Bobcats (19-38) at Celtics (44-12) 2/29

at
Charlotte Bobcats (19-38) at Boston Celtics (44-12)
Friday, February 29
7:30 PM ET
Regular Season Game #57, Home Game #29
TV: NBA LP ch 752, CSN HD, WMYT
Radio: WEEI, Sirius 121
TD Banknorth Garden



Probable Starters

Rajon Rondo/ Ray Allen/ Paul Pierce/ Kevin Garnett/ Kendrick Perkins

Off the Bench
James Posey, Eddie House, Scot Pollard, Brian Scalabrine, Tony Allen, Leon Powe, Big Baby Davis

Injuries:
Brian Scalabrine, groin, probable
Tony Allen, calf, day to day





Jeff McInnis/ Raymond Felton/ Jason Richardson/ Emeka Okafor/ Nazr Mohammed

Off the Bench
Matt Carroll, Ryan Hollins, Jermareo Davidson, Jared Dudley, Earl Boykins, Othello Harrington

Injuries:
Derek Anderson, knee, doubtful
Sean May, knee, out
Adam Morrison, ACL, out
Gerald Wallace, concussion, out

Key Matchups
vs
Kevin Garnett 6'11" PPG 18.5 RPG 9.70 APG 3.7 EFF + 25.40
Emeka Okafor 6'10" PPG 13.5 RPG 11.10 APG 0.8 EFF + 19.05

vs
Paul Pierce 6'7" PPG 20.4 RPG 5.50 APG 4.8 EFF + 20.16
Jason Richardson 6'6" PPG 20.1 RPG 5.00 APG 3.0 EFF + 17.39

Keys to the Game
Defense. The Bobcats are a good 3 point shooting team as well as having players who can get to the basket. The Celtics must defend both on the perimeter and in the paint.

Play 48 Minutes. The Celtics have to start off strong and not let up. The Bobcats have given the Celtics problems in both games this season and so the Celtics shouldn't think they can coast against them in spite of their record.

Rebound The Celtics must crash the boards and get the rebounds. They were outrebounded by the Cavs in their last game and have been allowing way too many second chance points in recent games. They have to make a conscious effort to box out and go get the rebounds.

Game Notes
This is the 3rd of 4 meetings between these two teams this season. The first game came right down to the last second as Ray Allen hit a 3 at the buzzer to give the Celtics a 96-95 win in Charlotte. In the second game between the two teams, the Bobcats came into the Garden and beat the Celtics 95-83. The Bobcats have just 4 wins on the road and one of those was in Boston. We absolutely can't take this team for granted.

Gerald Wallace is one of the players who have given the Celtics problems in the past but he is out with a concussion and so the Celtics may be catching a break there. Jason Richardson is 2nd in the league in 3 point field goals and so he still can give the Celtics problems. Pierce is going to have to stay on him on the perimeter to try to keep him in check.

The Bobcat's first year coach, Sam Vincent, was the 20th pick of the Boston Celtics in 1985 and played 2 seasons for them. He won a ring on the 1986 championship team. Eddie House played 13 games for the Bobcats in their inaugural season in 2004-05.

The Bobcats have lost 4 in a row, including the last one in New York. In that game, Nate Robinson raked Richardson across the face and he left the game with a scratched cornea but is expected to play in this game. They are just 1-9 in their last 10 games.