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Preview: Celtics at Bobcats

Tonight's Matchup
	vs.
4-6	Record	2-8
103.8	PPG	91.6
101.3	PPGA	98.3
45.6	FG%	43.9
44.3	Opp. FG%	41.2
43.9	Rebounds	42.0
21.2	Assists	20.1
16.1	Turnovers	18.0
6.4	Steals	7.4
5.6	Blocks	5.6
1-0	Season Series	1-0

Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Charlotte Bobcats Arena, 7:00 PM
TV: Fox Sports Net New England
RADIO: WRKO 680 AM

After a rough 1-6 start, the Celtics have ripped off three straight wins and look for four in a row when they visit the Bobcats in Charlotte tonight. The C's knocked off the Bobcats in overtime 110-108 at the TD Banknorth Garden on November 8 in the first of four regular season match-ups.

The Bobcats (2-8) have won just two games, but they have been competitive most every night they've taken the floor. And their two victories were against top shelf opponents, as the Bobcats beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in Charlotte and defeated the Spurs in San Antonio.

On the injury front, both Kendrick Perkins and Delonte West are questionable for tonight's game, and there's a chance that Al Jefferson could play for the first time since November 4 against Washington. Jefferson traveled with the team to Charlotte and will likely be a gametime decision.

Since the Celtics last met the Bobcats, Adam Morrison has moved into the starting lineup for Charlotte, and his he's starting to emerge as the Bobcats go-to guy and his minutes have picked up significantly. He had two strong road games last week against the Hornets and Spurs, but struggled in his last two outings as the Bobcats lost. Emeka Okafor has also been a force for Charlotte around the basket, as he's averaging 20.1 PPG and 12 RPG and a ridiculous league-leading 4.1 BPG. He had a huge game against the Celtics (28 points, 18 rebounds and 2 blocks) and is coming off an impressive 22 point, 13-rebound and 8-block game in the losing effort against the Mavericks.

Despite the efforts of Okafor and Morrison, the Bobcats have problems closing out games, something Doc Rivers can relate to as his own team came out of the gates slowly this season.

"Every game they have is close. They just don?t have the ability to hold on to games," said Celtics Coach Doc Rivers. "They've had several games where they've had leads and lost them down the stretch. They're really close to being a good basketball team and they are dangerous."

Paul Pierce knows that the Celtics need to be ready, regardless of what the standings might say.

"They won two games, they're still a scary team. I watched them last night against Dallas, they still had a chance to win [at the end], they beat San Antonio in San Antonio," Pierce said. "When you play against teams that are hungry for wins, those are the teams you've got to get up for the most."