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Boston Celtics (44-12) at Phoenix Suns (30-23)
Sunday, February 22
2:30 PM ET
Game #57, Road Game #29
TV: ABC
US Airways Center Although the Phoenix Suns home is 15 years old, it looks as if it is one of the newest arenas in the NBA. Prior to moving into US Airways Center, the Suns played at the 13,000 seat Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The team had played there since their inception in 1968. By the late 1980s a new large state of the art basketball only arena was needed for the Suns. Construction on the $90 million arena began in 1988 and was paid for through city bonds and loans. Officials from the team toured NBA arenas across the league looking for the best features to incorporate into their new arena. America West paid $26 million over 30 years in 1992 to buy the naming rights to the facility.
On November 3, 1992, the Phoenix Suns played their first game at America West Arena winning against the Los Angeles Clippers. In November 2005, America West Arena was renamed US Airways Center after US Airways bought America West. The arena has a seating capacity of over 19,000 that includes 2,270 clubs seats and 88 luxury suites.
63rd Season
First Game Played November 2, 1946
Probable Starting Lineup 
PG: Rajon Rondo PPG 11.2 RPG 5.40 APG 8.5 EFF + 18.85
SG: Ray Allen PPG 17.8 RPG 3.30 APG 2.8 EFF + 16.46
C: Kendrick Perkins PPG 8.0 RPG 7.90 APG 1.1 EFF + 13.71
SF: Paul Pierce PPG 19.9 RPG 5.70 APG 3.8 EFF + 19.42
PF: Brian Scalabrine PPG 3.2 RPG 1.2 APG 0.5 EFF + 3.2
ReservesTony Allen
Glen Davis
Eddie House
Leon Powe
Gabe Pruitt
JR Giddens
Bill Walker
Injuries:Tony Allen (thumb) out
Kevin Garnett (knee) out
40th Season
First Game Played October 18, 1968
Probable Starting Lineup
PG: Steve Nash PPG 13.9 RPG 3.20 APG 9.8 EFF + 18.38
SG: Jason Richardson PPG 16.7 RPG 4.40 APG 2.2 EFF + 15.14
C: Shaquille O'Neal PPG 17,3 RPG 8,80 APG 1,6 EFF + 20,33
SF: Grant Hill PPG 11.0 RPG 4.70 APG 1.9 EFF + 13.42
PF: Louis Admunson PPG 3,7 RPG 3,30 APG 0,3 EFF + 5,51
ReservesLeandro Barbosa
Robin Lopez
Matt Barnes
Alandro Tucker
Goran Dragic
Jared Dudley
Courtney Sims
Amare Stoudamire
Injuries Amare Stoudamire (detached retina) out
Key Matchups 
vs
Rajon Rondo vs Steve Nash
In the Celtics' last 4 games he has faced some of the top PG's in the league in Tony Parker, Chris Paul, Jason Kidd and Deron Williams. It doesn't get any easier for him in this game as he goes up against 2 time MVP Steve Nash.
vs
Kendrick Perkins vs Shaquille O'Neal
In the first matchup between these two teams, Perk was out with the shoulder injury and Scal drew the assignment of starting against Shaq. Perk is healthy now and will get his wish to go against the Big Cactus. This will be a battle inside between two very physical centers.
Honorable Mention Ray Allen vs Jason Richardson
This will be a battle of the shooters. Both players are capable of putting up points in a hurry. Richardson may give Ray problems on defense with his quickness and Ray can give Richardson problems if he is hitting his shots.
Game Notes With both Amare and KG out, both teams are missing a key player and the others on both teams must step up.
One report gives Leon Powe and Louis Admunson as the likely replacements for the injured KG and Amare.
The Suns made no moves at the trade deadline but did fire coach Terry Porter and moved Alvin Gentry into the into the head coaching job. He has the Suns running again and in their first three games after the All Star break, they have put up 3 consecutive 140 point games. Granted they were playing the Clippers twice and the Thunder, but still it is impressive and shows a return to the run and gun style. The Celtics will have their hands full trying to slow them down. Hopefully their streak of 140 point games will end on Sunday.
Phoenix has won 5 of the last 7 meetings between these two teams with the Celtics winning the last 2 games between them. They split the series last season 1-1 with each team winning on their home court. This season the Celtics are 1-0 against the Suns after a 109-87 win in Boston in January. In that game, Perk was out and Scal started at center. The Celtics led by as many as 35 points in the 3rd period and the starters sat out the 4th quarter. Rondo out played Steve Nash and was the game's high scorer with 23 points.
These two teams will frever be linked by game 5 of the 1976 Finals. Boston won that classic game 128-128 in triple overtime after Garfield Heard hit the "Shot Heard around the World" to send the game into the third OT.
Phoenix is 15-10 at home while Boston is 20-8 on the road. Phoenix is 12-10 vs Eastern Conference foes and the Celtics are 14-8 vs the West.
Connections Eddie House played for Phoenix in the 2005-2006 season
Shaq and Big Baby are former LSU Tigers
Grant Hill played for Doc in Orlando from 2000 to 2004
Keys to the Game Limit Turnovers
Crash the Boards
Focus for 48 minutes (no matter what the refs do)
Play Team Defense
Move the Ball and Find the Open Man
X-Factor Focus
The Celtics have to regain their focus. They will probably be faced with bad calls and no calls again, but they can't let that rattle them or take them out of their game. Players will have to step up to make up for the loss of KG, especially on defense. In the Jazz game, the Celtics went up by 11 points twice but seemed to lose focus and let the Jazz come back. The must keep their focus and not let themselves get rattled.
Topic: Celtics (44-12) at Suns (30-23) 2/22 (Read 52006 times)