Celtics (19-4) at Knicks (16-9) 12/15

[FLCeltsFan]

 at  
Boston Celtics (19-4) at New York Knicks (16-9)
Wednesday, December 15
7:00 PM ET
Regular Season Game #24 – Road Game #13
TV:  ESPN, CSNNE, MSG
Radio:  WEEI
Madison Square Garden  


Probable Starters
Point Guard
vs
Rajon Rondo vs Landry Fields

Shooting Guard
vs  
Ray Allen  vs Raymond Felton  

Small Forward  
vs
 Paul Pierce  vs Wilson Chandler

Power Forward
vs  
Kevin Garnett  vs Danilo Gallinari

Center
vs
Semih Erden vs Amare Stoudamire





Boston Bench Mob
Marquis Daniels
Glen Davis
Luke Harangody
Nate Robinson
Von Wafer
Avery Bradley

Injured
Kendrick Perkins (knee) out
Jermaine O'Neal (knee) out
Delonte West  (wrist)  out
Shaquille O'Neal (knee,calf)  out  


Knicks Bench
Shawne Williams
Bill Walker
Andy Rautins
Ronny Turiaf
Roger Mason Jr
Toney Douglas
Timofey Mosgov
Anthony Randolph
Eddie Curry

Injuries
Kelenna Azubuike  (knee)   out

Team Connections  
Celtics Head Coach Doc Rivers played  for New York from 1992-95 a Amar’e Stoudemire and Celtics center Shaquille O’Neal were teammates in Phoenix for 2007-09
Knicks coaches Mike D’Antoni, Phil Weber and Dan D’Antoni coached the duo during the 2007-08 season
Ray Allen authored one of the “50 Greatest Moments at Madison Square Garden” with his game-winning jumper in the 1996 Big East Tournament Championship
Knicks assistant coach Kenny Atkinson (1986-90) and Celtics assistant coach Kevin Eastman (1973-77) played their college ball at the University of Richmond. Both served as team captains and rank in the top 10 in school history in assists
Donnie Walsh acquired Celtics guard Marquis Daniels for the Pacers  Donnie Walsh acquired Celtics forward Jermaine O’Neal for the Pacers
Celtics guard Nate Robinson spent four seasons with the Knicks 2005-10
Nate Robinson and Rajon Rondo were both drafted by the Suns and traded on draft night
Bill Walker was drafted by the Celtics and played 2 seasons in Boston
Danilo Gallinari and Celtics forward Paul Pierce were both participants in the 2010 NBA 3-Point Shootout which Pierce won and Gallinari finished in a three-way tie for fourth place
Mike D’Antoni coached Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo during 2010 training camp for Team USA
Kelenna Azubuike was teammates with Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo at the University of Kentucky for one season (2004-05)
Celtics guard Von Wafer played for Knicks Summer League team in 2008

Key Matchups
vs
Rajon Rondo vs Landry Fields
The Knicks have moved Landry Fields from shooting guard to point guard and at 6'7" he may give Rondo some problems on both ends of the court.  On the other side of this, Ray Allen should have a slightly easier time with Raymond Felton guarding him.  In the first meeting between these two clubs, Rondo notched a triple double with 10 points, 24 assists, and 10 rebounds while Fields notched his first double double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.  

vs
Semih Erden vs Amare Stoudamire
Semih will have a big test with Stoudamire playing center for the Knicks.  Expect to see KG move over to guard Stoudamire while Erden takes Gallinari.

Game Notes
This is the second meeting between these two divisional foes. The Celtics have been clear that they don't consider the Knicks rivals, in spite of the history between these 2 storied franchises.  In their first meeting, the Celtics came out on top 105-101 in Boston.  

The Knicks have their offense in high gear and are averaging 107.7 points per game, second only to the Suns. But they are also allowing 106.6 points per game.    The Celtics on the other hand have made defense their calling card.  They score 100.7 points per game but allow only 91 points for their opponents.  

The Celtics are on a 10 game win streak while the Knicks have an 8 game win streak of their own.  The Celtics are still very short handed up front coming into this game with Shaq and Jermaine still out along with Perk and Delonte.   The Knicks are almost at full strength with just Azubuike the only one out.  

Keys to the Game
Defense -  This will be the classic battle between offense vs defense.  The Celtics must keep their defensive intensity throughout the entire game.  They especially must guard the perimeter where the Knicks are second in the league in 3 pointers made.   The Knicks are also 5th in points in the paint so the Celtics also have to take care of the paint as well.  

Take it to the Hoop - The Celtics have been outscoring their opponents in the paint throughout their win streak.  They must continue to take the ball inside and not just settle for outside shots.  Good things happen when they are aggressive and taking the ball inside.  

Take Care of the Ball The Knicks lead the league in points off os turnover at 19.4.  The Celtics must take care of the  ball and limit their turnovers in order to limit the Knicks from scoring off of them.  

Rebound- The Celtics have to continue to crash the boards in order to limit the Knicks second chance points and fast break opportunities.  The team that wins the rebounding battle will usually win the war because the effort they put out on the glass also affects the other areas of their game.  

X - Factors
Officiating, Focus
There are two  X-Factors in this game.  The first is Bill Kennedy who still has a grudge against Doc for outing him as a homosexual.   The Celtics are 2-1 so far this season with Kennedy as a ref.  The one loss was the 2 point loss to the Mavs where the Celtics shot 7 free throws to 20 for the Mavs in spite of the Celtics dominating inside and on the boards.    Second will be focus.  If the Celtics come out focused and don't lose that focus, especially on the defensive end, they will win, in spite of all the injuries.   

[FLCeltsFan]

My apologies for posting the game thread so late.  I've been really sick and didn't even get out of bed yesterday.  Go Celtics! 

[GreenFaith1819]

Thanks for post, FLCeltsFan and TP4U. Hope you feel better.

For the game, as long as we continue to do what has made the streak so succesful, we'll pull this out.

Don't get caught up in the calls or refs, C's! Take care of business!

[j804]

TP FL get well 

as for the game only way I see us losing is if we beat our self sleepwalking, lazy to barely any help defense etc or if Amare just abuses Semih and that hole at the center spot

[Mike-Dub]

TP for another excellent game thread FL and get well soon.  

I really don't understand how the Knicks are winning with their starting lineup.   I can see that it causes matchup problems at a couple of the spots, but I personally would have a much different lineup.  

The matchup that scares me this game is Semih vs. Galinari.  Galinari who is basically a three playing at the four right now could cause defensive problems for Semih with his quickness and shot.  

If Semih's offensive game was more developed I wouldn't worry so much because it would basically be a wash, but Galinari's game offensive game is much better than Semih's.

[Who]

Erden should not start. There is nobody that he can come close to defending in the Knicks starting unit. They should bring him off the bench and use him against Ronny Turiaf.

Garnett needs to play the center position and check Amare Stoudemire.

No good matchup for checking Gallinari. Maybe it's best to stick Glen Davis on Landry Fields rather than Gallo and see if they can get away with that. Otherwise, they'll have to go small with Marquis at SF and Pierce at PF.

This is another one of those matchups similar to the Phily game where the C's lack of size and flexibility on the wings will hurt them matchup wise. It'll give New York an opening to make this a tight game when it shouldn't be.

[Mike-Dub]

Erden should not start. Their is nobody that he can come close to defending in the Knicks starting unit. They should bring him off the bench and use him against Ronny Turiaf.

Garnett needs to play the center position and check Amare Stoudemire.

No good matchup for checking Gallinari. Maybe it's best to stick Glen Davis on Landry Fields rather than Gallo and see if they can get away with that. Otherwise, they'll have to go small with Marquis at SF and Pierce at PF.

This is another one of those matchups similar to the Phily game where the C's lack of size and flexibility on the wings will hurt them matchup wise. It'll give New York an opening to make this a tight game when it shouldn't be.

I agree.  That will be the toughest matchup for us.

[Who]

I really don't understand how the Knicks are winning with their starting lineup.   I can see that it causes matchup problems at a couple of the spots, but I personally would have a much different lineup.  

Landry Fields' terrific rebounding does wonders for that lineup. He is pulling down 7.6 rebounds a game in 31 minutes a night as a two guard. That is helping hide their suspect rebounding in the frontcourt.

[celticinorlando]

tonight reality starts to set in for the knicks. their next 10 games are very very tough

[nba is the worst]

Regarding Bill Kennedy, according to Covers.com, the C's are 1-1 this season with him as lead ref - the Mavs loss, where after the 4:30 mark of the 3rd when Paul Pierce tied the game at 57-57, the Mavs got 10 fts to 0 for the C's the rest of the quarter - and the win over the Bulls on Dec. 3rd.

[Q_FBE]

Best medicine for FLCelt's health is a Celtic Victory - Works much better than Antibiotics, correct Dr Bahku?

OK: Both teams have had two days minimum rest coming in. Both teams are obviously in good form. Both teams have had one common notable opponent defeated (Denver).

So I think this comes down to the turnover factor - who makes the fewest mistakes out there.

A Knicks win tonight and the New York crowd puts the J_E_T_S in the hangar for the winter. The energy and the passion are certain to be there tonight and both teams have lots to prove.

Lets show them that we are still The Daddies in the Division.

[nba is the worst]

All the C's need to do is play good (as usual) perimeter defense, and as Q_FBE said, limit turnovers. Can't let the Knicks shoot 35% or higher from the arc...

[celticinorlando]

take away the 3 ball...low turnovers and help defense= a 10 plus point Cs win

[Mike-Dub]

I really don't understand how the Knicks are winning with their starting lineup.   I can see that it causes matchup problems at a couple of the spots, but I personally would have a much different lineup.  

Landry Fields' terrific rebounding does wonders for that lineup. He is pulling down 7.6 rebounds a game in 31 minutes a night as a two guard. That is helping hide their suspect rebounding in the frontcourt.

That's a good point.  I haven't seen to many games of the Knicks this year, but do they normally have the lineup saying Fields is at the one and Felton at the two and it plays out the opposite on the court?

[2short]

Erden should not start. There is nobody that he can come close to defending in the Knicks starting unit. They should bring him off the bench and use him against Ronny Turiaf.

Garnett needs to play the center position and check Amare Stoudemire.

No good matchup for checking Gallinari. Maybe it's best to stick Glen Davis on Landry Fields rather than Gallo and see if they can get away with that. Otherwise, they'll have to go small with Marquis at SF and Pierce at PF.

This is another one of those matchups similar to the Phily game where the C's lack of size and flexibility on the wings will hurt them matchup wise. It'll give New York an opening to make this a tight game when it shouldn't be.

I like your thoughts.  I posted in the semih love thread that kg should start at center tonight.  But keep Glen on bench and go with
c kg
f daniels
f pierce
sg ray
pg rondo