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Boston Celtics (21-19) at Los Angeles Clippers (23-15)
Monday, March 12
10:30 PM ET
Regular Season Game #41, Road Game #17
TV: ESPN, SNET1, PRIME, CSN-NE
Radio: WEEI, KFWB
Staples Center Probable Starting MatchupsPoint Guard vs
Rajon Rondo vs Chris Paul
Shooting Guard vs
Ray Allen vs Randy Foye
Small Forward vs
Paul Pierce vs Caron Butler
Power Forward vs
Brandon Bass vs Blake Griffin
Center vs
Kevin Garnett vs DeAndre Jordan
ReservesMarquis Daniels
Greg Stiemsma
JaJuan Johnson
E'Twaun Moore
Avery Bradley
Sasha Pavlovic
Keyon Dooling
Mickael Pietrus
InjuriesJermaine O'Neal (wrist) out
Chris Wilcox (cardiac) out
ReservesEric Bledsoe
Reggie Evans
Brian Cook
Bobby Simmons
Trey Thompkins
Mo Williams
Travis Leslie
InjuriesChauncey Billups (Achilles) out
Ryan Gomes (illness) day to day
Kenyon Martin (ribs) day to day
Game NotesThis is the Celtics first and only meeting with the Clippers this season. The Clippers fortunes have definitely changed. With Blake Griffin and Chris Paul, they are no longer the doormat and laughing stock of the league. This won't be an easy game for the Celtics like it might have been in past seasons.
Both teams are playing in back to back games. The Celtics played an early game where the Clippers played later. At least the Celtics didn't have to travel overnight to get to the game. But fatigue could be a problem since the starters all played around 40 minutes against the Lakers. Hopefully they will have time to recharge and will have enough left in the tank to put up a fight against the younger and more athletic Clippers.
The Celtics are still 7th in the East 2 games behind Atlanta for the 6th seed and 3 1/2 games ahead of New York for 8th. They also have fallen 3 games behind a suddenly surging Philly for the Atlantic Division. Lakers fans will be grudgingly cheering for the Celtics in this one as the Clippers are half a game behind the Lakers for the 3rd spot in the West.
The Clippers are a high scoring team, ranking 5th in the league with 98.3 points per game but they allow 96.1 points per game. The Celtics rank 26th in scoring at 90.9 PPG but allow only 89.7 ppg. The Celtics need to make defense a priority as they won't win in a shoot out. The Celtics once again face a good rebounding team. The Clippers are 12th, pulling down 42.9 rebounds per game. As has been well documented, the Celtics are last, grabbing only 38.9 rebounds per game. The Celtics need to rebound and box out as a team.
The Clippers have been on somewhat of a slide, going just 4-6 in their last 10 games. The Celtics are 6-4 but are beginning a brutal road trip and it's going to be very tough for the team to stay on a winning track. The Celtics have slipped to just 5-11 on the road and the Clippers play well at home with a 12-5 record.
No way around it, this is going to be a tough game. The Celtics will need to come out focused and will need to play as a team if they want to pull this one out.
Key Matchups vs
Rajon Rondo vs Chris Paul
This is a matchup of 2 All Star point guards. Rondo always get up to play against the top point guards in the league. He's going to need to because Chris Paul is a tough matchup.
vs
Brandon Bass vs Blake Griffin
Another tough matchup for Bass. First Gasol, who had a height advantage and now Griffin who has the advantage with his athleticism. Bass needs to play him tough.
Keys to the GameDefense - The Celtics must make defense a priority. They played great defense in spurts against the Lakers but down the stretch allowed them to go on an 8-0 run and couldn't get a stop. They must figure out how to play team defense consistently, instead of in spurts.
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.
Ball Movement - The Celtics have to move the ball and look for the open man. They have to play team ball. They struggled to begin the Lakers game because they were playing too much hero ball. When the Celtics pass the ball and play team ball the offense runs smoothly. But when they lapse into hero ball, they struggle to score.
Bench PlayWith the team playing in back to back games, and the starters playing big minutes the night before, the bench is going to need to give the team a lift. They have to give the starters some rest without giving up the quality of team's play.
X-FactorFatigue Both teams are playing in back to back games. The Celtics had an early game while the Clippers played late. The Celtics starters all put in big minutes against the Lakers. The Clippers are a younger team and the Celtics age may catch up to them.