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Celtics (13-20) at Thunder (25-7) Game #34 1/5/14
« on: January 04, 2014, 09:23:15 PM »

Online FLCeltsFan

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Boston Celtics (13-20) at Oklahoma City Thunder (25-7)
Sunday, January 5, 2014
7:00 PM ET
Game #34, Road Game #16
TV: CSNNE, FSOK, NBA-LP 758(DTV)/755,756(Xfinity)
Radio: WBZ, WWLS
Chesapeake Energy Arena



Probable Starting Matchups

Point Guard
vs
Jordan Crawford vs Reggie Jackson

Shooting Guard

vs
Avery Bradley vs Thabo Sefolosha

Small Forward
vs
Jeff Green vs Kevin Durant

Power Forward

vs
Brandon Bass vs Serge Ibaka

Center
vs
Jared Sullinger vs Kendrick Perkins




Celtics Reserves
Kris Humphries
Phil Pressey
Courtney Lee
Gerald Wallace
Keith Bogans
Kelly Olynyk
Vitor Faverani

Injuries

Rajon Rondo (ACL)out

Red Claws
MarShon Brooks


Thunder Reserves
Steven Adams
Nick Collison
Derek Fisher
Ryan Gomes
Perry Jones
Jeremy Lamb
Andre Roberson
Hasheem Thabeet

Injuries
Russell Westbrook (knee) out

Game Notes
The Celtics begin their tough western trip in Oklahoma City where the Thunder are once again without their all star point guard.  Russell Westbrook returned to the court to start the season but was experiencing swelling in his surgically repaired knee which required another surgery.  It's been a rough couple of seasons for all star point guards. 

The Thunder are playing in the second of back to back games after playing the Timberwolves in Minnesota on Saturday night.  So, even though the Celtics are on the road,  the fatigue factor may affect the Thunder a bit more than the Celtics. 

The Thunder are 7-3 in their last 10 games and 14-3 at home.  The Celtics are 3-7 in their last 10 games and 5-10 on the road.  The Chesapeake Energy Arena is a difficult place for visiting teams as their crowd is as loud as any in the league. 

Kendrick Perkins will be facing his old team, but there no longer any attachments there with Rondo still not playing and Doc, KG and Pierce elsewhere.  I still love Perk.  On the other side, Jeff Green will be facing many of the teammates he played with for the first 3 1/2 years of his career. 

Key Matchups
vs
Jeff Green vs Kevin Durant
Jeff Green played alongside of Kevin Durant for the first 3 1/2 years of his career.  Kevin Durant also happens to be one of the best scorers in the league and is almost unstoppable.  Green will have his work cut out for him in trying to contain Durant.  I expect Green to get a warm welcome from the fans as he was a fan favorite when he was there.

vs
Jared Sullinger vs Kendrick Perkins
Perk isn't a big scorer, but he is a very good defender and rim protector.  The Celtics need scoring from Sully but he will find it tougher to score with Perk defending him. 

Keys to the Game
Run and Move the Ball - The only hope the Celtics have of getting any easy shots is to run on every possession and try to get their shot before the Thunder's defenses are set.  They also much move the ball and find the open man.  They will struggle to score if they lapse into over-dribbling and iso's. 

Defense - The Thunder are a high scoring team, ranking 4th in points per game at over 105 a game.  The Celtics can't count on simply outscoring them and will need to play tough team defense in order to keep the Thunder from putting points on the board. 

Rebound
- The Thunder lead the league in rebounds per game with just over 47 per game.  The Celtics are 8th from the bottom in rebounding with 42 rebounds per game.  Rebounding takes effort and the Celtics need to put out that effort to crash the boards if they hope to win this game. 

Focus for 48 Minutes
- The Celtics have shown for parts of games that they can play with anyone and they build big leads but then they seem to lose focus and turn the ball over and stop running and passing and give up those leads.  The Celtics need to keep their focus for 48 minutes. 

Be Aggressive
- The Thunder are 5th in the league in free throws attempted and attempt over 27 free throws a day.  The Celtics are 24th in the league in free throws attempted with just over 20 a game.  The Celtics need to be aggressive in going to the hoop, in going after loose balls and in rebounding and defending.  The more aggressive team usually gets the benefits of the calls. 

X-Factors
Fatigue and Focus
The Thunder are playing in the second of back to back games and had to travel after the game to get back to OKC.  Fatigue could be a factor for them in this game.

 Young teams tend to struggle with their focus on the road and the Celtics will need to work hard to keep their focus and not let the hostile crowd shake them. 

Re: Celtics (13-20) at Thunder (25-7) Game #34 1/5/14
« Reply #1 on: January 04, 2014, 09:51:51 PM »

Offline hwangjini_1

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ha!!!! first poster on the game thread. lucky me. ;D

thanks flc, a tp as usual for your great work.

i am looking forward to seeing how sully matches up with perk. this is more a case of curiosity and nostalgia than a penetrating analysis of the game....which OKC would probably win even if I were starting at center for them. :P

goooooooo celtics!!!!
I believe Gandhi is the only person who knew about real democracy — not democracy as the right to go and buy what you want, but democracy as the responsibility to be accountable to everyone around you. Democracy begins with freedom from hunger, freedom from unemployment, freedom from fear, and freedom from hatred.
- Vandana Shiva

Re: Celtics (13-20) at Thunder (25-7) Game #34 1/5/14
« Reply #2 on: January 04, 2014, 10:56:03 PM »

Online FLCeltsFan

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Thanks hwangjini_1 and a TP back at you for being first in the thread. 

Just watched the OKC/Minny game and it came right down to the wire so their starters played right to the end.  Also good that the Thunder won because they lost two before and they would have been really hungry for a win tomorrow if they had lost. 

Re: Celtics (13-20) at Thunder (25-7) Game #34 1/5/14
« Reply #3 on: January 04, 2014, 11:42:20 PM »

Offline SHAQATTACK

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If Wallace puts a hit on Durant .....we might win.

Re: Celtics (13-20) at Thunder (25-7) Game #34 1/5/14
« Reply #4 on: January 04, 2014, 11:45:10 PM »

Offline D.o.s.

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Green usually plays pretty well against Durant, I think.

Will come back to do some bold predictions tomorrow afternoon.
At least a goldfish with a Lincoln Log on its back goin' across your floor to your sock drawer has a miraculous connotation to it.

Re: Celtics (13-20) at Thunder (25-7) Game #34 1/5/14
« Reply #5 on: January 05, 2014, 11:33:37 AM »

Offline LatterDayCelticsfan

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Would the Cs still being in this one with 2min to go count as a BOLD Prediction? If not, Here's a few: Gerald Wallace for the game winning 3 to go with a 30+ point explosion, Kelly Olynyk puts someone on a poster, and Avery Bradley gets 15 assists 
Banner 18 please 😍

Re: Celtics (13-20) at Thunder (25-7) Game #34 1/5/14
« Reply #6 on: January 05, 2014, 12:20:47 PM »

Offline BleedGreen1989

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Durant just scored 48 points last night.

This should be fun.
*CB Miami Heat*
Kyle Lowry, Dwayne Wade, 13th pick in even numbered rounds, 18th pick in odd numbered rounds.

Re: Celtics (13-20) at Thunder (25-7) Game #34 1/5/14
« Reply #7 on: January 05, 2014, 12:29:32 PM »

Offline bello_man09

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13-21 after this  :D

Re: Celtics (13-20) at Thunder (25-7) Game #34 1/5/14
« Reply #8 on: January 05, 2014, 12:30:08 PM »

Offline bello_man09

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If Wallace puts a hit on Durant .....we might win.

LOL..

Re: Celtics (13-20) at Thunder (25-7) Game #34 1/5/14
« Reply #9 on: January 05, 2014, 01:22:31 PM »

Offline slamtheking

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great job FL.  wasn't first on here today but a TP to you for a stellar effort as always

Re: Celtics (13-20) at Thunder (25-7) Game #34 1/5/14
« Reply #10 on: January 05, 2014, 02:57:09 PM »

Offline The Rondo Show

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Lets go Celts
DKC Suns

Re: Celtics (13-20) at Thunder (25-7) Game #34 1/5/14
« Reply #11 on: January 05, 2014, 03:52:53 PM »

Offline SHAQATTACK

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If there was ever a chance to. Surprise a vastly superior team ... Catch them off guard  ,cocky and tired all at once.....well this just might be the time ....to cold cock. The unsuspecting Thunder

If it goes down like It  should ..... The Celtics will be sailing their Heavy Tanker Ship. ...right into another loss....inching closer to a  shot at Lotto picks

Re: Celtics (13-20) at Thunder (25-7) Game #34 1/5/14
« Reply #12 on: January 05, 2014, 03:57:57 PM »

Offline LarBrd33

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If there was ever a chance to. Surprise a vastly superior team ... Catch them off guard  ,cocky and tired all at once.....well this just might be the time ....to cold cock. The unsuspecting Thunder

If it goes down like It  should ..... The Celtics will be sailing their Heavy Tanker Ship. ...right into another loss....inching closer to a  shot at Lotto picks
Every once in a while, Boston catches fire and shoots 60%.  Lots of streaky shooters on the team.  Anything can happen.  You never know when they might blow out the Knicks by 40 or shock the Heat.  Tonight could be a surprise win.  MOre likely we get thrashed.

Re: Celtics (13-20) at Thunder (25-7) Game #34 1/5/14
« Reply #13 on: January 05, 2014, 04:29:27 PM »

Offline Vox_Populi

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KD follows up the 48 with 50 tonight?

Re: Celtics (13-20) at Thunder (25-7) Game #34 1/5/14
« Reply #14 on: January 05, 2014, 05:44:02 PM »

Offline timobusa

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No Courtney Lee tonight, people.
Reports are he's being traded for Jerryd "shiny head" Bayless