<span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%"><span style="color:green">BOSTON CELTICS</span> AT<span style="color:red">TORONTO RAPTORS</span></span>OCTOBER 11TH, 2006 - 7:00 PM EST<span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%">Projected Starting Lineups</span><span style="color:green">Boston Celtics</span>C: Theo RatliffPF: Al JeffersonSF: Wally SzczerbiakSG: Paul PiercePG: Sebastian Telfair(I'm just assuming this based on Al's lack of playing time in the first game)Key players off the bench: Kendrick Perkins, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Tony Allen, Delonte West, Rajon Rondo<span style="color:red">Toronto Raptors</span>C: Rasho NesterovicPF: Chris BoshSF: Morris PetersonSG: Anthony ParkerPG: TJ FordKey players off the bench: Andrea Bargnani, Fred Jones, Jorge Garbajosa, Jose Calderon, Joey Grahm<span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%">KEY MATCHUP:</span><span style="color:green">Boston's Al Jefferson</span> vs.<span style="color:red">Toronto's Chris Bosh</span>I could have done TJ Ford vs. Telfair or Rondo, Pierce vs. Peterson, Green v. Toronto, etc..but this one intrigued me. Matchups like this don't matter much in preseason, but these two guys could be going head to head for the next ten years plus years. Obviously, Bosh is much farther along, but to be fair, he's in his fourth year (coming out of the famous 03 class) and Jefferson is going into his third. Bosh can hit the mid range jumper, something Al Jeff can't really do right now, or at least we don't see it much in games. Jefferson will likely try his post moves on Bosh, it'll be interesting to see how well Jefferson can do after a good performance against the likes of Gooden and Marshall..let's see if he can play well against a premier power forward in this league.<span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%">PREVIEW</span>Last night, the Celtics kicked off their preseason to the delight of CelticsBloggers and got things going right. After being down 11 early, they fought back, were up by 23 at one point, and ended up winning 109-93 over the Cavs. Of course, it's preseason, etc, but I'd rather be on the winning side -even if its preseason-then the losing side. In this game, I hope to dominate..not only because I'm a Celtics fan, but I hate the Raptors, announcers, fans, ballboys..why? I'm not positive. I think part of it comes from them being a fellow young up and coming team, part because it's Canada, part because of the Green incident last year..anyways, hopefully Al Jefferson can get some more playing time and guys like Rondo and Perk continue to shine. Just please, don't bring in Scal until the VERY end, if at all, OK?<span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%">KEYS TO THE GAME</span>- Bench Scal. Sorry, just has to be said.- Let Gerald play more big minutes again- Can Kandi have two good games in a row? Lets find out.- Decrease turnovers..I'm looking at you, Sebastian- Get Paul his shots IN THE FLOW OF THE OFFENSEON TV: ON THE RADIO:<span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%">Prediction:</span>Celtics win, 104-96Player of the Game: Sebastian Telfair - 14/7/2Sorry, with an hour before gametime, I thought one was needed.
hmm.. I was just about to right one.. I guess I'll just add on to yours.This will definitely be an up and down game. both teams are young and athletic and love to run. both teams struggle on defense.I'd say the key match-up would be more like Big Al vs. Andrea Bargnani. Bargnani will be playing more and likely both of these players (Bargnani and Al) wiull be scoring almost at will.I would say today's X Factor will be... Gerald Green. He'll be getting starter's minutes, and he really can score at will against this pourous toronto defense. I'm expecting something around 22/6 from him.My keys to the game:-Utilize the match-upos down low. toronto is a very poor team in terms of defense and interior defense, so we should absolutely dominate in the paint. Not only Big Al posting up, but Rondo, Allen, Green driving to the rim. I have a feeling Gerald Green's going to make a poster today..-Don't lose focus. We played a similar team in the Summer League and beat them by 49. If we can bring the same intensity to this game, then we'll win this easily.
I don't know how much GG will play..he played many minutes last night, not sure if Doc wants back to back big minutes nights.
good point, but I think this is Gerald's time to shine since he won't be playing as much in the regular season.
Word on the street is that Allen Ray is starting instead of Telfair? dogma or bostonfan is this true?
um, I haven't heard anything on this. although I remember hearing that Telfair had some problems with his groin in training camp (?). Telfair could be sitting this one out, but I would expect Rondo to take his place rather tahn Ray.
I also heard that Allan Ray might start instead of Telfair. But I wouldn't expect Ray to start when there is Rondo and Delonte ahead of him. But I understand it's preseason and Doc wants to give the young players alot of minutes so they are ready by the time the regular season starts.
I really want to see Telfair, Jefferson and Olowokandi see much more time tonight. Kandi looked good and if he keeps it up I won't be surprised if he makes the team.
I expect Kandi man to make the team. He's better than Scalabrine. Kandi man has something to prove. He has to show that Doc and everyone else that he is good enough to stay in the NBA. Don't be surprised if Telfair doesn't play because he had groin problems during training camp.
I don't really like the way this unit plays. Maybe it's just early and they're still getting into the game but theres just something that doesn't seem right with this group of players on the floor right now.EDIT: Could Bosh always hit that jumper from 18-20 feet? Or is that something new this year.
He could always. But now he's a way better 3 point shooter. Look for him to actually attempt them this year. I think another pre-season game this year, he went 4 for 6 from three. That's amazing.Who's winning what's the score?
Raptors have the ball up 17-16 with 4:30 left in the first. I'll update score every quarter or something.
Celtics are up by 2 after 1, 27-25. They're playing pretty unimpressive but getting the job done. They are rebounding the ball fairly well and playing fairly solid defense. They haven't really gotten too many chances to get out on the break, which I think attributed to the boringness and unimpressiveness of that quarter. At one point Doc was up screaming at Telfair to run. It's good to see that he wants to stick with it, because this team can greatly excel doing that. They've been doing everything pretty well, just nothing has been spectacular and sticks out.Gerald looks like he has a lot of confidence tonight. He's been taking quite a few shots and looks confident with his first steps.
Like I said, ugliness is reigning supreme in this game. 16 turnovers already with 4:59 left in the 2nd quarter. Tie game, 39-39.
Is it halftime yet?Tell me how the Raptors are doing? Who's playing well, who's not... How are our new guys doing?Garbajosa, Bargnani, Tucker, Ford, Jones, Parker, Humphries, Rasho etc.
Celtics up 52-51 at the half.. really playing unimpressive basketball. A lot of turnovers to tell the truth, 18 in the first half, it's real ugly. They are shooting the ball pretty well and playing pretty good defense. and Wolverine30, to be honest, I'm not paying attention to the Raptors at all.
