Celtics Look to Quiet Jazz
 | VS. |  |
| 11-14 |
Record |
11-14 |
| 96.6 |
PPG |
100.8 |
| 98.8 |
PPGA |
104.7 |
| 46.0 |
FG% |
43.8 |
| 45.3 |
Opp. FG% |
49.2 |
| 39.6 |
Rebounds |
38.8 |
| 20.9 |
Assists |
20.4 |
| 17.0 |
Turnovers |
14.3 |
| 6.9 |
Steals |
8.4 |
| 6.0 |
Blocks |
3.0 |
| 0-1 |
Season Series |
1-0 |
Monday, December 26, 2005
At KeyArena, 10:00 PM
TV: Fox Sports Net New England
Radio: WRKO 680 AM
The Celtics are coming off their first pair of back-to-back wins, and playing probably their best basketball of the season as they head to the West Coast for a five-game road swing. Exacting revenge on the Seattle Supersonics is the first order of business.
| POINT GUARD |
| |
| Delonte West had his hands full in the the last matchup with Luke Ridnour, and he''ll be looking to slow the Sonics playmaker down and not allow another 15-point, 13-assist performance like the one he dropped on the C's in the first matchup this year at the Garden. Ridnour likes to force the tempo and the Sonics tend to play a wide-open style, so he can hurt you with his passing or his shooting. He's also second in the league at the free throw line (.944) so he's the last guy you want to foul. Ridnour isn't noted for his man-to-man defensive abilities (but he does fill the passing lane to pick off balls) so West should be able to get his own offense if he wants it. |
| SHOOTING GUARD |
|  | Ray Allen
Points: 24.4
Rebounds: 4.3
Assists: 3.8 |
|
| Ray Allen had a huge game in Boston, dropping 32 points at the Garden to help the Sonics pull away. One of the most deadly shooters in recent NBA history, Allen ignites quickly and scores in bunches, esepcially if you forget about him behind the arc -- he leads the NBA in three-point attempts and is hitting threes at 42%. Ricky Davis needs to stay with Allen (and Paul Pierce may see some time against him as well), especially in the fourth quarter, because he tends to hit backbreaking nail-in-the-coffin shots that cap gamewinning runs. That said, Allen is another guy who hasn't made his name on the defensive end, so Davis should have some room to operate. |
| SMALL FORWARD |
| |
| Rashard Lewis is one of the biggest quick forwards in the league, and given his considerable athleticism, he's generally a match-up nightmare because he has all of the tools on the offensive end. He's a surprisingly good shooter for a 6'10" guy, but like his mates, he's not a defensive stopper (he's had the "soft" rep for a while now) and Pierce should be able to get to the line against him. |
| POWER FORWARD |
| |
| Reggie Evans is in the lineup to give the Sonics a little muscle in the rebounding department, since they're not one of the better glass teams in the league. You wont see the Sonics call any plays for this guy, but he's one of those guys who doesn't give up on a play, and has something of a nasty streak in him. The Celtics will likely look to Mark Blount to start knocking down his 17' jumper in the early stages to force the Sonics to either go to a quicker guy or take their chances. |
| CENTER |
| |
| Remember our old buddy Vitaly Potapenko? He's been starting for the Sonics as of late as they look to toughen up down low, and while Vitaly certainly brings that element, he's still a limited player on the offensive end aside from a few post moves he occasionally dusts off when given the chance. Perkins should have the advantage here on the glass, but with Evans in the game as well, rebounding will have to be a team effort. |
| BENCH |
| |
| Nick Collison is effective in the post when he has a clear mismatch, and that may be why he's been coming off the bench. He's also an energy guy who can even steal a Tommy Point once in a while. He'll likely be the first one of the bench for the Sonics. Meanwhile, Al Jefferson will need to be active on the boards for the Celtics to win tonight. Since Seattle has been going with a bigger lineup, Jefferson and company will really have to battle down low to control the game in the paint. |
Compiled by Peter Stringer
