Celtics Take on Isiah's Knicks to Close out the Half

PG:  Rajon Rondo vs Fred Jones

SG:  Ray Allen vs Jamaal Crawford

SF:   Paul Pierce vs Quentin Richardson

PF:   Brian Scalabrine vs Zach Randolph

C:    Leon Powe vs Eddy Curry

 

  Kevin Garnett, Ab strain, out

Kendrick Perkins, shoulder, out

Scott Pollard, ankle, questionable

 

   Stephon Marbury,  Bone Spurs, out
Nate Robinson, respiratory infection, day to day

 

Key Matchups
  Vs 
In the last game between these two teams, Paul Pierce and Quetin Richardson both were ejected for trash talking.  The games between these two teams have always been chippy and there is no love lost between Pierce and QRich.  Pierce will need to concentrate on his play in this game and forget about the trash talk. 

  Vs 
Perk usually plays Eddie Curry very well.   If he is still out, expect Big Baby to get the nod against Curry in this game.  He has more bulk than Powe and that will be needed to keep Curry away from the basket. 

Honorable Mention
Power Forward.  Scal is no match for Zach Randolph.  If Doc insists on starting Scal, expect Leon to make an early entrance to keep Zach in check. 

Keys to the Game
No Let Up  It is the last game before the All Star Break.  The Celtics are playing short handed.  They have already beaten this team twice and the Knicks are easy to take for granted.  But, the Celtics need to come in and play hard from start to finish or the Knicks may take advantage of the let down and get a win.  The Knicks will be motivated to beat the hated Celtics, The Celtics need to match that and come out with a purpose and play hard for all 48 minutes.  They can't figure that this will be an easy game and come out flat or expect to coast.   

Crash the Boards   Randolph and Curry are tough inside and the Celtics are going to need to work to get rebounds and limit the Knicks second chance points.  Rondo has been rebounding incredibly well lately and that has given the Celtics a boost.  The Celtics were out rebounded by the Pacers and need to put out more effort on the boards in spite of not having their Perk and KG.  Much of rebounding is effort and we haven't been seeing that in a lot of games. 

Defense  The Celtics have been successful with KG and Perk out mainly because they continue to play tough team defense and they will need to continue that in this game as well.  Especially when they are short handed, they have to make the commitment to defend both inside and on the perimeter. 

 

X-Factor
Fatigue vs Rustiness   The Knicks have been off since Saturday and the Celtics are playing in the second of back to back games.  The Celtics are short handed and so will be tired.  The Knicks will be well rested, but sometimes with that long between games, teams come out rusty.  It will come down to which team wants this one more.