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Boston Celtics (28-22) at Minnesota Timberwolves (25-27)
Friday, March 30
8:00 PM ET
Regular Season Game #51, Road Game #25
TV: CSN-NE, FSNN-MN, NBA-LP 763(BOS)/764(MIN)
Radio: WEEI, WCCO-AM
Target Center
Probable Starters 
Probable Starters PG: Rajon Rondo 12.6 PPG 10.7 APG 1.8 SPG
SG: Ray Allen 14.6 PPG 2.5 APG .459 3P%
SF: Paul Pierce 18.9 PPG 5.1 RPG 4.9 APG
PF: Brandon Bass 13.3 PPG 6.5 RPG 1.1 BPG
C: Kevin Garnett 15.4 PPG 8.1 RPG 1.1 BPG
Celtics ReservesMarquis Daniels
Greg Stiemsma
Sasha Pavlovic
Ryan Hollins
Keyon Dooling
JaJuan Johnson
E'Twaun Moore
Avery Bradley
InjuredJermaine O'Neal (wrist) out
Mickael Pietrus (concussion) doubtful
Ray Allen (ankle) game time decision
Greg Stiemsma (feet, thumb) probable
Probable StartersPG
SG 
SF 
PF 
C 
PG: Luke Ridnour 11.8 PPG 4.6 APG 1.0 SPG
SG: Martell Webster 7.0 PPG 0.7 APG .342 3P%
SF: Wesley Johnson 5.9 PPG 2.8 RPG 0.8 APG
PF: Derrick Williams 8.8 PPG 4.9 RPG 0.4 BPG
C: Kevin Love 26.6 PPG 13.9 RPG 0.5 BPG
Wolves Bench Anthony Tolliver
Malcolm Lee
Darko Milicic
Brad Miller
Anthony Randolph
Injuries JJ Barea (thigh) day to day
Michael Beasley (toe) questionable
Nikola Pekovic (ankle) day to day
Ricky Rubio (knee) out
Team ConnectionsKevin Garnett was drafted by and played for the Timberwolves from 1995-2007
Ray Allen was originally drafted by the Timberwolves with the 5th overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft
Michael Beasley and Jermaine O’Neal were teammates in Miami during the later stages of the 2008-09 season and all of the 2009-10 season
Luke Ridnour and Ray Allen were teammates in Seattle from 2004-07
Sasha Pavlovic and Ryan Hollins played with Wayne Ellington, Kevin Love and Darko Milicic on the 2009-10 Timberwolves…
Ryan Hollins, Malcolm Lee and Kevin Love all attended UCLA
Anthony Randolph and Brandon Bass both attended Louisiana State University
Bass and Jose Barea played together for the Mavericks from 2007-09
Darko Milicic and Keyon Dooling were teammates in Orlando from 2005-07…
Game NotesThis is the first and only game between these two franchises. Both teams are fighting for playoff position and both teams have been battling injuries as they try to make their move toward the post season.
The Celtics are sitting seventh in the East and are tied with Philly for the division lead which would vault them into the 4th spot. The Sixers are playing the Wizards on Friday and so the Celtics need to win this one if they want to keep pace. The Celtics are also just 1 game behind Atlanta for the 6th spot and they are 2.5 games ahead of the Knicks for 8th. The Knicks and Hawks play each other on Friday.
The Wolves are in the 11th spot in the West, but they are just 2.5 games back of the 8th spot. The bottom of the Western conference is bunched up with Denver, Utah and Houston tied for the 7th and 8th spots spot 2.5 games ahead of Minnesota. Phoenix sits 1/2 a game in front of Minnesota in 10th spot.
The Celtics have won their last 3 games and the Wolves are coming off a win over the Bobcats and are looking for their second straight win. The Celtics have won the last 9 meetings between these two teams. The Celtics are 7-3 in their last 10 games and the Wolves are 6-4. The Wolves are 13-12 at home while the Celtics are 10-14 on the road.
The Celtics need to win this to keep pace with the Sixers, who are almost certain to beat the tanking Wizards who played the night before. The Wolves depend on Kevin Love's big numbers and if the Celtics can slow him down, they have a good chance in this one.
Key Matchups
vs
Kevin Garnett vs Kevin Love
Kevin Love is a very impressive player. He is averaging 31.3 points per game in March. He pulls down and obscene number of rebounds night in and night out, and he shoots the 3 well enough to win the 3 point contest. KG is going to have his hands full trying to keep Love off his game. But if anyone can do it, it's KG. Love is averaging just over 10 ppg against the Celtics, his lowest average against any team in the NBA.
vs
Rajon Rondo vs Luke Ridnour
Rondo should have a speed advantage over Ridnour. Rondo has been playing very well and will need to set the pace in the game and keep the ball moving. As Rondo goes, so go the Celtics.
Honorable Mention Paul Pierce vs Wesley Johnson
Pierce has been on a roll and is stepping up his game as the Celtics move toward the playoffs. Hopefully he will keep being aggressive and go to the basket and if he does, he should have another big night.
Keys to the GameDefense - The Celtics must defend. They've been playing defense in spurts and that just isn't enough. They have struggled to get stops against teams like the Bobcats and that isn't good. The offense feeds off of the defense and if the Celtics can't get stops they struggle on the other end as well. Minnesota is 5th in scoring (98.9 ppg). The Celtics are 27th (91.4 ppg). The Celtics won't win if they try to outscore the Wolves. They have to play tough defense.
Rebound - The Celtics must get rebounds to prevent second chance points and fast breaks. Rebounding takes effort and desire and the Celtics have got to show both and crash the boards as a team. The Wolves rank 3rd in the league in rebounding, pulling down 44.6 per game. The Celtics are still last, grabbing just 38.2 rebounds per game. The Celtics must be aggressive on the boards or it may get ugly.
Play 48 Minutes - the Celtics have gotten off to a good start in recent games but then they relax and give up a big lead, as they did against the Bobcats and the Jazz in their last 2 games They have to give a solid effort for 48 minutes. They have to eliminate those stretches they have had in recent games where they turn the ball over and go on scoring droughts.
5.
Be Aggressive - The Celtics have to be aggressive in going after loose balls and rebounds and in taking the ball to the basket. They also have to be aggressive on defense. When they are aggressive in going to the hoop good things happen. They must be the more aggressive team and they have to stop depending on jumpers, especially when the jumpers aren't falling.
X-FactorsRoad Game and Injuries
The Celtics are back on the road after just one game at home. They have been playing very well at home and they need to keep their focus and not get side tracked by the officiating if it goes in favor of the home team. Also, both teams have been battling injuries and getting players back from injuries may give the team a boost.
Topic: Celtics (28-22) at Wolves (25-27) 3/30 (Read 14944 times)