Warriors (3-6) at Celtics (8-3) 11/18

[FLCeltsFan]

  at 

GoldenState Warriors (3-6) at Boston Celtics (8-3)
Wednesday, November 26
7:30 PM ET
Game #12, Home Game #7
TV:  CSNHD, CSN Bay Area, NBA LP  758,759
Radio:  WEEI 
TD Garden


Probable Starters
  PG Rajon Rondo PPG 10.3 RPG 3.5  APG 8.7

  SG Ray Allen PPG 15.2 RPG 2.7 APG 3.4

  SF  Paul Pierce PPG 18.4 RPG 4.8 APG 4.1

  PF Kevin Garnett  PPG 13.6 RPG 7.5 APG 2.4

  C Kendrick Perkins PPG 10.1 RPG 7.1 BPG 2.0

Off the Bench
Reserves
Eddie House
Rasheed Wallace
Marquis Daniels
Shelden Williams
Brian Scalabrine
Lester Hudson
Bill Walker
JR Giddens

Injuries:
Tony Allen (ankle) out
Big Baby Davis (thumb) out
Paul Pierce (knee) probable





Probable Starters
  PG  Stephen Curry   PPG 8.3 RPG 2.2 APG 4.4

SG  Monta Ellis  PPG 19.3 RPG 5.1 APG 5.0

  SF  Anthony Morrow   PPG 11.2 RPG 3.6 APG 0.9

  PF Vladimir Radmanovic   PPG 4.9  RPG 3.6 BPG 0.1

  C Mikki Moore   PPG 3.5 RPG 2.8   BPG 0.5

Reserves
Corey Maggette
Anthony Randolph

Injuries
Andris Biedrins (groin)  questionable
Devean George (knee)  questionable
Ronny Turiaf (knee)  questionable 
Brandon Wright (shoulder)  out
Kelenna Azubuike (leg)  out 
CJ Watson (swine flu)  out
Speedy Claxton  out
Raja Bell (wrist)  out (he will dress so that they have the required 8 players but won't play)

Team Connections
Celtics Assistant Coach Clifford Ray played for the Warriors from 1974-81 and won a championship with Golden State in the 1974-75
season
Kelenna Azubuike and Rajon Rondo are former Kentucky Wildcats
Anthony Randolph and Glen Davis are former LSU Tigers
Corey Maggette played for Doc Rivers in Orlando during the 1999-2000 season
Rajon Rondo and Stephen Jackson both attended Oak Hill Academy
Brandan Wright and Rasheed Wallace attended the University of North Carolina
Corey Maggette and Shelden Williams are former Duke Blue Devils
Mikki Moore played for the Celtics during the 2008-09 and 2002-03 seasons
Speedy Claxton and Shelden Williams were teammates in Atlanta from 2006-08.
Mikki Moore and Shelden Williams were teammates in Sacramento during the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons

Key Matchups
  vs 
Kendrick Perkins vs Mikki Moore
As we saw from his time in Boston, Mikki isn't a great interior defender and so Perk (and anyone who drives to the basket) won't get much of a challenge from Mikki.  Perk should have a very good game. 

  vs 
Ray Allen vs Monta Ellis
This would be the matchup where Golden State has the advantage.   Ellis is very quick and it will be difficult for Ray to keep up with him.  I can see Ray covering Morrow and Rondo on Ellis on the defensive end. 

Game Notes
• Celtics split the season series 1-1 against Golden State in 2008-09
• Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 21.0 points per game last season
• In his one appearance against the C’s, Corey Maggette netted 38 points for the Warriors
• The Celtics are 4-6 against Golden State since the 2004-05 season
• The Celtics are leading the all-time series 194-127 with the Celtics 108-34 at home

The Celtics have been off since Saturday and the last time they had 3 days off, they dismantled the Jazz.  The Warriors are playing in the second of back to back games and fatigue could be a factor for them.  However, fatigue isn't their biggest problem.  They just traded disgruntled star Stephen Jackson and Acie Law  for Raja Bell and Vladimir Radmanovic and even if these players play in this game, they won't know the system completely yet.   Also, the Warriors have been depleted by injuries with 2 key players out and 3 more questionable. 

Keys to the Game
Defense - The Celtics have said that they want to be the best defensive team in league history and yet they have allowed teams to shoot over 50% in their last 2 games.  They need to get back to the team defense that we saw in the first 5 games and that will take a commitment from every player on the team.

Effort   It seems as though the team has come into the past 2 games expecting to win without putting out the effort.  They have been sluggish from start to end and just haven't had that killer instinct we saw early.

Rebound Hand in hand with effort goes rebounding.  They did a good job on the boards against the Pacers but were badly out rebounded by the Hawks.  Since much of rebounding is effort, the Celtics need to put out the effort on the boards in every game.  Allowing the other team too many rebounds leads to too many second chance baskets. 

Move the Ball  When the ball is moving and the Celtics are racking up assists on baskets, the offense is working like a well oiled machine.  When they try to do too much individually, then the offense becomes disjointed and they struggle to score.

Don't Over Rely on the 3  When the 3's are falling, the Celtics offense is devastating but that can lead them to over rely on the outside shot because when the shots aren't falling, they keep taking them and the offense suffers.  They can take the 3 when it is open and a good shot, but their first option should be to go to the basket and either draw the foul or get the hoop. 

[celticinorlando]

if boston loses this one...then it is time to panic

[BASS_THUMPER]

this will be another test..they will really give up our weak spots...

[BASS_THUMPER]

scalabrine should get some minutes

[celticinorlando]

well if mikki moore is starting...just post the guy he is guarding..he will foul

[Drucci]

TP FL!

Hopefully this is the game when we finally get back on track... and on D. After a few days of rest the Celtics should get back to their old ways. I hope Paul will be able to play though (he is doubtful), but I don't want him to rush back his return if his injury is worse than expected.

Can't wait to see the Mikki/Perk battle.

[Bahku]

I'll be at this one with my daughter ... it's one of my birthday presents to her every year, and she gives the same for my birthday, so we go in the spring, too ... can't wait! (Front row, Loge ... not bad att all ) TP, Fl!

[lon3lytoaster]

Mikki Moore a starter? Game set match, Celtics by 40

[FLCeltsFan]

I'll be at this one with my daughter ... it's one of my birthday presents to her every year, and she gives the same for my birthday, so we go in the spring, too ... can't wait! (Front row, Loge ... not bad att all ) TP, Fl!

That sounds great!   What a great way to spend quality time with your daughter.  Have fun!!!

[ACF]

In honor of the new sig:


Speed, muscle, hustle, W, TP!
 

[Redz]

I know that 8 games in 12 nights was rough on the C's and they need their rest and all that...BUT I'M READY FOR SOME ACTION AGAIN!

I'm predicting double figures for Lester tonight.

Bring on some hoops

[ManUp]

Lol, Mikki is on their starting lineup? I say Perk goes for 30 lol. If this team is serious about this one we should run through these guys like Water.

TP on the thread FL nice job as usual.

[j804]

Cant underestimate anyone and dominate this will be a test for the C's, Cleveland barely got the W last night against these guys for what its worth.

[mkogav]

Back to back road games against Cleveland and Boston?

Wow, that's tough for a GS team with 7 players.

I understand they played well against The Cleveland James's last night. I don't expect such a spirited effort tonight.

Most of the game will seem like the Cs are on a power play.


Mk

[RebusRankin]

We should be able to dominate down low on this team.