Celtics Host Nets in Final Preseason Game

  at 

New Jersey Nets (3-4) at Boston Celtics (6-1)
Wednesday, October 20
7:30 PM ET
Preseason Game #8
TV:  CSNNE, YES, LP 752/753
Radio:  WEEI
TD Garden 
Referees:   Dick Bavetta, Brian Forte, John Goble 

This is the last preseason game to tune up before the regular season.   The Celtics have been off since Sunday while the Nets are playing in the second of back to back games.  They are coming off a 117-111 loss to the Knicks. 

Both teams should be working their teams into regular season form.  We should see the starters play somewhere close to regular minutes. Doc has said that they will play most of the first half, at least.   By this time also, the decisions on cuts should be fairly well set,  and we should be seeing close to a regular season rotation.  It will be interesting to see if the newest Celtic, Tiny Gallon, will see any playing time. 

The Celtics defeated the Nets 96-92 for their second victory of the preseason.    The Celtics will be looking for a preseason sweep of their division foe and to end their preseason on a positive note,  while the Nets will be looking to avenge the earlier loss and end on a positive note as well as ending the preseason with a .500 record.  

Probable Starters
PGSGSFPFC
Rajon Rondo....Ray Allen ... Paul Pierce....Kevin Garnett... ShaquilleO'Neal

Boston Bench Mob
Marquis Daniels
Glen Davis
Semih Erden
Luke Harangody
Stephane Lasme
Nate Robinson
Von Wafer
Delonte West
Mario West
Tiny Gallon 

Injured
Kendrick Perkins (knee) out
Delonte West (back) out
Jermaine O'Neal (hand etc)  out 
Avery Bradley (ankle) day to day  



Probable Starters
PGSGSFPFC

Nets Bench
Terrence Williams
Stephen  Graham
Jordan Farmar
Derrick Favors
Johan Petro
Kris Humphries
Damion James
Ben Uzoh
Quinton Ross

Injuries
Troy Murphy (back, groin)  out
Quinton Ross (muscle strain) out 
Brian Zoubek (back) day to day

Key Matchups
  vs 
Brook Lopez is one of the best young centers in the league.  He has been averaging 18.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game in the preseason and it will be up to Shaq to slow him down in this game. 

  vs 
It seems as though the PG matchup is always key to the games.  As we have seen many times, as Rondo goes, so go the Celtics.   Harris is a very good PG and Rondo will need to make him work on both ends of the court. 

Team Connections

 Nets assistant coach Popeye Jones played for the Celtics from 1997-99
Damion James and Avery Bradley were teammates at Texas
Troy Murphy and Luke Harangody both attended Notre Dame
Devin Harris and Marquis Daniels were teammates in Dallas from 2004-06
Johan Petro and Ray Allen were teammates in Seattle from 2005-07
Kevin Garnett and Nets Assistant Coach Sam Mitchell were teammates in
Minnesota from 1995-2002..
Von Wafer and Travis Outlaw were teammates in Portland during the 2007-08 season
Shaquille O’Neal and Nets Assistant Coach Larry Krystkowiak were teammates on the Lakers during the 1996-97 season
Jermaine O’Neal played for Nets Assistant Coach Sam Mitchell during the 2008-09 season in Toronto
Jermaine O’Neal and Troy Murphy were teammates in Indiana from 2006-08