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Celtics (24-35) at Pelicans (33-28) Game #60 3/6/15
« on: March 05, 2015, 10:51:18 PM »

Offline FLCeltsFan

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Boston Celtics (24-35) at New Orleans Pelicans (33-28)
Friday, March 6, 2015
8:00 PM ET
Regular Season Game #60 – Road Game #29
TV: CSN-NE, FSNOLA, NBA-LP 763(DTV)/757(Xfinity)
Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, WWL 105.3
Smoothie King Center




Probable Starters
Point Guard

Marcus Smart

Shooting Guard

James Young

Small Forward


Evan Turner

Power Forward

Brandon Bass

Center

Tyler Zeller

Celtics Reserves
Gerald Wallace
Jae Crowder
James Young
Phil Pressey
Shavlik Randolph
Isaiah Thomas
Jonas Jerebko
Gigi Datome
Kelly Olynyk

Injuries

Avery Bradley (elbow)  out
Jared Sullinger (foot) out

Head Coach
Brad Stevens




Probable Starters
Point Guard


Tyreke Evans

Shooting Guard

Eric Gordon

Small Forward

Quincy Pondexter

Power Forward

Anthony Davis

Center


Omer Asik

Pelicans Reserves
Alexis Ajinca
Norris Cole
Dante Cunningham
Luke Babbitt
Jimmer Fredette
Elliot Williams
Jeff Withey

Injuries
Ryan Anderson (knee)  out
Jrue Holiday (leg) out

Head Coach
Monty Williams

Game Notes
The Celtics begin a 3 game road trip with a stop in New Orleans to face the Pelicans.  This is the second and final meeting between these two teams.  Boston won the first game at home 108-100.  Jared Sullinger led the Celtics with 27 points and 10 rebounds and Jae Crowder set a new career high with 22 points.  Anthony Davis led the Pelicans with 34 points 9 rebounds and 3 blocks and Eric Gordon scored a season high 21 points.  Jrue Holiday was injured in that game and has been out ever since.

The Celtics are 5-5 in their last 10 games and 9-19 on the road while the Pelicans are 6-4 in their last 10 games and 21-10 at home.  Anthony Davis just returned from a shoulder injury to lead the Pelicans to a win in their last game with 39 points, 13 rebounds, 8 blocks and 3 steals.   Davis has averaged 23.2 points on 59.4% shooting in 5 career games against the Celtics. 

The Pelicans are looking for their 7th win in their last 8 games.  They are fighting for the final spot in the playoffs in the West.   They are 1 game behind Oklahoma City for the 8th seed.  OKC has been playing very well in spite of battling injuries to their two stars.  The Celtics are still in the fight for the final spot in the East and need every game if they are to make up ground on the teams ahead of them. 

Avery Bradley injured his elbow in Wednesday's win over the Jazz and didn't make the trip with the team.  At this time, I'm not sure who will start in his place but I took a wild guess at James Young.  That may change when the lineups are announced tomorrow because I didn't base it on anything other than a guess. 

Key Matchups
vs
Marcus Smart vs Tyreke Evans
Evans is averaging 16.8 points, 6.5 assists and 5.3 rebounds for the Pelicans this year.  He will be a tough matchup for Smart who is celebrating his birthday on Friday.  Smart is averaging 7.4 points, 3.5 assists, and 3.1 rebounds.  He has only shot 7-30 over his last 3 games.  It would be a good time for him to break out of his shooting slump. 

vs
Brandon Bass vs Anthony Davis
Davis is averaging 24.2 points, 10.3 rebounds, a league leading 2.8 blocks, and 1.5 steals and is one of the toughest covers in the league.  Last season when the Celtics played in New Orleans, Davis lit them up for 40 points along with 21 rebounds.   In the first game in Boston, Davis had 34 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks.   It will take a team effort to slow him down in this one.

Keys to the Game
Focus - The Celtics seem to lose focus at times and then have a flurry of turnovers and ill advised shots. They have to keep their focus and make smart passes avoid getting flustered.  They also have to focus on their shots as they have averaged only 88.3 points on 36.5% shooting over their last 3 games.  They have to keep their focus and hit their shots. 

Defense - Defense will always be the key to winning. The Celtics have got to play tough defense and get stops if they want to win this game. The Pelicans average 99.5 points per game. They allow 99.1 points per game though. The Celtics are capable of playing tough defense, but it takes extra effort on their part.

Rebound - The Celtics have to crash the boards as a team. Rebounding takes effort and the Celtics have to show that effort on the boards. 

Be Aggressive - The Celtics have got to be aggressive in going to the basket, playing defense, diving for loose balls and just playing harder. They won't win many games on talent alone so they need to outwork their opponents to get the win.

Pace and Space - The Celtics need to set the pace and run on every possession in order to get easy baskets before the defense sets up. They also need to space the floor and make the extra pass to find the open man.

X-Factors
Focus and Motivation

The Celtics are on the road once again and young teams tend to lose focus on the road.  The Celtics need to keep their focus and block out the distractions.  Both teams are fighting to make the playoffs and that motivation should give them more effort and focus. 
« Last Edit: March 06, 2015, 04:25:54 PM by FLCeltsFan »

Re: Celtics (24-35) at Pelicans (33-28) Game #60 3/6/15
« Reply #1 on: March 05, 2015, 11:04:00 PM »

Offline jpotter33

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Would be awesome if Young starts!!

TP for another good thread!

Re: Celtics (24-35) at Pelicans (33-28) Game #60 3/6/15
« Reply #2 on: March 05, 2015, 11:18:30 PM »

Offline hwangjini_1

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another thread for victory!!! and i love flc's optimism by putting james young in the starting line up. clearly flc needs to coaching the celtics.  ;D

thanks and a tp.

gooooo 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 (24-35) at Pelicans (33-28) Game #60 3/6/15
« Reply #3 on: March 05, 2015, 11:43:51 PM »

Offline Ogaju

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Is it confirmed that Young is going to start?

Re: Celtics (24-35) at Pelicans (33-28) Game #60 3/6/15
« Reply #4 on: March 05, 2015, 11:46:56 PM »

Offline hwangjini_1

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Is it confirmed that Young is going to start?
if flc says it is so, i believe it. if CBS cant keep up with flc, that falls on CBS.  ;D
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 (24-35) at Pelicans (33-28) Game #60 3/6/15
« Reply #5 on: March 06, 2015, 08:14:17 AM »

Offline Green-Bananas

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TP for the Thread.  Happy "21" Marcus, hope you do your celebtrating on the court and be safe afterwards.

Re: Celtics (24-35) at Pelicans (33-28) Game #60 3/6/15
« Reply #6 on: March 06, 2015, 08:59:52 AM »

Offline FLCeltsFan

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Is it confirmed that Young is going to start?

Nope,  just my wishful thinking. 

Re: Celtics (24-35) at Pelicans (33-28) Game #60 3/6/15
« Reply #7 on: March 06, 2015, 09:01:39 AM »

Offline FLCeltsFan

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Thanks jpotter33 and a TP to you for being first to post in the game thread. 

Re: Celtics (24-35) at Pelicans (33-28) Game #60 3/6/15
« Reply #8 on: March 06, 2015, 09:02:34 AM »

Offline FLCeltsFan

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Thanks hwangjini_1!  And as always, a TP for your optimism.  You always give me a smile!!

Re: Celtics (24-35) at Pelicans (33-28) Game #60 3/6/15
« Reply #9 on: March 06, 2015, 09:06:25 AM »

Offline SHAQATTACK

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Another game where Sully might have come in handy

Re: Celtics (24-35) at Pelicans (33-28) Game #60 3/6/15
« Reply #10 on: March 06, 2015, 09:43:19 AM »

Offline TheTruthFot18

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Dream match up for Davis going against Bass, Zeller, and KO. Wish we got McGee, he would at least have a similar body and build to battle Davis.
The Nets will finish with the worst record and the Celtics will end up with the 4th pick.

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Re: Celtics (24-35) at Pelicans (33-28) Game #60 3/6/15
« Reply #11 on: March 06, 2015, 09:50:10 AM »

Offline slamtheking

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TP for the superlative effort FL.

Anyone else floored by the fact that only 3 players we have as availalbe for the game (not counting KO) were on this team last year and only 1 starter?

Re: Celtics (24-35) at Pelicans (33-28) Game #60 3/6/15
« Reply #12 on: March 06, 2015, 10:38:02 AM »

Offline hwangjini_1

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TP for the superlative effort FL.

Anyone else floored by the fact that only 3 players we have as availalbe for the game (not counting KO) were on this team last year and only 1 starter?
yes, amazing. but i guess that is what happens during a rebuild. in two more years i wonder honestly how many of the current players will still be celtics. i doubt more than 3-4 will remain.
« Last Edit: March 06, 2015, 10:44:13 AM by hwangjini_1 »
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 (24-35) at Pelicans (33-28) Game #60 3/6/15
« Reply #13 on: March 06, 2015, 06:06:42 PM »

Offline J. Cole

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Deny the Pelicans the 8th seed!  >:(

Jk. Win this to get us in the playoffs.

Re: Celtics (24-35) at Pelicans (33-28) Game #60 3/6/15
« Reply #14 on: March 06, 2015, 06:33:11 PM »

Offline clover

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TP for the superlative effort FL.

Anyone else floored by the fact that only 3 players we have as availalbe for the game (not counting KO) were on this team last year and only 1 starter?

Why aren't we counting KO?