<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span> March 16, 2007 - 8:30 pm ET</div> <span style="color:#009900">Boston Celtics</span> <span style="color:#000000">(19-45)</span> <span style="color:#000000">PG</span> <span style="color:#009900">Rajon Rondo</span> <span style="color:#000000">SG</span> <span style="color:#009900">Delonte West</span> <span style="color:#000000">SF</span> <span style="color:#009900">Paul Pierce</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, Allan Ray, Sebastian Telfair, Leon Powe</span> <span style="color:#000099">Dallas Mavericks</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">(52-11)</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">PG</span> <span style="color:#000099">Jason Terry</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">SG</span> <span style="color:#000099">Devin Harris</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">SF</span> <span style="color:#000099">Josh Howard</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">PF</span> <span style="color:#000099">Dirk Nowitzki</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">C</span> <span style="color:#000099">Erick Dampier</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Jerry Stackhouse, Greg Buckner, DeSagana Diop, Austin Croshere</span> Injury Report <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Ryan Gomes will not play (sprained foot)</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Brian Scalabrine will not play (wife is having a baby girl)</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> <span style="color:#3333FF">DAL:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Devean George will not play (sprained MCL)</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">DAL:</span> <span style="color:#000099">DJ Mbenga 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: 24.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 4.2 apg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Al Jefferson</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 15.4 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 1.5 bpg</span> <span style="color:#000000">As A Starter: 16.5 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 1.6 bpg</span> <span style="color:#000000">Last 10 Games: 20.9 ppg, 12.3 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.9 bpg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Delonte West</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 11.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 4.6 apg</span> <span style="color:#000000">As A Starter: 13.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 5.5 apg</span> <span style="color:#000099">Dirk Nowitzki</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats: 25.1 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 3.5 apg</span> <span style="color:#000099">Josh Howard</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats: 19.0 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.8 apg</span> <span style="color:#000099">Jason Terry</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats: 16.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 5.3 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">5.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 3.4 apg, 1.4 spg</span> <span style="color:#000000">As A Starter:</span> <span style="color:#009900">11.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 7.1 apg, 2.6 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">3.2 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">5.0 ppg, 1.2 rpg</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">DAL:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Joe Juan Barea</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: Undrafted</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#000099">1.0 ppg, 0.6 apg</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">DAL:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Pops Mensah-Bonsu</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: Undrafted</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#000099">2.2 ppg, 1.0 rpg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Boston's X-Factor</span> <span style="color:#009900">Kendrick Perkins</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 4.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.4 bpg</span> <span style="color:#000000">As A Starter: 4.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 1.5 bpg</span> <span style="color:#000000">Last 3 Games: 7.3 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 2.0 bpg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Perk has been playing very well the past 3 or 4 games, especially the last 2. Tonight, he needs to be the same Perk we've seen in the past 2 games. He has a TOUGH frontcourt to match up with. Dampier is an excellent rebounder and Diop is a huge body. Perk needs to bring his A-Game.</span> <span style="color:#000099">Dallas's X-Factor</span> <span style="color:#000099">Josh Howard</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats: 19.0 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.8 apg</span> <span style="color:#000099">Josh has to play excellent defense tonight, he will be matched up with The Truth. The one and only, Paul Pierce.</span> <div align="center">Key Matchup vs. <span style="color:#009900">Paul Pierce</span> <span style="color:#000000">vs.</span> <span style="color:#000099">Josh Howard</span></div> <span style="color:#000000">Paul Pierce is clearly one of the best offensive players in the league, Howard will have his work cut out for him. However, if Howard can somewhat contain him, then Dallas will just kill us.</span> CelticBalla's Extra Thoughts/Notes - While I'm interested to see if Dallas can stop Big Al, I'm interested to see how we can defend Dirk without Scal. - We will see some A-Ray at the point. CelticBalla's Prediction Dallas has lost their last 2 games, no way in hell they let the BOSTON CELTICS come to town and get a victory. Dallas will win this game without much of a problem.
This game is probably going to be ugly. Dallas has come off back to back losses, and they are going to be extra determined to get a win....definitely unfortunate for the Celtics. I dont expect a win, but I just want to see them play well.
Some good news, and some bad news, guys. The good news is that Scal's wife is ready to have a baby girl. The bad news is that he won't be with the team tonight and we now have nobody that can even match up with Dirk.
I never thought I'd say this, but I'm really gonna miss Scal tonight. Gonna win tonight and tomorrow BOOYEAH not
GREAT game. I was utterly impressed with these guys for actually hanging on to the lead for as long as they did. I think we all expected Dallas to come out with the win one way or another, but you have to love how these guys played. Sure, Dallas didn't have their best game, but you have to give our defensive pressure and hustle a lot of credit as well. We played a good game last night. First of all, Paul Pierce started the game off ON FIRE, but the second unit came in and really didn't even do well offensively, to be honest with you, but Allan Ray did a very solid job defensively in the first half and Gerald started off hot. Bassy also did a very serviceable job when he was in there, you have to give him credit. The second half, however, was all Dallas... or should I say all Dirk. He had a poor first half, but he really took over in the second half, especially in the 4th. This guy is unbelievable, and I definitely believe that if the league doesn't give Nash his 3rd MVP in a row, then you HAVE to give it to Dirk. To the Players Pierce, like I mentioned above, started this game off absolutely FEELING IT. He was nailing all his jumpers, it was great. This is the Pierce we all know. But the shooting wasn't all he did well tonight, to be honest with you. You look at the stat sheet, you see his 8 assists, and you say "nice." But about 5 of those 8 were beautiful passes, really. His best pass of the night, he didn't get an assist on, actually (his pass to Rondo off the cut, then Rondo was fouled pretty much as soon as he caught it under the basket). Paul did an excellent job. G-Money, Gerald Green! Career high 25 points off the bench. He started off hot, nailing the jumpers. But you know why Gerald did so well today? First of all, because he was actually taking advantage of his mid-range game!!! Finally!!! But also, he was doing it all within the flow of the offense. He didn't really force many shots, he didn't try to take Dallas 1-on-1 every time. He played within the offense and he took good shots almost every time. Also, Gerald hit some BIG shots and made some big plays in the 4th quarter. Way to go, Gerald! He did make a couple errors defensively in the 4th, but he also made some good defensive plays in the 2nd/3rd quarters. This kid is going to be an excellent player. Big Al Jefferson is a big bad BEAST. He played so efficiently in this game, I loved it. He made some nice moves on the block as usual, he went up with power a couple times, he made a few solid passes out of the double-teams, he rebounded as usual, and he got a couple big blocks. Al's defense looked much better last night, his timing was nice. He blocked a couple shots, but he also took a charge and intercepted a pass into the post. Nobody expected him, or anyone on this team, to stick with Dirk on the perimeter, but Al's interior defense was very solid. Perk with yet his 3rd straight excellent game in a row. I know I might rave about this a little too much, but I LOVE PERK'S OUTLET PASSING! My god, it's beautiful. As soon as he catches the rebound, he knows there are 2 guys upcourt, and he gets them the ball in a split second. If we are going to be a running team, I'll tell ya, Perk is the PERFECT center for it because of his outlet passing alone. But last night, he also did a very good job with keeping Damp and Diop off the glass. He muscled with them and he got the better end. Way to go, Perk! Nice to see him "back." Delonte missed most of his jumpers, but he still did a decent job last night. He made some solid decisions dishing the ball inside and finding Gerald when he was hot. He brought the necessary hustle, as usual. But again, the shot was a little off. For those of you that maybe missed the game, and you see that Rondo only played 14 minutes, don't get too alarmed. He was turning the ball over like crazy, something that Rondo usually never does, and Dallas' defense was sagging off him BIG time, so it was hard for him to create for others off penetration. Once this kid gets a semi-respectable jumper, though, teams will have no choice. I was pissed, however, that Doc didn't give Rondo a chance in the 4th quarter. Come on, man. We needed his defense late in the game. I know he wanted to give A-Ray some experience, but that's uncalled for. Speaking of A-Ray, he played some really significant minutes last night, and he actually did a very solid job. He played solid defense, but he did make a couple "no-no's" in the 4th quarter. But it was nice to see him out there at both guard positions doing a pretty creditable job. Bassy, as I mentioned above, did a very solid job when he was in there. He took it to the basket strong a couple times, he hit a 3, he made a very pretty pass to either Al, and he took care of a the ball. Defensively, he did to a better job than normal. He looks to be improving a bit defensively. The Powe Show did nothing that really got my attention tonight. He got some run, because he was basically forced to without Scal, but he didn't really do anything good or bad. The Kandi-Man! Nice to see he's still alive. He played a couple minutes, banged his body around, and sat his ass back down. Nothing new. Player Stat Lines <span style="color:#009900">Paul Pierce: 29 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal on 11-20 shooting, 5-7 from 3, 2-2 FT Al Jefferson: 20 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks on 8-11 shooting, 4-7 FT Gerald Green: 25 points (career high), 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals on 9-20 shooting, 2-5 from 3, 5-5 FT Kendrick Perkins: 2 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist on 0-1 shooting, 2-2 FT Delonte West: 10 points, 2 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal on 3-12 shooting, 0-2 from 3, 4-4 FT Allan Ray: 8 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists on 3-7 shooting, 2-5 from 3 Rajon Rondo: 2 points, 2 assists, 1 steal, 4 turnovers on 1-4 shooting in 14 minutes Sebastian Telfair: 5 points, 1 assist, 1 steal on 1-2 shooting, 1-1 from 3, 2-2 FT Leon Powe: 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal on 0-1 shooting in 19 minutes Michael Olowokandi: 1 rebound, 2 fouls in 3 minutes</span> Next Game: Tonight (3/17/07) @ San Antonio at 8:00 pm ET.
