<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span> March 9, 2007 - 7:30 pm ET</div> <span style="color:#006600">Seattle Sonics</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">(25-36)</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">PG</span> <span style="color:#006600">Earl Watson</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">SG</span> <span style="color:#006600">Ray Allen</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">SF</span> <span style="color:#006600">Rashard Lewis</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">PF</span> <span style="color:#006600">Nick Collison</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">C</span> <span style="color:#006600">Chris Wilcox</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#006600">Damien Wilkins, Johan Petro, Mike Wilks, Andre Brown</span> <span style="color:#009900">Boston Celtics</span> <span style="color:#000000">(17-43)</span> <span style="color:#000000">PG</span> <span style="color:#009900">Rajon Rondo</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">Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair, Leon Powe, Allan Ray</span> Injury Report <span style="color:#FFCC00">SEA:</span> <span style="color:#006600">Luke Ridnour will not play (herniated disc)</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">SEA:</span> <span style="color:#006600">Robert Swift (torn ACL)</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Delonte West is a gametime decision (mild concussion)</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Ryan Gomes is doubtful (sprained foot)</span> <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> Who To Watch Out For <span style="color:#006600">Ray Allen</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 26.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 4.2 apg</span> <span style="color:#006600">Rashard Lewis</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 21.9 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 2.6 apg</span> <span style="color:#006600">Chris Wilcox</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 12.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Paul Pierce</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 25.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 4.0 apg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Al Jefferson</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 15.0 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 1.5 bpg</span> <span style="color:#000000">As A Starter: 16.2 ppg, 12.0 rpg, 1.6 bpg</span> <span style="color:#000000">Last 5 Games: 22.8 ppg, 14.2 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.2 bpg</span> Rookie Watch <span style="color:#FFCC00">SEA:</span> <span style="color:#006600">Mouhamed Sene</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 10</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#006600">1.4 ppg, 1.3 rpg</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">SEA:</span> <span style="color:#006600">Andre Brown</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: Undrafted</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#006600">3.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">SEA:</span> <span style="color:#006600">Mickael Gelabale</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: Undrafted</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#006600">4.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg</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">5.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.4 spg</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#009900">11.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 7.3 apg, 2.8 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</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">4.9 ppg, 1.1 rpg</span> <span style="color:#006600">Seattle's X-Factor</span> <span style="color:#006600">Nick Collison</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 9.8 ppg, 8.1 rpg</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">As A Starter: 11.8 ppg, 9.6 rpg</span> <span style="color:#006600">Collison was very disappointing to begin the season, but in the past couple months, he has really played good basketball. When healthy and when confident, Collison is a double-double threat every night. He, along with Wilcox, will have to do their best defensively as well - Big Al is no picnic.</span> <span style="color:#009900">Boston's X-Factor</span> <span style="color:#009900">Rajon Rondo</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 5.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.4 spg</span> <span style="color:#000000">As A Starter: 11.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 7.3 apg, 2.8 spg</span> <span style="color:#009900">With D-West out, Rajon is going to have to play the way he played when he was starting before. He's one hell of an all-around talent, he needs to bring it on both ends. He has a huge opportunity to do that tonight, with Ridnour out.</span> <div align="center">Key Matchup vs. <span style="color:#006600">Ray Allen</span> <span style="color:#000000">vs.</span> <span style="color:#009900">Paul Pierce</span></div> <span style="color:#000000">Both top 2-guards in the NBA, both outstanding offensive players, both leaders. Paul, please don't let Jesus Shuttlesworth rain on us from deep. Please.</span> CelticBalla's Extra Thoughts/Notes <span style="color:#009900">I am going to the game.</span> Small ball galore! Yay... :brickwall: CelticBalla's Prediction We are capable of beating them, but with D-West and Gomes out (aside from Wally, TA, and Theo), it will definitely be tough. I'm happy that Rajon and Bassy will each play a lot, though. Same with Gerald, and hell we may even see a little A-Ray tonight. I guess I'll predict a win, though, and a BIG night from someone not named Paul or Al.
I'm going to the game tonight, looking forward to it. Any chance where I see the Celtics play a team with superstar like Ray Allen I get excited. I'm predicting a win as well, after the shalacking they got from Houston on Wednesday there is really no way to go but up.
I think we can win this won. As long as we guard the perimeter tight, and not allow Ray Ray to get a lot of jumpers, I see us winning this one.
WOW. What a game so far. We made a strong comback in the 3rd quarter. Gerald had a pretty good dunk close to the end of 3rd quater. Al is a beast, we got this.
Great atmosphere at the Garden tonight. After Gerald posterized Rashard Lewis the place was going f*cking bannanas. Also, what a way to hold on to that lead. I can't believe Seattle couldn't take advantage of that lineup we had in 4th quarter either. It was Allan Ray, Sebastian Telfair, Gerald Green, Leon Powe, and Scal? Still, great game, I was so glad to be there.
I was also at the game last night, kind of disappointed that Delonte didn't play since I didn't see him last year either, but at least we won, and quite a few players had a great game.
I was at the game, and I'm so happy I got to see a win like this. So many guys did so well last night. Big Al was dominant, of course, Gerald started off ice cold then caught fire, Paul was solid, Rondo was great, Perk made some beautiful passes, Bassy did a solid job running the show, Powe was working hard, and it was nice to see A-Ray back. We played some defense last night! That's why we won. At one point in the 2nd quarter, we were down by 15 or so. At that point I was thinking "great, another day - another loss." But then in the second half, the team was electric. Big Al Jefferson is a bad mutha - shut yo mouth! He was dominant. He was dominating the low post, he made 2 beautiful passes, he did his job on the boards, he got to the line. He just did it all. I don't even know what else to say, I mean the kid is no joke. If you read this game recap post, and you aren't a Celtic fan, everything you read in the papers and on the message boards is no exaguration. The kid is for real. Paul forced a lot of shots, but he had a decent game. There was one stretch where he really had the mid-range jumper going for him. He must've hit like 4-5 in a row. But nothing special from Paul tonight. Again, he was forcing it a little bit. He did find the open man though. I didn't realize he had 7 assists, though. Hey Doc, pay close attention.. you listening.. ok.. START RONDO FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR! Now, he's not going to score 20 points every night like he did last night, but the kid makes things happen. He was penetrating at will last night and he even hit a 3. He played some very solid defense and he energized the club. Gerald started off ice cold. At least 1-5, 1-6. Then he just caught fire. He nailed some 3's, smashed it on the break, he was running, and his confidence was up in the second half (especially after the dunk). He only had one assist, but I remember it. It was a nice feed inside to Big Al. Perk did a pretty decent job. Statistically, he obviously doesn't look that impressive, but he made some excellent plays. He made two beautiful passes that stick out in my mind and he really didn't make many mistakes. Bassy did a very solid job running the show tonight. He set the tone of the offense and he ran it nicely. He was aggressive tonight, something we need to see. I wish he would have taken it to the hole a little more or pulled up for a couple more mid-range jumpers, but he did a very solid job. He had one sick pass to A-Ray on the cut. Wooo I loved that one. Speaking of A-Ray, it was nice to have him back and get some burn. He played a LOT more than I thought he would. Scal brought his nightly intangibles and he knocked down a couple 3's. Average game for Scal. Powe was working very hard tonight. My dad, who hasn't really watched a game this year until we went last night, said he liked him a lot because you can tell he's a work horse. That's why I love Powe. Player Stat Lines <span style="color:#009900">Al Jefferson: 31 points, 16 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks on 13-17 shooting, 5-8 FT Paul Pierce: 21 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals on 8-18 shooting 1-6 from 3. 4-6 FT Rajon Rondo: 20 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals on 6-9 shooting, 1-2 from 3, 7-9 FT Gerald Green: 19 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist on 7-13 shooting, 3-7 from 3 Kendrick Perkins: 6 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks on 3-3 shooting Brian Scalabrine: 6 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block on 2-5 shooting, 2-4 from 3 Sebastian Telfair: 5 points, 1 rebound, 4 assists on 2-4 shooting, 1-2 FT Leon Powe: 6 points, 2 rebounds on 2-2 shooting, 2-2 FT Allan Ray: 4 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist on 2-5 shooting, 0-2 from 3</span> Next Game: Sunday (3/11/07) at home vs. Chicago at 6:00 pm ET.
