| 2012/2013 NBA Regular Season: Game 55 | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
vs |  |
|
28-24 (8-15 on the road)
|
1-0 | |
| February 19th, 2013 – 7:00 PM (MT) | ||
| Pepsi Center – Denver, Colorado |
||
| TV Altitude / 950 AM / 104.3 FM | ||
| Probable Starters | ||
| Avery Bradley | PG | Ty Lawson |
| Jason Terry | SG | Andre Iguodala |
| Paul Pierce | SF | Danilo Gallinari |
| Jeff Green | PF | Kenneth Faried |
| Kevin Garnett | C | Kosta Koufos |
| Notes | ||
| Celtics Blog | Blogs | You are here! |
| Rajon Rondo and Jared Sullinger (out) | Injuries | Andre Iguodala and Danilo Gallinari (day to day) |
| Boston has not won in Denver since 2009 |
Stat | Nuggets are looking to end their current three game losing streak |
When these two teams played last on February 10th, the game featured some gritty play by the Nuggets, 15 extra minutes of play (three overtimes) and Andre Miller chucking an extremely questionable shot at the end of the last OT. All this resulted in the Nuggets losing the game 118-114.
Additionally, that game featured Andre Iguodala leaving the game prior to the overtime periods with a strained neck. He has not played since. One has to believe that if Iguodala was there with some perimeter defense the Nuggets probably pull that game out in one of those overtime periods. That, of course, is speculation. Grand scheme of things the Celtics played a great game on their home court, and it proved to be one of the more entertaining games of the season.
Some thoughts on the Celtics:
So Kevin Garnett doesn’t want to come to Denver? SHOCKED. No, seriously KG is notoriously loyal to his teams (it took twelve seasons for him to exit the Minnesota Timberwolves … and that was reluctantly) so this is not surprising. However, if fans use this as additional motivation to get loud at the Can, then more power to you. That sort of thing never bothered me, and I’ve never bought into the whole small market inferiority complex. You make the best team possible with the resources you have available at the time you have them. If you can’t accomplish it, it’s not because of some grand NBA design … it’s because you weren’t lucky enough to draft Kevin Durant.
Additionally … against all odds the Celtics have been playing some inspired ball since Rajon Rondo went down in January. Could be this be the Ewing Theory at play? You know, where a team plays better once their best player goes down? Probably. There’s no way the Celtics are a “better” team without Rondo, but they HAVE been playing some good ball. Particularly Avery Bradley.
Doc Rivers is a good coach who get’s the most out of the players he has. I often wonder what they kind of coaching, borderline control-freak approach would be with the loose and free form players the Nuggets have. I can’t help but think Doc’s results wouldn’t be as pretty as they are in Boston. He needs a certain type of player and I don’t think this Nuggets team fits that mold.
The Celtics are on a roll. It will be interesting to see how they handle playing in Denver (where they have traditionally struggled mightily. Even Larry Birds Celtics had a hard time winning here). One thing I do know is, fresh out of the All-Star break both teams will likely lay it out there and we should get another entertaining game.
Nuggets of Wisdom
Time to put the pedal to the metal. The Nuggets remaining schedule, outside of maybe tonight, is filled with opponents they should beat. If the Nuggets are to prove they are anything, the remaining schedule for February should provide that spark to set them up nicely for March and April.
Danilo Gallinari and Andre Iguodala are expected to be back for tonight's game. This is good news for Nuggets fans, and we shall see a full roster again for the first time since the first three quarter's of the Boston game 9 days ago. I am looking forward to seeing the lift they provide to a well rested squad coming out of the All-Star break.
We need to see Ty Lawson, Iguodala and most importantly Gallo clicking on on cylinders as we approach the stretch run. Starting with tonights game we need to see this Nuggets team play as it did during the 9 game winning streak that spanned three weeks.
Lets do this.
***
Twitter: @jmorton78 https://twitter.com/#!/jmorton78
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