Sixers (12-15) at Celtics (26-2) 12/23

[FLCeltsFan]

   at   

Philadelphia 76ers (12-15) at Boston Celtics (26-2)
Tuesday, December 23
7:30 PM ET
Game #29, Home Game #18
TV:  CSNHD, WPSG, NBA LP 755
Radio:   WEEI, WPHT
TD Banknorth Garden



Coach: Doc Rivers
Average Age: 26.7
Average Height: 6-6
Average Weight: 222

Probable Starters

Rajon Rondo  PPG 11.3 RPG 5.00 APG 7.5 EFF + 19.04

Ray Allen   PPG 18.8 RPG 3.50 APG 2.6 EFF + 17.14

Paul Pierce  PPG 18.5 RPG 5.80 APG 3.8 EFF + 17.79

Kevin Garnett  PPG 16.3 RPG 9.10 APG 2.8 EFF + 22.19

Kendrick Perkins  PPG 9.1 RPG 8.50 APG 1.3 EFF + 14.79

Reserves
Reserves
Tony Allen
Glen Davis
Eddie House
Leon Powe
Gabe Pruitt
Brian Scalabrine
Patrick O'Bryant
Sam Cassell

Injuries:
Big Baby Davis (car accident)  out

Probable Inactive
Big Baby Davis

D-League
JR Giddens
Bill Walker





Coach: Tony DiLeo
Average Age: 26.8
Average Height: 6-7
Average Weight: 224

Probable Starters

Andre Miller   PPG 15.1 RPG 3.90 APG 6.1 EFF + 16.89

Willie Green   PPG 7.9 RPG 1.90 APG 2.0 EFF + 7.19
 
Andre Iguodala    PPG 15.0 RPG 6.70 APG 5.1 EFF + 17.30
 
Thaddeus Young   PPG 13.1 RPG 4.80 APG 1.1 EFF + 11.93
 
Samuel Dalembert   PPG 6.0 RPG 8.30 APG 0.2 EFF + 11.59

The Bench
Reggie Evans
Royal Ivey
Donyell Marshall
Theo Ratliff
Kareem Rush
Marreese Speights
Louis Williams

Injured
Jason Smith (knee)  out
Elton Brand (shoulder)  out


Key Matchups
  vs 
Rajon Rondo   PPG 11.3 RPG 5.00 APG 7.5
Andre Miller   PPG 15.1 RPG 3.90 APG 6.1
Rajon Rondo has been out playing every point guard he has faced lately.  He faces another veteran PG tonight who is one of the more underrated PG's in the league.  Hopefully Rondo will continue his All Star level play in this game. 

  vs   
Paul Pierce    PPG 18.5 RPG 5.80 APG 3.8
Andre Iguodala    PPG 15.0 RPG 6.70 APG 5.1
In the last game between these two teams, Iguodala was playing shooting guard but now he is back at his normal position.  The matchup between Pierce and Iguodala has always been a good one. 

Honorable Mention
Kendrick Perkins vs Samuel Dalembert 
This should be a battle inside.  Perk has played well against Dalembert in the past and has been playing very well on both ends of the court lately and should be able to get the best of this matchup.   


Game Notes: 
The Celtics won the season series last year 3-1 and won the first meeting between these two teams 102-78 on November 28 of this season.   They seem to be playing better since Elton Brand went out with the injury. 

The Sixers fired head coach Mo Cheeks on 12/13 and are 3-1 since that time.  They lost their last game 95-94 to the Pacers.  Under their new coach, they have been averaging 102 points on 49% shooting while holding opponents to 93 points on 44% shooting. 

This is a historical game for the Celtics.  With their 18th consecutive win they tied the best start ever for an NBA team that is currently held by the  the '69-70 Knicks and the '66-67 76ers.  A win in this game would give them the sole possession of the record for best start.  Both of those teams incidentally went on to win the title.   Also, the 18 game winning streak ties the record for the longest winning streak in franchise history and they could break that record with a win here.   

Connections:
Donyell Marshall and Ray Allen are former UConn Huskies
Tom Thibodeau was an assistant coach for the Sixers from '94-96
Elton Brand and Eddie House were teammates on the Clippers
Reggie Evans and Ray Allen were teammates in Seattle.

X-Factor
The Streak and THE Game
If the Celtics just play their game and don't worry about their win streak or setting records they will win this game. But, if they start over thinking and start playing for the streak they may stumble in this one.  Also, they need to focus on this game and not overlook them while looking ahead to the matchup with the Lakers. 
 

[Edgar]

I will love this game
to see miller again...

I have to Tp Fl before Amager...

[steved24]

TP for FL of course!

We HAVE to stay focused and come out strong. But the C's are playing at such a high level right now I don't think we'll have much of a problem. They have said before they don't care about the streaks and records. As long as they have that same mentality we'll be ok.

[nba is the worst]

No chance for the 76ers.  I am thinking they may be better with Brand out, but with the recent coaching change, they are still settling into the revised system. At least a 16-point win...

[ACF]

I will love this game
to see miller again...

I have to Tp Fl before Amager...

Way to go, Edgar 

A big X-mas TP from me to FL!

[FLCeltsFan]

Thanks guys!  And Merry Christmas and continue the streak TP's right back at ya's! 

[silvershamrocker]

I'm really going to be watching the defense tonight. The C's offense has really been clicking recently, but our defense has seemed to slip a little. I want to see under 90 points and under 45% FG from Philly.

[Dybdal]

TP's a flowing as allways for your hard work on these threads, keep em comming!

[crownsy]

TP, were getting close to more TP's than posts, which would be cool hehe.

[rondofan1255]

TP for FL!!!

[ACF]

TP, were getting close to more TP's than posts, which would be cool hehe.

It should be, if only posters
would remember to TP for
all these game threads 

[guava_wrench]

I believe it was announced yesterday that BBD would not play tonight. I hope he is healthy for the Lakers' frontline.

The great thing about an 18 game winning streak is every game is a 'must win'. It is hard to look ahead when the task of extending the streak to 19 is on your plate.

[xmuscularghandix]

TP for FL!!!

[Redz]

TP for FL!!!

Getting ever closer to the 1/1 TP/Post ratio 

[Redz]

Unleash The Beast!