<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span> December 27, 2006 - 10:30 pm ET</div> <span style="color:#009900">Boston Celtics</span> <span style="color:#000000">(10-16)</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">Gerald Green</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">Wally Szczerbiak, Kendrick Perkins, Brian Scalabrine, Rajon Rondo, Michael Olowokandi</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Los Angeles Clippers</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">(11-16)</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">PG</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Shaun Livingston</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">SG</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Cuttino Mobley</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">SF</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Tim Thomas</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">PF</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Elton Brand</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">C</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Chris Kaman</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Corey Maggette, Quinton Ross, Aaron Williams, Daniel Ewing</span> Injury Report <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Paul Pierce will not play (stress reaction in left foot)</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Delonte West will not play (back)</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Theo Ratliff will not play (lower back)</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">LAC:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Sam Cassell will not play (heel)</span> Who To Watch Out For <span style="color:#009900">Wally Szczerbiak</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 18.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.1 apg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Al Jefferson</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 13.0 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 1.4 bpg</span> <span style="color:#000000">As A Starter: 16.3 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 1.8 bpg</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Elton Brand</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats: 19.0 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.9 bpg</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Corey Maggette</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats: 15.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.5 apg</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Shaun Livingston</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats: 9.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 5.3 apg</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats: 12.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 6.5 apg</span> Rookie Watch <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">3.7 ppg, 2.6 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">3.5 ppg, 2.8 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">3.1 ppg</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">LAC:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Paul Davis</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 34</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">1.9 ppg, 1.3 rpg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Boston's X-Factor</span> <span style="color:#009900">Kendrick Perkins</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 4.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.9 bpg</span> <span style="color:#009900">His first game back, I know, I shouldn't really put pressure on him. But screw that, we NEED low post defense. If Perk can come back and play solid off the bench, I'll be VERY happy. We are going to need Perk tonight vs. a strong frontline of Elton Brand and Chris Kaman.</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">LA's X-Factor</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Shaun Livingston</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats: 9.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 5.3 apg</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats: 12.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 6.5 apg</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">With his massive size advantage over Sebastian Telfair and Rajon Rondo, Livingston needs to have a good game. He has a chance to really kill the Celtics PG's with Delonte West out. We'll see how he does.</span> <div align="center">Key Matchup vs. <span style="color:#009900">Al Jefferson</span> <span style="color:#000000">vs.</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Elton Brand</span></div> <span style="color:#000000">Brand is a superstar and one of the best big men in the NBA. Big Al is trying to get to that status, and with the way he has been playing lately, there isn't much of a doubt that it is very possible that he could become one of those players in a couple years. Big Al needs to really stay out of foul trouble (unlike last night) and bring his A-Game.</span> CelticBalla's Extra Thoughts/Notes I wish Sam I Am was playing, I just love him. CelticBalla's Prediction I have to go with LA on this one. This is somewhat of a winnable game, but without Pierce, Wally, and Delonte - I don't see us taking down the Clippers. They have been struggling lately, and they did lose last night, so they'll be out looking for a win, especially against a young and banged up team like the Celtics.
Chris Kaman looks like the homeless guy that threatened to kill me the other night that's an awful photo. Also, the photographer who did the Celtics pictures was way better than the Clippers.Anyway, probably another loss for us, especially with us being down a point guard. It won't hurt to have Kendrick back though.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (playaofthegame @ Dec 27 2006, 09:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>im pumped about Perk being backPerk has had enough to drink when Perk says so</div>Haha, likewise...I can't wait to see Perk and Al in there together, and IMO if that were to happen we would be able to have a great 2nd unit. DelonteAllenPierceAlPerkBassy/RondoWallyGeraldGomesScal/PoweIMO that would be our best lineup. Look at all the scoring our 2nd unit could have. Yes, they'd be somewhat small so my logic is somewhat flawed, but we have played pretty well this season while playing small. Gomes is a good rebounder, Powe is a monster on the boards, and Gerald has good size for his position, so it would't be as bad as people are making it out to be, but I'd like to see that lineup at least tried or attempted.
Rondo should be startinghe doesn't play games when hes out therehe'll make a mistake here or there but it was clear when he was out there last night that he made things happen
That's the beauty of being homeschooled, I never have to worry one bit about the time of night any game is on.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>What you see is whet you're going to get from the Celtics as they move across the West on their holiday trip. With Paul Pierce (left foot stress reaction) not with the team and Wally Szczerbiak (sprained ankle) not ready to come back just yet, the C's are staying in house for a solution."No," said Danny Ainge when asked about picking up a free agent. "Now is when we get a look at the young guys, and see what they can do."Our big thing right now is finding out who fits. That's the real challenge for our coaching staff right now. I mean, we've seen this with Al (Jefferson). We've always known what he's capable of doing, but he still has a lot to prove. It's always good when you see these young guys living up to their potential, but the key in all of this is that they remain hungry."I thought Tony (Allen) played great over the last month last year, once he had recovered from (knee surgery). I've always said that young players need that time to develop."Ainge believes the improvement in the kids came out with the opportunity to play more."I saw strides in our players when we were 5-13, before we had the (five-game winning) streak," Ainge said. "Obviously, Al and Tony have really stepped up, but I'm not surprised. The difference is that they're getting minutes now. Our problem has always been that we have too many guys, not who we have."Ryan Gomes has played well, and Kendrick Perkins was playing well before he was hurt. Now that Tony Allen and Scal (Brian Scalabrine) are getting consistent minutes, they're playing well."REPLAY: Delonte West began Tuesday by getting promoted to starting point guard. He ended the day with a sore lower back and two bruised elbows from a bad fall.The Celtics, continuing to lose bodies, lost a 116-105 decision to the Nuggets."We can't lose another one, but we may," said Doc Rivers. "And if we do, there's nothing we can do about it."West hit the floor hard after goaltending an Earl Boykins fast-break lay-up in the last minute of the first half. He returned and played the first 13 seconds of the second half, but was removed from the game and sent to the dressing room when it was clear he couldn't move well enough.Al Jefferson had 16 points and a career-high 16 rebounds for the Celts, while Tony Allen and Gerald Green had 18 points apiece.Allen Iverson had 28 points and a season-high tying 13 assists for the Nuggets, who also got 28 points from Boykins.The Celts were up by three points in the second quarter, but Denver took over with a 20-5 run.</div>http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/teamReport?ca...ype=InsideSlant
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (playaofthegame @ Dec 27 2006, 09:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/teamReport?ca...ype=InsideSlant</div> .... we knew this last night lol.
GREAT NEWS for the Celtics tonight! Wally, Perk, and O will all play tonight! Wally was supposed to play Friday, but he surprisingly is going to suit up tonight! I'm pumped!
I didn't get to see the game, just checked out the box score, some general observations: -You can't expect to win shooting 31% from the floor -Al rebounded well again, but 4-16 is pretty horrendous -Gerald Green had another great game, 5-8 on 3s (guess he wasn't jacking them up tonight ) -Brand had 25 and 10 on 11-15 shooting, I'm guessing Al was defending him, looks like he had a pretty easy job scoring thoughAnother loss which was expected, sucks, I can't wait to get Paul back.
I didn't watch, but from the box it seems like Allen was driving the rim real well, 11-13 FTs, that what I like to see from him. But like JB said, Al didn't shoot well, for someone who watched: was he just off? or was Brand defending him real well?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (yankshater213 @ Dec 28 2006, 09:11 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I didn't watch, but from the box it seems like Allen was driving the rim real well, 11-13 FTs, that what I like to see from him. But like JB said, Al didn't shoot well, for someone who watched: was he just off? or was Brand defending him real well?</div> Well, the 4-16 is a little misleading. Not too misleading, but a little. Some of them were tips, where he had the ball and attempted 3, maybe 4 offensive putbacks (but missed them all). But between Kaman and Brand, no lie, Big Al had about 6 of his shots blocked. But hey, he kept on coming at them, and that's what I was extremely happy about. Oh, and by the way, there was one move Big Al made that was phenominal! He was on the right block, he up-faked, spun, then slammed it home... and got the foul. I loved it. Why We Lost - Clippers blocked 11 shots - We got outrebounded (the stat sheet says we were only -3 on the boards, but some of those were in garbage minutes) - Brand and Thomas lit it up offensively - 17 turnovers to their 10 - 32% shooting - We commited too many stupid fouls - Nobody off the bench stepped up Tony Allen <u>13 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals on 1-1 shooting, 11-13 FT</u> Player of the game right here, NO QUESTION. He was the only Celtic (except for maybe Perk for a 4 minute stretch) that played good defense. He really did a pretty good job on Livingston, he was REALLY aggressive taking the ball to the basket (1-1 shooting, 13 points. ALL of his shots/attempts were in the paint), he pounded the glass, and he always kept his head in the game. Another excellent game from TA! Sebastian Telfair <u>18 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists on 6-17 shooting, 1-3 from 3, 5-5 FT</u> I don't give a damn what the stat sheet says for his shooting percentage, Bassy did a good job tonight. He knocked down quite a few of those 8-10 foot pull-ups, he ran hard, he penetrated. He really missed about 4-5 driving layups though, jesus christ. I swear, Bassy misses more layups in games than he makes. But he did a good job tonight. He needed this game, he has been in a horrendous scoring slump. Hopefully this boosts his confidence a bit. Gerald Green <u>17 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal on 6-13 shooting, 5-8 from 3</u> 5-8 from 3, he was really stroking it tonight... wow. So, JB, can Gerald shoot? Huh? But he shot the ball well, made two very nice drives to the basket, and he was active as usual. I'm loving what Gerald has been doing the past 3 games (as a starter). This is a little glimpse of what we are going to see in the future every night, this kid is going to be a good player. Al Jefferson <u>10 points, 14 rebounds, 2 blocks on 4-16 shooting</u> Like I said, the 4-16 is a tad bit misleading. Some of them were a bunch of tips, and he got damn near close to half of his shot attempts blocked. It was clear he didn't have an offensive rhythm going tonight like usual, but he never stopped going at them. He kept coming, and coming, and coming. That's what I loved about it. And once again, he owned the glass with 14 boards. That's the 6th straight double-double for Big Al. Ryan Gomes <u>8 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal on 3-7 shooting</u> Gomes knocked down two jumpers early on, but didn't really get anything else going the rest of the night. He's in a slump lately, not only with his shooting, but his all-around game. It just hasn't been the same lately. Wally Szczerbiak <u>9 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal on 2-8 shooting, 1-1 from 3, 4-4 FT in 28 minutes</u> Wally's first game back, it was nice to see him back out there. He didn't shoot very well tonight, but I'll live with it since it was his first game back in about a week and a half. You could tell that Wally didn't have full strength in his step, but he'll get there. Rajon Rondo <u>2 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist on 1-5 shooting in 20 minutes</u> He obviously wasn't at his best due to the mismatches, but I'm happy about two things: one, he didn't hesitate to take some shots, and two, he got some good run. I'm still a "Rondoholic!" Kendrick Perkins <u>1 rebound on 0-1 shooting in 11 minutes</u> It was real nice to see Perk back out on the floor as well. He didn't play much, as expected really, but he moved pretty well and he had some nice defensive possessions. Scal, Ray, Kandi-Man (who got booed), and Powe barely played. Next Game Tomorrow (Friday, 12/29/06) @ Golden State at 10:30 pm ET.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>So, JB, can Gerald shoot? Huh? </div>lmao shut up, I told you to ignore my drunk game observations :drunk:
