Big Al Returns to Boston

The Utah Jazz come to Boston tonight and will be looking to knock off the Eastern Conference leading Celtics. The two key matchups to keep an eye on are former Celtics' star Al Jefferson taking on Shaq in the paint, and point guard superstars Deron Williams and Rajon Rondo going at it. While I expect both of these matchups to lead to some great plays and quality basketball, neither Rondo nor Shaq need to dominate their man for the Celtics to win tonight, and since Williams and Big Al are both all star caliber players don't expect Rondo and Shaq to be able to take over this game they way they did in the fourth quarter against Detroit. While Rondo should be able to get his typical double digit assists and hopefully keep Williams to a reasonable number of points, it will be the original Big Three that make the difference in this one, so long as Rondo and Shaq reasonably contain Utah's two star players.

Before the season began, Utah was one of the five teams I mentioned as a team to watch out for, and they have played very well on their way to a 27-15 record. However, they have also proved to be inconsistent, and find ways to lose games they have no business losing such as when they lost to the New Jersey Nets on Wednesday night. They are capable of playing good defense, but also collapse at times the way Charlotte's defense does and did against the C's, and Boston's Big Three should be able to take advantage, as well as Glen Davis and Boston's second unit who will be running all over Utah's bench. Starting wingmen Andrei Kirilenko, who was once considered a very good defender many seasons ago, and Raja Bell will not be able to respectively contain Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, and look for Ray to rebound from his poor shooting night against the Pistons while Bell continuously gets picked and loses his man. I would not be surprised to see Utah do a ton of switching on defense that results in Williams sticking with Ray since Bell will not be able to. KG will have his hands full with the energetic and hard-nosed Frenchman Paul Millsap, but should be able to expose Millsap's weaknesses and put up some points or get him into early foul trouble. It will be interesting watching Garnett and Jefferson battling in the paint, the two guys who were traded for each other a few seasons ago just before the Celtics went from worst to first. Jefferson will be looking to prove to Ainge and the Celtics that he can play big and still control the paint against the best of them, even guys like Shaq and KG. Though Big Al does have games where he almost disappears and lets Deron Williams do all the work for Utah, tonight will not be one of them.

Diesel Fuels a Boston Comeback

The reason I stressed the importance of putting the Pistons down early is because they feed off of momentum, especially when they're motivated to beat a superior team like the Celtics. Since the C's played casually and without energy for the first three quarters of the game, Detroit kept the game close and actually had an 8 point lead in the fourth quarter. Luckily the Celtics are resilient, and finally showed signs of life in the fourth, sparked by Shaq's hustle on his way to Boston's only double-double in the game. Paul Pierce had a relatively quiet 22 points, but he and Rondo kept the Celtics in it while a 15-27 Pistons' team played hard and appeared to be the better team on the floor for much of the game. However, Shaq's offensive rebounding and dives for loose balls turned the game around in the fourth, as the Celtics had their best quarter with 28 points and Ray Allen made a very clutch long jump shot after a timeout to put the game away after shooting just 1-7 from the field prior to the shot. Had the Celtics just played harder from the start, they would not have had to rely on a fourth quarter comeback and 38 year old Shaq diving to the floor and putting his health on the line in order to beat this mediocre Pistons' team. Perhaps the only guy playing with any energy last night aside from Shaq was his backup, rookie Semih Erden.

Erden may have dropped a pass or two that would have led to easy buckets, but he did manage to pull in four big rebounds and score 6 points on 3-4 shooting in just 17 minutes played. Also, his one miss was a bounding hook shot in which two Pistons were hanging off of him, but the refs refused to call a foul on the play. There is no denying that even though there may be better athletes in the NBA, very few of them have the energy, basketball IQ, and ability to control the paint that Erden does. He loves to contest every shot he can get his hands near, which results in a lot of opposing misses, and Erden boxes out his man, gets rebounds, and throws quick outlet passes to his guards which lead to fast breaks against defenses that are caught off guard. In his 17 minutes, Erden not only managed to score some points and pull down some boards, but also got a block, an assist, and a team high plus/minus rating of +9. The Turkish rookie does all the little things right, and I still love seeing him get opportunities to get on the court.

Give some credit to the Pistons. Even though the Celtics were lacking the energy that typically gets them wins, Rodney Stuckey and Greg Monroe were making some big shots for them, and were truly the difference makers for their team. Tracy McGrady also had a consistent presence on the court with 7 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 steals, but shot just 2-9 from the field. His missed jumpers opened the door for the Celtics' comeback, and had he shot better like he did when they faced off in Detroit three weeks ago, the Pistons probably would have won this game. Detroit played some tight defense in order to hold Boston's high powered offense to just 86 points, and were doing a lot of switching on defense in order to keep Ray Allen from having any open jump shots. Luckily for the Celtics, the Pistons continued to keep their leader and sharp shooter Rip Hamilton benched for this game, even though the Carmelo Anthony trade has allegedly fallen through, which means that Hamilton has missed five consecutive games for no genuine reason. Pistons' coach John Kuester could sure use a lesson from Doc Rivers about the importance of team chemistry.

Out For Revenge

When the Celtics and Pistons faced off in Detroit three weeks ago, Kevin Garnett left the game with a calf injury and the Pistons went on to win against a deflated Celtics' team. The Pistons tend to play some of their best basketball against the Celtics, as last time around former NBA star Tracy McGrady was making clutch jumpers like the Tracy McGrady of old, and point guard Rodney Stuckey was running the offense for them very effectively. Also, big man Charlie Villanueva, who had that "cancer patient" dispute with KG earlier this season, loves to knock down long jumpers, so the Celtics need to make sure they get off to a fast start and put the Pistons down big early on in the game. This Detroit team is struggling right now, despite coming off a win against the slumping Dallas Mavericks on Monday, and has a miserable 4-17 record on the road while the Celtics have a 19-3 record at home and are looking for their fourth consecutive win. Garnett will be out to seek revenge for the injury that the Pistons gave him which caused him to miss nine games, and look for him to energize the Celtics, help Boston put up a lot of points in the first half, and lead a defense that needs to clamp down early on the inconsistent Detroit offense. They are capable of playing the playoff worthy basketball that Detroit used to always play, but lack consistency and leadership, and will implode if Boston can put them down big early on.

Boston should have no major issues in running their offense effectively tonight, as Rondo, Shaq, and the Big Three should all have ample opportunity to score against a Detroit defense that can be easily be penetrated and broken down to the point where they essentially stop contesting shots. Part of the reason for this is that longtime Detroit scorer Rip Hamilton has been getting benched every game recently while the Pistons prepare to trade him as part of the three team deal that would supposedly send Carmelo Anthony to the Nets. Hamilton and his teammates have expressed great frustration with their coach over this matter. Also, Detroit is not as athletic as they used to be, and typically don't get the huge blocks and clutch steals that were associated with Pistons' defense during their reign as the beasts of the Eastern Conference. Boston should be able to penetrate them with relative ease on offense, while clamping down and sucking the life out of them on defense. If you can get a lead on the Pistons early, then McGrady, Stuckey, and Villanueva won't make the big shots that keep Detroit in the game like they did three weeks ago when the Celtics lost Garnett, and then played sloppy basketball for the rest of the game. Boston should have a very well rounded attack on offense, and expect a ton of open threes from Ray Allen and a bunch of strong drives to the hoop from Paul Pierce. Also, the Celtics need to limit the impact that rookie center Greg Monroe makes on the game for the Pistons.

The Pistons only recently moved Monroe into their starting lineup, and the athletic rookie big man has proved he can be a huge difference maker with his size, athleticism, defense, and rebounding. Having KG back will be huge for the Celtics on the boards, but Monroe is great at hunting down offensive rebounds and finishing the play with an easy bucket. The Pistons are still relatively easy to stop, especially when they're on the road, and clamping down on them early should get Boston the win tonight. Also, no matter how effective Monroe proves to be on offense, Shaq and Garnett should have no problem getting underneath him for easy buckets and trips to the foul line when he's on defense, as this athletic rookie will not be able to stop the very big and very strong all star pair of big men in Boston's starting lineup.

The Bobcats Got Shaq-Attacked

When I said the Celtics were going to have to dig deep to pull out a win tonight, I was expecting a lot of hustling, tough play, and clutch performances from guys like Semih Erden, Luke Harangody, and Marquis Daniels. However, with Semih's nagging groin injury and early foul trouble due to some ambiguous fouls called by the referees, Shaquille O'Neal wound up logging a season high 35 minutes on the court and promptly punished the Bobcats' weak interior defense with 23 points. Shaq also grabbed 5 rebounds in the game, as well as a season high 5 blocks. Kwame Brown and the Bobcats had no answer for O'Neal's size, as Rondo penetrated all game long and was always looking to find Shaq down low for an easy bucket or alley-oop. Rondo played extremely well on offense, as he not only worked his usual dribble, drive, and dish moves, but made some key jump shots as well. Rajon finished the game with 18 points and 13 assists.

The Celtics played tough defense and pulled out a 99-94 point victory despite getting outrebounded 42-29. Boston's field goal percentage and eight three point shots made up for the lost rebounds, while Rondo and Shaq led them to an offensive attack that also featured 19 points each from Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. Luckily the banged up Celtics have a couple days off before they square off on Monday against Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic. We'll all be holding our breath for the good news that KG will return for the game, but if not, Shaq is going to have to come up big again and stay out of foul trouble against his Howard, his younger nemesis. Hopefully Semih's groin will be feeling a little better by then so he can get back on the court with the energy he usually brings to the floor, and help the Celtics to continue playing tight constricting defense with frequent offensive onslaughts led by Pierce, Allen, and Rondo. Also, despite their off game tonight, I still believe the Celtics' bench is one of the most dangerous in the NBA, and luckily there is almost always somebody there to pick up the slack for the Celtics spark them to a win. Tonight, Shaq came up big for them, and was playing more like a 28 year old than a 38 year old. With KG, Perk, and Delonte West all on the way back from injury, this Celtics team is only going to keep getting better.

Can They Quiet the Critics?

After consecutive losses to the Bulls and Rockets, the Celtics are taking a lot of heat about not being the championship caliber team everyone thought they'd be at the beginning of the season. Doc Rivers tore into the starters for their uninspired play and apathetic defense after Monday's loss to Houston, and hopefully this inspires them to come out tonight with more energy, and put a beating on the lowly Sacramento Kings in the process. KG is doubtful for the game, but if he does make his comeback tonight, then Doc's harsh words will not be the only thing inspiring the Celtics to show more energy than they have been showing in recent games. Whether or not he returns, Boston needs to play some tight defense, and run their usual offense which revolves around much more than just Big Baby's jump shot. Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, and Shaquille O'Neal should have a field day against Sacramento's inept defenders, as should Boston's second unit against Sacramento's inconsistent bench players. With the Kings losing a 136-133 shootout last night against the Washington Wizards in a game where neither team showed any interest in playing defense, Rondo and the Celtics should be able to pick the Kings apart.

Tyreke Evans is also doubtful for this game, though if he does return from his ankle injury tonight, this will be a big boost for Sacramento's offense as players like Francisco Garcia, Beno Udrih, and DeMarcus Cousins have had to step it up in the absence of Evans, their leading scorer. If Evans doesn't play, Rondo should be able to exploit his explosive tendencies of dribbling, driving, and dishing out assists to tear into the Sacramento's lazy defense. Both Ray Allen and Paul Pierce should have no problem getting good looks both from downtown and inside the paint against defenders who simply cannot guard Boston's all-star wing men. Wizards' shooting guard Nick Young scored 43 points and dropped seven three pointers on Sacramento last night, and unless they try something new on defense, Ray Allen should be able to have a similar night tonight. Also, the young players such as Jason Thompson and DeMarcus Cousins that the Kings use as their starting big men will get outplayed and outmuscled by larger and stronger veterans like Shaq, Jermaine O'Neal, and even Big Baby Davis as long as he uses his size instead of his jump shot as his primary means of scoring. The Celtics will have a mismatch at just about every position, and whether or not Kevin Garnett or Tyreke Evans are on the court tonight, the Celtics have a great opportunity against an inferior team to show Boston's critics that they are still playoff bound, and do not need any dramatic changes to their roster.

What the Celtics need to watch out for is their own attitude on the court, because if they continue to play lethargically on defense and fail to run plays and set picks on offense, Sacramento could surprise them with a scoring surge like the 43 point one they had in the 4th quarter against Washington last night, which sent the game into overtime. They have some young and very athletic play makers, and if the Celtics don't show up on defense, guys like Garcia, Udrih, Eugene Jeter, and Carl Landry could make them pay. Assuming Garnett sits out again tonight, Harangody will need to box out and contain Landry, Sacramento's backup power forward, who scored 23 points last night and should probably be starting for this 8-27 team. Other than Luke's matchup, the Celtics have the edge just about everywhere else, and the only way that they lose tonight is if they beat themselves like they did on Monday against the Rockets. Look for Rondo and Daniels to be the play makers and difference makers in this one, with big contributions from Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. The C's need a big win tonight to show they are still a playoff contender, as well as to silence the critics who think Boston needs some sort of a trade or to reacquire Rasheed Wallace if the Celtics want a legitimate shot at the playoffs.

The Return of KG?

When the Celtics were trumped by the Bulls 79-90 on Saturday night, nothing was more evident than the fact that the Celtics need Kevin Garnett back A.S.A.P. Not only did the Bulls outrebound the C's an embarrassing 48-27, but Big Baby could not handle Carlos Boozer who finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds, while no one could stop Derrick Rose from driving without sending him to the free throw line. Every time Rondo was picked, Rose either finished in the paint, with a short jump shot, or was sent to the free throw line where he scored 15 of his 36 points. The Celtics looked completely worn down playing their fifth game in seven days, and Glen Davis once again led them in shot attempts, most of which were just inside the three point line. For the Celtics to win games against playoff teams like the Bulls, they need to play Celtics' basketball the way they did the other night against San Antonio, and an offensive collapse like the one they suffered against Chicago was difficult to watch. I banked on Ray Allen having a big game because Keith Bogans would not be able to keep up with him through effective Celtics' picks, and this was clearly true in the first quarter as Ray dropped 10 of his 19 points including two three pointers. However, they later stopped running these plays, stopped setting picks, and ended up relying primarily on Big Baby's jump shot, which resulted in a measly 79 points and an ugly loss. Rondo, Ray, and the Celtics look to bounce back tonight when they take on the Houston Rockets in Boston.

Don't let their 16-21 record fool you. The Rockets have played surprisingly well this season despite losing Yao Ming early on to another injury, and can definitely beat quality teams if you let them hang around. Kevin Martin is an incredibly talented shooter, and is averaging over 23 points per game this season, while Luis Scola continues to be a very solid big man who can come through in clutch situations with his ability to score in the low post, his consistent rebounding, and his hardnosed defense. Big Baby will definitely have his hands full once again tonight against Scola, which is why I sincerely hope that Kevin Garnett makes his return tonight. KG plans on returning sometime this week, and hopefully it is tonight so that he can lead the Celtics to a bounce back win and help ensure that they do not suffer another loss to a team that is just not as talented as they are. Paul Pierce will likely have a difficult time against defensive specialist Shane Battier, but Rondo should be able to take over this game against opposing point guard Kyle Lowry who has just six points and a -25 plus/minus rating in his last two games. Rondo should be back in stride with his typical 15-or-so assists, especially if Garnett is back to energize the team on the boards and down the stretch.

What I fail to understand about the Houston Rockets is why Jordan Hill is starting at center for them instead of Brad Miller. Yao Ming is obviously a huge part of their team, but he goes down every year to various foot and leg injuries. With the 7'6 monster sidelined once again this season, the Rockets' offseason acquisition of 7'0 veteran center Brad Miller seemed to be a match made in basketball heaven. However, even with Yao injured, they continue to use Miller off the bench, and are instead starting an undersized Jordan Hill at center. Assuming they continue this strategy tonight against the Celtics, Rondo will exploit this matchup of big men such as Shaq and Jermaine O'Neal who can easily post-up and outmuscle Hill. Also, Houston has a decent bench with guys who can score in bunches such as Chase Buddinger and Courtney Lee, but their bench's defense is less than stellar, and that will be exposed tonight by Boston's explosive backups. If Garnett returns tonight, the Celtics will absolutely come away with a win. If he does not, the Celtics need Rondo to quarterback their offense so that jumpers from Big Baby Davis are not their primary means of scoring, and they need to play with more energy so they don't get run all over the court by Martin, Scola, and a younger Rockets' team. After many close games against quality teams in the Western Conference, Houston may be better than their record indicates, but they are by no means better than the Boston Celtics.

Whole Team Effort

Rondo's triple-double helped fuel the Celtics to a huge win against the Spurs on Wednesday night, as many of the Celtics played incredibly well to knock off the top team in the Western Conference. Ray Allen and Glen Davis made most of their jump shots and largely contributed to Rondo's 22 assists, and all of the Celtics helped crash the boards to make up for lost production since the loss of Kevin Garnett. Ray Allen's 31 points exposed the Spurs' inability to handle simple picks, and his jumpers punished them for it as he knocked down 13 of his 16 shots from the field. Nate Robinson finally had a haircut and was playing better than he has for the last couple of weeks, and contributed some key jump shots while filling in for Rondo and pulled down five big rebounds. The Celtics look to push their new win streak to four when they take on Toronto tonight, in a matchup that heavily favors Boston.

.

The Celtics need another full team effort tonight in terms of rebounding, as once again on Wednesday Big Baby Davis and Shaquille O'Neal could not get it done on the boards, pulling in only three combined rebounds between the two starting big men. Rebounds from more unlikely smaller guys such as Rondo, Nate, and Paul Pierce are the reason that Boston did not get massacred on the boards for the third consecutive game, and this energy is what they need to come out on top against quality basketball teams while Garnett recovers from injury. Luckily the Celtics match up very well against the Raptors tonight, who still came up very short against Boston the last time they faced off despite an impressive 27 point showing from DeMar DeRozan. It will be interesting to watch the matchup between DeRozan and Ray Allen, who both played much better offensively than defensively last time they faced off.

And while Andrea Bargnani may be back for the Raptors, and led them to a win Wednesday night against Cleveland, Rondo is also back for the Celtics. He played against Toronto when the Celtics defeated them on January 2nd, but did not yet appear comfortable with his ankle. With 22 assists, 6 steals, and a triple-double against Tony Parker and the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, Rondo now seems incredibly comfortable with his ankle, and will be looking to add another 15 or so assists to his season total. Look for Rondo to expose the Raptors' weakness on the inside, and for him to lead the Celtics to another victory. Players such as DeRozan and Jose Calderon are capable of putting together huge offensive nights, but as long as the Celtics can keep it close on the boards, and that three point shooting center Andrea Bargnani continues to be the Raptors' leading scorer, the Celtics should absolutely be able to win this game.