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Boston Celtics (0-0) at Houston Rockets (0-0)
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
8:30 PM ET
TV: CSN HD
Preseason Game 1
Dodge Arena, Hidalgo, Texas
Probable Starters PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Ray Allen
SF: Paul Pierce
PF: Kevin Garnett
C: Kendrick Perkins
Off the Bench:Rasheed Wallace
Marquis Daniels
Shelden Williams
Big Baby Davis
Eddie House
JR Giddens
Brian Scalabrine
Lester Hudson
Michael Sweetney
Injuries Tony Allen (ankle) questionable
Bill Walker (knee) questionable
Probable Starters PG: Aaron Brooks
SG: Kyle Lowry
SF: Trevor Ariza
PF: Luis Scola
C: David Andersen
NOTE: This is a wild guess as to their starters. Rick Adelman has said that he doesn't know who his starters are going to be and it could change from game to game in the preseason. I PM'd a Rockets fan and asked for his best guess as to who would start and went with that.
Off the BenchBrent Barry
Chase Budinger
Will Conroy
Brian Cook
Joey Dorsey
Chuck Hayes
Carl Landry
Pops Mensah Bonsu
Jermaine Taylor
Garrett Temple
Injuries Shane Battier (hamstring) questionable
Yao Ming (foot) out
Tracy McGrady (knee) out
Players to WatchThe most obvious player to watch is Kevin Garnett. Reports and video out of training camp have been very encouraging. But, this will be our first chance to see him in game action.
Perhaps the most important player on this team other than KG is Rajon Rondo. KG has described him as razor sharp in practice. He has gained 11 lbs of muscle and also has reportedly worked on his jumper all summer. It would be nice to see him hitting his shots early to gain confidence.
Honorable Mention: Rasheed Wallace, Marquis Daniels, Shelden Williams, Perk and Big Baby
This will be our first opportunity to see how the new players are meshing with the team and how the weight that Perk and Big Baby lost affects their games.
Luis Scola was a key player for the Rockets last year and he should pick up where he left off last season. The matchup between KG and Scola will be fun to watch as KG gets his first taste of competition since last February.
Trevor Ariza was the Rockets' key acquisition over the summer. He swapped places with the combustible Ron Artest and should be a better fit for this team all the way around.
Honorable MentionAaron Brooks, Brent Barry, David Andersen
It will be fun to watch the PG matchup between Brooks and Rondo. Anderson is not a lock for the starting center spot and if he gets the start, he will be playing to make an impression that he should be there. Brent Barry has been a key player off the bench and it will be interesting to see if he is slowing down any.
NOTES: Finally some real basketball to watch. Celtics fans will be watching for the improvement in the young players who stepped up last season (Perk, Rondo, Big Baby) and to see how the new players mesh with the team (Quisy, Shelden, and Sheed), and also to see how the older players are looking at the start of another season (KG, Pierce, and Ray)
Starters and playing time are inexact sciences in the preseason so all of the above are just wild guesses that can change at the coach's whims. Can't wait for this game and for the season to begin. I know one thing, it's going to be a fun season.