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Celtics (15-4) at Nets (6-14) 12/5
« on: December 04, 2010, 09:38:20 PM »

Offline FLCeltsFan

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  at 
Boston Celtics (15-4) at New Jersey Nets (6-14)
Sunday, December 5
1:00 PM ET
Game #20,  Road Game #10
TV:  CSNNE, YES, NBA-LP 751/752
Radio:  WEEI
Prudential Center




Probable Starters
PG.....SG......SF......PF......C
Rajon Rondo.....Ray Allen ..... Paul Pierce.....Kevin Garnett..... ShaquilleO'Neal

Boston Bench Mob
Marquis Daniels
Glen Davis
Semih Erden
Luke Harangody
Nate Robinson
Von Wafer

Injured
Kendrick Perkins (knee) out
Jermaine O'Neal (knee)  out
Delonte West (wrist)  out
Rajon Rondo (hamstring, foot) probable
Nate Robinson (foot)  probable




Probable Starters
PG......SG.......SF.......PF.......C
Devin Harris.....Anthony Morrow.... Travis Outlaw.... Kris Humphries...Brook Lopez

Nets Bench
Derrick Favors
Jordan Farmar
Stephen Graham
Johan Petro
Joe Smith
Ben Uzoh
Damion James
Troy Murphy
Quentin Ross

Injuries
Devin Harris (knee)  probable

D-League
Terrence Williams

Key Matchups
  vs 
Shaquille O'Neal vs Brook Lopez
One of the very few bright spots for the Nets in recent years has been the play of Brook Lopez, who is averaging 19.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game.  Shaq has been rejuvenated and his size and toughness will be needed to limit Lopez's effectiveness in this game. 

  vs 
Rajon Rondo vs Devin Harris
Devin Harris missed the last two games for the Nets with a knee injury but is expected to be back for this game.  Rajon Rondo has been playing with a sore hamstring as well as plantar fasciitis.   Rondo is key to the Celtics attack and hopefully he can once again tough it out through his nagging injuries.   


Team Connections

 Nets assistant coach Popeye Jones played for the Celtics from 1997-99
Damion James and Avery Bradley were teammates at Texas
Troy Murphy and Luke Harangody both attended Notre Dame
Devin Harris and Marquis Daniels were teammates in Dallas from 2004-06
Johan Petro and Ray Allen were teammates in Seattle from 2005-07
Kevin Garnett and Nets Assistant Coach Sam Mitchell were teammates in Minnesota from 1995-2002
Von Wafer and Travis Outlaw were teammates in Portland during the 2007-08 season
Shaquille O’Neal and Nets Assistant Coach Larry Krystkowiak were teammates on the Lakers during the 1996-97 season
Jermaine O’Neal played for Nets Assistant Coach Sam Mitchell during the 2008-09 season in Toronto
Jermaine O’Neal and Troy Murphy were teammates in Indiana from 2006-08.

Game Notes
This is the second meeting between these two division rivals.  In the first meeting between them, the Celtics  lost Delonte West when he came down hard after a dunk and broke his wrist.  The Celtics won that game 89-83 but losing Delonte was a big blow to the team. 

This is the second afternoon game for the Celtics this season.   Their only other matinee game was in Toronto and the Celtics came out flat and they ended up losing the game 101-102.  The Celtics haven't lost since and hopefully they will fare better in this early game than they did in that one.

The Celtics are 8-2 in their last 10 games and 6-3 on the road while the Nets are 2-8 in their last 10 games and 4-5 at home.  The Celtics have won their last 6 games while the Nets have lost their last 3.    In spite of their record, the Celtics can't afford to take this team lightly.  One of the Nets' 12 wins last season came at the expense of the Celtics and they are capable of beating any team that underestimates them. 


Keys to the Game

Focus- The Celtics tend to play down to their competition and the Nets have proved that if you underestimate them, they will make you pay.   Also, the Celtics have traditionally had trouble with focus and intensity in afternoon games.  The Celtics must come out focused and keep that focus for 48 minutes if they want to win this game. 

Defense-  Defense is a key to every single game this season.  The Celtics have to make defense their number 1 priority.  They have shown that their defense keys their offense.  They have to make an effort to play 48 minutes of defense and not just turn it on in spurts. 

Rebound -Winning the rebounding battle is essential to a victory.    When the Celtics lack effort on the boards, that lack of effort affects the other areas of their game as well.  The team that wins the battle of the boards will usually be the team that wins. 

Go to the Hoop-
During their win streak, the Celtics have held big advantages in points in the paint.   The Celtics must continue to attack the basket and not just settle for outside shots. 

X-Factor
Afternoon Blues
The Celtics usually struggle in afternoon games.   This was a problem all last season and they have already lost one matinee game this season.  Hopefully they can turn that trend around and come out with a strong game and pull out the win. 

Re: Celtics (15-4) at Nets (6-14) 12/5
« Reply #1 on: December 04, 2010, 10:05:11 PM »

Online hwangjini_1

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Thanks once more and a tp.

Go celtics!
I believe Gandhi is the only person who knew about real democracy — not democracy as the right to go and buy what you want, but democracy as the responsibility to be accountable to everyone around you. Democracy begins with freedom from hunger, freedom from unemployment, freedom from fear, and freedom from hatred.
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Re: Celtics (15-4) at Nets (6-14) 12/5
« Reply #2 on: December 05, 2010, 12:21:07 AM »

Offline Rondo9dunx

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Those look like sprite cans <.<

I'm an avid sprite drinker :P

Realistically this is the type of game the celtics could actually lose for some reason. I.E. Second game of this season. But realistically it should be another stat padding night for our starting five and a healthy amount of minutes for our bench.

I dont care what anyone says i'm down w/semih. No one wants to seem to cut him a break being that he is still a very young kid and a rookie, as well as speaking very poor english. You can clearly hear rondo screaming "SEMIH!, SEMIH!" when he wants to pass him the ball. And the other night I saw a funny moment where semih had no idea what he was supposed to be doing offensively, and ray allen pushed him in the stomach and said "go over there!" lol it was pretty funny. Being 7 feet tall makes up for a lot, and despite his flaws I think with some minutes on this team he is going to flourish. I love 7 footers i'll take em any day of the week even if it takes a few years to mold em.

And dont think i'm saying this because of the way he looks, its more about his physical build but he still reminds me of Pau Gasol. Lets not forget Gasol isnt a 3rd or 4th year guy he's a vet. I think as long as he stays healthy we'll be talkin about semih for a while. Maybe not quite at the level as gasol because he is a really good PF (crappy center). But still I think he'll be an asset to this team for at least a few years.


p.s. I'm making a prediction now. Semih will at one point have a huge game in the playoffs. Scoff now, but believe you me I will be bringin this thread up when he does!
Andy Bernard doesnt lose constests. He wins them, or he quits them because they're unfair.

Re: Celtics (15-4) at Nets (6-14) 12/5
« Reply #3 on: December 05, 2010, 12:32:39 AM »

Offline Rondo9dunx

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*punches self in the face for using the word realistically twice in a row*
Andy Bernard doesnt lose constests. He wins them, or he quits them because they're unfair.

Re: Celtics (15-4) at Nets (6-14) 12/5
« Reply #4 on: December 05, 2010, 01:15:06 AM »

Offline Megatron

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Those look like sprite cans <.<

I'm an avid sprite drinker :P

Realistically this is the type of game the celtics could actually lose for some reason. I.E. Second game of this season. But realistically it should be another stat padding night for our starting five and a healthy amount of minutes for our bench.

I dont care what anyone says i'm down w/semih. No one wants to seem to cut him a break being that he is still a very young kid and a rookie, as well as speaking very poor english. You can clearly hear rondo screaming "SEMIH!, SEMIH!" when he wants to pass him the ball. And the other night I saw a funny moment where semih had no idea what he was supposed to be doing offensively, and ray allen pushed him in the stomach and said "go over there!" lol it was pretty funny. Being 7 feet tall makes up for a lot, and despite his flaws I think with some minutes on this team he is going to flourish. I love 7 footers i'll take em any day of the week even if it takes a few years to mold em.

And dont think i'm saying this because of the way he looks, its more about his physical build but he still reminds me of Pau Gasol. Lets not forget Gasol isnt a 3rd or 4th year guy he's a vet. I think as long as he stays healthy we'll be talkin about semih for a while. Maybe not quite at the level as gasol because he is a really good PF (crappy center). But still I think he'll be an asset to this team for at least a few years.


p.s. I'm making a prediction now. Semih will at one point have a huge game in the playoffs. Scoff now, but believe you me I will be bringin this thread up when he does!

I doubt Semih will be playing in the playoffs unless its garbagetime.

Re: Celtics (15-4) at Nets (6-14) 12/5
« Reply #5 on: December 05, 2010, 02:31:00 AM »

Offline ACF

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TP. Go Celtics!

Re: Celtics (15-4) at Nets (6-14) 12/5
« Reply #6 on: December 05, 2010, 11:16:44 AM »

Offline fairweatherfan

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This game got a little bigger with Orlando's loss last night...we can officially have sole possession of first in the East if we take care of business today.  Hope we can shake the Matinee Blues and take these guys out.

Re: Celtics (15-4) at Nets (6-14) 12/5
« Reply #7 on: December 05, 2010, 11:51:25 AM »

Offline nba is the worst

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The Celtics can win a Sunday afternoon road game - can't they?

Re: Celtics (15-4) at Nets (6-14) 12/5
« Reply #8 on: December 05, 2010, 11:53:37 AM »

Online Donoghus

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I hate these early afternoon games.


2010 CB Historical Draft - Best Overall Team

Re: Celtics (15-4) at Nets (6-14) 12/5
« Reply #9 on: December 05, 2010, 12:22:40 PM »

Offline FLCeltsFan

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According to Rich Levine's tweet Rondo will be out today to rest his hamstring.  Nate starting. 

Via CSN's Rich Levine

    Rondo not playing today against NJ. Resting his hammy. Nate starting
http://twitter.com/#!/rlevine33/statuses/11468117263785985

Re: Celtics (15-4) at Nets (6-14) 12/5
« Reply #10 on: December 05, 2010, 12:33:02 PM »

Offline mgent

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No Rondo!!!!!!!!  That's all right, I'm not worried.
Philly:

Anderson Varejao    Tiago Splitter    Matt Bonner
David West    Kenyon Martin    Brad Miller
Andre Iguodala    Josh Childress    Marquis Daniels
Dwyane Wade    Leandro Barbosa
Kirk Hinrich    Toney Douglas   + the legendary Kevin McHale

Re: Celtics (15-4) at Nets (6-14) 12/5
« Reply #11 on: December 05, 2010, 12:47:49 PM »

Offline Eddie20

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Tommy speculated that Rondo might not be back for "awhile".

JO getting close to returning.

Re: Celtics (15-4) at Nets (6-14) 12/5
« Reply #12 on: December 05, 2010, 01:28:57 PM »

Offline ACF

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Good to see the Celtics taking it to the hole for the easiest shots.

Re: Celtics (15-4) at Nets (6-14) 12/5
« Reply #13 on: December 05, 2010, 01:34:14 PM »

Offline Tai

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Lol that was a foul?

Re: Celtics (15-4) at Nets (6-14) 12/5
« Reply #14 on: December 05, 2010, 01:37:13 PM »

Offline ACF

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When Rondo is not out there, it's obvious just how much he means to our D.