<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%">15-16</span> <span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%">@</span> <span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%">26-3</span> Wednesday, January 2, 2008 - 7:30 pm ET TD BankNorth Garden (Boston, MA) Game aired on CSN</div> Fans across the nation are waiting for the Celtics to pass some tests before they come out and say they are the real deal. They unfortunately failed the first test of the season on December 19 with an 87-85 loss to the Detroit Pistons. Since then, the Celtics managed to beat both Chicago and Orlando at home, following up on those victories by sweeping their first western conference road trip of the season. On that trip, the Celtics played four games in five nights. The star of the trip was the same man we’ve seen dominate opposing defenses since 1998 – Paul Pierce. In Sacramento, he completely took Ron Artest out of his game. The next night in Seattle, he put up 26 points in the second half, finishing with 37 total. Two nights later, he scored all 24 of his points against Utah in the second half. In Los Angeles, playing in front of his family and friends, he torched the Lakers for 33 points and made consecutive key defensive stops to put the game out of reach by the end of the third quarter. Pierce was rewarded for his efforts, winning his second Eastern Conference Player of the Week award of the 2007-2008 season. The C’s are finally back home after a much deserved two days off, and will face the Houston Rockets at the Garden in attempt to extend the winning streak to seven. This isn’t the Houston Rockets team that many thought would be among the top four or five teams in the western conference, however. New head coach Rick Adelman hasn’t started his year one campaign as well as he would have liked, as the team currently stands at 15-16 (10th in the west). To make their problems even worse, their star player – Tracy McGrady – is uncertain when he will return to the lineup. The seven-time NBA All-Star has sat out Houston’s last three games and is uncertain of his return. In a recent interview, he stated that he would likely not be available for action in Houston’s next two or three games, and reports have even suggested that “T-Mac” may no longer be happy in Houston. Starting in place of McGrady is Bonzi Wells, who has struggled with the first unit. In his four starts this season, in which Houston has gone 2-2, Wells has scored 11.0 points per game on just 28.6% shooting. With Portland winning 13 of their last 14 games and Utah potentially getting back on track with a home win this past Monday, Houston could really use a win to put themselves back in the top eight of the western conference. They’ll have their work cut out for them, as the 26-3 Boston Celtics will show no mercy. With a win tonight, the Celtics would hold a 27-3 record and have a .900 winning percentage. Most teams talk about how many games above or below .500 they are – here we are talking .900. Let’s kick off the New Year with a bang. Projected Starters C Yao Ming / Kendrick Perkins PF Chuck Hayes / Kevin Garnett SF Shane Battier / Paul Pierce SG Bonzi Wells / Ray Allen PG Rafer Alston / Rajon Rondo Key Matchup: Shane Battier vs. Paul Pierce Paul Pierce has been on an absolute tear as of late. The reigning Eastern Conference Player of the Week posted averages of 27.5 points, six rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game on Boston’s first western conference road trip – in which they went 4-0. Pierce also shot a whopping 14/23 (61%) from beyond the arc. Can Shane Battier, who is one of the most well respected defensive players in the league, slow “The Truth” down? Celtics X-Factor: Kendrick Perkins With Tracy McGrady out of the lineup, Yao is going to get a lot of opportunities offensively. Most of their sets are going to be run through him, as they should. Yao is very capable of going for 25 or 30 on any given night. Perk needs to make sure he doesn’t dominate him. Help defense from Garnett and Pollard is going to be key on Yao as well, but Perk really needs to step up defensively. Injury Report HOU – Tracy McGrady (left knee) HOU – Steve Francis (tendonitis in quadriceps) HOU – Kirk Snyder (personal reasons) BOS – Rajon Rondo (sore left hamstring – day-to-day) Celtics Keys to the Game • Contain Yao • Attack, Don’t Settle • Pressure Their Point Guards • Perimeter Defense – Bother Their Shooters • Limit Turnovers
Celtics will win, i like the matchup of Rondo and Alston as well. both distributers of there offense and both good defensive PG's. However I think the rockets will lose because of how well the celtics have been playing and because T-Mac is out.
I'm going to this one. Just $10 seats, but hey - a seat in the Garden is better than a seat on my chair at home. This will be my first of three games this month.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Jan 2 2008, 03:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I'm going to this one. Just $10 seats, but hey - a seat in the Garden is better than a seat on my chair at home. This will be my first of three games this month.</div> is it higher than the default camera on T.v? if it is then that's a rip, if not that's good.
Heck of a comeback by the Rockets. Alston is going to the line to take the lead with about 8 minutes to go in the forth (79-78). Horrible officiating in the third quarter. Yao Ming got called for two really questionable calls (any by questionable I mean horrible). I am impressed with the Rockets playing through the crappy offiating though. Bonzi Wells is having a good game 21 points off of 8 of 13 shooting. Boston just put in all their starters. I was going to change channels and watch the OU/WV game but I think I will finish this one!
Pollard and Perkins have just fouled out. No inside presence for the Celtics. They are going to have to put KG on Yao. Match-up advantage at the PF/C spot for the Rockets (looks like Posey is going to have to guard Scola).
One heck of a comeback from the Rockets, but KG decided that the Rockets weren't going to win. It's that simple. That was a great game, no matter the officiating(which was bad all around.)
yao kinda plays like Hakeem and anyways, Yao couldn't defend KG in the end of the game KG is just too quick and Yao is not good defending the pick n rolls because he doesn't go away from the paint that often. Alston also played way too many minutes he needed a rest in the 2nd half.
I don't think the result of the game had anything to do with Yao's lack of ability to guard KG but just the sheer factor that KG took over the game. If you watched the game, KG didn't score at the end of the game based off the pick and roll but rather off of jump shots that were created off of offensive rebounds or dribble penetration from Rondo or Pierce. Rockets gave up offensive rebounds on the last two possessions for the Celtics which led to two KG field goals. The Rockets can't give up those type of rebounds with the game being that close especially against the Celtics. Did you watch the game vcTmac24?
obviously hunter, but it seemed like KG was shooting the shots because he had enough space. The same thing happened in the 06-07 playoffs when Yao had to guard Boozer.
I had so much fun tonight. The Garden was jumpin, I almost lost my voice and my hands were numb from clapping so much and so hard. Houston gave us a real scare, got to tip your hat to them for their efforts. Perk did an outstanding job on Yao in the first half. That was key. He made some terrible mistakes late in the game, such as stupid fouls, a fumbled ball, and a missed layup. Pollard was terrific, however. He'll probably need to ice his entire body all day tomorrow, but he did a great job off the bench and made a lot of hustle plays in the paint. Hell, he even scored 10 points. Eddie was on fire in the beginning. Pierce's defense has been great all year, but he was terrible tonight. Bonzi Wells was left free on the baseline time after time. I couldn't take it. Offensively and at the end of the game defensively, he was remarkable. The C's also didn't close out on perimeter shooters tonight, they left too many shooters wide open. Luckily, Houston was laying bricks. KG - I love you. Everything about you. I agree with Hunter 100%, we got some calls at the end of the game and I was just laughing at the fans around me who were complaining about fouls called on us. We were very beatable tonight, and I was very nervous. KG took over and we got key stops down the stretch. We closed out the game after digging ourselves into a hole. I was very happy with that. We need a backup point guard, though. We can get by without one in the regular season, but I'll be damned if I have to watch Pose and Turnover Allen take turns bringing the ball up in the playoffs. Tough win, sloppy second half, but I'll take it. We are now .900.
must of been a blast to be at that game. That was a great win - Houston made some runs but we did not fold. We are deeper than people thought.
