Game 51/82: C’s (38-12) @ Bobcats (21-29) Open Thread

Posted by Brian Robb on Feb 7, 2011 1611718 commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F2011%2F02%2F07%2Fgame-5180-cs-38-12-bobcats-21-29%2FGame+51%2F82%3A+C%27s+%2838-12%29+%40+Bobcats+%2821-29%29+Open+Thread2011-02-07+23%3A04%3A54Brian+Robbhttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F%3Fp%3D16117

UPDATE: Chris Forsberg is reporting Semih Erden will miss tonight’s game with a right adductor strain. The latest injury leaves the C’s with just four bigs tonight (Harangody and Big Baby off bench) and 10 healthy bodies overall including Avery Bradley who arrived flew from North Dakota to Charlotte this morning. Getting everyone home healthy instead of a win may become priority number one in this one….and the sad thing is that I’m only half kidding.

Boston at Charlotte

7:00 P.M. ET

Time Warner Arena

CSNNE

Offensive Efficiency:

Boston: 108.0 points/100 possessions (13th)

Charlotte: 103.0 points/100 possessions (25th)

Defensive Efficiency:

Boston: 100.2 points allowed/100 possessions (2nd)

Charlotte: 106.7 points allowed/100 possessions (14th)

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: Shaquille O’Neal (out), Delonte West (out), Jermaine O’Neal (out), Marquis Daniels (out). Bobcats: DeSagana Diop (out), Tyrus Thomas (out).

Thumbnail: The new-look Bobcats under Paul Silas (12-10) have hit a bit of a bump in the road recently, losing four of their past five games against some stiff competition (Miami, Dallas, Utah). Despite the recent slide, these Bobcats are still entirely capable of beating the C’s on any given night, although they lack the interior muscle to match up with the C’s front line of KG, Perk, and Big Baby.

Nonetheless, Silas has taken off D.J. Augustin off the leash since his arrival and the young point guard has lit it up alongside Stephen Jackson for what is still one of the worst offenses in the league. The C’s have had the Bobcats number this year, but those are the guys who will likely be responsible for any win tonight over Doc Rivers’ crew while they come out for the second night of a tough back-to-back trip. Also keep an eye for Boris Diaw’s long-range shooting (43.5 percent from deep in past 10 games)

WHAT WE WANT TO SEE FROM BOSTON TONIGHT:

Squeaking a win out tonight by any means necessary. Big minutes for Paul Pierce and Ray Allen yesterday means we should see a healthy dose of Von Wafer tonight, as we will for the next month or two in Marquis Daniels’ absence (more on that tomorrow). Still, productive minutes from the bench on the road have been hard to come by lately, so Semih, Nate and Von would all do well to give Doc something to help from keeping him playing Paul, Ray and company 35+ minutes tonight in order to win.

Getting the ball into KG is probably a good idea too, as is Rajon Rondo keeping up his attacking mentality which began last Tuesday in Sacramento and will be needed in order to achieve a win tonight.

PREDICTION:

Boston 89 Charlotte 87 and Ray waits till he comes home to break the record.