Gino's Jungle

Instead of doing a boring preview to Game 2 like you will probably find on many others sites I decided to put together a short and simple list of keys to a Celtics Game 2 victory. I'm not going to try to claim that I'm a basketball analyst, but having watched this team all year I believe I have a good idea as to what they need to do to be succesful. So without further ado here they are in no specific order.

#1 - Celtics need to want revenge

After dropping Game 1 of the NBA Finals the Celtics have to come out wanting to draw blood. They have to realize the importance of the game and they need to go out there and prove that they really want it. They are playing against the team that STOLE their championship crown and they now have the chance to win it back. Four wins is all it takes and it starts with getting this first one tomorrow night in L.A.

#2 - Get Ray Allen involved in the offense

In this series against the Lakers, Ray Allen has the almost impossible task of stopping Kobe Bryant. In Game 1 of the series the defensive side of things clearly took away from Ray's offensive output. He was forced into foul trouble early and really couldn't establish a good rythmn. The good news is that Game 1 is now put behind us. The fouls have been reset and Ray now has another chance to shine in L.A. We saw what he did in 2008 and we know what he can do when he's in a rythmn. Now it's just time to really get him involved in the offense and give him a chance to shine. If the Celtics can establish him from behind the arc early in the game it will help to spread out the floor and allow other Celtics players to be effective offensively.

#3 - Don't let the Lakers have anything easy

In Game 1 of the series the Celtics allowed the Lakers to score points way too easy. Whether it was an easy putback after an offensive rebound, a fast break dunk (I can count a couple), or a non-contested jumper the Lakers scored a lot of points that could have been prevented. There is no room for only 23 seconds of good defense each time down the court. This is the NBA Finals and the Celtics need to make sure that they play 24 seconds of defense everytime down the court. This, combined with a few less turnovers, will help to ensure the Lakers earn every single one of their points.

#4 - Let them know early that we are still the more physical team

Going into the series there was a lot of talk about how the Celtics were a much more physical team than the Lakers. The stats in Game 1 show that it was the complete opposite. In Game 2 the Celtics will need to let the Lakers know that they are still the more physical team. They can do this by being aggresive for rebounds, banging up their bigs a little down low (even if it means getting a few fouls), and putting a body on guys who enter the lane. If the Celtics can do all of these things a little better than they did in Game 1 you will notice a huge difference. Not to mention that it could help get into the Lakers heads and mess up their rythmn that they have after a victory.

#5 - Hit the big shots

Sometimes shots just will not go down and that was the case in Game 1. Everytime the Celtics had the chance to hit the big three point shot they failed. Early in the game only trailing by one or two they had multiple chances to hit a big three and shift the momentum. In the playoffs momentum is huge and you can argue that if they made a few of these big shots it would have been a totally different game. The good news for C's fans is that it really can't get any worse than the 1 for 10 performance from beyond the arc in Game 1.

#6 Don't be afraid to experiment

This is the NBA Finals and I'm sure a lot of people would argue that this is not the time to be messing around with lineups. For the most part I agree, but if the Celtics get out to a slow start Doc Rivers can't be afraid to try something different. Throw Rasheed in there for KG if it is working, throw Shelden in there in hopes to get more physical, or throw Nate in there in hopes of a offensive spark. You can't just sit there and expect that what you have out there will suddenly start working. Again, if the Celtics jump out to a quick lead you can ignore this key. But if they get down 8-10 early on it is worth doing some experimenting.

Final Thoughts

And there you have it. The recipe for success in Game 2 of the NBA Finals has been written. After the game on Sunday be sure to check back here to see how well the Celtics faired on each of these keys. If they did well on most of them and won the game then be sure to let me know. It will help boost my ego higher than it is already. Enjoy the game and Beat L.A!!!

We are less than twenty-four hours away from a Celtics-Lakers NBA Finals and I can feel the anticipation. I found myself pacing on multiple occasions today and doing a lot of zoning off thinking about the Finals. If you are like me, right now you are probably trying to get a big dose of NBA Finals news and opinions. With that being said, today I sat down with Rey Moralde from The No-Look Pass and got his opinons on the Finals. In return I also answered some questions for Rey.

GJ: So far this post season it is safe to say that the Lakers have not been matched up against a team with as good of defense as the Celtics. Is this something that worries you?

Rey: Yes. The Celtic defense has been as good as any team I've seen. Probably the best since... well, the 2008 version of this team. Not only did they defend and beat these guys, they pulverized them. The Cavs and the Magic? They didn't look anything like I've seen them all year. It's easy to point at the Celtics defense as the culprit for all their offensive problems. And with the Lakers' penchant of chucking up jumpers, it really doesn't bode well for L.A.

GJ:  From a Celtics standpoint I struggle to figure out who on the Lakers has the ability to guard Rajon Rondo. In your mind what will the Lakers throw at him in hopes to contain him?

Rey:  They'll throw everyone including Jeanie Buss at him. But for real, I expect to see Kobe Bryant and Ron Artest take turns guarding him. Jordan Farmar will probably be used as well due to his speed but Farmar's never been confused as an all-defensive first-teamer. I also expect the Lakers to treat Rondo like how the Lakers treated Steve Nash in the previous round; make Rondo a scorer instead of a playmaker. 

GJ: I heard recently that Andrew Bynum had to once again get his knee drained, how important is it that the Lakers have Bynum healthy?

Rey: Very important. The Lakers need all the big bodies they can throw at Boston. Boston may not be as lengthy but they're physical as hell and they'll wear you down. Kendrick Perkins is a bull. Rasheed Wallace is crafty. Big Baby is... big. And Bynum's the most physical out of all the Lakers. If Bynum can't perform, all the onus will fall on Pau Gasol... and that's not a very comforting thought if you're a Laker fan.

GJ:One of the things that is talked about a lot in this matchup is the benches. On the Lakers side you have Lamar Odom, Jordan Farmar, and Sasha Vujacic. To go up against that the Celtics have Tony Allen, Rasheed Wallace, Glen Davis, and Nate Robinson. What side would you give the advantage to in the battle of the benches?

Rey: Lamar Odom usually covers up the deficiencies of the bench but if we see the Farmar and Sasha of 2008... then that would be awesome. But it goes like this: the Lakers have a star player on the bench while the Celtics have a deeper bench. And that bench is arguably deeper than 2008's team. If Odom shows up and gives the Lakers a double-double then that's good enough for L.A. If Sasha, Farmar, and Shannon Brown make contributions, the Lakers win the battle. But I expect the Celtics bench to come through more often than not.

GJ: In Phil Jackson's career he is 45-0 after his team wins Game 1. How important is it for the Lakers to come out and take Game 1 on their home court?

Rey: They need Game 1 badly. Get it in their head that the Lakers CAN beat the Celtics. L.A. beat Boston three of the last four times in regular-season play... but that's regular-season play. Everyone turns it up on the Finals. But if the Celtics go up, 1-0, then that cloud of doubt will go into the Lakers' heads. The Celtics aren't afraid of the Lakers. The Lakers have wanted the Celtics for two years... but do they still fear them? Game 1 is HUGE for L.A.

PREDICTION: The analyst in me says Boston in six. But then I would get killed in Los Angeles. Everyone knows where my heart is. If picking the Lakers is nonsensical then so be it. I'd rather be wrong

Rey's Questions for me:

1. Tell me how awesome your defense has been. Is this on par as the 2008 Boston team?

The defense has gotten us to where we are today. When this team allows under 90 points they are unbeatable and the numbers prove that. The one thing that seprates this year's team defensively from the 2008 team is that they still have struggled to play this great defense consistently. If you look at the games they have lost during the post season you will notice that they have allowed over 90 points in all six losses and over 100 points in all but one of those losses. Just like the NBA commercial says: It's all about the defense.

2. Well, L.A. is here. Don't lie to me. Does it make that much more special if your boys beat the Lakers?

Of course it does. There is nothing like beating your biggest rivals for the league's top prize. With the two teams winning the championship once each during the past two seasons it makes it even more special. This series will put all the questions aside. There will be no more asking, "What if KG was healthy?" Or "What if Bynum was healthy?" Both teams are beaten up, but still ready to go. It's the playoffs, the time when the boys are seprated from the men.

3. I know it's natural for you to hate the Lakers being from Boston. But when did this all start for you?

With me being not even 20 years old yet I was not around to see the days of Bird vs. Magic so that's a difficult question for me. I guess the simple answer would be to say the hatred started as soon as I came out of the womb and started being raised by a family that bleeds Boston sports. With the Celtics struggles during the 90's and early 2000's I really never got a chance to really hate the Lakers. 2008 definetly gave me that chance. After all, how can you like a team with Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Ron Artest, and.....THE MACHINE?

4. All right. Give me a few keys to beat the Lakers.

Defense, defense, and ummm defense. I've said it since day one and I'll continue to say it. No matter what kind of offensive flow this team has on a given night, if the defense is at top form they will be very hard to beat. Ray Allen has to step up defensively against Kobe and the guys coming off the bench (Tony Allen) also have to do a good job in limiting his production. From the offensive standpoint I am also going to be looking at Ray Allen to be the difference maker. You can talk about Rondo and Pierce all you want but if you look back to the 2008 Finals Ray Allen was the one that came through. When he is stroking it from behind the arc, 9 times out of 10 the entire Celtics offense will be clicking.

5. There's no need for predictions. We all know how badly you want to beat L.A. So any final words to everyone out there. Boston. Los Angeles. The NBA. Me. Whoever you want.

Well let's go down the list here starting with Boston. Boston fans this is our time, this is what this city and it's fans live for. We live for hanging championship banners. We live for making the TD Garden a jungle. And we live for throwing awesome championship parades. So whether your watching from the Garden, a bar, or at home I expect you to be unable to talk following each and every game of the NBA Finals.

Now onto Hollywood's finest. Enjoy your time in the spotlight. This starting lineup has never been beaten in the playoffs and it will stay that way. Appreciate the fact you have the privlige to play against the most storied franchise in the history of the NBA. Enjoy the series and good luck.

Words for the NBA... hmmmm... well I guess all I have to say is enjoy all the money your making off this series.

And to you Rey... Thanks for being a respectable Lakers fan, there's very few out there. You're a Lakers fan, though. So I still can't like you. Enjoy the series and I'll send you some pictures from the Celtics championship parade to put on TNLP.

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Series Schedule

Game 1 - Sunday, May 16 - Boston at Orlando - 3:30 p.m. (ABC)

Game 2 - Tuesday, May 18 - Boston at Orlando - 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Game 3 - Saturday, May 22 - Orlando at Boston - 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Game 4 - Monday - May 24 - Orlando at Boston - 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Game 5 - Wednesday - May 26 - Boston at Orlando - 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Game 6 - Friday - May 28 - Orlando at Boston - 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Game 7 - Sunday - May 30 - Boston at Orlando - 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Earlier today I recieved an email from Andrew Melnick, lead blogger at Howard The Dunk, in regards to doing a Q & A swap about the upcoming series between the Celtics and Magic. I figured there is no better way to give our readers insight on the Celtics next opponent than from a guy who covered the Magic all year, so I accepted the offer. After exchanging emails here is what we came up with.

Questions for Andrew:

Brandon: For the first two rounds of the playoffs the Magic really haven't gone up against a big man that can match up with Dwight Howard. Are you worried about this now that he will be going up against one of the most physical big men in the league in Kendrick Perkins?

Andrew: The Bobcats were able to throw a few Centers with good defensive skills at Howard so he’s had a somewhat of a test, but you’re right, none of those guys are the kind of defender that Perkins is. It’s a little worrisome because Perkins and backup Rasheed Wallace are guys that have traditionally had some success in defending and frustrating Howard.

What Howard really needs to do is avoid that frustration and stay out of foul trouble. In other words, he needs to stay on the court. The Magic were able to sweep the Bobcats without getting much production from Howard but the Celtics are a different animal. Howard doesn’t necessarily have to stay on the floor for scoring purposes. The Magic have had success against the Celtics when Howard’s scoring has been limited, but they absolutely have to have Howard in the game to free up their shooters, be a force on the glass and a dominating presence on the inside.

It would also not surprise me to see backup Center Marcin Gortat get time at the Four to counter Boston’s size. It worked well against the Celtics earlier this season.

Brandon: Everyone around the league has been amazed at the constant improvement from Rajon Rondo, how do you feel he will matchup against Jameer Nelson, who has also been terrific in the playoffs so far?

Andrew: This matchup is going to be a lot of fun. Despite both players making the All-Star team (Rondo this season and Nelson last season), it seems like both players have been undervalued by the basketball community. Both players are finally getting their due with outstanding playoff performances in 2010 and are currently playing at the highest levels of their careers.

This is obviously going to be a difficult matchup for each player defensively and I think each player is going to get the best of the other one on the offensive end. Defensively, I think Nelson and the Magic will do what the Magic did with Rafer Alston last year – play off Rondo and try to prevent him from getting into the paint in an attempt to make Rondo beat them with their jumper. The Magic don’t want Rondo setting up the Celtics’ bigs with easy jumpers or kicking the ball out to their shooters. The same can be said for the Celtics, who know they can’t win if Orlando is consistently getting open looks from beyond the arc. The Magic will try to take advantage of Rondo with the pick-and-roll and Rondo will have to defend the play better.

Brandon: Does the fact that the Magic have not lost a game in the playoffs worry you?

Andrew: It’s something you think about but like Magic Head Coach Stan Van Gundy said, “What are we supposed to do, lose on purpose?” It’s pretty much inevitable the Magic are going to lose a game somewhere along the line and when they do, they should have the mental capacity to bounce back. Although the Magic do have a much different team this season, plenty of these players were on last year’s team that lost four times on buzzer beaters during the 2009 postseason and rallied from a 2-1 series deficit in the First Round against Philadelphia and a 3-2 deficit in the Eastern Conference Semifinals against Boston.

I don’t think we have to worry about the Magic being overconfident either. They know how good the Celtics are.

Brandon: What have you noticed about Vince Carters progression since he arrived in Orlando? Should we be worried or will he help out the Celtics by trying to be a one man show?

Andrew: Vince Carter went through the worst month of his career in January and wasn’t playing as well he should before then either. He was taking too many inefficient shots and making some poor decisions with the ball in his hands. Since February 1st, it’s been a different Carter. He’s taking better shots and working harder on both ends of the court. His shooting percentage is way up and he has done a better job of getting his teammates involved.

I think Carter was trying to do too much and at times was trying to be a one-man show. Since then, he’s relaxed and learned how to play with a team as good as Orlando. For the first time in his career, he doesn’t have to be “the man.” He has teammates that are more than capable of getting the job done. He’s become much less concerned with his numbers and more concerned with the success of the team.

That’s not to say that Carter can’t still take over a game (see his 48-point performance against New Orleans or his huge second half performance in a tight Game 2 against the Hawks), he just can’t do it nearly as often, but he doesn’t need to.

Carter just needs to play smart – get his teammates involved, slash to the basket and knock down his open looks. Despite some of the more interesting matchups in this series, Carter may be the key for the Magic. I’m not sure the Celtics can contain him if he is in “attack-mode,” driving to the basket and getting good looks for himself and setting up his teammates with good looks. If Carter plays like that, then yes, the Celtics should be worried.

Brandon: Has there been any memo to Magic fans to make sure that kids stay off the sidelines when Big Baby is in the game?

Andrew: I’m not sure that memo will be nearly as important now that Garnett is back. I don’t think we’ll see the ball in the hands of Big Baby for the last shot again.

Brandon: What's your predicition?

Andrew: I expect this series to go down to the wire. During the regular season, the Magic defeated the Celtics in three of their four meetings, but the average score was 88-87.

It wouldn’t surprise me to see either team win this series. It’s going to be another grind-it-out, defensive series with most of the scores staying in the low 90s. Both teams have solid depth, but if each team gets into foul trouble, I think the Magic are better prepared to handle it. I like the advantages Nelson and Carter can create for the Magic when they drive to the basket. I’ll take the Magic in seven.

Questions for Brandon:

Andrew: The Celtics went 27-27 in the final 54 games of the regular season and were left for dead by many in the media. How have the Celtics been able to turn it on in the postseason?

Brandon: I wish I honestly knew a straight forward answer to this. All season they were saying that they were just trying to prepare for when it really matters. Going into the playoffs they began to start getting healthy again and each individual has accepted their role for the better good of the team. We used this cliche' "flip the switch" all season long and now they have finally "flipped the switch" and are starting to look very similar to the team we saw in 2008.

Andrew: The Celtics' big men (especially Kendrick Perkins and Rasheed Wallace) historically been able to limit Dwight Howard and although Howard has played better this season, they Celtics have still held him to just 12.3 points per game in their four meetings. Considering Perkins has only played 18.0 minutes per game against the Magic this season, how have the Celtics been able to limit Howard on the offensive end? Can they keep it up?

Brandon: Although it's Perkins and Wallace that are ultimately guarding Howard it comes down to a total team effort. Just like with LeBron, the C's are going to have to work as a team to limit Howard. There is no doubt that he is the best center in the game today. Assistant coach Tom Thibodeau, a defensive specialist, will throw multiple strategies at Howard hoping to limit his effectiveness.

Another thing that helps with defending Howard is that the Celtics have one of the most physical big men in the league in Kendrick Perkins. Perkins can really rough up Howard down low and get him frustrated. The key this season and moving on in this series however will be getting Howard into foul trouble. He can't score if he's on the bench.

Andrew: The Magic were third in defensive rating and first in defensive field goal percentage. Boston has really struggled against good post defenses and Orlando has the best interior defender in the NBA. How are the Celtics going to attack Orlando’s defense?

Brandon: I think they will attack it the same way they have attacked defenses all season long. Since day one Doc has not altered his strategy and I don't think he plans on doing so eight games away from winning an NBA championship. Unlike with Charlotte and Atlanta the Celtics have a point guard who can completely take over a game without scoring a point. Like it has all season the offense will flow through Rondo.

 In transition and in a set offense the Celtics are much more successful when things start with Rondo. He can penetrate to open up players on the perimeter and he has great instinct in finding open big men down low for easy baskets. I also expect Doc to go to KG early in this series in hopes that he carries momentum over from the Cleveland series. If he can be as successful against Lewis as he was against Jamison it could be scary. We also have this guy named Paul Pierce who has the potential to take over a game if need be.

Andrew: The Celtics trapped LeBron James on Cleveland’s pick-and-roll but they will probably have to find a different way to contain the Magic when Jameer Nelson and Vince Carter run the play with Howard (and with each other for that matter). Is this a big concern for the Celtics?

Brandon: Not really. When it comes to defense in the playoffs I am 100% confident in the Celtics coaching staff. Following the Game 6 victory over Cleveland I am sure they are right back into the think of things watching film, breaking down Orlando's offense, etc.

 I am more worried about defending the perimeter and making sure Orlando does not catch fire from behind the arc. It is scary when you look at their lineup and see that 1-4 (even 5 in the all-star game) are all three point shooters. The key for the Celtics defensively will be to make sure they run all of the Magic shooters off the three point line. Otherwise it could get ugly quick.

Andrew: If the Celtics are going to win series, how are they going to do it and what are the keys?

Brandon: Keep doing what they are doing so far in the playoffs. In my opinion they matchup eye to eye with the Magic. Watching and analyzing this team all year I can tell you that the one key to success is limiting the Magic to under 90 points a game. When they do this their record is astonishing. Like the commercial says, it's all about the defense.

Andrew: What’s your prediction?

Brandon: If you asked me before the playoffs started, I'd probably say Magic in 5 or 6. Now that I have seen flashes of 2008 and have seen this team play to their potential I'm predicting Celtics in 6. I like our chances, the roller coaster is riding high right now in Boston.

Hello and welcome to the Daily Dip Section of Gino's Jungle. Here we take a look at the wide world of Celtics hoops and beyond to show love to those who are out there in the blogosphere really making an impact. My name is Brian Gray and I run the blog over at The Sixer Sense on the Fansided network. Enjoy the links and stories and to all of you out there, Happy Blogging!

Celtics Links

Pistons Help Celtics Make it 4 Out of 5-  Hardwood Houdini

Don't Expect Miracles Because Kevin Garnett's Back- North Station Sports

I Guess He Really Is A Big Baby- Celtics Blog

Do the C's Have the January, Pre-All Star Blues?- Red's Army

Rasheed Wallace Heard Cheers, Jeers in Motown Return- Celtics Town

New T-Shirt's Coming Soon- Loscy's Blog

Centering in on Kendrick Perkins- 4 Sport Boston

Notable Blogs

Consistency: Name of the Game- The Sixer Sense

Knicks Go 1-2 Over MLK Weekend- Buckets Over Broadway

Rematch: Best vs. the West- King James Gospel

January 20, 2010: Tiger Woods Sex Rehab Pic; Bare Butt Bobsledder; Jordan Vs. Leno- Fansided

The Ultimate Jinx- The J-E-T-S Press

Tonight the Celtics will come home to face the Chicago Bulls at the TD Garden. The Bulls come in with a 16-20 record but have cruised in their previous 2 matchups against the Pistons and T'Wolves. The Celtics come in with a 27-10 record and are on the rear of a back to back. The good thing for the Celtics was how much they got to rest their starters. The Celtics will have to prove some kind of home court dominance tonight, as they have just as many losses at home so far this year, as they do on the road. The game will be nationally televised at 8:00 PM ET on TNT.

What to Watch for:

• Rondo vs. Derrick Rose- always a matchup to pay attention to because it is two young guards who are trying to prove that they are the best in the league at what they do.
• John Salmons- Although he has had a tough year thus far, he played very well against the Celtics last year in the playoffs, therefore will probably come into this game with a ton of confidence.
• If the Bulls get down early they may roll over after the way the Celtics have shredded them in the first 2 matchups this year. They may get the "oh here we go again" thinking.
• Once up big, the Celtics can not let them back into the game like they allowed the Hawks. This has become a recurring theme that has plagued the C's.
• Hopefully Noah fouls out or something because I don't know how long I can watch him play. He is the worst part of this matchup. He is an average player who is very cocky.

A win tonight is key for the Celtics because then they will have 3 days of rest at home, before they suit back up next Monday to face the Dallas Mavs. It is more key for me, because I don't want to hold onto a loss for 3 days. I don't know about you but the time between the Hawks game and the Nets game (1 day) was far too much.

Make sure to check back tomorrow morning for the recap on our opinion of the game.

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Tonight the Celtics make the final stop of their short 3 game road trip as they head to Memphis to take on the young Grizzlies. Memphis is coming off a huge 28 point victory in Miami last night and have won 4 of their last 5. 2 of those 4 games came against Dallas and Cleveland, so despite their 10-13 record they can compete with the best of them. The Celtics as we all know have won 10 straight and are looking to come home on a high note as they will have 3 games home games over the stretch of 10 days, which will be a good time to rest and prepare for Orlando on Christmas.

What to watch for:

• Marc Gasol and Perkins. This is a center matchup similar to the one against the Bucks where Perks opposition isn't known league wide, yet puts up good numbers.
• Zach Randolph and KG. Randolph is averaging a double-double and always seems to play very well against the Celtics. KG will have to keep up with how he has been performing as of late.
• Rudy Gay and Paul Pierce. Gay is a plain scorer and high riser. Pierce will have his work cut out for him, but Rudy will have the same struggles trying to out muscle The Truth.
• Celtics will need to keep Memphis off the offensive glass. The Grizzlies are 1st in the league in offensive rebounding and this has been a struggle for the C's. They get a good defensive stop but they have to do it all over again because they dont grab the rebound.
• As a young team, the Grizz also turn the ball over alot. This plays much in the favor of the Celtics who play defense that disrupts the opponents flow.

Stop by before, during, and after the game to chat in the LIVE CHAT which you can get to by clicking the tab on the top bar.

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Saturday, December 12th, 2009

United Center - Chicago, IL

Tip-Off 7:00 PM EST

Tonight the Celtics are in Chicago to take on the young and scrappy Chicago Bulls team. The Celtics are currently sitting at 18-4, while the Bulls come into the game at 8-13. The Celtics hope to get their tenth win in a row and move to 10-1 on the road this season. The Bulls are hoping to come out of the game tonight with a small two game winning streak, after losing four in a row.

What to watch for:

•  Rondo vs. Rose. Rose knows that Rondo got the best out of him during last years playoff series and will be out for revenge tonight. Rose isn't a great shooter but Rondo will not be able to slack off defensively.
• Can the Celtics get out to an early lead? The guys in green have to put this Bulls team away early. The C's can't let the Bulls get the idea in their head that they can pull out a victory.
• What Bulls team will we see? Will we see the team that lost to New Jersey, or the team that took us to seven games last year? We should be able to tell very early on what kind of Bulls team we will be dealing with tonight.
• Paul Pierce to have a breakout game. People say that when Pierce doesn't have to score 20 it's a good thing as long as we are winning. I would just like to see him have a breakout game sometime soon.
• Who will take Marquis Daniels minutes tonight? Last game it was Tony Allen who stepped in and did the job. With his recent problems in Chicago, Tony might not have it mentally tonight. We may see early, and quality, minutes from J.R Giddens.
• Perimiter Defense. The Celtics need to keep this Bulls team off the 3pt line. They have quality three point shooters from the one to the four, with Rose, Deng, Salmons, and Miller all capable of knocking down open tre's.

Check in around 6:00 PM EST for our live game chat. We take all comments and would like to see you there.

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Tonight the Bucks come into Boston to take on the Celtics at 7:30 at the TD Garden. The Bucks have lost 3 in a row, and 7 of their last 8 after starting the season at 8-3. The Celtics started at 9-4, and to some looked like they were in trouble, but instead, behind a 7 game winning streak, have pushed their record to 16-4. Tonight is the Celtics lone home game before heading back out on another 3 game road trip that starts in Washington.

What to watch for:

• Rondo vs. Jennings. Did you think we would finally not have to watch for a PG matchup? Think again. Jennings can score in bunches. Rondo will have to step his game up against this rookie.
• Will the Celtics continue to pass the ball with great efficiency after 3 days off?
• Kevin Garnett needs to keep up on his pace and I wouldn't expect him to do otherwise while being matched up with Ilyasova? I smell many alley oops on their way.
• Paul Pierce to have a good night.on the return to the Garden coming off practice.
• Bucks can only stay in if they have another scorer besides Jennings and Bogut can do that. Perkins will have to make sure Bogut can't get settled.

Check in at 7 PM for our Live Chat that you can get to by clicking the tab "Celtics Live Chat" at the top.

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Tonight the Celtics will be in Oklahoma City to take on the Thunder for the 4th and final game of the road trip. The Thunder are coming off a victory against the 76ers and stand at 10-8. The Celtics hold a 6 game win streak and will be looking to push it to 7, before heading home for a game against the Bucks on Tuesday at the Garden. OKC is a young and uptempo team as you may know, so the Celtics will have to try and limit the pace as much as possible so they don't get into a fast break competition.

What to watch for:

• Paul Pierce on Kevin Durant- Expect Pierce to contain, but in no way STOP Durant from scoring atleast 20 tonight. How can he not? He puts up about 20 shots a game.
• Stamina of the Celtics. The starters had to play more minutes than hoped for last night, and are on the end of a back to back playing a rested team with young legs.
• KG to keep rolling on the offensive end while being matched up against Jeff Green.
• Celtics bench will need to step up tonight to take some of the stress off the shoulders of the starters.
• Sheed to take open threes. He has gotten in a habit of making 1 and thinking he is on fire and throwing one up with plenty of time left on the shot clock.

Stop by during the game to chat in our Live chat where you can comment on the game by clicking the Celtics Live Chat tab. Also check in tomorrow morning for our recap and opinion on what we saw in the game.

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At 6 PM tonight, the Celtics will square off against the 9-6 Miami Heat. Miami is looking to put together a stretch of wins, after starting out the season very inconsistent. In their last 6 games they have only salvaged to win 2, however, on the year have beaten both Denver and Orlando. The Celtics are looking to make it 4 straight after finishing off the Raptors the other night to get their first Friday night victory in the previous 4 tries.

What to Watch for:

• Can Ray keep up with Wade, or will Pierce have to switch onto him to keep him in line?
• How will KG do against the young Beasley who is a good scorer?
• Does the success from last game roll over into this game- Or, is the confidence of the Celtics still shaken?
• Do we play at our pace if the going gets tough- Or, do we turn it into a one on one battle which is not our style?
• With all of the distractions surrounding Ray, we have to see if he is focused enough to continue to play up to his full potential.
• Are we going to start the road trip out on solid play?

This game should be interesting, however, the Celtics usually tend to play well against Miami. With the 4 upcoming road games, a win is a win. Anyway we can get out whether it be by buzzer beater, a score of 125-123, or a score of 81-76, so long as we get it done, and get out with a W, all is good. This is the first extended test of the Celtics, lets see how they hold up.