Hawks (6-2) at Celtics (8-1) 11/13

[FLCeltsFan]

at
Atlanta Hawks (6-2) at Boston Celtics (8-1)
Friday, November 13
8:00 PM ET
Game #10, Home Game #6
TV:   ESPN,  CSNHD
TD Garden



Probable Starters
  PG  Rajon Rondo 10.6 PPG 9.0 APG 3.1 SPG

  SG Ray Allen  14.8 PPG 3.0 APG .343 3P% 

  SF  Paul Pierce  18.8 PPG 5.0 RPG 4.1 APG

  PF Kevin Garnett  12.9 PPG 8.3 RPG 1.4 BPG 

  C Kendrick Perkins Perkins 9.5 PPG 6.0 RPG 2.4 BPG

Reserves
Eddie House
Rasheed Wallace
Marquis Daniels
Shelden Williams
Brian Scalabrine
Lester Hudson
Bill Walker
JR Giddens 

Injuries:
Tony Allen (ankle) out
Big Baby Davis (thumb) out





Probable Starters
  PG Mike Bibby PPG 10.4 RPG 3.4 APG 4.4

  SG Joe Johnson  PPG 21.0 RPG 5.9 APG 4.3   

  SF  Marvin Williams   PPG 9.6 RPG 4.9 APG 0.4 

  PF Josh Smith   PPG 16.0 RPG 7.3 APG 4.4   

C  Al Horford  PPG 13.5 RPG 10.5 APG 1.9

Reserves
Jamal Crawford
Zaza Pachulia
Mo Evans
Jeff Teague
Joe Smith
Randolph Morris
Jason Collins
Othello Hunter

Injuries
None   

Team Connections 
Doc Rivers played for Atlanta from 1983-9
Doc also holds the Hawks record for most assists in a career as a Hawk (3,866)
Celtics Assistant Coach Armond Hill played for the Hawks from 1976-80 and also during the 1983-84 season
Rajon Rondo and Josh Smith were teammates at Oak Hill Academy
Joe Johnson was originally drafted by the Celtics with the 10th pick in the 2001 draft
Eddie House is married to Mike Bibby's sister
Rajon Rondo and Randolph Morris were teammates at Kentucky
Al Horford and Glen Davis played against each other in the 2006 Final Four
Hawks assistant coach Alton Lister played for the Celtics from
1995-97
Maurice Evans and Kevin Garnett were teammates in Minnesota during the 2001-02 season
Shelden Williams was originally drafted by the Hawks with the 5th
overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft
Jason Collins and Brian Scalabrine were teammates with the Nets from 2001-2005
Marvin Williams and Rasheed Wallace are former North Carolina Tar Heels
Shelden Williams and Jason Collins were teammates in Minnesota during the 2008-09 season.

Key Matchups
  vs 
Rajon Rondo vs Mike Bibby   
It doesn't get any easier for Rondo as he goes up against another solid veteran PG in Mike Bibby.  Bibby can be dangerous from the perimeter but Rondo is quicker and can get the first step on Bibby.   Celtics fans still remember Mike Bibby's comment about bandwagon fans in the playoffs 2 years ago and would love to see Rondo take Bibby to school

  vs 
Kevin Garnett vs Josh Smith
Smith is a very athletic and quick power forward and this will be a test of KG's mobility.  Smith is a handful to guard but then, so is KG.  Should be a good matchup.   

Honorable Mention
Kendrick Perkins vs Al Horford
Horford has no love for the Celtics.  It was and incident with Horford that earned Pierce a $25,000 fine for flashing a "gang sign" back at him.  He has had scuffles with Perk more than a few times and recently he claimed that Paul Pierce owed him $10,000 for a bet they made while lined up for a free throw in that playoff series.  Perk is more mobile this year and should be able to defend Horford very well.  It will be interesting to see what Horford does in this game. 

Game Notes
• Celtics won the season series 4-0 against Atlanta in 2008-09
• Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 23.5 points per game last season
• Joe Johnson averaged 21.3 points per game against Celtics last season
• Marked the first time in the 60 year history between the two franchises that the Celtics had swept back-to-back season series
• The Celtics are leading the all-time series 214-126 with the Celtics 114-35 at home

Since the Hawks took the Celtics to 7 games in that 2008 playoff series, they have felt as though they are due a big win against the Celtics but have yet to get it.  They are a young and athletic team and so the Celtics need to take them seriously.  The Hawks are off to a very good start this season and will be looking to get that big win they feel they are capable of getting. 

There is a subplot in this game as well.  Joe Johnson was drafted by the Celtics who gave up on him while Shelden Williams was taken by the Hawks with the 5th pick in the draft and they gave up on him.  Shelden has been playing very well for the Celtics and I'm sure he will be up for this game.

Keys to the Game
Defense - This is the key to every game and to winning a championship this year. 
Rebound - The Celtics were out rebounded by the Jazz.  They need to work harder on the boards, especially on the offensive end. 
Move the ball The Celtics lead the league in assists per game.  Moving the ball, making the extra pass and finding the open man is crucial for this team's success.   
Don't Overuse the 3 In the Jazz game, the team did a good job of balancing the 3 point shot with getting to the hoop.  They need to keep up that balance. 

[Atzar]

TP FL!

[Bahku]

Always exciting games against the Hawks, (though I wish they weren't sometimes) ... one of those teams that give us headaches. Here's to a non-typical blowout tomorrow. TP, Florida!

[QuinielaBox]

My feeling here is that our Celtics should have the upper hand in this matchup but we need to pay attention to details like boxing out for rebounds and avoid silly turnovers. The Hawks are one and one on road toughies (W @ Portland, L@Lakers).

The Hawks will either blow you out or get blown out. They generally do not play close games. That 8 point loss in LA was a mirage. If you review the play by play game tape, Atlanta was behind by 15 to 20 points most of the 2nd half and closed with an 8-0 run in the last two minutes to account for the final margin (and no doubt upsetting the Laker betters to cover) Charlotte really lit them up recently going 11-18 from the 3 point line. The next night, the Hawks crushed the Nuggets. The good start by Atlanta is not surprising but they are considered a Tier 2 team.

We want a low scoring double digit game, obviously and Atlanta wants to run in the 110s. So dictating tempo is critical and to do that is to play defense and back it up by rebounding. Then do not turn the ball over on offense and get good shots.

One bench matchup that I will pay attention to tonight is the Marquis Daniels vs Jamal Crawford matchup. Jamal has led the Hawks in scoring from the bench. Worth mentioning is Rasheed Wallace camping outside and drawing Zaza away from the basket.

[Drucci]

TP FL!

I'm excited to watch this game, and I'll be there live this time.

Should be an interesting game. I have a hard time deciding whether the Hawks will cause us problems or not... I think our bench might make the difference tonight. And Rondo.

[RAcker]

They are an improved team and if you've watched them this year it's obvious.  However, we always seem to have more energy against them at home and I expect that will be the case tonight.  Could be closer than what we'd like, however, if the jumpers aren't going down.

My opinion is, at least we've got them at home first so that we can hopefully get a feel for Crawford's roll, etc. before having to deal with them in Atlanta.

Crush them.

[ToppersBsktball10]

we got this.

[Edgar]

I love the idea of finally watching a Cs game on a friday night on a bar, with friends, and not alone at home
even if that means no chat for me today...

Co Cs.

and finally you nail a good one ESPN...

[RAcker]

I love  watching a the idea of finally watching a Cs game on a friday night on a bar, with friends, and not alone at home
even if that means no chat for me today...

Co Cs.

and finally you nail a good one ESPN...

Enjoy the night, Edgar.

[Edgar]

I love  the idea of finally watching a Cs game on a friday night on a bar, with friends, and not alone at home
even if that means no chat for me today...

Co Cs.

and finally you nail a good one ESPN...

Enjoy the night, Edgar.

ty and cheers all. I will have a Pilsener for the blog

[RAcker]

I love  the idea of finally watching a Cs game on a friday night on a bar, with friends, and not alone at home
even if that means no chat for me today...

Co Cs.

and finally you nail a good one ESPN...

Enjoy the night, Edgar.

ty and cheers all. I will have a Pilsener for the blog

"Stay thirsty, my friend."   

[Tai]

Is it wrong that I'm gonna miss this game because I'm going to the Warriors/Knicks game at MSG, which I only had to spend $10 for?

[chelsearules]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAgxDUN7vlU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T99aL8j4yyc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpnDw3-93Y8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5u45G4GA8sk

crush em

[jackson_34]

Let's Go C's, only going to probably be able to watch the first quarter of this game due to work so give 'em hell!

[RAcker]

Is it wrong that I'm gonna miss this game because I'm going to the Warriors/Knicks game at MSG, which I only had to spend $10 for?

Depends.  How hot is the girl you are going with?