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Celtics (38-34) at Knicks (45-26) 3/31
« on: March 30, 2013, 11:18:49 PM »

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Boston Celtics (38-34)  at New York Knicks (45-26)
Sunday, March 31, 2013
7:30 PM ET
Regular Season Game #73 – Road Game #37
TV:   CSNNE  MSG,  NBA-LP 755(BOS)/756(NYK)
Radio: WEEI, ESPN NY
Madison Square Garden




Probable Starters
 
PG: #0 Avery Bradley .................................................... SG: #34  Paul Pierce

C: #44 Chris Wilcox 

SF: #8 Jeff Green .............................................. PF #30 Brandon Bass 
Celtics Reserves
Shavlik Randolph
Courtney Lee
Terrence Williams
Jason Terry
DJ White
Jordan Crawford

Injuries
Rajon Rondo (knee) out
Kevin Garnett (ankle) out
Jared Sullinger (back) out

Red Claws
Fab Melo




Probable Starters
 
PG:  Pablo Prigioni  ............................................  SG:Raymond Felton

C: Kenyon Martin
 
SF: Carmelo Anthony ............................................. PF:Iman Shumpert

Knicks Reserves
James White
JR Smith
Chris Copeland
Steve Novak
Marcus Camby
Jason Kidd

Injuries
Tyson Chandler (knee/neck) questionable
Amar'e Stoudemire (knee) out
Kurt Thomas (foot) out
Rasheed Wallace (foot) out

Game Notes
The Celtics travel to Madison Square Garden to take on the Knicks for the 4th and final time this season.   Although the Knicks have taken the Atlantic Division crown from the Celtics, there is still plenty to play for in this one.  First and foremost, this may be a preview of the first round playoff matchup if the standings remain as they are now.  Second, these teams really don't like each other and there is pride involved.

 Third, there could still be some shake up in the standings and the Celtics could move up in the standings whereas, the Knicks are trying to hold off the Pacers and keep from dropping to the 3rd spot.  The Celtics are 3 games in front of the Bucks, who are in the 8th spot.  They are also 1.5 games behind Chicago in the 6th spot and 2 behind Atlanta in the 5th spot.  The Knicks are just percentage points in front of the Pacers and need the win to stay in the 2nd spot. 

The Celtics are 4-6 in their last 10 games while the Knicks are 7-3 in their last 10 games.  The Knicks are a good home team with a 26-10 record at MSG, but one of those 10 losses was to the Celtics.  The Celtics haven't played well on the road but must find a way to win away from TD Garden since they must win on the road in the playoffs.  The Celtics are just 13-23 on the road, but again, one of those 13 wins is against the Knicks. 

The Celtics are looking for their 3rd straight win while the Knicks are on a 7 game win streak, looking for their 8th straight win.  The Knicks are in the final game of a 3 game home stand.  The Knicks are looking to win the season series with the Celtics for the first time since the 2003-2004 season.

The game notes have the same big starting lineup that Doc has used i the past two games.   He has said that he's not sure who will start each game, but that lineup is 2-0 and so it seems logical to stick with it while they are winning.   Hopefully the bench will also produce as they did against the Hawks. 

Key Matchups
  vs 
Chris Wilcox vs Kenyon Martin
Kenyon Martin had 9 points and 5 rebounds in the Tuesday's game and afterwards said that he had a chip on his shoulder against the Celtics for backing out of a deal to sign him.  Danny since said that he never talked to Martin so he may even have more fuel to his fire in this game.  Chris has to be aggressive on both ends of the court. 

  vs 
Jeff Green vs Carmelo Anthony
Paul Pierce has said that the toughest matchup for him in the league is Carmelo Anthony.   If Doc sticks with the big starting lineup he has used in the last 2 games, it will fall to Jeff Green to try to stop him.  Slowing Melo down is key as the Knicks go as Melo goes.  In the last 7 games between these two teams,  in the Knicks 4 wins, Melo has averaged 32 points per game, but in their 3 losses, Melo has averaged just 23.7 points per game on 34% shooting. 

Keys to the Game
Stop JR Smith - JR Smith has emerged as the Knicks top gunner.  In Tuesday's game against the Celtics, Smith scored 32 points off the bench.  He then went on to score 35 against Memphis and 37 against the Bobcats, both Knicks' wins.  It will be crucial for the Celtics to try to slow Smith down and keep him from having another big game.   

Defense
- The Knicks have been playing good defense since Woodson took over as coach and the Celtics have also gotten back to their defensive roots, although they have also strayed from it in some games.  The Celtics have to make defense their priority in this game especially because the Knicks can be a very dangerous offensive team.   The Celtics must especially guard the perimeter as the Knicks are 2nd in the league in 3 pointers made and they aren't shy about shooting them.  But they also have to guard the paint because the Knicks have several players who can take it strong to the hoop like Melo, KMart, and Smith as well. 

Rebound
- The Celtics are 29th in the league in rebounding  but he Knicks aren't all that much better, coming in at 24th.  Chandler is questionable for this game and they will be a bigger threat on the boards if he plays.    The Celtics have got to crash the boards as a team and win the battle on the glass if they want to win this game. 

Be Aggressive - The Celtics must be the more aggressive team.  They have to be aggressive in going to the hoop and not settle for jumpers, especially if the jumpers aren't falling.  They must be aggressive on the boards and in going after loose balls and winning the 50/50 plays.  The more aggressive team gets the calls from the officials and that will be important in this game.   We know that the Knicks will be aggressive and so the Celtics have to match that intensity. 

Play 48 Minutes - The Celtics must get off to a good start and play hard for 48 minutes in this game.  The Celtics have gotten off to strong starts only to collapse and give up big leads.  They have also gotten off to slow starts and sometimes have come back and other times have not been able to catch up.   They may get away with slow starts or with letting up in the game with some teams, but they can't count on the Knicks to let them back in if they get themselves down in this game.   

X-Factors
Focus On the Road
The Celtics have been terrible on the road this season and that's putting it mildly.  They have won just 13 games away from home this season.  It will be crucial for the Celtics to find a way to get back to winning on the road since they won't have home court in the playoffs and will need to win on the road then.  This would be a good time for them to find that focus and prove that they can beat a quality team on the road. 

Re: Celtics (38-34) at Knicks (45-26) 3/31
« Reply #1 on: March 30, 2013, 11:20:25 PM »

Offline CelticConcourse

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Thanks FL! TP! Let's win every game for the rest of the season! :) With our bench-warmers!

I want to see me some Shavlik and Jeff! Please win this game, Celtics
Jeff Green - Top 5 SF

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"I've always said J. Green is going to be one of the best players to ever play this game"

Re: Celtics (38-34) at Knicks (45-26) 3/31
« Reply #2 on: March 31, 2013, 01:06:13 AM »

Offline jdz101

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Iman Shumpert at power forward...

Now THATS smallball  ;D


how much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck was chris bosh?

Re: Celtics (38-34) at Knicks (45-26) 3/31
« Reply #3 on: March 31, 2013, 01:30:29 AM »

Offline timobusa

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Iman Shumpert at power forward...

Now THATS smallball  ;D

Looks like Mike Woodson has been studying Doc Rivers style.

Re: Celtics (38-34) at Knicks (45-26) 3/31
« Reply #4 on: March 31, 2013, 03:09:48 AM »

Offline GreenFaith1819

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TP, FL!

Go into NY and smack em' in the mouth, BOS!

Shavvy Baby! ;D Keep up the good play off the bench!

Re: Celtics (38-34) at Knicks (45-26) 3/31
« Reply #5 on: March 31, 2013, 04:54:42 PM »

Offline aporel#18

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Doc, limit the Captain's minutes tonight to 24. Free him in the 4th quarter though to score the winning shot.

More minutes for the Chinese 3, Wilcox and Crawford. We want the Knicks in first round, so any outcome will be good for us.

Go Celtics!

TP, FL. Great game preview.

Re: Celtics (38-34) at Knicks (45-26) 3/31
« Reply #6 on: March 31, 2013, 06:00:53 PM »

Offline Porty

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Hope Bradley can get into Jr´s head, he´s been on a roll lately. Would be huge if we could limit him to 10/15 points.

Re: Celtics (38-34) at Knicks (45-26) 3/31
« Reply #7 on: March 31, 2013, 06:00:53 PM »

Offline Boston Garden Leprechaun

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RELEASE THE SHAVLIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LET'S GO CELTICS!

Re: Celtics (38-34) at Knicks (45-26) 3/31
« Reply #8 on: March 31, 2013, 07:34:58 PM »

Offline Boston Garden Leprechaun

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hopefully we show up tonight   :-X
LET'S GO CELTICS!

Re: Celtics (38-34) at Knicks (45-26) 3/31
« Reply #9 on: March 31, 2013, 07:41:05 PM »

Offline tgreanier

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I gotta tell ya, I WANT this win. It is time to play some Celtics basketball.
Bleeding green for 36 37 years.
"Maybe we do suck. But at least we don't wear yellow."

Re: Celtics (38-34) at Knicks (45-26) 3/31
« Reply #10 on: March 31, 2013, 07:41:44 PM »

Offline Meadowlark_Scal

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Doc mystifies me....with non intelligent statements ect.....he won't start shav......as if Wilcox is doing better..do you realize what starting does to a players confidence.....it ROCKETS up....and usually their effort does also.....so i say...why not....I personally would give alomost everyone a chance to start.....of course I am a TEAM-style coach...you lose your position by your own actions with me....

Re: Celtics (38-34) at Knicks (45-26) 3/31
« Reply #11 on: March 31, 2013, 07:42:37 PM »

Online hpantazo

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we better see Bradley on Smith tonight for major minutes.

Re: Celtics (38-34) at Knicks (45-26) 3/31
« Reply #12 on: March 31, 2013, 07:42:51 PM »

Offline Meadowlark_Scal

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RELEASE THE SHAVLIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ya Boyyyyyy...he will eat up on kenyon martin....gets us some better %.....on possesions..and fould trouble...!

Re: Celtics (38-34) at Knicks (45-26) 3/31
« Reply #13 on: March 31, 2013, 07:43:24 PM »

Offline Meadowlark_Scal

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wasn't brad on smith last time..?

Re: Celtics (38-34) at Knicks (45-26) 3/31
« Reply #14 on: March 31, 2013, 07:44:31 PM »

Offline Meadowlark_Scal

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Now if we had a shot blocker...intimidator in there -shav- then smith can only shoot= better, easiler Defense for bradley on smith....man i am good...!  ;)