This game will be the biggest challenge to the Celtics all year. Paul Pierce missed last practice due to the flu, although he will play, but only adds him to the laundry list of injuries which includes Shaquille O’Neal (inflamed Achilles), Jermaine O’Neal (sore left knee), and Semih Erden (right adductor strain), swingman Marquis Daniels (bruised spinal cord), and guard Delonte West (fractured right wrist).
This leaves the C's in big trouble if Pierce gets in foul trouble with the lack of depth at the SF spot. The Celtics can win this game though if we get a big game defensively from the starters and led offensively by the trio of Rondo-Pierce-Allen. They certainly will have their work cut out for them but Ray is going to have to be running all day on the offensive end to tire out Kobe and if the Lakers switch Kobe on Rondo which they often do, he has to be aggressive all game, either driving or shooting what they give to him. Pierce torched Artest last game and I figure it will be no different this game. Artest is in quicksand and Pierce needs to take advantage of that.
The Celtics have to play a perfect game and I don't think that's completely impossible.
Celtics 95-89
Tommy Award: Rondo
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