Celtics (13-4) at Bobcats (7-9) 12/1

[FLCeltsFan]

  at 
Boston Celtics (13-4) at Charlotte Bobcats (7-9)
Tuesday, December 1
7:00 PM ET
Game #18,  Road Game #8
TV:  CSN HD, SSO-CHA, NBA LP 751, 752
Radio:  WEEI, WFNZ 
Time Warner Cable Arena 
Time Warner Cable Arena is one of the NBA’s newest venues. Constructed in the Uptown area of downtown Charlotte, the arena is inspired by the event, the city and the fans attending games. While Time Warner Cable Arena is now a fixture in the City of Charlotte, getting a new facility built was a long process that led to one basketball team leaving town and the city receiving a new expansion franchise.  After the Hornets left for Charlotte, the NBA awarded the city an expansion franchise, the Bobcats. The $260 million Time Warner Cable Arena was constructed in downtown Charlotte and opened in 2005.   Originally the arena was known as the Charlotte Bobcats Arena, until Time Warner Cable bought the naming rights.

   

Coach: Doc Rivers
Average Age: 27.8
Average Height: 6-6
Average Weight: 224
Probable Starters

PG:  Rajon Rondo   PPG 10.3   APG 9.0  SPG  2.5
SG:  Ray Allen    PPG 15.2   APG  3.1  3P% .301
SF:   Paul Pierce   PPG 19.7  RPG 4.8  APG 4.1
PF:   Kevin Garnett   PPG 14.1  RPG 7.4  BPG 0.8
C:    Kendrick Perkins   PPG 11.2   RPG  7.4  BPG  1.9

Reserves
Rasheed Wallace
Marquis Daniels
Eddie House
Shelden Williams
Lester Hudson
JR Giddens
Brian Scalabrine

Injuries
Tony Allen (ankle) day to day
Big Baby Davis  (thumb) out     

D League
Bill Walker




Coach: Larry Brown
Average Age: 26.2
Average Height: 6-7
Average Weight: 223

Probable Starters

PG: Raymond Felton   PPG 10.3  APG  5.1  SPG 1.6
SG:  Stephen Jackson   PPG 16.9  RPG 4.4  3P% .275
SF:   Gerald Wallace   PPG 15.9  RPG  11.8 APG 1.3
PF:   Boris Diaw    PPG 11.7  RPG  4.9  BPG  0.5
C:   Tyson Chandler   PPG 6.1  RPG  6.4   BPG 1.4 

Reserves
Nazr Mohammed
DeSagana Diop
Gerald Henderson
Derrick Brown
Alexis Ajinca
DJ Augustin
Flip Murray
Stephen Graham
Acie Law

Injuries
None

D League
Alexis Ajinca

Key Matchups
  vs 
Rajon Rondo vs Raymond Felton
As goes Rondo, so go the Celtics.  Rondo should be able to beat Felton off the dribble and if he is aggressive should be able to either get a shot inside or kick out to the open man.  Rondo's level of aggressiveness in setting the pace for the Celtics will be key to this game. 

  vs 
Paul Pierce vs Gerald Wallace
Gerald Wallace always plays well against the Celtics.  Pierce's defense is going to be needed in this game every bit as much as his offense as Wallace can be a handful. 

  vs 
Ray Allen vs Stephen Jackson
The Bobcats have added a new wrinkle since the last time the Celtics played them by trading for Stephen Jackson.   He has been playing well for them and Ray Allen will have his hands full in this game trying to guard Jackson and also trying to get his shot off against him. 

BOBCATS AND CELTICS CONNECTIONS:
· Celtics Head Coach Doc Rivers played for Bobcats Head Coach Larry Brown with the Clippers during the 1991-92 season. Celtics
forward Rasheed Wallace played for Brown in Detroit for part of the 2003-04 season and the 2004-05 season.
· Celtics guard Eddie House played 13 games for the Bobcats during the inaugural 2004-05 season.
· Bobcats guard Ronald “Flip” Murray and Celtics guard Ray Allen were teammates in Milwaukee and Seattle during the 2002-03 season
and in Seattle from 2003-06, where they also teamed with Bobcats forward Vladimir Radmanovic.
· Bobcats forward Boris Diaw and Celtics guard Eddie House were teammates in Phoenix in 2005-06.
· Bobcats center DeSagana Diop and Celtics guard Marquis Daniels were teammates in Dallas in 2005-06.
 Bobcats guard Stephen Graham and Daniels were teammates in Indiana from 2007-09, where they were joined by Bobcats guard Ronald “Flip” Murray for part of the 2007-08 season.
· Bobcats guard Ronald “Flip” Murray and Celtics forward Rasheed Wallace were teammates in Detroit for the 2006-07 season and part of
the 2007-08 season.
· Bobcats guard Stephen Graham and Celtics guard Tony Allen were college teammates at Oklahoma State University in 2003-04.
Stephen Jackson and Marquis Daniels were teammates in Indiana during the 2006-07 season
Acie Law and Shelden Williams were teammates in Atlanta during the 2007-08 season.
CAROLINAS CONNECTIONS:
· Celtics assistant coach Kevin Eastman served as the head coach at UNC- Wilmington (1990-94) and Belmont Abbey College (1986-89).
· Celtics forward Rasheed Wallace played collegiately at the University of North Carolina.
· Celtics center Sheldon Williams played collegiately at Duke University.
· Celtics guard Ray Allen attended Hillcrest High School in Dalzell, SC. Celtics forward Kevin Garnett hails from Mauldin, SC. Celtics
assistant coach Clifford Ray is a native of Union, SC.

Game Notes
• Celtics won the season series 2-1 against Charlotte in 2008-09; The Celtics are 1-0 against the Bobcats during the 2009-10 season
• Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 26.3 points per game last season
• Gerald Wallace averaged 22.0 points per game against the Celtics during the 08-09 campaign
• The Celtics have never lost a season series against the Bobcats
• The Celtics are leading the all-time series 14-5 with the Celtics 8-2 at home

The Bobcats are one of those young and athletic teams that always seem to give the Celtics problems.  In their first meeting this season, The Celtics home opener,  the Celtics beat the Bobcats 92-59.  But, that was when the Celtics were playing wire to wire defense.   We haven't seen that type of defense from the Celtics recently and so I don't see them winning near as easily this time. 

   The Bobcats have won 4 in a row since adding Jackson and are playing very well.  Jackson gives them another scorer and defender and give the Celtics another player they must stay home on for defense.    The Celtics have also won 4 in a row but their effort has been up and down. 

The Bobcats have been off since Saturday and are at home while the Celtics are playing in the second game of a 4 game road trip and on one day rest.   The old question of rest vs rust will come into play.  Will the Bobcats be rusty at the start or will they be well rested and ready to come out strong. 

After their beat down on the Celtics court in their first meeting,  the Bobcats will be looking for a measure of revenge.  The Celtics need to come out strong and play for 4 quarters and not just two.  The Bobcats are not the pushover team they used to be and if the Celtics take them lightly, they will make them pay.

Keys to the Game
1.  Defense, defense, defense
2.  Start strong and play 48 minutes
3.  Run the Offense - Make the extra pass and don't settle for quick shots
4.  Rebound - Limit Bobcat 2nd chances and fast breaks

[houlana]

im so pumped and happy this game is being shown on NBA tv in Saudi.
that pats game is being shown as well.

what a night, starting at 3 am

[houlana]

thanks for the game thread FL.
TP

[BASS_THUMPER]

C's gettin love from Saudi...

im with you Houlana...this will be a good game..solid match ups

[chelsearules]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzlSsWnZxt0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZyjA0rcw60

let's get 'em

[nickagneta]

This is not the same team we faced earlier this season. Over the last four games versus Indiana, Toronto, Cleveland and Washington, the Cats are averaging 101.5 PPG while averaging giving up only 83 PPG. That's an average point differential over that stretch of 18.5 PPG. Any way you slice that, it's impressive.

Stephen Jackson's addition to the starting lineup alongside Gerald Wallace has been huge as has been the addition of Flip Murray's scoring off the bench and Nazr Mohammed's all around solid play of late(13PPG, 6RPG off the bench). This is not going to be another huge blowout. This is a different team.

[celticinorlando]

either the bobcats will come back to reality tomorrow or this one will be a real battle

[Cman]

TP to FLCF.
Looking forward to the game.  It's gonna be a real test for the Cs. 
(just like tonight, for the Pats.  )

[4THQTR]

Judging by opps. PPG the bobcats are the best defensive team in the league right now (better than boston...)
They have looked very good and have had a ridicolous point-differential during their four game winning streak. (TP to Nick, didn't realize it was that big before reading your post...)
They got embarrassed the last time they played the celtics.

Celts better come out ready, cause this could be a very tough win to pull out...

TP to FL as well!

I hate that i won't be able to watch...

[Kiorrik]

TP for the lovely FLC

I asked the morning off, so I can watch this game right after basketball practice.

I'll be here for the game thread, as always! *dances*

(if only to irritate ppl by posting more than I should )

[thirstyboots18]

I think it is going to take a whole team effort on defense to win this one...and I do think we are going to win this one.  Almost any of the Bobcats could take a game over if defense is not working.  Go Celts.

[Drucci]

I predict a really hard game! The Bobcats are the best defensive team on the league right now and their 4 wins in a row have been impressive. Pierce will have a lot of work to do with G-Wall.

Also, the Celtics will have to be really focused on the rebounds, otherwise they will get destroyed by the Bobcats in that area.

I will be there live to support the team, and hoping for a good, impressive win over a really confident Bobcats team which usually gives us trouble.

Let's go Celtics and TP FL!

[RAcker]

Agree with those expecting this to be a test tonight.  I've seen a little bit of their play since we last saw them and their defense is working, even if their offense isn't always clicking.

Whatever Larry Brown has been doing since Captain Jack got to town, he will want to keep it up. Let's hope our D is superior tonight.

[Kiorrik]

Holy shmoly I really want this game. Let's have fun.

[j804]

The Bobcats are the best defensive team on the league right now

wow for real? didnt know that