Celtics Looking to Remain Undefeated as they Face the Wolves
Boston Celtics (5-0) at Minnesota Timberwolves (1-3)
Wednesday, November 4
8:00 PM ET
Game 6, Road Game 3
TV: CSN HD, KSTC-45, NBA LP 757
Radio: WEEI, KFAN
Target Center
Referees: Joe DeRosa, David Jones, Courtney Kirkland
The fortunes of the Wolves and Celtics have been joined more than probably any two teams in the league. The sub-plots of 3 former Celtics on the Wolves (Jefferson, Gomes and Blount) playing against their former team and KG playing against the team that drafted him and where he played for 10 seasons.
The Celtics are playing in the second of back to back games, but the starters got plenty of rest in the 4th quarter of their blowout win over the Sixers. Hopefully fatigue won't be a factor.
The Celtics need to come out strong and not underestimate the Wolves. This could be a trap game if they come in thinking that they can win without putting in the work. The Celtics can't take any teams for granted because every one will be gunning for them. If the Celtics play their game and don't let up, this should be another blowout.
Coach: Doc Rivers
Average Age: 27.8
Average Height: 6-6
Average Weight: 224
Probable Starters
![[image]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sf5BhxZnMDk02RgRjnE9xypo5AOS_-3mzpE6pbUbc9p0k90zHaXmsaJmyyhUVQkfW7F3dghshSl5HbU3l-Aa8X9oPs6b589V_pqdS29ASWUnJzuhEmZqYFuD6Ia8AeqfyrRQ=s0-d)
![[image]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vGDOKXL-b6aUJ6chizGPSQxJU96yLfVzC2KCCCJpnVhXay3STi6CPwgvosRxKCe0ka_adVB3n5ZIjU6B7HIpbevizE0wI2LhDNRsWwbrL_ftY_HEPCXOGU9vQVpdyu__vK6g=s0-d)
![[image]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_u2tDsd4DA3Jv8XS1WDdyJjKacSHdjXgbbWPjNqB9g87JQdQvb6BcNyy9gYB0JU-JRzoDE3Dw00g5wFcIIjE4u_tgeK-N6uzoXWmt8xS33YaOv3VPyjul7MmSamhoZ0ii09Vg=s0-d)
![[image]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sIB846x8IMFIxODR7Kh9MeVwDwEh-4amhsLrDOEZV5AMzSEWjLut-_L8U48aI6Du_hkbw4dBe6IV7c2q3Rv8TnCXGWK6arLMZVy3GIVChQi3mnbLVT9F5K0i8q2punIBwmjA=s0-d)
![[image]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tcoM1HEYZwO89u8qpWblggIAynOmEV30cKRKf6emtSl3nn90i0DlIwHV1p3A-Ok0KmNZRjfeIUvqb9buPwPQYdaaUBSWzG82pVl5N6gNZ9PrXT97kpXyiZwp8qEciyXVpldQ=s0-d)
PG: Rajon Rondo PPG 7.8 RPG 4.00 APG 6.7
SG: Ray Allen PPG 17.4 RPG 5.00 APG 2.7
SF: Paul Pierce PPG 21.1 RPG 7.40 APG 3.8
PF: Kevin Garnett PPG 13.3 RPG 7.0 APG 2.3
C: Kendrick Perkins PPG 9.8 RPG 4.8 BPG 2.2
Reserves
Rasheed Wallace
Marquis Daniels
Eddie House
Shelden Williams
Lester Hudson
JR Giddens
Injuries
Tony Allen (ankle) out
Bill Walker (knee) out
Brian Scalabrine (ankle) day to day
Big Baby Davis (thumb) out
Rajon Rondo (ankle) will play
Coach: Kurt Rambis
Average Age: 25.4
Average Height: 6-7
Average Weight: 227
Probable Starters
![[image]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_v67tB21CIKGMeuilCYXU-FYggvRDXS5Ehce4wIEDthK8Xt_3ARC_t6-0IRVqUzlsA63exi8AGS84lFHS1kdw1RjDgLo8n7RWVwgDUC3ef_HRfkqzUYECG65G_v=s0-d)
![[image]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vaF8hGZWGbJEF8kG5g14a3tXYoTCAIYOFGsFUhkU8mImZlAKfnSsPIpnKOndtqQN1uJR056lL6lygQHuBgc8XH6VU6zeAyaeuVEhjrPXrJ7PLUFK67UEjsq2w=s0-d)
![[image]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_ufSwAF5Q17B3tJk8DzpkYKnCgJpmthdE3tsv7JFm8gBzBMW6aL5A4SEt19T809p4wHAICnnjjrB9ohyIWvB00AH0vAX9qQ_yL-5kgVU8g6nvE1xhe5xgp_8b9LiPp1NFE=s0-d)
![[image]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tte5uBONBfx9EZugPwzggA2y9RnKFVvw62lH7-jGvZ3PHgxJigSbnqUpNFb6Uy7OI6iCEqitd1dWHzUEQLNzZd9uwX00pzBpJPkjYhZW8STayE7vMMyYsf-rlq=s0-d)
![[image]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sWk5Nk0PQdWzV20DEhjRpQf5vW_Bj0bGImtarRkflPJIZON34kEMaMNUtegvvrOmiP3IAdugeCCegl3URMb4-Gga5t-E5Ih-30ZPL53AECZ3qKlGDW5gskZlj3=s0-d)
PG: Jonny Flynn PPG 14.8 APG 3.3 SPG 1.5
SG: Corey Brewer PPG 12.8 RPG 5.8 APG 2.3
SF: Ryan Gomes PPG 11.3 RPG 8.0 APG 1.8
PF: Oleksiy Pecherov PPG 8.0 RPG 3.5 BPG .3
C: Al Jefferson PPG 16.5 RPG 6.0 BPG 1.0
Reserves
Mark Blount
Brian Cardinal
Wayne Ellington
Jason Hart
Ryan Hollins
Nathan Jawai
Sasha Pavlovic
Ramon Sessions
Damien Wilkins
Injuries
Kevin Love (hand) out
Key Matchups
![[image]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_ugSS8qUHAy2mdPPGoxsfwFtY289kBLvofWjJfxwRN81BNre4AQ8V1ZU_4Sbnr4DeU4ZSMoOmZKIidLrQOPeJJsleOZMuGYQBZlxb-skBze_FgX4UpJdmIdAHipvxU=s0-d)
vs ![[image]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sXu99iiyzdcNpT4UDmxd2RlFcJt6u22gLHOf164CNHnBvrFSdh43cI9ymhyX5vbAP03kLGHe7-Fe8_rXPAk9ym4zjJzvVGq3_dhcnc-DW0daduwXMoEV4s9bhY=s0-d)
Kendrick Perkins vs Al Jefferson
This is a match-up of good friends who know each others' games very well. I can see them playing for bragging rights in this one. Big Al's strength is in his offense where Perk's strength is in his defense. Should be a good match-up.
![[image]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_toDqnkkHmlXD1RwkL9BR97fcmzWjMdGqDgIY6UXw4HjVnt4Dp87IzU1XyTGTwxnIFLxTGg8ZemPl1NpyJ5QT-gIhdRx1KCuSV-jyyn-D1Xy7s08ULFvnA6M4V6Ag=s0-d)
vs ![[image]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_t-1nJmyScYN5wOFHX1gdyraZcZGrLJuyewJt_5Iw-oSzFfuEKFVBXGtkHaSdQCbFV9TvmI3AstI35xNzLnxoWsGiIw1SI6fueadXXRlbELqkWVxzlHp18F=s0-d)
This is another match-up of former teammates. They know each other well from going against each other in practice before the trade. Paul Pierce has been playing great basketball and look for him to go at Gomes early and often.
Honorable Mention
Rajon Rondo vs Jonny Flynn
Rondo will be facing a highly touted young point guard in this game. Since Flynn is a rookie, look for Rondo to go at him on both ends of the floor. As go the point guards, so go the team.
Team Connections
Kevin Garnett played for the Timberwolves from 1995-2007
Ryan Gomes and Al Jefferson are former Celtic draft picks and were included in the trade for Kevin Garnett
Ray Allen was originally drafted by the Timberwolves with the 5th overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft
Dave Wohl was an Assistant Coach with the Celtics from 2004-07 and
Assistant GM from 2007-09
Damien Wilkins and Ray Allen were teammates in Seattle from 2004-07
Shelden Williams played for the Timberwolves during the 2008-09 season
Mark Blount played for the Celtics from 2000-06
Wayne Ellington and Rasheed Wallace are former North Carolina Tar Heels
Game Notes
• Celtics won the season series 2-0 against the Timberwolves in 2008-09
• Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 24.0 points and 9.5 rebounds per game last season
• Al Jefferson averaged 28.5 points and 7.5 rebounds against the team that drafted him
• The C’s are currently on a five game winning streak against Minnesota, the longest for either team in the history of the series
• The Celtics are leading the all-time series 23-16 with the Celtics 12-8 at home
Keys to the Game
Defense
Start strong
Control the paint
Aggressive PG
Crash the boards
