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Celtics (0-2) at Hornets (1-0) 12/28
« on: December 28, 2011, 12:09:27 AM »

Offline FLCeltsFan

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Boston Celtics (0-2) at New Orleans Hornets (1-0)
Wednesday, December 28
8:00 PM ET
Regular Season Game #3, Road Game #3
TV: CSN-NE, CST, NBA-LP 758
Radio:   WEEI, WMTI
Referees: Scott Foster, Tony Brown, Josh Tiven
New Orleans Arena





PG:  Rajon Rondo
SG:  Ray Allen
SF:  Sasha Pavlovic
PF:  Kevin Garnett
C:   Jermaine O'Neal

Celtics Reserves

Avery Bradley
Marquis Daniels
Chris Wilcox
Brandon Bass
Keyon Dooling
E'twaun Moore
Greg Stiemsma
JaJuan Johnson

Injuries
Paul Pierce (heel) day to day
Mickael Pietrus (knee)  out
Chris Wilcox (shoulder) questionable





PG:  Jarrett Jack
SG:  Eric Gorden
SF:  Trevor Ariza
PF:  Carl Landry
C:   Emeka Okafor

Hornets Reserves

Greivis Vasquez
Al-Farouq Aminu
Gustavo Ayon
Marco Belinelli
Carldell Johnson
Trey Johnson
Chris Kaman
Jason Smith
Lance Thomas

Injuries
DaJuan Summers (knee)  out


Team Connections
Emeka Okafor and Ray Allen are former UConn Huskies
Sasha Pavlovic played for the Hornets during the 2010‐11 season
Greivis Vazquez and Chris Wilcox both attended the University of Maryland
Carl Landry, E’Twaun Moore and JaJuan Johnson all attended Purdue

Key Matchups
 vs  
Ray Allen vs Eric Gordon

vs
Kevin Garnett vs Carl Landry

Game Notes

Celtics are closing out their first road trip in New Orleans.  They are also playing in their first back to back of the season.  In spite of this being the second of back to back games and the third game on the road after 2 very tough games,  this is a very winnable game.  

The Hornets are still reeling from the trade of Chris Paul and the defection of David West and are trying to find their new identity with all the new players.    But, they did pull off a win in their first game in Phoenix, so the Celtics will still have to play well in order to get a win in this game.  

The Celtics don't want to go 0-3 to start the season and need to come out strong and not let up.  Since this is the second of back to back games, Doc needs to play the younger guys more or the starters won't have anything left at the end of the game.  

Keys to the Game
Play 48 minutes - The Celtics have gotten off to slow starts two games in a row and have had to fight back from a deep hole in both games only to fall short at the end.  They need to start quickly and not let themselves get behind as it takes too much effort to try to dig out of the holes they find themselves in.  

Defense - The Celtics have allowed over 60 points in the first half of both games so far and have allowed over 100 points in both losses.  They need to clamp down on defense from the beginning.  

Be the aggressor - The Celtics have been reacting to their opposition rather than being the aggressor and getting out to a lead and keeping it.  They need to run the break, be aggressive on defense and dive for loose balls.  

Rebound the ball - The Celtics have to be more aggressive on the boards.  One rebound for their starting center just won't cut it.  When your point guard is the team's leading rebounder,  you know that the bigs on the team have to be more aggressive on the boards.  
 
Limit turnovers - The Celtics turned the ball over way too much against the heat and those turnovers led to fast break points.  They have to take better care of the ball and be more careful with their passes.  

X Factor
Fatigue
The Celtics are playing in the second of back to back games and have been playing short handed.  They are also playing in their 3rd road game to start the season.  They also had 2 tough matchups in NY and Miami where the starters had to play right up until the end of the game.  
« Last Edit: December 28, 2011, 04:25:24 PM by FLCeltsFan »

Re: Celtics (0-2) at Hornets (1-0) 12/28
« Reply #1 on: December 28, 2011, 12:12:31 AM »

Online theswitch

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Time to see what some of the young guys can do. Bradley is going to have to play some minutes on Gordon to relieve Ray, Johnson and Moore should get action as well. Gotta think we have clear advantages at the 1 and 4, though. We say it every game, but KG HAS to be aggressive if Carl Landry is guarding him, and there's no chance Belinelli can keep up with Rondo or Ray.

There's no reason we should lose to this team, and I don't think we can afford to really. Fatigue is the only concern, but it's game 3.
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Center: Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka

Re: Celtics (0-2) at Hornets (1-0) 12/28
« Reply #2 on: December 28, 2011, 12:14:25 AM »

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Jajuan Johnson era begins Tomorrow. The most exciting draft pick of the decade.


Re: Celtics (0-2) at Hornets (1-0) 12/28
« Reply #3 on: December 28, 2011, 12:14:32 AM »

Offline guava_wrench

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Beating the bad teams is very important. Need games like this.

Re: Celtics (0-2) at Hornets (1-0) 12/28
« Reply #4 on: December 28, 2011, 12:15:20 AM »

Offline BASS_THUMPER

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Beating the bad teams is very important. Need games like this.



i wouldnt sleep on the nest

Re: Celtics (0-2) at Hornets (1-0) 12/28
« Reply #5 on: December 28, 2011, 12:17:50 AM »

Offline twinbree

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TP FLCF. Hoping for a win. Will settle for our guys finishing the game as healthy or healthier than when they started. And the new players getting some good run. Then it's home sweet home. Go Celtics!
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Re: Celtics (0-2) at Hornets (1-0) 12/28
« Reply #6 on: December 28, 2011, 12:38:06 AM »

Online theswitch

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Jajuan Johnson era begins Tomorrow. The most exciting draft pick of the decade.



Definitely. And it can't hurt to get the Norris Cole out of my mouth, one pick later.
2023 Historical Draft: Toronto Raptors

Point Guard: Anfernee Hardaway, Fat Lever, Terrell Brandon
Shooting Guard: Paul Westphal, Paul Pressey
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Power Forward: Jermaine O'Neal, Bobby Jones, Kiki Vandeweghe
Center: Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka

Re: Celtics (0-2) at Hornets (1-0) 12/28
« Reply #7 on: December 28, 2011, 12:46:21 AM »

Offline PosImpos

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Going to be a tough game.  3rd game in the past 4 days.
Never forget the Champs of '08, or the gutsy warriors of '10.

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Re: Celtics (0-2) at Hornets (1-0) 12/28
« Reply #8 on: December 28, 2011, 04:49:28 AM »

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Chris Kaman could be a tough guy to contain off that Hornets bench.

The Celtics don't have much size off the pine.

Re: Celtics (0-2) at Hornets (1-0) 12/28
« Reply #9 on: December 28, 2011, 06:26:10 AM »

Offline Yoki_IsTheName

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Kaman is a foul machine. Give JO some post plays, we'll do fine.
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Re: Celtics (0-2) at Hornets (1-0) 12/28
« Reply #10 on: December 28, 2011, 08:35:15 AM »

Offline FLCeltsFan

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Chris Kaman could be a tough guy to contain off that Hornets bench.

The Celtics don't have much size off the pine.
We have the Stieminator!  After watching JO last night, there is no way this guy can be any worse!!!

Re: Celtics (0-2) at Hornets (1-0) 12/28
« Reply #11 on: December 28, 2011, 08:39:18 AM »

Offline dark_lord

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this is an important game, strictly for morale of the team. will be tough bc of the back to back, but i think they will pull it out. 

Re: Celtics (0-2) at Hornets (1-0) 12/28
« Reply #12 on: December 28, 2011, 09:24:41 AM »

Offline jgod213

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Jack will be returning from his 1 game suspension, so no more Belinelli at the point...unfortunately.

This game has me a little nervous.  If it weren't for all the variables surrounding this game i'd be very confident in a C's win, but the back-to-back, Pierce's heel, and the Hornet depth has me concerned.  I'm thinking maybe Doc plays the starters just a tad longer than he wants to tonight in order to secure that 1st W.

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Re: Celtics (0-2) at Hornets (1-0) 12/28
« Reply #13 on: December 28, 2011, 09:26:11 AM »

Offline Evantime34

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With Wilcox out I'd love to see some JJJ. Get him out with Rondo to run the break.
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Re: Celtics (0-2) at Hornets (1-0) 12/28
« Reply #14 on: December 28, 2011, 09:30:28 AM »

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With Wilcox out I'd love to see some JJJ. Get him out with Rondo to run the break.
Jason Smith would be a good matchup for JJJ.

Smith is too limited offensively to create against him, not an aggressive rebounder or a particular good defender. Nice matchup to ease JJJ into things.

Carl Landry or Chris Kaman would be too difficult. I'd like Doc to avoid putting JJJ out there against them if at all possible. Both of those players are strong enough shot-creators and physically strong to give JJJ problems.