<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span> November 17, 2006 - 7:30 pm ET</div> <span style="color:#000000">Portland Trail Blazers</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">(4-5)</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">PG</span> <span style="color:#000000">Jarrett Jack</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">SG</span> <span style="color:#000000">Ime Udoka</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">SF</span> <span style="color:#000000">Stephen Graham</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">PF</span> <span style="color:#000000">Zach Randolph</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">C</span> <span style="color:#000000">LaMarcus Aldridge</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#000000">Jamaal Magloire, Stephen Graham, Travis Outlaw, Martell Webster, Sergio Rodriguez</span> <span style="color:#009900">Boston Celtics</span> <span style="color:#000000">(2-6)</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, Gerald Green, Leon Powe, Tony Allen</span> Injury Report <span style="color:#FF0000">POR:</span> <span style="color:#000000">Darius Miles will not play (out for season)</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">POR:</span> <span style="color:#000000">Brandon Roy will not play (heel)</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">POR:</span> <span style="color:#000000">Joel Przybilla will not play (lower abdoman)</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Al Jefferson will not play (recovering from apendectomy)</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Theo Ratliff is questionable (lower back).</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Michael Olowokandi is unlikely to play (strained abdominal muscle).</span> Who To Watch Out For <span style="color:#000000">Zach Randolph</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 27.0 ppg, 10.2 rpg</span> <span style="color:#000000">Jarrett Jack</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 11.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 6.0 apg, 1.2 spg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Paul Pierce</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 26.4 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 3.6 apg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Wally Szczerbiak</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 22.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.6 apg</span> Rookie Watch <span style="color:#FF0000">POR:</span> <span style="color:#000000">LaMarcus Aldridge</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 2</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#000000">10.0 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.0 bpg</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">POR:</span> <span style="color:#000000">Sergio Rodriguez</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 27</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#000000">3.0 ppg, 5.3 apg, 1.0 spg</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">5.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 4.0 apg, 1.1 spg</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Leon Powe</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 49</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#009900">7.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.0 bpg</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Allan Ray</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: Undrafted</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Has not played.</span> <span style="color:#000000">Portland's X-Factor</span> <span style="color:#000000">Jarrett Jack</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 11.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 6.0 apg, 1.2 spg</span> <span style="color:#000000">If Jack doesn't at least contain Telfair/Rondo, Portland is going to have a long night. Portland doesn't really have another solid PG on the roster, Jack needs to step up against Boston's two quick guards.</span> <span style="color:#009900">Boston's X-Factor</span> <span style="color:#009900">Kendrick Perkins</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 6.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.8 bpg, 69% FG</span> <span style="color:#009900">Perk started off slow this year, but the last 3 games he has really turned it on and stepped up big. He needs to step up big tonight as well and do a good job with Randolph and Magloire. He needs to protect the basket without fouling and he really needs to rebound.</span> Key Matchup vs. <span style="color:#000000">Jarrett Jack</span> <span style="color:#000000">vs.</span> <span style="color:#009900">Sebastian Telfair</span> <span style="color:#000000">Telfair is going to want to prove something to the Blazers, so you should expect him to elevate his game just like he does when he plays in New York. Jack has been awesome this season as well, so it's going to be a nice little PG matchup.</span> CelticBalla's Extra Thoughts/Notes I am excited to see LaMarcus Aldridge, and it will be pretty sweet to see Gerald Green and Martell Webster go head to head for a little bit. CelticBalla's Prediction I can't see us losing this game, we are just a much stronger team IMO. With Roy and Miles out, Randolph is really the only threat. I think the Celtics pull this one out by double digits. We SHOULD anyway. I'm also predicting that Gerald Green gets his first dunk of the year tonight. Last year he got his first career dunk vs. Portland, I think his first one this year will be against them too. EDIT: I just found out that Aldridge will get his first career start tonight.
We deff havta win this game. Look who is going to be on pierce most likely. As long as we stop Zach, we should get a win. * Is Stephan Graham, Joey Grahams brother? They look alike. *
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Madness @ Nov 17 2006, 03:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>We deff havta win this game. Look who is going to be on pierce most likely. As long as we stop Zach, we should get a win. * Is Stephan Graham, Joey Grahams brother? They look alike. *</div> As a matter of fact, yes Joey and Stephen Graham are twin brothers. They played with each other in college at Oklahoma State as well. Joey is the better player right now, but Stephen is an all-out hustler and he has impressed McMillan. Also, we are not going to "stop" Zach Randolph. Nobody has this season, and Ryan Gomes sure as hell won't. But other than Randolph, we have the advantage at every position, IMO, except maybe center. Other than Jack, they have no reliable backup PG really. Sure, Rodriguez has been racking up the assists, but he's still a project. On the wings, they are VERY weak without Roy and Miles. If we don't win this game by double digits I'll be stunned and a bit dissapointed.
I'd say screw double digits, and just take a win any way ya can get it at this point.... I really hope Boston makes a few mid-season trades that will help get a little more veteran leadership or experience on the team...
So uh, CB32.. You said that we couldn't stop Randolph? Looks like the Celtics are playing great D AGAIN. 7 blocks in the first half. Lets hope they can keep there lead.
What the hell is Doc Rivers thinking? Only winning by 28 points... The Blazers are a bad basketball team.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Madness @ Nov 17 2006, 09:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>So uh, CB32.. You said that we couldn't stop Randolph? Looks like the Celtics are playing great D AGAIN. 7 blocks in the first half. Lets hope they can keep there lead.</div> First of all, Randolphs numbers: 23 and 12. But yeah we did play good defense again, and I love it! <span style="color:#FF0000"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%">BLOWOUT AGAIN!!! 118-90</span></span> We played very good defense, Paul Pierce was sensational once again, Telfair played great, Wally was stroking it, D-West couldn't miss, Perk played pretty well, Powe and Green were good off the bench, Rondo was solid, Scal played well. Ray played for the first time. TA had some nice plays. Our starters didn't even play in the 4th, and they got good extended rest for a back-to-back. I LOVE IT. I will say one thing about the Blazers, Ime Udoka impressed me. Paul Pierce <u>29 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals on 10-16 shooting (4-6 from 3) in only 3 quarters</u> Pierce was ON FIYYYYAAA! once again. Against Indiana, he had 30 after the 3rd quarter, tonight he had 29. Nobody in Portland can guard him, no way. Pierce was incredible once again. Wally Szczerbiak <u>19 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists on 6-10 shooting (3-6 from 3)</u> Wally definitely shot the ball very well tonight. He picked good spots, took good shots, and nailed them. Excellent shooting display from Wally, as always. Sebastian Telfair <u>15 points, 7 assists on 6-10 shooting (only 1 turnover as well)</u> Bassy played extremely well tonight against his old team. He hit his shots, he took excellent shots (except for 2), he penetrated, he made some very nice kickouts, and he had 2 nice plays on the break. He played tough defense as well, even though Jack burned him twice. Great job Bassy, do this again tomorrow night in New York! Delonte West <u>17 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks on 7-12 shooting</u> THERE YOU GO DELONTE! That's what I want to see D-West! He was incredible in the second half, and I think he hit like 5 shots in a row at one point. He hustled, blocked 2 shots, ran hard, and nailed everything. This is the breakout game we all needed to see from D-West. He's really coming into his own lately. Kendrick Perkins <u>1 point, 5 rebounds, 3 blocks</u> Perk played well again. He was very active, had some nice blocks, he boxed out extremely well, and he played like his badass self once again. I'm loving what I am seeing from Perk these last 4-5 games. Leon Powe <u>9 points, 6 rebounds, 1 block in 19 minutes</u> Powe was an animal as usual. He blocked out extremely well, grabbed boards, hustled, played solid defense, and hell he even hit an 18 foot jumper. I love Powe. Gerald Green <u>9 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal on 3-5 shooting (2-3 from 3) in 18 minutes. 0 turnovers too</u> Gerald Green really played well tonight. My friggen god Gerald can stroke it from deep! He's 9-14 from 3 point land on the year so far, by the way. But besides the shooting, Gerald was EXTREMELY active all night long. He made 2 very nice passes, grabbed boards, jumped up to intercept a pass, he ran (he even got a rebound and dribbled all the way up the floor, then dished an assist). Gerald played his heart out, this kid is going to be a player. I love Gerald! Rajon Rondo <u>8 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals, 1 block in 23 minutes</u> Rondo was Rondo. He controlled the 2nd unit in the 2nd quarter, he rebounded, hustled, played excellent defense. Rondo may not have dished 7 assists tonight, but he played well. Ryan Gomes <u>2 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist on 0-5 shooting</u> Well, he didn't focus on scoring tonight, he had a very tough defensive assignment in Zach Randolph. He did OK for a little bit, but not great. This was the first time I have ever seen Gomes look a little frustrated, really. Brian Scalabrine <u>1 rebound in 17 minutes</u> You might laugh at the stat sheet, but I loved what I saw from Scal tonight. He was forced to play center, and he did a good job. He made so many key hustle plays, I loved it. He got 2 Tommy Points in a 2 minute span too. Last year, I hated looking at Scal. But this year, he honestly has done a very good job out there. Tony Allen <u>8 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals in 12 minutes. Also 4 fouls</u> TA was pretty solid tonight. He got one bad turnover on the break, and 4 fouls, but he played fairly well. He ran the floor, got a couple easy buckets in transition, and made one very nice pass. He did get burned once by DAN DICKAU haha, but not bad TA. Allan Ray <u>1 point, 1 assist on 0-3 shooting in 6 minutes</u> Welcome to the NBA, Allan Ray! He missed a couple shots, made 1-2 from the line, but he made an EXCELLENT long bounce pass to Gerald Green on the break once (hence the assist). YEEEEEAAAAHHHHH!!! Tommy Heinsohn had about 8 orgasms tonight, and I might have too. Next Game Tomorrow night @ New York. Another very winnable game. To add on to your happy faces, isn't this a great picture? :HAHAHA:
haha I've seen that pic before CB.and oh my god, I love this team! the intensity is just unbelievable. I liked the energy for all 48 minutes in this one. I love how the bench is playing now especially, thanks to rondo mostly (and now Delonte's hitting). and thanks to Doc pulling his head out of his ass and playing rondo the minutes he deserves, it's giving Bassy some extra motivation on defense when he plays. He isn't playing as much so he can put more energy on the court when he does play.THIS is how you use a deep bench!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (yankshater213 @ Nov 17 2006, 11:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>wow holy sh*t.I didnt get to watch this but im pumped just looking at the box.</div>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BrewCityBuck @ Nov 17 2006, 09:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>What the hell is Doc Rivers thinking? Only winning by 28 points... The Blazers are a bad basketball team.</div>They aren't that bad, or they haven't been over the course of the season. Zach Randolph had 3 straight 30/10 games at one point, and they've beaten some pretty good teams (lakers and hornets, an undefeated hornets team at the time).
I posted that comment at half time. He had like only 7 points at the time. He had many free throws though. I loved how Scal was hustling out there last night, he had atleast two nice saves from the ball almost going out of bounce. TA finally didn't do sh*tty on the break and Wally was just lightsout. Great game C's.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (nba dogmatist @ Nov 18 2006, 12:26 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>haha I've seen that pic before CB.and oh my god, I love this team! the intensity is just unbelievable. I liked the energy for all 48 minutes in this one. I love how the bench is playing now especially, thanks to rondo mostly (and now Delonte's hitting). and thanks to Doc pulling his head out of his ass and playing rondo the minutes he deserves, it's giving Bassy some extra motivation on defense when he plays. He isn't playing as much so he can put more energy on the court when he does play.THIS is how you use a deep bench!</div>and when the celtics come out with no motivation, you get more frustrated and say how they are awful...The C's have played great the last 2 games but it also may be due to the fact that they have been playing out of their minds. I hate to be negative, but they can do this all year. I will say one thing though, Doc has been rotating his players better as of late and it has been paying off. Bostons young deep bench has been coming up big.
well, of course they're not going to win by 25+ for the rest of the year. and I was just noting that when this team plays with that intensity, with that effort, they are a dangerous team.
Once they can play that well agaisnt a solid playoff contender, and keep up that intensity and determination, then you can classify them as a "dangerous team".
indiana's not a solid playoff contender? that team has a lot of talent. definitely a playoff contender. we also played very well against the cavs for 3 quarters. Swoon
By solid playoff contender, I mean team that will for sure be in at least the 2nd round of the playoffs. If I meant any playoff team, I would have said so. As of right now, they havent beaten a team that today would make the playoffs...I dont believe anyways. I may be wrong considering the East has been weird so far this season. My point is, if they can do this agaisnt better competition, then you can call them dangerous.
sorry, I take "playoff contender" as someone who is contending for the playoffs.and by "dangerous team", I don't mean someone that will just man handle everyone they play, I mean a team that won't just be a pushover, a team that CAN beat almost any team in the league on any given night. which is kind of like how the celtics are. They play up to good team's levels, but unfortunately they also play down.
By me saying "SOLID" that is an indication that they can be a playoff team that is ranked 6th or better. And right now for Indiana, they have lost 4 straight and arent looking too good...And most teams in the NBA CAN beat any team in the league on any given night. Note the Bobcats beating the Spurs the other night..
I would consider indiana to be a solid team. losing streak or not, they're a talented team and we terrorized them.and the Celtics this year have NEVER been losing by more than 7 within 5 minutes of the end of the game. That's a sign that this team can hang with alot of teams in the league.
