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Boston Celtics (49-30) at Milwaukee Bucks (45-34)
Saturday, April 10
8:30 PM ET
Game #80, Road Game #40
TV: CSN-NE, FSN-WI, NBA-LP 758, 759
Bradley Center 
In many people’s eyes something that is less than 20 years old would be young. However, when it comes to NBA arenas, the Bradley Center is the third oldest basketball facility in the NBA even though it is less than 20 years old. The Milwaukee Bucks were formed in 1968 and began playing at the MECCA, now known as the US Cellular Arena, for nearly two decades. With a capacity of 12,700 the MECCA was one of the smallest arenas in the NBA. During the 1980s the team began to seek a new arena. No public funding was needed for a new arena as Jane Petit and Lloyd Petit donated $90 million to the State of Wisconsin, in honor of their father Huey Bradley, for the construction of a new arena.
In October 1986 construction began on the Bradley Center in downtown Milwaukee. Completed in just two years, the Milwaukee Bucks played their first game at the arena in October 1988. The Bradley Center has a capacity of 18,717 and includes 68 skyboxes that are located between the upper and lower levels. Not only is the facility home to the Milwaukee Bucks, but is home to Marquette University and the Milwaukee Admirals (AFL).
Coach: Doc Rivers
Average Age: 29.0
Average Height: 6-6
Average Weight: 228Probable Starters
PG: Rajon Rondo PPG 13.7 APG 9.8 SPG 2.4
SG: Ray Allen PPG 16.2 APG 2.7 3P% .352
SF: Paul Pierce PPG 18.2 RPG 4.3 APG 3.1
PF: Kevin Garnett PPG 14.4 RPG 7.4 BPG .9
C: Kendrick Perkins PPG 10.4 RPG 7.6 BPG 1.7
ReservesRasheed Wallace
Shelden Williams
Nate Robinson
Michael Finley
Brian Scalabrine
Tony Allen
Marquis Daniels
Glen Davis
InjuriesNone
Coach: Scott Skiles
Average Age: 28.4
Average Height: 6-6
Average Weight: 220Probable Starters
PG: Brandon Jennings PPG 15.4 APG 5.8 SPG 1.2
SG: John Salmons PPG 15.3 APG 2.8 3P%..386
SF: Carlos Delfino PPG 10.9 RPG 5.3 APG 2.6
PF: Luc Richard Mbah a Moute PPG 6.2 RPG 5.5 APG 1.1
C: Kurt Thomas PPG 2.9 RPG 3.9 BPG 0.7
ReservesLuke Ridnour
Dan Gadzuric
Jerry Stackhouse
Ersan Ilyasova
Charlie Bell
Royal Ivey
Primoz Brezec
Darnell Jackson
Injuries Michael Redd (ACL) out
Andrew Bogut (hand, elbow, wrist) out
Team ConnectionsAssistant Coach Joe Wolf played for the Celtics during the 1992-93 season
Bucks assistant coach Adrian Griffin played for the Celtics from 1999-2001
Ray Allen played for the Bucks from 1996-2002
Bucks Trainer Marc Boff worked for the Celtics for eight seasons as an
assistant trainer and physical therapist
Armond Hill played for the Bucks during the 1982-83 season
Brandon Jennings and Rajon Rondo both attended Oak Hill Academy
Luke Ridnour and Ray Allen were teammates in Seattle from 2003-07
Carlos Delfino and Rasheed Wallace were teammates in Detroit from 2004-07
Primoz Brezec and Rasheed Wallace were teammates during the 2007-08 season
Royal Ivey and Shelden Williams were teammates in Atlanta during the 2006-07 season
John Salmons was teammates with Shelden Williams in Sacramento during the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons…Jerry Stackhouse and Marquis Daniels were teammates in Dallas from 2004-06
Michael Finley and Jerry Stackhouse were teammates in Dallas during the 2004-05 season
Kurt Thomas and Michael Finley were teammates in San Antonio in the 2008-09 season and in Dallas from 1996-98
Michael Finley and Bucks assistant coach Adrian Griffin were teammates in Dallas during the 2002-03 season
Key Matchups 
vs
Rajon Rondo vs Brandon Jennings
The Bucks rookie PG has been impressive and is one of the front runners for Rookie of the year. Rondo has been impressive himself as of late. Rondo needs to use his experience to get the best of this matchup. Jennings was last seen spouting trash at KG as they were heading to the locker room after the Bucks 86-84 win over the Celtics and so look for the Celtics to want to put this rookie in his place in this game.
vs
Ray Allen vs John Salmons
Salmons has been playing very well for the Bucks and is a threat from the perimeter as he is shooting 39% from 3 point range. Ray will have to stay with Salmons on defense as Celtics can't let him get going offensively. At the same time, it would be nice to have Ray have another big game on the offensive end since Salmons may not be able to stay with him as he runs through multiple screens.
Honorable MentionLuc Richard Mbah a Moute is a very good young player and his quickness and athleticism may give KG problems on both ends of the court.
Game Notes The Celtics and Bucks are currently tied in the season series 1-1; Celtics won the season series 2-1 against Milwaukee in 2008-09
Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 20.3 points per game last season against Milwaukee
Andrew Bogut averaged 15.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in two games against the Celtics last year
The Celtics are 11-8 against Milwaukee since the start of the 2004-05 season
The Celtics and Bucks are tied in the all-time season series 90-90 with the Celtics 58-32 at home
The Celtics are coming off a very uninspired loss to the Wizards in which they looked as though they really didn't care about winning or even playing. They have to bounce back and give more of an effort in their last 3 games or they enter the playoffs in a slump and that is not a good position to be in.
The Celtics have this game and the final game of the season vs the Bucks. Right now the Bucks are sitting in the 5th spot in the East with the Celtics in the 4th spot and if this holds true, these two teams will meet in the first round of the playoffs. The Celtics don't want to give the Bucks confidence going into the playoffs. They need to come out and take control of this game and send a message to the Bucks in case they do meet in the first round.
The Celtics also have a score to settle with the Bucks' rookie, Brandon Jennings. After the Bucks 86-84 victory over the Celtics in their last game, Jennings was seen talking trash at KG all the way down the tunnel. I can see the Celtics veterans looking to teach the rookie some humility.
Both teams are playing in back to back games. The Bucks played in Philadelphia and got a win, while the Celtics played the Wizards at home and suffered a very humiliating loss. Both teams had to travel after playing the night before.
Keys to the Game Defense, Defense, Defense
Rebound the Ball
Strong Start -Don't dig a hole
Focus and effort for 48 minutes
X-Factor Desire and Effort
Do the Celtics even want to win? Their play against the Wizards makes a good case for the negative. If they want this game and play to win, they should win it, but the question is, "Will they?".
Topic: Celtics (49-30) at Bucks (45-34) 4/10 (Read 39111 times)