Hawks (16-10) at Celtics (20-4) 12/16

[FLCeltsFan]

  at 
Atlanta Hawks (16-10)  at Boston Celtics (20-4)
Thursday, December 16
8:00 PM ET
Regular Season Game #25, Home Game #12
TV:  TNT,  CSNNE,  TSN2
Radio:  WEEI,  WQXI
TD Garden


Probable Starting Matchups
Point Guard
  vs 
Nate Robinson vs Mike Bibby

Shooting Guard
vs 
Ray Allen vs Maurice Evans

Small Forward 
  vs 
Paul Pierce vs Marvin Williams

Power Forward 
  vs 
Kevin Garnett vs Josh Smith

Center
  vs 





Boston Bench Mob
Marquis Daniels
Glen Davis
Luke Harangody
Nate Robinson
Von Wafer
Avery Bradley 

Injured
Kendrick Perkins (knee) out
Jermaine O'Neal (knee)  out
Delonte West (wrist)  out
Shaquille O'Neal (knee,calf)  out 



Reserves
Zaza Pachulia
Jeff Teague
Jordan Crawford
Jason Collins
Josh Powell
Etan Thomas 

Injuries
Pape Sy (back) out
Joe Johnson (elbow) out
Maurice Evans (knee) probable
Jamal Crawford (back) out

Team Connections
Josh Smith and Rajon Rondo both attended Oak Hill Academy
Avery Bradley and Maurice Evans both attended the University of Texas
Doc Rivers played for Atlanta from 1983-91
Rivers also holds the Hawks record for most assists in a career as a Hawk (3,866)
Celtics Assistant Coach Armond Hill played for the Hawks from 1976-80 and also during the 1983-84 season
Joe Johnson was originally drafted by the Celtics with the 10th pick in the 2001 draft
Maurice Evans and Kevin Garnett were teammates in Minnesota during the 2001‐02 season
Hawks Assistant Coach Lester Conner was an Assistant Coach with the Celtics from 1998-2004
Josh Powell and Jermaine O’Neal were teammates in Indiana during the 2006-07 season

Key Matchups
  vs 
Kevin Garnett vs Josh Smith
KG goes from one tough opponent to another as he has the assignment to limit Josh Smith's contributions in this one. 

  vs 
Nate Robinson vs Mike Bibby
Rondo missed the last game between these two and Nate filled in admirably and was able to outplay Bibby and he should be able to do so again. 

Honorable Mention
Semih Erden vs Al Horford
This will be another tough matchup for Semih.  If Horford gets going early, we may see a lot of Big Baby or small ball.   

Game Notes
Last Season  the Hawks won the season series 4-0.  It marked the first time since the 1998-99 season that the Celtics had been swept by the Hawks and only the fourth time since the 1960-61 season that the C’s had failed to win a game against Atlanta.  This season started differently with the Celtics notching a 99-76 win in Atlanta in their first meeting.

With Rondo adding a sprained ankle along with the hamstring, knee and foot injuries, Doc needs to sit him for this game.  Nate did a great job of filling in at the point the first time these two met and he should be able to do so again in this one.  Avery Bradley is also waiting in the wings to help out at the point.    The Hawks are playing without their star guard Joe Johnson and will also be without Jamal Crawford who was a key player for them off the bench.   The Celtics are playing without several key players including Shaq, Jermaine, Delonte, and Perk. 

The Celtics are playing in the second of back to back games after having had a 3 day rest before that.  The Hawks have had one day off after a 103-80  loss to the Pistons.  The Celtics are 10-0 in their last 10 games while the Haws are 7-3 in their last 10.   

Keys to the Game
Rebounding
Defense
Go to the Basket
Focus

X-Factor
Fatigue and Trap Game
The Celtics are playing short handed in the second of back to back games and fatigue could be a problem late in the game.  Pierce and Ray both played over 40 minutes with KG adding 36 minutes against the Knicks.     Also the Celtics must focus on this game and not take them for granted.  They could be tempted to take them lightly with Johnson and Crawford out but that would be a mistake.   They have to come in and play hard or Atlanta may surprise them as they look to avenge their earlier loss. 

[celticinorlando]

no crawford or johnson tonight for atlanta...i know boston has injuries but they should really be able to take it to the hawks tonight

[housecall]

Go Semih

[Q_FBE]

Can one of the board administrators please delete my post? I had posted this already:

I am concerned about this matchup tonight due to attrition factors working against the Celtics.

Atlanta is 7 and 3 in their last 10 starts but plays with much confidence against the Celtics (Last years 0 and 4 record against the Hawks attests to this). One Tuesday they dropped a hideuous 103-80 road loss to Detriot. Before that:

Thu, Nov 25 vsWashington W116-96 9-7 Arenas 21 Smith 14 Arenas 8
Sat, Nov 27 @NY Knicks W99-90 10-7 Stoudemire 24 Fields 11 Johnson 7
Sun, Nov 28 @Toronto W96-78 11-7 Williams 17 Smith 13 Smith 10
DECEMBER OPPONENT RESULT W-L HI POINTS HI REBOUNDS HI ASSISTS
Wed, Dec 1 vsMemphis W112-109 12-7 Gay 23 Randolph 19 Conley 9
Fri, Dec 3 vsPhiladelphia W93-88 13-7 Williams 22 Brand 14 Iguodala 8
Sat, Dec 4 @Miami L89-77 13-8 Bosh 27 Bosh 10 Bibby 6
Mon, Dec 6 @Orlando W80-74 14-8 Smith 19 Howard 13 Bibby 7
Tue, Dec 7 vsNew Jersey W116-101 15-8 Smith 34 Horford 10 Harris 13
Fri, Dec 10 @San Antonio L108-92 15-9 Crawford 23 Blair 12 Parker 6
Sat, Dec 11 vsIndiana W97-83 16-9 Crawford 25 Horford 16 Horford 8

They take care of business against lesser opponents and lose to the top contenders generally. Here Atlanta got a chance to kick back in a Boston hotel and watch the Celtics extend themselves and should feel they have the advantage against the Celtics tonight.

So the key factor tonight will be available energy and coaching effort from Doc Rivers to manage minutes and shake things up to try to stay with a fresher team in Atlanta.

Bottom line here is that I don't have my heart set on a Celtics victory and you shouldn't either. But if Ray Allen knocks in 10 3 pointers and KG dominates inside and Pierce fits in between, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

Counting on Rondo would be a serious mistake. I think he will play, I am just not sure he will play effectively on defense. He sure had trouble last night.

[ACF]

TP for the GT. Go Celtics!

[Who]

no crawford or johnson tonight for atlanta...i know boston has injuries but they should really be able to take it to the hawks tonight

No Crawford too? Ouch ... this should be a walk in the park.

Atlanta would have to have one of those freakish performances where they can't miss a shot to have a chance in this one.

[Who]

I'd like to see Doc start Glen Davis instead of Semih Erden.

Al Horford is the Hawks best offensive threat with Joe Johnson and Jamal Crawford out ... and since those guys are out, Horford will be getting a large number of touches and shot attempts. Giving him an easy matchup like Erden who isn't able to check him defensively is gifting the Hawks limited offense with a true go-to scorer.

Better to start Glen Davis against Horford + use Erden and Zaza Pachulia when he checks into the game.

[ManUp]

It's going to be a tough one after last nights game.

I think the Celtics will pull it out just because they want to repay them for last seasons sweep.

[Eeyore III]

Horford is the kind of guy that Semih can defend.

No one can defend Amare when he's on his game.

The photos of Ray and Mo Evans make them look like brothers, IMO

[celticinorlando]

no crawford or johnson tonight for atlanta...i know boston has injuries but they should really be able to take it to the hawks tonight

No Crawford too? Ouch ... this should be a walk in the park.

Atlanta would have to have one of those freakish performances where they can't miss a shot to have a chance in this one.

Yep....don't see how the hawks will score from outside:

Hawks' Jamal Crawford out for Thursday's game at Boston

 
BY SPORTS NETWORK

THE SPORTS NETWORK

Atlanta Hawks guard Jamal Crawford will not play in Thursday's game at Boston due to a sore back.
The 10-year veteran and reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year award winner, registered only two points and four assists in 31 minutes in Tuesday's 103-80 loss at Detroit.
In 25 games off the bench this season, Crawford is averaging 14.8 points and 3.5 assists
If the Hawks are going to end Boston's 11-game winning streak, they will also have to do it without starting guard Joe Johnson, who is still recovering from elbow surgery.
Johnson has posted per-game averages of 17.1 points, 5.2 assists and 4.1 rebounds in 18 contests for the 16-10 Hawks.


Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/12/16/1976319/hawks-jamal-crawford-out-for-thursdays.html#ixzz18IlEGKzL

[Eddie20]

I'd like to see Doc start Glen Davis instead of Semih Erden.

Al Horford is the Hawks best offensive threat with Joe Johnson and Jamal Crawford out ... and since those guys are out, Horford will be getting a large number of touches and shot attempts. Giving him an easy matchup like Erden who isn't able to check him defensively is gifting the Hawks limited offense with a true go-to scorer.

Better to start Glen Davis against Horford + use Erden and Zaza Pachulia when he checks into the game.

I wouldn't. He does it to get a scoring punch/energy off the bench. In addition, Semih is more likely to play better with the more talented starters, specifically getting open looks around the basket, than he is alongside the reserves.

While Tommy and Mike were talking during the pre-game show, I was watching JO working out on his post offense with a coach. He looks fine to me. I'm really surprised he's not ready to go.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

No RR om the injured list?

[celticinorlando]

i highly doubt rondo plays tonight. just no need. we can beat the hawks with nate at PG...done it already

[paul]

Rondo will be out:

http://www.rajonrondo9.com/2010/12/rondo-wont-be-in-lineup-thursday-night/

[Bankshot]

Time for Nate to shine!