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Celtics (19-2) at Pacers (7-12) 12/7
« on: December 06, 2008, 07:12:54 PM »

Offline FLCeltsFan

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Boston Celtics (19-2) at Indiana Pacers (7-12) 
Sunday, December 7
6:00 PM
Game #22, Road Game #9
TV:  FSI, CSN HD,  NBA LP 752
Conseco Fieldhouse



ProbableStarting Matchups
PointGuard
  vs 
Rajon Rondo    PPG 10.4 RPG 4.80 APG 7.7 EFF + 18.19
TJ Ford   PPG 14.6 RPG 4.60 APG 5.4 EFF + 16.05

Shooting Guard
  vs 
Ray Allen     PPG 18.4 RPG 3.70 APG 2.7 EFF + 16.90
Marquis Daniels    PPG 15.4 RPG 5.70 APG 2.1 EFF + 14.00

Small Forward
  vs 
Paul Pierce    PPG 18.3 RPG 6.20 APG 3.3 EFF + 17.14     
Danny Granger    PPG 23.3 RPG 4.90 APG 2.8 EFF + 19.78

Power Forward
  vs 
Kevin Garnett   PPG 16.4 RPG 8.90 APG 2.3 EFF + 20.85
Troy Murphy   PPG 11.2 RPG 10.90 APG 2.4 EFF + 17.89

Center
  vs 
Kendrick Perkins    PPG 7.8 RPG 8.10 APG 1.3 EFF + 13.57
Rasho Nesterovic    PPG 9.5 RPG 5.50 APG 3.1 EFF + 13.53




Off the Bench
Tony Allen
Glen Davis
Eddie House
Leon Powe
Gabe Pruitt
Brian Scalabrine
Patrick O'Bryant
Sam Cassell

Injuries:
Tony Allen (ankle)  day to day

D-League
JR Giddens
Bill Walker


Off the Bench
Jarrett Jack
Brandon Rush
Jeff Foster
Roy Hibbert
Maceo Baston
Stephen Graham
Josh McRoberts
Jamaal Tinsley

Injuries
Travis Diener (foot)  day to day
Mike Dunleavy (knee)  out

In the Dog House
Jamaal Tinsley

Matchups to Watch
  vs 
Paul Pierce  PPG 18.3 RPG 6.20 APG 3.3 EFF + 17.14
Danny Granger  PPG 23.3 RPG 4.90 APG 2.8 EFF + 19.78
This is a great matchup of two exciting wing players.  Granger I am sure remembers losing his teeth in their first matchup.  Pierce hasn't been putting up big numbers in their last few games but you have to think that if he is needed, his numbers will be there.  His defense on Granger may be more important than the offensive numbers he puts up. 

  vs 
Rajon Rondo    PPG 10.4 RPG 4.80 APG 7.7 EFF + 18.19
TJ Ford   PPG 14.6 RPG 4.60 APG 5.4 EFF + 16.05
TJ Ford is one of the very few point guards who may be even faster than Rajon Rondo.  They have played each other fairly even in the past with Rondo coming out ahead in some games and TJ coming out ahead in some games.  In their first matchup,  was  TJ's turn to lead as he finished with 19 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals to just 2 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists for Rondo.   In the last matchup, Rondo notched his first triple double and definitely got the best of this matchup up.  With the way Rondo has been playing, you have to think that he has a good chance of coming out on top again.   This is a fun matchup to watch.   

Honorable Mention:
Kevin Garnett   PPG 16.4 RPG 8.90 APG 2.3 EFF + 20.85
Troy Murphy   PPG 11.2 RPG 10.90 APG 2.4 EFF + 17.89
Murphy is averaging a double double and had 10 points and 10 rebounds in the Celtics last game against the Pacers.  It will be especially important to keep him off the boards.  After KG's outburst in the huddle in the Blazers game, I expect him to be pretty intense in this one. 

Game Notes
The series is tied 1-1 between these two teams with each team winning on their home court.   The Celtics lead the series 75-69 overall. 

The Pacers are among the league leaders in steals.  The Celtics have to take good care of the ball or the Pacers will make them pay. 

It will be interesting to see how Big Baby responds to KG's chastisement and his outburst from the last game.  How he responds in this game will say a lot about his character. 


Team Connections
Danny Granger and JR Giddens are both former New Mexico Lobos
Rasho Nesterovic and Kevin Garnett were teammates in Minnesota from 1998-2003
Jim O'Brien coached the Celtics from 2001-2004
Pacers assistant coaches Dick Harter, Lester Conner, and Frank Nogel were assistant coaches under O'Brien in Boston
Pacers President of Basketball Operations, Larry Bird, won 3 championships with the Celtics and his #33 was retired on 2/4/93.

X-Factor
Home Team vs Road Team.
Both teams had the night before this game off.  In both previous games one or the other was on the second of back to back games.  The key will be the Celtics play on the road.  Have they gotten past their struggles on the road from the playoffs?  It was in Indiana where they were blown out in Indiana's home opener.  The Pacers are 5-4 at home and the Celtics are 7-1 on the road with the single loss being in Indiana. 

Re: Celtics (19-2) at Pacers (7-12) 12/7
« Reply #1 on: December 06, 2008, 08:33:08 PM »

Offline housecall

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FLCeltsFan here is the first tp for your great work you do each game. :)

Re: Celtics (19-2) at Pacers (7-12) 12/7
« Reply #2 on: December 06, 2008, 09:33:23 PM »

Offline FLCeltsFan

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Thanks housecall!  I appreciate the kind words and the TP. 

Re: Celtics (19-2) at Pacers (7-12) 12/7
« Reply #3 on: December 06, 2008, 09:35:49 PM »

Offline housecall

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Thanks housecall!  I appreciate the kind words and the TP. 
you are very welcome.Your work is probably not easy,keep up the great work.

Re: Celtics (19-2) at Pacers (7-12) 12/7
« Reply #4 on: December 06, 2008, 10:26:55 PM »

Offline ManUp

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I say Rondo goes for the Quadruple double here  :D!

Celtics by a lot.


TP to the MVP FLC :D

Re: Celtics (19-2) at Pacers (7-12) 12/7
« Reply #5 on: December 07, 2008, 06:25:19 AM »

Offline ACF

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Tommy Point for FL!

Re: Celtics (19-2) at Pacers (7-12) 12/7
« Reply #6 on: December 07, 2008, 09:38:59 AM »

Offline HoustonRondos

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i always liked the pacers under jim obrien, they have a fairly young and energetic team.  We saw what happens when we sleep on this team.

i expect to be 20-2 by the end of the day.

good presentation for the game thread. this was my first time reading one and i will read every single game thread from here on out.

Re: Celtics (19-2) at Pacers (7-12) 12/7
« Reply #7 on: December 07, 2008, 12:45:49 PM »

Offline houlana

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TP FL, really appreciate the time u put preparing the game threads.

interesting game, hope the bench steps up today, been really poor in the last few.
does anybody know if TA will be available today?

Re: Celtics (19-2) at Pacers (7-12) 12/7
« Reply #8 on: December 07, 2008, 12:53:24 PM »

Offline guava_wrench

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I am bothered by this and the next game against Washington. These games will lower our SOS, causing us to fall further in our Hollinger ranking score. We need to win these games by 30+ points each.

At least the games are on the road.

Re: Celtics (19-2) at Pacers (7-12) 12/7
« Reply #9 on: December 07, 2008, 02:04:25 PM »

Offline BudweiserCeltic

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I am bothered by this and the next game against Washington. These games will lower our SOS, causing us to fall further in our Hollinger ranking score. We need to win these games by 30+ points each.

At least the games are on the road.


It's not like the next two games for the Lakers and Cavs are any tough.
« Last Edit: December 07, 2008, 02:15:35 PM by BudweiserCeltic »

Re: Celtics (19-2) at Pacers (7-12) 12/7
« Reply #10 on: December 07, 2008, 02:09:44 PM »

Offline celticmaestro

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I am bothered by this and the next game against Washington. These games will lower our SOS, causing us to fall further in our Hollinger ranking score. We need to win these games by 30+ points each.

At least the games are on the road.


Hollinger's ranking? Who gives a crud about John Hollinger and his stupid ranking? Seriously, he had the Jazz sweeping through the West last year and the Cavs winning 73 games this year...

TP to FL, great preview as always.

Re: Celtics (19-2) at Pacers (7-12) 12/7
« Reply #11 on: December 07, 2008, 03:06:39 PM »

Offline RebusRankin

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We've beaten Cleveland, Portland and Orlando (all teams in the top 5 record wise). Who cares what Hollinger thinks?

Re: Celtics (19-2) at Pacers (7-12) 12/7
« Reply #12 on: December 07, 2008, 03:21:31 PM »

Offline housecall

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We've beaten Cleveland, Portland and Orlando (all teams in the top 5 record wise). Who cares what Hollinger thinks?
I second that emotion ;D

Re: Celtics (19-2) at Pacers (7-12) 12/7
« Reply #13 on: December 07, 2008, 03:25:57 PM »

Offline housecall

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I am bothered by this and the next game against Washington. These games will lower our SOS, causing us to fall further in our Hollinger ranking score. We need to win these games by 30+ points each.

At least the games are on the road.

I worry more about stopping A.Jaminson and C.Butler...last season we did not do a very good job of stopping Jaminson.He seemed to score at will,even though he was primarily KG's responsibility,i know this season they will pay more attention to detail.

Re: Celtics (19-2) at Pacers (7-12) 12/7
« Reply #14 on: December 07, 2008, 05:32:06 PM »

Offline xmuscularghandix

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what the hell is donny wearing?!?!?