Jazz (43-23) at Celtics (51-12) 3/14

at

Utah Jazz (43-23) at Boston Celtics (51-12)
Friday, March 14
7:30 PM ET
Game #64, Home Game #34
TV: NBA LP ch 751, FSN, CSNHD
Sirius 140
TD Banknorth Garden



Probable Starting Lineup

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

Off the Bench
James Posey, Eddie House, Big Baby Davis, Leon Powe, Tony Allen, Sam Cassell, PJ Brown, Brian Scalabrine

Injuries
Scott Pollard, ankle, out




Probable Starting Lineup

Deron Williams/ Ronnie Brewer/ Andrei Kirilenko/ Carlos Boozer/ Mehmet Okur

Off the Bench
CJ Miles, Paul Milsap, Matt Harpring, Jason Hart, Jarron Collins, Kyle Korver, Morris Almond, Kyrylo Fesenko

Injuries
None

Key Matchups
vs
Rajon Rondo PPG 10.5 RPG 4.20 APG 5.1 EFF + 14.10
Deron Williams PPG 19.2 RPG 2.90 APG 10.3 EFF + 22.44
Williams is a very good young point guard who is a scoring threat along with being able to find the open man. This will be a challenge for Rondo to defend him. Rondo has come back and played well against PG's that gave him trouble in early matchups and I expect him to do the same in this matchup.


vs
Kevin Garnett PPG 18.8 RPG 9.70 APG 3.5 EFF + 25.19
Carlos Boozer PPG 21.3 RPG 10.60 APG 2.9 EFF + 25.06
Boozer leads the Jazz in points and rebounds and KG will need to concentrate on defending him along with making him work on the other end of the floor as well. KG has been playing very well lately and I expect him to be up to the task.

Honorable Mention
Paul Pierce vs Andre Kirilenko. Last season, Pierce had Kirilenko in tears after he totally dominated the game. Pierce should be able to dominate this matchup.

Keys to the Game
Play with energy and hustle. No let downs.

Control the boards and limit second chance points for the Jazz

Move the ball and find the open man.

Defend the paint and the perimeter.

Game Notes
The Jazz have the best home record in the NBA with only 3 losses and one of those losses is to the Celtics. They will be looking for some payback in this game.

The Celtics have the second best home record with only 4 losses and the Jazz are not nearly as dominant on the road as they are at home with a 15-20 record. They are coming off a win in Milwaukee, however.

The Jazz are 7-3 in their last 10 while the Celtics have won 10 in a row. The Celtics will have a tough matchup in this game and won't be able to rest as they have in the last few games.

X-Factor
Home court advantage