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Philadelphia 76ers (5-8) at Boston Celtics (10-4)
Wednesday, November 25
7:30 PM ET
Game #15, Home Game #9
TV: CSNHD, TCN-P, NBA LP 754
Radio: WEEI, WIP
TD Banknorth Garden Probable Starters Rajon Rondo PPG 10.8 APG 8.9 SPG 2.6
Ray Allen PPG 15.0 APG 3.2 3P% .304
Paul Pierce PPG 19.6 RPG 4.9 APG 3.8
Kevin Garnett PPG 13.2 RPG 7.6 BPG 1
Kendrick Perkins PPG 10.5 RPG 7.1 BPG 2.1
Reserves Marquis Daniels
Rasheed Wallace
Eddie House
Shelden Williams
Lester Hudson
JR Giddens
Brian Scalabrine
Injuries Glen Davis (thumb) out
Tony Allen (ankle) day to day
D-League Bill Walker
Probable Starters Lou Williams PPG 16.7 APG 5.1 SPG 1.8
Andre Iguodala PPG 18.2 APG 5.7 3P% .304
Thaddeus Young PPG 13.4 RPG 4.3 APG 2.2
Elton Brand PPG 12.1 RPG 6.5 BPG 1.3
Samuel Dalembert PPG 5.4 RPG 6.2 BPG 1.4
ReservesRodney Carney
Willie Green
Royal Ivey
Jason Smith
Primoz Brezec
Jrue Holiday
Injuries
Jason Kapono (ankle) questionable
Marreese Speights (knee) out
Team Connections Tom Thibodeau was an assistant coach in Philadelphia from 1994-96
Eddie House and Elton Brand were teammate on the L.A. Clippers during the 2003-04 season
Primoz Brezec and Rasheed Wallace were teammates in Detroit during the 2007-08 season
Elton Brand and Shelden Williams are former Duke Blue Devils
Royal Ivey and Shelden Williams were teammates in Atlanta during the 2006-07 season
Shelden Williams and Rodney Carney were teammates in Minnesota during the 2008-09 season.
Key Matchups vs
Rajon Rondo vs Lou Williams
Lou Williams is a young point guard getting is first chance at starting and is making the most of it. In their first meeting this season, neither PG stood out but Rondo had slightly better stats with 11 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals to 7 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals for Williams. Rondo needs to be aggressive and go at Williams and he will be able to take advantage of the matchup.
vs
Kevin Garnett vs Elton Brand
This is a matchup of two recovering stars. Brand was out all last season for the Sixers and KG missed the last two games vs Philly with the flu and then the knee injury. KG has a height advantage but Brand has a power advantage. Neither player is quite 100% yet, but both can cause trouble if they get in a groove. KG and Perk will have to work together to guard the interior against a strong Philly front line.
Game Notes • The C’s are currently 1-0 against the Sixers this season; the Celtics swept the season series 4-0 against Philadelphia in 2008-09
• Ray Allen led the Celtics with 20.7 points per game last season
• Andre Iguodala led the 76ers with 17.5 points per game against the Celtics last season
• The 2008-09 season sweep marked the first time since the 1995-96 season that the Celtics swept the season series with the 76ers
• The Celtics are leading the all-time series 235-175 with the Celtics 137-48 at home
The Celtics beat the Sixers 105-74 in their first game this season. I am sure the Sixers are coming into the Garden with revenge on their minds, especially the way the Celtics have been playing recently.
The Sixers are playing in the second of back to back games and in the 3rd game in 4 nights while the Celtics have been off since Sunday. Hopefully, fatigue for the Sixers and rest for the Celtics will translate into a win for home team.
Keys to the GameDefense As I have said before, defense is going to be the key to every game this season and to winning the championship. The Celtics have talked alot about defense, but have been slipping in playing it in recent games. They need to get back their commitment to team defense.
ReboundThe Sixers have a good rebounding team and the Celtics have to crash the boards to prevent the Sixers from getting second chance baskets and they also need to crash the offensive boards to keep the Sixers from running the break, which they do well. The Celtics are next to last in offensive rebounding. Much of rebounding is effort and desire and the Celtics must show more of both.
Play 48 MinutesThe Celtics have been coming out flat and making runs only to go flat again. The Celtics need to get back to strong starts and playing the entire game instead of digging a hole in the beginning and playing in spurts.
Use the 3 With Caution Live by the 3 and die by the 3, and the Celtics have been dying by it recently. If the 3's are falling, they are a weapon, but if they aren't, they need to go to the basket. The Celtics have been over relying on the long distance shot and they need to get back to driving to the hoop and either getting the score or drawing the foul.