Wizards (19-62) at Celtics (61-20)

[FLCeltsFan]

  at   

Washington Wizards (19-62)  at  Boston Celtics (61-20)
Wednesday, April 15
8:00 PM
Game #82, Home Game #41
TV:  CSN-HD, CSN-HD, NBA LP 751
TD Banknorth Garden


Probable Starters

Rondo/House/Tony Allen/Powe/Perkins
This is an absolute guess as to who will start.  Doc may choose to sit out Perk and Rondo.  Pierce and Ray may sit or  Pierce may talk himself back into the lineup. Who knows. 

Reserves:
Whoever isn't starting

Injured
Kevin Garnett
Brian Scalabrine



Probable Starters

McGuire/Crittendon/Butler/Jamison/Haywood

Reserves
Nick Young
Darius Songalia
JaVale McGee
Andray Blatche
Juan Dixon
Oleksiy Pecherov

Injuries
DeShawn Stevenson  out
Etan Thomas  out
Mike James   out
Gilbert Arenas  questionable 
Antawn Jamison  questionable

Team Connections
Caron Butler and Ray Allen are former UConn Huskies
Nick Young and Gabe Pruitt were teammates at USC
DeShawn Stevenson played for Doc in Orlando
Darius Songalia was drafted by the Celtics with the 50th pick in 2002
Antonio Daniels and Ray Allen were teammates in Seattle
Brian Scalabrine played for Eddie Jordan in NJ while Jordan was an assistant there.
Tom Thibodeau was set to join the Wizards last season as an assistant but left the club after his first practice with them. 
Former Celtic Sam Cassell is rumored to be joining the Wizards next season as an assistant coach

Game Notes
This game means absolutely nothing to either team.   I guess the closest this game comes to meaning anything is that the Wizards and Clippers are tied for the 2nd worst record in the league going into the lottery.  The Wizards could benefit more in the draft by losing, but Celtics fans know all too well that no matter how many ping pong balls you have, it doesn't guarantee anything.  The lottery is a fickle thing, at least it has been for the Celtics.   

The Wizards are 3-7 in their last 10.  When they have their own big 3 of  with Jamison, Butler, and Arenas in place, they are very good.  But, they have been hit hard with injuries this season.  Arenas is questionable for this game as is Jamison.  There really is no reason for either of those players to play in this one other than the fact that Arenas has had it in for Boston since they passed him over in the first round of the draft and loves to beat them.   This may end up with 48 minutes of extended garbage time. 

X-Factor
Fan Appreciation Night
The Celtics may want to win their final home game of the season for their fans even though it means absolutely nothing in the standings.   

[Fafnir]

TP!

Here comes the playoffs!

[illantari]

TP.

I'm torn, this is one of two games this year I could slurge and get tix to, so I'm hoping for something resembling a game, and yet I really think the starters should rest.  Also I'm quite fond of our bench antics at times.  Maybe Doc will force R2 to play to get him out of the crazy funk he's been in the last two games.  Such conflict!

[xmuscularghandix]

Team Connections- Bill Walker was drafted by the Wizards then traded for green. (money not Gerald)

[celticinorlando]

this should be 5 lucky fans get to play in the game night

[greenwise]

No Big Three tonight, guys. Should we rest the remaining starters?

How about a lineup of:

Steph
Tony
Bill
Leon
Baby

[xmuscularghandix]

it'll probably be Rondo, Tony, Walker, Powe, Perk.

[ACF]

TP!

this should be 5 lucky fans get to play in the game night

Me, you and three more 
Love the avatar, btw!

[celticinorlando]

good to see doc say in the globe paul WILL NOT play tonight...sit them all...rondo, ray, perk....play the guys that need to play....no injuries!

[FLCeltsFan]

good to see doc say in the globe paul WILL NOT play tonight...sit them all...rondo, ray, perk....play the guys that need to play....no injuries!

Yeah, Doc is saying Pierce won't play... but Pierce isn't so sure... From the Globe

And Pierce did not seem to rule out an appearance tonight.

"I'm comfortable with whatever Doc's decisions are," Pierce said. "We talk to each other and we have great communication, so we'll see.

Pierce wants to play in every game and I can't blame him.  But I think Doc will win out and sit him tonight. 

I almost put Walker in the starting lineup.  I'd love to see him play big minutes tonight, but I'm not sure Doc will do it.  He should have given him minutes all season because I think he would help us in the playoffs guarding the bigger wings.  But, Doc hasn't played him and I'm not sure he will now. So, just a wild guess on the starters. 

[celticinorlando]

don't give in Doc!!

[xmuscularghandix]

I think Pierce should play for 10 minutes, that would mean he's played in all 82 games. not missing a game is important to him, hell he got stabbed 11 times then didn't miss a single game in the next season and it started about a month later.

[Celtic]

Oh man I have been looking forward to this game all week, gonna be so intense! 

At least Gilbert will finally get a chance to win in the Garden again, he'll probably talk trash all game, and then say publicly how the C's aren't that good.

[crownsy]

I think Pierce should play for 10 minutes, that would mean he's played in all 82 games. not missing a game is important to him, hell he got stabbed 11 times then didn't miss a single game in the next season and it started about a month later.

Id be fine with this, run him out there to get all 82 during the first quarter, then declare walker time.

[celticinorlando]

no pierce or allen...rondo playing 10 minutes