<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span> April 7, 2007 - 7:00 pm ET</div> <span style="color:#009900">Boston Celtics</span> <span style="color:#000000">(23-52)</span> <span style="color:#000000">PG</span> <span style="color:#009900">Rajon Rondo</span> <span style="color:#000000">SG</span> <span style="color:#009900">Allan Ray</span> <span style="color:#000000">SF</span> <span style="color:#009900">Gerald Green</span> <span style="color:#000000">PF</span> <span style="color:#009900">Ryan Gomes</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">Sebastian Telfair, Leon Powe, Kevinn Pinkney</span> <span style="color:#000099">Indiana Pacers</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">(33-42)</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">PG</span> <span style="color:#000099">Keith McLeod</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">SG</span> <span style="color:#000099">Mike Dunleavy Jr.</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">SF</span> <span style="color:#000099">Danny Granger</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">PF</span> <span style="color:#000099">Troy Murphy</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">C</span> <span style="color:#000099">Jermaine O'Neal</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Darrell Armstrong, Shawne Williams, Ike Diogu, Orien Greene</span> Injury Report <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Delonte West is a gametime decision (ankle)</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Paul Pierce will not play (elbow, knee, foot, eye)</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Al Jefferson will not play (sore knee)</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Wally Szczerbiak is out for season (recovering from 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">Brian Scalabrine is out for season (strained left hamstring)</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Michael Olowokandi is out for season (fractured bone in left foot)</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Theo Ratliff is out for season (recovering back surgery)</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">IND:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Jamaal Tinsley is questionable (sore elbow)</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">IND:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Jeff Foster is doubtful (back spasms)</span> Who To Watch Out For <span style="color:#009900">Ryan Gomes</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 11.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.7 apg</span> <span style="color:#000000">As A Starter: 12.9 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.9 apg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Gerald Green</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 10.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.0 apg</span> <span style="color:#000000">As A Starter: 14.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.6 apg</span> <span style="color:#000099">Jermaine O'Neal</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 19.7 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 2.4 apg, 2.7 bpg</span> <span style="color:#000099">Danny Granger</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 13.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.3 apg</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">As A Starter: 14.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.6 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">5.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.5 spg</span> <span style="color:#000000">As A Starter:</span> <span style="color:#009900">9.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 5.6 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">3.4 ppg, 3.2 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">5.4 ppg, 1.4 rpg</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Kevinn Pinkney</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: Undrafted</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#009900">7.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 1.0 bpg</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">IND:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Shawne Williams</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 17</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#000099">3.4 ppg, 1.5 rpg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Boston's X-Factor</span> <span style="color:#000000">Development</span> <span style="color:#009900">At this point, these games are for player development and evaluation. I just want to see the young guns play hard and show us something.</span> <span style="color:#000099">Indiana's X-Factor</span> <span style="color:#000099">Troy Murphy</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 10.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.8 apg</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 11.4 ppg, rpg, 6.1 rpg, 1.5 apg</span> <span style="color:#000099">Murphy and Gomes is going to be a very interesting matchup. Both are good rebounders but you also have to respect each of their perimeter jumpers. Murphy needs to take advantage of his size on Gomes.</span> <div align="center">Key Matchup vs. <span style="color:#009900">Kendrick Perkins</span> <span style="color:#000000">vs.</span> <span style="color:#000099">Jermaine O'Neal</span></div> <span style="color:#000000">Perk having two really tough nights in a row, the O'Neal boys. First Shaq, and tonight he has to deal with Jermaine. That's no easy task, Jermaine is a monster on both ends of the floor. I just want Perk to muscle him around and not let Jermaine get too comfortable.</span> CelticBalla's Extra Thoughts/Notes Indiana NEEDS to win this game, it's a must-win. They are currently just 1 game out of the playoffs, but they have been struggling like crazy as of late. If they can't beat the Celtics (with 8 injured players, including the top 5 players on the team), at home, then they are done. I don't think they will end up passing Orlando as it is, but there is still a chance. But again, if they can't beat us at home tonight, then that's just sad. They are 3-7 in their last 10 games. They NEED to win this. CelticBalla's Prediction I think it will be another good game, similar to last night, but I do think Indiana will get the job done. They need it, they know their asses are on the line. I think they'll get it done and give Orlando something to worry about.
Goodness, I hope the Pacers don't win. I was very dissapointed in their win yesterday against the Bobcats. It keeps looking more and more like we'll get that 9th spot in the East which means no playoffs and no draft pick. The playoffs seem out of reach since the Magic have a pretty easy schedule the rest of the season. So I wish the Pacers would start tanking. But unfortuantley it doesn't look like they will so it looks like we'll just be in a flux with no draft pick and no playoff appearence. Then again, I would like to see Oden in a Celtics uni so I don't know who I want to win (or lose) this game.
OH MY FREAKING GOD. RAJON RONDO IS SICK!14 Points, 7 Steals, 8 Rebounds, 7 AssistAlmost got a quaduriple double tonight. Rondo is just great.
What a game, I had a lot of fun watching this one tonight. We started off horribly, but in the second half, we fought so hard (I say this every night, I know, but it needs to be said. It's a great thing). A lot of the young guys (hell, every active player is young) did a good job tonight. Unfortunately, the Celtics ended up with yet ANOTHER injured player (Ryan Gomes fell hard on his right elbow). But a good game, a lot of fight, and a lot of great plays by the "kids." Player-by-Player Analysis And you're point guard of the future, Rajon Rondo, was sensational yet again. He did absolutely everything on both ends of the floor, yet again. He pressured the opposing guards and pushed the tempo, yet again. The kid does it all every night. He was all over the place defensively tonight, my goodness. He came up with steal after steal after steal, and it reminded me of Tony Allen's performance in Orlando back in January. God I love this kid, he is a keeper for sure. My guy, Sebastian Telfair, was great tonight. Hey WTJ, I bet you liked that performance, didn't you? Bassy was extremely aggressive offensively, and he was in attack mode throughout the entire game. He did get blown by on the defensive end a couple times, but he was moving his feet and he did make a few good defensive plays. Offensively, he just had it going tonight. He was pulling up from mid-range and nailing shots, he was penetrating and converting, he was finishing on the break, he hit a 3. I mean he was just great tonight. He also made some beautiful passes to cutters and made some solid kickout passes. And somehow, he came up with 5 boards. It was great to see Bassy have an excellent game like this, I hope this confidence carries out through the rest of the season. He's had 2 good games in a row (an excellent one tonight), and I'm very happy for him. Ryan Gomes played very well tonight, also. Unfortunately, he got hurt in the 2nd half (he fell hard and landed on his right elbow, he went to the bench and did not return for the rest of the game; he was in a decent deal of pain). But before the fall, he made some excellent plays around the basket. He had 2 or 3 nice tip-ins and he was going hard all night. I hope he's ok, this injury list is out of control. Allan Ray did a pretty good job tonight, as well, it's nice to see him also carry on some confidence. He didn't have his best outside shooting night, although he did knock down a few 3's. He was hustling and taking it to the cup a little more again, and he got out in transition. He also had a big rip at the end of the game. Nice to see him continue to play pretty good basketball. Leon Powe also had a good offensive night. He put on a few nice post-up displays down on the block and he was finishing (finally). Lately, he has missed quite a few easy opportunities around the basket, but he converted tonight. Gerald Green had one of his worst games tonight, it was just ugly. He shot the ball terribly (although I am happy he didn't just give up, he kept shooting and he did end up hitting a couple late in the game), he fouled out, he was frustrated, he didn't play good defense. Nothing went well for Gerald tonight. I think he will bounce back in Atlanta though, look out. Perk played sick the entire game, he really didn't look good. He was sagging, moving much slower than usual, he wasn't into it. I mean he clearly has flu-like symptoms. Get well soon, big fella. Pinkney didn't really do much out there. He was hustling, but he wasn't aggressive offensively. Jermaine swatted the hell out of him once, though. Player Stat Lines <span style="color:#009900">Rajon Rondo: 14 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 7 steals (career high) on 6-12 FG, 2-5 FT Sebastian Telfair: 21 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal on 8-12 FG, 1-2 3FG, 4-6 FT Allan Ray: 22 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block on 8-18 FG, 3-7 3FG, 3-3 FT Ryan Gomes: 12 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal on 6-12 FG, 0-2 3FG Leon Powe: 15 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal on 6-9 FG, 3-5 FT Gerald Green: 12 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist on 4-18 FG, 2-7 3FG, 2-3 FT Kendrick Perkins: 2 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist on 1-4 FG Kevinn Pinkney: 2 rebounds, 1 steal on 0-2 FG</span> Next Game: Tuesday (4/10/07) @ Atlanta at 7:00 pm ET.
Wow, Allen Ray with 22 tonight? Awesome to see him have a good game and to get some time this season with Boston because they have nothing to lose. I like Allen Ray a lot, was one of my favorite players when he was in college at the time. Sucks that Boston lost, but good game by the kid. On a Pacers note, they are only 1 game out of the No.8 seed in the East.
For me at least, tonights performance from Rajon moved him up to untouchable status with Pierce and Big Al.I f*cking love Rajon Rondo.
Rondo was absolutely unreal last night. This kid is electric, he's the definition of a scrapper. He never takes a minute off. Love itOk CB32, I can't bi*ch at Bassy, he had a very solid game tonight. He wasn't being hesitant like he usually does and he did a nice job offensively.My boy Allan Ray had a decent game tonight too. We only suited 8 guys for this game, with Pinkney, jesus.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (WELCOMEtotheJUNGLE @ Apr 8 2007, 12:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>We only suited 8 guys for this game, with Pinkney, jesus.</div> Not to mention Perk played with the flu and Gomes hurt his elbow and didn't return. We technically had 6 healthy players in the second half of the game. Then Telfair/Green fouled out... lmao. We were forced to finish the game with Rondo, Ray, Pinkney, Perk (sick), and Powe.
