Author Topic: Sixers (11-16) at Celtics (22-4) 12/22  (Read 40580 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Sixers (11-16) at Celtics (22-4) 12/22
« on: December 20, 2010, 10:49:35 PM »

Offline FLCeltsFan

  • Kendrick Perkins #1 Fan
  • Author
  • Rajon Rondo
  • *****
  • Posts: 5280
  • Tommy Points: 11832
  • Marcus Smart Fan!
 at  
Philadelphia 76ers (11-16) at Boston Celtics (22-4)
Wednesday, December 22
7:30 PM ET
Regular Season Game #27 – Home Game #14
TV:  CSN-NE,  CSN-P, NBA-LP 754
Radio:  WEEI, WIP
TD Garden




Probable Starters

PG: Nate Robinson..................................................SG Ray Allen

C:  Shaquille O'Neal

SF:  Paul Pierce ................................. ............PF Kevin Garnett

Boston Bench Mob
Marquis Daniels
Glen Davis
Luke Harangody
Von Wafer
Semih Erden
Avery Bradley

Injured
Kendrick Perkins (knee) out
Jermaine O'Neal (knee) day to day
Delonte West (wrist) out
Rajon Rondo (hamstring, plantar fasciitis) out
Semih Erden (groin, shoulder) probable




Probable Starters

PG: Jrue Holiday ......................................................SF:  Jodie Meeks

C:  Spencer Hawes

SF:  Andre Iguodala .................................................. PF:  Elton Brand

Sixers Bench
Thaddeus Young
Andres Nocioni
Lou Williams
Marreese Speights
Tony Battie
Jason Kapono
Craig Brackins
Darius Songaila  

Injuries
None

Key Matchups  
 vs  
Paul Pierce vs Andre Iguodala

 vs  
Kevin Garnett vs Elton Brand  

Game Notes
The Celtics come into this game riding a 13 game win streak in spite of battling various injuries throughout.  They are getting healthier though, with the return of Shaq in the last game and the imminent return of Jermaine very soon.   The Celtics must resist the temptation to let up as they get healthy and as players return.  They have to still have that play all out attitude that has gotten them through the win streak so far.  

The Celtics said at the beginning of the season that they wanted to establish a home court dominance this season and they have done just that this season with a 12-1 home record thus far.  The Sixers have not been a great road team with just a 3-10 record away from home.  The Sixers are 7-3 in their last ten games and are coming off a win over Orlando.  

The Celtics are well rested having last played on Sunday while the Sixers are playing in the second of back to back games on the road, having played on Tuesday night in Chicago.     The Sixers are at full strength while the Celtics are still nursing several injuries including Rondo still nursing his sprained ankle.  

In the first meeting between these two teams, the Celtics needed an alley oop from Rondo to KG at the buzzer to pull out a 102-101 victory.  Hopefully they will get to have some Gino time in this one.  

Keys to the Game
Defense - The Celtics allowed the Sixers to score 101 points in their first meeting.  The Celtics also allowed 40 points and 47% shooting from beyond the arc.  The Celtics must concentrate on defense and keep the Sixers out of the paint as well as doing a better job of guarding them on the perimeter.  
  
Rebound - In their first meeting, the Sixers out-rebounded the Celtics 39-33 and that allowed the Sixers to make the game much closer than it should have.  The Celtics must put out a better effort on the boards and that effort will translate into other areas as well.  

Focus
- The Celtics must come into the game focused and not let up until the final buzzer.  They can't let the Sixers record affect their effort or their focus.   They need to have that killer instinct no matter what team they are playing.  

X-Factor
Trap Game
The Celtics can't underestimate the Sixers.  They have been playing fairly well recently and they will be looking to avenge the heartbreaking loss they suffered the first time they met.  
« Last Edit: December 21, 2010, 07:05:26 AM by FLCeltsFan »

Re: Sixers (11-16) at Celtics (22-4) 12/22
« Reply #1 on: December 20, 2010, 11:04:54 PM »

Offline CelticG1

  • Antoine Walker
  • ****
  • Posts: 4201
  • Tommy Points: 288
TP.

Let's hope for a non heart attack game on this one

Re: Sixers (11-16) at Celtics (22-4) 12/22
« Reply #2 on: December 20, 2010, 11:37:56 PM »

Offline ACF

  • Danny Ainge
  • **********
  • Posts: 10756
  • Tommy Points: 1157
  • A Celtic Fan
TP. Go Celtics!

Re: Sixers (11-16) at Celtics (22-4) 12/22
« Reply #3 on: December 21, 2010, 12:28:34 AM »

Offline Greenbean

  • Ray Allen
  • ***
  • Posts: 3739
  • Tommy Points: 418
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.

Re: Sixers (11-16) at Celtics (22-4) 12/22
« Reply #4 on: December 21, 2010, 01:06:50 AM »

Offline blaq

  • Svi Mykhailiuk
  • Posts: 16
  • Tommy Points: 6
TP great preview.
Just thought you should know that you have Nate's picture as a starter but Rondo's name underneath it. No biggie though.

Re: Sixers (11-16) at Celtics (22-4) 12/22
« Reply #5 on: December 21, 2010, 04:11:16 AM »

Offline BigAlTheFuture

  • Paul Silas
  • ******
  • Posts: 6360
  • Tommy Points: 458
TP! Philly seems to be heating it up, lately. Potential first round match up for us. Very likeable team. Always play the C's tough whenever they go at it.
PHX Suns: Russell Westbrook, Chris Bosh, Tristan Thompson, Trevor Ariza, Tony Allen, Trey Lyles, Corey Brewer, Larry Nance Jr., Trey Burke, Troy Daniels, Joffrey Lauvergne, Justin Holiday, Mike Muscala, 14.6

Re: Sixers (11-16) at Celtics (22-4) 12/22
« Reply #6 on: December 21, 2010, 07:06:45 AM »

Offline FLCeltsFan

  • Kendrick Perkins #1 Fan
  • Author
  • Rajon Rondo
  • *****
  • Posts: 5280
  • Tommy Points: 11832
  • Marcus Smart Fan!
TP great preview.
Just thought you should know that you have Nate's picture as a starter but Rondo's name underneath it. No biggie though.
Thanks for catching that.  I guess it was either a Freudian slip or maybe wishful thinking or maybe just force of habit.  Fixed it now. 

Re: Sixers (11-16) at Celtics (22-4) 12/22
« Reply #7 on: December 21, 2010, 09:13:44 AM »

Offline Eddie20

  • Don Nelson
  • ********
  • Posts: 8497
  • Tommy Points: 975
Hoping to see JO in this one. Would like to have him get 1 game in before the Magic game.

Re: Sixers (11-16) at Celtics (22-4) 12/22
« Reply #8 on: December 21, 2010, 09:20:27 AM »

Offline celticinorlando

  • John Havlicek
  • ****************************
  • Posts: 28041
  • Tommy Points: 638
  • MASTER OF PANIC
i think boston really puts it to the sixers this time

Re: Sixers (11-16) at Celtics (22-4) 12/22
« Reply #9 on: December 21, 2010, 09:22:17 AM »

Offline Who

  • James Naismith
  • *********************************
  • Posts: 47136
  • Tommy Points: 2401
i think boston really puts it to the sixers this time
Yeah, Shaq is going to make a huge difference. Spencer Hawes is one of the worst defenders at the center position in the NBA and is particularly awful at defending the low post. Shaq is going to field day.

It'd be nice if Jermaine O'Neal was back in action too. A nice easy game to work his way back.

Re: Sixers (11-16) at Celtics (22-4) 12/22
« Reply #10 on: December 21, 2010, 09:37:51 AM »

Offline Rondo2287

  • K.C. Jones
  • *************
  • Posts: 13009
  • Tommy Points: 816
The improvement of Elton Brand does worry me a little bit.  He has really started to get it going again on both the offensive and defensive ends.  He was an elite defender while he was playing for the clippers so it should be fun watching him and KG go at it.
CB Draft LA Lakers: Lamarcus Aldridge, Carmelo Anthony,Jrue Holiday, Wes Matthews  6.11, 7.16, 8.14, 8.15, 9.16, 11.5, 11.16

Re: Sixers (11-16) at Celtics (22-4) 12/22
« Reply #11 on: December 21, 2010, 10:50:28 AM »

Offline Fafnir

  • Bill Russell
  • ******************************
  • Posts: 30859
  • Tommy Points: 1327
The improvement of Elton Brand does worry me a little bit.  He has really started to get it going again on both the offensive and defensive ends.  He was an elite defender while he was playing for the clippers so it should be fun watching him and KG go at it.
He's putting up numbers, but he's similar to Shaq now defensively. He's solid in the low post but too slow to contest or cut off penetration.

Re: Sixers (11-16) at Celtics (22-4) 12/22
« Reply #12 on: December 21, 2010, 11:04:11 AM »

Offline Rondo2287

  • K.C. Jones
  • *************
  • Posts: 13009
  • Tommy Points: 816
The improvement of Elton Brand does worry me a little bit.  He has really started to get it going again on both the offensive and defensive ends.  He was an elite defender while he was playing for the clippers so it should be fun watching him and KG go at it.
He's putting up numbers, but he's similar to Shaq now defensively. He's solid in the low post but too slow to contest or cut off penetration.

oh definitly.  Im not saying that he is elite now or anything, but he has been playing solid low post defense and his offensive game is definitely coming back.
CB Draft LA Lakers: Lamarcus Aldridge, Carmelo Anthony,Jrue Holiday, Wes Matthews  6.11, 7.16, 8.14, 8.15, 9.16, 11.5, 11.16

Re: Sixers (11-16) at Celtics (22-4) 12/22
« Reply #13 on: December 22, 2010, 12:54:03 AM »

Offline Q_FBE

  • Bailey Howell
  • **
  • Posts: 2317
  • Tommy Points: 243
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.
The beatings will continue until morale improves

Re: Sixers (11-16) at Celtics (22-4) 12/22
« Reply #14 on: December 22, 2010, 01:21:40 AM »

Offline Megatron

  • Don Chaney
  • *
  • Posts: 1586
  • Tommy Points: 136
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.