Suns (36-28) at Celtics (22-43) Game #66 3/14/14

[FLCeltsFan]

at
Phoenix Suns (36-28) at Boston Celtics (22-43)
Friday, March 14, 2014
7:30 PM ET
Regular Season Game #66, Home Game #35
TV: CSN-NE,FSAZ, NBA-LP 759(DTV)/756(Xfinity)
Radio: WBZ, Sports AZ
TD Garden



Probable Starters

PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Jerryd Bayless


C:  Kris Humphries


SF: Jeff Green
PF: Brandon Bass
 
Celtics Reserves
Kelly Olynyk
Jerryd Bayless
Joel Anthony
Chris Johnson
Kris Humphries
Phil Pressey
Chris Babb

Injuries
Keith Bogans (personal) out
Vitor Faverani (knee) out
Gerald Wallace (knee,ankle)  out
Avery Bradley (ankle) day to day




Probable Starters

PG: Goran Dragic
SG: Gerald Green


C: Miles Plumlee


SF: PJ Tucker
PF: Channing Frye

Suns Reserves
Markieff Morris
Marcus Morris
Alex Len
Ish Smith
Dionte Christmas
Archie Goodwin
Eric Bledsoe

Injuries
Leandro Barbosa (hand) out
Emeka Okafor (neck) out

Game Notes
The Celtics host the slumping Phoenix Suns who handed the Celtics a 100-94 loss in their first game back after the All Star game.  When they last played, the Suns were the 7th seed and just a half a game out of the 6th seed in the west.  Since that time, they have slipped out of playoff position and are 9th in the west, 2 games behind the 8th seeded Mavericks. 

Both teams are 3-7 in their last 10 games.  The Suns have lost their last 3 games while the Celtics are on a 2 game skid.  The Celtics are 14-20 at home while the Suns are 14-15 on the road.  The Suns are playing in the first of a 3 game road trip that will take them into Toronto and Brooklyn also. 

The Celtics are hoping to get Avery Bradley back for this game which would give them a boost, especially on the defensive end.  The Suns got Eric Bledsoe back into their lineup on Wednesday after he missed 33 games with a knee injury.  Former Celtic Leandro Barbosa will miss the game with a hand injury while another former Celtic, Dionte Christmas comes off their bench.   

Key Matchups
vs
Rajon Rondo vs Goran Dragic
Dragic has been playing very well for the Suns. He is averaging 20.6 points, 6.2 assists and 1.35 steals. This will be a fun matchup to watch.

vs
Jerryd Bayless vs Gerald Green
Former Celtic Gerald Green has put up some big dunks this season and is playing well enough to start for the Suns. He is averaging 15.6 points and 3.5 rebounds this season. Players always give a little extra to beat the teams that traded them in the past and so expect a big game from Gerald in this one.

Keys to the Game
Play 48 Minutes - The Celtics tend to have periods in the game where they can't make shots, let up on defense and turn the ball over. They have to find a way to be more consistent and play strong for all 48 minutes.

Rebound - Much of rebounding is effort and desire. The Celtics need to do both if they hope to get a win in this game. The Suns are averaging 20.5 fast break points per game since the break. The Celtics will need to crash the boards to prevent second chance and fast break points from the Suns.

Be Aggressive - The Celtics must be aggressive in going after loose balls, taking the ball to the hoop and playing in your face defense. When they get lazy and allow teams to beat them to loose balls and rebounds and when they settle for jumpers and don't go to the basket, they are very beatable. They have to be the more aggressive team from the opening tip to the final buzzer.

Defend the Perimeter - The Suns are third in the league with 9.4 3-point makes per game. The Knicks killed the Celtics from beyond the arc and the Celtics must defend the Suns beyond the arc to prevent them from hitting those long distance bombs.

Take Care of the Ball - The Celtics need to take care of the ball and limit their turnovers because the Suns will turn any turnovers into fast break points.

X-Factors
Pride and Motivation
The Celtics are playing for pride while the Suns are playing to make the playoffs.  Will the Celtics pride be enough to get them past a motivated Suns team?

[SHAQATTACK]

Good job !   TP

Go Celtics 

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

Win time!!!!!!!!!!!!! Let's do it for the kids, everybody (except me) loves the kids!! Let's go!!!!!


GO CELTICS!!!

[Who]

I really dislike seeing both Bass + Humphries starting.

[Who]

The Suns sure are exciting. Lots of speed in transition and great floor spacing in the halfcourt.

[Vox_Populi]

The Suns sure are exciting. Lots of speed in transition and great floor spacing in the halfcourt.

Shame they stopped playing decent defense in February, otherwise I wouldn't have doubted their playoff chances.

[Who]

Bayless looks very one dimensional out there alongside multi-dimensional guards like Eric Bledsoe, Goran Dragic and Rajon Rondo.

Not trying to pick on him. He just really stands out.

[Who]

Bradley is back!

[Who]

Wow, Dragic just flew past Rondo like he wasn't even there.

[Vox_Populi]

This is going to be a long night if we expect Bayless or Rondo to stay in front of Dragić.

[Who]

Oh nice pass by Pressey through a crowd to Humphries for the fastbreak dunk.

[Celtics18]

Come on, Abby!!

Enough with the homeless children lady.  We've got something important to watch here. 

[Who]

Crazy game. Such a high tempo. End to end.

[Chief]

Maybe I'm  wrong but the Celtics might have more talent than the Suns.

[hwangjini_1]

Well, that was one craptastic display of basketball to end the quarter.