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| Rajon Rondo will look to pick apart the Bucks defense tonight. |
Nearly a week after falling to the Bucks on their home court, the Celtics will try to get revenge as they travel to Milwaukee on the second night of a back-to-back. Milwaukee is off to their best start in seven years (3-1) and defeated the Washington Wizards last night on the road 101-91.
Projected lineups:
Celtics:
Rajon Rondo
Courtney Lee
Paul Pierce
Jared Sullinger
Kevin Garnett
Bucks:
Brandon Jennings
Monta Ellis
Tobias Harris
Ersan Ilyasova
Samuel Dalembert
Keys to the game:
1. Containing the guards: Last Friday night, the Brandon Jennings-Monta Ellis duo outplayed Rajon Rondo and Courtney Lee. The two Bucks combined for 35 points while Rondo and Lee only had 21. Lee. For the past two games, Lee has only played 18 minutes and scored 8 points. Simply put, Lee needs to play better, and him and Rondo need to do a better job of making things difficult for those two Bucks on the offensive end.
2. Managing minutes: Tonight is the second back-to-back of the season for the Celtics. It'll be interesting to see how Doc Rivers manages minutes. Rajon Rondo played 41 minutes while Paul Pierce played 35. Garnett played 30. Definitely look for Rondo's minutes to decrease and even Pierce's. However, that means others need to step up -- cough, cough, Jeff Green.
3. Playing without KG: For starters, thanks for making me look good, KG! But, last night should just go to show that KG is indeed their life as Doc Rivers put it. Rajon Rondo had some candid comments regarding KG's effect. His best quote? ""It's just chaos." You got that right. He went on to say, "We just got to do a better job when Kevin's not on the floor. I'm sure the plus/minus with him on the floor -- they showed it during the playoffs last year -- and right now it's carrying over. When Kevin goes out, things change." Oh yes they do change, Rajon, and they change big time. That plus/minus so far this year? They're a +9 when KG is on the court, and they're a -29 when he's not. So what do they do? Well others need to communicate better, and players should want to step up and be the guy to carry this team to victory. We'll see what they can do tonight.
Keys to the game:
1. Containing the guards: Last Friday night, the Brandon Jennings-Monta Ellis duo outplayed Rajon Rondo and Courtney Lee. The two Bucks combined for 35 points while Rondo and Lee only had 21. Lee. For the past two games, Lee has only played 18 minutes and scored 8 points. Simply put, Lee needs to play better, and him and Rondo need to do a better job of making things difficult for those two Bucks on the offensive end.
2. Managing minutes: Tonight is the second back-to-back of the season for the Celtics. It'll be interesting to see how Doc Rivers manages minutes. Rajon Rondo played 41 minutes while Paul Pierce played 35. Garnett played 30. Definitely look for Rondo's minutes to decrease and even Pierce's. However, that means others need to step up -- cough, cough, Jeff Green.
3. Playing without KG: For starters, thanks for making me look good, KG! But, last night should just go to show that KG is indeed their life as Doc Rivers put it. Rajon Rondo had some candid comments regarding KG's effect. His best quote? ""It's just chaos." You got that right. He went on to say, "We just got to do a better job when Kevin's not on the floor. I'm sure the plus/minus with him on the floor -- they showed it during the playoffs last year -- and right now it's carrying over. When Kevin goes out, things change." Oh yes they do change, Rajon, and they change big time. That plus/minus so far this year? They're a +9 when KG is on the court, and they're a -29 when he's not. So what do they do? Well others need to communicate better, and players should want to step up and be the guy to carry this team to victory. We'll see what they can do tonight.
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