(http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_463000/FF_463797_xl.jpg) at (http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_463000/FF_463710_xl.jpg)
Minnesota Timberwolves (8-8) at Boston Celtics (9-8)
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
7:30 PM ET
Regular Season Game #18, Home Game #10
TV: CSN-NE, FSNN-MN, NBA-LP 755(MIN)/756(BOS)
Radio: WEEI, WCCO-AM
TD Garden
(http://cdn3.sbnation.com/imported_assets/336623/2587354586_9eb59b3cd9.jpg)
(http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/boston/00-Celticslogos.gif)
Probable Starters
PG(http://assets.espn.go.com/i/nba/profiles/players/65x90/4149.jpg) SG(http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/jason_terry.jpg)SF(http://assets.espn.go.com/i/nba/profiles/players/65x90/3253.jpg) PF(http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/brandon_bass.jpg) C(http://assets.espn.go.com/i/nba/profiles/players/65x90/3007.jpg)
Rajon Rondo..... Jason Terry ..... Paul Pierce...... Brandon Bass ..... Kevin Garnett
Celtics Reserves
Jared Sullinger
Jason Collins
Courtney Lee
Jeff Green
Courtney Lee
Chris Wilcox
Injuries
Avery Bradley (shoulders) out
Red Claws
Fab Melo
Kris Joseph
(http://hoopedia.nba.com/images/b/be/Fleet_center.jpg)
(http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/.element/img/2.0/sect/basketball/nba/teampages/toppers/timberwolves_514x96.jpg)
Probable Starters
PG(http://a.espncdn.com/i/headshots/nba/players/65/1985.jpg) SG (http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/malcolm_lee.jpg) SF (http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/josh_howard.jpg) PF (http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/kevin_love.jpg) C (http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/nikola_pekovic.jpg)
Luke Ridnour.....Malcolm Lee..... Josh Howard ..... Kevin Love..... Nikola Pekovic
Wolves Reserves
Alexy Shved
Greg Stiemsma
JJ Barea
Dante Cunningham
Lou Admunson
Injuries
Andrei Kirilenko (back) out
Ricky Rubio (knee) out
Chase Budinger (knee) out
Brandon Roy (knee) out
Team Connections
Kevin Garnett played for the Timberwolves from 1995-2007
Jeff Green and Luke Ridnour were teammates on the 2007-08 Seattle SuperSonics.
Brandon Bass and Jose Barea were teammates in Dallas from 2007-09
Jason Collins played for Minnesota during the 2008-09 season
Courtney Lee and Chase Budinger were teammates in Houston from 2010-12
Jason Terry, Chase Budinger and Derrick Williams all went to Arizona
Jose Barea and Jason Terry were teammates in Dallas from 2006-11
Chris Wilcox and Luke Ridnour were teammates in Seattle from 2005-08
Leandro Barbosa and Lou Amundson were teammates in Phoenix from 2008-10 and were against teammates in Indiana during the 2011-12 season
Greg Stiemsma played for the Celtics during the 2011-12 season.
Game Notes
The Celtics welcome former Celtic Greg Stiemsma and the Timberwolves to the Garden for their only visit to Boston this season. The Wolves are 3-5 on the road and the Celtics are 5-4 at home. The Celtics are 5-5 in their last 10 games while the Wolves are 3-7 in their last 10. In their only meeting last season, the Celtics beat the Wolves 100-79 at the Target Center.
The Celtics should be well rested as they have been off since Sunday. Doc gave the older players Monday off from practice as well. Rondo has been off a week, since his ejection vs the Nets last Wednesday so he may even be a little rusty. The Wolves are playing in the second of back to back games, beating the Sixers 105-88 in Philly on Tuesday night.
Key Matchups
(http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3959.jpg) vs (http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/4391.jpg)
Brandon Bass vs Kevin Love
Kevin Love is a very impressive player. He is averaging 21.7 points per game and 15.3 rebounds per game. He shoots the 3 well enough to win the 3 point contes and can score inside as well. Bass is going to have his hands full trying to keep Love off his game.
(http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/4149.jpg) vs (http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3717.jpg)
Rajon Rondo vs Luke Ridnour
Rondo should have a speed advantage over Ridnour. He should also be well rested and ready to play. As Rondo goes, so go the Celtics and they need Rondo to be aggressive and set the pace for the game.
Keys to the Game
Defense - The Celtics must defend. They've been playing defense in spurts and that just isn't enough. They have struggled to get stops at times and they need to bring their tough defensive game on a consistent basis. The offense feeds off of the defense and if the Celtics can't get stops they struggle on the other end as well.
Rebound - The Celtics must get rebounds to prevent second chance points and fast breaks. Rebounding takes effort and desire and the Celtics have got to show both and crash the boards as a team. Kevin Love might just out-rebound the Celtics all by himself if they don't aggressively crash the boards.
Be Aggressive - The Celtics have to be aggressive in going after loose balls and rebounds and in taking the ball to the basket. They also have to be aggressive on defense. When they are aggressive in going to the hoop good things happen. They must be the more aggressive team and they have to stop depending on jumpers, especially when the jumpers aren't falling.
X-Factors
Rust vs Rest vs Fatigue
The Celtics have been off since Sunday and so will be rested. Let's hop that the rest doesn't cause them to come in rusty. The Celtics should look to take advantage of the fact that the Wolves could be fatigued playing in back to back games on the road.