Game 39/82: Bobcats (15-21) @ Celtics (29-9) Open Thread

Posted by Ryan DeGama on Jan 14, 2011 146955 commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F2011%2F01%2F14%2Fgame-3982-bobcats-15-21-celtics-29-9-open-thread%2FGame+39%2F82%3A+Bobcats+%2815-21%29+%40+Celtics+%2829-9%29+Open+Thread2011-01-14+23%3A33%3A41Ryan+DeGamahttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F%3Fp%3D14695

Charlotte at Boston

7:30 P.M. ET

TD Garden

CSNNE

Offensive Efficiency:

Boston: 105.7 points/100 possessions (10th)

Charlotte: 99.3 points/100 possessions (24th)

Defensive Efficiency:

Boston: 97.5 points allowed/100 possessions (2nd)

Charlotte: 103.5 points allowed/100 possessions (15th)

Probable Charlotte starters: DJ Augustin (PG), Stephen Jackson (SG), Gerald Wallace (SF), Boris Diaw (PF), Kwame Brown (C)

View From The Opposing Bench: Queen City Hoops

Injury Report:

Celtics: Kevin Garnett (out), Kendrick Perkins (out), Delonte West (out), Jermaine O’Neal (out, will decide Tuesday whether or not to have surgery), Semih Erden (game-time decision). Bobcats: Sagana Diop (out), Nazr Mohammed (possible).

Thumbnail: These are not December’s Bobcats. Charlotte, last seen in the Celtics circle on the receiving end of a savage 93-62 beating, has a new coach in Paul Silas and has won four straight, including an upset of the Bulls on Wednesday. These are also not December’s Celtics. The Green are more depleted than usual in the frontcourt and poised for a tough tilt with the resurgent team from the Queen City.

Bobcats Upset Bulls:

WHAT THE BOBCATS DO WELL:

Hit the offensive glass: The ‘Cats are 10th in the league in offensive rebound rate and have the edge over the C’s tonight, whose normal advantage cleaning up their own glass isn’t a given with Marquis Daniels expected to see some time at the PF position and Luke Harangody looking like he may log big minutes. Charlotte will send Brown and Diaw and two potentially aggressive wings in Jackson and Wallace to attack the C’s in the paint. They’ve also got Tyrus Thomas off the bench. That’s enough firepower to cause problems.

Get to the line: Charlotte takes the second most shots in the league at the rim (26.1 per game) and as a result is 8th in the league in free throw rate, a problematic combo for a C’s team that could struggle on the boards tonight.

WHAT THE BOBCATS DO POORLY:

Hold onto the ball: Though this has improved under Silas, Charlotte has the slipperiest butterfingers of any team in the league, coughing up the ball 16.31% of the time. Good news for Rajon Rondo and the C’s, who force the fourth most turnovers in the league, by percentage (15.27%).

PLAYERS WHO MAKE ME WORRY:

Jackson and Wallace and Thomas. In all three cases, they could be non-factors, particularly if the C’s can get out early and remind them they usually get smacked around by the Green. But with their renewed confidence lately, each one of them could hurt the C’s. Wallace is just back from a multi-week injury and played well against the Bulls in his return, Jackson is trick or treat but when engaged, he can take over a game emotionally, and sometimes on the court. And the Celtics have no one who can stay with Thomas if he’s using his length and athleticism and playing aggressively. In order of who brings me the most worried-ness: Thomas, Wallace and Jackson.

Augustin: Less worried, more interested. He outplayed Derrick Rose Wednesday scoring 22 points and handing out 12 assists and just may, under Silas, be on the verge of making a leap in his game. Let’s see if he can give Rondo any problems. Last time, #9 held him scoreless.

PLAYERS WHO DO NOT MAKE ME WORRY:

Oddly enough, given the (relative) Charlotte proficiency at rebounding and getting to the line, I’m not worried at all about Diaw and Brown. Okay, that’s not odd. Those two are in no way frightening players. In fact, as a team with grievous frontcourt injuries, Diaw and Brown may prove the perfect tonic.

WHAT WE WANT TO SEE FROM BOSTON TONIGHT:

A win of any kind, in any fashion. To get there, expect the C’s to employ some small lineups, and get strong games out of at least two of Harangody, Glen Davis and Shaquille O’Neal.

PREDICTION:

Boston 89 Charlotte 87