Raptors (1-2) at Celtics (3-1)

[FLCeltsFan]

  at 
Toronto Raptors (1-2) at Boston Celtics (3-1)
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
7:30 PM ET
CSN HD, DTV Ch 751
XL Center, Hartford, Connecticut



Probable Starters

Rondo/  R Allen/  Pierce/  Garnett/  Perkins

Reserves
Eddie House
Rasheed Wallace
Marquis Daniels
Shelden Williams
Tony Allen
Brian Scalabrine
Lester Hudson
Michael Sweetney

Injuries
Tony Allen (ankle) out
Bill Walker (knee)  out 
Rasheed Wallace (ankle) questionable
Marquis Daniels (stomach bug) questionable
 




Probable Starters
       
Calderon/  DeRozan/  Turkoglu/  Bosh/  Bargnani

Reserves
Reggie Evans
Marco Belinelli
Jarrett Jack
Amir Johnson
Patrick O'Bryant
Marcus Banks
Quincy Douby
Sonny Weems

Injuries
Sonny Weems (toe) game time decision
Antoine Wright (knee)  day to day

Key Matchups
  vs 
Rajon Rondo  vs  Jose Calderon
I am sure that Calderon will remember the fact that KG taunted him in a game last season and would love nothing better than to get his revenge with a win in every game these two teams play this season.  So far this preseason Rondo's game has been a little off and this would be a good time for him to get into regular season form. 

  vs 
Kevin Garnett  vs  Chris Bosh   
Chris Bosh is one of the best young power forwards in the game and is very dangerous on the offensive end.  However in most of the games between these two teams last season, Bosh seemed to be very intimidated by KG. 

Game Notes.
Doc had said that he would hold out his three stars from one of the back to back games.   Since they didn't play against New Jersey on Tuesday, the will more than likely be playing in this game. 

Hedo Turkoglu has been out with a knee problem and will be making his Raptors debut in this game vs the Celtics.   He will be playing without having had much practice with the team and so there may be some chemistry issues on the court until he gets used to his new teammates. 

Former Celtics Patrick O'Bryant and Marcus Banks are playing for the Raptors this season.  In spite of these two players, the Raptors have a nice core of players and should be a tough team once they get everyone healthy. At the least, they will give the Celtics more of a challenge than the Nets did.   

The Celtics will see the Raptors once more in the preseason on October 18 at the Air Canada center. 

[Edgar]

TP Fla thanks

[RAcker]

I hope that Sheed and Marquis are feeling well tomorrow.  The team's confidence in the bench is very high tonight I'm sure.  I don't know how the rotations will work tomorrow considering the resting of the big 3 tonight, but I'm sure there will still be a great deal of experimenting going on.

At least we will get our first look at the couple now known as Bosdo (Bosh and Hedo). 

[KCattheStripe]

I hope that Sheed and Marquis are feeling well tomorrow.  The team's confidence in the bench is very high tonight I'm sure.  I don't know how the rotations will work tomorrow considering the resting of the big 3 tonight, but I'm sure there will still be a great deal of experimenting going on.

At least we will get our first look at the couple now known as Bosdo (Bosh and Hedo). 

I like Hesh

[ACF]

TP4FL.

[Bahku]

Missed tonight's game, unfortunatley ... won't miss tomorrow's ... thanks FCF ... love your thread openers ... always have! (TP)

[clover]

Looking forward to that Shelden Williams/Patrick O'Bryant matchup.

[Green Blooded]

I like the line in the preview about Bosh being intimidated by KG. TP for a great preview.

[j804]

TP to Florida, I'm in for todays game finally Comcast cable League Pass is airing games.

[j804]

Word is Raptors will be with starting 5

good test for the C's

[Quinn]

a YES commentator said something the other day that kind of angered me.

"The Celtics are playing like they're playing for the championship game and the Nets are playing like they should-its a preseason game."

I agree you shouldn't exert yourself too much, but for the young players these games are proving grounds that they're ready to play for the best team on earth. And it was 2/5 of our starting unit, and they wanted to show what they could do, so what was the big deal.

Preseason games may not matter, but that doesn't mean we have nothing to play for.
Go C's.

TP for the post FL.

[Green Blooded]

a YES commentator said something the other day that kind of angered me.

"The Celtics are playing like they're playing for the championship game and the Nets are playing like they should-its a preseason game."

I agree you shouldn't exert yourself too much, but for the young players these games are proving grounds that they're ready to play for the best team on earth. And it was 2/5 of our starting unit, and they wanted to show what they could do, so what was the big deal.

Preseason games may not matter, but that doesn't mean we have nothing to play for.
Go C's.

TP for the post FL.

I heard this too. That is why we will be playing for the Championship next summer and the nyets will be vacationing in Russia.

[lon3lytoaster]

Hope the Celtics win so we don't have to read how the Raptors are contenders.

Celtics by 34

[FLCeltsFan]

TP to Quinn and Green Blooded.  I didn't hear that but it is the type of comment only an announcer for a team that not going anywhere would make.  Preseason games don't count in the standings, but they matter a whole lot to the teams who are hoping to be contenders.  Preseason sets the tone for the regular season.  If a team takes an oh well approach to the preseason then they will have an oh well season.  Obviously the Nets are in for another oh well season.   Besides, it was the Celtics young players who are playing for spots on the roster and in the rotation that were playing that hard. And if they didn't, I'd start to worry about their desire to win the championship. 

[xmuscularghandix]

I'm excited to watch this game. I'm not as excited to hear Donny's UNCONN stories ALL night.