At 
Boston Celtics (8-0) at Orlando Magic (8-2)
Sunday, November 18
6:00 PM ET
TV: CSN, NBA TV HD, Sun Sports HD
Amway Arena
Sunday, November 18
6:00 PM ET
TV: CSN, NBA TV HD, Sun Sports HD
Amway Arena
Chat l Game Thread
Magic Coverage Believing in Magic l Third Quarter Collapse l Orlando Magic Blog
Keys to the Game
Magic Coverage Believing in Magic l Third Quarter Collapse l Orlando Magic Blog
Keys to the Game
Limit Turnovers. The Celtics committed 18 turnovers against the Heat and that is too many. We will need to take care of the basketball and limit our turnovers against the Magic because they will convert those turnovers to points.
Defense The Celtics will need to play better defense against the Magic than they did against the Heat. They allowed the Heat to shoot 47% and allowed them to erase a 15 point lead. KG and Perk especially have to try to limit the damage that Howard can do in the paint. I can see Posey on Lewis for his defense and Rondo will have to defend the very quick Jameer Nelson.
Defense The Celtics will need to play better defense against the Magic than they did against the Heat. They allowed the Heat to shoot 47% and allowed them to erase a 15 point lead. KG and Perk especially have to try to limit the damage that Howard can do in the paint. I can see Posey on Lewis for his defense and Rondo will have to defend the very quick Jameer Nelson.
Control the tempo. Rondo will need to try to control the tempo of the game and not allow the Magic to run. Limiting turnovers could help in this area as well.
Game Notes: The Magic are coming off of a big 95-70 win over the Nets. They are a very strong team and have won 3 in a row and 8 out of 10 overall and have a lot of confidence coming into this game. Strangely, their two losses have come at home. The Celtics will need to bring their A game in order to beat the Magic in their arena. Dwight Howard has been a force and Rashard Lewis has been playing very well. This game will be a test for this team and could very well be our first loss if the Celtics play like they did against the Heat.
Probable Starting Matchups
PG: Rajon Rondo vs Jameer Nelson
SG: Ray Allen vs Keith Bogans
SF: Paul Pierce vs Hedo Turkoglu
PF: Kevin Garnett vs Rashard Lewis
C: Kendrick Perkins vs Dwight Howard
SG: Ray Allen vs Keith Bogans
SF: Paul Pierce vs Hedo Turkoglu
PF: Kevin Garnett vs Rashard Lewis
C: Kendrick Perkins vs Dwight Howard
Key Matchups
Vs 
Kevin Garnett 6'11" PPG 21 | RPG 14 | BPG 1.4
Rashard Lewis 6'10" PPG 20.7 | RPG 4.8 | BPG 0.1
Vs 
Kendrick Perkins 6'10" PPG 6.4 | RPG 5.1 | BPG 2.1
Dwight Howard 6'11" PPG 21.9 | RPG 14.6 | BPG 2.6
The Magic like to score in the paint and it will be up to Perk and KG to defend the basket and keep them out on the perimeter. Perk doesn't play as well against quick and mobile centers like Howard and so will need some help from KG to defend against him.
Vs Kevin Garnett 6'11" PPG 21 | RPG 14 | BPG 1.4
Rashard Lewis 6'10" PPG 20.7 | RPG 4.8 | BPG 0.1
Vs Kendrick Perkins 6'10" PPG 6.4 | RPG 5.1 | BPG 2.1
Dwight Howard 6'11" PPG 21.9 | RPG 14.6 | BPG 2.6
The Magic like to score in the paint and it will be up to Perk and KG to defend the basket and keep them out on the perimeter. Perk doesn't play as well against quick and mobile centers like Howard and so will need some help from KG to defend against him.
Key off the Bench
For the Celtics, it will be James Posey. He was a difference maker against the Heat and his defense will be needed against the Magic.
For the Celtics, it will be James Posey. He was a difference maker against the Heat and his defense will be needed against the Magic.
For the Magic it will be Carlos Arroyo who has played well against the Celtics and can put up points for the Magic off the bench.