<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span> November 13, 2006 - 7:30 pm ET</div> <span style="color:#3333FF">Orlando Magic</span> <span style="color:#000000">(4-3)</span> <span style="color:#000000">PG</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Jameer Nelson</span> <span style="color:#000000">SG</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Grant Hill</span> <span style="color:#000000">SF</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Hedo Turkoglu</span> <span style="color:#000000">PF</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Dwight Howard</span> <span style="color:#000000">C</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Tony Battie</span> <span style="color:#000000">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Darko Milicic, Carlos Arroyo, Keith Bogans, Trevor Ariza, Keyon Dooling, Trevor Ariza, J.J. Redick</span> <span style="color:#009900">Boston Celtics</span> <span style="color:#000000">(1-5)</span> <span style="color:#000000">PG</span> <span style="color:#009900">Sebastian Telfair</span> <span style="color:#000000">SG</span> <span style="color:#009900">Paul Pierce</span> <span style="color:#000000">SF</span> <span style="color:#009900">Wally Szczerbiak</span> <span style="color:#000000">PF</span> <span style="color:#009900">Ryan Gomes</span> <span style="color:#000000">C</span> <span style="color:#009900">Kendrick Perkins</span> <span style="color:#000000">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Delonte West, Rajon Rondo, Tony Allen, Gerald Green, Michael Olowokandi</span> Injury Report <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Al Jefferson will not play (recovering from apendix surgery)</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Theo Ratliff will not play (lower back).</span> Who To Watch Out For <span style="color:#3333FF">Dwight Howard</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 15.0 ppg, 12.6 rpg, 2.1 bpg</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Jameer Nelson</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 15.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 3.3 apg</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Grant Hill</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 16.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 3.2 apg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Paul Pierce</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 26.3 ppg, 11.7 rpg, 4.0 apg, 1.2 spg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Wally Szczerbiak</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 24.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.8 apg</span> Rookie Watch <span style="color:#000000">ORL:</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">J.J. Redick</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 11</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Has not played.</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Rajon Rondo</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 21</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#009900">6.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.8 apg</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Orlando's X-Factor</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Darko Milicic</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 7.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.7 bpg</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Darko is a good shot blocker, and he's big. He could really take advantage of our shortness of bigs.</span> <span style="color:#009900">Boston's X-Factor</span> <span style="color:#009900">Kendrick Perkins</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 5.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.7 bpg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Perk has played very well these last 2 games. He can't slow down and play poorly/foul again. He needs to be consistant with his strong play.</span> Key Matchup vs. <span style="color:#3333FF">Jameer Nelson</span> <span style="color:#000000">vs.</span> <span style="color:#009900">Delonte West</span> <span style="color:#000000">These two are friends, and they both played side-by-side at St. Joseph's. It will be nice to see Jameer and D-West on the floor against each other.</span> CelticBalla's Extra Thoughts/Notes <span style="color:#009900">I will be at this game.</span> We better win, this is a winnable game. CelticBalla's Prediction What does it matter, to predict a win or loss for the Celtics? We already have witnessed that even if we have a 25 point lead, we are still capable of blowing it. This is a very winnable game, but Orlando is a solid team, and we have been incredibly bad. Who knows...
I think we can win this one. I like Paul's matchup and I think Telfair and make Nelson exposed for his overalllack of talent. I think its Boston by double digets in this one, dispite a big Howard show.
The Boston Celtics can win this game, but I am thinking that the Magic are going to take this game. I think that Jameer Nelson is going to eat any of these point guards that come at him for lunch, whether it be West, Telfair, or Rhondo, any of the three I think that Nelson is better than. Theo Ratliff better be in the game today, or your bigs rotation is going to be looking very thin and small. The Magic are going to be going down low often, and running the offense through our big men, alot like they did against the Timberwolves, and try to do every game. While no one in the league can really stop Paul Pierce, I feel Ariza will be coming into the game alot to play defense on Paul Pierce, and feel he can do an adequate job of atleast challenging Paul Pierce and making him work hard for his points. Again, he's not going to stop Paul Pierce , but he will make things hard on him.
I agree with everybody else, Howard is going to cause Havoc againt your bigs tonight. On the other hand, I dont see anybody being able to contain Pierce either.Celtics-93 Magic- 87
I am pretty curious on how JJ is gonna do in his first game suiting up if he gets any playing time. I doubt he'll get to do much but it will be nice to see him out on the court again.
Celtics just need to stop Howard on the Magic. I'm pretty sure that Pierce will have a great game tonight. I'm not sure that Gomes or any will stop Howard unless they double team him.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Madness @ Nov 13 2006, 05:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Celtics just need to stop Howard on the Magic. I'm pretty sure that Pierce will have a great game tonight. I'm not sure that Gomes or any will stop Howard unless they double team him.</div>I think people are thinking that Howard is the only player on the Magic team. When in actual fact, he can have a bad game, and the team still has the ability to win. Just stopping, or containing Howard will not automatically win the game for the other team, it helps to win but it doesn't gurantee win. In two of the Magics four wins he had only 7 points, and an 8 point game with 5 turnovers. The thing the Sonics have to most do, is limit our points in the paint or around the basket, which sounds like an easy game plan. Nelson, Dooling, Arroyo, and Hill are all good driving in and getting points in the paint, and Milicic and Howard can get points down low. They need to stay in front of our penetrators, especially when they have the ball. When playing Howard they have to try to keep him from getting momentum to his right hand on offense, and make him have to turn left. Once again, that sounds easy, but it's pretty hard.On offense, I would probably send Telfair, Rhondo, Pierce and whoever else right at our big men and try to draw some fouls, and get them into foul trouble early. I would not keep trying to send the ball inside to Ratliff, Gomes, or whoever else is in there and have them try to beat Howard, Milicic and Battie.
LEON POWE8 minutes 9 points 4 boards 1 block AND he took a chargethis better f*cking mean no more scalabrineWAY TO GO LEON
Powe is keeping us in this game. Now the game is in the 4th with like 6 mins to go and Paul is taking over. 3 3's and the C's are tied now. This is a going to be a great finish I think
Rondo, Powe, Perk, and Delonte all played great tonight. Another close game at the end, sooner or later hopefully the Celtics can pull few in a few of them. Rajon really impressed me playing the point down the stretch, he showed GREAT composure and came up with a few big steals and seemingly impossible passes. This kid is going to be a player for a long time. Nelson really impressed me too. He rolled his ankle, and then he hit the shot that took the Celtics out of it. He's going to be a real good player too.
no he wont be a good player. He doesn't have all the tools to be consistant. dont make him an allstar over one game agianst a sh*tty celtics team. lol
jameer nelson was just too much. we played some pretty stupid defense the last few posessions by switching on those screens. I mean, even if jameer nelson missed those shots, dwight would have surely gotten the rebound over rondo.I was impressed by delonte, rondo, and powe tonight. Wally played pretty good as usual, but Pierce REALLY needs to pick it up. he's playing like he's tired, so sloppy.but really, I love rondo more and more each time I see him play. he played excellent tonight. I haven't seen the boxscore, but in a short span he had 2 steals and 4 assists. He was a leader out there, and his ballhandling never ceases to amaze me.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (L T @ Nov 13 2006, 09:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>no he wont be a good player. He doesn't have all the tools to be consistant. dont make him an allstar over one game agianst a sh*tty celtics team. lol</div> I disagree. Nelson has been playing on a very high level ever since the all-star break last year. he has incredible quickness and strength. that paired with a jumpshot in a guard is deadly.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (L T @ Nov 13 2006, 10:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>no he wont be a good player. He doesn't have all the tools to be consistant. dont make him an allstar over one game agianst a sh*tty celtics team. lol</div>Where do you get that he doesn't have the tools to be a good player? He has a nice jump shot on him, especially from the the elbow just inside the three point line, he is very quick and can penetrate on just about anyone, and he runs the Magic offense very well. So where do you get that he doesn't have the tools to be a consistently good player, what else does he have to have?This was a good game tonight for the Magic, I was happy with our effort. Nelson was big for us tonight, playing hitting his shots and driving in as we needeed. Hill was huge tonight for the Magic, also getting to the rim and creating off the dribble well. Hill was also playing nice defense on Pierce, especially in the first half, but over the whole game he made Pierce work for his points. Howard played well on the boards as usual, grabbing 15 tonight, and offensively he did pretty good. He didn't take many shots, as he was out of his comfort zone alot, and wasn't near the paint. The shots he did take though, he made the most out of. The one player I was completely dissapointed in was Carlos Arroyo who did not play well, and was taking two or three shots he had no reason taking at all. He really hurt us more than helped us. Points in the paint, as I thought it would be, was a major part of our win. I said earlier if they can't keep us out of the paint, which I know is hard to do but still, if they couldn't we was gonna have a good night. That is where the Magic are thriving at right now, getting in the paint and getting high percentage shots. 5-3, we are starting off well right now.For the Celtics, I thought that Perkins was doing a good job against Dwight Howard. Howard picked up 17 points, on 5 of 8 shooting, but he kept Howard away from the basket alot, and only allowed him to take 8 shots on the game. It's just rough when the guy hits a majority of those 8 shots. Delonte was amazing tonight off the bench and really put in alot energy to this team tonight on offense.
I just came back from the game, it was fun. But we lost... AGAIN. Doc has to be on his last straw. Player Thoughts/Observations - Leon Powe!!! I'm very happy for this kid, he played great. He rebounded, hustled like crazy, took a charge or two, blocked a shot (sick block!), scored a little. He gave me flashbacks of Ryan Gomes' situation, because the ONLY reason Powe played was because Gomes/Scal each had 2 fouls, plus Big Al/Theo were out. He lucked out to get time, and he really produced big. This kid needs to play. Give him ALL of Scal's minutes, please. - Delonte was on fire from the pre-game warmups to the end of the game. He was shooting the lights out in warmups and I called that he'd be on fire. He was. It's real nice to see D-West getting into the swing of things. - Pierce had an off game, again. He shot 6-21 in Cleveland on Saturday, and 6-20 tonight. He hit some big ones in the 4th though, I'll give him that, but overall another rough night for the captain. No doubt he will bounce back though, I mean come on, he's Paul Pierce. - Perk played a solid game. He stayed out of foul trouble and was banging the boards. - Rondo was exceptional in the 4th quarter. He really kept under control and he made some terrific plays both defensively and passing the ball. Great job Rajon! - Telfair had a good overall game, played under more control than he has been. I know Rondo was playing well at the end, but I'm surprised Bassy didn't get much time at all in the 4th. - Gomes really knocked down that 18 foot jumper tonight. I didn't expect him to really contain Howard, but that's Doc's fault for putting Gomes at center in the 4th. GRRRRR! - Wally was ok. He started off very quiet, but he turned it on a little later on. He was friggen leveled by Dooling though, daaamn. Doc Rivers Thoughts/Observations - Why did the starters die down in the 4th quarter? BECAUSE YOU PLAYED THEM DAMN NEAR THE WHOLE 2nd HALF! Rest them at the end of the 3rd, the start of the fourth. Damn! - Rondo finished the game under great control, but no Bassy in the fourth? Why? He was playing pretty well. - 5-6 minutes for Gerald? Ugh... Stop going up and down with him. He played very well Saturday in little time, so you give him less the next game on a worse team? - End of the game - FRIGGEN SMALL BALL AGAIN! Ryan Gomes on Dwight Howard? WTF were you thinking. Put Perk on him, you idiot. Small ball doesn't work bro, stop using it! - Two good things tonight - you kept playing Powe and you finally benched Tony Allen for the whole game. Other than that... just get out of Boston. Schedule for the Rest of the Week Wednesday: vs. Indiana Friday: vs. Portland Saturday: @ New York We SHOULD beat Portland and New York. But knowing us, we will either beat Indy and lose to the Blazers/Knicks, or just lose all 3.
Good to see Powe out there contributing, I hope he's over the injuries he had in college, he looks like he could be a very good contributor for us. Tough game though, 1-6 now, dammit, anyone got the countdown goin for a Doc?
I noticed the starters playing way too much too. I don't think Pierce sat one second of the 2nd half.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Nov 14 2006, 12:25 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>- Wally was ok. He started off very quiet, but he turned it on a little later on. He was friggen leveled by Dooling though, daaamn.Doc Rivers Thoughts/Observations- Why did the starters die down in the 4th quarter? BECAUSE YOU PLAYED THEM DAMN NEAR THE WHOLE 2nd HALF! Rest them at the end of the 3rd, the start of the fourth. Damn!- Rondo finished the game under great control, but no Bassy in the fourth? Why? He was playing pretty well.- 5-6 minutes for Gerald? Ugh... Stop going up and down with him. He played very well Saturday in little time, so you give him less the next game on a worse team?- End of the game - FRIGGEN SMALL BALL AGAIN! Ryan Gomes on Dwight Howard? WTF were you thinking. Put Perk on him, you idiot. Small ball doesn't work bro, stop using it!- Two good things tonight - you kept playing Powe and you finally benched Tony Allen for the whole game. Other than that... just get out of Boston.</div>I thought it was funny, me and my girlfriend who knows nothing about basketball was watching the game tonight, and it was late in the fourth quarter. My girlfriend out of no where pipes up saying "those guys on the Celtics must be tired, I have seen the same guys running around since after that long break thing they took." I was surprised, and thought to myself "how is my girlfriend, who doesn't even know what half time is, smart enough to figure out that people get tired if you run them to long without much of a break, and Doc Rivers can't figure that out?" I was thought it was pretty cool when Dooling took out Wally like that. It looked to me like he did that more for Nelson and to let him get to the sideline at that time, than it was to stop Wally from scoring. Either way, it could have really hurt Wally, and I felt that ejecting him from the game was the right thing to do.
Man, we have been in alot of these games. If we can learnt o close and hit the bit shots at the end we could have won 4 or 5 of these games. This will come with time and I think we will be a good 2nd half team.
