Heat (39-14) at Celtics (38-14) 2/13

[misha]

I will never count out the Celtics.  They may have everything going against them, but I'll never ever bet against them.  (Maybe it's a good thing I don't actually bet ) 

+1 TP.

Sure, not looking good right now, but you never know. We need all big 4 to show up this time.

[Bahku]

They expect Delonte to play on Wednesday, but not tomorrow ... Shaq and Semih out until after All-Star Weekend, but Nate should play against the Heat, (all per Celtics website). The Celts are really facing adversity tomorrow, but don't count them out. TP for the great set-up, Fl.

[Celtics4ever]

I think we are vulnerable this game as well.   I will be rooting for us to win but our depth right now is not good.

I think Stern will really sic the refs to us today especially if we are winning because it will add more drama to the playoffs if the HEAT have won some game versus us.

[greenpride32]

The front page has two statements on D West; 1 - He may play and 2 - He's out.  Any one know what the deal is?  Is he a game time decision? 

He can use the same arguement as Perk coming back earlier than expected; if he can go full contact in practice why can't he do that in a game?  But then again West probably has had fewer practices than Perk so the rythym might not be there yet. 

[celticinorlando]

i like boston's starting 5 today...but when the heat start mixing and matching and boston has 3 guys that aren't bigs...it will be too much.

[FLCeltsFan]

Official Report
Ken Mauer
Mauer has been a referee since the 1986-87 season and has officiated over 1,200+ regular season games, 70+ play-off games and 4 NBA Finals games. Mauer is very quick to call technicals and in one game, once ejected Doc less than 3 minutes into a game. In a recent Timberwolves game he might have set the record by calling 5 technicals in a 10 second span. Mauer was one of the refs charged with tax evasion and obstructing federal tax laws for receiving substantial taxable income from 1989 through 1994 and failing to declare it. He was one of the refs in the controversial Miami/Dallas Finals where the foul calls were totally lopsided, giving the Heat the title. He seemed to have it out for Marquis in the last game vs the Jazz as he called every little infraction against him after Quisy complained about a call. The Celtics are 3-1 this season and 6-4 in their last 10 games with Mauer officiating. The Heat are also 6-4 with Mauer in their last 10. His home W/L record is 24-17.

Kane Fitzgerald
The Celtics are 5-1 this season with Fitzgerald officiating. He has officiated more of the Celtics games this season than any other ref. He is a former D-League official and is in his second season calling NBA games. One of those wins was no thanks to Fitzgerald who gave KG a very quick pair of technicals (from about 30 feet away) and tossed him in the 2nd quarter of the Celtics 104-101 win over the Knicks (in which Amare scored 30). In his last outing with the Celtics, he tossed Stephen Jackson after 2 quick questionable T's. His quickness with the T dates back to his days in the D-league where he was close to the top in calling technical fouls there as well. His home W/L record is 22-18 this season.

Zach Zarba
Zarba has officiated over 175+ regular season games and spent 2 years officiating the D-League. He also spent 1 year with the CBA and 3 years at the college level. His first season in the NBA was in 2004. He has worked his way up the referee ladder fairly quickly and was on the playoff roster for the first time last season. The Celtics are 2-0 with Zarba this season and 5-5 in their last 10 games with him. Both games with Zarba this season (Utah, Toronto) have been called fairly even. The Heat are 7-3 in their last 10 games with Zarba as an official. His home W/L record is 23-21 this season.

[FLCeltsFan]

The front page has two statements on D West; 1 - He may play and 2 - He's out.  Any one know what the deal is?  Is he a game time decision? 

He can use the same arguement as Perk coming back earlier than expected; if he can go full contact in practice why can't he do that in a game?  But then again West probably has had fewer practices than Perk so the rythym might not be there yet. 

Before practice yesterday, Doc had said that Delonte may play vs the Heat.  But then after practice Doc said that he would not play because he wants him to get a couple more practices in before taking the court and he may come back vs the Nets.   That's why the maybe yes, maybe no posts.   But Doc had said that Perk wasn't going to play just before Perk played vs Cleveland so who knows.  But last word from Doc was that he won't play today. 

[apc]

Im siding with Vinnie on this one too, after how poorly we played against our rival thursday night ( in the second half ) ... im saying 10-15 point loss. It would be ridiculous to deny that the heat are playing MUCH better then the last 2 times we beat them. We had a pretty full roster and they weren't operating as efficiently as they are now.  If Wade/Lebron score their usuals , we are going to be looking at a rough rough game.

:sighs: I really want to be positive, and am disappointed i just typed what i did but i just don't see it any other way at this time.

it all about Lebron, if Pierce can do a decent job guarding him, and he did in the past, we have a chance.if Lebron is going to have one of his monster performance...its a different story.   

[Drucci]

We will be shorthanded but I'm feeling good about this one because Miami can't guard Rondo, Ray and Baby (!). Plus the guys will be eager to avenge the loss to the Fakers and Pierce will be physically better.

TP FL and Go Celtics!

[celticinorlando]

concerned with the heat line up of bosh, wade, james miller and a big

[nba is the worst]

Actually, Ken Mauer has come up huge for the Celtics historically - as game 2 of the '08 Finals would indicate.

[JerseyKid.]

Well the ABC pre-game has been nothing but the media loving the heat. Its already annoying me, im contemplating watching this game on mute.

[BballTim]

Well the ABC pre-game has been nothing but the media loving the heat. Its already annoying me, im contemplating watching this game on mute.

  Back in the height of the Howard Cosell/Monday Night Football hate people used to turn off the volume on the tv and listen to the radio broadcast while they watched.

[vinnie]

Well the ABC pre-game has been nothing but the media loving the heat. Its already annoying me, im contemplating watching this game on mute.

  Back in the height of the Howard Cosell/Monday Night Football hate people used to turn off the volume on the tv and listen to the radio broadcast while they watched.

Unfortunately, we cannot do that anymore, because the radio call is usually a second or two ahead of the TV audio. Wish I could do it today to avoid all of the Heat fawning that will be going on.

[Jaycelt]

Anybody eles having trouble with the ABC broadcast?  Picture's not too bad but the sound is horrible. I thought it was just the HD chanel, but the regular chanel is just as bad.