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Boston Celtics (11-2) at Minnesota Timberwolves (2-8)
Friday, November 21
8:00 PM ET
Game 14, Road Game 6
TV: CSN HD, KSTC-45, NBA LP 755
Radio: WEEI
Target Center b]Coach: Doc Rivers
Average Age: 26.6
Average Height: 6-6
Average Weight: 222[/b]
Probable Starters PG: Rajon Rondo PPG 7.8 RPG 4.00 APG 6.7 EFF + 13.50
SG: Ray Allen PPG 17.4 RPG 5.00 APG 2.7 EFF + 16.08
SF: Paul Pierce PPG 21.1 RPG 7.40 APG 3.8 EFF + 20.58
PF: Kevin Garnett PPG 16.3 RPG 9.80 APG 2.0 EFF + 19.55
C: Kendrick Perkins PPG 6.3 RPG 7.30 APG 1.3 EFF + 11.67
ReservesTony Allen
Glen Davis
JR Giddens
Eddie House
Leon Powe
Brian Scalabrine
Patrick O'Bryant
Bill Walker
Sam Cassell
Injuries: None
Probable Inactive Sam Cassell
Bill Walker
Coach: Randy Wittman
Average Age: 26.6
Average Height: 6-7
Average Weight: 227Probable Starters PG: Sebastian Telfair PPG 5.1 RPG 1.40 APG 4.6 EFF + 6.29
SG: Mike Miller PPG 12.7 RPG 5.20 APG 4.5 EFF + 16.70
SF: Ryan Gomes PPG 9.5 RPG 3.60 APG 1.8 EFF + 9.70
PF: Al Jefferson PPG 22.6 RPG 10.30 APG 1.9 EFF + 25.60
C: Jason Collins PPG 2.3 RPG 3.00 APG 0.7 EFF + 3.00
ReservesRandy Foye
Kevin Love
Craig Smith
Corey Brewer
Kevin Ollie
Rashad McCants
Rodney Carney
Calvin Booth
Brian Cardinal
Mark Madsen
InjuriesNone
Probable Inactive Calvin Booth
Brian Cardinal
Mark Madsen
Key Matchups vs
Rajon Rondo vs Sebastian Telfair
At one point, Rondo was behind Telfair in the rotation and Rondo eventually surpassed Telfair. Telfair is fast and will make Rondo work on the defensive end, but he isn't known for his defense and so Rondo needs to be aggressive on the offensive end.
vs
This is a matchup of one of the best all time vs one of the best up young power forwards who may one day be considered one of the best. KG should get some love from the fans in Minny and that will hopefully spur him to a good game. This will be a great matchup.
Honorable Mention Paul Pierce vs Ryan Gomes
These two have gone up against each other in practice when they were teammates and so know each other well. Should be a good matchup with Pierce coming out on top.
Team ConnectionsOf all the teams in the NBA, these two teams are probably the most connected after the big trades between them.
Kevin McHale, the Wolves GM, was one of the original Big 3 of the Celtics.
KG played for the Wolves from 1995-2007 and was traded to the Celtics in the trade that took Big Al Jefferson, among others, to Minnesota.
Randy Foye, Al Jefferson, and Ryan Gomes were drafted by the Celtics.
Sebastian Telfair played for the Celtics in '06-07.
Wolves assistant coaches Jerry Sichting and Ed Pinkney are former Celtics.
Mike Miller played for Doc in Orlando.
Jason Collins was a teammate of Scal's in New Jersey
Ray Allen and Calvin Booth were teammates in Seattle
Ray Allen was drafted by the Wolves in the 1996 draft
Game Notes: Last season, the Celtics swept the series with the Wolves for the first time since the 1995-96 season. But, it wasn't easy as they won both games by a total of just 3 points.
The Wolves have started off slowly in spite of an upgrade in talent over the summer and beat the Sixers on Wednesday after losing 8 in a row.
X-FactorFormer Celtics and Wolf This should be an emotional game for KG. This will be his first time playing in Minnesota since the trade as he missed last season because of injury. He will be fired up to play well against his former team and in front of the fans who still love him and should fire up the Celtics as well. On the other hand, Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes and Sebastian Telfair will all be fired up to try to beat their former team as well. It should be another close game.