<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span> March 3, 2007 - 1:00 pm ET</div> <span style="color:#009900">Boston Celtics</span> <span style="color:#000000">(15-42)</span> <span style="color:#000000">PG</span> <span style="color:#009900">Delonte West</span> <span style="color:#000000">SG</span> <span style="color:#009900">Paul Pierce</span> <span style="color:#000000">SF</span> <span style="color:#009900">Brian Scalabrine</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">Ryan Gomes, Rajon Rondo, Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair, Leon Powe</span> <span style="color:#000099">New Jersey Nets</span> <span style="color:#999999">(28-30)</span> <span style="color:#999999">PG</span> <span style="color:#000099">Jason Kidd</span> <span style="color:#999999">SG</span> <span style="color:#000099">Vince Carter</span> <span style="color:#999999">SF</span> <span style="color:#000099">Hassan Adams</span> <span style="color:#999999">PF</span> <span style="color:#000099">Mikki Moore</span> <span style="color:#999999">C</span> <span style="color:#000099">Jason Collins</span> <span style="color:#999999">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Bostjan Nachbar, Marcus Williams, Eddie House, Cliff Robinson, Josh Boone</span> Injury Report <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Wally Szczerbiak is out for season (ankle surgery)</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> <span style="color:#999999">NJ:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Richard Jefferson will not play (recovering from ankle surgery)</span> <span style="color:#999999">NJ:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Antoine Wright will not play (bruised right elbow)</span> <span style="color:#999999">NJ:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Nenad Krstic is out for season (torn ACL)</span> Who To Watch Out For <span style="color:#009900">Paul Pierce</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 25.6 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 4.0 apg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Al Jefferson</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 14.5 ppg, 10.9 rpg, 1.5 bpg</span> <span style="color:#000000">As A Starter: 15.6 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 1.6 bpg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Delonte West</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 11.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 4.4 apg</span> <span style="color:#000000">As A Starter: 12.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 5.4 apg</span> <span style="color:#000099">Jason Kidd</span> <span style="color:#999999">Season Stats: 14.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 8.9 apg, 1.6 spg</span> <span style="color:#000099">Vince Carter</span> <span style="color:#999999">Season Stats: 25.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 4.5 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">5.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.4 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, 2.7 rpg, 0.5 bpg</span> <span style="color:#999999">NJ:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Marcus Williams</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 22</span> <span style="color:#999999">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#000099">7.8 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 3.1 apg</span> <span style="color:#999999">NJ:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Josh Boone</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 23</span> <span style="color:#999999">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#000099">2.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg</span> <span style="color:#999999">NJ:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Hassan Adams</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 54</span> <span style="color:#999999">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#000099">3.3 ppg, 1.4 rpg</span> <span style="color:#999999">As A Starter:</span> <span style="color:#000099">4.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Boston's X-Factor</span> <span style="color:#009900">Gerald Green</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 9.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 0.9 apg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Gerald is coming off a great game against the Knicks. He not only shot well and was aggressive, but he came up huge in the clutch and he PLAYED GOOD DEFENSE. He earned some praise from Doc after the game. Let's hope that nets him some extra minutes tonight, and let's hope Gerald can have another good game.</span> <span style="color:#000099">New Jersey's X-Factor</span> <span style="color:#000099">Mikki Moore</span> <span style="color:#999999">Season Stats: 8.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg</span> <span style="color:#999999">As A Starter: 10.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg</span> <span style="color:#000099">Mikki on Big Al. Good luck, Mikki! </span> <div align="center">Key Matchup vs. <span style="color:#009900">Paul Pierce</span> <span style="color:#000000">vs.</span> <span style="color:#000099">Vince Carter</span></div> <span style="color:#000000">Two of the top scorers in the NBA, both are capable of exploding on any given night. Both have two different styles of play, but both are very effective/scary in their own right.</span> CelticBalla's Extra Thoughts/Notes This is very winnable as well, can we make it 3 in a row? LET'S GO CELTICS! CelticBalla's Prediction It's going to be a good/close game. They have no answer for Big Al and Pierce, but we have no answer for Vince Carter and we can't possibly match what Kidd brings to the table. This game will be decided by defense and the play of each team's role players. I'm going to pick us to get the W, though. Maybe that's just wishful thinking, but maybe not. Everyone is playing with confidence right now for us, we can do this.
I don't even care about Oden or Durant anymore. I want to see these kids keep winning. Lets make it three in a row!
I always want to win but I don't complain about lossesI'd like a win today though because I don't like new jersey and don't want them to make the playoffs
That was fu*king ridiculous. Little side story-I was at the game in December when Pierce hit the buzzer beater against the Nets. Nets were up 18-0 to start the game, and it looked over form the start. Al jefferson dominated the game, and despite a bad shooting night, Pierce hit an AMAZING fadeaway jumper to win the game.Today I had flashbacks of that game. nets were up by like 10 with a minute to go...and lead is gone. Pierce KILLED them with that 3 at the end of the 4th, and of course the 2 daggers over Kidd that were reminscent of his buzzer beater in December.Just when the Nets were starting to get on a roll...this kind of thing happens. By FAR the worst 4th quarter team I have ever seen.
BOSTON IS BALLIN'!!!! But really, Al Jefferson could not be stopped today. He's definitely the POTG despite Pierce hitting those clutch baskets.
What a game!!! Actually, it was a HORRIBLE game. Both teams shot piss-poor from the field. This was definitely one of the slowest games of the year. But Big Al Jefferson DOMINATED once again. I love this kid, he is truly a young star. Boston fans/media overhypes the young guys most of the time, but Big Al is FOR REAL. He dominated today, unbelievable. He owned the glass as usual and New Jersey couldn't do anything about him in the post. I absolutely love Al! Danny, NEVER trade him. Paul sucked most of the game. I mean SUCKED, like Antoine Walker on his worst day. At one point he was 4-20 from the floor. But you know what? He was CLUTCH! He nailed that big 3 and some HUUUUUGE mid-range jumpers. That's what it's all about baby! How you come up in the clutch. Way to go, Paul! "Delonte for the tie... GOT IT! And we are going... to overtime!" Big time shot, D-West! But he didn't stop there, no sir. He was driving the lane beautifully as well and he got some key layups. D-West came up huge in the clutch today. Gomes had a quiet/bad first half, actually - first 3 quarters. But he, as well as Paul/Al/Delonte, came up big when we needed it. He was hustling like crazy for rebounds and working very hard. He did his job when we needed him to. Why Doc didn't play Rondo much at all in the second half, I don't know. I thought he did a good job out there. He was very aggressive, he was getting to the line, rebounding, hustling, moving the ball. But that shot by Delonte to force OT.. great shot, but Rondo made that happen. He should have gotten credited for an assist... Gerald - clank, clank, clank, missed dunk, clank, clank. He shot horribly, but you know what? I think he did a VERY solid job defensively on Vince Carter. He really did. Scal was off today, big time. But hey, he hit a big jumper and he was working hard. I thought Perk did OK. He looked like he had a little extra bounce in his step, so that's a huge plus. He's looking better lately. The Powe Show did an excellent job tonight, he DEFINITELY should have played more. He got under Moore's skin and did an excellent job defensively. Awesome finish, man. Everybody came up big and produced in the clutch, and on the road too. That's what I like to see from these young guys. Great job, guys! 3 in a row!!! Player Stat Lines <span style="color:#009900">Al Jefferson: 32 points (career high), 18 rebounds, 2 blocks on 13-23 shooting, 6-8 FT Paul Pierce: 17 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals on 8-28 shooting, 1-7 from 3 Delonte West: 15 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals on 6-10 shooting, 1-1 from 3 Ryan Gomes: 11 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals on 3-10 shooting, 5-6 FT Kendrick Perkins: 5 points, 7 rebounds, 1 block on 2-5 shooting Brian Scalabrine: 5 points, 5 rebounds, 1 block on 2-10 shooting, 0-4 from 3 Rajon Rondo: 6 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal on 0-4 shooting, 6-8 FT Gerald Green: 5 points, 1 rebound on 1-9 shooting, 0-4 from 3, 3-3 FT Leon Powe: 3 rebounds, 2 steals in 5 minutes</span> Next Game: Tomorrow (3/4/07) at home vs. Minnesota at 12:30 pm ET.
