Celtics (2-0) at Pacers (0-1) 11/1

[FLCeltsFan]

  AT 

Boston Celtics (2-0) at Indiana Pacers (0-1)
Saturday, November 1
7:00 PM
Game #3, Away Game #1
TV:  CSN HD, FSI, LP NBA 3
Radio:  WEEI
Conseco Field House


ProbableStarting Matchups
PointGuard
  vs 
Rajon Rondo vs TJ Ford

Shooting Guard
  vs 
Ray Allen vs Marquis Daniels

Small Forward
  vs 
Paul Pierce vs Danny Granger

Power Forward
  vs 
Kevin Garnett vs Troy Murphy

Center
  vs 
Kendrick Perkins vs Rasho Nesterovic




Off the Bench
Tony Allen
Glen Davis
Eddie House
Leon Powe
Gabe Pruitt
Brian Scalabrine
Patrick O'Bryant
JR Giddens
Bill Walker
Sam Cassell

Injuries:
None

Probable Inactive
JR Giddens
Bill Walker
Sam Cassell


Off the Bench
Jarrett Jack
Brandon Rush
Jeff Foster
Roy Hibbert
Maceo Baston
Stephen Graham
Josh McRoberts
Jamaal Tinsley

Injuries
Travis Diener (foot)  out
Mike Dunleavy (knee)  out

Probable Inactive
Jamaal Tinsley
Mike Dunleavy
Travis Diener

Matchups to Watch
  vs 
Danny Granger is one of the more exciting young players in the league.  He looks poised to make another leap this season as he finished his first game with 33 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals and 3 blocked shots.  Paul Pierce is on a mission to repeat and so this should be a good matchup.   Celtics have to wonder what might have been if the Pacers had taken Gerald Green with the 17th pick and left Granger on the table for the Celtics with the 18th pick. 

  vs 
TJ Ford is one of the very few point guards who may be even faster than Rajon Rondo.  They have played each other fairly even in the past with Rondo coming out ahead in some games and TJ coming out ahead in some games.  This matchup should be fun to watch. 

Game Notes
The Celtics have won the last 3 games between these two teams but have split the last 8 games.  The Pacers have won 42 of 68 games in Indiana but the Celtics lead the series 74-68 overall. 

Of the 15 players on their opening night roster, only 8 were on the team at the end of last season.  Two of the most notable changes are the loss of Jermaine O'Neal and the addition of TJ Ford. 

The Pacers were among the leaders in steals in the preseason with 8.5 per game and had 7 steals in their opener against the Pistons.  The Celtics have to take good care of the ball or the Pacers will make them pay. 

The Pacers are coached by former Celtics Coach Jim O'Brien who would love nothing better than to get the better of his former team.  This is the Pacers' home opener and they want to reward their fans with a win.  Expect the Pacers to put up a fight and the Celtics will need to match it. 

X Factor
Road Wariness
In the playoffs, the Celtics were dominant at home but for some reason struggled on the road.  In the new season, the Celtics have to regain their concentration on the road and prove to teams they can win no matter where they play.

[ACF]

Remember to TP FL for the thread.

Now let's see if "we" can get Paul
past the 17,000 point mark.

Go Celtics!

[Redz]

Prediction from left field:

Rondo scores a career high tonight (currently 24)...It might take him 20 free throws, but he'll get there.

[Chief]

I hope this does not turn into a trap game. They have got to be looking forward to Tuesday's battle with Houston. I know I am.

[PRIDE]

I'm with you, Cheif.


If things play out the way they should, both Houston and Boston will be 3-0 when they face each other on Tuesday. Houston is one of the few teams in the league that is as talented as the C's. There will be a playoff atmosphere in Houston when the Champs come to town and try to stay unbeaten.

[blueygreen]

Looks like us aussies won't be watching it
Well I'll be following anyway, ought to be a good game to watch.

[nickagneta]

I'm psyched, I have my laptop back in operating order so now I can partake in the game thread while watching the game. Strange how enjoyable I fin that. It's like watching the game with 500 other people except those people are in a 10 second delay pattern.

I think a blowout of epic proportions is due this evening. Third game seems right for all of the Big Three to finally click simultaneously. Hopefully we see tons of the bench in the second half. I really enjoyed our bench players outplaying the Chicago starters last night. I think it says a lot for just how confident and how far they have come.

[Hoyo de Monterrey]

Good stuff as always FL...TP

I'm pretty excited to watch Ford vs. Rondo tonight. Ford is among the quicker guards in the league, and watching them go at each other could be fun. Rondo's the better PG, but Ford at least can somewhat match the quickness.

Could be a good game, Celts will probably roll though

[bandonox]

let's see if we can duplicate our defensive performance from last night...

[BigAlTheFuture]

I'm excited about this game. The Pacers doesn't look bad at all. With Ford and Granger they should win about 35-40 games this season.

[Chief]

Someone tell Jeff Foster that Halloween is over. He can take that Frankenstein mask off at anytime.

[nickagneta]

Steal and then a three ball to start. Nice.

[Chief]

Oh no, Violet Palmer is a ref. 

[greg683x]

Violet Palmer officiated games can have a tendancy to be frustrating

[Chief]

Violet Palmer officiated games can have a tendancy to be frustrating

Especially when your the away team.