Author Topic: Celtics (24-7) at Grizzlies (9-20) Game #32 12/16/17  (Read 21505 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Celtics (24-7) at Grizzlies (9-20) Game #32 12/16/17
« on: December 15, 2017, 09:51:06 PM »

Offline FLCeltsFan

  • Kendrick Perkins #1 Fan
  • Author
  • Rajon Rondo
  • *****
  • Posts: 5280
  • Tommy Points: 11831
  • Marcus Smart Fan!
at
Boston Celtics (24-7) at Grizzlies (9-20)
Saturday, December 16, 2017
9:00 PM ET
Regular Season Game #32, Road Game #16
TV: NBCSB, FSSE-MEM, NBA-LP 762 (DTV),759 (Xfinity)
Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub,WMFS
Fed Ex Forum



Probable Starting Matchups
Point Guard
vs
Kyrie Irving vs Andrew Harrison

Shooting Guard

vs
Jaylen Brown vs Dillon Brooks

Small Forward
vs  
Jayson Tatum vs Tyreke Evans

Power Forward
  vs 
Al Horford vs JaMychal Green 

Center
vs
Aron Baynes vs Marc Gasol

Reserves
Shane Larkin
Abdel Nader
Semi Ojeleye
Daniel Theis
Guerschon Yabusele
Terry Rozier
Marcus Smart

Injuries

Marcus Morris  (knee)  questionable
Gordon Hayward (ankle)  out
Daniel Theis (broken nose)  out
Two Way Players
Kadeem Allen
Jabari Bird

Head Coach
Brad Stevens



Reserves
Mario Chalmers
Deyonta Davis
James Ennis III
Jarell Martin
Ben McLemore
Ivan Rabb

Injuries

Mike Conley (Achilles)  out
Wayne Selden Jr (quad) out
Brandon Wright (groin)  out
Chandler Parsons (rest)  out
Tyreke Evans (hip) game time decision

Two Way Players
Vince Hunter
Kobi Simmons

Head Coach
J.B. Bickerstaff

Game Notes
The Celtics head out on the road after 2 home games to face the Memphis Grizzlies in the first of two games this season.   They will meet again on February 26 in Boston.  The Celtics won both games between these two teams last season. 

Both teams are playing on the second night of back to back games.  The Grizzlies faced the Hawks at home while the Celtics faced the Jazz at home.  Memphis will have an advantage in that the Celtics had to travel after their game but the Grizzlies remain at home. 

The Celtics are 11-4 on the road while the Grizzlies are 6-11 at home.  The Grizzlies have lost 15 of their last 16 games and are 1-9 in their last 10 games.  The Celtics are 9-2 vs the West while the Grizzlies are 1-10 against Eastern Conference teams.  The Celtics are coming off a loss to the Jazz while the Grizzlies are coming off a win over the Hawks. 

Marcus Morris (knee) and Gordon Hayward (ankle) are out for the Celtics.  Daniel Theis left the game on Friday with a broken nose after getting hit in the face.  He did not return and he didn't make the trip to Memphis with the team so is likely out for this game.  Mike Conley (Achilles), Wayne Selden (quad) nd Brandan Wright (groin) are out for the Grizzlies. 

Key Matchups
vs
Aron Baynes vs Marc Gasol
Gasol is averaging 18.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 4.0 assists. With Conley out, Gasol is the Grizzlies' best player.  He is tough to cover and Baynes will need to stay with him to keep him from having a big game. 

vs
Jayson Tatum vs Tyreke Evans
Evans is usually the Grizzlies' 6th man but with Chandler out for rest, Evans may move into the starting lineup, if he is playing, that is. He is a game time decision with a hip injury.   He is averaging 18.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game.  Evans is playing better than anyone not named Gasol. 

Honorable Mention
Al Horford vs JaMychal Green
Green is averaging 10.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists.   Al needs to be aggressive on both ends of the court to make Green work on defense and then to have to work for everything he gets on the offensive end. 

Keys to the Game
Defense - Defense is always key to getting a win.   The Celtics has been letting their defense slip somewhat recently and they need to get back to the tough team defense they played to start the season.  The Celtics must make defense a priority. 

Play 48 Minutes -  The Celtics can't just run half the game.  They have to run for the entire game.  They also can't let up down the stretch and have to focus especially at the end of the game.  The Celtics have had a tendency to get a lead and then let up or to start off slowly and dig a hole they  have to climb out of.  The Celtics have to play hard from the opening tip to the final buzzer. 

Rebound -  Rebounding takes effort and desire and the Celtics will need both to get back to outrebounding their opponents.  The Celtics  were out rebounded 48-30 against the Nuggets
and 55-31 against the Jazz.  Those numbers indicate that the Celtics are getting outworked.  The Celtics have to put more effort into crashing the boards because they can't score if they don't have the ball. 

Be Aggressive - The Celtics need to play hard and be the more aggressive team.  They have to go after rebounds, loose balls,  and 50/50 balls.  They have to be aggressive on defense and in getting to the basket.  They have to be the team that works harder and wants it more.    The Celtics must match the Grizzlies' effort and be the team that wants it more. 
 
Take Care of the Ball - The Celtics have to take care of the ball, make smart passes, and limit their turnovers.   The Grizzlies average 16.7 points off of turnovers  and the Celtics don't want to give them extra points by getting careless with the ball. 

X-Factors
On the Road and Fatigue

Both teams are playing on the second night of back to back games.  The Celtics are playing in the 3rd game in 4 nights and the 6th game in 9 nights.  The Celtics looked tired against the Jazz with many of their shots short and they just didn't play hard, allowing the shorthanded Jazz to outwork them for the most part.  They have to dig deep and play with energy and they have to block out the distractions of playing on the road and focus on getting a win in this game. 

Bench Play
- The Grizzlies bench has out-scored their opponents' benches 1107-807 this season.  Their bench is averaging 39.5 points per game, which is good for 7th in the league.  They have gotten 50+ points from their reserves 6 times this season.  The Celtics have a very young bench that often struggles on offense.  If the Celtics second unit can't keep up with the Grizzlies' second unit, then it might be a long night for them. 

Who Steps Up?
- With Marcus Morris and now Daniel Theis out, the bench is getting thinner.  But, the starters have to step up as well as the reserves.  Only two players, Kyrie and Al, were in double figures against the Jazz.  It's tough to win when only 2 players are scoring.  Who is going to step up? 
« Last Edit: December 28, 2018, 05:41:45 PM by FLCeltsFan »

Re: Celtics (24-7) at Grizzlies (8-20) Game #32 12/16/17
« Reply #1 on: December 15, 2017, 09:53:00 PM »

Offline rondofan1255

  • Antoine Walker
  • ****
  • Posts: 4383
  • Tommy Points: 527
Let's go Celtics!!!!  :D

Re: Celtics (24-7) at Grizzlies (8-20) Game #32 12/16/17
« Reply #2 on: December 15, 2017, 09:53:08 PM »

Online liam

  • NCE
  • James Naismith
  • *********************************
  • Posts: 43394
  • Tommy Points: 3150
Going to be rough!

Re: Celtics (24-7) at Grizzlies (8-20) Game #32 12/16/17
« Reply #3 on: December 15, 2017, 09:53:13 PM »

Offline FLCeltsFan

  • Kendrick Perkins #1 Fan
  • Author
  • Rajon Rondo
  • *****
  • Posts: 5280
  • Tommy Points: 11831
  • Marcus Smart Fan!
TP to rondofan1255 and liam for being the first to post in the game thread!

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Celtics!!!

Re: Celtics (24-7) at Grizzlies (8-20) Game #32 12/16/17
« Reply #4 on: December 15, 2017, 09:53:49 PM »

Online liam

  • NCE
  • James Naismith
  • *********************************
  • Posts: 43394
  • Tommy Points: 3150
TP rondofan1255!

Re: Celtics (24-7) at Grizzlies (8-20) Game #32 12/16/17
« Reply #5 on: December 15, 2017, 10:08:23 PM »

Offline LatterDayCelticsfan

  • Bailey Howell
  • **
  • Posts: 2195
  • Tommy Points: 171
  • Community Text
In Soviet Russia, Ball take care of you!


Let's win this one!
Banner 18 please 😍

Re: Celtics (24-7) at Grizzlies (8-20) Game #32 12/16/17
« Reply #6 on: December 15, 2017, 10:31:48 PM »

Offline trickybilly

  • Rajon Rondo
  • *****
  • Posts: 5593
  • Tommy Points: 617
In Soviet Russia, Ball take care of you!


Let's win this one!

Also, turnover mean gulag.
"Gimme the ball, gimme the ball". Freddy Quimby, 1994.

Re: Celtics (24-7) at Grizzlies (8-20) Game #32 12/16/17
« Reply #7 on: December 15, 2017, 10:33:49 PM »

Offline tarheelsxxiii

  • Don Nelson
  • ********
  • Posts: 8593
  • Tommy Points: 1389
frist afaik
The Tarstradamus Group, LLC

Re: Celtics (24-7) at Grizzlies (9-20) Game #32 12/16/17
« Reply #8 on: December 16, 2017, 03:30:55 AM »

Offline HICeltic

  • JD Davison
  • Posts: 4
  • Tommy Points: 1
I'll be at the game! With a few friends (making em wear Celtics gear) and one Grizzlies fan. Let's go C's!!!!

Re: Celtics (24-7) at Grizzlies (9-20) Game #32 12/16/17
« Reply #9 on: December 16, 2017, 04:12:36 AM »

Offline greece66

  • Tiny Archibald
  • *******
  • Posts: 7395
  • Tommy Points: 1342
  • Head Paperboy at Greenville
nr 9 baby!!!!!

Re: Celtics (24-7) at Grizzlies (9-20) Game #32 12/16/17
« Reply #10 on: December 16, 2017, 04:18:57 AM »

Offline nickagneta

  • James Naismith
  • *********************************
  • Posts: 48120
  • Tommy Points: 8794
  • President of Jaylen Brown Fan Club
I'll be at the game! With a few friends (making em wear Celtics gear) and one Grizzlies fan. Let's go C's!!!!
There are Grizzley fans in Boston?

Re: Celtics (24-7) at Grizzlies (9-20) Game #32 12/16/17
« Reply #11 on: December 16, 2017, 09:27:52 AM »

Offline hodgy03038

  • NCE
  • Ray Allen
  • ***
  • Posts: 3701
  • Tommy Points: 440
  • Marcus Smart #1 Fan
We really need this one after the dud last night. Hopefully we don't make a couple nobody's like Chandler Parsons or Harrison look like Hall of Famers. BTW Nick the game is in Memphis so I think there are a few Grizzly fans in Memphis.

Re: Celtics (24-7) at Grizzlies (9-20) Game #32 12/16/17
« Reply #12 on: December 16, 2017, 09:42:53 AM »

Offline hwangjini_1

  • Kevin Garnett
  • *****************
  • Posts: 17835
  • Tommy Points: 2661
  • bammokja
celtics haven't lost two in a row since the start of the season and that won't change with this game!!!!! celtics will pummel and pulverize these despicable and detestable grizzlies!!!!

thanks flc for the thread, a tp as ever for your labor of love.

goooooooooooooo celtics!!!!  ;D

p.s. frist page.
I believe Gandhi is the only person who knew about real democracy — not democracy as the right to go and buy what you want, but democracy as the responsibility to be accountable to everyone around you. Democracy begins with freedom from hunger, freedom from unemployment, freedom from fear, and freedom from hatred.
- Vandana Shiva

Re: Celtics (24-7) at Grizzlies (9-20) Game #32 12/16/17
« Reply #13 on: December 16, 2017, 10:45:44 AM »

Offline Surferdad

  • Cedric Maxwell
  • **************
  • Posts: 14456
  • Tommy Points: 972
  • "He fiddles...and diddles..."
thriteenth on the frist paige.

Re: Celtics (24-7) at Grizzlies (9-20) Game #32 12/16/17
« Reply #14 on: December 16, 2017, 06:15:39 PM »

Offline CelticsElite

  • NCE
  • Danny Ainge
  • **********
  • Posts: 10774
  • Tommy Points: 789
If we lose it will help the Lakers pick .  grizz are in need of wins bad

Win win situation tonight boys. This is one of those nights where you can Start lighting up the victory cigar  before the game