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Boston Celtics (15-2) at Charlotte Bobcats (5-10)Saturday, November 29
7:00 PM ET
Game #18, Away Game #8
TV: CSN HD, FS Carolinas, NBA LP 751
Radio: WEEI, WOLS
Time Warner Cable Arena Coach: Doc Rivers
Average Age: 26.7
Average Height: 6-6
Average Weight: 222Probable Starters PG: Rajon Rondo PPG 10.1 RPG 4.10 APG 6.5 EFF + 15.62
SG: Ray Allen 17.4 RPG 4.30 APG 2.9 EFF + 16.12
SF: Paul Pierce PPG 19.1 RPG 7.10 APG 3.7 EFF + 19.31
PF: Kevin Garnett PPG 16.5 RPG 9.00 APG 2.3 EFF + 20.20
C: Kendrick Perkins PPG 16.5 RPG 9.00 APG 2.3 EFF + 20.20
Reserves Tony Allen
Glen Davis
Eddie House
Leon Powe
Gabe Pruitt
Brian Scalabrine
Patrick O'Bryant
Sam Cassell
Injuries:Gabe Pruitt (flu)
Probable InactiveGabe Pruitt
D-LeagueJR Giddens
Bill Walker
Coach: Larry Brown
Average Age: 24.6
Average Height: 6-7
Average Weight: 224Probable Starters PG: Raymond Felton PPG 12.5 RPG 3.60 APG 5.1 EFF + 13.14
SG: Jason Richardson PPG 17.6 RPG 4.30 APG 2.9 EFF + 14.29
SF: Gerald Wallace PPG 15.9 RPG 8.00 APG 1.9 EFF + 18.29
PF: Sean May PPG 2.6 RPG 1.70 APG 0.3 EFF + 1.57
C: Emeka Okafor PPG 9.9 RPG 10.40 APG 0.4 EFF + 15.50
ReservesAdam Morrison
Alexis Ajinca
Ryan Hollins
Matt Carroll
Jared Dudley
Nazr Mohammed
Shannon Brown
Dwayne Jones
DJ Augustin
Injurednone
Key Matchups vs
Paul Pierce vs Gerald Wallace
Gerald Wallace is one of the Bobcats' best players and always has very good games against the Celtics. Pierce is coming off a 6 point, 2 rebound, and 2 assist game against the Sixers while Wallace had 16 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, and 5 steals in helping his team beat the Pacers in OT.
vs
Ray Allen vs Jason Richardson
Ray has been playing very well and will need to continue that against Jason Richardso as JRich always plays well against the Celtics. Ray scored 23 points in 30 minutes against the Sixers and JRich scored 21 points against the Pacers in 42 minutes.
Honorable Mention Rajon Rondo vs Raymond Felton
Rondo has been playing at an all star level and when he is aggressive, the Celtics are very hard to stop. But Felton is a very good point guard and can score in bunches and Rondo will need to play him tough on defense as well as being aggressive on offense.
Game Notes: The Bobcats are 4-6 in their last 10 games and are 4-6 at home. They are coming off a big overtime win in Indiana last night. Celtics won the series last season 3-1 but the Bobcats have always given the Celtics problems.
Team Connections:Nazr Mohammed, Derek Anderson and Rajon Rondo are all former KY Wildcats
Emeka Okafor and Ray Allen are former UConn Huskies
Eddie House was a member of the inaugural Bobcats team in 2004-05
Dwayne Jones played for the Celtics in 2005-06
Jason Richardson and Patrick O'Bryant were teammates in Golden State
X-Factor Back to Back and Travel
Both teams are playing in the second of back to back games and both teams had to travel to get to the game. The Bobcats are at home, but played in Indiana the night before. None of the Celtics starters played more than 30 minutes while the Bobcats starters played over 40 minutes with Felton topping out at 48 minutes. The Celtics coasted to a win while the Bobcats fought it out to the end of a close overtime game.