Bucks (45-36) at Celtics (50-31) 4/14

[FLCeltsFan]

at
Milwaukee Bucks (45-36) at  Boston Celtics (50-31)
Wednesday, April 14
8:00 PM ET
Game #82, Home Game #41
TV:  CSN-NE, FSN-WI, NBA-LP 753, 754
TD Garden



Coach: Doc Rivers
Average Age: 29.0
Average Height: 6-6
Average Weight: 228

Probable Starters

PG:  Rajon Rondo  PPG 13.7  APG 9.8 SPG 2.4
SG:  Ray Allen   PPG 16.2 APG 2.7  3P% .352
SF:  Paul Pierce   PPG 18.2  RPG 4.3  APG 3.1
PF:  Kevin Garnett   PPG 14.4  RPG 7.4  BPG .9
C:    Kendrick Perkins  PPG 10.4 RPG 7.6 BPG  1.7

Reserves
Rasheed Wallace
Shelden Williams
Nate Robinson
Michael Finley
Brian Scalabrine
Tony Allen
Marquis Daniels
Glen Davis

Injuries
None


Coach: Scott Skiles
Average Age: 28.4
Average Height: 6-6
Average Weight: 220

Probable Starters

PG:  Brandon Jennings    PPG 15.4  APG 5.8 SPG 1.2  
SG: John Salmons    PPG 15.3  APG 2.8  3P%..386
SF:   Carlos Delfino    PPG 10.9  RPG 5.3  APG 2.6
PF:   Luc Richard Mbah a Moute   PPG 6.2  RPG 5.5  APG 1.1
C:    Kurt Thomas    PPG 2.9  RPG 3.9   BPG 0.7

Reserves
Luke Ridnour
Dan Gadzuric
Jerry Stackhouse
Ersan Ilyasova
Charlie Bell
Royal Ivey
Primoz Brezec
Darnell Jackson

Injuries
Michael Redd   (ACL) out
Andrew Bogut (hand, elbow, wrist)  out


Team Connections
Assistant Coach Joe Wolf played for the Celtics during the 1992-93 season
Bucks assistant coach Adrian Griffin played for the Celtics from 1999-2001
Ray Allen played for the Bucks from 1996-2002
Bucks Trainer Marc Boff worked for the Celtics for eight seasons as an
assistant trainer and physical therapist
Armond Hill played for the Bucks during the 1982-83 season
Brandon Jennings and Rajon Rondo both attended Oak Hill Academy
Luke Ridnour and Ray Allen were teammates in Seattle from 2003-07
Carlos Delfino and Rasheed Wallace were teammates in Detroit from 2004-07
Primoz Brezec and Rasheed Wallace were teammates during the 2007-08 season
Royal Ivey and Shelden Williams were teammates in Atlanta during the 2006-07 season
John Salmons was teammates with Shelden Williams in Sacramento during the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons…Jerry Stackhouse and Marquis Daniels were teammates in Dallas from 2004-06
Michael Finley and Jerry Stackhouse were teammates in Dallas during the 2004-05 season
Kurt Thomas and Michael Finley were teammates in San Antonio in the 2008-09 season and in Dallas from 1996-98
Michael Finley and Bucks assistant coach Adrian Griffin were teammates in Dallas during the 2002-03 season

Key Matchups
 vs  
Rajon Rondo vs Brandon Jennings

 vs  
Ray Allen vs John Salmons

Honorable Mention
Kendrick Perkins vs Kurt Thomas

Game Notes
 The Celtics are currently leading the season series 2-1; Celtics won the season series 2-1 against Milwaukee in 2008-09
 Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 20.3 points per game last season against Milwaukee
 Andrew Bogut averaged 15.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in two games against the Celtics last year
 The Celtics are 11-8 against Milwaukee since the start of the 2004-05 season
 The Celtics and Bucks are tied in the all-time season series 90-90 with the Celtics 58-32 at home

The Celtics are locked into the 4th spot and will probably face the Heat.  There is no need to play Pierce, KG or Ray big minutes in this game.  Doc said after the Bulls game that he will probably sit a few players in this game.  But then again, Doc may start them and play them not many minutes just to keep their rhythm.  It's hard to tell what he will do.

The Bucks still have something to play for in this one as they are still battling with the Heat for the 5/6 spot.  Miami is up one game on the Bucks right now but a Miami loss and a Bucks win would give the Bucks the higher seed.  So, the Bucks will be playing hard for the win and hoping for a Miami loss at the same time.  

Since there has been bad blood between these two games, this one could get physical and it would be wise for Doc to keep his stars out of the game.  It might be smart to keep Perk out of the game also because 1 more technical and he could be suspended for the first game of the playoffs.   I'm going with the regular starters for the game thread, but that could be completely wrong by game time.

Keys to the Game
 NO INJURIES!!  

[Drucci]

Keys to the Game
 NO INJURIES!!  

There, you said it all. Frankly, I don't care about this game, all I want to see is our starters sitting on the bench and resting. It would be stupid from Doc to play them in a meaningless game and risk to injure them. Plus, a loss would only improve our positioning in the draft so it's really all good.

Here is the usual "FL TP"! Thanks for all the work you did all year with your game threads FL, I think we kind of take it for granted but it's amazing to have made a preview for all 82 games! Great job, thanks again. Let's hope you will make 16 more of them in the playoffs.

[celticinorlando]

SIT THEM ALL

[jdpapa3]

Kind of weird to have all of these east coast games starting at 8 tonight. Wonder if they did this to stop teams from scoreboard watching and benching stars accordingly.

[barefacedmonk]

Here is the usual "FL TP"! Thanks for all the work you did all year with your game threads FL, I think we kind of take it for granted but it's amazing to have made a preview for all 82 games! Great job, thanks again. Let's hope you will make 16 more of them in the playoffs.

Co-sign....Well said, Drucci. Thanks, FL...and here is a TP for all the work you do.

[Ohio Celtics Fan]

Does anyone know if Tony is playing tonight?

[bello_man09]

i am ready for the playoffs already...

[Mad Hatter]

Does anyone know if Tony is playing tonight?

he's not. also no big 3 and no perk.

[RebusRankin]

Who are we playing with those 5 out? Are we playing fans tonight? If so I want Edgar is the papoug.

[barefacedmonk]

I'm excited about this game....want to see how our bench will respond to an increase in minutes...hopefully Nate, Quis, Finley and Shelden will step up and get us a win to end the season....LETS GO CELTICS!!

[Donoghus]

What a stellar five out there!

[barefacedmonk]

Thats BBD's sweet spot....those are the shots he needs to take...

[Mr October]

Wow, I just saw the starting lineup in the box score

the turnout of viewers/participants in this thread is probably going to be the lowest in a... well... maybe forever.

Lets see the new dudes play!

[barefacedmonk]

the turnout of viewers/participants in this thread is probably going to be the lowest in a... well... maybe forever.

LOL...yea, it going to be a slow night.

[Donoghus]

the turnout of viewers/participants in this thread is probably going to be the lowest in a... well... maybe forever.

LOL...yea, it going to be a slow night.

Yeah, I gotta admit my focus isn't really there tonight.