Both teams are riding 2 game winning streak, both teams are 6-4 in their last 10 games. Yet their season are so very different. The Celtics are battling for the #1 seed in the East, while the Grizzlies are trying to hold on for last place in the West.
Memphis got terrible news yesterday that Rudy Gay will not return at any point this season. If that didn't hurt their playoff hope enough, coming into the Garden where the Celtics are 29-6. Plus the Grizzlies have not played well against Boston, because if they lose tonight that would mean they have been swept by the Celtics 3 of the last 4 seasons.
The Celtics have looked like shit lately, right up until the 2nd half of the game against the Knicks. Doc called out the team for being soft, and he wasn't far enough. The Celtics were letting guys get to the hoop way to easy, which was also affecting their perimeter defense. In the 2nd half against the Knicks the Celtics put the clamps down. The question is can they start doing it night after night?
I have said it before and I'll say it again. It's all about Rondo. When he plays like he did last game (10+ points, 10+ assists, 5+ rebs, and a couple steals) the whole Celtics team plays better. When Rondo get penetration suddenly Paul Pierce becomes 10X the player, then when he has to go iso and run the offense. KG is obviously much better, because he gets open looks in the low post. And the list goes on and on.
Rondo started to show that explosiveness he had earlier in the season. If he has it again tonight the Celtics will kick the shit out of this team. If he doesn't you could see a token "trap" loss. The time for those types of losses are over.
Celtics win 108-95
Tommy Award: Rondo
Game starts at 7:30pm on CSNNewEngland
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