Celtics Battle Streaking Magic
by Greg Payne on Nov 20, 2009 3:26 PM EST
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Boston Celtics (9-3) vs. Orlando Magic (9-3)
Friday, November 20, 2009
8:00pm
TV: Comcast SportsNet; ESPN; Radio: 850 AM WEEI
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Celtics Look to Get Well vs Depleted Warriors.
by FLCeltsFan on Nov 18, 2009 3:30 PM EST
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(3-7) 
at 
(8-3)
GoldenState Warriors (3-6) at Boston Celtics (8-3)
Wednesday, November 26
7:30 PM ET
Game #12, Home Game #7
TV: CSNHD, CSN Bay Area, NBA LP 758,759
Radio: WEEI
TD Garden
Referees: Scott Foster, Courtney Kirkland, Leon Wood
Game Thread l Chat
The Celtics have had 3 days of rest and practice coming into this game. They are on a 2 game losing streak. They are facing a depleted Warriors team who played in Cleveland last night. The Warriors starting center is Mikki Moore. Their starting power forward has played in exactly one game for them. They have just 7 players available. The Warriors are playing in the second of back to back games. The Celtics should dominate this game from start to finish. The starters should be able to take the second half off and Gino should make his appearance around the start of the 4th quarter. That is what should happen in this game, but this undermanned, undersized Warriors team is very feisty and took the Cavs right down to the wire in their game last night., finally falling 114-108. The Celtics should not take the Warriors lightly or they could get burned by them.
Paul Pierce, who was limited in the Celtics loss to the Pacers and who sat out of practice for 2 days, practiced on Tuesday and is expected to start in this game. The last time the Celtics played on 3 days of rest, they blew out a very good Jazz team 105-86. The Celtics have been saying all the right things about their poor performances in their last 2 games, but Perk called the team out for playing sloppy in practice. We should see a renewed commitment to defense and a Celtics team with a renewed sense of purpose, but it seems as through they are having problems getting focused recently and so we don't know which Celtics team will show up.
The Warriors play very small out of necessity with the majority of their bigs on the injured list. They sometimes are even forced to use 6'6" Corey Maggette at center. They aren't much interested in playing defense as a team. In fact, Monta Ellis has come out and said that he is the only player on the team who can play any defense. The team is in upheaval, having traded their best player just days ago and with their current best player unhappy on the team. Former Celtic, Don Nelson is poised to move up in the record books this season if he can keep his job long enough to do so. What the Warriors do, however, is run. The Celtics will need to find their earlier levels of defense to keep the Warriors from running them ragged.
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Boston Tries to Get Back On Pace Against Indiana
by indeedproceed on Nov 14, 2009 4:00 PM EST
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Celtics Host Hawks in Friday Night Fray
by Greg Payne on Nov 13, 2009 3:22 PM EST
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Boston Celtics (8-1) vs. Atlanta Hawks (6-2)
Friday, November 13, 2009
8:00pm
TV: Comcast SportsNet, ESPN; Radio: 850 AM WEEI
Venue: TD Garden
The Boston Celtics aim for nine wins in their first ten games when the Atlanta Hawks visit the TD Garden at 8:00pm tonight.
The Celtics are coming off an impressive win over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday in which the team totaled 30 assists and seven players scored in double figures, led by Kevin Garnett who tallied 18. Meanwhile, the Hawks roll into Boston on a two-game win streak, fresh off a 114-101 thumping of the New York Knicks on Wednesday. Six Hawks scored in double figures, including Josh Smith (22) and Al Horford (25), who each scored more than 20 points.
Atlanta is currently fourth in the league in scoring at 107.75 points per game, but is also allowing 102 points per game, which suggests defense is not the Hawks' first priority. Boston is allowing a league-best 84.55 points per game, so it will be interesting to see if the Celtics' defense will be able to contain what has developed into a very prolific Hawks' offense. The last time the Celtics met an opponent that averaged over 100 points per game was a week ago against the Phoenix Suns. The Celtics got caught up in Phoenix's style of play and ended up allowing 110 points before losing their first game of the season by seven.
The Hawks still feature the strong core of players that helped take the Celtics to seven games in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals two seasons ago. However, Atlanta added veteran scoring machine Jamal Crawford and steady inside man Joe Smith to help bolster its depth and they present new dimensions to an already potent Atlanta squad.
Based on Atlanta's starting lineups in their first eight games, it would seem Kevin Garnett will be matched up with Josh Smith, which doesn't necessarily bode well for Garnett. Smith's athleticism, quickness, and versatility on the perimeter could give him an advantage over Garnett, especially if he initiates his own offense outside of the paint.
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Rested Celtics Host Jazz
by FLCeltsFan on Nov 11, 2009 6:37 PM EST
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Utah Jazz (3-4) at Boston Celtics (7-1)
Wednesday, November 11
7:30 PM ET
Game #9, Home Game #5
TV: CSN HD, FSN, NBA LP 754,755
TD Banknorth Garden
Refs: Mike Callahan, Rodney Mott, Leroy Richardson
Game Thread l Chat
After playing 8 games in 12 days, the Celtics have had 3 days off for some much needed rest and practice. They now face the 3-4 Jazz who are coming off a 2 point win over the Knicks. The anticipated matchup between Rajon Rondo and Deron Williams may or may not materialize since Williams is a game time decision after an injury in the Knicks game.
After a very strong start in their first five games, the Celtics faltered in their last 3, losing to the Suns and struggling against the Wolves and the Nets. Their schedule that didn't allow for practice along with fatigue was blamed for the sub-par performances, especially on defense. Now, they have had 3 days to rest and run practices and we should see the dominating Celtics back again. If not, there will be a lot of questions being asked.
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Celtics Look to Bounce Back vs Nets
by FLCeltsFan on Nov 7, 2009 3:30 PM EST
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(6-1) at 
(0-6)
Boston Celtics (6-1) at New Jersey Nets (0-6)
Saturday, November 7
7:30 PM ET
Game #8 Away Game #4
TV: CSN HD, YES HD, LP 751, 752
Izod Center
Referees: Mark Wunderlich, Joe Forte, Eli Roe
Game Thread l Chat
The Nets are traditional rivals of the Celtics as we think back to the 2002 Eastern Conference Finals where the Nets defeated the Celtics in a hotly contested 6 game series. The Nets have fallen on hard times and this season are just marking time until they can make a play for LeBron or some other big free agent in 2010. Their ownership and even location are up in the air at this point and that can't make for a very stable club.
Both teams are playing in the second of back to back games and both teams had to travel the night before. New Jersey played at Philly and Boston played the Suns at home. However, older legs have a harder time in back to back games. If the Wolves game was any indication, this may be closer than it should be. The Nets, however have been depleted by injuries and so have just 9 players available.
The Nets are still winless after a 3 point loss to Philly on Friday. The Celtics are no longer undefeated after their loss to Phoenix and now they can get on with the rest of the season without worrying about staying undefeated. . The Celtics defense has slipped in the last two games, allowing both the Wolves and Suns to shoot over 50%. They need to get back to their commitment to defense. and the winless Nets are an ideal team to get them back on track.
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Undefeated Celtics Aim for 7-0 Against the Fast-Paced Phoenix Suns
by Greg Payne on Nov 6, 2009 3:24 PM EST
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C's Head North to Visit Old Friends
by Green17 on Nov 4, 2009 8:11 PM EST
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Boston Celtics at Minnesota Timberwolves Game Preview
Preview by IndeedProceed
Since that fateful day on July 31st, 2007 the Boston Celtics have faced off against the Minnesota Timberwolves four times and have won four times. That does not mean it has always been easy. In 2007-2008 the Celtics won the two games against the Wolves by a combined score of three points. In 2008-2009 the scores were a little less stressful but the latest battle last season had Boston only winning by eight.
Circumstances are decidedly different for both teams since they last met during the regular season. Minnesota's (By way of Boston. We had him first) Al Jefferson way playing at an All-Star level, posting 34 points and 11 rebounds. Boston was riding high, tied for the best record in the league. Since that game both teams have underwent massive changes.
Seven games later Boston would lose Kevin Garnett to what would ultimately be a season ending injury. Five games later Minnesota would lose Al Jefferson for the season. Both injuries would severely derail their respective teams seasons.
Now, it is two very different teams that face off. The Celtics have a revamped bench and a healthy Garnett. Of the Timberwolves starting 5 last Winter, only former Celtics Ryan Gomes and Al Jefferson remain. The Celtics look to improve on their already impressive record while the Timberwolves still look to get their first win since the franchise defining trade of Kevin Garnett.
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Celtics Roll into Philly Looking for Fifth Straight Win
by FLCeltsFan on Nov 3, 2009 7:15 PM EST
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(4-0) at 
(2-1)
Boston Celtics (4-0) at Philadelphia 76ers (2-1)
Tuesday, November 3
7:00 PM ET
Game #5 Road Game #2
TV: CSN, CSN HD, LP 755
Wachovia Center
The Celtics visit the Wachovia Center looking to pick up their second road win of the season and their 5th straight victory. The Sixers lost their opener to the Magic but have won two games in a row. The Sixers have a good starting unit and may be able to hold their own against the Celtics starters. But, their bench lacks depth and that may be the difference in this game.
Rajon Rondo will be matched against Lou Williams who is another good young point guard. This is Williams' first season starting and he is making the most of his opportunity. He is currently second in the league in assist to turnover ratio and is also averaging just over 20 points per game. Hopefully there won't be the animosity that we saw between Rondo and Chris Paul because Williams works out with Rondo and Josh Smith in the off season.
The Sixers have the firepower to put points on the board as they scored 141 in their last game, an OT win over the Knicks. They will need every bit of that as they face the Celtics whose defense is allowing a mere 81 points per game which is tops in the league. The Sixers’ defense will be also be tested, especially on the perimeter, as Boston has averaged 21.8 three-point attempts per game, fourth-highest in the NBA behind New York, Orlando and Houston.
The Celtics' two wins in Philly last season came by a total of 3 points, but both were without Keviin Garnett. In those two games, Paul Pierce averaged 30 points and Ray Allen hit a 3-pointer in the final seconds for a 1 point victory in the first, while Pierce's clutch shot put Boston ahead for good with 2 minutes left in a 100-98 victory in the second. Since the Celtics play tomorrow night, let's hope that the Celtics take care of business in this one and give the starters the 4th quarter off.
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Celtics Aim for 4-0 as Chris Paul and the Hornets Visit the Garden
by Greg Payne on Nov 1, 2009 3:01 PM EST
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The Celtics have mixed a very profitable blend of overwhelming defense and red-hot offense to propel themselves to a 3-0 start, while the Hornets have struggled somewhat in their first two games, losing to the San Antonio Spurs by 17 in their season opener and squeaking by the Sacramento Kings by five on Friday.
The Hornets' most notable offseason move was shipping center Tyson Chandler to Charlotte for center and former UConn star Emeka Okafor. That move was met with some criticism, but Okafor put up 11 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and blocked four shots against Sacramento, to help steady any negative opinions of him.
The talk of the town centers around Rajon Rondo and his matchup with Hornets point guard Chris Paul. Both are coming off of impressive games, but for different statistical reasons. Rondo dished out 16 assists in a Celtics win against the Bulls on Friday, while Paul scored 31 points on only 14 shots against the Kings. Rondo's current 37-5 assist to turnover ratio speaks volumes of his improved on-court decision making, but with defense always being the key for Boston, Rondo's number one objective tonight will be trying to contain Paul.
Rondo's defense fit the bill on Friday as he held Chicago point guard Derrick Rose to just 10 points, two assists and no rebounds in 24 minutes of action. The Celtics would be thrilled with a similar line from Paul in this contest.
The Celtics also welcome back Hornets forward James Posey, who played a crucial role on the 2008 championship squad.
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