<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span> February 6, 2007 - 7:30 pm ET</div> <span style="color:#009900">Boston Celtics</span> <span style="color:#000000">(12-34)</span> <span style="color:#000000">PG</span> <span style="color:#009900">Delonte West</span> <span style="color:#000000">SG</span> <span style="color:#009900">Gerald Green</span> <span style="color:#000000">SF</span> <span style="color:#009900">Ryan Gomes</span> <span style="color:#000000">PF</span> <span style="color:#009900">Al Jefferson</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">Wally Szczerbiak, Rajon Rondo, Brian Scalabrine, Sebastian Telfair, Michael Olowokandi</span> <span style="color:#0000FF">Detroit Pistons</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">(28-18)</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">PG</span> <span style="color:#0000FF">Chauncey Billups</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">SG</span> <span style="color:#0000FF">Rip Hamilton</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">SF</span> <span style="color:#0000FF">Tayshaun Prince</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">PF</span> <span style="color:#0000FF">Rasheed Wallace</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">C</span> <span style="color:#0000FF">Chris Webber</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#0000FF">Antonio McDyess, Lindsey Hunter, Jason Maxiell, Carlos Delfino, Dale Davis</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">Tony Allen is out for season (torn ACL/MCL)</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Theo Ratliff is out for season (back surgery).</span> Who To Watch Out For <span style="color:#009900">Al Jefferson</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 14.1 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 1.4 bpg</span> <span style="color:#000000">As A Starter: 15.6 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 1.6 bpg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Delonte West</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 10.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 4.2 apg</span> <span style="color:#000000">As A Starter: 12.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 5.5 apg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Gerald Green</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 9.1 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.0 apg</span> <span style="color:#000000">As A Starter: 14.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.6 apg</span> <span style="color:#0000FF">Chauncey Billups</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 18.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 7.7 apg</span> <span style="color:#0000FF">Rip Hamilton</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 22.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 3.6 apg</span> <span style="color:#0000FF">Rasheed Wallace</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 12.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.7 bpg</span> <span style="color:#0000FF">Tayshaun Prince</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 15.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 3.1 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">5.1 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.8 apg, 1.3 spg</span> <span style="color:#000000">Last 5 Games:</span> <span style="color:#009900">9.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 4.6 apg, 2.2 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">2.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 0.5 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">5.3 ppg, 1.0 rpg</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">DET:</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Will Blalock</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 60</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#0000FF">1.8 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 1.3 apg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Boston's X-Factor</span> <span style="color:#009900">Gerald Green</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 9.1 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.0 apg</span> <span style="color:#000000">As A Starter: 14.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.6 apg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Gerald will get some time in there chasing Rip, and that's obviously going to be tough, but he also needs to attack offensively. He missed a couple shots on Friday, and he didn't play much. Hopefully Doc lets him play through some of his mistakes tonight and lets him ride it out. Gerald had a good game last time we played in Detroit, about 3 weeks ago, so let's hope he can do it again..</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Detroit's X-Factor</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Rasheed Wallace</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 12.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.7 bpg</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">C-Webb isn't going to do anything defensively on Big Al, so Sheed needs to buckle down. Sheed is a very good low post defender, but Big Al is also a very good low post scorer. We'll see if he can slow him down.</span> <div align="center">Key Matchup <span style="color:#000000">vs.</span> <span style="color:#009900">Al Jefferson</span> <span style="color:#000000">vs.</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Rasheed Wallace</span></div> <span style="color:#000000">Sheed is going to be a VERY tough assignment for Al, considering he's effective inside and outside, plus he's a good defender. We'll see if Big Al can play as well offensively as he did in the second half of Friday's game.</span> CelticBalla's Extra Thoughts/Notes - We are on a franchise record 14 game losing streak. Can we keep it up? - Detroit has won 7 of their last 10, and are currently on a 3-game winning streak. - If we don't defend tonight, we're screwed. Detroit now has 5 good offensive players in their starting lineup, as well as a couple off the bench. Their frontline kills ours. CelticBalla's Prediction Detroit wins. Ugh, just get this thing over with.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ReppinTheD @ Feb 6 2007, 12:31 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>lol Will Blalock isn't on rookie watch - I don't even think he's active! lol</div> I put every active rookie on Rookie Watch every game. Don't hate on Blalock, that's a Boston native! I didn't know he was inactive though. Oh hell, I'm leaving it there anyway because he's from Boston. Sue me!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Cavsrules @ Feb 6 2007, 01:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Come on BOSTON!!!! By the way, when is Paul Pierce coming back?</div> He's apparently coming back this week, and I just read that he's traveling to Detroit with the team for this game (which wasn't supposed to happen). Maybe there is an outside chance that he even plays tonight? Who knows? But yesterday I heard that he'd be back by at least Friday.
The Celts usually stay tight for 3-3.5 quarters vs. the Pistons. Hopefully they can make this loss at least exciting.
Damn. Sorry guys, is that 15 now? Injuries really hurt you down the stretch, but hey on the bright side, you get oden!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Cavsrules @ Feb 6 2007, 11:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Damn, I wanted Boston to end there streak tonight.</div>Hehe, I wonder why lol.Yeah, it is a shame though. Playing without Pierce is hurting them bad.
Man we were an assist machine tonight - Rip with a double double (pts-assists) - CWebb with like 6 or 7 assists - chauncey with 7. I love that.Also we're scoring really well right now - Dyess had 18 tonight.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (KiNg 0 @ Feb 6 2007, 11:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Hehe, I wonder why lol.</div>Mainly because those Pistons are running away with the Division, unless they start losing, and we start winning. :shifty2:
Well, I was happy/surprised that Rondo got the start again. He had himself a career high 11 assists, the drive and dish game tonight (from Rondo) was awesome. Gerald didn't get many minutes until the 4th quarter, then he starting stroking it a bit. I was pissed that Gerald didn't play much in the first half, but oh well. That's Doc for ya, I guess. But if there is one guy I was very happy with tonight, it's Bassy. Most of you guys have trashed him and some of you have even called him a career bust.. but tonight, he was extremely aggressive. If he played this aggressively, in attack mode, the entire season, he would still be in the regular rotation. For now, until Pierce comes back, maybe this Rondo/West starting backcourt will open up more minutes for Bassy off the bench. He played well tonight, and I'm happy for him. Let it be known that I have never given up on this kid, and WTJ especially knows that I have defended him. He's going to have a solid career, guys. Probably not in Boston, with the emergence of Rondo and the presence of Delonte, but somewhere he will be successful. Yet another loss, 15 in a row. The defense was terrible, we did NOT get the ball to Big Al half as much as we should (ESPECIALLY with Chris Webber guarding him), and we were terrible on the glass. Detroit's bench was awesome tonight, especially McDyess (or as Mason would say, MiggyMiggyMiggyMiggyMcDyes). Antonio was on FIRE. Chris Webber had himself a great night as well. He hit that mid-range shot, he made some beautiful passes, and I was somewhat impressed with his defense at times. Gomes was awesome. That mid-range shot is just automatic, jesus christ. Wally shot the ball pretty well and he made a couple great plays drawing contact on a jump shot. Bassy, again, had himself a very good game. He was attacking, scoring off penetration, and he really did set a couple guys up very nicely. Rajon hustled and he really tried handling Chauncey, but come on... it's Chauncey. He pushed the tempo and as I said above, that drive and dish game from Rajon was outstanding. Only 2 turnovers for Rondo as well. GET THE BALL TO BIG AL MORE, jesus christ! Not only did Big Al not get the ball a lot, he was in foul trouble. Not Al's best night. Delonte... SHOOT. Delonte passed up too many shots, for the second straight game. Gerald didn't get all that many minutes at first, but he played a good game. In that fourth quarter, he really started knocking down some shots. Nice alley-oop as well. But the thing that impressed me tonight, with Gerald, was that he didn't force the issue on the break. He played under decent control tonight and he didn't over-do it. He let the game come to him. SCAL!!! Scal was on fire in that first quarter, it's nice to see him get it going offensively lately. The past 3 or 4 games, Scal has played very well offensively. He did a very nice job with Sheed, actually, and he kept him off the glass. He was really establishing position. Oh, and Perk - solid night. I don't like when he gets post iso's, but he made the most of them tonight. He knocked down that laser hook shot a couple times, and hell, he even hit a mid-range jumper off a nice bounce pass from Bassy. Perk's defense tonight was solid as well, he played nice, smart, and fundamental defense. He did have some trouble when he had to take Webber out on the perimeter, but his low post D was solid tonight. Player Stat Lines <span style="color:#009900">Ryan Gomes: 19 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists on 9-16 shooting Rajon Rondo: 8 points, 2 rebounds, 11 assists (career high), 1 steal on 3-6 shooting Sebastian Telfair: 13 points, 7 assists, 1 steal on 5-11 shooting in 23 mins Al Jefferson: 10 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks on 4-9 shooting Wally Szczerbiak: 10 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist on 2-3 shooting, 2-2 from 3, 4-4 FT Gerald Green: 12 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 0 TO's on 5-8 shooting, 2-3 from 3 Delonte West: 10 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists on 5-11 shooting Kendrick Perkins: 8 points, 3 rebounds, 3 blocks on 4-5 shooting Brian Scalabrine: 9 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists on 4-5 shooting, 1-1 from 3</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Chauncey Billups: 24 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists on 8-12 shooting, 3-4 from 3, 5-6 FT Chris Webber: 17 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals on 8-12 shooting Antonio McDyess: 18 points, 3 rebounds on 9-10 shooting Tayshaun Prince: 17 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists on 5-9 shooting, 1-1 from 3, 6-6 FT Rip Hamilton: 10 points, 5 rebounds, 11 assists, 2 steals on 5-10 shooting Rasheed Wallace: 8 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist on 4-7 shooting Carlos Delfino: 10 points, 4 rebounds on 4-9 shooting, 2-3 from 3</span> Next Game: Tonight (2/7/07) at home vs. Miami. Yay...
