<font color="red">If you want to talk about this game, only talk about it from the Grizzlie's perspective in here! Thoughts, comments, and all posts about the Boston Celtics should go in the following forum -</font> <font color="Red">Celtics</font> <font size="1">by BC and Wave</font> Memphis (7-8) @ Cleveland (7-9) Monday, Dec. 1 6:00 pm TV: NBATV, WPXX Radio: WHBQ-560AM Previous Game Grizzlies 122 @ Cavaliers 115 2OT Celtics 94 @ Milwaukee 100 Head Coaches Jim O?Brien/Hubie Brown Probable Starters Raef LaFrentz/Jake Tsakalidis Vin Baker/Pau Gasol Kedrick Brown/Mike Miller Paul Pierce/James Posey Mike James/Earl Watson <u>Injured List</u> Celtics K. Perkins FC Right knee tendinitis B. Hunter PF Right Achilles tendinitis C. Mills SF Right heel spurs Grizzlies Jason Williams PG Back spasms T. Bell PG Left knee tendonitis R. Humphrey F Concussion Keys to the Game The Celtics are a very strange team. When playing focused they can beat almost any team as they have proven by beating the Kings and Pacers. Yet they still lose to very beatable teams and are very streaky. They have already beaten Memphis once this season. Vin Baker led them in the first meeting. he had 24 points and 8 rebounds. If he can repeat that performance the Celtics should be able to pull out another win. An X-Factor for this game is Eric Williams. He has been the most consistent player coming off the bench for the Celtics. He needs to play his tough defense and score from the post. Also Stromile Swift may be a factor in this game, in their last meeting he played great with 18 points on 7 of 11 shooting, he also had 3 blocks. I think the Celtics will play a good game after Pierce called out the team for being soft. <ul> [*]Stay focused [*]Get Vin Baker involved [*]Slow down Stromile Swift [*]Limit turnovers [/list] <font color="DarkRed">B</font><font color="Olive">C</font> Memphis - Memphis needs to remain focused as always. They lost the last match up with the Celtics in the final minutes of the game, an area where the Grizzlies have since improved. It?s important that they don?t go into the game looking at it as an easy win. Right now, the main concern which Hubbie Brown has is Jason Williams being sidelined due to back spasms who is listed as doubtful. Earl Watson will most likely be starting in his place which will give us all an opportunity to see how well he truely works with the first line. Maybe this will settle the ?Jason Williams or Earl Watson?? debate. The Grizzlies will also be playing Mike Miller at Point Guard as he excelled at that positions while facing the Celtics. The key?s to the game for the Grizzlies are to lock down Paul Pierce through James Posey, not let the Celtics take advantage of Jason Williams absense, and keeping the Celtics to a half-court game. <ul> [*]Limit the Celtics to a half-court game. [*]Make up for Jason Williams? absence. [*]Lock Paul Pierce down with James Posey on deffense. [/list] <font color="Blue"><div style="padding-left: 20px;"> ~~Wave~~</div></font> Key Matchup - Paul Pierce/James Posey The key match up is Paul Pierce against James Posey. In the first meeting, Pierce shot well (7-15, 23 points) but he had 9 turnovers and he fouled out. This is largely attributed to James Posey?s tenacious defense. On any given night, Posey can stick it to the man he is guarding. Pierce needs to be able to lead this team. If he can avoid the turnovers, shoot well, handle James Posey and set up his teammates, the Celtics will be in great shape. However, if Pierce lets Posey get the best of him the Grizzlies have the upper hand. With no Pierce in the game the Celtics are limited on offense. <font color="Blue"><div style="padding-left: 20px;"> ~~Wave~~ & <font color="DarkRed">B</font><font color="Olive">C</font></div></font> <font color="red">If you want to talk about this game, only talk about it from the Grizzlie's perspective in here! Thoughts, comments, and all posts about the Boston Celtics should go in the following forum -</font> <font color="Red">Celtics</font>
Nice set up WAVE. The score at half is Grizz-44 Celt-43. They key matchup Posey vs Pierce. Poesy- 11 points Pierce- 12 points So far Watson is doing a good job at PG he had couple TO but he has 4 points, 3 dimes and 2 reb at half.
Great win for the Grizz now we are 8-8. Here is the recap and the box-score. RECAP <font color="Blue">Pau Gasol led six teammates in double figures with 19 points as the Memphis Grizzlies snapped a five-game losing streak against the Boston Celtics with a 96-89 victory. Lorenzen Wright added 14 points and 13 rebounds and Shane Battier and Stromile Swift chipped in 12 points apiece for the Grizzlies, who beat the Celtics for the first time since a 99-98 triumph on February 13, 2001. James Posey scored 11 points and Mike Miller contributed 10, 10 assists and eight rebounds as Memphis improved to 2-0 on its three-game road trip. The Grizzlies won with point guard Jason Williams sidelined with back spasms. Paul Pierce notched 26 points on 8-of-18 shooting for the Celtics, who have lost six of their last eight overall.</font> Box Score. http://www.nba.com/games/20031201/MEMBOS/boxscore.html
