<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span> January 7, 2007 - 6:00 pm ET</div> <span style="color:#009900">Boston Celtics</span> <span style="color:#000000">(12-20)</span> <span style="color:#000000">PG</span> <span style="color:#009900">Delonte West</span> <span style="color:#000000">SG</span> <span style="color:#009900">Tony Allen</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">Al Jefferson</span> <span style="color:#000000">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Sebastian Telfair, Gerald Green, Kendrick Perkins, Rajon Rondo, Brian Scalabrine</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Orlando Magic</span> <span style="color:#000000">(20-14)</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">Tony Battie</span> <span style="color:#000000">C</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Dwight Howard</span> <span style="color:#000000">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Carlos Arroyo, Trevor Ariza, Darko Milicic, Keith Bogans, Bo Outlaw</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">Theo Ratliff is out for season (lower back).</span> <span style="color:#000000">ORL:</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Keyon Dooling will not play</span> Who To Watch Out For <span style="color:#009900">Al Jefferson</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 13.6 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 1.4 bpg As A Starter: 16.0 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 1.6 bpg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Wally Szczerbiak</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 17.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.9 apg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Tony Allen</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 10.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.2 spg As A Starter: 15.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.8 spg</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Dwight Howard</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 17.0 ppg, 12.5 rpg, 2.0 bpg</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Jameer Nelson</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 13.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 4.1 apg</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Grant Hill</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 15.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.5 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">3.5 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.0 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">3.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 0.6 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">2.4 ppg, 0.6 rpg</span> <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">4.4 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 0.5 apg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Boston's X-Factor</span> <span style="color:#009900">Kendrick Perkins</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 4.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.6 bpg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Perk just had an excellent game in Memphis, and he needs to do it again. He has to come in and do the best job be can. We're dealing with Dwight Howard here, that's no easy task to deal with for any living thing. Perk will need to play tough with him while fighting for rebounds and he'll need to play good defense.</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Orlando's X-Factor</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Trevor Ariza</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 8.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.1 spg</span> <span style="color:#000000">Last 10 Games: 13.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.6 spg</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Ariza has really had a good year, and lately he has been on a tear. He just needs to come in with energy and play solid defense on Wally and Green (maybe a little Tony Allen).</span> <div align="center">Key Matchup vs. <span style="color:#009900">Al Jefferson</span> <span style="color:#000000">vs.</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Dwight Howard</span></div> <span style="color:#000000">Yeah baby! This is a matchup that I am REALLY looking forward to. Big Al vs. D-12. Wooo! Both of these guys have really made big improvements in their games, and both are among the best young big men in the game today. I think this is going to be a great matchup.</span> CelticBalla's Extra Thoughts/Notes Big Al vs. Dwight Howard D-West vs. Jameer Scal vs. Pat Garrity CelticBalla's Prediction I don't think we'll take this one. Orlando is the better team, especially when we don't have Paul Pierce. They are a pretty good defensive team, their bench is one of the top benches in the league, they can rebound the basketball, they work together. They are a tough team. I think it could potentially be a really good game, but I don't see us winning.
If we want any shot of winning this game, Big Al is going to have to come up HUGE on defense against Howard today. Don't pick up early fouls, play your game on offense, and don't let Howard score.
"Magic coach Brian Hill said forward Grant Hill could return for Sunday's game after missing the last three with a sore left foot."
I think ariza and nelson are gonna drop around 20 each on us. I could see the al d12 matchup going in al's favor. But I dont think we'll have enought unless TA can match jameer or ariza(which ever plays better) output.
Please win, guys.. I have faith in the Celtics. We NEED Orlando to lose tonight if we want to stay on top of our divison.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Delonte4Prez @ Jan 7 2007, 05:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I think ariza and nelson are gonna drop around 20 each on us. I could see the al d12 matchup going in al's favor. But I dont think we'll have enought unless TA can match jameer or ariza(which ever plays better) output.</div>Ariza is a good scorer, but the likelihood of him scoring 20 points tonight, is little to none. He can score, but I don't believe that Ariza has scored 20 more than once this year, if that many times. Ariza is not a huge scorer for us, he is a hustle guy that gets us 10-12 points off the bench, a few rebounds, plays solid defense, and starts our team's energy.
I am going to go with the Celtics on this one. I think that Jefferson is going to have a monster game. He is going to have alot to prove since he is playing agaisnt Dwight and I think that he knows that. Therefore, he is going to play great. I expect TA to have another good game. He has been playing great as of late so I see no reason for him to stop now. When Perk gets in the game, he is going to need to play big, body up on Dwight, and get rebounds on both ends of the floor. Im really looking forward to the Delonte and Jameer matchup as well. I totally think that should be tonights key matchup just because they played in college together.
Wally: 2-9 FGs 2 TOsUnacceptable. The guy plain and simple needs to step up. Tony Allen has. He has played AMAZING in Paul's absence. He has been slashing to the bucket and putting it in the hole off the drive as well as anyone in the NBA. He's hitting his jump shots and free throws as well, along with great defense. 4-8 FGs 10 points 4 boards but 5 TOs in the first half for him. I thought he played pretty well, as a few of the TOs weren't solely his fault. And Gerald with a huge putback as well. That put a on my face.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (valo35 @ Jan 7 2007, 06:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Ariza is a good scorer, but the likelihood of him scoring 20 points tonight, is little to none. He can score, but I don't believe that Ariza has scored 20 more than once this year, if that many times. Ariza is not a huge scorer for us, he is a hustle guy that gets us 10-12 points off the bench, a few rebounds, plays solid defense, and starts our team's energy.</div>lol I knoI just throw out random predictions to make me look good if they come through. Anyway, I would have never said that if I knew hill would be in the lineup.
Off-Topic: Yankshater, were you the guy from Red Sox Talk who always got in a fight with BaseballKnowledge aka JimmyFoxx4lyfe? But yeah, Pretty much we NEED to stop Dwight Howard from doing anything if we want a strong win. Anyone know when Paul Pierce should be able to play again? I freaking miss him.
maybe? I dont remember. If that was soxfans sh*tty board that I posted on like once a year out of pity for him then yes I was hahahahahaha.
The first half was absolutely atrocious. Just pitiful. We had an incredible 3rd quarter. The defense in the 3rd quarter was outstanding, especially on the interior, and Tony Allen was phenomenal defensively ALL NIGHT LONG. But, we turned the ball over too much, we didn't shoot well from the floor, we were KILLED on the boards, and we sucked with transition defense. It also didn't help that our bigs were in foul trouble, and Gomes was sick and didn't play the entire 2nd half. Another thing that hurt us: we didn't go to Al Jefferson a lot. WHY does this happen?!?! Tony Allen <u>21 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 7 steals, 1 block on 7-14 shooting, 6-6 FT</u> TONY ALLEN WAS PHENOMENAL TONIGHT! He was all over the place defensively. He got in the passing lanes, bothered shots, he made some outstanding hustle plays, he was our leading rebounder, and he shot the ball well tonight. Tony Allen was outstanding, and I have a new man crush. Delonte West <u>13 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists on 3-9 shooting, 2-4 3FG, 5-7 FT</u> The 3-9 isn't as bad as it looks, because 2 or 3 of those shots were at the very end of the game where everyone was shooting to get points on the board. The hustle from Delonte was good tonight.. that one play where he battled extremely hard on the floor and RIPPED the ball away from Dwight Howard was outstanding. Could have been better, but Delonte didn't necessarily do a "bad" job. Al Jefferson <u>12 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks on 5-8 shooting</u> Al had trouble defensively on both Howard and Battie. But I don't understand why we didn't make a bigger effort to go inside to Al more often. I understand that a couple times Darko fronted him and it blocked the passing lane, but overall, we NEED to exploit Al offensively. Some nights we do, some night we don't. Tonight, we didn't. Wally Szczerbiak <u>15 points, 1 steal on 4-15 shooting, 6-7 FT</u> Another terrible shooting night for Wally. Just bad. I understand he's still a little banged up, but wow. Kendrick Perkins <u>4 points, 5 rebounds, 3 blocks on 1-8 shooting</u> Perk was key in that 3rd quarter defensively, and that's what I like to see. Perk didn't do a bad job today, except brick every post shot he took lol. Sebastian Telfair <u>6 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 1 steal on 1-3 shooting, 4-5 FT in 16 minutes</u> Bassy didn't play a lot tonight, and he didn't play very well. He was bad defensively. Not all that much to say. The reason he didn't play was because of the defense in the first half. Brian Scalabrine <u>4 points, 3 rebounds on 0-6 shooting, 0-3 3FG, 4-4 FT</u> Scal couldn't knock anything down, like the rest of the team. Nothing more to say, really. Gerald Green <u>4 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal on 2-8 shooting, 0-4 3FG in 21 minutes</u> Gerald couldn't knock anything down tonight at all. He got some good looks too. Both baskets he did make, however, were very nice. One was a really nice jumper off a spin, and the other one was a pretty nice putback dunk. Ryan Gomes <u>2 rebounds, 3 fouls, 0-2 shooting in 6 minutes</u> Gomes had a really tough night. In the first half, he got himself in to bad foul trouble. In the second half, he didn't play at all because he wasn't feeling well. Go get 'em next time, Ryan. Rajon Rondo & Michael Olowokandi Rondo played a minute (not even). Nothing to say about his play. O played 3 minutes, got 3 fouls. <div align="center">Player of the Game (based on playa's request ) <span style="color:#009900">Tony Allen</span> 21 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 7 steals on 7-14 FG</div> Next Game Wednesday (1/10/07) at home vs. Indiana at 7:30 pm ET.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Zards @ Jan 7 2007, 09:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>You guys suck.</div>Thanks?
Are any other fans sick and tired of Wally Sczerbiak besides me? He is really starting to bother the hell out of me. He is so slow that it is hard for him to create a shot for himself. He cant get out in the open floor and score, he is not very good at getting to the basket, he is a mediocre defender at best, he doenst hit the boards very well, and he thinks that since Paul is out, he needs to carry the load. When Paul comes back, I wish that Wally would go to the bench and they would keep TA in the starting lineup. I bet that would happen if our coach wasnt a f*cking moron. That or he is blind and doesn't watch the games....
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ballerman2112 @ Jan 7 2007, 10:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Are any other fans sick and tired of Wally Sczerbiak besides me? He is really starting to bother the hell out of me. He is so slow that it is hard for him to create a shot for himself. He cant get out in the open floor and score, he is not very good at getting to the basket, he is a mediocre defender at best, he doenst hit the boards very well, and he thinks that since Paul is out, he needs to carry the load. When Paul comes back, I wish that Wally would go to the bench and they would keep TA in the starting lineup. I bet that would happen if our coach wasnt a f*cking moron. That or he is blind and doesn't watch the games....</div> First of all, let me point out that TA was starting with Pierce/Wally in the lineup, starting in mid-December, so I don't see why Doc would change that (especially since TA has been playing out of his friggen mind on both ends of the floor). Also, you calling Wally a mediocre defender was being too kind. I call him a bad one.
