Wolves (16-29) at Celtics (39-9) 1/30

[FLCeltsFan]

  at 
Minnesota Timberwolves (16-29) at Boston Celtics (39-9)
Sunday, February 1
12:00 PM ET
Game #49, Home Game #26
TV:  CSN HD, FSN North, NBA LP 751
TD Banknorth Garden



Coach: Doc Rivers
Average Age: 26.6
Average Height: 6-6
Average Weight: 222

Probable Starters

PG:  Rajon Rondo PPG 11.2 RPG 5.00 APG 8.0 EFF + 18.34 
SG:  Ray Allen   PPG 18.0 RPG 3.40 APG 2.8 EFF + 17.06   
SF: Paul Pierce  PPG 18.8 RPG 5.70 APG 3.8 EFF + 18.55
PF:  Kevin Garnett   PPG 16.2 RPG 9.00 APG 2.7 EFF + 21.80   
C:    Kendrick Perkins  PPG 8.3 RPG 7.90 APG 1.1 EFF + 13.73 


Reserves
Tony Allen
Glen Davis
JR Giddens
Eddie House
Leon Powe
Brian Scalabrine
Patrick O'Bryant
Bill Walker
Sam Cassell 
 
Injuries:
Brian Scalabrine (Concussion)  day to day




Coach: Kevin McHale
Average Age: 26.6
Average Height: 6-7
Average Weight: 227

Probable Starters
       
PG:  Sebastian Telfair  PPG 7.7 RPG 1.80 APG 4.3 EFF + 7.41
SG: Randy Foye  PPG 15.7 RPG 3.30 APG 4.8 EFF + 14.93
SF:   Ryan Gomes  PPG 11.1 RPG 4.40 APG 1.6 EFF + 10.89
PF: Craig Smith  PPG 9.2 RPG 3.60 APG 1.3 EFF + 9.64 
C:    Al Jefferson   PPG 22.7 RPG 10.50 APG 1.5 EFF + 24.09 

Reserves
Mike Miller
Kevin Love
Jason Collins 
Corey Brewer
Kevin Ollie
Rashad McCants
Rodney Carney
Calvin Booth
Brian Cardinal
Mark Madsen

Injuries
Corey Brewer   (ACL)  out 
Kevin Ollie (elbow)  day to day 

Key Matchups
  vs 
Rajon Rondo vs Sebastian Telfair
This is a matchup of 2 very quick point guards.  Telfair has been playing well for the Wolves and I am sure he would love to send a message to the Celtics that they should have kept him.  Telfair isn't known for his defense however and Rondo  should be able to get past him if he is aggressive. 


  vs 
Kendrick Perkins vs Al Jefferson
Perk and Al were best friends when Al was in Boston and they have remained close.  They have had many a battle during practices and if anyone knows each other's games it is these two.  This should be a good battle for bragging rights between these two. 

Honorable Mention  
Paul Pierce vs Ryan Gomes
These two have gone up against each other in practice when they were teammates and so know each other well.  Pierce has been playing great ball lately and Ryan has improved since his days in Boston.  Should be a good matchup. 

Team Connections
Of all the teams in the NBA, these two teams are probably the most connected after the big trades between them.
 Kevin McHale, the Wolves coach and former GM, was one of the original Big 3 of the Celtics.
 KG played for the Wolves from 1995-2007 and was traded to the Celtics in the trade that took Big Al Jefferson, among others, to Minnesota.   
Randy Foye, Al Jefferson, and Ryan Gomes were drafted by the Celtics.
Sebastian Telfair played for the Celtics in '06-07.
Wolves assistant coaches Jerry Sichting and Ed Pinkney are former Celtics. 
Mike Miller played for Doc in Orlando.
Jason Collins was a teammate of Scal's in New Jersey
Ray Allen and Calvin Booth were teammates in Seattle
Ray Allen was drafted by the Wolves in the 1996 draft

Game Notes
Last season, the Celtics swept the series with the Wolves for the first time since the 1995-96 season.   But, it wasn't easy as they won both games by a total of just 3 points.  The Celtics are 1-0 against the Wolves this season after a 95-78 win in Minnesota in November.

The Wolves have started off slowly in spite of an upgrade in talent over the summer but after the coaching change, Kevin McHale has this team believing they can win and playing well with a 10-4 record in January. They are coming off a home loss to the Lakers and would love to get back on track with a road win against the Celtics.  The Celtics should win this one easily, but they are sure to meet a very motivated Wolves team and so will need to match their intensity.   

X Factor
Former Celtics and Wolf
KG, Big Al, Sebastian Telfair, and Ryan Gomes will all be fired up to beat their former teams.  It will be an emotional game for all involved as their teammates will want to win the game for them.  Let's not forget former Celtic Kevin McHale who would also love to beat his former team and get bragging rights with Danny Ainge. 

[celticinorlando]

big game to me....wolves playing better....trap game as the lakers are coming

[wdleehi]

big game to me....wolves playing better....trap game as the lakers are coming

This game will not be a trap game to KG. 

And for many of the other Celtics, to many former teammates to be a trap game.

[ACF]

As usual, good stuff, FL and
a well-deserved TP for you.
I love these early games!

[ManUp]

These early weekend games are killing me.

I'm going to miss this one.

I say the Celtics win by a lot. 

Tp for the work FL.

[BigAlTheFuture]

Don't get me wrong I love KG, but man.. I miss Big Al.

[moiso]

I miss Big Al too.  In comparison to KG, I love the physicality of his game.  He goes toward the rim, rather than away from it.  I'm excited to see Mr. Love also.

[TatteredOnMySleeve]

I miss Big Al too.  In comparison to KG, I love the physicality of his game.  He goes toward the rim, rather than away from it.  .

On that other end of the court its the complete opposite

[Fafnir]

TP for FL. Looking forward to this game!

[Chief]

We could be looking at our future 6th man in Mike Miller today.

[Who]

I'm excited about this one, should be a fun game.

[Champzilla]

Are the Twolve's average age really the same as the Celtic's average age ?

[TatteredOnMySleeve]

NO KG today fellas...hes got the flu
 

[gkiteisscal]

Tattered you beat me to it!  How do you think that effects the match up with Al?

[TatteredOnMySleeve]

Tattered you beat me to it!  How do you think that effects the match up with Al?

Good thing perk isnt suspended..
Any chance KG just doesnt like playing against his former team that means so much to him? ive noticed even when he does he looks a little like he doesnt want to be, and hes missed half of the games against them since hes been in boston