Game 50/82: Celtics (32-17) @ Hornets (27-25)
Posted by Brendan Jackson on Feb 10, 2010
Boston at New Orleans
8:00 P.M. EST.
New Orleans Arena
Local TV/Radio: CSN/WEEI
Offensive Efficiency:
Boston: 107.7 points/100 possessions (13th)
New Orleans: 107.5 points/100 possessions (14th)
Defensive Efficiency:
Boston: 101.9 points allowed/100 possessions (1st)
New Orleans: 108.9 points allowed/100 possessions (20th)
Probable Hornets starters:
Darren Collison, Emeka Okafor, David West, Peja Stojakovic, Morris Peterson
Injury Report
Hornets: OUT: Chris Paul, Ike Diogu QUESTIONABLE: Marcus Thornton
Celtics: QUESTIONABLE: Paul Pierce
The Celtics are cordially (well maybe not Rajon Rondo) invited to dine with the Hornets for the final game before the All-Star break. The main course? Oh, just a heaping portion of the injury bug. All accounts point to Paul Pierce being out for this game and no team wants to go into a game without their most versatile offensive weapon and arguably their best player.
If it’s any consolation prize to the Celtics, the Hornets are in the same boat. Chris Paul is currently in the midst of being out 4-6 weeks with a knee injury and the Hornets have given the reins to rookie Darren Collison. Collison can’t match Paul in overall production, but it’s not like Rajon Rondo can ignore him. The question is, can Rondo pump himself up the same way he does when he plays Chris Paul or will he come out flat? If he comes out aggressive, I think the rookie and the rest of the Hornets will have all they can handle.
WHAT THE HORNETS DO WELL:
Take Care of the Ball. Everyone reading this must keep in mind that Chris Paul is not playing tonight. Missing the team’s primary ball handler, one would think their turnover numbers would skyrocket. Surprisingly, the other day against the Magic, the second best defensive team in the NBA, the Hornets only committed 10 turnovers. Collison committed four, which is more a testament to how “green” he is than to his carelessness. The other Hornets also don’t tend to really put the ball on the deck. Stojakovic is content to pass until he’s open from three and I don’t see anyone else other than David West and Julian Wright making aggressive moves to the bucket- at least in the half court. Making the Hornets a half-court/jumpshooting team should be the number one priority.
WHAT THE HORNETS DO POORLY:
Rebounding. The Hornets are pretty awful on the glass, mainly due to their lack of depth on their bench’s front line and Stojakovic failing to realize that a guy who is 6’10″ should get his hands on a few boards. The Hornets’ three best rebounders are Emeka Okafor, David West, and…James Posey? I mean, I love the “Poz” as much as any Celtics’ fan, but I don’t want him being any team’s third best rebounder. The Celtics are usually a team that gets killed on the boards so hopefully they can at least get a win in that column tonight.
Bang/Post. Hopefully we’ll get some Hornets fans to explain why Emeka Okafor has been absentee that last few games. Without Okafor playing at a high level, the Hornets’ only semblance of interior toughness goes right out the window. David West is a tough guy who doesn’t mind mixing it up down low, but if the Hornets trot out Sean Marks and “the White Flag” Aaron Gray to combat guys like Kendrick Perkins, Glen Davis, and Rasheed Wallace, it’s going to be a long night for dem Stingahs.
PLAYER/S WHO MAKE ME WORRY:
David West. Tonight, he is the only Hornet I fear. Despite Stojakovic’s recent strong play, I can’t bring myself to actually fear an aging one-dimensional player—especially when that one dimension is shooting. West, on the other hand, is a match-up nightmare for the Celtics. Baby is too slow to guard him, and Garnett appears too injured/not conditioned/too slight (take your pick) to stay with West.
PLAYER/S WHO DO NOT MAKE ME WORRY:
The Hornets Bench. You show me the Hornets’ bench, and I will show you something that leaves much to be desired- especially on the front line.
WHAT WE WANT TO SEE FROM THE C’s TONIGHT:
A win before everyone retreats to their hyperbaric chambers and miraculously heals up (right? that’s how it works, right?). Seriously, since that infamous proclamation, the Celtics are 3-4. Let’s save a little face, huh fellas?
PREDICTION:
I just have a bad feeling about this one, but that won’t stop me from predicting a Celtics win.
Celtics 97, Hornets 93
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