Boston Celtics @ Oklahoma City Thunder Preview
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Friday, December 4th, 2009
Ford Center – Oklahoma City, OK
8:00 PM ET Tip
After playing 2 games against teams with minor win streaks, the Celtics will go up against a team without any stretch of wins at all. Okay, so the Thunder have a win streak of 1. OKC is coming off a victory at home against the 76ers, and hold a record of 10-8. The Celtics on the other hand, as we all know, have a 6 game winning streak, and are looking to put their winning percentage at .800 flat. The C’s will have their hands full tonight with the rested, young, and very athletic Thunder.
The Point Guard position will be fun to watch tonight as Rajon Rondo will be going up against Russell Westbrook. They have similar games as they both like to drive to the basket, and can pass the ball off with the best of them. This year Westbrook has gone off for as much as 33 points, and had 15 assists in the game against Phili. At the Small Forward, Pierce will have to keep up with the speedy, high flying Kevin Durant. Pierce will not be able to keep Durant completely out of the game, yet should be able to atleast contain him, and keep him in the 20’s. Marquis Daniels will share this task while Pierce is on the bench.
From a team standpoint, the Thunder are a mystery team to the Celtics. We only play them 2 times every year, and they are not in the national spotlight to get any kind of recognition. For the most part you know what to expect from the Spurs, Heat, Cavs, Knicks, almost all of the teams we have played this season. OKC, on the other hand, has and is maturing, thus their game is ever changing to keep up with their new talent. I would have to say give the Celtics a quarter (like usual) to figure out the Thunder, and if the C’s are right there in it midway through the second, I would have to assume the defense would step up to the challenge and jump ahead through the remainder of the game as we are a great 2nd and 3rd quarter team.
After all of the great play on the road trip, it would be discouraging to go back home with anything less than a 4-0 record. To get there, I think the Celtics need to play at their pace, and attempt to, as much as posible, keep it to a half court game, and disallow the Thunder to get out on the break as they can get out in the transition game and score at ease. Get this game out of the way, and the green can take 3 days of practice/rest to prepare for their lonely home game against the Bucks before going back out for 3 more road games.