Celts Eye Nets Sweep

32-45 @ 58-19
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
7:30 pm ET
TD BankNorth Garden (Boston, MA)

It is not playoff time just yet, but we've got only five regular season games to go before the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals are the primary focus of this basketball team. Boston's first round matchup remains uncertain, but the chances of the Celtics and Nets facing off against one another is extremely slim.

In fact, a loss tonight would mathematically take New Jersey out of the playoff equation. Lawrence Frank's group currently sits five games behind Detroit for the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff seed. In order for New Jersey to have the "luxury" of meeting Cleveland in the first round of this year's postseason, the Nets would have to win out the remaining five games of their schedule, while Detroit loses all five. In addition to that, they'd have to pray that neither Charlotte or Indiana, who each hold minor advantages over Jersey in the standings, reach or exceed that magic number of 37 victories.

In other words, Nets fans better start studying up on draft lottery odds and prospects for the third straight year.

Projected Starters
G G F F C

Team Leaders
PPG: Devin Harris (21.8)
RPG: Brook Lopez (7.9)
APG: Devin Harris (7.0)
SPG: Devin Harris (1.7)
BPG: Brook Lopez (1.8)

Projected Starters
G G F F C

Team Leaders
PPG: Paul Pierce (20.5)
RPG: Kevin Garnett (8.5)
APG: Rajon Rondo (8.4)
SPG: Rajon Rondo (1.9)
BPG: Kendrick Perkins (2.0)

Key Matchup

Injury Report
Eduardo Najera (recovering from hernia surgery – out)
Kevin Garnett (sore right knee – out)
Rajon Rondo (sprained ankle – probable)
Leon Powe (bruised right knee – out)
Brian Scalabrine (post-concussion syndrome – out)

Keys to Victory

• Limit Turnovers
• Perimeter Defense: Close Off Penetration
• Ball Movement