Game 32 Preview: Pacers at Celtics

Rajon Rondo may not be completely healthy, but he is going to have
to lead the Celtics out of their current rut.

It's deja vu all over again for the Celtics.

The Celtics (14-17) now have the same record at this point in the season as they did last season.

I'm sure everyone has heard the "well, it's just like last year" phrase, and everything will work out just fine. But that was last year. This is a totally different team, a totally different season, with totally different expectations.

Last year's Celtics were not the deepest team -- when Greg Stiemsma and Ryan Hollins are playing significant minutes in the playoffs, you know your team lacks depth. This year's team is younger, more athletic, and was supposed to actually challenge the Miami Heat for the top spot in the East.

Now, the Celtics are left searching for answers after they suffered their fourth consecutive double-digit loss on Wednesday night to the Memphis Grizzlies, 93-83. Wednesday night's performance included some good and some bad. The Celtics made a spirited run in the fourth quarter when they turned up their defensive and offensive intensity, leading them to outscore Memphis in the fourth, 24-18. However, the Celtics' glaring issues were too great to overcome. Coach Doc Rivers put it perfectly when he said, "Whatever we're doing wrong, it isn't going to get fixed in a day."

If the Celtics are to go on a run, it would be ideal for it to start tonight, as the Central Division-leading Indiana Pacers (19-13) come to town. Indiana is coming off an 89-81 victory over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night. Indiana is second in the league in points allowed at 90.0, trailing none other than the Memphis Grizzlies (89.8). 

Here's a preview:

Projected lineups:

Pacers:

George Hill

Lance Stephenson

Paul George

David West 

Roy Hibbert

Celtics:

Rajon Rondo

Avery Bradley

Paul Pierce

Kevin Garnett

Jason Collins

Keys to the game:

1. The two Paul's: I know all Celtics fans are familiar with their starting small forward in Paul Pierce. But does anyone know a thing about Indiana's starting small forward, Paul George? If you don't, you will get to see everything he's capable of tonight. The 6'8'', 220-pounder is one of the most underrated players in the league. He does a little bit of everything, as he's averaging 16.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.5 steals, and nearly a block per game. Not to mention, he is an 83% free throw shooter and shooting 39% behind the three-point line. He is coming off arguably his best game of the season, as he registered his sixth double-double of the season by scoring a game-high 29 points to go along with 14 rebounds. He also had 3 assists and 2 steals. Paul Pierce's nemesis may no longer be Luol Deng after tonight's game. Paul Pierce is going to have to bring his A-game. He needs to make a concerted effort of getting George out of the paint and to make sure he is not a factor on the boards -- not to mention on the offensive side of the ball as well.

2. Containing the bigs: Due to Indiana's strong frontcourt, expect Jason Collins to get the nod tonight. President of basketball operations Danny Ainge said yesterday that he wants to see the lineup the Celtics used last year that made them so successful in the second half of the season, and that lineup would be inserting Brandon Bass and taking out Collins. But Collins is better suited to match up with Roy Hibbert tonight, which is why I would expect him to start over Bass. The Pacers are fifth in the league in rebounding, snatching 45.5 boards per game. Their starting frontcourt of Paul George, David West, and Hibbert make up more than 50% of the team's total rebounding. The Celtics did a great job on Memphis' bigs on Wednesday, only allowing Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol to combine for 11 points and 15 rebounds. If the Celtics can duplicate their success from the other night against the bigs of Indiana, they'll be in good shape.

3. All systems go: Rajon Rondo has not looked himself in these past two games. After sitting out Saturday night's game with right hip and upper thigh bruise, the point guard has not looked like his normal self against the Kings and Grizzlies. He has not been aggressive, and when he has taken jump shots -- an area he has improved dramatically in this season -- they have been off by a long margin. For the Celtics to be successful, it all starts with the driver behind the wheel, and that's Rondo.