Celtics Face Test as Mavs Come to Town

by FLCeltsFan @ CelticsBlog on Jan 31, 2008 9:28 AM EST in Boston Celtics Games

Dallas Mavericks (31-13) at Boston Celtics (35-8)
Thursday, January 31
8:00 PM ET
Game #44, Home Game #24
TV: TNT, SCORE, KTXA
Sirius: 123
TD Banknorth Garden

Chat l Game Thread

Mavericks Coverage: Showboating l Mav's Moneyball

The knock on the Celtics has been that they haven't faced any of the Western powers including the Mavs, Spurs, Hornets or Suns. This is their first chance at the Mavs and it doesn't look like they will be at full strength. The Celtics blew out the Heat without KG or Ray Allen, but the Mavs are a different story. Without KG to defend Dirk it is going to be a tough game for the Celtics. However, if they can play defense like they did against the Heat and if the Bench can come through again, they can be competitive even without KG.

The Mavericks have been playing very good basketball and come into this game on a 4 game win streak. If the Celtics want to get the asterisk removed from their record, they need to win the games against the league's top teams. The Mavs have won 7 in a row against the Celtics and last lost in Boston on 12/17/03. Even if the Celtics get a lead on the Mavs, they can't let up as the Mavericks have come back from double digit deficits 6 times already this season.

The Mavericks are 11-10 on the road and 8-2 in their last 10 games. They would be a tough matchup even with the team at full strength but with KG at less than 100% and Ray Allen coming off the flu, it is going to be an uphill fight for the Celtics.

More after the Jump

Probable Starting Matchups

PG: Rajon Rondo vs Jason Terry

SG: Tony Allen vs Eddie Jones

SF: Paul Pierce vs Josh Howard

PF: Brian Scalabrine vs Dirk Nowitski (it pains me to type this)

C: Kendrick Perkins vs Erick Dampier

Injuries

Celtics
Scot Pollard, ankle, day to day
Kevin Garnett, AB strain, day to day
Ray Allen, flu, probable

Mavericks

Jerry Stackhouse, hamstring, out

Devin Harris, ankle, out

Key Matchups
Vs

Rajon Rondo PPG 9.6 | APG 4.6 | SPG 1.8
PG: Jason Terry PPG 15.1 | APG 3.3 | SPG 1.1
Rondo has been playing very aggressive basketball with KG out. He has been taking it to the hoop and using his speed to the team's advantage. This should be a good matchup and hopefull Rondo will continue his aggressive play in this game.

Paul Pierce PPG 20.1 | RPG 5.7 | APG 5
Josh Howard PPG 20.9 | RPG 7.5 | APG 2.1
Pierce had an off game against the Heat and should bounce back with a big game in this one. Howard is one of the key players for the Mavs and Pierce will have to try to contain him.

Honorable Mention
Brian Scalabrine vs Dirk Nowitski. Celtics.com has Scal starting at Power forward. Doc said that if KG could play he would. With the Celtics off 4 days after this game, it could go either way. They could play him if he is moving well, figuring that he can rest 4 days before the next game, or they could keep him out figuring that the longer rest would be best for the strain to heal. A healthy KG would match up very well with Dirk. Scal would give the Mavs a mismatch to exploit.

Keys to the Game
Be AggressiveThe Celtics were very aggressive against the Heat, running the ball up the court at every opportunity and hustling for loose balls. They need to continue to be aggressive whether or not KG and Ray play.

Offense The Celtics were hitting their shots both inside and out against the Heat. The Mavs will play much better defense, though and the Celtics need to run their defense and hit those shots even against pressure and tougher defense. They had great ball movement and they have to continue that in spite of more pressure.

Defense The Celtics need to get back to their swarming defense. We saw it against the Heat and if they play the same kind of defense against the Mavs it will give them a good chance at winning this game.

Point Guard Rajon Rondo needs to continue being aggressive in taking the ball to the basket as well as getting up the floor quickly. If they can run as they did against the Heat, they have a very good chance of winning this game.

X-Factor

Kevin Garnett - The X-factor in this game will be whether KG will play or not. With KG to matchup with Dirk, it gives the Celtics an advantage. But, with Scal on Dirk, the advantage goes to the Mavs.

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Comments

Good luck to the C’s tonight.
With KG out of the lineup, if they win I’ll be a little amazed.

by mcpu40 on Jan 31, 2008 10:30 AM EST reply actions

I really don’t think it makes sense for KG to play just this one game, what with the all-star break coming up and the potential to rest for many more days. Lets not aggravate a small injury by coming back too early (as KG will want to do).

Remember when Manny Ramirez and Okajima rested up for awhile from injuries during the Sox 2007 season? Probably helped during the playoffs.

by youngcrv on Jan 31, 2008 10:31 AM EST reply actions

Great job on the preview as always, FL.

I agree that aggressiveness is the biggest key to success tonight. Golden State caused a lot of matchup problems in last year’s playoffs, but they were also extremely aggressive at all times. If you toughen up and muscle them a bit, they can and will fold.

With that said, they are a terrific basketball team and this is a pretty big game. If KG plays tonight – great, it’ll make a better game. If not – good, get extra rest and make sure you’re 100%. I am anticipating KG to suit up tonight, though. I just can’t envision him allowing any living thing to tell him “no” 3 times in a row.

by CelticBalla32 on Jan 31, 2008 10:53 AM EST reply actions

Any idea on who has the TNT announcing gig tonight?
Marv/Kevin Harlan/Dick Stockton?

by MBurke15 on Jan 31, 2008 11:24 AM EST reply actions

My concern?
Look for Scal to log in about 35mins or more. For whatever reason, Doc thinks Scal is our best defender on Dirk.

In short if Scal>25mins, then there is no hope.

Hint for Doc: play JPosey on Dirk >:(

by cocofan on Jan 31, 2008 11:35 AM EST reply actions

I don’t think this game is that important and is definitely not worth playing KG or Ray regardless of how they feel. After tonite it’s about 5 days to the next game so let these guys get right. In one of yesterday’s links Mike Gorman made the acute observation that we play only one Western Division Team in the playoffs/finals. It’s more important for us to be able to beat competing Eastern Division teams. We need to get thru them to get to the finals. The Mav’s may not even be in the finals so what’s the big deal about tonite?

by TrueGreen on Jan 31, 2008 11:38 AM EST reply actions

Holy crap……

No KG = Dirk going for 60.

Put T.A. or Posey on him so he can’t put it on the floor!!! Pray he misses his jumpshots.

by CelticRebel on Jan 31, 2008 11:47 AM EST reply actions

WHAT THE…

WHYYY do we never start posey??? he is one of the main reasons that the heat won in the finals a couple years ago!

anyone else remember his well played defense on dirk in that series?

start posey…please.

by screwedupmaniac on Jan 31, 2008 12:00 PM EST reply actions

This could be tough to watch.

by Bleedgreen on Jan 31, 2008 12:50 PM EST reply actions

relax…Scal will own Dirk..till he fouls out…then Powe and Davis and I believe I heard Clifford has been activated..still..the Cs can win this one..

by Fastbreak on Jan 31, 2008 1:19 PM EST reply actions

Agreed. Posey should start and guard Dirk. Lets give Perk some big minutes too. What’s the Pollard situation? Determine quickly if Jesus is there and use Tony if not. If Paul, Rondo and Perk are clicking we have a chance.

by GreenBalls on Jan 31, 2008 2:57 PM EST reply actions

I could see Doc experimenting with Powe on Dirk for a bit. Powe might have the best combination of toughness, lateral quickness, and length to mathup against Dirk defensively. Or maybe not, but it’s worth a try.

by Toine43 on Jan 31, 2008 5:28 PM EST reply actions