Posey Returns to the Scene of the Crimes as Celtics Visit Chicago

by FLCeltsFan @ CelticsBlog on Dec 8, 2007 11:15 AM EST in Boston Celtics Games

Boston Celtics (16-2) at Chicago Bulls (6-11)

Saturday, December 8
Regular season game #19, Away game #9
TV: NBA LP ch 755, WGN, CSN
United Center

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The Celtics travel to Chicago to take on the 6-11 Bulls but shouldn't look at their record and take them for granted. The Celtics lead the Bulls 101-83 in the all time series between these two teams but the Bulls have won the last 8 games between them. The Bulls have started out slowly but they are a dangerous team. They beat the Pistons in Detroit and are capable of beating any team, including the Celtics, on any given night. The Celtics will need to bring their A-game to win this one.

The Bulls are a very good rebounding team. Over their last 5 games they have out rebounded their opponents 247-178 overall and 85-45 on the offensive end. The Celtics are going to have to work hard to grab rebounds or the Bulls will kill us on second chance points. Much of rebounding is effort and the Celtics will need to put out the effort to keep the Bulls from beating them on the boards.

Both teams are playing in the second of back to back games and both had to travel to get to the game. The Celtics had an easy game against the Raptors and the starters all played 28 minutes or less in the game. The Bulls won a tight game against Detroit with their starters having to play big minutes. Heinrich played 42 minutes, Deng played 38 minutes and Wallace played 36 miinutes. The Celtics could run them and make fatigue a factor in this game.

A sub-plot to this game is James Posey's relationship with Chicago. Since 2006, he has been involved in 4 different incidents involving hard fouls on Bulls' players. You can see a summary of these incidents as well as video clips here .

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More After the Jump

Starting Matchups

PG: Rajon Rondo vs Kirk Hinrich

SG: Ray Allen vs Ben Gordon

SF: Paul Pierce vs Luol Deng

PF: Kevin Garnett vs Joe Smith

C: Kendrick Perkins vs Ben Wallace

Key Matchups

Paul Pierce PPG 20.9 | RPG 5.4 | APG 5.2
Luol Deng PPG 17.7 | RPG 6.6 | APG 1.5

Kendrick Perkins PPG 7.6 | RPG 5.1 | BPG 1.4
Ben Wallace PPG 4.6 | RPG 8.5 | BPG 1.4

Keys to the Game
1. Rebound. The Bulls are 6th in the NBA in rebounds and 1st in offensive rebounds. The Celtics need to concentrate on boxing out and beating the Bulls to the boards.

2. Energy for 48 Minutes. In several games the Celtics have either started out strong and then fizzled, losing big leads or they have come out sluggish and just barely pulled out the win. In the second of back to back games, fatigue can be a factor, but both teams played the night before and the Celtics have the advantage of playing fewer minutes. The Celtics need to play hard for 48 minutes and build a lead and keep it.

3. Defense. The Bulls can hurt you both inside and out. Perk will need to keep Wallace out of the paint and off the boards. The Celtics will also need to defend on the perimeter as the Bulls have several weapons from the outside as well.

4. Take Care of the Ball. The Celtics had 20 turnovers last night against the Raptors. Turnovers have been a problem all season so far and they need to work on limiting them because against the elite teams, those turnovers will come back to haunt them. If the Celtics turn the ball over, the Bulls are capable of capitalizing on those turnovers and making the Celtics pay for them.

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Comments

The next two weeks will tell us how good these Celtics are. Chicago, Toronto, Detroit, Orlando, and the Bulls again. I think they are destined for greatness. This defense is the greatest bellwether for how far this team will get into the playoffs.

by johnnymost on Dec 8, 2007 12:21 PM EST reply actions

Totally forgot about the Posey thing until now. Chicago has intense, knowledgeable fans so I doubt they let him forget about it…

by tb727 on Dec 8, 2007 1:55 PM EST reply actions

Geez. Is Perk a slightly less expensive alternative to Wallace with pretty much identical numbers?

by iowa plowboy on Dec 8, 2007 1:58 PM EST reply actions

Iowa Plowboy- I was thinking the exact same thing looking at that ;)

by tb727 on Dec 8, 2007 2:04 PM EST reply actions

Looking at those Posey moments, the one against Hinrich was a cheap shot. The one with Thomas breaking his nose seemed totally in the context of the game, and the one with Deng I don’t think was nearly as bad as the announcers made it out to seem- Deng had the ball above his head and Posey seemed to be going for his arm- not his head, which would be an automatic ejection.

by tb727 on Dec 8, 2007 2:11 PM EST reply actions

For anybody who’s watched the Bulls play a game this season. Their offense is soooo ugly. This is the type of team the C’s should shut down, completely. They’re one dimesional… all jumpshooters and no drivers excepting Nocioni, who’s their best player. The C’s simply have to play tough D and limit the Bulls to one shot and this will be a blowout.

Chicago’s D is pretty good but we’ve got too many weapons, inside and out.

by alchemist on Dec 8, 2007 4:22 PM EST reply actions

Take downs like the Deng incident are imo the fault of the guy going for the dunk probably 95% of the time. Wade, for example, is always out of control going out of the rim. I guess you’re just not allowed to defend him or anyone when they jump full speed like that.

by Nerf MVP on Dec 8, 2007 4:29 PM EST reply actions

The Bulls should be starting to feel better about themselves after beating their big rival last night in Detroit. The more minutes Joakim Noah gets, the better they will play. A lot of people were down on him because of what he supposedly cannot do, but he’s a winner and very intense (like KG). This will be a tough one to win for the Celtics. I wouldn’t be wagering on the Green.

by lemonadesky on Dec 8, 2007 6:05 PM EST reply actions

Yes I love Noah too. He was the guy I would have wanted with that 5th pick if we went the other way. I really like Noah, Skiles has to play him more. Quality player.

by Who on Dec 8, 2007 6:09 PM EST reply actions

doc has been doing a much better job resting his big 3, especially ray- which hopefully results in some good d and a win today. last year i saw that 0-18 spell and who would believe 16-2, even after the trades. what a turnaround after all that suffering.

by nazzbo on Dec 8, 2007 6:49 PM EST reply actions