Celtics (45-12) at Nuggets (37-19) 2/23

[FLCeltsFan]

  at 
Boston Celtics (45-12) at Denver Nuggets (37-19)
Monday, February 23
9:00 PM ET
Game #58, Road Game #30
TV:  Altitude HD, CSN HD, NBA LP 753
Pepsi Center
The Can as it is known to Denver Nuggets fans, the Pepsi Center is the place to be during the winter months in the Mile High City. The Nuggets have been a part of the NBA since 1974 when they moved from the American Basketball Association. One year after becoming part of the NBA the Nuggets began playing at McNichols Sports Arena. The 17,000 seat arena was the home of the Nuggets and two NHL teams, the Colorado Rockies and later the Colorado Avalanche. Like every other team in the NBA and NHL, a new arena was needed for both teams in order to remain competitive in both leagues. Construction began in November 1997 and was named after Pepsi bought the naming rights for $68 million.
In 1999 the Nuggets played their first game at the Pepsi Center. The arena has a seating capacity of just over 19,000. It features 95 luxury suites, 1,800 club seats, the Lexus Club, the Blue Sky Grill featuring western crusine and The Denver Post Newsroom.



Coach: Doc Rivers
Average Age: 26.4
Average Height: 6-6
Average Weight: 223

Probable Starters

Rondo/R Allen/ Pierce/Scalabrine/ Perkins


Reserves
Glen Davis
JR Giddens
Eddie House
Leon Powe
Gabe Pruitt
Bill Walker
 
Injuries:
Tony Allen (thumb) out
Kevin Garnett (knee)  out




Coach: George Karl
Average Age: 26.6
Average Height: 6-7
Average Weight: 224

Probable Starters
     
Billups / Jones/ Anthony/ Martin/ Nene

Reserves
Anthony Carter
Renaldo Balkman
J R Smith
Cheikh Samb
Chucky Atkins
Kevin Martin
Sonny Weems
Chris Anderson
Stephen Hunter
Linas Kleiza

Injuries
Stephen Hunter (knee) out
Nene (knee)  questionable

Key Matchups
  vs 
Rajon Rondo vs Chauncey Billups 
Rondo is coming off the best game of his career with a career high 32 points on 13-18 shooting, 6 rebounds, 10 assists and 3 steals against the 2 time MVP Steve Nash.  The challenge for Rondo gets even bigger as he faces Chauncey Billups who is a tough matchup for him.  Hopefully we will see another game like he played against the Suns.  The Celtics will need it against a very tough Denver team. 

  vs 
Paul Pierce vs Carmelo Anthony
This should be a very good matchup as both players are tough and play hard.  Both are strong and can hit the outside shot as well as take it to the hoop.  Pierce played 44 minutes vs the Suns.  Anthony played 40 minutes in a tough loss to the Bucks. Both of these players may be tired and their teammates may have to pick up the slack. 

Honorable Mention
Kendrick Perkins vs Nene
Perk has to pick up the defensive slack with KG out.  He played only 18 minutes against the Sun with 5 points and 6 rebounds.  He should be ready to go in this one. 

Team Connections
Brian Scalabrine and Kevin Martin were teammates in New Jersey
Chucky Atkins played for the Celtics in 03-04
Stephen Hunter played for Doc in Orlando from 01-04
Anthony Carter and Eddie House were teammates in Miami
Anthony Carter and Kevin Garnett were teammates in Minnesota
Chauncey Billups was the first round pick (#3 overall) in the 1997 draft and he was a teammate of KG's in Minnesota.   

Game Notes: 
Both the Celtics and the Nuggets are playing in the second of back to back games and both had to travel overnight to get to this game.  The Nuggets finished up a road trip with a tough 3 point loss in Milwaukee while the Celtics had a fairly easy win in Phoenix, Although Doc played both Ray and Pierce right up to the end of the blow out loss with Pierce playing 44 minutes and Ray playing 40. 

Denver is in third place in the West just one game behind the Spurs.  The Nuggets are tough at home with a 20-6 record.  Denver currently leads the series 1-0 after winning 94-85 in Boston earlier this season.  They split the series 1-1 last season.   With the addition of Chauncey Billups this year, they are a very tough team. 

Keys to the Game
Defense
Focus
Move the ball
Rebound

X-Factor
Rajon Rondo
If Rondo plays in this game like he did vs the Suns then the Celtics have a very good chance at winning this game. 

[cordobes]

Nené left the game tonight injured on his knee, he had to hop off the court. Here's hoping he's okay but that he needs to rest tomorrow.

[Fafnir]

Nené left the game tonight injured on his knee, he had to hop off the court. Here's hoping he's okay but that he needs to rest tomorrow.

That is too bad. I'm rooting for the Nuggets to manage to stay healthy this year. I want to see how far they can get in the WC playoffs at full strength.

[FLCeltsFan]

Nené left the game tonight injured on his knee, he had to hop off the court. Here's hoping he's okay but that he needs to rest tomorrow.

Thanks for the update.  I added him to the injured list as questionable.      TP for the information. 

[ACF]

That's yet another TP for FL 
Slowly approaching the 1000 mark!

[celticinorlando]

boston globe has Nene out tonight...martin will play through back spasms

[fairweatherfan]

boston globe has Nene out tonight...martin will play through back spasms

Good - I never wish for injury, and I hope he's ok, but the game becomes a lot easier when their frontcourt depth is also weakened.

[celticinorlando]

i just hope rondo pushes the tempo tonight...and the nuggets are also coming off a back to back with the bucks so fatigue should be even

[PRIDE]

I hope to see Giddens and Walker tonight after Doc played Paul and Ray so many minutes yesterday.

I'm anxious to see what Mike and Tommy think about the Mikki Moore signing.

Denver is one of the top teams in the West now so this could real test for us. Billups vs Rondo should be huge as always. Lets see who steps up in KG's absence this time...

[PRIDE]

I heard on the radio that Nene isn't playing tonight. We should look to get Perk some touches down low. I don't think any Nuggets have the size to stop Perk in the post.

[Celtics1990]

We need to pay back this Nuggets team for beating us on our home court by beating them on theirs.

And I agree we need to get the ball to the low post. I think I heard Nene is out with a knee injury? I could be wrong though.

[RockinRyA]

once again tp for flceltsfan.. one thing though.. kevin martin is in sacramento not in denver 

[celticinorlando]

control billups and melo....win the game

[xmuscularghandix]

control billups and melo....win the game

Rondo has gotta blow by Mr. Big Shot, he's not gonna want to get in foul trouble. also with Nene out they'll be a nice driving lane... Bill Walker? Doc?

[celticinorlando]

okay here we go...lets get out and win please