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Boston Celtics (1-3) at Wizards (0-3)
Sunday, January 1
6:00 PM ET
Regular Season Game #5, Road Game #4
TV: CSN-NE, Comcast Sportsnet, NBA-TV, NBAC
Radio: WEEI, WJFK
Verizon Center Probable Starters PG
SG
SF
PF
C
Rajon Rondo...Ray Allen...Paul Pierce...Kevin Garnett... Jermaine O'Neal
Boston Bench Mob Brandon Bass
Sasha Pavlovic
JaJuan Johnson
E'Twaun Moore
Marquis Daniels
Keyon Dooling
Avery Bradley
Greg Steimsma
InjuredChris Wilcox (shoulder) day to day
Mickael Pietrus (knee) out
Probable Starters PG
SG
SF
PF
C
John Wall...Nick Young....Rashard Lewis...Andary Blatche...JaVale McGee
Wizards BenchTevor Booker
Jordan Crawford
Shelvin Mack
Roger Mason
Hamedy Ndiaye
Kevin Seraphin
Chris Singleton
Ronny Turiaf
Injured Jan Vesely (hip) day to day
Maurice Evans (knee) day to day
Team ConnectionsWizards Assistant Coach Sam Cassell played for the Celtics during the 2007‐08 season and was a member of the
2008 NBA Championship team
Rashard Lewis and Ray Allen were teammates in Seattle from 2003‐07
Kevin Garnett played for Wizards head Coach Flip Saunders in Minnesota from 1995‐2005 He also played for Wizards Assistant Coach Randy Wittman in Minnesota in 2007
Garnett and Cassell were teammates in Minnesota from 2003‐05
John Wall and Rajon Rondo both attended the University of Kentucky
Avery Bradley and Maurice Evans both attended the University of Texas.
Game NotesThe Celtics are back on the road after winning their home opener and hopefully they can keep their winning ways going against the Wizards who are still looking for their first win.
This is the first of 4 meetings in this shortened season between these two teams. This is the first of a home and home set and the Wizards will play the Celtics in Boston on Monday night. Last season these two teams split the series 2-2.
The Celtics haven't been the best defensive team this season so far, but like Pistons, the Wizards may be just what they need to get their defense on track. The Wizards have shot just 38.6% from the field in their 3 losses this season. They have also been allowing 49.7% shooting from their opponents.
Key Matchupsvs
Rajon Rondo vs John Wall
As Rondo goes so go the Celtics. Wall is a young and exciting point guard, but Rondo has to set the pace and be aggressive against him.
vs
Jermaine O'Neal vs Javale McGee
Jermaine O'Neal finally came alive in the Celtics' home opener. After 3 very bad games, he broke out against the Pistons. Hopefully he will continue playing well and step up and be a force on both ends of the court in this game.
Honorable MentionKevin Garnett vs Andray Blatche
Kevin Garnett may have lost a step over the years, but he still has enough to get the better of Andray Blatche. The Celtics will need aggressive play from KG on the offensive end as well as on defense.
Keys to the Game Rebound The Celtics must crash the boards and keep the Wizards from getting second chance points, fast break opportunities and extra possessions. As I have said before, when the Celtics put out the effort necessary to win the battle of the boards, that effort seems to pick up every area of their game as well.
Defense Defense always wins games. The Celtics have to make defense their priority and shut down the paint as well as staying on their outside shooters. In their first 4 games, the Celtics have played defense in spurts but they have allowed way too many easy baskets. When the Celtics clamp down on defense the rest of their game picks up.
Be Aggressive The Celtics need to play aggressively. They need to take the ball to the hoop and try to get to the line early and often. Make the officials call the fouls. They also have to go for every loose ball and battle for all the rebounds. If they play passively, they could be facing another loss to a team that is hungry for their first win.
Limit Turnovers - The Celtics have turned the ball over too much in games so far. The tend to make lazy passes and lose focus from time to time and give their opponents easy scoring opportunities because of it.
X-FactorsFocus and Officiating
The Celtics will be on the road again and hopefully they won't let that change their focus. They need to keep the same intensity and focus that they brought in front of their home crowd. The officiating has been seriously bad in the Celtics first 4 games. The Celtics can't let the bad calls and no calls get to them. They have to just play through it.