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

[Who]

i am guessing we will not see rondo tomorrow night vs atlanta. although I like Nate with the starters....

Knicks play no defense and Boston can get whatever they want inside. Throw in Perk, JO and Shaq and they can't play within 10 with boston

Yeah, Rondo's probably out tomorrow.

The Hawks should be favorites as the Celts will be without Shaq and Rondo....

no joe johnson for them is pretty big though

Yeah it is, but Shaq is a big problem for the Hawks. Semih/Davis will allow them to play Horford at the 5 and have a big advantage at that position.

Plus its a back to back game, after a tough game where a fast pace was played.

I still think the Hawks will probably win, especially since Rondo is likely out once his ankle swells.

Nate Robinson has a huge matchup advantage against Mike Bibby.

Bibby has no chance of being able to contain Nate. Not athletic enough and not good enough defensively. Nate is a good bet for a 20-25 point night against Bibby.

This is one of those situations where Nate has a hugely effective matchup against his opponent and can give the Celtics a major performance in Rondo's absence should Rondo sit this game out. The C's also have a good advantage in the SG matchup with JJ out.

I wouldn't consider the Hawks a favourite here.  

Edit: The Celtics also have possible matchups at both forward positions (depending on how Pierce fares against Marvin's D + how the inconsistent Josh Smith fares against KG) while the Hawks have advantages with Horford + Crawford. So the C's 2-4 advantages vs the Hawks 2.

Edit: The Celtics should consider starting Glen Davis instead of Erden. Too much of the Hawks offense is being run through Horford and J.Smith to start the game. Erden can't defend either one of them. Better to use Erden against Zaza and let BBD take Horford.

[Fafnir]

i am guessing we will not see rondo tomorrow night vs atlanta. although I like Nate with the starters....

Knicks play no defense and Boston can get whatever they want inside. Throw in Perk, JO and Shaq and they can't play within 10 with boston

Yeah, Rondo's probably out tomorrow.

The Hawks should be favorites as the Celts will be without Shaq and Rondo....

no joe johnson for them is pretty big though

Yeah it is, but Shaq is a big problem for the Hawks. Semih/Davis will allow them to play Horford at the 5 and have a big advantage at that position.

Plus its a back to back game, after a tough game where a fast pace was played.

I still think the Hawks will probably win, especially since Rondo is likely out once his ankle swells.

Nate Robinson has a huge matchup advantage against Mike Bibby.

Bibby has no chance of being able to contain Nate. Not athletic enough and not good enough defensively. Nate is a good bet for a 20-25 point night against Bibby.

This is one of those situations where Nate has a hugely effective matchup against his opponent and can give the Celtics a major performance in Rondo's absence should Rondo sit this game out. The C's also have a good advantage in the SG matchup with JJ out.

I wouldn't consider the Hawks a favourite here. 

Well that's a more hopeful take than I have. I'd forgotten how terrible Mike Bibby is now a days. Makes me a little sad, I loved watching him on the Adelman's King's. I'm so glad Pierce has aged well.

I'm just skeptical on how well we can play Horford and how much energy the C's will have for Atlanta. Especially since I expect a much more focused Hawks team after we dismantled them in Atlanta last time.

[snively]

Donny Marshall: "and Rondo had a great game tonight"

Does he even watch the games?

Rondo played as well as he could have given his injury situation, but anyone could see he was hurting the team.

I only saw the fourth, but Rondo played well once he checked back in.

He wasn't himself but he was solid on D and moved the ball well to other scorers.

what I saw was Rondo's man penetrating at will after he checked back in, and Rondo making some bad passes and turnovers in key moments down the stretch.

Rondo was on Fields for most of the 4th and Fields didn't do a thing (not that the Knicks even looked at him).  Felton did the majority of his damage against Nate and Ray. 

[greenpride32]

Don't know if this has been discussed already; but man Rondo really hurt us by not going to the rim when he was wide open.  We've seen it plenty of times this year, but tonight it could have cost us the game.  Kind of ironic that he might be playing selfish by playing unselfishly to challenge the assist record.

[GreenEnvy]

Donny Marshall: "and Rondo had a great game tonight"

Does he even watch the games?

Rondo played as well as he could have given his injury situation, but anyone could see he was hurting the team.

I only saw the fourth, but Rondo played well once he checked back in.

He wasn't himself but he was solid on D and moved the ball well to other scorers.

what I saw was Rondo's man penetrating at will after he checked back in, and Rondo making some bad passes and turnovers in key moments down the stretch.

Rondo was on Fields for most of the 4th and Fields didn't do a thing (not that the Knicks even looked at him).  Felton did the majority of his damage against Nate and Ray. 

But doesn't that tell you something?

Why wasn't Rondo - the best PG defender - not guarding Felton who was hurting us the majority of the night?

Something was up with Rondo tonight. Too many bad passes, unwilling to put up shots near the rim, and his attitude in general.

The second he went down with an injury, I thought he was faking. The Knicks broadcast said moments before that that he and Doc disagreed about him going back in the game. Then I saw the play and he did roll it. But then to come back minutes later made me think he took a few minutes off for spite.

Not happy with Rondo's play or attitude tonight.

[Adelaide Celt]

Rondo's ankle really needed to be iced up straight away

Time to give him a week or two off I think. Nate will go just fine starting.

Incredible win...

[Spicoli]

Rondo was bad tonight, despite the assist numbers. Nate will fill in admirably. Great win, great job C's!

[snively]

Donny Marshall: "and Rondo had a great game tonight"

Does he even watch the games?

Rondo played as well as he could have given his injury situation, but anyone could see he was hurting the team.

I only saw the fourth, but Rondo played well once he checked back in.

He wasn't himself but he was solid on D and moved the ball well to other scorers.

what I saw was Rondo's man penetrating at will after he checked back in, and Rondo making some bad passes and turnovers in key moments down the stretch.

Rondo was on Fields for most of the 4th and Fields didn't do a thing (not that the Knicks even looked at him).  Felton did the majority of his damage against Nate and Ray. 

But doesn't that tell you something?

Why wasn't Rondo - the best PG defender - not guarding Felton who was hurting us the majority of the night?

Something was up with Rondo tonight. Too many bad passes, unwilling to put up shots near the rim, and his attitude in general.

The second he went down with an injury, I thought he was faking. The Knicks broadcast said moments before that that he and Doc disagreed about him going back in the game. Then I saw the play and he did roll it. But then to come back minutes later made me think he took a few minutes off for spite.

Not happy with Rondo's play or attitude tonight.

You really think Rondo took a few minutes off for spite?

[barefacedmonk]

Thrilling game...but Rondo's health is a worry now.

Per Sherrod Blakely's twitter:

Pierce said there's a "slim chance" that #celtics rajon rondo will play vs. #hawks tomorrow.

...and this from Gary Washburn's twitter:

Rajon Rondo said he is going to try to play tomorrow vs. ATL, but conventional wisdom has him out until Sun vs. IND #celtics

[ejk3489]

Donny Marshall: "and Rondo had a great game tonight"

Does he even watch the games?

Rondo played as well as he could have given his injury situation, but anyone could see he was hurting the team.

I only saw the fourth, but Rondo played well once he checked back in.

He wasn't himself but he was solid on D and moved the ball well to other scorers.

what I saw was Rondo's man penetrating at will after he checked back in, and Rondo making some bad passes and turnovers in key moments down the stretch.

Rondo was on Fields for most of the 4th and Fields didn't do a thing (not that the Knicks even looked at him).  Felton did the majority of his damage against Nate and Ray.  

But doesn't that tell you something?

Why wasn't Rondo - the best PG defender - not guarding Felton who was hurting us the majority of the night?

Something was up with Rondo tonight. Too many bad passes, unwilling to put up shots near the rim, and his attitude in general.

The second he went down with an injury, I thought he was faking. The Knicks broadcast said moments before that that he and Doc disagreed about him going back in the game. Then I saw the play and he did roll it. But then to come back minutes later made me think he took a few minutes off for spite.

Not happy with Rondo's play or attitude tonight.

I think that's going a little too far. If anything he shouldn't have come back in the game at all.

http://twitpic.com/3gas0w

That must have hurt badly...

[Adelaide Celt]

Heart breaker for the Knicks. Wouldn't surprise me if this match sends them on a downward spiral for the next week or so. Some tough games coming for them.

[CelticSooner]

I hope they beat the Heat on Friday but their run and gun style will play right into Miami's hands.

[celticinorlando]

honestly...nate will be fine until rondo comes back. nate has played super when rondo sits. and i think the knicks are about to hit reality

[Bahku]

Watching the replay on Comcast for the first time ... there are some really horrendous calls in this game ... looks like Amar'e is one of the new guys the NBA wants to stroke.

Oh man, Rondo rolled his ankle really badly ... way beyond the usual mis-step ... although he is putting pressure on it, (good sign). Just what we needed!

[Bahku]

Time for the Shrek and Donkey show!!