(http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_1076000/ff_1076006_xl.jpg) at (http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_765000/ff_765618_xl.jpg)
Orlando Magic (14-31) at Boston Celtics (22-23)
Friday, February 1, 2013
7:30 PM ET
Regular Season Game #46, Home Game #25
TV: CSNNE, FSFL, NBA-LP 752(ORL)/753(BOS)
Radio: WEEI, WDBO
TD Garden
(http://cdn3.sbnation.com/imported_assets/336623/2587354586_9eb59b3cd9.jpg)
Probable Starting Matchups
Point Guard
(http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/avery_bradley.jpg) vs (http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/jameer_nelson.jpg)
Avery Bradley vs Jameer Nelson
Shooting Guard
(http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/courtney_lee.jpg) vs (http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/jj_redick.jpg)
Courtney Lee vs JJ Redick
Small Forward
(http://a.espncdn.com/i/headshots/nba/players/65/662.jpg) vs (http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/maurice_harkless.jpg)
Paul Pierce vs Maurice Harkless
Power Forward
(http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/jared_sullinger.jpg) vs (http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/kyle_oquinn.jpg)
Jared Sullinger vs Kyle O'Quinn
Center
(http://a.espncdn.com/i/headshots/nba/players/65/261.jpg) vs (http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/nikola_vucevic.jpg)
Kevin Garnett vs Nikola Vucevic
(http://www.sportable.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/fleet-center.jpg)
(http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_866000/ff_866302_xl.jpg)
Celtics Reserves
Brandon Bass
Jason Collins
Jeff Green
Jason Terry
Leandro Barbosa
Chris Wilcox
Fab Melo
Injured
Rajon Rondo (knee) out
Jared Sullinger (back) day to day
(http://image.become.com/imageserver/s5/741450475-150-150-5-32/skullcandy-hesh-magic-dwight-howard-headphones.jpg)
Magic Reserves
Gustavo Ayon
Andrew Nicholson
E'Twaun Moore
DeQuan Jones
Josh McRoberts
Ishmael Smith
Hedo Turkoglu
Injuries
Al Harrington (knee) out
Glenn Davis (foot) out
Aaron Afflalo (calf) day to day
Team Connections
Doc Rivers coached the Magic from 1999-2004, winning the NBA’s Coach of the Year award in his first season (1999-2000)…
Brandon Bass and Glen Davis attended Louisiana State University
Brandon Bass played for the Magic from 2009-11
Jason Collins played with Magic Head Coach Jacque Vaughn in New Jersey from 2004-06
Courtney Lee was drafted by Orlando with the 22nd pick in the 2008 NBA Draft and played for Orlando during the 2008-09 season
Lee and Ish Smith were teammates in Houston during the 2010-11 season
Magic Head Coach Jacque Vaughn and Paul Pierce both attended Kansas
Jason Terry and Magic Head Coach Jacque Vaughn were teammates in Atlanta during the 2011-02 season
Glen Davis played for the Celtics from 2007-11 and was a member of the 2008 NBA Championship team
E’Twaun Moore played for the Celtics during the 2011-12 season.
Game Notes
The Celtics will try to get back to the .500 mark once again and win their third straight game when they host the reeling Orlando Magic. The Magic have been in a tailspin and it has gotten even worse as Glenn Davis broke his foot early in their last game and will be lost for the rest of the season. They may also be without their leading scorer, Aaron Afflalo, who is day to day with a calf injury. For the Celtics, Jared Sullinger is also day to day with back spasms.
The Magic list their starting PF as to be determined. I've taken a guess that they may start Kyle O'Quinn but they haven't given any indication of who they plan to start. For the Celtics, Sully didn't practice on Thursday and is 50-50 to play in this game. If he can't go, expect Brandon Bass to move back into the starting lineup.
The Magic are just 2-8 in their last 10 games while the Celtics are a slightly better 4-6 in their last 10. The Celtics are 15-9 at home and would like to establish a home dominance while the Magic are just 6-15 away from home. They have lost their last 4 games on the road by an average of 20.0 points per game. The Celtics have won six straight in the series, including a 116-110 victory in Orlando on Nov. 25.
Key Matchups
(http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/avery_bradley.jpg) (http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/courtney_lee.jpg) vs (http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/jameer_nelson.jpg) (http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/jj_redick.jpg)
The "Pit Bulls," as Avery Bradley and Courtney Lee have been called, will go against two of Orlando's key scoring options. Their defense will be key to limiting the Magic's offense and also to keeping the ball moving on offense for the Celtics.
(http://a.espncdn.com/i/headshots/nba/players/65/261.jpg) vs (http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/nikola_vucevic.jpg)
Kevin Garnett vs Nikola Vucevic
Vucevic is playing well for the Magic and KG will need to keep him away from the basket and also try to continue to hit his shots on the other end.
Keys to the Game
Defense - Defense is the key to winning. Period. The Celtics are getting back to playing tough defense and have limited opponents to 84.0 points per game in its last two games. The two prong attack of Lee and Bradley harassing the opposing guards has a lot to do with it. They need to continue to make defense a priority.
Rebound - Rebounding takes effort and desire and when the Celtics show both on the boards, it translates to the other parts of the game as well. They have to rebound to prevent second chance points for the Magic and to be able to get them for themselves.
Be Aggressive - The Celtics have to be aggressive from start to finish. They have to take the ball to the hoop and not settle for jumpers, especially if the jumpers aren't falling. They also have to be aggressive in going after loose balls and rebounds as well. And most important, they have to be aggressive on defense. If they play timidly in the least or show any weakness, the Magic will take advantage of it.
Ball Movement - The Celtics moved the ball and found the open man in each of their last two games and it resulted in wins for the Green team. They need to continue to share the ball, and to advance the ball quickly to get easy baskets before the defense is set.
X-Factors
Focus
The Celtics could let up because of the Magic's record or because they are missing key players, but they need to keep their focus on playing hard and getting the win. They need to get off to a quick start and play hard throughout. No let ups.