Celtics (15-17) at Cavs (13-18) 2/28

[FLCeltsFan]

 at  
Boston Celtics (15-17) at Cleveland Cavaliers (13-18)
Tuesday, February 28
7:00 PM ET
Game #33, Away Game #14
TV:  CSNNE,  FSO, LP 751/752
Radio:  WTAM, WEEI
Quicken Loans Arena




Probable Starters

Rajon Rondo.......Ray Allen.......Paul Pierce.......Brandon Bass...... Kevin Garnett

Boston Bench
Marquis Daniels
E'Twaun Moore
JaJuan Johnson
Greg Siemsma
Sasha Pavlovic  
Mickael Pietrus
Avery Bradley


Injured
Jermaine O'Neal (wrist) out  
Chris Wilcox (thigh) day to day  
Brandon Bass (knee) day to day





Probable Starters

Kyrie Irving.....Anthony Parker.....Omri Casspi....Antawn Jamison.....Semih Erden

Cleveland Bench
Tristan Thompson
Ryan Hollins
Alonzo Gee
Ramon Sessions
Daniel Gibson
Samardo Samuels
Christian Eyenga
Luke Harangody
Mychal Thompson
Manny Harris  

Injuries
Anderson Varejao (wrist)  out  

Team Connections
Anthony Parker and Jermaine O’Neal were teammates in Toronto during the 2008-09 season
Daniel Gibson, Tristan Thompson and Avery Bradley all attended the University of Texas
Cavaliers Assistant Coach Paul Pressey was an assistant with Boston from 2004-06
Luke Harangody and Semih Erden were both draft picks by the Celtics and played for the team during the 2010-11 season.

Key Matchups
 vs  
Paul Pierce vs Omri Casspi
During the All Star break, Pierce said that he needs to be more disciplined and more focused and do more to help the team win.  Hopefully that resolve will be carried out in his play starting with this game.  Pierce is right that the Celtics need more from their Captain in order to get back on the winning track.      

 vs  
Rajon Rondo vs Kyrie Irving
In the last meeting between these two teams, Irving faced Avery Bradley instead of Rondo due to Rondo's wrist injury.  Irving is coming off of his MVP performance in the Rising Stars game.  He also came in last in the Skills Challenge while Rondo came in second.  Both point guards will have something to prove and this should be a great match up to watch.  

Honorable Mention
Kevin Garnett vs Semih Erden
 This is just a guess since there isn't any info out there yet as to who is playing and where but I'm putting KG at center to play against his former protege.  Semih has been playing well but somewhat inconsistently for the Cavs since Varejao went out and this could be a match up that favors the Celtics.  

Game Notes
The Celtics enter the second half of the season desperately in need of a win.  They ended the first half on a 5 game skid.  The Cavs ended the Celtics 4 game win streak earlier this season and hopefully will end this streak as well.  

The Celtics hopefully will come into this game rested and healthier.  All players except Jermaine O'Neal are with the team in Cleveland.  JO will see a hand/wrist specialist tomorrow.  Chris Wilcox is with the team but I haven't seen any reports on whether he will play.  He's listed as questionable.   Also Brandon Bass was listed as returning in late February after the All Star Break.  Well, it's late February and it's after the break so  hopefully he will be back.  The Celtics really missed his contributions.  The Celtics catch a break in that Varejao, who always gives the Celtics problems, is out for this game with a broken wrist.  I have put Bass into the starting lineup out of wishful thinking.  If I see anything different I'll update the thread.  

In interviews during the break, both Rondo and Pierce suggested that the Celtics need more discipline and more mental toughness.   If the team has either in them, this would be a good time to find and display it.  The Celtics have a brutal schedule in the second half including an 8 game road trip and a back to back to back set of games and they will need both discipline and mental toughness to get through it.  

This is the 3rd and final meeting between these two teams.  They split the first two games with each winning on the others' court.  The Celtics are 3-7 in their last 10 games while the Cavs have gone 5-5 in their last 10.  The Celtics are 4-9 on the road while the Cavs are 8-9 at home.   Cleveland occupies the 9th spot in the East, just 1 1/2 games behind the Celtics, who are currently the 8th seed.  

Keys to the Game
Mental Toughness - Call it mental toughness or focus, the Celtics need to have it.   The Celtics must keep their heads in the game.  They have to come out strong and play until the final buzzer.  They have to concentrate on making crisp passes instead of sloppy ones that turn the ball over.  They need to be aggressive on both ends of the court and keep their heads in the game.  They can't go through those long scoreless droughts when they turn the ball over again and again and expect to win.

Rebound -  Rebounding is key to getting a win.  The Celtics have been out rebounded in each of their 5 losses in this streak.   When the Celtics put the effort in to crashing the boards and battling for rebounds, that effort also tends to show in other areas of the game as well.  Even though they are near the bottom of the league in rebounding, they have shown that when they make the the effort to hustle for every rebound, they get them and win the battle of the boards, and usually the game as well.    

Defense -  Defense is the key to every game.   There have been times when the Celtics can lock down a team and keep them from getting any easy scores.  There are also times when they allow tip ins and layups and second chance points over and over again.  It goes back to that mental toughness thing.  The Celtics can't lose their defensive mindset.  They must lock in on defense from beginning to end.  

X-Factors
Injuries
With 3 bigs still questionable for this game, a lot will depend on whether they will be able to come back for this game.  Even one or two would help.  The Celtics haven't been completely healthy all season and if they could all get back, it would go a long way toward building a winning streak.

[slamtheking]

TP just for showing Semih in his Celtics jersey

Hope he plays well for them as long as the C's win

[Who]

If Ray doesn't start pickings things up, I am going to become more open minded about starting Pietrus and moving Ray to the bench.

[CelticHooligan3]

I'd love to know what Bass's status for this game is. I haven't heard a thing and I've been checking. He's on my fantasy team too haha. We need him out there.

[SHAQATTACK]

We are slowly but surely playing our way into a Lottery pick.

[PosImpos]

Positive note for tonight: 

It's literally impossible for Varejao to get another 20/20 against us, because he won't be playing!

I'm kind of sad I won't be watching though, if only because Kyrie Irving is nearly a must-watch at this point.

[letsgoblue86]

Positive note for tonight: 

It's literally impossible for Varejao to get another 20/20 against us, because he won't be playing!

I'm kind of sad I won't be watching though, if only because Kyrie Irving is nearly a must-watch at this point.

I wonder if we could now get Varejao from the Cavs.  They might be willing to take less since he's essentially "damaged goods". 

[FLCeltsFan]

Thread updated.  JO didn't make the trip with the team.  He's scheduled to see a wrist/hand specialist tomorrow. 

[Q_FBE]

I added Semih Erden to my fantasy team. That said:

The Rolling Q sings:

I don't need your Beast of Erden, I walked for miles (33) and my feet are hurtin', All I want is a Celtic Victory!!!! I don't need your Beast of Erden, I walked for miles (33) and my feet are hurtin', All I want is a Celtic Victory!!!!

As the great KG has said, it is put up or shut up time. Who is listening? How about you KG, are you going to put up or retire? Yes I am calling you out. Now go into the building that plagerized my name and GIT-R-DONE!!!!!!

I start today at 0 and 0.

[ACF]

TP to FL and TP to the Q!



GO CELTICS!

[Q_FBE]

TP to FL and TP to the Q!



GO CELTICS!

I gave you one too. When I can I will give FL another one.

WE ARE THE BOSTON CELTICS!

[FLCeltsFan]

The game notes are finally up for this game.   They have Pietrus listed as the starting PF and KG at center.  They also said that Bass will be available and that Wilcox's status is still unknown.  If Wilcox can go, they may put him in at center to start. 

[Who]

The game notes are finally up for this game.   They have Pietrus listed as the starting PF and KG at center.  They also said that Bass will be available and that Wilcox's status is still unknown. 

They should start Stiemsma. Great opportunity to give him minutes given how weak Cleveland's big man rotation is. The Cavs don't have the talent at center (without Varejao) to punish Stiemsma.

Plus, it keeps Garnett on Jamison and stops Doc from being forced to use a smaller player on Jamison. Eliminates the size advantage offensively Jamison (post ups) will have against either Pierce or Pietrus.

Not happy with that lineup decision. Not against this opponent.

[Q_FBE]

This is a MUST WIN game. Watch out for 4th quarter comebacks . 

I am not giving up on our team we have but I feel a real sense of urgency that this team must get going. I also wonder if Jermaine O'Neal goes done for the season that they simply buy him out and release them so they can open up a roster space.

No rebounds, no playoffs. 

Turnovers =====>>>>> No playoffs.

Let the war of attrition begin.

[FLCeltsFan]

CSNNE is reporting that both Wilcox and Bass will be available to play tonight.  Even though Pietrus is listed as the starting PF in the game notes,  I'm thinking they may start Wilcox since he will be available.