<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span> December 16, 2006 - 7:00 pm ET</div> <span style="color:#009900">Boston Celtics</span> <span style="color:#000000">(9-13)</span> <span style="color:#000000">PG</span> <span style="color:#009900">Sebastian Telfair</span> <span style="color:#000000">SG</span> <span style="color:#009900">Tony Allen</span> <span style="color:#000000">SF</span> <span style="color:#009900">Paul Pierce</span> <span style="color:#000000">PF</span> <span style="color:#009900">Brian Scalabrine</span> <span style="color:#000000">C</span> <span style="color:#009900">Al Jefferson</span> <span style="color:#000000">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West, Gerald Green, Leon Powe, Rajon Rondo</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">Charlotte Bobcats</span> <span style="color:#000099">(6-16)</span> <span style="color:#000099">PG</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">Raymond Felton</span> <span style="color:#000099">SG</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">Brevin Knight</span> <span style="color:#000099">SF</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">Gerald Wallace</span> <span style="color:#000099">PF</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">Emeka Okafor</span> <span style="color:#000099">C</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">Primoz Brezec</span> <span style="color:#000099">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">Sean May, Adam Morrison, Matt Carroll, Jake Voshkul</span> Injury Report <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Ryan Gomes will not play (strained right calf)</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Kendrick Perkins will not play (plantar fasciitis)</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Theo Ratliff will not play (lower back)</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Michael Olowokandi will not play (strained abdominal muscle)</span> Who To Watch Out For <span style="color:#009900">Paul Pierce</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 26.2 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 4.3 apg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Wally Szczerbiak</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 19.1 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.3 apg</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">Emeka Okafor</span> <span style="color:#000099">Season Stats: 15.5 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 2.9 bpg</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">Gerald Wallace</span> <span style="color:#000099">Season Stats: 10.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.6 spg</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">Raymond Felton</span> <span style="color:#000099">Season Stats: 13.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 5.8 apg, 1.4 spg</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">Brevin Knight</span> <span style="color:#000099">Season Stats: 12.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 7.2 apg, 1.7 spg</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">Adam Morrison</span> <span style="color:#000099">Season Stats: 13.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.9 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">3.8 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.1 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">3.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 0.6 bpg</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">2.5 ppg, 0.5 rpg, 0.5 spg</span> <span style="color:#000099">CHA:</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">Adam Morrison</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 3</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">13.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.9 apg</span> <span style="color:#000099">CHA:</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">Walter Herrmann</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: Undrafted</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">4.7 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 0.3 apg</span> <span style="color:#000099">CHA:</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">Ryan Hollins</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 50</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">Has not played.</span> <span style="color:#009900">Boston's X-Factor</span> <span style="color:#009900">Al Jefferson</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 11.7 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 1.3 bpg 14.3 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 1.8 bpg as a starter (6 games)</span> <span style="color:#009900">No Perk, no Theo, no Kandi-Man, and no Gomes. Big Al, as usual, needs to keep stepping up. He will have his hands full with Okafor and a 7 footer in Brezec tonight.</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">Charlotte's X-Factor</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">Gerald Wallace</span> <span style="color:#000099">Season Stats: 10.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.6 spg</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">G-Force has to do one thing: disrupt Paul Pierce. He isn't going to "stop" him, but he's very capable of disrupting and harrassing anyone. He needs to bring it defensively.</span> <div align="center">Key Matchup vs. <span style="color:#009900">Al Jefferson</span> <span style="color:#000000">vs.</span> <span style="color:#FF6600">Emeka Okafor</span></div> <span style="color:#000000">Okafor has been excellent all year long, and Big Al has been on a tear lately. Al needs to step up big time in order to contain Emeka, but with the way he's playing he is feeling like he can't be stopped. This should be a nice matchup down low.</span> CelticBalla's Extra Thoughts/Notes Boston is on a 4 game winning streak (first one since early 2005), can they make it 5? Can Tony Allen keep it up? Can Big Al handle Emeka and Brezec? Will the Charlotte PG's abuse Telfair again? We'll see... But also note that Charlotte beat them last time we came to town (@ Charlotte). CelticBalla's Prediction I have to stay condifent with this Celtics team. Last time we went to Charlotte (late November), they beat us. We need to redeem ourselves and beat them in Charlotte tonight, and I am confident that we will. Let's go Celtics!!!
They're last 4 game win streak was April 12-17.Like CB said, make it 5 in a row. After this we have GS and Philly at home then a West coast road swing where we do not play any of the West's premier teams. I'll be happy with 3 of the next 7, but the way the Celtics have been playing lately, 4-6 wins in these coming games wouldn't be too much of a stretch to predict. I LOVE the way they're playing lately, KEEP IT UP C'S!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (yankshater213 @ Dec 16 2006, 09:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>They're last 4 game win streak was April 12-17.</div> Isn't that sad? I'm happy we are currently on a 4 game winning streak, but having the last one in April 05 is just sad. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Like CB said, make it 5 in a row. After this we have GS and Philly at home then a West coast road swing where we do not play any of the West's premier teams. I'll be happy with 3 of the next 7, but the way the Celtics have been playing lately, 4-6 wins in these coming games wouldn't be too much of a stretch to predict.</div> On the west coast swing, we don't play any San Antonio's or Dallas', but we do play Denver and thee LA Clippers (back to back too), so they are both good teams. But the other three are nothing special (Golden State, Seattle, Portland). Either way, I'm predicting 2-3 on that trip, with wins in Portland and LA.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Noah @ Dec 16 2006, 02:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Boston will take this one without much of a fight from the Bobcats. </div> It's now official: the Celtics will win this game, because Noah said so. You have been right on a lot of these predictions, hopefully you are right again tonight and we keep our winning streak alive!
^^ lol hes been wrong just as many times as he's been righthe's just been saying we'll win every gameit just looks good because he said it during the win streak too
even tho he has been wrong sometimes, I can't see us losing this one. We have a lot of momentum, and Charlotte isn't the strongest team. Emeka vs. Al should be a very good match-up. same with Pierce/wallace.
What a first half!!! The starting unit was EXCELENT, the bench's defense sucked. But wow!! Pierce on fiyaa!!! Big Al beasting!! (even though Emeka stuffed him 3 times). Pierce - 21 points at halftime and I don't think he has missed a shot Al Jefferson - 17 and 7 at halftime GO CELTICS!!! Hey dogma, remember when you invented Rondoism? I am a supporter of Jeffersonism baby!!!!
sh*t! I can't get the game AGAIN because of my satellite. I'm freaking pissed now, because al is playing out of his mind. :ranting: :Swoon:Celticism.
WE WON AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!5 in a row baby...this is the Boston Celtics I was hoping to see...and did you see that Gerald green dunk?Sunday Morningh Highlight Reel material
Beautiful! 5 in a row baby! That's great! I'm so happy for this young group. And to top all this off, we have two winnable home games coming up vs. Golden State and Philly. But this was an awesome game. The second unit gave up waaay too many points, but the starting unit played cohesively and they played good defense. They got a big defensive boost from Scal. Bad News: Wally sprained his ankle. Ugh, yet another injury. Paul Pierce <u>35 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists on 11-20 shooting, 4-6 from 3, 9-9 FT</u> Pierce was, once again, outstanding! He knocked down the 3's, made great passes, took it to the rack, etc. Pierce is unstoppable when he's feeling it, and he has been feeling it for a week now. He definitely deserves Eastern Conference Player of the Week. Al Jefferson <u>22 points, 10 rebounds, 1 block on 10-21 shooting</u> Big Al had 17 and 7 at halftime, he was a beast. In the second half, Pierce still had it going and they didn't run many plays for him, but he still did a good job. Okafor blocked him about 3-4 times, lol, but other than that he did a very good job. He is REALLY coming around. Way to go Big Al!!! Delonte West <u>14 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block on 5-9 shooting, 4-4 FT (all big FT's)</u> Delonte played a great game tonight. He played under great control, he hit his shots (and some big ones), he made all 4 clutch free throws, and he hustled like crazy. Great job from my man D-West! Tony Allen <u>11 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals on 2-10 shooting, 7-8 FT's</u> TA missed shots, but he still played a good game. He really bothered Morrison and did a good job on him defensively (Wally gave up most of Morrison's points). He rebounded, hustled, ran the floor, and made his free throws. Good job from TA. Brian Scalabrine <u>7 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block on 3-6 shooting</u> Scal was awesome tonight! He played GREAT defense, he made some excellent passes, and he fought hard all night long. He made all the right/big plays. Scal was outstanding tonight. His best game of the year, by far, IMO. Sebastian Telfair <u>4 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 2 steals on 1-4 shooting</u> Bassy wasn't spectacular tonight, but he was better than what the stat sheet tells you. I don't care how many points/assists he racks up, as long as he keeps pushing and moving the ball like he has been. Gerald Green <u>6 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal on 3-4 shooting in 11 minutes</u> GERALD GREEN! Gerald did an excellent job tonight. He fought hard when he was in there, he was very active on the offensive glass (had a very nice putback), he bothered Morrison's shots, and he had that oustanding windmill slam off the steal. That dunk was awesome! Way to go G-Money! Leon Powe <u>5 points, 2 blocks, 1 steal on 1-3 shooting, 3-4 FT in 10 minutes</u> Powe did a pretty good job. He was good defensively and he hustled, but this team needs to stop giving him iso's in the post. I hate that. But good defensive game from Powe. Wally Szczerbiak <u>2 points, 2 rebounds on 1-5 shooting</u> He sucked. He shot terribly, gave up waaaay too many points on defense, and then... he sprains his ankle again. Greeeeaaaat... Gomes DNP due to his strained right calf, Rondo/Ray didn't play (coaches decision). EDIT: I also want to say that Okafor is a f*cking beast!!! Next Game Wednesday (12/20/06) at home vs. Golden State at 7:30 pm ET. EDIT: Gerald Green's windmill dunk got #4 on SportsCenter.
LOL Noah strikes again! But some bad news guys, Wally said that this one hurt more than the last one. Doc said something like "If I were a betting man, I'd say he won't be with us for the west coast road trip." That means he may not play until January 3rd. Gomes is expected to play on Wednesday though, so that's good.
They've not missed Wally much these past several games anyway. I don't honestly think that it's that big of a loss really... If everyone continues to play at the level that they are, they can continue their winning streak no problem!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Noah @ Dec 17 2006, 02:54 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>They've not missed Wally much these past several games anyway. I don't honestly think that it's that big of a loss really</div> Just letting you know, Wally has played in 3 of our last 5 games (in which we have won them all). Sure, guys like Al Jefferson and Tony Allen are stepping up, but it's not like he's our 10th man or something, he's our 2nd best player (although Big Al is making a case lately). He will be missed. I am happy that we'll see some more Gerald Green, but it's never good when your most reliable outside shooter sprains both of his ankles within a 2 week span. This team is screwed with injuries.
Well I think they'll still be alright without him... The others have been playing really well I think, to make up for the loss anyhow... But you are right, it's better to have him than to NOT have him... The only way I can follow the Celts' games is by highlights and articles online... Or the two times the Suns play them, or in the RARE event they're on national TV...
atleast we don't play until wednesday. That mioght kill a little momentum, but Wally will have rested a little more without misses as many games.
Warriors have lost two in a row (Phoenix and Toronto) and play New Jersey between now and Wednesday. Preferably they will go into that game on a 3 game skid, even if it means NJ winning. I don't wanna have to face that offense while they're confident, too dangerous.
