless to say, he's got 6 inches on
JET and should be able to get his shot off over Jason easily. He has
been shooting 46% from beyond the arc and so will be a tough matchup.
Don't be surprised to see Paul Pierce, Jeff Green or Courtney Lee
guarding him if he gives JET problems.
Keys to the Game Defense - It all
begins with defense. The Celtics have been winning with defense. When
they play lock down defense they are very hard to beat. When they get
lax on defense, they struggle all the way around.
Rebound
- The Celtics need to be aggressive on the boards. Rebounding is
effort and if the Celtics are putting the effort out to grab rebounds
then that effort will translate to the other areas of their game. They
finally out-rebounded a team in their last game and hopefully that
effort continues in this game.
Focus and Aggressiveness
- It could be easy for the Celtics to let down their guard in this
one. The Pistons are just 1-8 and the Celtics are playing in the second
of back to back games. But they need to keep their focus and be
aggressive. They have to be aggressive in going to the basket and not
settle for jumpers. They have to be aggressive on defense and going for
loose balls. They have lost easy games in the past because they play
down to their opponents. They need to avoid that here.
X-FactorsBack to Back
The
Celtics are playing in the second of back to back games on the road.
Hopefully they have the focus and energy to get the win.
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