Pre Game Thread - Celtics @ Knicks - Wed 12/15/2010

[dboss]

After several needed days off, the Boston Celtics travel to the Mecca to play the resurgent NY Knicks in what is being hyped as a ‘big game’.

After a slow start the Knicks have turned things around winning 8 straight ball games and 13 out of their last 14. This team is no longer just another marsh mellow on an 82 game schedule. They will run and gun and put some big times points on the board.

Led by Amare Stoudemire, who set a Knicks record with 30+ points per game during their 8 game winning streak, one of their bread and butter plays is the pick and roll and pick and pop run to perfection by PG Raymond Felton. Seems that Felton just needed to get away from the tyrannical Larry Brown. Felton is putting up impressive number with 19.2 PPG and 10.2 assists over the past 5 games. Excellent chemistry between the two have propelled the Knicks into the top half of the conference.

Wilson Chandler 19.8 with 5.6 boards (past 5 games) can shoot. Run and defend. Danilo Gallinari has been inconsistent and is a hot/cold shooter from the perimeter.

The surprise starter on the Knicks and the NBA draft is middle 2nd round pick Landry Fields. Not only can he run and shoot but he has average 9 rebounds (3 offensive) over the past 5 games. How did this 6’7” shooting guard get passed up? This kid is a baller.

The knicks like to put up a lot of points and are averaging over 114 during their 8 game winning streak. While not known as a strong defensive team, they are still holding teams to 106 ppg so there is a positive 8 point differential. Not bad at all. They shoot a lot of 3’s (26 per game) and they like to fast break.

Seems the Knicks are now officially the Phoenix Suns of the east. But this team can only go so far. The lack of a quality center is a ‘big hole’ in the middle.

Keys to a Win

The Celtics must use their size advantage to clog up the middle and keep Amare from throwing down those show time dunks.
The Celtics need to close out the perimeter.
The Celtics need to get back on defense to limit fast break attempts
The Celtics need to control their defensive glass and not give up second chance opportunities.
On offensive Rondo needs to set the pace and as a team the Celtics need to pound the knicks inside.
The usual good ball movement and patience will go a long way to securing a win.
The Celtics should not get into a basket for basket contest with this team.

dboss

[bobheckler]

Just a quick peek at the stats says that the Celts are averaging about 80.5 fga/game and the Knicks are averaging about 95 per game.

Clearly, we need reduce our turnovers and slow the pace significantly for our more efficient offense to pay off.

bob

.

[LACELTFAN]

Great game almost too good...
Anybody else here glad that the C's didn't get rid of RA last year?

[steve3344]

Just a quick peek at the stats says that the Celts are averaging about 80.5 fga/game and the Knicks are averaging about 95 per game.

Clearly, we need reduce our turnovers and slow the pace significantly for our more efficient offense to pay off.

bob

.

Don't know what stats you are looking at but on Yahoo Sports it shows NY is attempting 82.5 FG's per game (not 95) and Boston attempting 76.4 (not 80.5). By the way, the Knicks take the 11th most shots in the league (even though they lead the league in scoring), Boston the fourth fewest.

Here is the link:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/stats/byteam?&cat1=Total&cat2=team&conference=NBA&year=season_2010&sort=235

[steve3344]

78 combined for those nicknamed the Big Three in 2008 (though we all know now it is the Big Four), a season high. With all three shooting above 50%.

Celts a perfect 21 for 21 from the free throw line. The key to that remarkable feat obviously was Rondo not attempting any and Shaq not playing.

67 second half points (a huge number on the road) was helped by hitting 6 of 11 three pointers in that half (1 for 3 in the first half). Celts shot .561 in first half, .489 second half. 4 for 4 FT's first half, 17 for 17 FT's second half. 11 assists first half, 15 assists second half.

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