<font face="tahoma"><font color="green">GAME PREVIEW Projected Starters for The Boston Celtics Center- Mark Blount Power Forward- Raef Lafrentz Small Forward- Jiri Welsch Shooting Guard- Paul Pierce Point Guard- Gary Payton VS. The Orlando Magic Projected Starting Lineup Center- Kelvin Cato Power Forward- Dwight Howard Small Forward- Grant Hill Shooting Guard- Cat Mobley Point Guard- Stevie Franchise ______________________________________________ CELTICS KEYS TO THE GAME -Like with the Heat and D. Wade, I think you can't put Payton on Francis. Welsch, Davis, or Tony Allen should be on him for the majority. -Facing a team that plays the same style as them, The Celtics have to make sure they get back on D. They can't let Orlando have any easy baskets. -We must win the battle on the boards. Like I said, they are put together just like we are, and we need extra opportunities. -Another big game from the bench is needed, and should be expected. The C's bench is deeper that the Magic's so we really need to take advantage of that. -Better perimeter defense. It killed us last night, and it'll continue to do so until we finally put a stop to it. MY PREDICTION After the missed opportunity last night, I think Boston will be focused on taking care of Orlando in this game. The Celtics know how to stay in games and to get back into games, they just haven't learned how to win them down the stretch yet. I think this game is when it'll all start to click and we'll finally set off on the right foot. I also think that Doc has some added incentive, going toe to toe with the team that fired him. I think he'll have the boys ready to play. Boston 108 Orlando 102</font></font>
I think the Magic will win this game because Jiri Welsh against Grant Hill is a huge miss match. Also, the Magic run a high tempo offense that involves speed and scoring from the perimeter, something the Celtics lack.
What? How is Jiri against Hill a mismatch? Are you trying to say that Jiri is a bad defender? Because if you are than I'm afraid you are wrong. I could see if you said that Payton against Francis was a mismatch, because that actually is true. Also, The Celtics do not lack speed or perimeter scoring, so that makes no sense either. What happened anyway? Didn't you used to be a Celtics fan? It was Magic and Celtics, then it was Heat and Magic, now it's Heat, Magic, and the Sonics?
Grant Hill has been puting up great numbers and I don't think Jiri can contain him. I also agree that Payton on Francis is a mismatch. As for me being a Celtics fan, I still watch them and like them. I just like the Heat and the Magic more. The only reason I like the Sonics is because of Ray Allen.
I have a feeling that Jiri will start off the game guarding Francis, Payton will guard Mobley, and Pierce will guard Hill. So, whether Welsch can "contain" Hill is irrelevant. The only time Welsch will be guarding Hill is if Davis or Allen is on Francis, and I guarantee he will do a good job on him. Jiri has many problems, but one on one D is not one of them.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting 44Thrilla:</div><div class="quote_post">I have a feeling that Jiri will start off the game guarding Francis, Payton will guard Mobley, and Pierce will guard Hill. So, whether Welsch can "contain" Hill is irrelevant. The only time Welsch will be guarding Hill is if Davis or Allen is on Francis, and I guarantee he will do a good job on him. Jiri has many problems, but one on one D is not one of them.</div> I am not sure if Mobely is coming back this game do you know for sure if he is, because if he is that would be a huge boast for the team. Thanks for the update in advance.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MagicFan3:</div><div class="quote_post">As for me being a Celtics fan, I still watch them and like them. I just like the Heat and the Magic more. The only reason I like the Sonics is because of Ray Allen.</div> Oh God, you were a Yankee fan until October and then it was all about the Sox, wasn't it?
Baseball season's over. If you folks need to relive it, just read my sig and then move on. Thanks. As for the game, I'm back, so I'll be doing game recaps again and I expect the C's to win. Personally, I think they been losing because I haven't been around to watch. :mrgreen:
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Also, the Magic run a high tempo offense that involves speed and scoring from the perimeter, something the Celtics lack.</div> Still standing by that? The Celtics lead 69-45 at the half. Only 2 teams have scored more than they just did in the 1st half this year.
What a great first half. My only thing is that they seemed to slow down a little the last 4 minutes of the second quarter. Keep the pedal to the floor guys. Win the third, win the game.
My train of thought with this team is that they make the mistakes that a young/short time team makes: Inconsistant thoughout the game and stupid at the worst times. 69-45 at the half makes me happy.
<font color="DarkGreen"><font size="6">GAME RECAP:</font></font> Celtic over Magic 117-101 <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"Now, there were a couple of key game strategies for the Magic and one of them was that they had the advantage on both offense and defense in the paint. Hearing that at the beginning of the game, my natural response was,.....well......DUH?! However, the C's seemed to score almost at will in the first half (Shot 59%). The Magic announcers mentioned that the C's would likely experience a "cooling off period" during the half. Yep, they did: When the half ended. ;-) This comment came during what I can only describe as an Elmer Fudd "O' Woes me" type diatribe about how bad the Magic are doing this game."</div> Good win for the C's to get out of thier 4 game slide. Win #1 for hagrid's imaginary Karma boost :thumbsup:
^^Thanks. The Magic have a better team than I had anticipated at the beginning of the season. I'm sure it's more than just the T-Mac, poor attitude removal and the Franchise addition that has helped with the turnaround. I can't remember the guys name, but the rookie from overseas with the tatoos is going to be a decent force in the paint. He's already more physical than most overseas players are when they come over. Kato is night and day, at least from what limited info I got from this game. My advice is to have someone piss him off before every game, he seems to play better. (even if the reason he's pissed off is bogus: Jefferson foul that seemed to light his fire was weak at best) Speaking of Jefferson, he got more time than I'm used to seeing (given that I only saw one game before my leave of abscence, that's not saying much). He played well and even started to show some defensive presence.
Yeah, I was really impressed with Orlando. I'll admit, this is my first extended look at them (they haven't made the LP heavy rotation just yet). Dwight Howard is going to be a great player. Also, nice to see Brandon Hunter get some time on the floor. Good win for the C's. Hopefully they can keep it up with the Bucks coming into town Wednesday and the Raps on Friday, cause then that road trip looks BRUTAL.
