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[FLCeltsFan]

  at 
Dallas Mavericks (11-10) at Boston Celtics (11-9)
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
8:00 PM ET
Regular Season Game #21 – Home Game #12
TV:  ESPN, CSN-NE, FSSW-DA
Radio:  WEEI, KESN
TD Garden 


Probable Starting Matchups
Point Guard
  vs 
Rajon Rondo vs Derek Fisher

Shooting Guard
  vs 
Jason Terry vs OJ Mayo 

Small Forward
  vs 
Paul Pierce vs Dahntay Jones

Power Forward
  vs 
Brandon Bass  vs Shawn Marion

Center
  vs 
Kevin Garnett vs Chris Kaman




Celtics Reserves
Jared Sullinger
Jason Collins
Courtney Lee
Jeff Green
Fab Melo
Leandro Barbosa
Chris Wilcox

Injuries
Avery Bradley (shoulders) out

D-League
Kris Joseph 



Dallas Reserves
Darren Collison
Vince Carter
Elton Brand
Jae Crowder
Roddy Beaubois
Jared Cunningham
Bernard James
Dominique Jones
Brandan Wright

Injuries
Dirk Nowitski (knee)  out 

Team Connections
Team Connections: Mavs head coach Rick Carlisle played for the Celtics from 1984-87 and was a member of the 1985-86 championship team
Mavs assistant coach Jim O’Brien was the Celtics head coach from 2001-04
Brandon Bass played for the Mavericks from 2007-09
Bass and Vince Carter were teammates in Orlando during the 2009-10 season
Jason Collins and Vince Carter were teammates in New Jersey from 2004-07
Chris Wilcox and Elton Brand were teammates on the Clippers from 2002-06
Chris Wilcox and Chris Kaman were teammates on the Clippers from 2003-06
Celtics Head Coach Doc Rivers and Jae Crowder both attended Marquette
Dahntay Jones was drafted by the Celtics with the 20th pick in the 2003 NBA Draft
Jason Terry played for the Mavericks from 2004-12 and was a member of their 2011 NBA Championship team
Leandro Barbosa and Shawn Marion were teammates in Phoenix from 2003-08
Barbosa, Dahntay Jones and Darren Collison were teammates in Indiana during the 2011-12 season.

Game Notes
The Mavericks make their only visit to the Garden in the Celtics last home game before taking a 3 game road trip through Texas and Chicago.  When the Celtics hosted the Thunder, Jeff Green had a big game against his old team.  The the Celtics hosted the Timberwolves and KG had a big game against his former team.  Now it's Jason Terry's turn to face his former team. 

While all 3 players said that facing their former team was no big deal,  both KG and Jeff came up with big games to help defeat their old teams.  I expect the same of Jason Terry.  He's a veteran and has a way of coming up in big games,   even when he won't admit that it's a big game. 

The Mavs are just 4-7 on the road while the Celtics are 7-4 at home.  Both teams are 5-5 in their last 10 games.  The Mavs are on a hot streak, having won their last 3 games.  The Celtics are looking to win their second in a row. 

The Mavericks have been struggling with injuries and have been playing without their superstar who is out with a knee injury.  OJ Mayo has been coming up big for them in Dirk's absence and the Celtics will need to limit him in this game.  Shawn Marion has missed the last two games with a strained groin muscle but according to the Dallas News will start at power forward tonight. 

Key Matchups
  vs
Rajon Rondo vs Derek Fisher
Rondo has the advantage in this matchup.  Fisher was just signed on 11/29 and will still be learning the team.  Rondo is much quicker and Fisher isn't known for his defense so Rondo should have a big game. 

  vs 
Jason Terry vs OJ Mayo 
Mayo is averaging over 20 ppg and he has been playing very well.  JET will have a big challenge in defending him and trying to keep him from having a big game against the Celtics.  At the same time, hopefully Jason's shot is back on track so he can make Mayo work on defense as well. 

Keys to the Game
Rebound - Rebounding is so crucial to getting a win.  When the Celtics put out the effort to grab rebounds, more often than not, that effort extends to other areas of their game. . Rebounding is all in who wants it more and the Celtics have to be the team that wants it more. 

Defense - Defense is always crucial to getting a win.  Defense wins games is not just a cliche, it is the truth.  The Celtics must play tough team defense in this and every game.  We have seen flashes that they are getting back to their defensive identity as a team and hopefully we will see that defense on a more consistent basis. 

Bench Play - With Doc limiting the minutes of KG and Paul Pierce, the bench must produce in order for the Celtics to get the win.  Jeff Green, Chris Wilcox, Jared Sullinger, and Courtney Lee all must produce. 

Be Aggressive - When the Celtics are aggressive they are tough to beat.  They have to be aggressive in going to the basket and not settle for jumpers.  They have to be aggressive on defense and in diving for loose balls.  They have to be the team to set the pace and not let the Mavs set the pace and then have to keep up. 

X-Factor
Home Court And JET's Team
The Celtics are at home where they have been playing well.  Kevin Garnett and Jeff Green both responded with big games when their former teams came to town.  Now, it's JET's turn and his teammates need to back him up. 

[CelticsFan9]

I betcha JET's jawing at Mark Cuban by the second quarter.

[Who]

It feels like a long time since the last Celtics game.

They got a pretty long rest here.

[jdz101]

For the love of god get a hand in his face!

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

LET'S GO CELTICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[timobusa]

Prediction: Jet scores 24 points and a couple of daggers.

[mr. dee]

I really hope JET is motivated for this game.

[Lightskinsmurf]

Who agrees with magic?

[BudweiserCeltic]

Would you put Terry on Fisher and Rondo on Mayo?

[SCeltic34]

Funny how all 3 officials missed that Kaman travel.

[Who]

Dahntay Jones would be a nice guy to pickup next year or the year after. Whenever his contract expires. He'd be a nice 4th or 5th wing in the depth chart.

[Chief]

Does Pierce shoot too many 3s?

[Who]

I love Shawn Marion's quickness at the four.

[Chief]

Dahntay Jones would be a nice guy to pickup next year or the year after. Whenever his contract expires. He'd be a nice 4th or 5th wing in the depth chart.

Wasn't he a Celtic years ago? Maybe preseason??

[azzenfrost]

C's lead but not seeing the defense I like.