Celtics (8-2) vs. Indiana (3-3)
Game time: 7:00 pm Conseco Fieldhouse. TV – CSN. Radio – WEEI-AM (850)
Team Leaders
Scoring
Bos: Pierce – 18.7 Pacers: Danny Granger – 24.2
Rebounding
Bos: Garnett – 7.5 Pacers: Roy Hibbert – 10.2
Assists
Bos: Rondo – 9.2 Pacers: Troy Murphy – 3.3
Who'll go off: Kevin Garnett. He's angry (at himself) for the lackluster effort on the boards against the Hawks. And with the Pacers missing two of their top big men (Troy Murphy, Jeff Foster), Jim O'Brien has been forced to go with a small lineup that features Danny Granger at power forward. I expect KG to have a big game against Granger and/or Tyler Hansborough.
Who needs to be stopped: Granger. KG will have his hands full chasing Granger around the perimeter.
The C's will lose if… they come in overconfident. The Pacers have won 3 straight and outrebounded their opponents since going to this smaller line-up. The Celtics will need to keep a high energy level. Remember what happened last year? The Celtics went into Indiana on the second night of a back-to-back and got smoked 95-79.
Wildcard: Roy Hibbert. The 7-2 center averages a double/double and leads the league in blocks (2.7). Don't be surprised to see a lot of Rasheed Wallace roaming the perimeter, to keep Hibbert out of the paint. Marquis Daniels is making his return to Indiana. I expect 'Quis will be playing with some extra emotion. Injuries are a factor. The Celtics may be without the services of Paul Pierce, but the Pacers will not have Foster, Murphy, Mike Dunleavey and T.J. Ford is also doubtful.
After the jump, we introduce you to the Pacers dance team – the Pacemates.
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