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Toronto Raptors (22-19) at Boston Celtics (33-6)
Wednesday, January 23
7:30 PM ET
Regular Season Game #40, Home Game #22
TV: NBA LP ch 754, CSN HD, SCORE
Sirius 143
TD Banknorth Garden
[img width=500 height=54]http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/boston/00-Celticslogos.gif[/img]
Probable Starting Lineup
PG
Rajon Rondo PPG 9.1 | APG 4.7 | SPG 1.7
SG
Ray Allen PPG 18.2 | APG 3 | 3P% .376
SF
Paul Pierce PPG 20.4 | RPG 5.5 | APG 4.9
PF
Kevin Garnett PPG 19.3 | RPG 9.8 | BPG 1.4
C
Kendrick Perkins PPG 7.2 | RPG 5.8 | BPG 1.2
Off the Bench
Eddie House, Brian Scalabrine, Scot Pollard, Leon Powe, Big Baby Davis, Tony Allen, Gabe Pruitt
Injury Report
James Posey, hand, day to day
[img width=500 height=54]http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/toronto/00-Raptors.gif[/img]
Probable Starters
PG
Jose Calderon PPG 11.8 | APG 8.4 | SPG 1
SG
Anthony Parker PPG 11.5 | APG 1.9 | 3P% .477
SF
Jamario Moon PPG 8.3 | RPG 6.5 | APG 1.1
PF
Chris Bosh PPG 22.2 | RPG 9.3 | BPG 1.1
C
Andrea Bargnani PPG 8.7 | RPG 3.4 | BPG 0.5
Off the Bench
Carlos Delfino, Kris Humphries, Jason Kapono, Maceo Baston, Juan Dixon, Joey Graham, Rasho Nesterovic
Injuries
Jorge Garbajosa, ankle, out
TJ Ford, neck, out
Key Matchups:
Kevin Garnett PPG 19.3 | RPG 9.8 | BPG 1.4
Chris Bosh PPG 22.2 | RPG 9.3 | BPG 1.1
vs 
Kevin Garnett is one of the best power forwards ever and Chris Bosh is one of the best up and coming power forwards. This should be a good match up with KG having the advantage because of experience and a height advantage.
Kendrick Perkins PPG 7.2 | RPG 5.8 | BPG 1.2
Andrea Bargnani PPG 8.7 | RPG 3.4 | BPG 0.5
vs 
Andrea Bargnani is a #1 draft pick and has shown some promise so far. Perk and Bargnani have two very different games with Bargnani playing more on the perimeter and Perk playing inside. Perk is coming off a huge game against the Knicks and may be able to exploit this matchup as well.
Keys to the Game
Defend the Perimeter. The Raptors are the top 3 point shooting team in the league and have 3 players in the top 15 three point shooters: Jason Kapono leads the team in shooting at 51%,
followed by Anthony Parker (48%) and Jose Calderon at 42%. They can beat you from long distance and so the Celtics must pay attention to their defense on the perimeter.
Ball Movement The Celtics play best when they move the ball and find the open man. When players try to do to much and when they go one on one, the ball stops and so does the offense. They need to continue to move the ball and make the Raptors use up energy on defense as they chase the ball.
Be aggressive. The Celtics need to be aggressive on the boards and attacking the the basket. They shouldn't settle for outside shots but should try to get into the paint. They also need to limit the Raptors' second chance baskets by going after and grabbing rebounds.
Game Notes
In their first meeting in Toronto, Ray Allen had 33 points and hit the game winner at the buzzer in overtime. In their second meeting in Boston, The Celtics won easily 112-84 but the Raptors were without both Bosh and Bargnani. The third meeting was again a Celtics victory and this time, the Celtics were without Ray Allen. The Raptors are playing for pride in this one. They are the defending Atlantic Division champs and have lost to the Celtics in all three meetings this season already, plus a loss in the preseason.
The Raptors are also one of the best free throw shooting teams in the NBA and are shooting 80.4% from the line as a team. They have 9 players who are shooting over 80% from the line and so the Celtics will need to be careful fouling them. They are also only turning the ball over 11.9 times per game. The Celtics catch a break in that TJ Ford will be out as he is one of the point guards who seems to give Rondo trouble.
This should be a good game a rivalry has developed between the two teams. Hopefully, Pierce and company will learn from the last game and not let emotions get away from them.
