GT: Houston rockets @ Boston Celtics | 7:30pm ET

[Magic bird]

Probable Starters: Rockets
PG: Jeremy Lin
SG: James Harden
SF: Chandler Parsons
PF: Marcus Morris
C: Omer Asik

Probable Starters: Celtics
PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Avery Bradley
SF: Paul Pierce
PF: Brandon Bass
C: Kevin Garnett


X- Factor:
Avery Bradley will be the X-Factor in this one, his defense on Harden will have to be on par. The Rockets are 4-8 when Harden is kept under 40% shooting. The Celtics must try and limit Greg Smith's cutting where he averages 1.489 points per play and shoots 78.4% in those situations.

Celtics will win this if there defense shuts down Harden and prevents Parsons and Lin from shooting 3's. I expect Sully to get more minutes in this game to help contain Omer Asik.


GO CELTICSSSSS:cheers:

[HoopDreams247]

I expect a lot of TOs by Lin and Harden this game.

[Graviton]

Bradley is gonna sew that asshole shut, Harden will be shitting bricks, but they won't be coming out. Only refs can stop that if they fall for Harden's flops and arm flailing.

[JohnnySic]

A good test tonight. Go C's, make it 5 in a row.

[Kews1]

:pimp:

[HoopDreams247]

Isn't the game supposed to be starting now???

[BlitzForce]

Bradley Flop

[KungFuJoe]

Damn Bradley is a PEST!

[Kews1]

paul pierce is so sick! :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown:

[Derka]

Attaaaaaack the rim!!

[Kews1]

Rockets have nice uniforms

[Derka]

All f*cking jump shots. Lame shit.

[KungFuJoe]

Did the announcer just say Lin is good at keeping his dribble? :roll:

[shoops]

Rockets have nice uniforms
Yeah these throwback alts look better than the regulars imo.


Did the announcer just say Lin is good at keeping his dribble? :roll:
Lol yeah funny stuff

[Derka]

Weak offense, weaker defense.

[KungFuJoe]

Harden is such a smart player for his age.

[noob cake]

Harden is such a smart player for his age.

23 year old locked up for the next 5.5 years :banana: :banana: :banana:

[BlackWhiteGreen]

Should have been a no call, Harden jumped into him.

[TylerOO]

I can't see the Celtics winning this game. Rockets run too much for these guys.

[sommervilleCdn]

lins got the right stuff..speed and quickness. Let's see if he can put it all together today. :basketball

/put it in teh basket..jea
//yes homo

[KungFuJoe]

Pierce with that same stupid look everytime he gets called for a foul.

[Derka]

I need very much to see Jeff Green just bully his way to the rim here all night.

[BlackWhiteGreen]

Nice post move from Sully near the end of the clock. I think he should get more opportunities when he's not being guarded by a taller guy.

[Derka]

Second unit showing more aggression than the starters. I think this is the bench Danny envisioned when he signed these guys.

[Magic bird]

Good to see Mchale back in the Garden

[Derka]

Totally heard Sully call glass :oldlol:

[Magic bird]

Jared "Bail Out" SUlly!!!!!!!!!!
Garden going crazy!

[Magic bird]

Good hustle by Terry leads to Lee dunk
Rockets need a timeout:applause:

[KungFuJoe]

Delfino :facepalm

[BlitzForce]

SMH - let Lin run the ball!

[FKAri]

Hate this Tommy Heinsohn fakkit. Ruins the game every time with his absurd homerism.

[Derka]

Not hustling after that loose ball...shit like that goes right up McHale's ass sideways.

[Magic bird]

SULLY for starter :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[Magic bird]

Greennnnnnn!!!!!!!!!!

[TylerOO]

How many more games until Sully starts over Ass?

[albas89]

This bench is something else right now...:bowdown:

[KungFuJoe]

Rockets need a TO...they are so lost on rotations

[MMM]

The Celtics bench is starting to come to life lately

[RagingBull33]

...and the pieces are falling into place.

[HoopDreams247]

Why isn't Harden in?

[Magic bird]

...and the pieces are falling into place.
:cheers:

[CelticBaller]

Jeff fvcking Green

[Derka]

Hate this Tommy Heinsohn fakkit. Ruins the game every time with his absurd homerism.
A homer doesn't constantly give the other team and coaches praise like Tommy does.

Tommy's not a homer. He's just batshit crazy, hates referees just as much as all of us do and just doesn't give a f*ck. His job is to entertain New England ball fans....and while he does, he does go overboard at least twice a night.

[BlackWhiteGreen]

The extension on that Green dunk :eek:

RE: Sully, I like him off the bench. Bullies backups which gives him confidence for the rest of the game.

[Magic bird]

I never thought i'd see the JET in a celtics ad, this time last year

[Derka]

That was soooooooo a goaltend. McHale is livid and he should be :oldlol:

[Magic bird]

Sullinger can't rebound...













Said noone ever

[Kews1]

Sullinger is such a steal :bowdown:

[Derka]

:roll: Please tell me someone else just saw KG wipe part of his sweaty head dry on Lin's arm.

[BlackWhiteGreen]

HUGE goaltend by KG :oldlol:

Sully :bowdown:

[KungFuJoe]

:roll: Please tell me someone else just saw KG wipe part of his sweaty head dry on Lin's arm.

I missed it but if that's true...that's some ghetto ass nasty shit.

[Magic bird]

Pierces 3 is back this year.:bowdown:

[Derka]

I missed it but if that's true...that's some ghetto ass nasty shit.
Very nasty, but very KG.

[KungFuJoe]

What's up with Asik? He was looking great in the beginning of the season...but lately he's been almost a detriment on offense.

[BlackWhiteGreen]

:roll: Please tell me someone else just saw KG wipe part of his sweaty head dry on Lin's arm.

Will check at halftime, but typical KG :oldlol:

[KungFuJoe]

Announcer's an idiot.

"Lin can't stay with Rondo"

Rondo with 6pts 2-6 shooting at the half. :facepalm

[Magic bird]

What's up with Asik? He was looking great in the beginning of the season...but lately he's been almost a detriment on offense.
he does'nt seem to know what to do with the ball when he gets it, he looks hesitant and i think he averages like 2.2 turnovers per game

[BlackWhiteGreen]

Just checked, and yes he did.

[HoopDreams247]

Announcer's an idiot.

"Lin can't stay with Rondo"

Rondo with 6pts 2-6 shooting at the half. :facepalm

Lin's man to man defense is typically underrated.

[teddytwelvetoes]

Sullinger can't rebound...













Said noone everHa, that's funny you say that. My friend, a fellow Celtics fan, was telling me not even a week ago that Sully can't rebound. Its safe to say I've been spamming him with stats for the past few games or so :cheers:

[Magic bird]

The Knicks are cooling off, down by 11 to the bulls (1Q)

[JohnnySic]

S U L L I N G E R

[BlackWhiteGreen]

Rockets 5/14 from the line, wow.

[shoops]

Rockets 5/14 from the line, wow.
Asik :facepalm

Goddamn it Harden stop shooting, you're cold as fvck now

[FKAri]

Rondo getting a star call there.

EDIT - and a make up call to give it back.

[Derka]

Rockets 5/14 from the line, wow.
Really saved us during that 0-9 stretch in the first quarter.

[Derka]

I've counted two whistles in the third quarter that were actually legit fouls. Are these guys watching the damn game?

[Jyap9675]

dude rondo makes the game so slow... i sometimes think that he's the one that contributes to Boston's low team PPG.

[shoops]

Goddamn, everyone on the Rockets today have been scrubbing it up except Lin and Parsons probably.

[TheAesirsFinest]

Asik :facepalm

Goddamn it Harden stop shooting, you're cold as fvck now

:oldlol: Just tuned in, holy crap. 0-6 from the FT line. I love him anyways.

[shoops]

:oldlol: Just tuned in, holy crap. 0-6 from the FT line. I love him anyways.
I never ask much from his offense at all because he's primarily in for defense, but this time, really at least make a couple of fts lol. Before his recent set of bad games he was more than satisfactory.

[TheAesirsFinest]

Omer!

[KungFuJoe]

All coaches are quickly adding "Hack-A-Asik" into their playbooks.

[Derka]

Dis bench....

[KungFuJoe]

Nothing working for the Rockets. Free throws ain't falling, Delfino scoreless, Harden cold....

[TheAesirsFinest]

Since I've tuned in, there have been some pretty bad foul calls against us..

[DuMa]

Rox still within a puncher's chance. though Harden and Delfino needs to get it going

[KungFuJoe]

Delfino 1-5 on OPEN threes. Getting good looks, ball just ain't droppin...

[Derka]

17 point lead down to 6. Celts really just turned it off thinking the Rockets would just roll over. Ain't gonna happen. Should have closed this out by now. :facepalm

[TheAesirsFinest]

Are you ****ing kidding me?

[DuMa]

wow comeon refs

[DuMa]

cheeeeeeeeeeya ballsoharden

[shoops]

Well shit is interesting again!

[TheAesirsFinest]

**** Yeah Rockets. Let's Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

[DuMa]

we have a ballgame. this should have been on national tv, not the cluster**** that are the knicks :facepalm

[KungFuJoe]

OH shit! Parsons!

[Derka]

2 point lead. Typical Celtics collapse.

[BlackWhiteGreen]

Offense has died a horrible painful death and we're overreacting to Harden.

[apesta]

Gone for a quick shower after the 3rd quarter and i come back Rockets are down only 2! what a comeback. i thought they are tired this game.

[Kiddlovesnets]

It seems weird to me that the Rockets offense usually looks even better against good defensive teams, such as the Grizzlies, Knicks and Bulls.

[FKAri]

Is Rondo the worst finisher in the NBA? Good god.

[shoops]

Bs call.....

[TheAesirsFinest]

Greg Smith didn't even touch Rondo...the replay was clear as day.

[KungFuJoe]

Why is Douglas still in?

[TylerOO]

LMAOO "That is TERRIBLE!"

[KungFuJoe]

OMG these refs are horrible but at least they're horrible both ways

[Derka]

They're never going to call on offensive foul on Harden and it's funny cos the dude could have fouled out on them by now.

[gyu]

Lol @ celtics commentator crying about how terrible the call on Harden was but was all quiet when Rondo was just gifted free throws on the previous play

[DuMa]

wtf harden. stop choking at the line

[KungFuJoe]

Announcer had an orgasm on live TV. The FCC should fine him.

[DuMa]

insert lin please. harden is getting gassed

[KungFuJoe]

McHale's rotations SUCK this game.

Is he going to finish the game with this unit? Has he just given up?

[Derka]

Refs really have been terrible both ways. Bill Kennedy is moving into Violet Palmer/Ed Malloy realms of terrible. Another ref who loves when everyone watches him.

[apesta]

Stupid Douglas with the dumb foul. He couldve just let him score that or hack him harder. Think Rockets are done. Seem like they lost their momentum.

[TheAesirsFinest]

That was an incredibly obvious goaltend.

[DuMa]

refs miss an obvious goaltend. :facepalm

[Derka]

KG with another goaltend.

[shoops]

Fvck it just throw in the scrubs, got another game tomorrow.

[DuMa]

gotta hand it to the c's. they responded nicely

[KungFuJoe]

Wow. Just roll out the red carpet for KG.

[Derka]

Good that the C's responded to that late Rockets run with some oomph. :applause:

[Jyap9675]

Man im jealous of the celtics defense

[BlackWhiteGreen]

refs miss an obvious goaltend. :facepalm

They've missed 2 really easy ones tonight from KG.

FT shooting killed Houston tonight.

[Derka]

Lol, Tommy on form tonight.

I can see where he totally pisses opposing fans off.

[eriX]

hahaha 'these officials have never seen good defense'

man these celtics commentators are amongst the most biased ive ever heard hahaha :applause:

though i wonder would they get fined for talking about the refs :O

[TheAesirsFinest]

They've missed 2 really easy ones tonight from KG.

FT shooting killed Houston tonight.

No kidding. I really disliked the officiating in the 4th, but the terrible free throw shooting wasted a lot of opportunities to make the game closer.

[Kevin_Garnett_5]

hahaha 'these officials have never seen good defense'

man these celtics commentators are amongst the most biased ive ever heard hahaha :applause:
He was 100% right on that play. That was no where near a foul.

Sully and Bradley get no respect from the officials.

[Fudge]

Boston's slowly getting it back together. Is it a 4 game win streak now?

[konex]

Boston is much better with Bradley in for defense

[shoops]

Jesus christ McHale is TERRIBLE at (not) taking starters out at the end of the game. And lol @ Harden trying to get his streak but McHale blue balls him

[Derka]

Boston's slowly getting it back together. Is it a 4 game win streak now?
5 after this one. :applause:

[eriX]

He was 100% right on that play. That was no where near a foul.

Sully and Bradley get no respect from the officials.

They are meant to be two separate statements, but i do agree that foul on bradley wasnt warranted.

[KungFuJoe]

Jesus christ McHale is TERRIBLE at (not) taking starters out at the end of the game. And lol @ Harden trying to get his streak but McHale blue balls him

McHale...biggest coach troll in the NBA?

[shoops]

Well Celts clearly outplayed the Rox today... Freethrow disease for the Rockets. Officiating was shitty all around for sure as well.

[BlackWhiteGreen]

5 in a row :banana:

Houston are a good team, though. We were fortunate Asik played so badly offensively so it made him ineffective against our small frontline. And holding Harden to (only!) 24 was great.

[Kiddlovesnets]

Congrats Celtics, looks like the order of Eastern Conference is slowly being restored.
:cheers:

[Smoothtalker]

so why cant Doc play Barabosa is he that bad? whats the deal im i missing something?

[albas89]

5 in a row :banana:

Houston are a good team, though. We were fortunate Asik played so badly offensively so it made him ineffective against our small frontline. And holding Harden to (only!) 24 was great.
Yep, most definitely. I had my doubts at the beginning of the season, but Houston have proved themselves as a solid playoff team. Glad we're done with them for the season.

[Derka]

so why cant Doc play Barabosa is he that bad? whats the deal im i missing something?

Because you don't mess with what's working.

[Kevin_Garnett_5]

so why cant Doc play Barabosa is he that bad? whats the deal im i missing something?
He's been pretty good when he plays, but so have Lee and Bradley. It's just a matter of the Celtics have too many guards. I wouldn't mind him cutting in to Terry's minutes to be honest.

[BlackWhiteGreen]

He's been pretty good when he plays, but so have Lee and Bradley. It's just a matter of the Celtics have too many guards. I wouldn't mind him cutting in to Terry's minutes to be honest.

The problem is, with 4 guards already getting minutes, there wouldn't be loads of continuity. Keep Barbosa for if someone goes down.

[Smoothtalker]

thanks guys:cheers:

[Shepseskaf]

Looks like the Rockets' runaway train has been getting derailed lately.

[shoops]

Looks like the Rockets' runaway train has been getting derailed lately.
You could say just the same for the Knicks though.

[Shepseskaf]

You could say just the same for the Knicks though.
Yes, both have had hot streaks cooled down by good defense. It remains to be seen which team will respond better in the second half, and playoffs.

[pnyozzzoo]

Looks like the Rockets' runaway train has been getting derailed lately.
Lol at Knicks melt down lately.

Rockets are hitting a wall its ok rebuilding year play off would be cherry on top let the guys learn.

On the other hand ROFL knicks. Championship or bust, looks bust whichever way you look at it. Lol at melo stat padding in the end. Knicks is a flash in the pan with a hot start.

Why don't knicks fan go celebrate in their own game thread? or they got their shit kicked in, I thought Melo Circled tonight's game and had a REST so he can focus on it 100%. Looks like NK season is imploding.

[Shepseskaf]

Looks like NK season is imploding.
No, it looks like every team goes through peaks and valleys during the season. Let's see what happens when it counts.

[pnyozzzoo]

No, it looks like every team goes through peaks and valleys during the season. Let's see what happens when it counts.
Damn, seems people like to be reasonable and cool when they are down.:applause:

[Shepseskaf]

Damn, seems people like to be reasonable and cool when they are down.:applause:
If that was some kind of back-handed compliment, I never got out of whack about the Knicks hot start. Knowledgeable fans know that the season is long, and early success might might something significant -- or it might not.

Even with the recent struggles, the Knicks have vaulted themselves into a position of seriously contending in the East -- when they were simply fringe players in the previous season.

When their defense is ramped up, they're a seriously tough out -- especially when everybody gets healthy.

Houston has been a great story this year, but the team has no defensive foundation to speak of.

So, like I said, we'll see what happens come playoff time.