Can the Magic be the first team to defeat BOS?
The Magic (8-2), coming off a 25 pt win FRI at NJ, face another strong test at home SUN evening, this time against the unbeaten Celtics (8-0). BOS is coming off a very close 92-91 win at home against MIA, where the Celtics blew a 15 pt 4th quarter lead but barely managed to hang on. Kevin Garnett led BOS with 26 pts, 11 rebs.
The probable BOS starting lineup:
G... Rajon Rondo (9.4 ppg, 5 asts)
G... Ray Allen (20.4 ppg)
C... Kendrick Perkins (6.9 ppg, 5 rebs)
F... Paul Pierce (22.0 ppg)
F... Kevin Garnett (21.6 ppg, 13.6 rebs)
Top reserves... Eddie House (8.7 ppg); James Posey (7.2 ppg); Brian Scalabrine (3.3 ppg); Tony Allen (3.2 ppg)
Let's compare some statistics for both teams, since this is a key early season matchup:
Pts for.......... ORL 102.7 BOS 102.8
Pts against... ORL 95.0 BOS 87.6
FG%............. ORL 45.4% BOS 50%
3 PT FG%..... ORL 38.8% BOS 39.4%
FT%............. ORL 73.6% BOS 76.2%
Rebounds.... ORL 44.5 BOS 42.2
Assists........ ORL 22.1 BOS 24.6
Turnovers... ORL 14.8 BOS 16.9
Steals.......... ORL 5.6 BOS 10.8
Blocks......... ORL 4.3 BOS 4.6
BOS has a decided advantage in fewer pts against, FG%, FT%, asts, and steals. ORL has an advantage in rebs and fewer TOs; while the two teams are nearly even in the other three areas.
The Celtics have played only 3 road games so far and 5 home games, while the Magic have played 6 road games and 4 home games.
The Magic have beaten BOS 4 games in a row at home and have not lost to BOS at home since NOV of 2004, and will try to keep that string going tonight and hand BOS their first loss of the season.
The probable BOS starting lineup:
G... Rajon Rondo (9.4 ppg, 5 asts)
G... Ray Allen (20.4 ppg)
C... Kendrick Perkins (6.9 ppg, 5 rebs)
F... Paul Pierce (22.0 ppg)
F... Kevin Garnett (21.6 ppg, 13.6 rebs)
Top reserves... Eddie House (8.7 ppg); James Posey (7.2 ppg); Brian Scalabrine (3.3 ppg); Tony Allen (3.2 ppg)
Let's compare some statistics for both teams, since this is a key early season matchup:
Pts for.......... ORL 102.7 BOS 102.8
Pts against... ORL 95.0 BOS 87.6
FG%............. ORL 45.4% BOS 50%
3 PT FG%..... ORL 38.8% BOS 39.4%
FT%............. ORL 73.6% BOS 76.2%
Rebounds.... ORL 44.5 BOS 42.2
Assists........ ORL 22.1 BOS 24.6
Turnovers... ORL 14.8 BOS 16.9
Steals.......... ORL 5.6 BOS 10.8
Blocks......... ORL 4.3 BOS 4.6
BOS has a decided advantage in fewer pts against, FG%, FT%, asts, and steals. ORL has an advantage in rebs and fewer TOs; while the two teams are nearly even in the other three areas.
The Celtics have played only 3 road games so far and 5 home games, while the Magic have played 6 road games and 4 home games.
The Magic have beaten BOS 4 games in a row at home and have not lost to BOS at home since NOV of 2004, and will try to keep that string going tonight and hand BOS their first loss of the season.
posted by Mike from Illinois @ 5:10 AM
5 Comments:
At 5:26 AM,
Mike from Illinois said…
I couldn't find a line out for the game yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if BOS was a very slight favorite because of their unbeaten record.
We all know BOS won't go undefeated the whole season; they have to lose sometime, so why not tonight against the Magic, who would like to prove they can beat a high quality team at home, after big home losses to DET and PHO.
I'll say... Magic by 3.
At 7:28 AM,
Matt said…
I expect Keith and Keyon to defend Allen effectively. Rondo is fast but I give edge to Jameer in that position and Dwight could outwork Garnett. If Hedo and Rashard hold their own against Pierce, we should win this one. My only concern is the thinness of the front court which makes Adonal and Pat's contribution huge.
I would say Magic by 5.
At 1:25 PM,
Anonymous said…
To be fair, Boston's frontcourt isn't great either. Outside of Garnett, all they have is Perkins and Scalabrine.... and Pollard, if they're desperate.
At 3:17 PM,
Big Figure said…
You know,for some reason i think the magic will win big. The problem for the celts is going to be who guards dwight? See unlike garnett,dwight will play the paint so that means if they try and use garnett against dwight (which would be thier best defensive match-up),rashard will absolutely kill kendrick perkins. If they go the other way and use perkins against dwight,dwight should abuse him on the low block being that perkins is undersized (his best bet would be to try and bully dwight with body,and push him off the low block). And last but not least if they use perkins and choose to double,then we get open looks from three point range which is what we want anyway,and with only allen being a decent three point shooter in the line-up i dont think they want to get into a three point shooting contest with us. So i say we play how we've been playing and three point shooting becomes the difference in the game,rondo and perkins (no one on their bench should hurt us)just dont help much in the scoring department so the big three from the celts wont be able to hold up against our balanced attack in our building. Magic by 13!
At 5:48 PM,
Mike from Illinois said…
Celts are favored by a point... hope all of us are right in our pre-game prediction of a Magic win.
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