Game 45: Kings (17-29) @ Celtics (21-23) Open Thread

Posted by Adam Lowenstein on Jan 30, 2013 344689 commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F2013%2F01%2F30%2Fgame-45-kings-17-29-celtics-21-23-open-thread%2FGame+45%3A+Kings+%2817-29%29+%40+Celtics+%2821-23%29+Open+Thread2013-01-30+23%3A00%3A35Adam+Lowensteinhttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F%3Fp%3D34468

Sacramento at Boston
7:30 P.M. ET
TD Garden
CSNNE

Offensive Efficiency:
Boston: 99.6 points/100 possessions (26th)
Sacramento: 100.9 points/100 possessions (18th)

Defensive Efficiency:
Boston: 100.3 points allowed/100 possessions (7th)
Sacramento: 108.2 points allowed/100 possessions (30th)

Probable Kings Starters:
Isaiah Thomas (PG), Tyreke Evans (SG), John Salmons (SF), Jason Thompson (PF), and DeMarcus Cousins (C)

View From The Opposing Bench: Cowbell Kingdom

Thumbnail: Well, this Sacramento Kings team enjoys playing against Eastern Conference teams. Although they have a 6-20 record against their own conference, they are 11-9 against the opposing one. The Kings are the only non-playoff team this season to have an over .500 record against an opposing conference as of Wednesday. On Monday, they snapped their four-game losing streak, which was against four different Western Conference opponents, with a victory over John Wall and the suddenly resurgent Washington Wizards. In addition, the Kings have won their last four games against the Eastern Conference.

While the Kings have feasted on weak opponents like the Cavaliers, Raptors, and Bobcats, they also hold the distinction of having the best winning percentage in games decided by three or fewer points this season. However, that is where most of the praising of the 2012-13 Kings ends. They are one of the worst road teams this season and own the worst defensive efficiency in the league. However, the Celtics could not crack the 100-point mark when they visited Sacramento in late December. In that game, although Jeff Green made only five shots, he had a game-high 17 field goal attempts and team-high seven free throw attempts. Green’s 17 attempts remain his season-high for a game and his 31 minutes played that night are his fourth-most in any game this season.

Before Sunday’s contest, the Celtics had lost all eight of the games in which Green had played his most minutes this season. Then, he spent a season-high 42 minutes on the floor against the Heat, the third-most minutes for any Celtics player in that game. Wednesday night against the Kings could be another ‘Green’ show for the Celtics. Over his last 10 games, Green has a plus/minus of plus 59, the best of any Celtic and tied for the 18^th best for any player in that span. Get ready for Green to reassert himself and make an impact as one of the players who will be stepping up to replace the ball-dominator, Rajon Rondo.

Prediction: The Kings put up a fight against the Celtics, but Sacramento is unable to get its first season sweep from Boston since 2006-07. The Celtics get their rest, display their talent, and run away with it near the end.

Celtics 100, Kings 87

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