Game 28 Preview: Celtics at Clippers

The Celtics will have their hands full tonight with Clippers' bigs.

In the 2009-2010 season the Los Angeles Clippers won only 29 games. This season, they already have 20 wins -- and we're not even through the end of 2012. 

In what will be their toughest challenge yet, the Celtics (14-13) will take on the league's hottest and best team, the Clippers (22-6).

The Celtics are coming off arguably their most complete and dominant performance of the season, crushing the Brooklyn Nets on Christmas day, 93-76. 

The Clippers also played on Christmas, and they beat the Denver Nuggets pretty handedly, 112-100.

L.A. is riding a franchise-best 14-game winning streak, and they're 13-3 at home.

It's all set up for the Celtics to squander any momentum they gained on Tuesday, but we'll see if they're up for the challenge.

Projected lineups:

Celtics:

Rajon Rondo

Jason Terry

Paul Pierce

Kevin Garnett

Jason Collins

Clippers:

Chris Paul

Willie Green

Caron Butler

Blake Griffin

DeAndre Jordan

Keys to the game:

1. Rondo vs. CP3: Rajon Rondo has had his hands full during these first two games of the road trip. First, he had to deal with Deron Williams, and he completely outplayed him. Now, he has to handle Chris Paul, regarded by many as the best point guard in the NBA. The five-time All-Star is averaging 16.0 points, 9.5 assists, and 2.7 steals. By comparison, Rondo is averaging 13.7 points, 11.9 assists, and 2.1 steals per game. The two have squared off 9 times, and although Paul edges him in nearly every statistical category, Rondo has the lead in the column that matters most: wins (6-3). Rondo thrives going up against other top point guards. Throw in the fact that the game is being played in the bright lights of Los Angeles, and that tonight's game is part of TNT's national-televised double-header, and it all adds up to what should be a huge game from Rondo. And we all know how well he plays when he's on national television.

2. Up for the challenge: The Celtics came out on Christmas and played terrific. That means they have momentum and will carry that performance into tonight's game, right? Wrongo. The fact that they played extremely well the other night has no significance towards what to expect tonight. Regardless, the Celtics need to bring their A-game tonight. This Clippers team is in the top ten in each of the three main statistical categories: they're third in points allowed, second in assists, and eighth in points scored. Boston needs another 48-minute effort from everyone in order to win this one.

3. No fast break points: Although it should be known commodity, I have to stress the importance of the Celtics limiting their turnovers. The Clippers are third in the league in fast break points per game, and everyone knows about the high-flying "lob city" Clippers. They have guys that like to run in transition and finish at the rim with authority. The Celtics need to do all they can to take care of the basketball and not give the Clippers a chance to turn this one into a dunk contest.