Hornets (1-1) at Celtics (3-0) 11/1

[FLCeltsFan]

  at 

New Orleans Hornets (1-1) at Boston Celtics (3-0)
Sunday, November 1
6:00 PM ET
Game #4  Home Game #3
TV: NBA TV, CSN HD, CST
TD Garden 

Coach: Doc Rivers
Average Age: 27.8
Average Height: 6-6
Average Weight: 224


ProbableStarters
PG   Rajon Rondo 6.7 PPG   12.3 APG  2.3 SPG

SG    Ray Allen  18 PPG  2.3 APG  .471 3P%

SF Paul Pierce 20 PPG  7.3 RPG   3 APG

PF Kevin Garnett  13 PPG   7 RPG     2BPG

C Kendrick Perkins 9 PPG     4 RPG  2.7 BPG

Reserves
Rasheed Wallace
Marquis Daniels
Eddie House
Shelden Williams
Lester Hudson
JR Giddens

Injuries
Tony Allen (ankle) out
Bill Walker (knee) out
Brian Scalabrine (ankle) day to day
Big Baby Davis (thumb) out




Coach: Byron Scott
Average Age: 27.4
Average Height: 6-6
Average Weight: 219

Probable Starters
PG    Chris Paul 28.5 PPG   6.5 APG  0 SPG

SG    Morris Peterson  7 PPG    0 APG  .286 3P%

SF  Julian Wright  9.5 PPG    5.5 RPG  1.5 APG

PF    David West  15.5 PPG     8.5 RPG   1.5 BPG

C  Emeka Okafor   14.5 PPG   11.5 RPG      2 BPG

Reserves
Peja Stojakovic
Bobby Brown
Hilton Armstrong
James Posey
Darius Songalia
Devin Brown
Darren Collison

Injuries
Ike Diogu (knee)  questionable

Team Connections
 Hilton Armstrong, Emeka Okafor and Ray Allen are all former UConn Huskies
Julian Wright and Paul Pierce are former Kansas Jayhawks
Hornets Assistant Coach Paul Pressey was an assistant coach with the Celtics from 2004-06
Brian Scalabrine was coached by Byron Scott in New Jersey from 2001-05
Peja Stojakovic and Eddie House were teammates in Sacramento during the 2004-05 season
James Posey played for the Celtics  during the 2007-08 season
Ike Diogu and Eddie House are former Arizona State Sun Devils
ke Diogu and Marquis Daniels were teammates in Indiana from 2006-08

Key Matchups
  vs 
Rajon Rondo 6.7 PPG   12.3 APG  2.3 SPG
Chris Paul    28.5 PPG   6.5 APG  0 SPG
Chris Paul is one of the top PG's in the league and is a challenge for any team.  Rondo has always played well against Paul and hopefully will continue that trend in this game. 

  vs 
Kevin Garnett  13 PPG   7 RPG     2BPG
David West  15.5 PPG     8.5 RPG   1.5 BPG
West is often the focal point of the Hornets offense and KG's defense will be needed in this game to try to keep him from going off on the Celtics. 

Honorable Mention
vs
Marquis Daniels 5.3 PPG     3.3 APG   .333 3P%
James Posey 2.5 PPG 1.5 RPG   1 APG
Last season, without a replacement for James Posey, the Celtics bench struggled on both ends of the floor.  Now, with Marquis Daniels, the Celtics bench is hitting on all cylinders.  It will be interesting to see who wins this head to head matchup. 

Game Notes
• Celtics swept the season series 2-0 against New Orleans in 2008-09
• Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 29.0 points per game last season
• David West led the Hornets with 19.0 points per game against the Celtics last season
• The Celtics are 7-3 against the Hornets since the 2004-05 season
• The Celtics are leading the all-time series 40-31 with the Celtics 19-16 at home

[Celtic]

Four in a row, here we go!

[Cman]

TP for the run down FLCF!
Really looking forward to the Rondo-Paul and Daniels-Posey matchups.

[ACF]

Tommy Point # 1527!

[celticinorlando]

a win of NO would cap a nice first week....

[snively]

I liked the Emeka Okafor trade for them.  Not quite the athlete Chandler was, but a more well-rounded player.

Gotta feel for any team that has to start MoPete.  Maybe he'll get hot and make me regret saying it, but man is he an invisible player.

Looking at that roster I'm forecasting a high-scoring, low-assisting season for Chris Paul. 

My only worry about this game is turnovers.  If we get sloppy with the ball it might give the Hornets a chance to run and get guys like Julian Wright open dunks and guys like Peja and Posey wide-open 3s.

[xmuscularghandix]

TP for FL.

[xmuscularghandix]

So what happens with RR's contract if he outplays CP3 and we win big?

[ToppersBsktball10]

So what happens with RR's contract if he outplays CP3 and we win big?

I don't see him outplaying him, but I see a pretty even game between both.

[celticinorlando]

i think this will be a challenge...close into the 4th and boston pulls away by about 7 late

[ToppersBsktball10]

I see it as a win, but who knows.

[Drucci]

TP FL! I see a blowout once again and a strong 3rd quarter from the C's. And a triple double from (or very close) from Rajon!

[ToppersBsktball10]

argh; i'm excited

[ToppersBsktball10]

I see a big game from Pierce and KG tonight. Ray will play well also, Daniels will be nice. Overall I see a big game from everybody and a win by a good margin.

[xmuscularghandix]

So what happens with RR's contract if he outplays CP3 and we win big?

I don't see him outplaying him, but I see a pretty even game between both.

He's outplayed him before.