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Celtics (13-13) at Nets (14-12) 12/25
« on: December 23, 2012, 11:34:57 PM »

Offline FLCeltsFan

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Boston Celtics (13-13) at Brooklyn Nets (14-12)
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
12:00 PM ET
Regular Season Game #27, Road Game #13
TV:  ESPN, CSNNE, TSN, YES
Radio:  WEEI, WFAN 
Barclays Center




Probable Starters
PG  SG  SF  PF  C
PG: Rajon Rondo
SG:  Jason Terry
SF:  Paul Pierce
PF:  Kevin Garnett
C:   Jason Collins

Celtics Reserves

Jared Sullinger
Brandon Bass
Jeff Green
Courtney Lee
Jarvis Varnado


Injuries

Jeff Green (cheek)  probable
Avery Bradley (shoulders) day to day
Chris Wilcox (thumb)  out
Leandro Barbosa (personal)  out

Red Claws

Fab Melo
Kris Joseph




Probable Starters
PG SG SF PF C
PG: Deron Williams
SG:  Joe Johnson
SF:  Gerald Wallace
PF:  Kris Humphries
C:   Brook Lopez

Nets Reserves
CJ Watson
Josh Childress
Mirza Teletovic
Reggie Evans
Tomike Shengelia
Jerry  Stackhouse
Tyshaun Taylor
Keith Bogans
MarShon Brooks
Andray Blatche

Injuries
None


Game Notes

The Celtics take on divisional rival Brooklyn Nets.  Both teams have a new look since the Celtics swept the series last season.  The Nets have already beaten the Celtics twice this season both at home and on the road.  These two teams will meet once more in April. 

The Nets are in 2nd place in the division, one game ahead of the Celtics and 5.5 games behind the Knicks who are in first place.  The Nets are 8-6 at home while the Celtics are just 4-8 on the road.  The Nets are just 3-7 in their last 10 games and are looking for their second straight win.   The Celtics are 4-6 in their last 10 games and are hoping to avoid a 2 game losing streak.

The last game set the stage for this one as it ended with a brawl, technicals,  ejections and fines.   Kevin Garnett drove to the basket and was fouled hard by Kris Humphries.  Kris gave a little extra shove at the end of the play that didn't sit well with Rondo who quickly rushed to KG's defense.  Rondo gave Humphries a shove which resulted in Humphries shoving back and a brawl  of sorts broke out along the baseline spilling into the crowd.   Rondo somehow lost his jersey along with his double figure assist streak as he was ejected from the game along with Humphries and Gerald Wallace. 

These two teams split a pair of preseason games with the Nets winning  97-96 at the Garden and the Celtics winning 115-85 in their very first ever trip to the Barclays Center. The Nets also won twice in the regular season,  102-97 in Boston and 95-83 in Brooklyn. 

This is the first game of a 4 game road trip that will take the Celtics through California facing the Clippers, Kings and Warriors after this game vs the Nets.  The Celtics are hoping to get Avery Bradley back at some time on the trip, which would give the team a much needed boost. 

 There is plenty of bad blood between these two teams and it may very well get chippy in this game as well.   Hopefully the Celtics use that last game as motivation to come out strong and play their best game.   The best revenge would be a Celtics win.

Key Matchups
  vs 
Rajon Rondo vs Deron Williams
Rondo loves playing against the other top PG's in the league. He also loves national TV games.   Expect a big game from him as this game has both and he'll be at his best. 

  vs 
Jason Terry vs Joe Johnson
Jason Terry has been praised by Doc for his defense this season and he's going to have to play defense as he faces Joe Johnson, who is capable of putting points on the board in a hurry.  On the other side, Johnson hasn't been a lock down defender and hopefully Jet will snap out of the slump he was in last game and should be able to get his points.  (But, I'm hoping to see Avery at this spot today.)

Honorable Mention
Jason Collins vs Brook Lopez
Lopez is playing very well this season averaging 17.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg, and 2.4 bpg.  In his last game,  he scored 16 points with a team-high 10 rebounds.  Collins defense will be much needed in this game. 

Keys to the Game

Defense - The Celtics need to tighten up their defense, especially in transition and on the pick and roll.  It is their defense that is going to set them apart from the rest of the league and so far this season, it has been very lax.   

Bench Play - The Celtics need their reserves to find their chemistry and to produce.  The Celtics starters can't carry the team every night and still be fresh at the end of the game.  With Chris Wilcox, and Leandro Barbosa out, the bench will be thin, but players like Brandon Bass, Jared Sullinger, and especially Courtney Lee and Jeff Green must produce. 

Rebound - The Celtics need to crash the boards in order to limit New Jersey's fast break points and second chance points.  When they put out the effort to win the battle of the boards, that often translates to the rest of their game. 

Be Aggressive - The Celtics have got to be the more aggressive team.  They have to drive to the basket and not settle for jumpers, especially when the jumpers aren't falling.  They must be aggressive on the boards and in going after loose balls.  Too often we see the opposing team hustling for loose balls and rebounds while the Celtics look rooted to the floor.  They can't be passive and expect to win the game. 

X-Factor
On the Road and Avery
The Celtics are once again on the road and the last road trip didn't go very well.  We can only hope that this one goes a bit better and that they can start it with a win.  Also, getting Avery Bradley back for this game would be a huge boost to the team.  But we won't know until game time if he will be able to play or not. 
« Last Edit: December 24, 2012, 12:42:45 AM by FLCeltsFan »

Re: Celtics (13-13) at Nets (14-12) 12/25
« Reply #1 on: December 24, 2012, 12:01:27 AM »

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Oh sorry, just saw Jeff Green on that injury list and then remembered why he is unavailable.

I had wanted Doc to start J.Green instead of J.Terry but not an option. So Courtney Lee is the next best choice. He'll have to take Joe Johnson. And hope JJ falls in love with his jumper (which often happens) instead of attacking the size difference.

I would also like to see Doc use Sully as the primary option against Kris Humphries. Bass doesn't really add anything to the table against Humphries. Only costs them possessions with his inability to take away Humphries rebounding advantage. Sully is a better matchup here because of his superior rebounding (over Bass).

I would also like to see Jason Collins moved to a reserve role. It is important Boston keeps size/length on the floor at all times against New Jersey. When Garnett rests. They cannot afford to put an undersized power forward on B.Lopez defensively. Nor can either PF be expected to cover Andray Blatche defensively who is simply too big and too skilled for Bass/Sully. Jason Collins is the best non-Garnett matchup against both B.Lopez and A.Blatche. He needs to be on the floor whenever Garnett isn't.

Kris Joseph should take over Green's role while he is injured. The Celtics need his size and defense/rebounding off the bench. Especially against New Jersey who have very powerful wings and are a quality rebounding team. An undersized perimeter trio of Rondo / Terry / Barbosa (PG and SG) + Lee (SF) would leave the Celtics to vulnerable in terms of defense and rebounding. Doc needs to trust the rookie.

Unless Brooklyn goes small with Deron + CJ Watson at the same time, I want to see Doc avoid small backcourts against this Nets team.

 

PG: Rondo, Terry
SG: Lee, (K.Joseph), Barbosa
SF: Pierce, K.Joseph
PF: Sully, Bass
C:  Garnett, J.Collins
« Last Edit: December 24, 2012, 12:15:34 AM by Who »

Re: Celtics (13-13) at Nets (14-12) 12/25
« Reply #2 on: December 24, 2012, 12:44:35 AM »

Offline FLCeltsFan

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Oh sorry, just saw Jeff Green on that injury list and then remembered why he is unavailable.

I'm pretty sure Green is playing.  He went through practice and said he'd be playing.  I just included him on the injured list because, well, he is injured.  But he also plans on playing. 

Celtics are signing Jarvis Varnado- Not sure if he'll be with the team by Tuesday or not. 

Re: Celtics (13-13) at Nets (14-12) 12/25
« Reply #3 on: December 24, 2012, 09:48:03 PM »

Offline Change

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I have a hunch Green starts this game. Nets have a big backcourt. Anyways, Go Celtics! TP for thread FLCeltsFan

Re: Celtics (13-13) at Nets (14-12) 12/25
« Reply #4 on: December 24, 2012, 10:40:48 PM »

Offline cman88

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also a possibility that Avery plays...doc mentioned yesterday that he could come back on this road-trip

Re: Celtics (13-13) at Nets (14-12) 12/25
« Reply #5 on: December 24, 2012, 11:00:07 PM »

Offline lightspeed5

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avery may play.

Re: Celtics (13-13) at Nets (14-12) 12/25
« Reply #6 on: December 25, 2012, 12:04:51 AM »

Offline SHAQATTACK

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I dread this game , we totally don't matchup ,  it fully exposes the Celtics worse weakness of lack of tuffness and bigs with paint presence.

WAtching this game is like going to see your little brother beat up in a bully fight.

Nets enjoy terrorizing the Celtics physically .

Bad matchup , no Wilcox ,  lack of muscle in the paint.

Maybe some Celtic luck will pop up on Christmas.


 



Re: Celtics (13-13) at Nets (14-12) 12/25
« Reply #7 on: December 25, 2012, 12:13:39 AM »

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I read somewhere that Humphries had fallen out of the Nets rotation. That he got a DNP recently. That Avery Johnson is looking in another direction for that starting PF slot.

Not sure ... but Humphries may not be starting for NJ tomorrow.

Re: Celtics (13-13) at Nets (14-12) 12/25
« Reply #8 on: December 25, 2012, 12:22:18 AM »

Offline WeMadeIt17

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Celtics Win thats all i gotta say!

Re: Celtics (13-13) at Nets (14-12) 12/25
« Reply #9 on: December 25, 2012, 01:22:13 AM »

Offline lightspeed5

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are we ready for a rondo triple double? big time christmas game on national tv.

Re: Celtics (13-13) at Nets (14-12) 12/25
« Reply #10 on: December 25, 2012, 01:23:44 AM »

Offline GreenFaith1819

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TP, FL!

Let's give Jay Z and Co a big lump of Green Coal for Christmas, BOS!

Re: Celtics (13-13) at Nets (14-12) 12/25
« Reply #11 on: December 25, 2012, 01:31:02 AM »

Offline lightspeed5

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this man is going to rule that game tomorrow. The modern day John Stockton.


Re: Celtics (13-13) at Nets (14-12) 12/25
« Reply #12 on: December 25, 2012, 01:58:29 AM »

Offline ImShakHeIsShaq

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Crooklyn is about to get a mudhole stomped into them! Let's go!!!
It takes me 3hrs to get to Miami and 1hr to get to Orlando... but I *SPIT* on their NBA teams! "Bless God and bless the (Celts)"-Lady GaGa (she said gays but she really meant Celts)

Re: Celtics (13-13) at Nets (14-12) 12/25
« Reply #13 on: December 25, 2012, 02:34:30 AM »

Offline mr. dee

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Hopefully Rondo gets fired up tommorow especially against that Humphries guy. The should feel better now that Bradley might possibly back in the lineup.

Re: Celtics (13-13) at Nets (14-12) 12/25
« Reply #14 on: December 25, 2012, 07:44:45 AM »

Offline GronkSpike

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So NBA League Pass is offering this game's stream for free  ;D

Great stuff,  8)