Celtics/Raptors: Part 1

29-9 @ 16-21
Sunday, January 11, 2009
12:30 pm ET
Air Canada Centre (Toronto, Canada)

Game Thread   |   Chat

Here we are again, thinking about what the Celtics need to do to get back on track against their next opponent. On the bright side, they'll get two tries this time around, as the C's will follow up this afternoon's battle with a sequel tomorrow night in Boston.

The last time these two teams squared off at the Air Canada Centre was November 23, when the Celtics put together a convincing 118-103 rout to produce their fifth straight victory. At the time, Boston was just beginning their 19-game winning streak and Toronto was struggling.

This time around, the tables have turned. Boston, as we know it, has lost seven of their last nine games, while Toronto has developed a level of comfortability by winning four of their last five. Perhaps the biggest proponent to Toronto's recent success is the play of the 2006 NBA Draft's #1 overall pick, Andrea Bargnani, who has scored 20.8 points per game on 60.3% shooting through the new year's first five outings.

Even so, the Raptors have been bitten by the injury bug in recent weeks. Jose Calderon has missed four straight games with a strained right hamstring, while Jermaine O'Neal has been unavailable for the last six games due to knee soreness. Both Raptor starters are in question for today's game.

Banged up or not, however, who is to say that Toronto can't kick the C's while they're down?

Projected Starters
PG SG SF PF C

Team Leaders
PPG: Paul Pierce (19.2)
RPG: Kevin Garnett (9.0)
APG: Rajon Rondo (7.6)
SPG: Rajon Rondo (2.2)
BPG: Kendrick Perkins (1.8)




Projected Starters
PG SG SF PF C

Team Leaders
PPG: Chris Bosh (23.8)
RPG: Chris Bosh (9.8)
APG: Jose Calderon (8.7)
SPG: Anthony Parker (1.4)
BPG: Jermaine O'Neal (1.9)

Key Matchup

Injury Report
Tony Allen (sprained right ankle - questionable)
Jose Calderon (strained right hamstring - questionable)
Jermaine O'Neal (sore right knee - questionable)