JET and the Celtics Look to Halt the Mavs' Win Streak

at

Dallas Mavericks (11-10) at Boston Celtics (11-9)
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
8:00 PM ET
Regular Season Game #21 – Home Game #12
TV: ESPN, CSN-NE, FSSW-DA
Radio: WEEI, KESN
TD Garden
Referees: Joey Crawford, Derrick Collins, Mark Lindsay

Game Thread l Chat

Boston Celtics Tickets

The Mavericks make their only visit to the Garden in the Celtics last home game before taking a 3 game road trip through Texas and Chicago. When the Celtics hosted the Thunder, Jeff Green had a big game against his old team. The the Celtics hosted the Timberwolves and KG had a big game against his former team. Now it's Jason Terry's turn to face his former team.

While all 3 players said that facing their former team was no big deal, both KG and Jeff came up with big games to help defeat their old teams. I expect the same of Jason Terry. He's a veteran and has a way of coming up in big games, even when he won't admit that it's a big game.

The Mavs are just 4-7 on the road while the Celtics are 7-4 at home. Both teams are 5-5 in their last 10 games. The Mavs are on a hot streak, having won their last 3 games. The Celtics are looking to win their second in a row.

The Mavericks have been struggling with injuries and have been playing without their superstar who is out with a knee injury. OJ Mayo has been coming up big for them in Dirk's absence and the Celtics will need to limit him in this game. Shawn Marion has missed the last two games with a strained groin muscle but according to the Dallas News will start at power forward tonight.

Probable Starting Matchups

Point Guard

vs

Rajon Rondo vs Derek Fisher

Shooting Guard

vs

Jason Terry vs OJ Mayo

Small Forward

vs

Paul Pierce vs Dahntay Jones

Power Forward

vs

Brandon Bass vs Shawn Marion

Center

vs

Kevin Garnett vs Chris Kaman

Celtics Reserves

Jared Sullinger

Jason Collins

Courtney Lee

Jeff Green

Fab Melo

Leandro Barbosa

Chris Wilcox

Injuries

Avery Bradley (shoulders) out

D-League

Kris Joseph

Dallas Reserves

Darren Collison

Vince Carter

Elton Brand

Jae Crowder

Roddy Beaubois

Jared Cunningham

Bernard James

Dominique Jones

Brandan Wright

Injuries

Dirk Nowitski (knee) out

Key Matchups

vs

Rajon Rondo vs Derek Fisher

Rondo has the advantage in this matchup. Fisher was just signed on 11/29 and will still be learning the team. Rondo is much quicker and Fisher isn't known for his defense so Rondo should have a big game.

vs

Jason Terry vs OJ Mayo

Mayo is averaging over 20 ppg and he has been playing very well. JET will have a big challenge in defending him and trying to keep him from having a big game against the Celtics. At the same time, hopefully Jason's shot is back on track so he can make Mayo work on defense as well. Jason Terry and the Celtics host JET's former team in their last home game before heading out on a 3 game road trip.

Keys to the Game

Rebound - Rebounding is so crucial to getting a win. When the Celtics put out the effort to grab rebounds, more often than not, that effort extends to other areas of their game. . Rebounding is all in who wants it more and the Celtics have to be the team that wants it more.

Defense - Defense is always crucial to getting a win. Defense wins games is not just a cliche, it is the truth. The Celtics must play tough team defense in this and every game. We have seen flashes that they are getting back to their defensive identity as a team and hopefully we will see that defense on a more consistent basis.

Bench Play - With Doc limiting the minutes of KG and Paul Pierce, the bench must produce in order for the Celtics to get the win. Jeff Green, Chris Wilcox, Jared Sullinger, and Courtney Lee all must produce.

Be Aggressive - When the Celtics are aggressive they are tough to beat. They have to be aggressive in going to the basket and not settle for jumpers. They have to be aggressive on defense and in diving for loose balls. They have to be the team to set the pace and not let the Mavs set the pace and then have to keep up.

X-Factor

Home Court And JET's Team

The Celtics are at home where they have been playing well. Kevin Garnett and Jeff Green both responded with big games when their former teams came to town. Now, it's JET's turn and his teammates need to back him up.

Official Report Joey Crawford Over more than three decades in the NBA, Joe Crawford has officiated 2,449 regular season and 293 playoff games, including 47 NBA Finals games. Crawford’s playoff and NBA Finals totals are the most among active NBA officials. Over his career, Crawford has officiated the 1986, 1992 and 2000 NBA All-Star Games, as well as the 1993 McDonald’s Championship in Munich, Germany. Prior to joining the NBA, Crawford officiated in the Eastern League (CBA) from 1974-76. He graduated from Cardinal O’Hara High School in Springfield, Pa. and is a member of the Cardinal O’Hara High School Hall of Fame. In 2008, Crawford earned a degree in Liberal studies from Neumann College. Officiating can be considered a Crawford "family affair," as his brother is veteran Major League Baseball umpire Jerry Crawford, and his father is retired Major League Baseball umpire Shag Crawford. Crawford is also very active in his hometown community of Philadelphia.

There is no shortage of controversy surrounding Joey Crawford, the biggest of which was a suspension for tossing Tim Duncan for laughing on the bench and then challenging him to a fight. He is known for his quickness to call technical fouls but also doesn't tend to be influenced by the home crowd as much as many younger refs seem to be. In the 2008 Playoffs, Crawford was chosen to officiate Game 4 of the Western Conference final between the San Antonio Spurs and the Los Angeles Lakers. In the closing seconds of the game, there was a no-call where the Spurs' Brent Barry was unquestionably fouled by Derek Fisher. Crawford was the closest official to the call, and the NBA later apologized for the lack of a call. Crawford was also one of the refs who was involved in the income tax evasion convictions and was suspended at that time as well.

He is widely viewed as one of the refs in the NBA who can officiate with an agenda and shows his biases on the court, hence the controversy that seems to follow him throughout his career. The Celtics played 9 games with Crawford officiating last season the last of which was game 7 vs Miami in the ECF. The Celtics are 7-3 in their last 10 with Crawford and 2-0 this season. He called the 89-86 win over the Wizards in which the Wizards shot 17 free throws to 13 for the Celtics and the refs pretty much let them play. He also called the 101-95 win over Chicago where the Bulls shot 31 free throws to 16 for the Celtics and there were more than a few questionable calls. The Mavs are 1-0 this season and 5-5 in their last 10 with Crawford. His home W/L record this season is 6-9

Here is Joey at his best - Making the game all about himself:

Derrick Collins
Derrick Collins has officiated 668 regular season games and 14 playoff games in 11 NBA seasons. Prior to joining the NBA, he officiated five seasons in the CBA and three in the WNBA, where he worked two CBA Finals and three WNBA Playoffs and Finals. He has seven years of collegiate officiating experience in various conferences (Big 12, Sun Belt, Conference USA, Southland, SEC, TAAC, OVC and SWAC), and Southland Conference semifinal game. Collins also officiated at the high school level in Louisiana. Collins was a member of the Xavier basketball team for four seasons, an honorable mention All- American, and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications.

Collins was a victim of both Hurricane Katrina and Rita and basically had to start all over in the aftermath. The Celtics are 0-1 this season, the loss being a preseason game with Philly in which the officiating was fairly even. They are 3-7 in their last 10 games with Collins. The Mavs are 0-1 this season and 6-4 in their last 10 games with Collins. His home W/L record this season is 11-7.

Mark Lindsay
Mark Lindsay has officiated 283 games in his five NBA seasons. Prior to working in the NBA, he worked for five seasons in the NBA Development League, officiating 116 games, including playoff games in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Lindsay received a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education and graduated with honors from West Chester University where he was a three year letterman on the Men's Varsity Basketball team. He later worked as a teacher and a real estate sales agent before joining the NBA. He also officiated in several college conferences, including the ACC, Colonial Athletic Association, Atlantic Sun, Big South and Ohio Valley Conferences. Away from basketball he does motivational speaking engagements for professional groups and youth basketball clinics. He volunteers every summer at referee training camps to help younger officials learn the craft and has consistently been a proud contributor to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

The Celtics are 1-1 this season and 5-5 in their last 10 games with Lindsay making the calls. The win was a 101-95 win over Chicago where the Bulls shot 31 free throws to 16 for the Celtics and there were more than a few questionable calls. The loss was a 112-100 loss to the Spurs and the officiating was fairly even. The Mavs are 5-5 in in their last 10 with Lindsay. His home W/L record this season is 7-7.