Grizz Come to Town

by CelticBalla32 on Jan 4, 2008 12:19 PM EST in Boston Celtics Games

(9-22)

(27-3)

Friday, January 4
7:30 PM ET
TV: CSN
TD BankNorth Garden

Chat | Game Thread

Bonus link: Battle of Brians - Scalabrine vs. Cardinal

Here's an excerpt from 3 Shades of Blue :

Memphis had been reeling of late with successive blowout losses to Houston, New Orleans and San Antonio until the Indiana game. Frankly the Grizzlies were playing some of the worst basketball in the league at the end of the year and things could only improve and did in the Indiana game. Memphis big three of Gay, Gasol and Miller had not been able to put together consistent efforts by even two of the players much less all three on any given night until the Indiana game. More time together under Iavaroni's system can only improve things as the Indiana game showed. The time off gave Conley and Darko further time to heal and they both looked better in the Indiana game especially Conley who started his first game. Not that any of these things should matter in this game. This will be the Grizzlies 3rd consecutive road game and we are talking about Boston in the Garden, I mean Fleet Center, or whatever they call their new digs.

Projected Starters

C Darko Milicic / Kendrick Perkins
PF Pau Gasol / Kevin Garnett
SF Rudy Gay / Paul Pierce
SG Mike Miller / Ray Allen
PG Mike Conley / Rajon Rondo

Key Matchup: Pau Gasol vs. Kevin Garnett

Both are extremely talented finesse big men, who can do some damage inside as well as outside. Gasol usually has problems offensively against the more athletic defenders, however, so it’ll be interesting to see how he responds to Garnett’s elite defensive prowess.

Celtics X-Factor: James Posey

Memphis has a ton of outstanding shooters and talented perimeter players. Posey’s defense is going to be a huge factor to Boston’s success tonight.

Injury Report

MEM – Damon Stoudamire (seeking trade/buyout)

Celtics Keys to the Game

Perimeter Defensive Rotations
Close Out On Shooters
Beam ‘Em Up Inside
Control the Tempo

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Comments

Easy win, Celtics by 22.

by mcpu40 on Jan 4, 2008 1:24 PM EST reply actions

is this blog written by a second grader?

by YouveBeenPierced on Jan 4, 2008 1:34 PM EST reply actions

The danger here is looking ahead to tomorrow’s road trip game in Detroit. Lets take care of business early and rest the starters some in the second half.

by youngcrv on Jan 4, 2008 1:37 PM EST reply actions

YouveBeenPierced said:
is this blog written by a second grader?
==
Why would you say that?

by mcpu40 on Jan 4, 2008 1:39 PM EST reply actions

I don’t think you can look past any team in the NBA. This game will be tougher than most think. The Griz have found a bit of magic with Conley, so don’t be surprised to see this team running at every opportunity.

Rudy Gay is a star in the making, just tough because he plays in a small market.

Conley v Rondo will be a very fun matchup to watch.

by CelticRebel on Jan 4, 2008 1:44 PM EST reply actions

3 Shades of Blue sure likes the word “game”. Very well, then; let’s gamely game this game game, games!

(I am the authority, given my game…er, name.)

by game sink on Jan 4, 2008 1:52 PM EST reply actions

They are going to pound Memphis tonight.
I’ll be shocked if it’s close.

by mcpu40 on Jan 4, 2008 1:55 PM EST reply actions

mcpu40 said:
YouveBeenPierced said:
is this blog written by a second grader?
==
Why would you say that?

I think he means the excerpt from 3 Shades of Blue. It was rather poorly written… Indiana game.

by Big Ticket on Jan 4, 2008 1:57 PM EST reply actions

Quoting a line from the film Jeremiah Johnson……“You ever skin a Grizz?!?!?”

by The Real Large James on Jan 4, 2008 2:40 PM EST reply actions

I will be very interested to see Mike Conley, Jr. vs. Rondo.

by Brickowski on Jan 4, 2008 2:42 PM EST reply actions

Perhaps that’s what he means, Big Ticket.
I didn’t think it was that bad.

Plus I’d imagine 2nd grader’s are pretty advanced these days.

My son is only three and can already (on his own mind you) open Internet Explorer, open the favorites folder, blow right by this site, open pbskids.org, start a Curios George game, and play it. Without me even being in the room.

by mcpu40 on Jan 4, 2008 2:42 PM EST reply actions

Brick, you were in BIG favor of selecting Mike Conley as I recall…weren’t you?
Yes, tonight will be interesting in that regard.

by mcpu40 on Jan 4, 2008 2:52 PM EST reply actions

Yes, I am very high on Conley.

by Brickowski on Jan 4, 2008 3:29 PM EST reply actions

MCP….wait until he’s nine. You won’t believe what he’ll be able to do.

by The Real Large James on Jan 4, 2008 3:37 PM EST reply actions

Right RLJ.
I can’t imagine him at 9 years old and it’ll be here before I know it too.

by mcpu40 on Jan 4, 2008 3:42 PM EST reply actions

I’m with Brick, I’m very high on Conley as well. I think he is a legitimate franchise point guard.

by CelticBalla32 on Jan 4, 2008 3:54 PM EST reply actions

TO the English critics who disliked my blog piece try reading it again but elimating every reference to the Indiana game.

I originally wrote the piece before the game and after the game was played realized that everything I wrote happened in the game. Gasol, Gay and Miller all played well together. The string of consecutive blowout losses was over, Conley started the first game of his career and Darko looked significantly better than he has for the last month. The re-write was pretty poor I admit but it was late at night after a Grizz win (which hasn’t happened very often) and I did a poor job.

Feel free to read the rest and tell me if I don’t graduate from 6th grade at least. :D

by chipc3 on Jan 4, 2008 4:02 PM EST reply actions

Large – that was a classic – you made me laugh out loud….btw that is another movie I love.

by Master Po on Jan 4, 2008 4:08 PM EST reply actions

mcpu40

I was commenting on the excerpt from the Memphis blog. The first five sentences have the exact same “in the Indiana game.” Its just poorly written and I feel bad if it was dont by a grown adult. It is Tennessee though…

by YouveBeenPierced on Jan 4, 2008 4:22 PM EST reply actions

For all of you who call him a bust, I would take Darko Milicic as a Celtic in a heartbeat. Imagine what Clifford Ray could do with him.

The real battle (after Conley-Rondo) in the undercard Cardinal vs Scalabrine, our Brian has the edge in 3pt shooting/athleticisn while Cardinal has the edge in rebounding and wide hips pick setting. 8)

by billysan on Jan 4, 2008 4:27 PM EST reply actions