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Los Angeles Clippers (24-40) at Boston Celtics (46-15)
Wednesday, March 9
7:30 PM ET
Regular Season Game #62, Home Game #33
TV: CSN-NE, Prime, NBA-LP 757/758
Radio: WEEI, KFWB
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Probable Starting MatchupsPoint Guard
vs
Rajon Rondo vs Mo Williams
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
ReservesAvery Bradley
Jeff Green
Sasha Pavlovic
Troy Murphy
Carlos Arroyo
InjuriesJermaine O'Neal (knee) out
Shaquille O'Neal (Achilles) out
Glen Davis (knee) out
Delonte West (ankle) out
Von Wafer (calf) out
ReservesBrian Cook
Al-Farouq Aminu
Rasual Butler
Craig Smith
Chris Kaman
Willie Warren
Ike Diogu
Jamario Moon
Eric Bledsoe
InjuriesEric Gordon (wrist) out
Team ConnectionsEric 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 NotesThis is the second and final meeting between these two teams. When they last met, the Celtics were playing the second game after the trade. Krstic and Green were playing in their first game and hadn't practiced with the team as yet. Only Shaq and JO were on the injured list for the Celtics. The Celtics have since added Big Baby, Von Wafer and Delonte (who may return in this game) to the walking wounded.
Since the first game, the Celtics have added Troy Murphy, Sasha Pavlovic, and Carlos Arroyo, who is expected to make his Celtics debut in this game. And, of course, Green and Krstic have had more time to get acclimated to the Celtics system.
On the Clippers's side of things, they had also made a trade at the deadline but didn't have their new players in the lineup because of a delay in Baron Davis' physical. Mo Williams has been moved into the starting lineup and will be Rondo's opponent in this one instead of Eric Bledsoe. Also Jamario Moon will be coming off their bench.
The Celtics are 8-2 in their last 10 games and have won 5 in a row. The Clippers are 4-6 in their last 10 games but they have won their last 3 games. The addition of Mo Williams at the point seems to have energized the team. The Celtics are 27-5 at home while the Clippers are 5-25 on the road.
The Celtics won that first game 99-92 in LA. Hopefully with the added players and extra time to build some chemistry, the Celtics can come out and blow this game open early to give the new guys some extra in-game minutes together. With the home crowd behind them, they should be able to pull it off.
Key Matchups vs
Rajon Rondo vs Mo Williams
Rondo had a very sub-par game against the Bucks. He was out played by Brandon Jennings and had as many turnovers as he did assists Those kinds of games happen but I doubt they will happen twice in a row.
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. Griffin had 21 points and 11 rebounds in their first meeting while KG had 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Honorable MentionRay Allen vs Randy Foye
In the first meeting between these two teams, Foye had his best game of the season with 32 points, 2 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals, including a season best 4 f3 pointers. The Celtics need to keep him from having another career game against them.
Keys to the GameDefense - The Celtics must continue to make defense their number 1 priority. They have been allowing their opponents to score more points since the trade, but hopefully as the new players get more familiar with the system, the defense will improve.
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 need to keep their focus with all the new players. They can't assume that teammates will be where they are supposed to be anymore. In the past, the Celtics have lost focus when facing sub .500 teams, still expecting to pull out a win. They can't afford to do that with all the new faces and injuries. They have to keep their focus from start to finish.
BenchThe Celtics have 5 players coming off the bench, 4 of whom are new to the team and each other and 1 is a seldom used rookie. Murphy is still showing a lot of rust and they are all still learning the system. They've had a couple of days of practice and hopefully will be able play well enough to give the starters a rest and also keep the team competitive in the process. The addition of Arroyo should be a help as would the return of Delonte West from injury.
X-FactorInjuries and Home Court
The Celtics have been finding ways to win in spite of all the injuries but you have to wonder if the injuries will catch up to them eventually. The Celtics feed well off the home crowd and they have made it a priority to protect home court this season. Hopefully that continues in this game.
Topic: Clippers (24-40) at Celtics (46-15) 3/9 (Read 84279 times)