<div align="center"> @ Things to think about: - The Celtics have the longest winning streak in the league. - The season series is 3-0 in favor of Boston - The Knicks beat the best team in the league on Monday - With a win, the Celtics will sweep the series with the Knicks for the third time in four seasons. The Knicks have been impressing people lately. This game should not be taken lightly. This isn't the Hornets. This team is capable of winning any game that they play in. They've beaten the Spurs(without Duncan, but it still speaks volumes) and they've taken Miami to the final seconds, both in the last week. Offensively, the Knicks are loaded with weapons. Defensively, they are a very underrated team. Trevor Ariza and Malik Rose play their roles very well off the bench. They are both great defensive players, and could give the Celtics problems. Mike Sweetney will also be trouble because he has a combination of size and athleticism that Boston can not matchup with. If Doc doesn't get the Celtics up for this game, they will not win. If they put forth the same effort that they did against other bottom-of-the-barrel teams, they won't stand a chance. Team Leaders Points- P. Pierce 21.8 Rebounds- A. Walker 9.1 Assists- G. Payton 6.0 Steals- P. Pierce 1.7 Blocks- A. Walker 1.6 Points- S. Marbury 21.3 Rebounds- K. Thomas 10.3 Assists- S. Marbury 8.1 Steals- S. Marbury 1.4 Blocks- K. Thomas 1.1 Key Injuries ? Gary Payton (May sit out due to Back problems) ? Allan Houston (IL) ? Penny Hardaway (IL) ? Kurt Thomas (IL) Key Matchup Stephon Marbury vs. Boston's 3 Point Guards The reason that this matchup will be so important [imgr]http://www.nba.com/media/act_marcus_banks.jpg[/imgr][imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/act_stephon_marbury.jpg[/imgl]is because New York doesn't have a true backup at his position. The Celtics need to do a good job of platooning thier point guards so that Marbury has to be on his game for the entire 40+ minutes that he plays. Each of Boston's point guards are capable of attacking Marbury, but in different ways. Banks has a slight speed advantage, and should be able to penetrate. Payton can take Marbury down in the post, especially when he's showing signs of fatigue. Delonte can get Marbury going back, and show off his jumpshot. All three of these guys will have trouble staying with Stephon, but if they tire him on the defensive end, they can take away from his offensive productivity. Prediction The Celtics will take this one because of their speed and depth. New York is having injury problems, and their depth has been effected. Ricky Davis will be taking advantage of that, making his case for the sixth man award, and also proving why he was the runner-up for Player of the Week honors last week. Boston 101 New York 95</div>
I'm looking forward to this game, its always fun when the C's are at MSG. With Payton's back bothering him, the young guys better be ready to step up. Banks has done a nice job with Marbury the last 3 games, we'll have to see if West can stay with him. And the second unit has to keep the intensity up, they've slacked off some the last few games. I'll say the Celtics take it with a slightly larger margin... 110 - 98.
This game sucks because I CAN'T WATCH IT!!!!!! I should call TW and rant at them and MSG for being retards who can't work out a simple contract deal so that the fans can see games.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting hagrid:</div><div class="quote_post">This game sucks because I CAN'T WATCH IT!!!!!! I should call TW and rant at them and MSG for being retards who can't work out a simple contract deal so that the fans can see games. </div> How do you watch other Celtic games? I heard the officiating was crappy, according to some. I can't tell, I can't watch the game and I'm listening to bias Knick fans on the radio.
The officiating has been totally inconsistent. The refs lost all control of the game within 2 minutes of it starting. It barely has had an effect on the game, though. Boston is playing like crap, and New York has been tearing it up. Apparently, our long layoff was exactly what we didn't need.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">How do you watch other Celtic games?</div> I have League Pass. Problem is, I live in Albany and therefore LP blacks out local games because MSG, and YES have the local rights to Knicks and Nets game, respectively. Time Warner Cable and MSG are in a contract fight over fees and TW has removed MSG from the air, thus screwing the fans. I guess I didn't miss anything though.
Yeah, the refs were a bit quick with the Technicals in my opinion and I didn't think that Raef's foul deserved to be called flagrant, but in the end it really didn't effect the game, cause the refs had nothing to to with the fact that the celtics had no answer for Jamal Crawford. I'm not bummed that the Celtics lost, cause they were probably over-due to drop a game but its the way they lost. Totally got caught up in talking back and forth and just didn't play smart basketball.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting hagrid:</div><div class="quote_post">I have League Pass. Problem is, I live in Albany and therefore LP blacks out local games because MSG, and YES have the local rights to Knicks and Nets game, respectively. Time Warner Cable and MSG are in a contract fight over fees and TW has removed MSG from the air, thus screwing the fans. I guess I didn't miss anything though.</div> Well, you're lucky. I don't have League Pass and I have to deal with this Time Warner foolishness. I am forced to listen to it on the Radio all the time. Hopefully by the summer it will be good so I can check out the summer leagues, and hopefully I can at least see the whole season next year. About the calls, I heard the Celtics were talking a lot of trash. I read in the post today that the Celtics came out running their mouths and while Ricky Davis was on the bench he said to Crawford, "It'll be over early" and "You're garbage." In response, Marbury said "Sit your [butt] on the bench where it belongs. I also heard Paul Pierce said Tim Thomas is weak and doesn't deserve to walk on the same court as him. Doc Rivers said he was dissapointed with the Celtics talking like that especially when they lost.
I'll take whatever was passed on in the trash talk with a grain of salt. Tim Thomas is no saint and has gotten into it with more than just PP. I'm not a fan of trash talking when you're getting beat, but from what I understand most of this started at the beginning of the game. I know our guys have gotten seemingly a little over-confident, but Thomas' comments are laughable.
