Nets (5-9) at Celtics (10-4) 11/24

[FLCeltsFan]

 at  
New Jersey Nets (5-9) at Boston Celtics (10-4)
Wednesday, November 24
Game #15, Home Game #7
TV:  CSNNE,  YES, NBA-LP 756/757
Radio  WEEI
TD Garden  



Probable Starters
PG.....SG......SF......PF......C
Rajon Rondo.....Ray Allen ..... Paul Pierce.....Kevin Garnett..... ShaquilleO'Neal

Boston Bench Mob
Marquis Daniels
Glen Davis
Semih Erden
Luke Harangody
Nate Robinson
Von Wafer
Delonte West


Injured
Kendrick Perkins (knee) out
Jermaine O'Neal (knee)  out
Rajon Rondo (hamstring) day to day




Probable Starters
PG......SG.......SF.......PF.......C
Devin Harris.....Anthony Morrow.... Travis Outlaw.... Kris Humphries...Brook Lopez

Nets Bench
Derrick Favors
Jordan Farmar
Stephen Graham
Johan Petro
Joe Smith
Ben Uzoh
Damion James
Troy Murphy

Injuries
Quinton Ross (calf) questionable
Terrence Williams (suspended)  out

Team Connections
 Nets assistant coach Popeye Jones played for the Celtics from 1997‐99
Damion James and Avery Bradley were teammates at Texas
Troy Murphy and Luke Harangody both attended Notre Dame
Devin Harris and Marquis Daniels were teammates in Dallas from 2004‐06
Johan Petro and Ray Allen were teammates in Seattle from 2005‐07
Kevin Garnett and Nets Assistant Coach Sam Mitchell were teammates in Minnesota from 1995‐2002
Von Wafer and Travis Outlaw were teammates in Portland during the 2007‐08 season
Shaquille O’Neal and Nets Assistant Coach Larry Krystkowiak were teammates on the Lakers during the 1996‐97 season
Jermaine O’Neal played for Nets Assistant Coach Sam Mitchell during the 2008‐09 season in Toronto
Jermaine O’Neal and Troy Murphy were teammates in Indiana from 2006‐08.

Key Matchups
 vs  
Shaquille O'Neal vs Brook Lopez
One of the very few bright spots for the Nets in recent years has been the play of Brook Lopez, who is averaging 17.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game.  Shaq's toughness and size will be needed to keep Lopez from having a big game.  

 vs  
Rajon Rondo vs Devin Harris
Rondo has said that he plans to be back for this game but Doc may choose to rest him a bit longer.  Whether it's Rondo or Nate playing the point, the PG matchup will be a key both for keeping the Celtics offense moving and preventing Harris from getting the Nets into their offense.  

Game Notes
This is the first of 4 meetings between these two division rivals.  The fortunes of both teams have certainly changed since game 3 of the 2002 ECF when the Celtics orchestrated one of the greatest 4th quarter comebacks in NBA history vs the Nets.    Even though most of the faces on the teams have changed, these two teams remain division rivals.  

Last season, the Celtics won the series 3‐1 with the Celtics winning both games at New Jersey.  Paul Pierce led the Celtics with an average of 20.0 points and shot 60.0% from three‐point range in the 4 games vs the Nets.  Rajon Rondo added a double‐double effort with 14.3 points and 11.3 assists to go along with 3.0 steals per game.   Brook Lopez led the Nets
with an average of 21.3 points while adding 7.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game.

The Nets are playing in the second of back to back games.  They pulled off a 107-101 win over the Hawks on Tuesday night but lost their previous 3 games.  The Celtics are coming off a  very dominant win over the Hawks but tend to play down to the competition.   Hopefully they are still a bit mad about their losses to the Thunder and Raptors and will come into this one focused.  

Keys to the Game
Focus
Defense
Rebound
Play 48 minutes

X-Factor
Focus and Effort
We saw what the Celtics are capable of in the game against the Hawks.  This game should be an even more dominant win.  But, the Celtics also seem to play down to their competition and lose focus against the weaker teams.  If they come out focused and put in the effort,  especially on the defensive end, they win.  Simple as that.  

[ACF]

FL with the GT, ACF with the TP.

Go Celtics!

[Megatron]

Celtics might mail this one in just to tick fans off. Lets hope not!

[Surferdad]

Celtics might mail this one in just to tick fans off. Lets hope not!

The Nets are better than their record.  This one will be much more competitive than the Hawks game, which was simply a clinic against a bad team.

The Nets have some athletes and I am concerned about C's getting out-hustled.  Of course C's should win but it will likely be close.

[celticinorlando]

nets coming off a big win over ATL yesterday..i could see them playing down tonight. Boston should come out and take care of business

[Q_FBE]

So this is where Travis Outlaw ended up. The Celtics got their humiliation in Toronto and came out the next night and kicked Atlanta's arse. New Jersey also took care of Atlanta - last night.

Boston takes care of business tonight because they had their two bad losses recently and it is way too early to coast. They need to develop a bench for the tough grind to come later this season.

[angryguy77]

Have to win these types of games if they want hc. La is going to give them a run for it. No more losing to the Raptors etc.

[Drucci]

On paper, an easy win (although the Nets are better than their record), KG should dominate in this one.

I just hope the C's stay as focused as they were against the Hawks, they can't take the Nets lightly if they are serious about getting HCA.

TP FL and go Celtics!

[Fafnir]

If Rondo doesn't play I'll be nervous about Nate Robinson trying to check Devin Harris.

I won't see the game live, so hopefully its worth watching on the DVR when I get home from dinner.

[nyceltsfan]

TP FL, but you left out the Lawerence Frank connection!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

[xmuscularghandix]

TP for FL 

[Redz]

Interested in seeing what Derrick Favors has to offer.

[CelticSooner]

Who we rooting for tonight in the Heat/Magic game?

[Fafnir]

Who we rooting for tonight in the Heat/Magic game?

The injury bug?

Quadruple OT game that ends in a 5-5 with each team having triple digit turnovers?

[CelticSooner]

sounds fair