Sun Rise or Sun Set?

We play Phoenix in Boston on Friday night.

Phoenix lost to Orlando last night and are now 4-1 on the season. Darn good start.

This could be a classic example the almost irresistible force (they have the #2 offense in the league now, 111.2 points/game on 50.1% fg%. They are shooting 45%, as a team, from 3) versus the immovable object (our defense gives up the fewest points allowed in the league, 81.5. Atlanta is next at 87.5, so we are the best by quite a margin. We lead the league in 3pt fg% defense with 24.7% 3pt fgm).

Our offense also is scoring at a 50.1% (tied with Phoenix) and we are also shooting 3s at 45% (fraction of % points behind Phoenix). They take more fga than us, ergo the higher scoring offense. Faster tempo game, we need to slow them down. Transition defense is critical, I have complete faith in our halfcourt interior defense. We just need to force them into a lot of halfcourt sets.

Phoenix's speed puts them pretty high up on the list for team steals/game. We better take good care of the ball and keep our minds in the game or Steve Nash will run it down our throats. Rondo has to play "sticky" with Nash and we all have to fight through picks or Nash will find them anyway.

It'll be interesting to see if Rondo tries to "make a point" and go mano-a-mano with Nash. I hope he'll stay within the team offense concept and not try a lot of "hero ball".

KG is going to have a problem, I think, with Amare's speed.

Prelim thoughts, one day out from a real test for the Celtics.

bob

Bob

The Suns are not the Suns of old although they want an uptempo game.

They have little or NO chance of beating Boston. They have Channing Frye starting at center. Amarie can have a great game and Boston is still going to blow them out. They give new meaning to the word soft. They cannot defend the post....

Rajon rarely plays hero ball. As a matter of fact I would like to see him gear it up a notch.. At times he is too unselfish. His teammates cannot complain about not getting good looks. Rajon's been wet nursing the team through the first 6 games.

dboss

Rajon's been wet nursing the team through the first 6 games

Dboss

Very well said. I have been trying to find those words and there they are.

Jeb

IMHO

The Suns have little beef and are mostly bun in the paint.

Amare is so slim and their center Frye used to be used as a kid to reach through the storm grates to retrive balls and coin. We should control the glass fine.

They got totally thumped by the Magic.
They will get thumped by us too. We are at home. We've had a day off. They have to content with us NOT the other way around.

beat

Suns 3 point shooting may be a concern in a shootout............still like Boston............hmmm.......122-117. Frye may not board but not a good match up for Perk on the perimeter.

Assuming that Phoenix shows up ready to play, it will depend on which C team shows up....The one last night will struggle to win, the other one will beat them by 15 or so....

...as if I really knew.....but that's my uneducated guess and I'm sticking with it...

Boston 99 Suns 83

Egads that picture of Laimbeer!

Jeb

jeb65 wrote:Boston 99 Suns 83

Egads that picture of Laimbeer!

Jeb

i see a picture of laimbeer and i have to go punch a wall.

Matty

Me too but doode could ball.

jeb65 wrote:Matty

Me too but doode could ball.

Trying to catch up on some work before another day starts and get further behind. Saw the picture of Billy Boy Lambier and thought I signed on to the wrong site. Either that or I thought I was in the middle of a nightmare. My next throught was that Sam's site has been so successful that he sold it the site" to a Detroit corporation.

Just having a little fun Bill!!

David

Jeb, is this GM's newly introduced secret weapon model to get them over the hump!!



See on Game on tonight (Friday). I may be remote, hopefully NBA.com comes through for me.

David

Bill

No way the C's allow 117 points

Are you including the Nets game the next night?

We play a little defense in Boston. Just in case you missed it.

beat

Posted a prediction of a Celts win.....Phoenix will score points all season in bunches.....Celts allowed 52% shooting versus the Wolves.....given a projected 44% s/p by the Suns and their average hoists per game ....see both teams in triple figures tonight.

Enjoy what should be a fun game for the viewers !

jeb65 wrote:Matty

Me too but doode could ball.

oh great, now a celtics fan sayin something good about that guy, now i gotta go drop kick the planet..

Matty

Where's the Chief when you need um?

beat

Laimbeer love how you point out the ONE game that we allowed more than 41% shooting. Why would you take into account the previous 5 games? That would just be foolish...

I agree Celts are great defensively.............just think Phoenix will shoot 44-45% in this game and they do throw up a lot of shots.

Celts team D is easily league best.

beat wrote:Matty

Where's the Chief when you need um?

beat

beat, in the world of the NBA perhaps the most beautiful sight next to the celtics winning a nba title is this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3tc7TXMBT8&feature=related

Suns are in the middle game of a 5 game swing to the east. This will be their third road game in 4 nights against very good east teams.
East has the early lead in H-to-H vs the west 10-5.

Suns road points are low and road shooting is well below home.

Going into Boston...........maybe they can shoot 45% but will they get enough "quality" shots or go for the outside and if they do that the % will be much less more like 38-40% range. Plus they will never see the foul line much either.

C's struggled a bit last game and Minny shot well. One player had a "career" game that probably won't happen again soon.

I am in no way saying a blow out but it could be. The road is a tough place for an NBA team. The road to Boston being the 3rd game in 4 nights is a nightmare for them. I'm sure they will come out and give us a good shot early but emotion will only get you so far, and as the game progresses the road will take a toll.

Sun sets early in this one.

beat