Miami @ Boston GameThread, Mar 18, 2009 7:00 PM EDT

The Few, The Proud, the Celtics Face Miami in the Garden

by FLCeltsFan on Mar 18, 2009 3:30 PM EDT in Games Comment 14 comments

Miami Heat at Boston Celtics, Mar 18, 2009 7:00 PM EDT

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Miami Heat (36-30) at Boston Celtics (50-18)
Wednesday, March 18
7:00 PM ET
Game #69, Home Game #34
ESPN, CSN HD,
TD Banknorth Garden

Game Thread l Chat

The Celtics face the Miami Heat for the second time in a week. This is the 3rd of 4 meetings between these two teams and the first in Boston. The series is tied 1-1 with the Celtics winning in January and the Heat taking advantage of a depleted Celtics team a week ago. In last Wednesday's game, the Celtics were missing 5 players including Rajon Rondo. The Heat won the game 107-99 behind 32 points from Dwyane Wade. It didn't seem possible at the time, but the Celtics are even more depleted for this game with Rondo, Ray, and Leon all incurring injuries in last night's game and all are listed as questionable in this game.

The Celtics need tthis game to keep pace with both the Cavs and the Magic. The Heat are in the 5th spot in the East, 2 games in front of the Sixers and 2.5 games behind Atlanta. The Celtics are 4.5 games behind Cleveland for the top seed after their win over the Magic. The Celtics are still 1/2 game in front of the Magic for the 2nd seed and in very much danger of dropping to the 3rd seed. .

Miami is 10-0 when the shoot 50% or more from the field, so defense will be important if the Celtics hope to get the victory. Wade and Chalmers have combined for 252 steals this season, which is first in the NBA for backcourt duos. The Celtics have to take care of the ball or the Heat will make them pay for it as they did in the game a week ago. Turnovers have been the Celtics achilles heel and they need to find a way go cut them down.

Miami is 36-30 overall, but are just 12-19 on the road and the Celtics are 27-6 at home and need to protect their home court. The Celtics are quickly running out of healthy players and are playing in the second of back to back games. If the players injured last night can't go and if Big Baby doesn't return, they will be down to 8 healthy players. This will be tough no matter how you look at it.

ProbableStarting Matchups

It's hard to tell who will play and who will be out at this point. Starting and key matchups are only a guess assuming the 3 players injured last night can go.
Point Guard
[image] vs [image]
Rajon Rondo vs Mario Chalmers

Shooting Guard
[image] vs [image]
Ray Allen vs Dwyane Wade

Small Forward
[image] vs [image]
Paul Pierce vs Jamario Moon

Power Forward
[image] vs [image]
Leon Powe vs Udonis Haslem

Injuries

Tony Allen (thumb) out
Kevin Garnett (knee) out
Brian Scalabrine (head) out
Glen Davis (ankle) day to day
Eddie House (ankle/heel) probable
Ray Allen (elbow) questionable
Rajon Rondo (ankle) questionable
Leon Powe (knee) questionable
Paul Pierce (flu-like symptoms) probable

None

Team Connections
Mark Blount is a former Celtic (even though most Celtics' fans would rather forget that fact)
Michael Beasley and Bill Walker were teammates at Kansas State
Mario Chalmers and Paul Pierce are former Kansas Jayhawks
Jamaal Magloire and Rajon Rondo are former Kentucky Wildcats
Eddie House was originally drafted by the Heat with the 37th pick in the 2000 draft.

Key Matchups

[image] vs [image]
Ray Allen PPG 18.4 RPG 3.50 APG 2.8 EFF + 17.27
Dwyane Wade PPG 29.4 RPG 5.10 APG 7.6 EFF + 28.97
Wade had been mentioned as a possible MVP candidated and has been playing great basketball. He will definitely make Ray work on the defensive end and thius limit Ray's energy on the offensive end. He led the Heat to a victory in Miami just a week ago, now it is time for the Celtics to look for payback and a big game from Ray.

[image] vs [image]
Rajon Rondo PPG 11.4 RPG 5.40 APG 8.4 EFF + 18.86
Mario Chalmers PPG 10.1 RPG 2.60 APG 4.6 EFF + 12.08
In the last game between these two teams, Rondo was out and Chalmers had an easy time against a rusty Stephon Marbury and the Heat got the win. It will be interesting to see what kind of a difference having Rondo back will make for the team.

Honorable Mention
Kendrick Perkins PPG 8.1 RPG 8.10 APG 1.2 EFF + 13.97
Jermaine O'Neal PPG 13.3 RPG 6.80 APG 1.7 EFF + 15.49
Perk has to have a strong game vs O'Neal with KG and Big Baby still out. In their last meeting, Bill Walker played some power forward well enough to get under O'Neal's skin. Perk will need to play the same kind of in your face defense in this game to keep O'Neal from getting easy rebounds and scores inside.

X-Factor
Home Court and injuries
The Celtics are at home and need to protect their home court. Hopefully the focus and defense will be there to get a win in this game. The Celtics were hit again by the injury bug in the Bulls game losing Leon Powe and having Rondo tweak his ankle again. A lot will depend on whether both of them will be able to go in this game.

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my signature

is becoming more and more appropriate by the day

“We few, we happy few, we band of brothers” Henry V

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V

by Jeff Clark on Mar 18, 2009 3:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Red's Army tells me

that Danny was on the radio just now

Powe and Ray are likely out
Rondo is in and Baby might be in

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V

by Jeff Clark on Mar 18, 2009 4:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Ray out?!?!?!

this is gonna be ugly

by beantownboy171 on Mar 18, 2009 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And i love our injury list next to the heats

by beantownboy171 on Mar 18, 2009 4:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Play Healthy

Were home play the healthy guys and hope for the best.

by CelticsWin on Mar 18, 2009 5:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Could just forfeit the game and rest our players

We really need to just not play and not risk another injury. If it was possible just forfeit the rest of the season and just get the players ready for the playoffs. 3rd seed is better then more injuries which seems more likely.

by illestmcsgt on Mar 18, 2009 5:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Keep Perspective

OK. Here is how I see it. Despite having more injuries than any team deserves, as of this moment we are the second seed in the East at 50-18. That is an impressive 32 games over 500. It is also the third best record in the league. All of the other teams with the exception of the Lakers and Cavs wish they had that record. To be in this position with the rash of injuries is amazing.

Now, KG will be back soon, healthy and rested. BBD will also be back soon, healthy and rested. The injuries to Ray and Rondo are not serious and they will be back in a couple of games. Powe may take a little longer, but he will be back. We will still have some games left in the regular season for the team to play together again. These guys are veterans, mentally tough and, believe me, will be determined to prove a point to the rest of the league in the playoffs. For all the naysayers, REMEMBER CELTIC PRIDE. It means something and no other franchise has it, nor has our great legacy. Stay tough, stay focused and remember that the playoffs are a new season. The Cavs barely got by the Magic last night and the Lakers lost to Portland. These teams are paradigms of health compared to the C’s and yet we are only a few games back in the loss column. Again, amazing……Let’s enjoy tonights game because it will be fun to watch and because the C’s, no matter what the outcome, will play with pride. We WILL be hanging banner #18 this season.

by JPV on Mar 18, 2009 5:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs