C's Head to Philly

by CelticBalla32 on Dec 5, 2007 11:03 AM EST in Boston Celtics Games

(14-2) @ (5-12)

Wednesday, December 5
7:00 PM ET
TV: CSN
Wachovia Center

The 14-2 Boston Celticshave won three straight games after losing a tough one in Cleveland on November 27, and the men in green will look to extend that winning streak with a win on the road tonight. Victim #17 is division rival Philadelphia 76ers, who have dropped six of their last eight games and stand at the bottom of the Atlantic Division with a 5-12 overall record. The body language hasn’t been positive, the excitement isn’t there, and the young supporting cast Billy King has put together simply hasn’t stepped up to prove their worthwhile.

Speaking of Billy King, his days as Philadelphia’s President and General Manager have come to an end. The 76ers organization fired King yesterday to replace him with former New Jersey Nets General Manager Ed Stefanski. The timing of this move was rather odd and sudden, but many 76ers fans will tell you it was a long time coming.Read More

Projected Starters

C Kendrick Perkins / Samuel Dalembert
PF Kevin Garnett / Reggie Evans
SF Paul Pierce / Andre Iguodala
SG Ray Allen / Willie Green
PG Rajon Rondo / Andre Miller

Key Matchup: Paul Pierce vs. Andre Iguodala

Iguodala has a history of disrupting Pierce’s game with his athleticism, length, and anticipation skills. From his rookie year to now, he has frustrated The Truth on the court and has even come out to the papers and publicly stated that he knows how to defend him. This time, however, Paul Pierce isn’t the only thing to pay attention to. If you lock him up, you still have two Hall of Fame level problems in Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. It’ll be interesting to see if Iguodala continues to bother the captain, but will his teammates step up with him?

Celtics X-Factor: Rajon Rondo

If you allow them to, Philadelphia will score buckets in transition, and they will finish with loud slams to get the crowd going. Rajon Rondo needs to control the pace of the game and make sure he doesn’t allow Andre Miller to ignite the break multiple times. That’s the only way Philadelphia has a chance of making this a game. If Rondo can control the pace of the game and play good transition defense, the C’s should be in good shape.

Injury Report

PHI – Herbert Hill (recovering from left knee surgery)

Celtics Keys to the Game

Control the Tempo
Keep Philly’s Transition Game Limited
Ball Movement
Limit Turnovers

Tweet Comment 8 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

from the Globe:

The Celtics and Sixers will kick off the NBA’s Heritage Week a bit early tonight. (The week, which features teams wearing throwback jerseys, actually is scheduled to start Friday.) They will both wear throwback jerseys tonight. The Celtics also will wear their home throwback jerseys Friday against Toronto. (The Raptors don’t qualify for throwback jersey week.) The Celtics will wear the throwback jerseys four more times this season: against the Lakers Dec. 30, against Detroit Jan. 5, against the Knicks Jan. 21, and against the Sixers again March 10. All four games are roadies for Boston

what will our throwbacks look like? Just shorter shorts? :P

by Jeff Clark on Dec 5, 2007 12:38 PM EST reply actions

Good thing they’re not wearing their throwback SHORTS!

Ha ha ha.

Imagine KG in those little things?

Ew.

Anyway, Philly is a dump.
Their fans are obnoxious.
And their sports teams are perennial losers.

Celtics ‘should’ smoke the Sixers tonight like a pack of unfiltered Lucky Strikes.

Go Green.

by mcpu40 on Dec 5, 2007 12:53 PM EST reply actions

what will our throwbacks look like? Just shorter shorts?

I think I speak for everybody when I say thank God Scal doesn’t have to wear short shorts.

by CelticBalla32 on Dec 5, 2007 1:02 PM EST reply actions

I think I speak for everybody when I say thank God Scal doesn’t have to wear short shorts.

ewwwwwww that’s something I don’t want to contemplate.

by FLCeltsFan @ CelticsBlog on Dec 5, 2007 1:12 PM EST reply actions

(The Raptors don’t qualify for throwback jersey week.)

What about these?

by Celts1485 on Dec 5, 2007 1:27 PM EST reply actions

I lived in the City of Brotherly Love for a while, and I liked it.. Boston fans just happen to be better than anyone and you guys get spoiled. I’ve been mildly concerned that, already, fans are getting too quiet and ASSUMING a win. Not a good idea….It’s very important to remember how charged up this new team gets when the crowd is behind them. You guys who get to go to games – - don’t forget to SCREAM!!!

by johnnymost on Dec 5, 2007 1:49 PM EST reply actions

No worries johnnymost, the Garden has been jumpin’ lately. Fans have been screaming, although not so much in the second half because it’s always a 20-point game.

I can’t wait to see what this place is like come playoff time. I remember “The Jungle” era, but I need to hear it again.

by CelticBalla32 on Dec 5, 2007 2:43 PM EST reply actions

Theoretically, Philly’s guys will be fired up tonight to show the new boss that they are part of the solution and should be kept. Louis Williams is a handful and will be tough to defend with our second unit. Jason Smith is a good-looking rookie 7-footer, judging by the two times I’ve seen him play.

by lemonadesky on Dec 5, 2007 6:24 PM EST reply actions