Celtics (28-4) at Blazers (19-12) 12/30

[FLCeltsFan]

  at   

Boston Celtics (28-4)  at Portland Trailblazers (19-12)
Tuesday, December 30
10:00 PM ET
Regular Season Game #33 – Road Game #15
TV:  CSN HD, KGW, NBALP 757
Radio:  WEEI 
Rose Garden
Unlike most other teams in the NBA, the naming rights to the Trailblazers new home was not sold. The team decided to name the arena after Portland as it is known as the Rose City and used the word, garden, because the word was often used as part of old arenas’ names.



Coach: Doc Rivers
Average Age: 26.6
Average Height: 6-6
Average Weight: 222

Probable Starters

PG: Rajon Rondo   PPG 11.3 RPG 5.00 APG 7.5 EFF + 19.04
SG: Ray Allen   PPG 18.8 RPG 3.50 APG 2.6 EFF + 17.14
SF: Paul Pierce   PPG 18.5 RPG 5.80 APG 3.8 EFF + 17.79
PF: Kevin Garnett   PPG 16.3 RPG 9.10 APG 2.8 EFF + 22.19
C: Kendrick Perkins   PPG 9.1 RPG 8.50 APG 1.3 EFF + 14.79


Reserves
Tony Allen
Glen Davis
Eddie House
Leon Powe
Gabe Pruitt
Brian Scalabrine
Patrick O'Bryant
Sam Cassell 
 
Injuries:
None 

D-League
Gabe Pruitt
Bill Walker   




Coach: Nate McMillan
Average Age: 24.0
Average Height: 6-8
Average Weight: 222

Probable Starters
       
PG:  Steve Blake    PPG 11.4 RPG 2.40 APG 4.5 EFF + 12.42
SG:   Brandon Roy   PPG 23.0 RPG 4.50 APG 5.3 EFF + 22.10
SF:    Nicolas Batum    PPG 4.7 RPG 2.50 APG 0.9 EFF + 5.90
PF:   LaMarcus Aldridge  PPG 17.0 RPG 6.70 APG 1.5 EFF + 17.42
C:  Greg Oden    PPG 7.9 RPG 7.30 APG 0.6 EFF + 12.24

Reserves
Sergio Rodriguez
Channing Frye
Travis Outlaw
Rudy Fernandez
Joel Przybilla
Jerryd Bayless
Ike Diogu
Raef LaFrentz
Shavlik Randolph
Martel Webster

Injuries
Raef LaFrentz (shoulder) out
Martel Webster (foot) out
Greg Oden (ankle) game time decision
Brandon Roy (hamstring) game time decision

Key Matchups
  vs 
Kendrick Perkins vs Greg Oden
The first meeting between the Celtics' center and the player they hoped to win in the lottery was won by Kendrick Perkins.  Perk finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds while holding Oden to 5 points and 6 rebounds before fouling out in 18 minutes.  Perk's defense inside will once again be key in this matchup.   

  vs 
Ray Allen vs Brandon Roy
Roy has been opening a lot of eyes this season with his play.  He is averaging 23 points per game, but in the last matchup between these two teams, was held to just 12 points. 

Honorable Mention:
Rajon Rondo vs Steve Blake
In their last meeting it was Rondo's aggressiveness that set the tone for the Celtics win.  Rondo finished with 16 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals while holding Blake to 2 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists.   Rondo will need to be aggressive on both ends of the court in this game as well.

Celtics Bench vs Blazers Bench
The Blazers have one of the best benches in the league.  Their bench has outscored their opponents 1108-846 and their average of 35.7 points per game is among the best in the league.  The Celtics' bench has struggled this season but will need to come through, especially on the defensive end for the Celtics to win this game. 

Game Notes: 
In the last meeting between these two teams, the Celtics snapped the Blazers 6 game win streak while the Celtics won their 11th in a row.  This time around, both teams have won one game and are hoping to stretch it to a 2 game win streak. 

The Celtics have swept the series between these two teams for the last 3 seasons in a row.   The Blazers are 11-3 at home and are playing very well there.  The Celtics are 11-3 on the road and are hoping not to slip back into the bad habits that caused them to drop 2 in a row on the road to begin this road trip.   

Team Connections
Raef LaFrentz played for the Celtics from 2002-2006
Ike Diogu and Eddie House both played for Arizona State
Raef LaFrentz and Paul Pierce played together on the Jayhawks
Joel Przybilla and Ray Allen were teammates in Milwaukee
Nate McMillan coached Ray Allen in Seattle from 2003-2005

to the Game
Limit Turnovers- The Blazers rank among the league leaders  in assist to turnover ratio.  The Celtics are turning the ball over 16.46 times per game whereas the Blazers are averaging just 12.77 turnovers per game.  The Celtics have got to cut down on their turnovers, or it will cost them against teams like the Blazers who don't turn it over.

Crash the Boards
The Blazers lead the league in % of shots rebounded on the offensive end and their 36.6 rebounds allowed per game is tops in the league.  The Celtics need to limit the Blazers rebounds to prevent second and third chance points and they must also grab the rebounds on the offensive end to limit the Blazers fast break points. 

Defense
The Celtics found their defensive focus against the Kings and will need to keep it in this game.  The Blazers have players like Brandon Roy, Rudy Fernandez,  and Travis Outlaw that can put up points in a hurry on the perimeter and they also have players like Greg Oden and LaMarcus Aldridge who can score inside if the defense lags.  Defense is what got the Celtics to this point and they need to remember that. 

Focus
The Blazers are a good defensive team and in the past the Celtics have struggled to maintain their focus against teams that defend them well.  In their last game, the Blazers held the Raptors to just 10 third quarter points.  The Celtics can't coast and expect to turn it on at the end.   They must maintain their focus throughout the game.  They have to start strong and keep their focus throughout the game. 

X Factors
Youth vs Experience
The Blazers are one of the youngest teams in the league and the Celtics can exploit that with their experience. 

[ACF]

TP.

[celticinorlando]

boston globe reporting roy and oden game time decisions...roy has a hammy problem and oden a sprained ankle...

[dark_lord]

this should be a fun game.  lets hope we can beat the blazers down the way we did to the kings

[celticinorlando]

we just get a win in portland i will be very happy

[FLCeltsFan]

boston globe reporting roy and oden game time decisions...roy has a hammy problem and oden a sprained ankle...

TP for the info.  I didn't see that when I set up the thread.  It wasn't in their game notes. 

[celticinorlando]

they added it late this afternoon on the globes blog...i think they will play in the end...but they might be limited in what they can do...thanks for the TP

[silvershamrocker]

Let's go 2-2 on this roadtrip.

[celticinorlando]

globe just updated that Roy didn't participate in the shoot around today while oden did. i personally would rather see oden play and roy sit.

[RebusRankin]

globe just updated that Roy didn't participate in the shoot around today while oden did. i personally would rather see oden play and roy sit.

I'd like to see Roy get 50 and the Celtics win. Roy is on my fantasy team.

[celticinorlando]

globe just updated that Roy didn't participate in the shoot around today while oden did. i personally would rather see oden play and roy sit.

I'd like to see Roy get 50 and the Celtics win. Roy is on my fantasy team.

he is a stud...and really the only guy on portland that scares me

[Donoghus]

Great sports night here in the Hub.  Bruins/Penguins on right now and Celtics/Blazers in the nightcap.

Looking forward to the Celts game although it'll be disappointing if Roy can't go tonight.  Definitely enjoy watching him play.

[steved24]

I would like to see Blazers at full strength with both Roy and Oden when we play them. Only another measuring stick for both teams.

[ManUp]

TP FL

IT'S GAME TIME!!!!!

...finally

[xmuscularghandix]

TP FL

IT'S GAME TIME!!!!!

...finally

understatement, i can't stand these late games. although i got to watch the bruins. so i guess its not that bad.