Pelicans (14-16) at Celtics (13-19) Game 33 1/3

[FLCeltsFan]

at
New Orleans Pelicans (14-16) at Boston Celtics (13-19)
Friday, January 3, 2014
7:30 PM ET
Regular Season Game #33 – Home Game #18
TV: CSN-NE, FSNOLA, NBA-LP 755(DTV)/754(Xfinity)
Radio: WBZ, WWL
TD Garden



Probable Starters
Point Guard

Jordan Crawford
Shooting Guard

Avery Bradley
Small Forward

Jeff Green
Power Forward

Center


Celtics Reserves
Kris Humphries
Phil Pressey
Courtney Lee
Gerald Wallace
Keith Bogans
Kelly Olynyk
Vitor Faverani

Injuries
Rajon Rondo (ACL)out

Red Claws
MarShon Brooks



(pretend that says Pelicans)
Probable Starters
Point Guard

Jrue Holiday
Shooting Guard

Eric Gordon
Small Forward

Al Farouq Amino
Power Forward

Ryan Anderson
Center

Anthony Davis

Pelicans Reserves
Tyreke Evans
Greg Stiemsma
Brian Roberts
Anthony Morrow
Alexis Ajinca
Austin Rivers
Darius Miller
Jeff Withey

Injuries
Jason Smith  (shoulder)  questionable

Game Notes
The Celtics host the Pelicans before heading out for their west coast trip.  The Pelicans (or Hornets) have won the last 3 meetings between these two teams.

 The Celtics have lost their last 2 games and 5 of their last 6.  They have fallen to 3.0 games behind the Raptors for the Atlantic Division lead and are now 1/2 game out of the playoffs behind Chicago who leap frogged them into 8th. 

The Pelicans lost their last game and are 4-6 in their last 10 games.  The Celtics are 3-7 in their last 10.  The Celtics are 8-9 at home while the Pelicans are 5-11 on the road.  The Pelicans are in the 10th spot in the west, 4 games out of the playoffs. 

Key Matchups
vs
Avery Bradley vs Eric Gordon
Gordon is averaging 15.4 points, 3.1 assists and 1.4 steals per game this season. He can put up points quickly if he gets open.  Even if he is tired, Avery should be able to contain him, however. 

vs
Jared Sullinger vs Anthony Davis
Davis is a handful and will definitely be a tough matchup for Sully.  He is averaging 19.2 points, 10.3 rebounds and an impressive 3.2 blocks per game. 

Keys to the Game
Play 48 Minutes - The Celtics have got to play all 48 minutes of every game.  They play so well at times and then seem to forget how to play at other times.  They have to figure out how to stop the lapses and play as a team for the whole game.

Move the Ball - The Celtics must do a better job of moving the ball and finding the open man.  They had just 15 assists against the Bulls.  They have to stop over dribbling and get back to passing the ball and getting everyone involved. 

Rebound - The Celtics have to continue to crash the boards as a team.  Rebounding takes effort and the Celtics have to show that effort on the boards. 

Defense - The Celtics seem to go through offensive droughts at times during games and it is essential that they continue to play tough defense to keep the Pelicans from scoring at will during those droughts.

Run and Go to the Hoop - The Celtics need to run on every possession.  They also need to get inside and not settle for outside shots.  When the Celtics build leads, they are running and going to the hoop.  When they lose leads they stop running and settle for outside shots. 

X-Factors
Fatigue and Home
The Celtics are playing in back to back games and so fatigue may become a factor.  The Celtics are playing at home, however, and they may get a boost from the home crowd. 

[LatterDayCelticsfan]

Bold Predictions: Somebody unfurls a massive WELCOME BACK GREG STIEMSMA! Banner in the crowd. Would probably have been me but I won't be at the game, Sullinger to go to war with Anderson at the 3pt line and Davis in the post.

[LarBrd33]

Pelicans are such a fun team to watch.  Anthony Davis is legitimately the second coming of KG.  Or is it the second coming of Duncan?  Dude is a superstar.  He should eat us alive in this game.

I don't totally understand their team, though.  They gave Tyreke Evans 11 mil a year to back up Eric Gordon... and Evans has been playing fairly well.  That really sounds like a team poised for a trade.  I thought paying Green 9 mil a year to come off our bench was a sure sign of Pierce eventually getting moved.   Paying Evans 11 mil... something has to give.  My guess is that they'd give up Eric Gordon for just about anything.

[crownontherocks]

Before tonights game

http://www.celticsblog.com/2014/1/3/5271674/boston-celtics-video-rajon-rondo-intense-resistance-training-on-torn

[jambr380]

Pelicans are such a fun team to watch.  Anthony Davis is legitimately the second coming of KG.  Or is it the second coming of Duncan?  Dude is a superstar.  He should eat us alive in this game.

I don't totally understand their team, though.  They gave Tyreke Evans 11 mil a year to back up Eric Gordon... and Evans has been playing fairly well.  That really sounds like a team poised for a trade.  I thought paying Green 9 mil a year to come off our bench was a sure sign of Pierce eventually getting moved.   Paying Evans 11 mil... something has to give.  My guess is that they'd give up Eric Gordon for just about anything.

Eric Gordon seems like the perfect fit for any team wanting to make the next jump. Like if Danny picked up a very solid center [like Monroe], would it make sense to then go get Gordon on the cheap? There are obvious questions with his health, but it is not every day that you have the opportunity to get a scorer like him for basically expirings / picks...maybe Avery, too, but that would be expected.

[esel1000]

You can tell we're tired

[BleedGreen1989]

I'm starting a movement, feel free to join.

#KeepKrisHumphries

[nickagneta]

Olynyk had to go.  Glad Sully is back in doing his thing

[Mr October]

Love sully's game. Keep working big guy.

[coco]

That's it for KO?

Wow.  I guess Bass is such an important piece we can't do without..

...he's got a pair of hands Tommy says😄

[SCeltic34]

Good to see Steamer getting minutes.  Got absolutely abused by Bass though.

[BleedGreen1989]

That's it for KO?

Wow.  I guess Bass is such an important piece we can't do without..

...he's got a pair of hands Tommy says😄

KO has so much work to do to not be a defensive liability.
 
He just can't defend NBA bigs right now.

[Meadowlark_Scal]

Steamer doin what he could do until DOC broke his confidence......nice going coach.....

[Quetzalcoatl]

Anderson is going to destroy Wallace this game.  His whole game right now is trying to get Wallace to switch onto him and then he just calls for the ball.

[coco]

That's it for KO?

Wow.  I guess Bass is such an important piece we can't do without..

...he's got a pair of hands Tommy says😄

KO has so much work to do to not be a defensive liability.
 
He just can't defend NBA bigs right now.

And still, he gives you more than he takes away. 

There is a reason the ball moves better with the second unit.  There is a reason Humps gets so many touches when KO is out there.

I'd let KO learn on the job and foul out.