<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span> January 12, 2007 - 7:30 pm ET</div> <span style="color:#FF0000">Toronto Raptors</span> <span style="color:#000000">(16-20)</span> <span style="color:#000000">PG</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">T.J. Ford</span> <span style="color:#000000">SG</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Anthony Parker</span> <span style="color:#000000">SF</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Jorge Garbajosa</span> <span style="color:#000000">PF</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Chris Bosh</span> <span style="color:#000000">C</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Rasho Nesterovic</span> <span style="color:#000000">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Morris Peterson, Andrea Bargnani, Jose Calderon, Joey Graham, Fred Jones</span> <span style="color:#009900">Boston Celtics</span> <span style="color:#000000">(12-22)</span> <span style="color:#000000">PG</span> <span style="color:#009900">Sebastian Telfair</span> <span style="color:#000000">SG</span> <span style="color:#009900">Gerald Green</span> <span style="color:#000000">SF</span> <span style="color:#009900">Ryan Gomes</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, Leon Powe, Michael Olowokandi, Allan Ray</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 (knees and ankles)</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Delonte West is doubtful (back)</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Brian Scalabrine will not play (sprained MCL)</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> Who To Watch Out For <span style="color:#FF0000">Chris Bosh</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 20.9 ppg, 11.7 rpg, 2.2 apg</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">T.J. Ford</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 15.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 7.8 apg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Al Jefferson</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 13.2 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 1.4 bpg</span> <span style="color:#000000">As A Starter: 15.1 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 1.6 bpg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Gerald Green</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 7.7 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 0.8 apg</span> <span style="color:#000000">As A Starter: 15.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.8 apg</span> Rookie Watch <span style="color:#000000">TOR:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Andrea Bargnani</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 1</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">10.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 0.9 bpg</span> <span style="color:#000000">TOR:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Jorge Garbajosa</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: Undrafted</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">9.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.1 apg</span> <span style="color:#000000">TOR:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Uros Slokar</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: Undrafted</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">0.5 ppg, 0.5 rpg</span> <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">3.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.0 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">3.6 ppg, 2.9 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</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Toronto's X-Factor</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Rasho Nesterovic</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 5.9 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.1 bpg</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Rasho did a great job on Al Jefferson last time these two teams squared off. Tonight, Big Al will probably see some double and maybe even triple teams, and Rasho's size and shot blocking will be the centerpiece of those defensive plays.</span> <span style="color:#009900">Boston's X-Factor</span> <div align="center">Key Matchup vs. <span style="color:#FF0000">Chris Bosh</span> <span style="color:#000000">vs.</span> <span style="color:#009900">Al Jefferson</span></div> <span style="color:#000000">Bosh vs. Big Al. Bosh is obviously the better young big man, but Big Al has made excellent strides. Al (and Gerald) will be the centerpiece of the offense tonight, so he's going to need to step up. Not an easy task, considering the guy he'll be going head to head with all night is an All-Star.</span> CelticBalla's Extra Thoughts/Notes - RONDO!!! - POOOOOOOOWE!!!!!!!!! - ....... Allan Ray? CelticBalla's Prediction We lose. I don't see us really winning anything any time soon with no Pierce/Wally/TA/etc.
This should be interesting now, to see who inherits the 40 MPG that Tony has been getting. I have a feeling no one major will take a bunch of them, and they will just be spread out. But I really, really, really want to see Rondo get some major minutes sometime soon.
me and a couple of my buddies are grabbing some brews, hoppin on the redline, and headin up to the game tonight. Gonna be a blast, as screwy as our team looks, it's good to see all the young guys playing.
I bet we win this one. You guys will have alot of trouble scoring with Paul and Wally out. Bosh should dominate your bigs. TJ should have a nice game. And then there are X Factors like Anthony Parker, Morris Peterson, Jorge Garbajosa, or Andrea who could go off and score 20...
I think if Perkins can stay out of trouble Bosh will not be able to dominate, but Perk hasn't been playing that well since he came back. Don't count out Jefferson and Green, they each could easily go for 20 or more. I think the real factor will be if West plays and if he is healthy. If Rondo gets a lot of minutes he will own Ford on both ends.
LMAO @ Rondo owning Ford on both ends :HAHAHA: :HAHAHA: :HAHAHAude! TJ is one of the quickest players in the League. Nobody can "own" him on defense. And Bosh will go off on the Celtics. Your frontcourt is one of the weakests in the league right now.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Nobody can "own" him on defense</div>I didn't realize TJ Ford was a reincarnation of michael jordan....
You don't understand. No one can control him off the dribble. Maybe the secondary defense, but his defender can not stop him when he decides to drive, no matter who it is. It just doesn't happen. When TJ has a bad night, it's because of himself, not because of the PG who was guarding him.
I understand T.J. Ford is one of the quickest players in the league, and I understand that he is very crafty with the basketball, but you are making him sound like Allen Iverson, CB4. Come on. Stopping him 1 on 1 is possible. Besides, have you ever seen Sebastian Telfair and Rajon Rondo? They aren't exactly slow. Bosh could end up having a field day, but that's only because Scal is out. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DRob-50-Forever @ Jan 12 2007, 02:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I think the real factor will be if West plays and if he is healthy.</div> This is what worries me. Delonte is not healthy, but he'll probably ask to play anyway. Then our pussy of a coach and President of Basketball Operations will let him. They need to take a stand and tell Delonte "no." They have never done that before, and that is why his injuries are always nagging for months.
Okay. He can't drive "whenever" he wants to. But nobody can contain this guy throughout a game. Nobody.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CB4AllStar @ Jan 12 2007, 03:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Okay. He can't drive "whenever" he wants to. But nobody can contain this guy throughout a game. Nobody.</div> I beg to differ. But I just heard on FSN that it is confirmed that Gomes will start at the 3, Gerald will move to the 2 tonight.
Another team that can't guard CB4. If they're smart, they'll do what NJ usually does and throw a smaller, quicker defender on him and see if that works. NJ usually puts RJ on him and it actually does effect his game. I think Gomes can be that guy for the Celts. But, CB4 is still too dominant and he won't be able to stop him, maybe slow him down, but not stop him. He'll still get his 25 and 10. Well, like CB4Allstar said, TJ Ford will be hard to contain. He's too quick, and I think the Celtics will try to run with the Raptors and get burned. You don't want to run with the Raptors, this team is too quick.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ortiz34 @ Jan 12 2007, 06:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Well, like CB4Allstar said, TJ Ford will be hard to contain. He's too quick, and I think the Celtics will try to run with the Raptors and get burned. You don't want to run with the Raptors, this team is too quick.</div> We are not going to try to run with the Raptors, Doc even said in a public interview that we will slow the game down tremendously, unless we have an opportunity in the open court. Expect a half-court set from the Celtics tonight.
bad call on the tech on Bosh..but im sure if we win this game then the Raptors fans will blame it on the refs
TJ Ford is a dickhe said when asked about Rondo "hes PRETTY good player"I think hes just mad Rondo absolutely torched him for like 25and he also said "this isnt about Boston"...its like well of course it is..the Boston interviewer is asking you a question...thats who you played
TJ Ford is sick though. He's having a career year. His injuries are definitely behind him. Too bad for Boston that they had some many injured players. Closer game then I thought. But, Raptors Win Raptors Win Raptors Win!
