Pacers (9-1) at Celtics (4-9) Game 14 11/22

[FLCeltsFan]

  at 
Indiana Pacers (10-1) at Boston Celtics (4-9)
Friday, November 22
7:30 PM ET
Regular Season Game #14, Home Game #6
TV: CSNNE, FSI, NBA-LP 756(DTV)/755(xfinity)
Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, 1070 The Fan, WBZ
TD Garden


Probable Starting Lineups
Point Guard
vs
Jordan Crawford vs George Hill

Shooting Guard
vs
Avery Bradley vs Lance Stephenson

Small Forward
vs
Jeff Green vs Paul George

Power Forward
vs
Jared Sullinger vs David West

Center
vs
Kelly Olynyk vs Roy Hibbert




Celtics Reserves
MarShon Brooks
Kris Humphries
Vitor Faverani
Phil Pressey
Courtney Lee
Keith Bogans
Gerald Wallace
Brandon Bass

Injuries
Rajon Rondo (ACL)out


Pacers Reserves
Luis Scola
Orlando Johnson
Chris Copeland
Ian Mahinmi
CJ Watson
Rasual Butler
Solomon Hill
Donald Sloan

Injuries
Danny Granger (calf) out

Game Notes
The Celtics host the Pacers for the first of 4 meetings between these two teams this season.  The Pacers lead the East with a 10-1 record and are playing very well. The Celtics swept the series last season and have won 4 in a row vs the Pacers.  They have also won 9 of the last 10 in Boston.

 The Pacers return their whole starting 5 from last season, which gives them a distinct advantage over teams like the Celtics who are still trying to mesh new players together.  The Pacers starters are all scoring in double figures. 

Both teams last played on Wednesday and both are playing in the first of back to back games.  The Celtics are 2-3 at home while the Pacers are 4-1 on the road. 

The Chat Room will be rocking on game night so be sure to check it out and don't miss the CLNS Post Game Show immediately after the game.  Links to both will be in the game thread on the front page.

Key Matchups
vs
Jeff Green vs Paul George
Paul George is playing very well this season, averaging 24 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.7 blocks.  Jeff Green will need to work on the defensive end to try to contain him.  It would be good for Jeff to have a big night offensively to make George work on the defensive end as well.

vs
Kelly Olynyk vs Roy Hibbert 
Roy Hibbert is a nightmare for pretty much anyone to match up with and the Celtics only choices here are two rookies. Stevens said after the Spurs game that he liked the Sullinger/Olynyk pairing but he may go with Faverani since he has a bit more muscle to deal with Hibbert, who is averaging 11.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and an incredible 4.4 blocks per game. 

Keys to the Game
Run on Every Possession - The only hope that the Celtics have of getting easy shots would be to run every time they have the ball.  They can't win in a half court game with the Pacers.

Go to the Hoop - When the Celtics attacked the basket against the Spurs, they were able to stay with them.  When they lapsed into shooting jumpers, they fell behind.  The Celtics have to try to get into the paint on every possession.

Move the Ball and Find the Open Man - The Celtics play better when they move the ball and make the extra pass.  When the guards over dribble and the ball sticks, they become very predictable and end up going into scoring droughts. 

Energy and Focus - The Celtics need to be the team that wants to win more.  They have to attack and run and play with more energy than the Pacers if they want to win. 

X-Factors
Home and Effort
The Celtics are home and should get a boost from the home team.  The Pacers may take the Celtics for granted and look past them to their game on Saturday and if the Celtics put out the effort,  they may be able to sneak this one out.   

[LatterDayCelticsfan]

Bold Predictions: Jeff Green takes more shots than Avery Bradley, Jared Sullinger gets 5 offensive rebounds/putbacks, Larry Bird Makes time out of his busy schedule to say something motivational to the Celtics squad. 

[bello_man09]

Jeff needs to be aggressive!!!

[McHales Pits]

4-10. Don't be a hero...

[beklog]

Avery Bryant will shoot through the Pacer's defense

[hwangjini_1]

thanks flc for the thread. tp.

i hope the celtics play as they did against SA. good hustle, short spurts of outstanding scoring and defense. i will watch to see if the celtics are building consistency on offense and defense.

the win? nice, but not necessary. i want to see the team growing.

lets see if olynyk can avoid fouling out against hibbert, ha ha. who knows? match up may go the celtics' way.

goooooooo celtics!!!!

[BleedGreen1989]

I could care less how many points Jeff Green gets. I'm anxious to see his defense on Paul George who has been destroying teams.

[TwinTower14]

another good game for the tankers out there....C's will lose by 10-15 in this one...

[SHAQATTACK]

Celtics have 99% chance to lose this game .   .......that could change if perhaps Hibbert breaks his leg stepping of the plane..,  or Sully is abducted by aliens and becomes 7ft . Tall.

These are indeed small glimmers of hope in what is a totally lopsided affair.


Bleeding green,  I refuse believe this team can 't find a way to win.....

Pacers fall asleep in fourth .....wake up to find

Celtics  by. 2 points

[timobusa]

BOLD PREDICTIONS

Avery Bryant has a monster dunk on Roy Hibbert

Jeff Worthy gets 30 points

Jared Malone gets another double double

Kelly Nowitzki hits four 3 pointers

Jordan Rondo gets 12 assists

Vitor O'neal dominates Hibbert

[DesertDweller]

All I want to see is improvement. of course a win would be great but any sign of these guys playing like a team and working hard on defense will make me a happy camper!!!

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

LET'S GO CELTICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

I want to see green show up tonight. CONSISTENCY!

[timobusa]

Another prediction,

Jeff Green Posterizes his fellow Hoya

[letsgoblue86]

Has Bogans even played in a game?