Celtics Continue Road Trip in Utah

by FLCeltsFan @ CelticsBlog on Dec 29, 2007 10:25 AM EST in Boston Celtics Games

Update: Join us in the chat room early if you want to chat about the Pats game.

Boston Celtics (24-3) at Utah Jazz (16-14)
Saturday, December 29
9:00 PM ET
Game # 28, Road Game #13
TV: NBA LP ch 757, KJZZ, CSN
Sirius 130
Energy Solutions Arena (formerly the Delta Center)

Chat l Game Thread

Jazz Coverage Basketball John l All Jazzed Up

The Celtics are playing their 3rd game in 4 nights but had the night before off. The Jazz are playing the second of back to back games so fatigue could be a factor for both teams. Bench play will be important in this game for both teams. The Jazz were manhandled by the Lakers last night 123-109 and will be looking to bounce back from that loss.

Utah has a winning record at 16-14 but are just 3-7 in their last 10 games. They are 10-2 at home though and will be a tough team to face in their own building in spite of their recent slump. This game is considered the first real test for the Celtics as the first two teams they played on the trip aren't considered contenders. In spite of the wins over the Kings and the Sonics, if the Celtics lose to the Jazz and Lakers, the questions about the Celtics will remain.

More after the Jump

Probable Starting Matchups

PG Rajon Rondo vs Deron Williams

SG Ray Allen vs Ronnie Brewer

SF Paul Pierce vs Andre Kirilenko

PF Kevin Garnett vs Carlos Boozer

C Kendrick Perkins vs Mehmet Okur

Key Matchups
Vs

Rajon Rondo PPG 9.8 | APG 5.2 | SPG 1.9
Deron Williams PPG 19.8 | APG 8.8 | SPG 1.2
Williams is a very good young point guard who is a scoring threat along with being able to find the open man. This will be a challenge for Rondo to defend him. He is also a good defender and Rondo will need to make him stay at home on defense or he will be able to double off Rondo to make things difficult for the other starters.

Kevin Garnett PPG 18.7 | RPG 10.3 | BPG 1.5
Carlos Boozer PPG 24.6 | RPG 11.6 | BPG 0.6
Boozer leads the Jazz in points and rebounds and KG will need to concentrate on defending him along with making him work on the other end of the floor as well.

Keys to the game
Play Defense. The Jazz have 5 players who are averaging double figures in scoring. The Celtics will need to defend both inside and on the perimeter as they are dangerous both inside and out. They will especially need to stop Boozer and Williams.
Ball movement. When the Celtics move the ball and move without the ball to get open, they are very efficient offensively. When they resort to ISO's and try to do too much individually, they struggle.
Limit turnovers. Against the Sonics, the Celtics committed only 5 turnovers and that helped them to pull out a game in which they shot only 39% from the floor. As the starters get fatigued their shooting percentage will go down and they will need to improve in other areas like limiting turnovers to pull out the win. Limiting turnovers will also limit the Jazz' fast break points.
Bench play Playing in their 3rd game in 4 nights, fatigue may be a factor and the bench will need to step up and contribute to allow the starters to get some rest.

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Comments

Other keys to the game: PP and Rondo must get into the paint and finish or kick out to the 3 pt shooters. The Jazz has trouble stopping penetration and defending the 3, which are strengths of the Celtics. Should be a big game for PP and the 3 pt shooters.

by Bankshot on Dec 29, 2007 11:55 AM EST reply actions

The Lakers absolutely demolished the Jazz last night.

by Brickowski on Dec 29, 2007 12:03 PM EST reply actions

The Lakers are going to be scary by the end of the year is Bynum stays on current trajectory.
Utah looks like a good team. Don’t know what the problem is. Should be good test.
What’s with BBD’s minutes? It’s good to get Pollard servicable but BBD does make good things happen. Hopefully we’ll see him tonight. And, Tony should be rounding into his game but isn’t for some reason.

by Wildblu1 on Dec 29, 2007 12:18 PM EST reply actions

Utah just traded for Kyle Korver but I can’t imagine he plays tonight.

by Byrdman on Dec 29, 2007 1:19 PM EST reply actions

the trade won’t mean much as Giracek wasn’t playing these days anyway and Korver probably won’t play tonight

looks like a nice cost cutting move on the part of the Sixers – they drop Korver’s long term salary for an expiring contract and a pick

the Jazz get their own Eddie House

makes sense to me

by Jeff Clark on Dec 29, 2007 2:08 PM EST reply actions

i thought the c’s were going to draft brewer- a good player. when perk is not in the game there are practically no offensive boards. kirilenko is a good player but is kg lite.

by nazzbo on Dec 29, 2007 3:04 PM EST reply actions

The lack of O boards, the occasional over-reliance on outside jump shooting (and all that means for the opposition transition opportunities) and the beating the Cs took underneath the last two games all speak to the need for Doc to give BBD some minutes….Yo, Doc….what’s up…..uhhh Doc?

by Rick Robeys Return on Dec 29, 2007 3:30 PM EST reply actions

I think Baby should get a little time on Boozer and could help on Millsap. I think this will be a good game. I don’t think the Jazz defense is good enough to stop us….

by liam on Dec 29, 2007 4:42 PM EST reply actions

Liam…hadn’t thought of Baby on Boozer…could be an interesting match-up, and fun to say..hopefully we can jump on them early and rest the starters for the Lakers..

by Fastbreak on Dec 29, 2007 6:57 PM EST reply actions

I think the more likely matchup of bigs will be Perk against Boozer and Garnett with Okur. Perk will do better in interior while KG’s length will be needed with perimeter D on Okur for the outside shot.

I would also like to see BBD get a little run against Boozer.8)

by billysan on Dec 29, 2007 7:13 PM EST reply actions