@ 
(27-3)
Friday, January 4
7:30 PM ET
TV: CSN
TD BankNorth Garden
Bonus link: Battle of Brians - Scalabrine vs. Cardinal
Here's an excerpt from 3 Shades of Blue :
Memphis had been reeling of late with successive blowout losses to Houston, New Orleans and San Antonio until the Indiana game. Frankly the Grizzlies were playing some of the worst basketball in the league at the end of the year and things could only improve and did in the Indiana game. Memphis big three of Gay, Gasol and Miller had not been able to put together consistent efforts by even two of the players much less all three on any given night until the Indiana game. More time together under Iavaroni's system can only improve things as the Indiana game showed. The time off gave Conley and Darko further time to heal and they both looked better in the Indiana game especially Conley who started his first game. Not that any of these things should matter in this game. This will be the Grizzlies 3rd consecutive road game and we are talking about Boston in the Garden, I mean Fleet Center, or whatever they call their new digs.
Projected Starters
C Darko Milicic / Kendrick Perkins
PF Pau Gasol / Kevin Garnett
SF Rudy Gay / Paul Pierce
SG Mike Miller / Ray Allen
PG Mike Conley / Rajon Rondo
Key Matchup: Pau Gasol vs. Kevin Garnett
Both are extremely talented finesse big men, who can do some damage inside as well as outside. Gasol usually has problems offensively against the more athletic defenders, however, so it’ll be interesting to see how he responds to Garnett’s elite defensive prowess.
Celtics X-Factor: James Posey
Memphis has a ton of outstanding shooters and talented perimeter players. Posey’s defense is going to be a huge factor to Boston’s success tonight.
Injury Report
MEM – Damon Stoudamire (seeking trade/buyout)
Celtics Keys to the Game
- Perimeter Defensive Rotations
- Close Out On Shooters
- Beam ‘Em Up Inside
- Control the Tempo