<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span> December 20, 2006 - 7:30 pm ET</div> <span style="color:#000099">Golden State Warriors</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">(12-14)</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">PG</span> <span style="color:#000099">Baron Davis</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">SG</span> <span style="color:#000099">Jason Richardson</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">SF</span> <span style="color:#000099">Matt Barnes</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">PF</span> <span style="color:#000099">Mickael Pietrus</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">C</span> <span style="color:#000099">Andris Biedrins</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Mike Dunleavy, Monta Ellis (maybe), Ike Diogu, Adonal Foyle</span> <span style="color:#009900">Boston Celtics</span> <span style="color:#000000">(10-13)</span> <span style="color:#000000">PG</span> <span style="color:#009900">Sebastian Telfair</span> <span style="color:#000000">SG</span> <span style="color:#009900">Tony Allen</span> <span style="color:#000000">SF</span> <span style="color:#009900">Paul Pierce</span> <span style="color:#000000">PF</span> <span style="color:#009900">Ryan Gomes</span> <span style="color:#000000">C</span> <span style="color:#009900">Al Jefferson</span> <span style="color:#000000">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Delonte West, Gerald Green, Leon Powe, Rajon Rondo</span> Injury Report <span style="color:#FF6600">GS:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Troy Murphy will not play (sore left foot)</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">GS:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Monta Ellis might not play (ankle)</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Wally Szczerbiak will not play (strained right ankle)</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Kendrick Perkins will not play (plantar fasciitis)</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Brian Scalabrine will not play (flu)</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Michael Olowokandi will not play (strained abdomen)</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:#000099">Baron Davis</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">Season Stats: 20.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 8.4 apg, 2.1 spg</span> <span style="color:#000099">Jason Richardson</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">Season Stats: 14.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.1 apg</span> <span style="color:#000099">Monta Ellis</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">Season Stats: 17.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 4.4 apg</span> <span style="color:#000099">Andris Biedrins</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">Season Stats: 11.3 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 2.3 bpg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Paul Pierce</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 26.6 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 4.3 apg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Al Jefferson</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 12.4 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 1.3 apg As A Starter: 16.3 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 1.7 bpg</span> Rookie Watch <span style="color:#FF6600">GS:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Patrick O'Bryant</span> Overall Selection: 9 <span style="color:#FF6600">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#000099">2.0 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 0.8 apg</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">3.8 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.4 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">3.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 0.7 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">2.5 ppg, 0.5 rpg, 0.5 spg</span> <span style="color:#000099">Golden State's X-Factor</span> <span style="color:#000099">Andris Biedrins</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">Season Stats: 11.3 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 2.3 bpg</span> <span style="color:#000099">He has a real good chance at stopping Big Al. Al has been on a tear lately, but Biedrins is an excellent shot blocker and rebounder. Big Al could have a lot of problems tonight.</span> <span style="color:#009900">Boston's X-Factor</span> <span style="color:#009900">Tony Allen</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 7.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.1 apg, 0.9 spg As A Starter: 12.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.6 spg</span> <span style="color:#009900">TA has been awesome lately. I mean excellent. But in a game vs. Golden State, with guards like Baron Davis and Monta Ellis, we need one thing... DEFENSE. TA needs to bring the D tonight.</span> <div align="center">Key Matchup vs. <span style="color:#000099">Jason Richardson</span> <span style="color:#000000">vs.</span> <span style="color:#009900">Paul Pierce</span></div> <span style="color:#000000">We know the deal with The Truth. One of the best players in the league, perenneal All-Star, etc. But Jason Richardson, when healthy, is a lot to handle as well. He has had a rough year so far due to his knee troubles, but he's slowly starting to come into his own a little bit. It will be interesting to see how he handles Pierce.</span> CelticBalla's Extra Thoughts/Notes Golden State is VERY exciting and talented, one of my favorite teams to watch. This will be small ball vs. small ball! It's about time to see who's balls are smaller! - Golden State is on a 3 game losing streak. - Boston is on a 5 game winning streak. Another note: Pierce and Baron are great friends. CelticBalla's Prediction I think it'll be an awesome game, and I could see it going either way. But I think after our 5 game streak, Golden State will give us a smack back into reality, and I see us losing a tight one.
Golden State isn't coming in the most confident team, after losing at New Jersey and Toronto (and before them Phoenix). I think they're gonna come out a little down, and the Celtics need to get up on them early and keep them down.
I agree with you both... Hard to pick a winner here, and as much as I'd like to see Boston continue their winning streak, I think the Warriors defeat them in a tight game... (Hope I'm wrong!)
Alright... Monta Ellis might not play tonight for Golden State (ankle. He is in uniform but is not expected to play), and Scal will not play due to the flu. So more minutes for Kandi-Man, Powe, and Green. EDIT: Doc just said O probably won't dress either. UGH! The only big man off the bench for us tonight is Powe.
Hopefully we'll see a good one, first time in a while I've actually been a little excited to watch the team play. Get up early, squash any confidence they have, and win.
Defense has been nonexistant so far tonight, looking like the Celtics are gonna need to go ripshit soon if they wanna pull this one out.
I was impressed that they were able to get back in that game, down 8 with 3ish to go they got back in it and almost won. But yet again another terrible last posession - Pierce needs to pass in that situation. Allen played well yet again with 17 points 7 boards 2 assists 3 steals 2 blocks 5 TOs (a few werent his fault).I also will say that the refs were pretty terrible in this one. That clown out there looked like he had no idea what was going on.
This was a tough loss. We just couldn't keep up with the pace of the game Golden State was pushing, and we made too many unforced turnovers. Sure, the refs made some questionable calls tonight (for both sides), but I'm not going to blame them and excuse our mistakes. I thought Doc should have called a timeout when we had the ball with about 23 seconds to go. He shouldn't have just let them run it themselves while screaming a play from the sidelines. Either way, it wasn't a play. All it was: run the clock down, get it to Pierce, get out of the way. We need an actual play at the end. Have Pierce be the decoy, bring a guy like Delonte West off a screen for an open shot, or have TA get a screen so he can get an opening cut to the basket. But either way, Paul Pierce screwed up big time on that last possession. No doubt he should have dished that right back to Delonte once he was double teamed, let alone TRIPLE teamed. He was swarmed. Paul Pierce <u>27 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals on 9-19 shooting, 4-9 from 3, 5-5 FT</u> Paul did real well in the first quarter, and did alright throughout the rest of the night, but that last play... man, he screwed up. Tony Allen <u>17 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks on 7-14 shooting</u> TA was awesome tonight. The stat sheet says 5 turnovers, but like yankshater said, they weren't all his fault. He played another excellent game. He took it strong to the basket, played great defense, was called for 3 bullsh** fouls, and he attacked the rim. TA has really come back into one of my favorites, like he was in 04 and 05. Keep it up, Tony! Al Jefferson <u>13 points, 11 rebounds, 3 blocks on 5-7 shooting, 3-7 FT</u> Al had a rough first half. He didn't play well at all in the first half. He was getting abused on the boards, he wasn't asserting himself offensively, and he turned the ball over. However, in that 2nd half, he really came alive. He managed to finish with a double double, most of the work coming in the 2nd half. The team should have gotten him the ball more often in the second half, no doubt. But Al... MAKE YOUR FREE THROWS! Ryan Gomes <u>14 points, 2 rebounds on 5-8 shooting, 4-4 FT</u> Gomes was having trouble establishing himself on the glass tonight due to small ball. He was forced to chase guys around the perimeter. Lucky, TA and Big Al stepped up on the boards. But Gomes, offensively, did really well tonight. He was awesome around the basket with the ball in his hands, as usual. Delonte West <u>10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block on 4-12 shooting, 1-4 from 3</u> Delonte, once again, struggled with his shot. I really hope it has something to do with this new ball, because after new years, I want Delonte West back! But regardless of the stat sheet, Delonte really was a HUGE factor in that late run. Sebastian Telfair <u>5 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block on 2-5 shooting, 1-4 from 3</u> Bassy really needs to get some type of offsensive flow going, and soon. I mean, I really like how he has been playing smart and REALLY limiting his turnovers over the past 10-12 games, and he is really setting people up nicely, but I'd like to see him take advantage of his speed and penetrate like he did in preseason. No question, I want him to keep playing under control and I want him to keep running the plays nicely, but he's being too passive when he has an oppertunity to drive the lane. Oh, by the way, Baron Davis ate Telfair up tonight, like expected. Gerald Green <u>5 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists on 1-4 shooting, 0-2 from 3, 3-4 FT in 19 minutes</u> Gerald didn't really attack tonight offensively. His first bucket (his only FG) was a nice driving tweener shot. I'd like to see a bit more of that. I'm not saying those 2 three's he took were bad shots, because they were both wide open and he should take them, but he wasn't as aggressive offensively as he is most of the time. That consistancy will come in time, but I'd still like to see it. Leon Powe <u>2 points, 1 rebound, 1 block on 0-2 shooting, 2-2 FT in 14 minutes</u> Powe didn't do a bad job out there. A couple unneeded fouls, but he worked hard as usual. That's all I want to see from him. Rajon Rondo <u>2 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal on 1-1 shooting in 6 minutes</u> Look at the impact he had on the game in just SIX minutes. Why does Rondo NOT play? That's just a complete joke. GET RONDO ON THE FLOOR. Allan Ray Ray played the final 6 seconds of the first half. Nothing happened. Next Game Friday (12/22/06) at home vs. Philadelphia (8:00 pm ET).
referees were absolutely f*cking pathetic in this game that call on tony allen where he stripped andreis biedrenis was one of the worst calls I have seen in a while. Tony had a great game again tonight, so did AL J. Pierce was trying to do way to much at the end of that game.
anyone else think Paul got fouled by at least one of the six arms reaching for the ball?he should have gotten rid of the ball, but I guess we all make mistakes from time to time.he's bailed the team out enough times, he's allowed the occasional mistep at the end IMO.anyone else notice that Paul's 4 Q shooting has been well bad?I wonder if he's playing too many mins and it's showing in the 4th.
Guys, let me say two things1) Paul Pierce definately got fouled on that last play2) The refs didn't see it - the only reason they called even a jump ball is because it was the celticsThe warriors have had so many times where the ref called a foul after the buzzer because the other team was more well known that it was only fair that finally they didn't call a foul (though the refs still tried to give them a chance). the refs were terrible but they were terrible both ways (because obviously no ref is going to favor the away team over the hometown team, especially when the home team is the historic boston and the away team is the pathetic warriors)
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (tHe_pEsTiLeNcE @ Dec 21 2006, 11:30 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>2) The refs didn't see it - the only reason they called even a jump ball is because it was the celtics</div> Yeah... because the refs favor the Celtics oh so much. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>anyone else think Paul got fouled by at least one of the six arms reaching for the ball? he should have gotten rid of the ball, but I guess we all make mistakes from time to time. he's bailed the team out enough times, he's allowed the occasional mistep at the end IMO. anyone else notice that Paul's 4 Q shooting has been well bad? I wonder if he's playing too many mins and it's showing in the 4th.</div> First of all, welcome to the site bro! But Pierce may have gotten fouled a little bit, but I'm glad they didn't call it. You know why? Because we didn't deserve it, we made two huge mistakes before the triple team even happened. The first mistake was Doc not calling timeout when we had the ball with 23 seconds to go. What do you expect, Doc? A young team like this to hear you screaming a play, and actually execute it? No, they aren't ready for that. And the second mistake - Pierce trying to be a the hero. He had Delonte right in front of his face, wide open, for 5 seconds or so. Instead, for some reason, he looks away and tries to keep a handle on the ball. Then he gets swarmed with a triple team, then... you know the rest. And CelticFan, Pierce's 4th quarter shooting has not been bad. In fact, he's one of the most clutch players in the league, and he has done an excellent job in keeping us in games. But I think the starters in general are ALWAYS tired at the end of games, and I think that's a huge reason why we blow them. Do you want to know why they are so tired in the closing minutes of the game? Because Doc plays the starters like the first 10:30-11 minutes in the 3rd quarter, sits them to open the 4th for like 2 minutes, then plays them the rest of the game. They need a rest!
I know this is total irrelevant and I may sound like an idiot for asking this conidering the 350 million other things us fans have to worry about with the Celts....but...does this injury hinder Pierce's all-star chances?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Dec 21 2006, 12:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>And CelticFan, Pierce's 4th quarter shooting has not been bad. In fact, he's one of the most clutch players in the league, and he has done an excellent job in keeping us in games. But I think the starters in general are ALWAYS tired at the end of games, and I think that's a huge reason why we blow them. Do you want to know why they are so tired in the closing minutes of the game? Because Doc plays the starters like the first 10:30-11 minutes in the 3rd quarter, sits them to open the 4th for like 2 minutes, then plays them the rest of the game. They need a rest!</div>I know he's a clutch player and comes through in the last few moments of the game.But I've been observing his 4th Q stats on yahoo while the game is going on, lots of nights you'll see he 2-7, 1-5 until he hits a few when it counts, like the night vs the Nets.Last night he had 18 of his 27 points in the first half.and yes it's totally Doc's fault.he needs to get a full year out of Paul, instead he's overplayed him and now he's injured...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (WELCOMEtotheJUNGLE @ Dec 21 2006, 05:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I know this is total irrelevant and I may sound like an idiot for asking this conidering the 350 million other things us fans have to worry about with the Celts....but...does this injury hinder Pierce's all-star chances?</div> Of course is does. I will still keep voting for him, but I wouldn't be totally surprised if he doesn't get in. I mean, our votes really do nothing, because no matter how many times us Celtics fans vote for him, he won't start in the game. He won't get enough nation-wide votes. Seeing how the votes only count towards the starters, I say he still has a chance though. The coaches are the ones who select the bench for the All-Star game. The coaches have chosen Pierce the past 5 years, and his numbers are still the same, so he could still definitely get in. I hope he does, he deserves it. He's the only thing keeping the Garden alive (other than some highlights from Green, TA, or Bassy).
God that game sucked, I was there and everyone was leaving when we were down like 9, and then we made the come back and it was great, but that last play was awful, not even getting a shot off is disgraceful.and as usual Kenny Mauer F*cked up the game for us, if any other official was calling that game we would have won. He was calling f*cking 3 seconds left and right, it's a known fact that he despises Paul Pierce and putting him on Celtics games makes me sick.
