Celtics Host Raptors in Final Preseason Contest
Preseason Game #2 – Home Game #1
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
7:30 PM ET
TV: CSNNE
Radio: WEEI (850AM)
TD Garden
The Celtics close their very short preseason tonight when they host the Toronto Raptors at the TD Garden. Paul Pierce will once again miss this game and either Marquis Daniels or Sasha Pavlovic are expected to start in his place in this game. Pierce is still hampered by the bruised heel that has kept him out of all but one practice so far and that may keep him out of the season opener as well. Marquis Daniels started in the first preseason game but Doc has said that he likes Quisy in the second unit and may start Sasha Pavlovic.
We will probably see plenty of the young guys again as Doc will have to depend on his bench a lot this season to avoid burning out the starters and he needs to get them some experience. Doc may try to play the guys with training camp contracts like Stiemsma, Sweetney, Brown, and Sampson in order to give them some playing time as well as to evaluate them. He is expected to make cuts and finalize the roster soon. Of the 4, I see Stiemsma having the best chance of sticking, although both Danny and Doc are high on Brown and they may keep him on the roster for now as well.
The Raptors will more than likely play their starters and regular rotation once again. Doc has said that he isn't concerned about winning the preseason games and he showed that in the first game by playing the young guys down the stretch. Hopefully the Celtics will get the win, even with heavy minutes by the younger guys, and go into the season on a winning streak.
Probable Starters
PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Ray Allen
SF: Marquis Daniels
PF: Kevin Garnett
C: Jermaine O'Neal
Celtics Reserves
Avery Bradley
Chris Wilcox
Brandon Bass
Keyon Dooling
E'twaun Moore
Greg Stiemsma
JaJuan Johnson
Gilbert Brown
Michael Sweetney
Sasha Pavlovic
Jamaal Sampson
Injuries
Paul Pierce (heel) day to day
Probable Starters
PG: Jose Calderon
SG: DeMar DeRozan
SF: James Johnson
PF: Andrea Bargnani
C: Jamaal Magloire
Raptors Reserves
Solomon Alabi
Jerryd Bayless
Rasual Butler
Anthony Carter
Ed Davis
Gary Forbes
Aaron Gray
Amir Johnson
Linas Kleiza
Injuries
None
Keys to the Game
Improve conditioning
Improve chemistry
Don't get injured
