[Philly's staring line-up:[/b]Allen IversonJohn SalmonsAndre IguodalaChris WebberSamueal DalembertKey rotation guys:Kyle KorverSteven HunterKevin OllieScouting report:-This team is very well put together. They have every piece you can imagine, with virtually no wholes in the line-up. They have a very talented scorer/leader (Allen Iverson), a defender/slasher (Andre Iguodala), a shooter (Kyle Korver), an all-around post player (Chris Webber), and a defnsive/rebounding beast of a center (Sam Dalembert). On paper, this could easily be one of the best teams in the league. However, for some reason thing just don't seem to click for them. I'm not sure what it is, but they just can't get over that hump. Thoguh they do have some strong individual defenders, defense has become their liability. They are giving up almost 102 ppg. Ouch. Also, it seems as though Kyle Korver is in the "dog house" with Maurice Cheeks lately. Good news for us, as we all know Korver is a Celtic killer.-Allen Iverson. There aren't many weaknesses to his game really. You just have to hope you catch him on a bad night. I do, however, think Orien is our best match-up for him. He's much bigger, and if we can force AI away from the pick-an-roll/iso situations, he shouldn't be as much of a problem. However, that is easier said than done. He's so fast on the floor, he can get wherever he wants. OG will just have to move his feet and hope and pray that he doesn't get the rookie shaft from the refs. AI's also been on a killer streak now after being snubbed for team USA. Last week he put up TWO 40+ points/10+ assists efforts in a row. First time this has happened since '91.-Chris Webber. He will be tough to stop, but we need to attack him on offense, get him in foul trouble, or possibly get him frustrated and start to force things on the offensive end. He's a competitive player, and if he continually gets burned, it might get to him.-Samuel Dalembert. Possibly the best shotblocker in the league. He is certainly the most athletic shotblocker. He jumps very high to block any shot he can. However, he has not been playing basketball for a very long time, so he tends to be over-aggressive at times, often leading to foul trouble. Hopefully, they will put him on Raef to clear the lane. When Al comes in, Dal will probably guard him, and i just know Al will give him a killer shot fake to get him in foul trouble.How to play them:-Play smart! Philly forces alot of turnovers, and they like to run the floor. this is how Iguodala gets most of his points. If we cand handle the ball (ahem, I'm talking to you, Orien), we should be fine. In a half-court game, Philly doesn't move the ball nearly as well as we do. Here's where i think Ryan Gomes will excell. He's the master at ball fakes, he should be great tonight.-Make someone not named Iverson or Webber beat us offensively. Keep the ball out of there hands as much as possible. I know this will be difficult, as these players have the ball all the time anyways. The Cs might come out w/ some half-court trap occasionally. Don't expect it when Korver is in the game tho. The less Iverson has the ball, the less fouls Orien has, and ultimately the less time TA plays at point. And any celtic fan on earth knows TA as a pg is a tital mistake.-One last thing, we CANNOT come into this game high on last night's victory. That game is over, we need to focus and keep this going.Key Match-up:Paul Pierce vs. Andre IguodalaIggy always seems to give Paul a little trouble, mainly w/ his ball-handling. Expect a high turnover number from Paul. Iggy at times is over aggressive, so maybe a few back screens or back door cuts will teach him a lesson.Break out players:Boston- Ryan Gomes. The stats might not show it, but i think everything is gonna go his way tonight. He'll move the ball well, and he'll go crazy on the offensive boards. I'm seeing 17 points, 12 boards (6 offensive), and 6 assists.Philly- Kyle Korver. He always kills us. I'm gonna say 17 points on 4 3's.Final Prediction:Home courts working for us..BOS-109 PHI-105
I could NOT BELIEVE this win. Wow the celts are playing so great, I'm still finding it hard to believe it. Pierce has been so clutch down the stretch, he had <Censored> triple double tonight. I have NEVER seen Pierce play this well and gomes is making his mark in the starting roster, 8-4 when Gomes starts, he had another double double. He is amazing to watch underneath, 6 foot 7 and he's as tough as anyone. I'll write later too....this was a very important win by the Celtics.
The Cs are really impressing me lately, bc they're playing with heart. We're never out of a game. Man, I love the Celtics!
When it comes down to the fourth quarter and you need a shot I don't know of anyone better in the NBA to go to other than Paul Pierce....maybe Horry, but man has Pierce been clutch down the stretch.
Gomes is looking nasty, and Pierce is proving everyone who said he shouldn't have been in the ASG (although Gilbert played anyway) over Arenas wrong.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (WELCOMEtotheJUNGLE @ Mar 9 2006, 07:30 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>When it comes down to the fourth quarter and you need a shot I don't know of anyone better in the NBA to go to other than Paul Pierce....maybe Horry, but man has Pierce been clutch down the stretch.</div>Have you noticed that when Horry makes those shots, they don't actually draw a play up for him. W/ the Lakers, the ball just rolled to him, w/ the spurs, Detroit doubled off of Horry, and he was wide open. I would much rather have the ball in Paul's hands than Horry, as he can create for himself on the last shot (ask Washington )
