Celtics (34-9) at Heat (22-18) 1/21

[FLCeltsFan]

  at 

Boston Celtics (34-9) at Miami Heat (22-18)  Wednesday, January 21
7:30 PM ET
Game #44, Road Game #22
SunSports HD, CSN HD,  NBA LP 753
American Airlines Arena   


ProbableStarting Matchups
Point Guard
  vs 
Rajon Rondo vs Mario Chalmers

Shooting Guard 
  vs 
Ray Allen vs Dwyane Wade 

Small Forward
  vs 
Paul Pierce vs Shawn Marion 

Power Forward
  vs 
Kevin Garnett vs Udonis Haslem 

Center
  vs 
Kendrick Perkins  vs Joel Anthony     




Coach: Doc Rivers
Average Age: 26.8
Average Height: 6-6
Average Weight: 222

Reserves
Tony Allen
Glen Davis
Eddie House
Leon Powe
Gabe Pruitt
Brian Scalabrine
Patrick O'Bryant
Sam Cassell
JR Giddens
Bill Walker

Injuries:
Tony Allen (ankle) out
Kendrick Perkins (shoulder) probable
JR Giddens  (wrist)  day to day
Pierce (ankle)  will play


Coach: Erik Spoelstra
Average Age: 26.1
Average Height: 6-6
Average Weight: 223

Reserves
Jamaal Magloire
Daequan Cook
Michael Beasley
Chris Quinn
Marcus Banks
Mark Blount
James Jones
Dorrell Wright
Yakhouba Diawara

Injuries
Shawn Marion (groin) probable
Dorrell Wright  (knee)  out
Marcus Banks  (back)  day to day

Team Connections
Mark Blount and Marcus Banks are former Celtics
Michael Beasley and Bill Walker were teammates at Kansas State
Mario Chalmers and Paul Pierce are former Kansas Jayhawks
Jamaal Magloire and Rajon Rondo are former Kentucky Wildcats
Shawn Marion and Eddie House were teammates in Phoenix
Eddie House was originally drafted by the Heat with the 37th pick in the 2000 draft. 

Key Matchups
vs
Ray Allen  PPG 17.9 RPG 3.40 APG 2.6 EFF + 16.48
Dwyane Wade  PPG 28.9 RPG 4.90 APG 7.4 EFF + 27.33

vs
Paul Pierce  PPG 19.4 RPG 5.60 APG 3.7 EFF + 18.79
Shawn Marion   PPG 12.3 RPG 9.20 APG 1.9 EFF + 18.29   

Honorable Mention
  vs 
Kevin Garnett   PPG 16.1 RPG 9.20 APG 2.6 EFF + 21.76
Udonis Haslem   PPG 11.2 RPG 8.90 APG 1.2 EFF + 15.74

Game Notes:
The Heat are coming off a grueling 12 day 7 game road trip that went through Denver, Sacramento, the Lakers, Minnesota, Milwaukee, Houston and Oklahoma City.  They went 4-3 on the trip and have been playing very good basketball. 

Shawn Marion didn't play in the final game of the trip in Oklahoma City due to a groin injury, but they have been off since Sunday and should be well rested and ready to face the Celtics. 

The Heat are 12-6 at home while the Celtics are 13-7 on the road.  The Celtics should get Perk back for this one and that will give the Celtics an advantage inside over Haslem and Anthony.  Rondo should be able to win the matchup at the PG spot as he faces the rookie Chalmers. 

Former Celtic Mark Blount has been averaging just 8.6 minutes over 13 games this season so far and has mostly sat at the end of the bench behind Joel Anthony and Jamaal Magloire.  He is averaging 2.5 points and 1.4 rebounds per game.   Another former Celtics, Marcus Banks has been averaging 10 minutes over 15 games this season and is averaging 2.8 points and 1.5 assists per game. 

[ManUp]

Glad to see Wade. Our defense needs a real test. If we can dominate defensively against them we have something to be really happy about. I'd love to see Wade get shut down, but that's just not likely.

Tp on the game thread as always FL.

[Edgar]

Woo Hoo
pre game thread is here

Go Cs
and thanks Fl.

I think Cs will win this one specially with perk playing 15 minutes today.

[Donoghus]

I know its early to speculate (but that's what we do here) but we could be looking at a possible 1st round matchup here.

[KCattheStripe]

Vote DWade, the real MVP.

[celticinorlando]

like boston's size vs miami...but wade it so good....great test tonight

[Chief]

like boston's size vs miami...but wade it so good....great test tonight

I don't think Ray can stay in front of him.

[Hoyo de Monterrey]

like boston's size vs miami...but wade it so good....great test tonight

I don't think Ray can stay in front of him.

Agreed, but can Chalmers hang with Rondo?

[Chief]

like boston's size vs miami...but wade it so good....great test tonight

I don't think Ray can stay in front of him.

Agreed, but can Chalmers hang with Rondo?

I doubt it, but Chalmers is very confident.


Also, I got the Miami broadcast. Boo!!! Is Cousy doing the Celtics broadcast?

[celticinorlando]

still wish boston wouldn't have passed on chalmers...he would be perfect coming off the bench behind rondo

[jdpapa3]

like boston's size vs miami...but wade it so good....great test tonight

I don't think Ray can stay in front of him.

Agreed, but can Chalmers hang with Rondo?

Nah, I think Cousy is done doing games if I remember correctly.

I doubt it, but Chalmers is very confident.


Also, I got the Miami broadcast. Boo!!! Is Cousy doing the Celtics broadcast?

[ManUp]

The heat crowd is embarrassing.

...talk about bandwagon fans jumping off.

Nice start by the Celts.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Looking good... looking good.

[Chief]

Is Marion done?

[Celtic]

The heat crowd is embarrassing.

...talk about bandwagon fans jumping off.

Nice start by the Celts.

Indeed, that place is dead, they had their one season, and it's back to not caring about basketball.