<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span> December 26, 2006 - 9:00 pm ET</div> <span style="color:#009900">Boston Celtics</span> <span style="color:#000000">(10-15)</span> <span style="color:#000000">PG</span> <span style="color:#009900">Delonte West</span> <span style="color:#000000">SG</span> <span style="color:#009900">Tony Allen</span> <span style="color:#000000">SF</span> <span style="color:#009900">Gerald Green</span> <span style="color:#000000">PF</span> <span style="color:#009900">Ryan Gomes</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">Sebastian Telfair, Brian Scalabrine, Leon Powe, Rajon Rondo</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">Denver Nuggets</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">(14-10)</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">PG</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">Allen Iverson</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">SG</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">Yakhouba Diawara</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">SF</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">DerMarr Johnson</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">PF</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">Eduardo Najera</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">C</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">Nene</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">Earl Boykins, Reggie Evans, Linas Kleiza</span> Injury Report <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Paul Pierce will not play (stress reaction in left foot)</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Wally Szczerbiak will not play (strained right ankle)</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">Michael Olowokandi is a gametime decision (strained abdomen)</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Theo Ratliff will not play (lower back)</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">DEN:</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">Kenyon Martin is out for season (microfracture surgery)</span> Who To Watch Out For <span style="color:#009900">Al Jefferson</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 12.8 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 1.4 bpg</span> <span style="color:#000000">As A Starter: 16.3 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 1.8 bpg</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">Allen Iverson</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 30.6 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 7.4 apg, 2.1 spg</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">As A Nugget: 22.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 10.0 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">3.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.2 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">3.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 0.7 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">1.7 ppg</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">DEN:</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">Yakhouba Diawara</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: Undrafted</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">5.3 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.1 apg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Boston's X-Factor</span> <span style="color:#009900">Defense</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats (allowed): 100.0 ppg, 41.0 rpg, 5.3 bpg, 7.1 spg, 46% FG I usually do a player with this, but with no Pierce/Wally/Perk/etc., we HAVE to play good defense (especially on the road, against a team with Allen Iverson) in order to win. We can't give up 100 points a night, we can't get outrebounded, we can't get outworked, and we can't get outhustled.</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">Denver's X-Factor</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">Nene</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 6.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">As A Starter: 7.0 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 2.0 bpg</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">Boston is shorthanded (and young) downlow, and Camby is out. Nene needs to really play well tonight. With no Camby, Nene has to be the force at the center position, and he did a solid job the other night (grabbing 15 boards). Also note that Al Jefferson really ate Nene up downlow about a week and a half ago.</span> <div align="center">Key Matchup vs. <span style="color:#009900">Al Jefferson</span> <span style="color:#000000">vs.</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">Nene</span></div> <span style="color:#000000">Both are promising young big men, in different levels/ways, and Big Al really killed Nene on the block last time these two teams played each other (about a week and a half ago). Can Nene fill in for Camby and get revenge with Jefferson? Can Jefferson continue to play outstanding basketball when the pressure is on, without the team's stars, and on the road? We'll see...</span> CelticBalla's Extra Thoughts/Notes I'm pumped to see AI as a Nugget, of course, but man I am REALLY excited to see how our young guys do in this situation (on the road, without Pierce/Wally/Perk, pressure is on). CelticBalla's Prediction I have to go with Denver. Our team is just too young to beat a high-energy team like this on the road. I hope I'm wrong, I mean we did surprisingly beat Denver in Boston (where they DID have Melo/Camby/Smith, they don't tonight), but now they have AI. They are shorthanded as well though, so this really could go either way, but our best player on the court tonight is Al Jefferson. Theirs is Allen Iverson...
This should be a fun one to watch... I can't wait to see Gerald and Al be the focal point of the offense, and I REALLY WANT TO SEE RONDO vs. IVERSON. DOC PLAY RONDO TONIGHT.
this could be interesting...I agree with you man..Rondo vs AI would be very good...Rondo should start just because Bassy can't play D and Iverson will be a big part of the offense..being in the starting lineup now
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (yankshater213 @ Dec 26 2006, 01:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>This should be a fun one to watch... I can't wait to see Gerald and Al be the focal point of the offense, and I REALLY WANT TO SEE RONDO vs. IVERSON. DOC PLAY RONDO TONIGHT.</div>Agree, I'd love to see Al continue his excellent play and Gerald have another great game.
Seriously? What do we have to lost. Nuggets are obviously superior, and we're without our 2 best players and our color guy. I wanna see:-Rondo get minutes-Tony Allen F*ck some nigs up. If we want any chance we will need to see his "snarl" that Tommy talks about.-Gerald play well- Big Al dominateThis game is basically like a sight into our future, its probably not going to go well, but I can't wait to watch them.
I just want Doc to take this opportunity to develop our young players, it's a great chance with so many key players out, and I definitely want to see Gerald play big minutes.
Doc is a Penis. Expect Rondo to ride pine and Bassy to get owned. Boston have some of the best youngs getting around but are being wasted by a idiot coach.
Hey guys, Delonte will start at PG (for the source, just see the thread about it). <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Clangus @ Dec 26 2006, 06:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Doc is a Penis.</div>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (JustBlaze @ Dec 26 2006, 07:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Half our team's out, don't expect much of a game.</div>3 of our best players are out.After the 1st quarter it is kind of close, but I think Denver has the edge, we have gotten out on the run every chance we have we just can't finish.
At half we are winning by 10 and I am impressed. We got out on the run a lot and took over the game. Anybody see AI's sick one handed pass to Boykins that went through like 4 Celtic defenders haha?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Camby23Land @ Dec 26 2006, 09:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>3 of our best players are out.After the 1st quarter it is kind of close, but I think Denver has the edge, we have gotten out on the run every chance we have we just can't finish.</div>You still have Iverson, we're down our 2 leading scorers and 3 of our centers
That Iverson pass was so sick...Anyways yeah, this is basically what I was expecting. Rondo did see early action but he got in foul trouble along with the rest of the team. Gerald's playing pretty well 15 and 8 with 3 blocks. Al (8/13 2 blocks) is playing better than his 4-11 FGs show. He's had like 8 or 9 offensive rebounds and a lot of those misses are off tips. Also Delonte is gone for the game, hopefully its not too bad. He had his pocket picked and someone (forget who) was on a fast break and Delonte came up and tried to block him and hit the ground SO hard. Looked like his back again, but hopefully its not bad, we have all the injuries we can afford.
The end of the third quarter got me so excited that I couldn't even type it out so I went to yahoo and got the play by play. :22.5 BOS - Layup by A. Ray. Assist: T. Allen :25.9 BOS - R. Rondo steals the ball from A. Iverson :38.4 BOS - A. Ray made a 23-foot three-pointer from the left corner. Assist: T. Allen :42.9 BOS - R. Rondo steals the ball from L. Kleiza :44.9 DEN - L. Kleiza defensive rebound 5 points for Ray2 steals for Rondo2 assists for Tonysooooooo solid
Yeah Al had another great game, which I'm very happy about. Gerald had another good game too, I'd like to see him a shoot a little higher percentage though. Good stuff from the young guys, but yes I agree it just goes to show how much we need Paul.
