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Celtics (41-15) at Clippers (21-38) 2/25
« on: February 25, 2011, 11:26:11 PM »

Offline FLCeltsFan

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Boston Celtics (41-15) at Los Angeles Clippers (21-38)
Saturday, February 26
10:30 PM ET
Regular Season Game #57,  Road Game #27
TV:  NBA-TV, NBAC, PRIME, CSN-NE
Radio:  WEEI, KFWB
Staples Center




Probable Starting Matchups
Point Guard
vs  
Rajon Rondo vs Eric Bledsoe

Shooting Guard
 vs  
Ray Allen vs Randy Foye  

Small Forward
 vs  
Paul Pierce vs Ryan Gomes

Power Forward
vs
Kevin Garnett vs Blake Griffin

Center
vs
Nenad Krstic vs DeAndre Jordan




Reserves
Avery Bradley
Jeff Green
Chris Johnson
Glen Davis
Von Wafer
Delonte West

Injuries
Jermaine O'Neal (knee)  out
Shaquille O'Neal (Achilles) out  



Reserves
Brian Cook
Al-Farouq Aminu
Rasual Butler
Craig Smith
Chris Kaman
Willie Warren
Ike Diogu
Jamario Moon
Mo Williams

Injuries
Eric Gordon (wrist)  questionable

Team Connections
Eric Bledsoe and Rajon Rondo both attended the University of Kentucky
Ryan Gomes played for the Celtics from 2005‐07
Rasual Butler and Shaquille O’Neal were teammates in Miami during the 2004‐05 season
Brian Cook and Shaquille O’Neal were teammates on the Lakers during the 2003‐04 season
Von Wafer played for the Clippers during the 2006‐07 season
Von Wafer and Brian Cook were teammates in Houston during the 2008‐09 season
Ray Allen and Clippers Head Coach were teammates in Milwaukee from 1998‐2000
Kevin Garnett, Craig Smith and Randy Foye were teammates in Minnesota during the 2006‐07 season
Clippers Assistant Coach Robert Pack and Kevin Garnett were teammates in Minnesota during the 2001‐02 season.

Game Notes
This is the first meeting this season with the Clippers and they are the only team left that the Celtics have not yet played.   The Celtics should have their new players in uniform for this game but without any practice, it isn't certain how effective they can be.  At least they are bodies to absorb a few minutes and perhaps fouls until Danny's grand plan becomes clearer.  

The Clippers are going through some changes themselves as Baron Davis was sent to Cleveland for Mo Williams and Jamario Moon and they will need to work them into the rotation along with getting past missing their former teammate.  

Last season, the Celtics split the season series 1‐1.   Paul Pierce netted 22 points in his only game against the Clippers last season and Rajon Rondo averaged 18.0 points, 9.0 assists and 3.0 steals in the two contests…Perk recorded 9.0 points, 10.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in his two games but thanks to Danny, the Celtics won't have his strength in the middle this game.  The Clippers were
led by Baron Davis and his 20.0 points and 10.0 assists per game.

The Celtics have had a day off while the Clippers had an "away" game vs the Lakers on Friday night.  The Celtics are 6-4 in their last 10 games while the Clippers have been struggling and have won just 2 of their last 10 games.  The Celtics are now 16-10 on the road while the Clippers are 16-14 at home.  

Key Matchups
vs  
Rajon Rondo vs Eric Bledsoe
Rondo had an off night vs the Nuggets and part of that could be losing his best friend on the same day.  Hopefully he can bounce back and set the pace in this game.  He should be able to get the best of Bledsoe if he puts out the effort.  

vs
Kevin Garnett vs Blake Griffin
This should be a fun matchup to watch.  Blake Griffin is the league's new wonder kid and KG should take this matchup personally and teach the new kid a few tricks from an old vet.  KG talked about how hard it was to play after learning that Perk was traded and hopefully he will be able to keep his mind on the game in this one.  

Keys to the Game
Defense - The Celtics must continue to make defense their number 1 priority.    They struggled to stop Denver on Thursday allowing them to go on a 16-0 run at the end of the game.  In spite of losing the heart of their defense, they have to find a way to get back to playing the team defense that has been their calling card in the past.  

Rebound -  The Celtics need to make an effort to crash the boards, especially on the offensive end.   The Clippers are capable of running on the break if the Celtics don't prevent it by keeping them from getting the rebounds.  Griffin is also very dangerous around the basket getting tip ins and second chance baskets.  

Focus - The Celtics seemed to lose focus or maybe they just lost their heart down the stretch against Denver.  They have to come out focused and try to put losing their teammates behind them.  With Miami winning on Friday, the Celtics have to stay focused and pull out a win to keep pace with them.  

X-Factor
Focus and Chemistry
The Celtics admitted that it was hard to play basketball after learning that their teammates had been traded.  They have to try to put that behind them and focus on the game.  Also, Pierce mentioned concerns about chemistry.  With the new players expected to play,  the chemistry issues become real and they have to find a way to fit their new teammates into the system and to make up for the teammates they lost.    


« Last Edit: February 26, 2011, 08:23:19 PM by FLCeltsFan »

Re: Celtics (41-15) at Clippers (21-37) 2/25
« Reply #1 on: February 26, 2011, 12:07:16 AM »

Offline letsgoblue86

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You think BBD will still start tomorrow night?  I'm not sure, but with krstic and c.j., doc might start nenad so we could bring jeff (SF), BBD (PF), and C.J. (C) off the bench.

Re: Celtics (41-15) at Clippers (21-37) 2/25
« Reply #2 on: February 26, 2011, 12:08:59 AM »

Offline barefacedmonk

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TP for the work FL.
"An ounce of practice is worth more than tons of preaching." - M.K. Gandhi


Re: Celtics (41-15) at Clippers (21-37) 2/25
« Reply #3 on: February 26, 2011, 12:54:42 AM »

Offline aporel#18

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Great job, FL, and another TP.

Welcome Jeff and Nenad, get a win tonight!

Go Celtics!

Re: Celtics (41-15) at Clippers (21-37) 2/25
« Reply #4 on: February 26, 2011, 10:31:54 AM »

Offline Redz

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Pretty pumped to see Green in green.  Let's see what we've got here.
Yup

Re: Celtics (41-15) at Clippers (21-37) 2/25
« Reply #5 on: February 26, 2011, 10:37:19 AM »

Offline celticinorlando

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well...it begins...don't really see a clipper team coming off a tough game last night with the lakers beating boston with more bodies

Re: Celtics (41-15) at Clippers (21-37) 2/25
« Reply #6 on: February 26, 2011, 10:47:25 AM »

Offline hpantazo

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So are Green and Kristic a go for tonight? Did everyone pass physicals yet? I haven't seen word anywhere of this and I have been looking.

Re: Celtics (41-15) at Clippers (21-38) 2/25
« Reply #7 on: February 26, 2011, 01:35:56 PM »

Offline FLCeltsFan

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According to Chris Forsberg on Twitter, the new guys are at shoot around so will probably be playing tonight.   Will know more when they talk to the media after the practice.

Re: Celtics (41-15) at Clippers (21-38) 2/25
« Reply #8 on: February 26, 2011, 01:47:14 PM »

Offline libermaniac

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I'll be there tonight.  My wife came through with luxury box tix!!! Go C's!

Re: Celtics (41-15) at Clippers (21-38) 2/25
« Reply #9 on: February 26, 2011, 02:49:29 PM »

Offline FLCeltsFan

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Doc says Krstic will start at center and both the new guys will be playing. 

Re: Celtics (41-15) at Clippers (21-38) 2/25
« Reply #10 on: February 26, 2011, 03:01:34 PM »

Offline ACF

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TP. Go JG, Go NK and Go Celtics!

Re: Celtics (41-15) at Clippers (21-38) 2/25
« Reply #11 on: February 26, 2011, 03:10:03 PM »

Offline jarufu

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New-look Celtics (whether we like it or not!)!! 

TP FL

Show us what you got Jeff and Nenad!
Stay classy, San Diego. Hello, Baxter? Baxter, is that you? Bark twice if you're in Milwaukee. Is this Wilt Chamberlain? Have the decency to say something.

Re: Celtics (41-15) at Clippers (21-38) 2/25
« Reply #12 on: February 26, 2011, 07:58:14 PM »

Offline FLCeltsFan

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Official Report   
Ron Garretson
In his 23 NBA seasons, since 1987, Garretson officiated over 1,600 games, including 1,397 regular season NBA games, 157 playoff games and 11 Finals games. He also officiated the 1993 Europe Tour in London and the 1997 NBA All-Star Game. He is the son of former NBA referee Darell Garretson. Before joining the NBA as a referee, he spent two years officiating high school games in Arizona and two more in the Continental Basketball Association. The Celtics are 6-4 over their last 10 games and 1-2 this season with Garretson. His home W/L record this season is 24-24.  One loss this season was the game vs Chicago where the Bulls shot 35 free throws to 22 for the Celtics. At one point just after the half, Derrick Rose alone had almost doubled the Celtics free throws as a team. That performance elicited these comments from Bulls fans:
Quote
    Book these refs for the playoffs please

    Who hired these refs? Lets give them promotion after the game
    Wow have never seen Rose draw so many fouls and get so many FTs.

    Ron Garretson, Tommy Nunez, Sean Wright
    Best refs of all time.

    Best refs EVAR!!!


Marat Kogut
Kogut has been in the NBA since 2009.  The sun of immigrants from the Ukraine, his younger years were sometimes tough.   At one time he and his family were homeless and slept on a park bench when they were forced to leave a Queens homeless center.  In high school, he spent his free time volunteering as a ref at a local recreation league. At 6-foot-2, he knew he wasn’t tall or talented enough to make the pros as a player. At 16, Kogut became the youngest person certified by the local International Association of Approved Basketball Officials. He spent time working college, D-League and WNBA games before being called up to the NBA. The Celtics are 2-1 this season and 3-3 in the last 5 with Kogut calling the games.  His home W/L record this season is 26-18.

Gary Zielinski
Zielinski has officiated over 285+ regular season games.  He has not yet made it to the playoff pool of referees. He worked 6 years in the CBA and 4 seasons in the WNBA before coming to the NBA.  He officiated the WNBA finals from 1998-2001.  The Celtics are 3-0 in games called by Zielinski this season and 8-2 in their last 10 games with Zielinski on the court.  His home W/L record is 28-16. 

Re: Celtics (41-15) at Clippers (21-38) 2/25
« Reply #13 on: February 26, 2011, 08:20:13 PM »

Offline Drucci

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Won't be able to watch the game because it starts too late here (4:30 am) but I'm excited to watch it tomorrow morning to see the new guys and how they mesh. I know they will probably not look good with our team since it's their first game and they are thrown into the fire but I'm really eager to see the Rondo/Green connection.

Re: Celtics (41-15) at Clippers (21-38) 2/25
« Reply #14 on: February 26, 2011, 08:26:43 PM »

Offline GreenFaith1819

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TP to FLCeltsFan and thanks for post!

Well, the new season starts today. Expecting great things.