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[FLCeltsFan]

  at 
Boston Celtics (14-15) at Sacramento Kings (10-19)
Sunday, March 30, 2012
9:00 PM ET
Regular Season Game #30, Road Game #16
TV:  CSNNE, CSNCA, NBA-LP 755
Radio:  WEEI,  1140 AM
Power Balance Pavillion Arena 




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

Boston Reserves
Jared Sullinger
Brandon Bass
Jeff Green
Courtney Lee
Jarvis Varnado
Kris Joseph

Injuries
Avery Bradley (shoulders) out
Chris Wilcox (thumb) out
Leandro Barbosa (personal) day to day
Rajon Rondo (hip/thigh) day to day

Red Claws
Fab Melo





Probable Starters
PG SG SF PF C
Isaiah Thomas/ Marcus Thornton /John Salmons  /Jason Thompson/ DeMarcus Cousins

Reserves
Aaron Brooks
Jimmer Fredette
Francisco Garcia
Chuck Hayes
Tyler Honeycutt
James Johnson
Travis Outlaw
Thomas Robinson

Injuries
Tyreke Evans (knee) day to day

Team Connections
DeMarcus Cousins, Chuck Hayes and Rajon Rondo all attended the University of Kentucky
Marcus Thornton and Brandon Bass attended Louisiana State University
Kings Assistant Coach Bobby Jackson and Brandon Bass were teammates in New Orleans during the 2006-07 season…
Jimmer Fredette and Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge both attended Brigham Young University.

Game Notes
The Celtics will try to end their 4 game road trip on a high note as they take on the Sacramento Kings.  They started it with a win and then lost 2 and hopefully can end with a win.   With all the buzz about the Celtics interest in DeMarcus Cousins, this could get interesting as he possibly auditions for his next team. 

The Celtics are playing in back to back games on the road, which will make this game more difficult than it should be.  And the final game of a road trip is always a tough one for the team.  The Celtics are just 5-10 on the road while the Kings are playing fairly well at home with a 9-7 home record.  The Kings are coming off a win over the Knicks on a last second 3 pointer by James Johnson. 

The Celtics faced the Kings just once last season and lost 120-95 at Power Balance Arena.  The Celtics are 4-6 in their last 10 games while the Kings are a slightly worse 3-7 in their last 10.  Rondo sat out Saturday night's loss to the Warriors and may or may not play in this one.  . 

Key Matchups
  vs 
Rajon Rondo vs Isaiah Thomas 
This is one of the few games where Rondo will have a height advantage over his opponent.  He also has an experience advantage over the Kings' 2nd year point guard.  Rondo needs to be aggressive and take it at Thomas early and often. 

  vs 
Jason Collins   vs DeMarcus Cousins. 
Cousins is a tough and physical player but he's also a young player and a volatile player.  Who knows what would happen if KG gets into his head.  In spite of 3 suspensions already this season, 16.5 points and 9.5 rebounds.  Collins must keep him out of the paint.   

Keys to the Game
Defense -  Defense is a key to every game and it will be the key to winning the championship.  After playing tough defense against the Nets, their defense was on vacation vs the Clippers and they allowed way too many easy baskets and scores in the paint.  The Celtics must defend the perimeter as the Kings can be hot from the outside.  They also must defend the paint to keep them away from the basket.

Crash the boards - The Celtics need to rebound the basketball.  It takes effort and desire to out rebound the opposing team and when they show the effort and desire on the boards, it usually transfers to the rest of their game as well.  The Celtics must rebound to prevent easy fast break points and tip ins.

Start Strong and Play 48 Minutes- The Celtics need to get off to a good start.  The Kings are 9-2 when leading at the half and just 1-17 when trailing at the half.  The Celtics need to get off to a good start and then not let up.  They have to stay focused for 48 minutes. 

X-Factors
Back to Back and Rondo
The Celtics may be getting road weary and they are playing in back to back games, but this is a game they can and should win if they give their full effort and focus on playing as a team.  If Rondo doesn't play again, this game becomes much harder to win. 

[lightspeed5]

what are the chances danny ainge is in the stands?

[SHAQATTACK]

this road trip is Sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

humiliating 

Please let it end....

Soon

[hpantazo]

It sounds like Tyreke Evans is playing tomorrow night.

[Who]

The Kings are dysfunctional as heck ... this has gotta be a win, right?

[csfansince60s]

this road trip is Sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

humiliating 

Please let it end....

Soon

Lose by 5, lose by 25, not much different.

Losing those games to the Pistons early in the season, 3 to the Bucks, OT in Philly and the first two to Brooklyn....those games killed me.....these...not so much.

We will be 2-2 after Kings game on this road-trip that started in Brooklyn. Would've preferred 3-1 or 4-0, but will take 2-2.

[Who]

I like Jason Collins starting against DeMarcus Cousins. Cousins is an explosive offensive threat who is capable of going off on any team at any moment. Collins is a good defensive option against Cousins with his size, physical toughness and mobility.

I want to keep one of Collins or Garnett on the floor at all times against Cousins. None of the backup PFs are capable of defending Cousins effectively. It needs to be Collins are Garnett. Doc will be able to play his two PF lineups when Cousins rests since Sacramento has no other center on their roster either.

[SHAQATTACK]

this road trip is Sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

humiliating 

Please let it end....

Soon

Lose by 5, lose by 25, not much different.

Losing those games to the Pistons early in the season, 3 to the Bucks, OT in Philly and the first two to Brooklyn....those games killed me.....these...not so much.

We will be 2-2 after Kings game on this road-trip that started in Brooklyn. Would've preferred 3-1 or 4-0, but will take 2-2.

I'm glade you enjoyed these games...

[j804]

I like Jason Collins starting against DeMarcus Cousins. Cousins is an explosive offensive threat who is capable of going off on any team at any moment. Collins is a good defensive option against Cousins with his size, physical toughness and mobility.

I want to keep one of Collins or Garnett on the floor at all times against Cousins. None of the backup PFs are capable of defending Cousins effectively. It needs to be Collins are Garnett. Doc will be able to play his two PF lineups when Cousins rests since Sacramento has no other center on their roster either.

Doc will go small ball though

[YallahCeltics34]

The Kings are dysfunctional as heck ... this has gotta be a win, right?

[j804]

Danny after we leave Sacramento

[ACF]

TP. Go Celtics!

[clover]

The Kings are dysfunctional as heck ... this has gotta be a win, right?

The Kings beat the Knicks last night, and their bench was only outscored by the C's starters by four points: 52-48.

[cltc5]

The Kings are dysfunctional as heck ... this has gotta be a win, right?

+1

[TripleOT]

It wouldn't surprise me if the Cs take a whupping tonight.  It also wouldn't surprise me  if they play solid ball and grab a win. 

This team is so not established 30 games into the season.  One would thing that a team with only one rookie and the rest of the roster with 5 or more years of NBA experience could gel in 30 games. 

The problem with the Cs is that there are too many laconic personalities on this roster.  How many of the non Big 3 players would you want in a foxhole with you?  (one for me in Sullinger) Now compare that to the 2008 team (5: TA, Perk, PJ, Posey, House).

Ainge might have gotten a B in Math when he built this roster, but he gets an F in Chemistry from me.