LamarButler

Tomorrow is a big game in Phoenix. We're 0-2 on this West coast trip, and we have a chance to redeem ourselves tomorrow. I think it'll be exciting. I've been wondering about this match up for quite awhile. There's a ton of talent for each team.

What do you think the keys and crucial match ups to this game are? What weaknesses can the Celtics exploit? What do they need to watch out for and what should our strategy be?

I feel this game will hinge on if we can get back to our smothering D. This is a true test of how good our D really is, seeing if our league best D can stop the league's best O. I have no doubts about scoring on Phoenix. They've never shown good defensive ability and I can see a lot of our players having big games. They can't stop penetration, and we have a lot of good drivers, Pierce, Tony Allen, Rondo and Garnett.

I think Rondo can really bother Steve Nash. Nash isn't the strong type of PG that Rondo struggles with, but Rondo is the lengthy PG who'll bother Nash. I also think Perkins can keep Shaq from dunking all over us. This is the perfect game for Davis to get big minutes. He is one of the only players in the league who can compete with Shaq in strength. I also think Garnett will step up to the challenge and give Amare a tough time. I'm only worried about Barbosa. After watching Monta Ellis tear us up, I am very concerned about Barbosa.

Overall I'm pretty confident we can this game. Motivation and intensity will definitely be high for the Celtics this game. We'll have no trouble scoring on them, and I predict that our defense will come through for us.

__________________
Celtics:

PG- Rajon Rondo, Eddie House, Gabe Pruitt
SG- Ray Allen, Tony Allen, J.R. Giddens
SF- Paul Pierce, Bill Walker, Darius Miles
PF- Kevin Garnett, Leon Powe, Brian Scalabrine
C- Kendrick Perkins, Glen Davis, Patrick O'Bryant

Avalanche

Garnett usually tears pheonix apart, would nice for him to do so here and get himself back in form after his return.

Nash will get his 20/10 regardless but i think Rondo can stop him from going off for a huge night.

Big man defense will be key, KG/Perk/Baby/Powe all need to concentrate on D, Perk should match up strength wise with shaq as well as anyone can... but that leaves KG on Stoudemire who he usually doesnt defend.. They need to contain around the basket to force them into Jumpers... not Dunks.

Should be a win, but its a very difficult game

Basel57

Please win.

__________________

Bleeding purple & gold...

Marcus13

By far the worst game I've seen us play this year. Allen has been nonexistant and Pierce and Garnett have been downright awful. The role players sure haven't helped anything. Im not even looking forward to the second half.

__________________

Eternal

Why did you guys have to have such a bad shooting night against the Suns? Was rooting for you guys.

mqtcelticsfan

Ray can lick my nuts tonight.

Marcus13

Woww. Because he sure has been the worst player on the floor

__________________

mqtcelticsfan

Just as crappy as Pierce shooting, worse defense and no rebounding. Not to mention the worst play of the night on the three-on-one.

Marcus13

Actually, Ray was better than Pierce shooting. Perkins gets worst play of the night for the flagrant...not that any single play could have helped. Ray's PER was much higher than Pierce's (not that i put any stock in it, it's the stupidest stat in sports)

__________________

bluecro

Wow I have never seen the Celtics play so bad. Is that the 3rd game in a row you lost? You guys better be worried because Detroit is coming up to you and there coming quick.

__________________
GIANTS 2007-2008 N.F.L Champions


Proud Nets, Mets and Giants Fan!!

mrsister

We need to get our offense and defense to be good on the same night. Other than the scoring spurts of the Suns, the defense was pretty good. They only ended up with 85 points. Unfortunately, we only ended up with 77. That's in contrast to the previous two games where the offense was clicking but defense was nonexistent. I wonder why we're playing so different from the beginning of the season. Is everybody tired or did the thrill of the new situation just wear off? Even in the games we win now, it's just not nearly as dominating. Obviously, we weren't playing the West at the beginning (save for the Nuggets), but we're not dominant against the East now either.

#1AntoineWalkerFan

youre not really happy that rays 3-12 was "better" than pauls 2-13...are you?

__________________
ANTOINE WALKER (NBA CHAMPION!!) FAN CLUB!!!
President: Lanteri

1)#1AWF 2)aquaitious 3)KingHandles 4)DOUBLE-M 5)tdk1984 6)REEF_DA_CHIEF
7)AntoineWalkerFan 8)edabomb 9)bootstrenf 10)Silk 11)Zuca

Marcus13

No, not at all. If Ray sahot 3-12, I still wish Pierce shot 15-15. Truthfully, Ray and Pierce both played a better game than Garnett

__________________

ehmunro

No, they didn't. And the worst players on the floor tonight, by a wide margin, were Perkins and Rondo. Rondo was dog**** on both sides of the ball. When your coach is forced to replace you with Eddie House for defensive purposes you need to get your head out of your ***. If House could have hit a ****ing shot the Celtics probably win this one. So the C's better be working Brent Barry pretty hard, they desperately needed someone like that tonight.

__________________
"The Spurs are the Jason Voorhees of the NBA. No matter how many times you think you've finally killed them, turn your back on them and they're right back on their feet, machete in one hand and chainsaw in the other."

"Tim Duncan is the biggest crybaby in the NBA. If the Spurs were gay, he'd be Liberace." MCD

"Opium is the religion of the masses." Fred Reed

"I do not know what the Queensberry rules are, sir, but the Wilde rules are to shoot on sight!" Oscar Wilde to the Marquis of Queensbury after being threatened by the former pugilist.

Those who are in the know praise Dead Women Tell No Tales:

"The account of Kobe participating in orgies and the description of the surroundings is accurate. I attended few of those parties myself..." -- Jondell R. Montgomery, Long Beach, 2006