Tip: 7PM Court: Time Warner Cable Arena Watch it: CSNNE Hear it: WEEI
Referees: Ed Malloy, Brent Barnaky and David Guthrie
Spread: BOS -11.0
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The Matchup
 |
 |
| Record: 34-28 | Record: 13-50 |
| On road: 12-19 | At home: 7-24 |
| Streak: Lost 1 | Streak: Lost 10 |
| Leaders | Leaders |
| Buckets: Pierce (18.7 ppg) | Buckets: Kemba Walker (17.3 ppg) |
| Boards: Garnett (7.9 rpg) | Boards: Byron Mullens (7.0 rpg) |
| Dimes: Pierce (4.6 apg) | Dimes: Walker (5.6 apg) |
| For the Stat Geeks: | For the Stat Geeks: |
| Offensive Rating: 102.5 (25th NBA) | Offensive Rating: 100.5 (29th NBA) |
| Defensive Rating: 102.0 (6th NBA) | Defensive Rating: 111.9 (30th NBA) |
| Pace: 91.4 (18th NBA) | Pace: 91.7 (16th NBA) |
Last time
Nothing good came out of the Celtics last visit to Charlotte. They lost the game, a 7 game winning streak and Leandro Barbosa. Boston beat the Bobcats, 100-89, back on Jan. 14.
This time
Get it to: Jeff Green
There should be plenty of shots and minutes for Green as it appears Paul Pierce is going to get the night off. Green struggled vs OKC but he’s averaging nearly 15 points on 47% shooting over his last ten games. Get him 20 shots and he might drop 30 on the defenseless Bobcats.
Gotta stop: Gerald Henderson
How bad are the Bobcats offensively? Henderson is one of just 3 rotation players shooting better than 40% over the last ten games.
Byron Mullens torched the Celtics for 25 points (62% FG) and 18 rebounds in the Bobcats 94-91 win on Feb. 11. But he’s been in quite a funk (6.9 ppg, 34% FG) over the past few weeks. He played just 5 minutes in Saturday’s loss to Washington and was benched in favor of Josh McRoberts. Ouch.
Before you scream ‘Kemba Walker,’ know that he’s averaging 12 points and 29% shooting in five career games against the Celtics.
The Wild Card: DJ White
With Doc Rivers looking to conserve Kevin Garnett’s minutes, White could see increased action and seek payback against his former team. I’m half kidding.
How we see it goin’ down
The Bobcats are bad. Dead last in defense and second to last in offense. They’ve lost ten straight and been outscored by a combined 215 points* over that stretch.
Sure, the Celtics are capable of playing down to Charlotte’s level and blowing this game. But I see them coming out strong and focused in this one. Tomorrow night’s game vs Toronto will be another story.
Celtics 108
Bobcats 83
(*h/t to Queen City Hoops)
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