Sixers (11-16) at Celtics (22-4) 12/22

[Q_FBE]

The first time we played the Sixers this year they played way over their heads, they were hitting shots that normally would be air-balls, and we didnt have Shaq.

Sixers just got blown out by the Noah-less Bulls by 40+.

40+!

There is no excuse for us to lose this game. I expect a 20+ point blowout. Maybe more.

There is only one flaw in your logic. This is the NBA. Where Milwaukee just blew out the Lakers in Los Angelos. I agree that there is no excuse for us to lose the game but we are thin due to injuries and the CHristmas silly season is here. I don't think this game tomorrow night will be a blowout, but I am expecting the C's to get another workmanlike win.

[Fafnir]

The first time we played the Sixers this year they played way over their heads, they were hitting shots that normally would be air-balls, and we didnt have Shaq.

Sixers just got blown out by the Noah-less Bulls by 40+.

40+!

There is no excuse for us to lose this game. I expect a 20+ point blowout. Maybe more.

The biggest reason that game was close was that Philly got 35% of available offensive rebounds. With Shaq playing 20 minutes they won't get those extra shots.

[Greenbean]

Phlly is playing GREAT not god....great basketball right now.

Looking for a good hotly contested game.

TP for the OP for the amazing preview as always.

HAHAHAHHAHAHAHA!

Boy do I feel like a horse's arse.

[hwangjini_1]

once again, thanks for the game thread. i loved the christmas decorations at the top. 

ho, ho, ho and a tp for you!

go celtics!

[Eddie20]

Any word on JO? Last I heard was he "might" go tonight, but haven't heard any updates.

[Drucci]

Should be easier than the first time we met them (no back to back, at home, with Shaq but no Rondo).

I hope JO plays tonight, it would be great to see him back on the court and getting some kind of conditioning (albeit little) before the Orlando game.

TP FL and go Celtics!

[2short]

There is a reason to worry about the game tomorrow. Philly checked out early in Chicago losing 121-76 tonight. They will come in loaded for bear tomorrow night.

I don't like facing teams after they get crushed because professional pride takes over and teams want to eradicate their memories of bad performances.

To wit:

In 1982 - Boston beat Philadelphia 121-80 in Game 1 of the ECF.
In Game 2 Philly stole the HCA and ultimately the series in seven games.

In 1984 - Boston got waxed in LA 137-103 in Game 3. In Game 4 Boston came back, tied the series and got back HCA which they held in 5 and 7 and got their 15th Championship.

In 1985 of the finals - the reversal happened - Boston wins big in Game One and the Lakers came back to take Game Two and the series.

The NBA is competitive this year with 22 teams competing for 16 spots and everyone making one last shot at glory before a possible (and the pessimists say likely) lockout of 2011 and 2012.

And this is the NBA where surprises are happening right and left this year. Milwaukee is crushing the Lakers in Los Angelos tonight for example.

Bottom line: Do not take this upcoming tomorrow night for granted.

Hey this is a great job if you are trying to keep the celtics interested.  BUT kg should shut down brand and philly loose big time.  This is not last years celtics and philly doesn't have (to semi quote rick pitino    )
andrew toney, julius erving, bobby jones, moses malone, steve mix, lionel hollins, maurice cheeks and billy cunningham aren't coming through that door
that could be a few different groups mixed together but that is off the top of my head
philly had quite a squad back then
caldwell jones    memories.....

[Jon]

Any word on JO yet?  I really don't see why you don't play him unless the C's somehow think that he's going to hurt himself.  That, however, doesn't seem to jive with what they've been saying about his condition. 

Even if he can't play a long time, even 10-15 minutes of JO would be a help in terms of not overplaying KG, Shaq, and BBD and keeping Erden on the bench. 

[Drucci]

Any word on JO yet?  I really don't see why you don't play him unless the C's somehow think that he's going to hurt himself.  That, however, doesn't seem to jive with what they've been saying about his condition. 

Even if he can't play a long time, even 10-15 minutes of JO would be a help in terms of not overplaying KG, Shaq, and BBD and keeping Erden on the bench. 

JO won't play because he is... sick. Yeah, you read that right. After finally getting healthy (or healthy in JO terms) he got sick between last practice (Sunday if I'm correct) and today... incredible.

[CelticSooner]

I'm starting to really despise JO. I wasn't very keen on bringing him to Boston in the first place but the options were limited.

[makaveli]

LETS GO CELTICS LETS GO!!

[Megatron]

Sixers playing like a championship contender.

I guess thats the downside of being the best team in the league, and on a win streak, even the worst teams in the league play like their life depends on it.

This sixer team is the same team that lost by 40 last night to the noah-less bulls.

[Adelaide Celt]

Shaq with some nice early baskets again. Seem to be missing Rondo's play making..

[Neurotic Guy]

Magnificent Ray Allen.

[Adelaide Celt]

Good 10-0 run to close the first quarter