Celtics (36-11) at Kings (12-33) 2/1

[jgod213]

agree with the sentiments of those who believe this will be a competative game (for at least 3 quarters).

I went to the last meeting between the two at the garden and there are 3 big differences between that game and tonight's game:

1) Tyreke Evans DID NOT play in that game

*Therefore the Kings had no shot. If Tyreke can get it going early he will energize the crowd against a C's team who probably will need to get slapped up a bit to get into this game

2) DeMarcus Cousins was playing very inconsistently at the time

*He's found his groove lately.  I see Shaq getting into quick foul trouble again tonight.  The Kings have some depth at the 5 so Perk might have a lot on his shoulders tonight.

3) The game was in Boston

*It's easy to run a young team out of the Garden early.  They're coming off a very encouraging win against LA and will no doubt be jacked up about the idea of swinging another win against another finals contender.

[FLCeltsFan]

Bennett Salvatore has the distinction of being the worst referee alive today. The man is just incompetent. Salvatore seems to miss more calls and make more bad calls per game than all the other refs and tonight he is our crew chief. Salvatore made one of the most controversial calls in NBA finals history in game 5 of the 2006 finals. The call basically gave the Heat their championship. Here is Bill Simmons' take on the call.

    Salvatore called the foul on Wade's final drive in overtime (remember, the call where ABC couldn't find a replay to show that anyone touched him?) even though he was standing at midcourt a full 35-40 feet from the play, and even though two other refs were closer to the play. Not only was that NOT his call, he butchered it.

Another of Salvatore's controversial calls was in the 2008 conference finals when he waved off a contested 3-pointer that Pierce had hoisted over Richard Hamilton, inducing him to leave his feet with a ball fake and land on Pierce's back. Pierce, however, was charged with an offensive foul for creating the contact with Hamilton. 

Seeing Salvatore's name has to make every Celtics fan cringe a little. Just look at this video of Salvatore's ability to control a game and screw the Celtics.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxO_Gmtpm80&feature=player_embedded

[snowball]

we can expect this crew tonight to help
the Kings. Unless Boston is hot shooting,
it will be a close game..
here is the crew stats
http://www.covers.com/pageLoader/pageLoader.aspx?page=/data/nba/matchups/g5_referees_2.html

[Q_FBE]

Ref Details:

Bennett Salvatore, Eli Roe, Greg Zielinski

Celtics fans need no introduction to Salvatore after the Hawks game in Boston last year - where he called a bogus flagrant on Davis (later rescinded) and then quickly gave Doc 2 T's and the boot...

In games this season involving any of these guys, C's are 3-0 (vs Raptors 11/26, Twolves and Detroit last month).

Kings are 2-4, with a road win @ the Twolves 10/27.

Over the last 10 games involving these guys, C's are 20-10, Kings 4-25.

Just stay calm, doc - this should be a fairly easy win on bench depth advantage even if their starters play like they did in the last 2 games.

Thank you for that bit of cheerful news. Seems like Joey Crawford could not stop the Celtics so David Stern sends in another one of his Celtic hating lackeys, Bennett Salvatore who loves to quick whistle the Celtics into foul trouble just to let them know who is in control. I look forward to Ray Allen becoming the all time leading 3 point FG maker, perhaps tonight. How many does he need?

[ACF]

Ray needs 13 to beat Miller.

[Megatron]

Are we really havig a debate on beating the second worst team in the league?

All the C's have to do is come out and play with effort and they should win easily.

[Neurotic Guy]

Ref Details:

Bennett Salvatore, Eli Roe, Greg Zielinski

Celtics fans need no introduction to Salvatore after the Hawks game in Boston last year - where he called a bogus flagrant on Davis (later rescinded) and then quickly gave Doc 2 T's and the boot...

In games this season involving any of these guys, C's are 3-0 (vs Raptors 11/26, Twolves and Detroit last month).

Kings are 2-4, with a road win @ the Twolves 10/27.

Over the last 10 games involving these guys, C's are 20-10, Kings 4-25.

Just stay calm, doc - this should be a fairly easy win on bench depth advantage even if their starters play like they did in the last 2 games.

Thank you for that bit of cheerful news. Seems like Joey Crawford could not stop the Celtics so David Stern sends in another one of his Celtic hating lackeys, Bennett Salvatore who loves to quick whistle the Celtics into foul trouble just to let them know who is in control. I look forward to Ray Allen becoming the all time leading 3 point FG maker, perhaps tonight. How many does he need?

I'm betting you aren't serious, but if you are, do you think that Stern regularly peruses the ref schedules and secretly calls in special assignments in order to foil the Celtics?

[Surferdad]

Bennett Salvatore has the distinction of being the worst referee alive today. The man is just incompetent. Salvatore seems to miss more calls and make more bad calls per game than all the other refs and tonight he is our crew chief. Salvatore made one of the most controversial calls in NBA finals history in game 5 of the 2006 finals. The call basically gave the Heat their championship. Here is Bill Simmons' take on the call.

    Salvatore called the foul on Wade's final drive in overtime (remember, the call where ABC couldn't find a replay to show that anyone touched him?) even though he was standing at midcourt a full 35-40 feet from the play, and even though two other refs were closer to the play. Not only was that NOT his call, he butchered it.

Another of Salvatore's controversial calls was in the 2008 conference finals when he waved off a contested 3-pointer that Pierce had hoisted over Richard Hamilton, inducing him to leave his feet with a ball fake and land on Pierce's back. Pierce, however, was charged with an offensive foul for creating the contact with Hamilton. 

Seeing Salvatore's name has to make every Celtics fan cringe a little. Just look at this video of Salvatore's ability to control a game and screw the Celtics.
.

I forgot how terrible the refs were that night.  Possibly the worst ever.

Hey Megatron, C's could easily lose this game, just ask the Hornets or the Lakers.  And like FLCelts pointed out, they are at home.

[CelticSooner]

Are we really havig a debate on beating the second worst team in the league?

All the C's have to do is come out and play with effort and they should win easily.

Sounds easy but with this veteran group you don't know what your going to get against these bad teams.

Just get the W and fly back home.

[Fafnir]

That was a carry.

[vinnie]

Celts going for turnover record tonight. 

[redd1985]

On the radio side, is Grande flying solo tonight?

[vinnie]

Six turnovers already. What an awful game so far

[Rondo9dunx]

WooHoo!! Rondo hit a free throw!

[Megatron]

Kings are so terrible that even though the C's are trying to hand them a victory on a platter they still cant take advantage lol.