Mavericks (26-13) at Celtics (27-11) 1/18

[FLCeltsFan]

  at 
Dallas Mavericks (26-13) at Boston Celtics (27-11)
Monday, January 18
8:00 PM ET
Game #39, Home Game #18
TV: TNT, CSN-NE, RTV
Radio:  WEEI, KESN
TD Garden



Coach: Doc Rivers
Average Age: 28.3
Average Height: 6-6
Average Weight: 226

Probable Starters

PG:  Rajon Rondo  14.0 PPG  9.6 APG  2.5 SPG
SG: Ray Allen  16.2  PPG  2.8 APG  .356 3P%
SF:  Paul Pierce  18.4 PPG  4.9 RPG 3.7 APG
PF:  Rasheed Wallace   10.2 PPG 4.5 RPG  0.9 BPG
C:    Kendrick Perkins  12.4 PPG 8.2 RPG  2.1 BPG 

Reserves
Tony Allen
Glen Davis
Eddie House
Brian Scalabrine
Bill Walker
JR Giddens
Shelden Williams
 
Injuries:
Kevin Garnett (knee)  out
Marquis Daniels (thumb)  out 




Coach: Rick Carlisle
Average Age: 29.7
Average Height: 6-6
Average Weight: 217

Probable Starters

PG:   Jason Kidd   8.8 PPG  8.9 APG 1.7SPG
SG:   Josh Howard   13.2 PPG 3.7 RPG 1.5 APG
SF:   Shawn Marion   11.3 PPG  6.4 RPG 1.5 APG
PF:   Dirk Nowitski    25.3 PPG   8.2 RPG   1.2 BPG
C:    Erick Dampier  7.8 PPG  9.2 RPG 1.7 BPG 

Reserves
Drew Gooden
Jason Terry
Juan Barea
James Singleton
Quinton Ross
Rodrique Beaubois
Eduardo Najera
Matt Carroll

Injuries
Tim Thomas (Achilles)  day to day

Team Connections
Jason Kidd and Brian Scalabrine were teammates in New Jersey from 2001-04
Mavs head coach Rick Carlisle played for the Celtics from 1984-87 and was a member of the 1985-86 championship team
Marquis Daniels played for the Mavericks from 2003-06
Shawn Marion and Eddie House were teammates in Phoenix during the 2005-06 season

Key Matchups
  vs 
Rajon Rondo  vs  Jason Kidd
Jason Kidd has lost a step or two but still can hit big shots when he needs to.  Rondo gets up for the big point guard matchups and this is one of those so hopefully he will come out aggressively and go at Kidd early and often. 

  vs 
Rasheed Wallace vs Dirk Nowitski 
Dirk has been having a great season and this will be a tough matchup for the Celtics with Sheed just coming back from injury and  Dirk's ability to score from pretty much anywhere on the court.  The Celtics will need a big defensive game from Sheed in this one. 

Honorable Mention
Paul Pierce vs Shawn Marion 
 Pierce should be able to get his shot off against Marion and so the Celtics should look to go to him early. 

Game Notes
• Celtics won the season series 2-0 against the Mavericks in 2008-09
• Rajon Rondo averaged a triple-double against the Mavericks last season with 16.0 points, 11.0 rebounds and 14.0 assists per game
• Dirk Nowitzki led the Mavericks with 27.5 points per game against the Celtics
• It marked the first time since the 1992-93 and 1993-94 that the C’s had swept back-to-back season series
• The Celtics are leading the all-time series 34-22 with the Celtics 20-8 at home

The Celtics have had a 3 day break and hopefully will be rested and focused and ready to play in this one.   The Mavs are playing in the second of back to back games and fatigue could be a problem for them after playing in Toronto and traveling afterward to get to this game. 

The Mavs are 6-4 in their last 10 games while the Celtics are 4-6.   Dallas is 13-6 on the road while the Celtics are 11-6 at home.  This is the first meeting between the teams this season. 

X Factor
Rust vs Rest vs Fatigue
The Celtics have had 3 days off while the Mavs are playing in the second of back to back games and could be fatigued from the previous night and the travel.    Whether the Celtics come out rested and focused or rusty will be the difference in this game. 

[Mad Hatter]

My 2 favorite teams doin battle....gonna be interesting.

[Atzar]

This team makes me nervous.  We don't match up very well with them, especially with Garnett out.

I think we need a big game from Rondo.  Luckily, he seems to make a habit of torching Kidd, so hopefully that's not too much to ask for.

[celticinorlando]

at least we have sheed back to play dirk

[Fafnir]

at least we have sheed back to play dirk

I'm not high on Sheed's ability to defend Dirk, Scal is going to get some heavy minutes on him if Doc goes with the same tactics as in the past.

Sheed's rebounding and scoring are going to be sorely needed though. The only good news is that Dallas is playing today.

[Kiorrik]

I dislike Dirk, maybe because he's German, or else because he has nicked my name.

Anyhoo, I don't think this'll be easy. As mentioned, Rondo will have to bring it, and we're going to have a hard time guarding Dirk well. JT is an issue as well, and I think he'll have a good game against us. Just a hunch.

We'll see. Looking forward to this one, as always.

[Fafnir]

I dislike Dirk, maybe because he's German, or else because he has nicked my name.

Anyhoo, I don't think this'll be easy. As mentioned, Rondo will have to bring it, and we're going to have a hard time guarding Dirk well. JT is an issue as well, and I think he'll have a good game against us. Just a hunch.

We'll see. Looking forward to this one, as always.

Your nickname is Captain Caveman? 

[Kiorrik]

That'd be cool wouldn't it?

Nah, it's just that when your name is Dirk and you play basketball, anyone that knows even a little of it, will start joking about Nowitzky :p

[Who]

I'm looking forward to Scal defending Dirk. I think he'll do a solid job.

[Fafnir]

I'm looking forward to Scal defending Dirk. I think he'll do a solid job.

I think he'll do a solid job until Dirk gives him another concussion with an "inadvertent" elbow.

Scal will probably get a flagrant foul on the play too.

[Kiorrik]

Ugh, there it is again.

It's weird. When you read your name, even though they don't mean you, you think it's about you. It's just >_< ugh.

[Who]

Scalabrine should continue to start until Garnett comes back. Wallace should come off the bench.

Scalabrine is more useful when playing alongside starters and Wallace strengthens a (currently) weak bench. I also like having Scal's defensive mobility alongside Perkins post defense.

[Overrated]

Should be a good game, although I'm a little skeptical about whether the Celtics can win this one after their latest troubles with teams worse than the Mavs. Dirk is gonna be a handful too.

I'll be in section 314, as always.

[Who]

Mavs were miserable against the Raptors today. Complete out of sorts offensively and weak defensively + on the glass.

[celticinorlando]

this is a big week. dallas, at detroit and portland....because the gauntlet of the jan. sked is coming....lakers, magic, clippers and hawks .....tough....but dallas is playing well and jason terry scares me off the bench