99 Celtics, 82 Sixers

These are the Celtics I know, these are the Celtics I love. We played a quality playoff team and wiped the floor with them. It's always good to beat a scumbag Philly team too. All the Sixers fans will probably claim they are newfound Flyer fans starting last year game 7 against the Bruins. Anyways, enough Philly bashing and back to the game.

Rajon is back on and playing like a man possessed. He had 16 points and 13 assists so much for him being the 11th best point guard in the league you fack'n squares. Jermaine O'Neal played well too, he had 9 points and saw some vintage Jermaine with a couple of buckets.

The real impressive thing though was the defense. It was sufficating, especially in the second half. They held the Sixers to a 28% shooting and were seemingly in someones face every shot attempt.

Great win.

Celtics vs 76ers Preview

Depth Chart

	Philadelphia (PPG)	Boston (PPG)
PG	J. Holiday 13.9	R. Rondo 10.5
SG	J. Meeks 10.6	R. Allen 16.8
SF	A. Iguodala 14.1	P. Pierce 18.8
PF	E. Brand 14.9	K. Garnett 14.9
C	S. Hawes 7.4	N. Krstic 8.1

Every time the Sixers and the Celtics square off this year its a close game. Doug Collins won't win the coach of the year, but he should be nose to nose with Tom Thibs in Chicago. He has been able to find a way to get this team to play to their strengths, find the proper ways to utilize Andre Iguodala and Elton Brands skill set. The Sixers o scare me because they are a very athletic team but also have Elton Brand in the half court set.

However the Celtics have won 2 of their last 3 and seem to play at full strength in these "statement" type of games and I believe they will do the same. Rondo is playing back to his MVP type level, KG had an outstanding game against the Pistons, Paul Pierce has been getting into the playoff groove and hopefully this is Ray Allens get back on track game. Krstic will be back and we get to see Jermaine O'Neal's progression.

Celtics 102-93
Tommy Award: Ray Allen

Celtics vs 76ers Preview

Depth Chart

	Boston (PPG)	Philadelphia (PPG)
PG	R. Rondo 10.8	J. Holiday 13.9
SG	R. Allen 17.6	J. Meeks 10.0
SF	P. Pierce 19.1	A. Iguodala 14.3
PF	K. Garnett 15.2	E. Brand 15.2
C	N. Krstic 8.3	S. Hawes 6.8
View full depth chart: Boston | Philadelphia

The Sixers don't scare me at all. I don't think they are that great, however, you can't deny that they have been playing way above their heads. Andre Iguodala is playing like Oscar Robinson, and their role players are playing like starters. However, I do believe the Celtics will be able to put the clamps on them when it comes to defense. Their defense has been suspect recently, but tonight would be a great night to show our defensive prowess.

Also, Rajon hasn't been playing well of late so I expect him to have another token double double game with at least 18 assists. I think this game will get out of hand.

Celtics: 100-83
Tommy Award: Rajon

Celtics 84 76ers 80

The Celtics have won 14 straight, but it wasn't easy last night. Most of that is because the Celtics just had a bad shooting night, but the 76ers also matchup well overall against the Celtics. They have fast young slashers, and those are the types of players that can give the Celtics trouble. Then again, the 76ers have no one inside, so the Celtics have a huge advantage in the paint.

Allen led the Celtics with 22 points, but no one of the Celtics looked "on his game". I also really liked the way Shaq played. He knew there was no one who could stop him inside and he ate this team alive (13 points, 9 rebs, 2 blocks). The Celtics has a team only shot 38%.

It was very close near the end of the game as Shaq missed two big free throws, but but Andre Iguodala slipped and turned the ball over the first time and then had his shot blocked by Kevin Garnett the next. Allen hit a pair of free throws with 5.6 seconds left to ice it.

A win is a win, but there is one thing that really pissed me off last night. Jermaine O'Neal has been cleared to play,but decided to sit out, because he has the flu. Listen, I know it'd be tough playing with the flu, but after we have seen Pierce, KG, and Rondo play through it why can't he? I really question this guys heart, and I hope they rip him apart in that locker room. They guy hasn't played in so long, so you would think the second he was cleared he would do everything he could to be on the court. Maybe I am wrong and he really couldn't do it, but I seriously doubt it.

76ers @ Celtics Preview

DP is gone on Christmas break and it'll be tough to get as close as he does on his predictions lately, but I'll do my best.

The 76ers are in town tonight to face the Celtics who are currently on a 13 game winning streak, which is incredible with all the injuries they have had to deal with. If you can remember the 76ers were one of the few teams to almost beat the Celtics during their streak. It took a Kevin Garnett bank shot off Rajon Rondo's alley-oop pass with 1.4 seconds left to lift the Celtics to a 102-101 victory.

I can see how the 76ers actually matchup well against the Celtics. They have a lot of guys who can run and take advantage of the Celtics age. That being said with Shaq back in the lineup, and maybe even Jermaine O'Neal the Celtics should be able to clog up the middle. Since the 76ers don't have a lot of guys who can hit jumpers I think the Celtics can shred this team. Plus I don't see anyone calming down the Big 3 tonight.

Celtics win 101-88
Tommy Award: Big Baby
Game starts at 7:30pm on Comcast

101 Celtics - 100 Sixers

(That was too easy)

My prediction for the game was finally off (unlike BMacks Hockey prediction kid was spot on), but I was due for a bad game.

Doc Rivers deserves this win in a see saw game as he is a master of the inbound call. But with 6.6 seconds left he drew up a perfect play to win the game. He had KG inbound the ball to Rondo, have Pierce come up with a fake pick and roll screen, and KG come in with a screen on Jrue Holliday which ultimately led to a defensive switch. Holliday was on KG and rolling to the hoop Rondo saw that, perfect pass, game winner, see ya Philly.

But this game was really a gutsy win for the Celtics. They didn't have Shaq, Jermaine, Delonte, Pierce had the flu and it was the second game of a back to back and were still able to pull it out to get their winning streak up to 9.

It was a see- saw game but the Celtics just had too many options.

Box Score

Celtics vs 76ers Tonight

Depth Chart

	Boston (PPG)	Philadelphia (PPG)
PG	R. Rondo 11.0	J. Holiday 13.4
SG	R. Allen 16.3	J. Meeks 9.4
SF	P. Pierce 18.9	A. Iguodala 13.9
PF	K. Garnett 15.7	E. Brand 15.7
C	S. O'Neal 11.2	S. Hawes 6.1
View full depth chart: Boston | Philadelphia

I really hope Rondo doesn't play as he looked a tad gimpy on the defensive end. Nate Robinson has been doing a great job at filling in for Rajon when he has sat out with his hamstring issue.

A good note to is if Rondo doesn't play, the Big three has let to lose against Philly in Philly. Boston seeks its seventh consecutive victory in Philadelphia and its ninth in a row overall Thursday night when it opens a three-game road trip against the surging 76ers.

The Sixers can't shoot. Jrue Holliday is a fun player and so is Iguodala, but I don't see it happening.

Celtics: 109-85
Tommy Award: Shaq

103 Sixers, 92 Celtics

Well the Celtics finally lost their first preseason game and it's not that surprising since they played without Shaq, KG, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Rajon Rondo.

I was very impressed with the bench who was led by Nate Robinson with 26 points and Luke Harangody with 11 points.

Stephen Lasme the UMass product is still impressing and has an outside shot of making it, he's been playing lots of minutes, playing stout defense and devouring rebounds.

Avery Bradley had a bad debut as he shot 1-6 and had 3 turnovers. It's his firsty game back, nothing to panic about.

Box Score

93 Celtics, 65 76ers

I can tell you what, this thrashing probably destroyed the mood of all Phillies fans and probably ruined Doc Halladay's No Hitter.

It was cool to see Shaq out there and have him score 8 points but the guy who stole the show..... drum role..... all the way from Turkey.... Semih Erden. Who was a lot wider than I thought and played really well. He had 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks. He had a hell of game, he looked a little awkward from time to time, but overall I'm impressed with his performance.

Ray Allen had a good game with 14 points (2-3 3FG) and 8 rebounds. Pierce had 8 points, and Rajon had 4 points and 7 assists.

Overall it was a good performance, and yes it's preseason, but still just as exciting.

Box Score