Call a Nurse! We’re At It Again

36-30 @ 50-18
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
7:00 pm ET
TD BankNorth Garden (Boston, MA)

Oh boy.

You thought the Celtics had injury troubles before? Last night, three more important players left the arena with – at the very least – some bumps and bruises. It could be worse than that. Leon Powe banged knees about one minute into last night's loss in Chicago, and tried to return moments later. In the blink of an eye, he was taken off the floor and taken back into the locker room. Did not return.

Boston's starting backcourt of Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo are each questionable for tonight's road competition against MVP candidate Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat, as well. Allen hyperextended his shooting elbow (right) late in the game, while Rondo played the entire second half on a re-sprained right ankle. Granted, he played very well and continued to push the basketball, but that is a lot easier to do off adrenaline than it is off of a night's sleep.

Projecting Boston's starting lineup tonight is a crapshoot, and Miami is playing on a couple days worth of rest as opposed to the banged up Celtics playing on the second night of a back-to-back. All we can do is hope for the best and give our beloved C's all of our support at the Garden, and cheer them on as much as possible in order to take out the club that beat the C's last week.

ATTN Everybody attending the game: keep this mutha rockin.

Projected Starters
G G F F C

Team Leaders
PPG: Paul Pierce (20.4)
RPG: Kevin Garnett (8.8)
APG: Rajon Rondo (8.4)
SPG: Rajon Rondo (1.9)
BPG: Kendrick Perkins (1.8)

Projected Starters
G G F F C

Team Leaders
PPG: Dwyane Wade (29.9)
RPG: Udonis Haslem (8.4)
APG: Dwyane Wade (7.6)
SPG: Dwyane Wade (2.3)
BPG: Jermaine O'Neal (2.1)

Key Matchup

Injury Report
Daequan Cook (extracted tooth – doubtful)
Kevin Garnett (posterior muscle strain – out)
Ray Allen (hyperextended right elbow – questionable)
Rajon Rondo (sprained right ankle – questionable)
Leon Powe (bruised right knee – questionable)
Glen Davis (sprained right ankle – out)
Tony Allen (recovering from thumb surgery – out)
Brian Scalabrine (concussions/strained neck – out)

Keys to Victory

• Avoid Foul Trouble
• Limit Turnovers
• No More Injuries