Author Topic: Celtics (33-19) at Blazers (23-30) Game #53 2/9/17  (Read 34086 times)

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Celtics (33-19) at Blazers (23-30) Game #53 2/9/17
« on: February 09, 2017, 01:24:53 AM »

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Boston Celtics (33-19) at Portland Trailblazers (23-30)
Thursday, February 9, 2017
10:30 PM ET
Regular Season Game #53, Road Game #26
TV: TNT
Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, Rip City 620 AM
Moda Center



Probable Starting Matchups
Point Guard
vs
Isaiah Thomas vs Damian Lillard

Shooting Guard
vs
Jaylen Brown vs CJ McCollum

Small Forward

vs
Jae Crowder vs Maurice Harkless

Power Forward
  vs 
Al Horford vs  Noah Vonleh

Center
vs
Amir Johnson vs Mason Plumlee


Celtics Reserves
Gerald Green
Terry Rozier
Jonas Jerebko
Kelly Olynyk
Demetrius Jackson
Tyler Zeller
Jordan Mickey
James Young
Marcus Smart

Injuries

Avery Bradley (Achilles)  out

Head Coach
Brad Stevens




Blazers Reserves
Pat Connaughton
Allen Crabbe
Ed Davis
Jake Layman
Meyers Leonard
Shabazz Napier
Tim Quarterman
Al-Farouq Aminu

Injuries
Festus Ezeli  (knee)  out
Evan Turner (hand)  out

Head Coach

Terry Stotts

Game Notes

The Celtics' western road trip didn't start out very well as they lost to the short handed Kings.  They continue the trip against the Portland Trailblazers who beat them 127-123 in Boston on January 21.  They split the series 1-1 last season with each team winning on their home court. 

The Trail Blazers have won two straight and 6 of their last 8 versus the Celtics.  The Celtics are 7-3 in their last 10 while the Blazers are 5-5 in their last 10.  The Celtics had their 7 game win streak snapped by the Kings and so both teams are coming off one loss.  The Celtics are 14-10 on the road while the Blazers are 14-11 at home. 

Former Celtic Evan Turner broke a bone in his hand in their last game and is expected to be out 5-6 weeks.   Festus Ezeli is also out with a knee injury.  Avery Bradley didn't make the trip with the Celtics and isn't expected back until after the All Star break. 


Key Matchups

vs
Isaiah Thomas vs Damian Lillard
Isaiah will have his hands full guarding Damien Lillard who is averaging 26.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game.  Lillard scored 28 in the Blazers OT win over the Celtics in Boston and slowing him down will be a key to getting a win. 

vs
Jaylen Brown vs CJ McCollum
While Isaiah is working to guard Lillard, Jaylen will have a challenge of his own trying to stay with CJ McCollum, who is averaging 23.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists.  The Celtics will need to play tough defense to try to control Portland's high scoring back court duo. 

Honorable Mention

Amir Johnson vs Mason Plumlee
Plumlee is averaging 11.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists and is capable of putting up big numbers.  In the first game against the Celtics this season Plumlee led the team with 11 rebounds and 8 assists. 

Keys to the Game
Defense -  Defense is a key to winning every game.  The Celtics have not been playing the tough defense this season that they were known for last season.  Against the Kings,  the Celtics' defense was not good at all.  The Blazers are 7th in the league with 540 three pointers this season.   The Celtics must especially defend the 3 point line much better than they did against the Kings, or the Blazers will make them pay.  The Blazers average 107.6 points per game, good for 8th in the league and so the Celtics must step up their defense because they won't win in a shoot out on the road. 

Rebound - The Celtics must make an extra effort to grab rebounds in order to give themselves extra possessions as well as to keep the Blazers from cashing in with second chance points.  The Celtics were out-rebounded by 10 by the Blazers in their first meeting.   The Celtics are 14-1 when they out-rebound their opponents.  The Celtics simply must work harder on the boards if they want to win this one.   

Be Aggressive -  The Celtics have to be the team that works harder and wants the win more.  They have to dive for loose balls, go for every rebound and just hustle on every play.  They have to be aggressive in getting to the basket as well and not settle for outside shots, especially if they aren't falling.   They obviously didn't play as hard as the Kings and they lost the game.   They simply must be the team that plays harder and wants it more. 

X-Factors
Officiating Factor - The officiating is an x factor for every game. Every officiating crew calls games differently. Some call every little foul making it difficult to get any rhythm and some let the teams play. Some refs have an agenda and call the game for or against a particular team or player or to favor the home team. And there are always star calls no matter who the referees are.  The home team also tends to get some home cooking from the officials. lRegardless of how the game is called, the Celtics need to play through it and keep their focus.

Fatigue on the Road - The Celtics are playing in the second of back to back games on the road after a tough loss the night before.  The Celtics are 8-3 on the second night of back to back games.  Hopefully they can use their depth and youth to play hard right to the final buzzer and not run out of gas down the stretch. 

Focus Factor - The Celtics weren't focused against the Kings at all and allowed the Kings to out play them in spite of being short handed. The Celtics underestimated their opponent and if they underestimate the Blazers and let them out play them,  they will have another loss.  The Celtics turned the ball over 17 times and shot only 39.7% and that indicates that the Celtics weren't focused on playing the right way.   They must come out focused and play hard from the opening tip to the final buzzer if they want to win this game. 

Re: Celtics (33-19) at Blazers (23-30) Game #53 2/9/17
« Reply #1 on: February 09, 2017, 01:25:39 AM »

Offline csfansince60s

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TP FLCeltsFan!!!!

Boy, are you quick!!

Back to backs: you and the Cs have something in common: you come up big in back to backs, despite the mental and physical squeeze.

Go Cs and go FLCeltsFan!!

Re: Celtics (33-19) at Blazers (23-30) Game #53 2/9/17
« Reply #2 on: February 09, 2017, 01:27:00 AM »

Online FLCeltsFan

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TP to csfansince60s for being the first to post in the game thread!  I sure hope they give a better effort in this one than they did against the Kings. 

Goooooooooooooo Celtics!!!   

Now it is way past my bedtime!!!

Re: Celtics (33-19) at Blazers (23-30) Game #53 2/9/17
« Reply #3 on: February 09, 2017, 01:27:10 AM »

Offline trickybilly

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Second. Interesting to see how we bounce back
"Gimme the ball, gimme the ball". Freddy Quimby, 1994.

Re: Celtics (33-19) at Blazers (23-30) Game #53 2/9/17
« Reply #4 on: February 09, 2017, 02:59:32 AM »

Offline greece66

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3rd!

Re: Celtics (33-19) at Blazers (23-30) Game #53 2/9/17
« Reply #5 on: February 09, 2017, 04:23:40 AM »

Offline LGC88

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Re: Celtics (33-19) at Blazers (23-30) Game #53 2/9/17
« Reply #6 on: February 09, 2017, 04:23:45 AM »

Offline bopna

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I think we'll play better but sadly i still havr a bad feeling that we will still lose tonight...NOW if IT plays like an MVP just like what he always does on back to backs then we might have a chance but play like last night and we will be blown off by 30.

Re: Celtics (33-19) at Blazers (23-30) Game #53 2/9/17
« Reply #7 on: February 09, 2017, 05:09:02 AM »

Offline trickybilly

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I think we'll play better but sadly i still havr a bad feeling that we will still lose tonight...NOW if IT plays like an MVP just like what he always does on back to backs then we might have a chance but play like last night and we will be blown off by 30.

Isaiah goes for 50.
"Gimme the ball, gimme the ball". Freddy Quimby, 1994.

Re: Celtics (33-19) at Blazers (23-30) Game #53 2/9/17
« Reply #8 on: February 09, 2017, 05:25:55 AM »

Offline BE-Celtic

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Last game against us they beat us in OT at home, time to take a revenge !

Also need to forget last night, from what i read.

Come on guys !

Re: Celtics (33
« Reply #9 on: February 09, 2017, 07:37:39 AM »

Offline hodgy03038

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We need a better effort than last night. This team is much tougher. Al please remove the cement shoes.


Re: Celtics (33-19) at Blazers (23-30) Game #53 2/9/17
« Reply #10 on: February 09, 2017, 08:46:04 AM »

Offline Surferdad

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9th!!

Just to make life complicated for our beloved FlCeltsFan I propose NEW RULE:

If you are 1st - TP
If you are 2nd 2 times - TP
If you are 3rd, 3 times - TP
If you are 4th 4 times - TP
etc.

OK?  LOL

Re: Celtics (33-19) at Blazers (23-30) Game #53 2/9/17
« Reply #11 on: February 09, 2017, 09:47:34 AM »

Offline apc

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Give the ball to Horford, let him feast on Vonleh.

Re: Celtics (33-19) at Blazers (23-30) Game #53 2/9/17
« Reply #12 on: February 09, 2017, 12:09:47 PM »

Offline hodgy03038

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Give the ball to Horford, let him feast on Vonleh.

He didn't feast on the non-Cousins defenders last night so he will need to take the cement shoes off and come to play tonight. I love Horford, I'm just sayin.....

Re: Celtics (33-19) at Blazers (23-30) Game #53 2/9/17
« Reply #13 on: February 09, 2017, 12:50:15 PM »

Offline apc

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Give the ball to Horford, let him feast on Vonleh.

He didn't feast on the non-Cousins defenders last night so he will need to take the cement shoes off and come to play tonight. I love Horford, I'm just sayin.....
That's why he is going to be hungry tonight  ;)

Re: Celtics (33-19) at Blazers (23-30) Game #53 2/9/17
« Reply #14 on: February 09, 2017, 05:29:21 PM »

Offline Phantom255x

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So the Celtics are 0-1 in games I didn't watch because I decided to sleep LOL.

Sorry guys I'll bring us back tonight  8)

"Tough times never last, but tough people do." - Robert H. Schuller