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Boston Celtics (29-4) at New Jersey Nets (18-17)
Friday 1/11
7:30 PM ET
TV: NBA LP ch 752, Yes HD, CSN
Continental Airlines Arena
Probable Starters
PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Ray Allen
SF: Paul Pierce
PF: Kevin Garnett
C: Kendrick Perkins
Off the Bench
Allen/House/Pollard/Scal/Powe/Davis/Posey/Pruitt
Injuries:
Ray Allen, pinched nerve, probable
Big Baby Davis, knee, probable
Probable Starters
PG: Jason Kidd
SG: Vince Carter
SF: Richard Jefferson
PF: Sean Williams
C: Josh Boone
Off the Bench
Nachbar/Allen/Magloire/Armstrong/Williams/Collins
Injuries:
Antoine Wright, ankle, questionable
Nenad Krstic, knee, out
Key Matchups
vs 
Rajon Rondo PPG 9.3 RPG 4.00 APG 5.0 EFF + 13.34
Jason Kidd PPG 11.6 RPG 8.70 APG 10.7 EFF + 21.97
Jason Kidd is one of the best PG's in the league and has been playing very well. Rondo has to figure out how to take him out of his game on the defensive end and try to use his speed to create a mismatch on the offensive end.
vs 
Paul Pierce PPG 21.2 RPG 5.70 APG 4.9 EFF + 21.00
Richard Jefferson PPG 24.6 RPG 4.40 APG 2.8 EFF + 19.49
Jefferson has been playing very well. He is first in the league in free throws made and and 4th in free throws attempted. Pierce will have to figure out how to stop Jefferson without getting into foul trouble.
Honorable mention:
KG vs Sean Williams
Kevin Garnett PPG 19.2 RPG 10.00 APG 3.6 EFF + 26.73
Sean Williams PPG 7.2 RPG 5.30 APG 0.5 EFF + 11.47
KG will have the height advantage as well as experience. Sean Williams is a strong player and shot blocker but KG should be able to exploit this matchup.
Keys to the Game:
Defense. The Celtics trademark defense was nowhere to be found against the Bobcats. They need to get back to playing the defense that we are used to seeing from them as that is how they will win games.
Shot Selection The Celtics need to try to get the ball inside and not settle for contested jumpers. The Nets don't have a dominant front line and the Celtics should seek to take advantage of those matchups inside.
Intensity and Energy The Celtics lost the last game because they showed no intensity or energy for much of the game. They must come out with intensity and maintain that for the entire game.
Game Notes
The Nets have been playing very well, having won 8 of their last 10. They are 9-11 at home. The Celtics split 2 preseason games with the Nets, They won the first meeting that was stopped at the half because of a wet floor and lost the second 71-82. The Celtics won their 2 regular season games so far this season, winning the first meeting in New Jersey 112-101 and the second meeting at home 91-69, with Vince Carter out that game.
Coming off their worst game of the season, I expect the Celtics to come back strong in this game. They won't take the Nets for granted and should play with more intensity than they did against the Bobcats.
