<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span> March 13, 2007 - 8:30 pm ET</div> <span style="color:#009900">Boston Celtics</span> <span style="color:#000000">(18-44)</span> <span style="color:#000000">PG</span> <span style="color:#009900">Delonte West</span> <span style="color:#000000">SG</span> <span style="color:#009900">Gerald Green</span> <span style="color:#000000">SF</span> <span style="color:#009900">Paul Pierce</span> <span style="color:#000000">PF</span> <span style="color:#009900">Al Jefferson</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">Rajon Rondo, Brian Scalabrine, Sebastian Telfair, Leon Powe</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Chicago Bulls</span> <span style="color:#000000">(37-28)</span> <span style="color:#000000">PG</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Kirk Hinrich</span> <span style="color:#000000">SG</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Ben Gordon</span> <span style="color:#000000">SF</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Luol Deng</span> <span style="color:#000000">PF</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">P.J. Brown</span> <span style="color:#000000">C</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Ben Wallace</span> <span style="color:#000000">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Chris Duhon, Thabo Sefolosha, Tyrus Thomas, Adrian Griffin</span> Injury Report <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Ryan Gomes will not play (sprained foot)</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Wally Szczerbiak is out for season (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">Theo Ratliff is out for season (back surgery)</span> <span style="color:#000000">CHI:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Andres Nocioni will not play (plantar fasciitis)</span> Who To Watch Out For <span style="color:#009900">Paul Pierce</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 24.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 4.1 apg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Al Jefferson</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 15.2 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 1.5 bpg</span> <span style="color:#000000">As A Starter: 16.3 ppg, 12.0 rpg, 1.6 bpg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Delonte West</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 11.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 4.6 apg</span> <span style="color:#000000">As A Starter: 13.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 5.5 apg</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Ben Wallace</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 6.2 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 1.5 spg, 2.2 bpg</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Kirk Hinrich</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 16.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 6.1 apg</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Luol Deng</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 18.7 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 2.3 apg</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Ben Gordon</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 21.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 3.6 apg</span> <span style="color:#000000">As A Starter: 20.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 4.0 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">5.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.4 spg</span> <span style="color:#000000">As A Starter:</span> <span style="color:#009900">12.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 6.7 apg, 2.7 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">3.1 ppg, 2.8 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">5.0 ppg, 1.2 rpg</span> <span style="color:#000000">CHI:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Tyrus Thomas</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 4</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">4.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.1 bpg</span> <span style="color:#000000">CHI:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Thabo Sefolosha</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 13</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">3.4 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 0.8 apg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Boston's X-Factor</span> <span style="color:#009900">Al Jefferson</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 15.2 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 1.5 bpg</span> <span style="color:#000000">As A Starter: 16.3 ppg, 12.0 rpg, 1.6 bpg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Big Al NEEDS to be aggressive offensively tonight. He was so passive the other night, he was basically intimidated by Ben Wallace. That can't happen tonight, if we want to win this game. Let's go, big fella!</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Chicago's X-Factor</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Luol Deng</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 18.7 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 2.3 apg</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Can he shut Pierce down, once AGAIN?</span> <div align="center">Key Matchup vs. <span style="color:#009900">Paul Pierce</span> <span style="color:#000000">vs.</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Luol Deng</span></div> <span style="color:#000000">Deng completely shuts down Paul Pierce every time the Bulls and Celtics play. COME ON, PAUL!</span> CelticBalla's Extra Thoughts/Notes The Bulls will be wearing green tonight, we will be wearing white. f*cking weird. D-West is back (too soon?) and Gomes is still out. CelticBalla's Prediction Bulls win. No way we beat them in Chicago.
If Al can have a good game I think it says a lot about his character..Big Ben is one of the best defenders in the game and Al needs to prove he can beat guys like Ben
If AL has a good game and Paul can escape the human trap that is Luol Deng then the Celts should have a pretty good shot at taking one at Chi-town.
I was confused at first in the game. I thought the bulls had celtics jerseys at first because of the Green. Celtics should of wore different color jerseys. It's going to be kinda confusing.
Not a bad game by the C's. You can tell they really miss Ryan Gomes out there, his 18 foot jump shot would have been very effective in tonight's game. Tyrus Thomas was a human highlight reel tonight. Al J did a great job on the defensive end tonight and had some good baskets underneath. Kendrick did a great job tonight underneath and also had some good moves on the low post. I would have liked to see more contribution from other guys tonight, it was pretty much a 3-man game between AL, Paul, and Delonte. But it was great to see Delonte healthy playing well. Not a bad game by the C's, down the stretch in the 4th quarter is what killed them. They couldn't buy a basket in the last 6 minutes of that game. I always of course want to see them win but when they lose I try to think of Kevin Durant as the consolation. :yes1:
We actually did a very solid job tonight, much better than I thought. I'm somewhat proud of the guys tonight. We were outrebounded by a large margin, we didn't get much production off the bench AT ALL, and we were just out-worked. We also made some pretty key turnovers, and the whistles didn't necessarily go our way either (let me put it lightly - they give NO respect to our young players). But what is up with Ben Wallace taking jumpers? Just wow... Pierce had somewhat of a bounce back game. He didn't play his best, but at least he did a relatively creditable job and didn't let Deng own him this time. He started the game off hot, hitting those mid-range fall-aways nicely. He slowed down a bit in the second half, but he didn't do all that bad. Big Al did a very solid job tonight. I'm very happy that he wasn't really all that passive tonight, like he was on Sunday. On Sunday, he seemed intimidated by Ben Wallace and he was very passive in the post. Tonight, he took it to him and actually made some beautiful moves. Solid game by Big Al. Delonte was just shooting the ball lights out, he really was. From 3, he was taking it strong to the hoop, and he was deadly off the catch. See what happens when he plays the 2 practically all night? THIS SHOULD HAPPEN EVERY NIGHT. Rondo really did an excellent job tonight as well. He made some outstanding passes, his drive and kick game was outstanding, he did an excellent job defending Gordon, and he just blew past guys all night long. I love this kid. PERK! Nice to see you have yourself a good game. Perk was extremely active all night long, that's what I wanted to see. He even hit a fall-away jumper. Gerald was active out there, but he really struggled with his shot big time. I think Bassy did a decent job when he was out there. He took care of the ball and hit the open man. He hit a couple 3's. He did pass up a couple opportunities, but he didn't do half bad out there. Scal was cold and he was a foul machine. Grrr. For the Bulls, Tyrus Thomas was unbelievable! I don't like that guy's attitude, but dammit I love watching him lift off. My god. Player Stat Lines <span style="color:#009900">Paul Pierce: 24 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals on 8-17 shooting, 1-6 from 3, 7-9 FT Al Jefferson: 19 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks on 9-16 shooting, 1-4 FT Delonte West: 19 points, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block on 8-14 shooting, 3-5 from 3 Rajon Rondo: 3 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals on 1-5 shooting, 1-4 FT Kendrick Perkins: 8 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks on 4-4 shooting Gerald Green: 6 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist on 2-7 shooting, 0-3 from 3, 2-2 FT Sebastian Telfair: 6 points on 2-5 shooting, 2-3 from 3 Brian Scalabrine: 2 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists on 1-5 shooting, 0-3 from 3 Leon Powe: 1 rebound in 5 minutes Allan Ray: 19 seconds</span> Next Game: Tomorrow night (3/14/07) at home vs. Atlanta at 7:30 pm ET.
Hell, I dont mind the celtics losing as long as they dont play that bad. The season is already over, and Durant could make us a really good team. I am pulling for us to lose sometimes...haha. As sad as that sounds...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ballerman2112 @ Mar 13 2007, 11:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Hell, I dont mind the celtics losing as long as they dont play that bad. The season is already over, and Durant could make us a really good team. I am pulling for us to lose sometimes...haha. As sad as that sounds...</div> Aren't you a Spurs fan?
