Celtics at Raptors, game-day Dino-bytes

An updated look at Wednesday’s Celtics-Raptors game.

 

BOSTON (24-23) at TORONTO (17-31)

Air Canada Centre

TIPOFF: 7 p.m.

TV: Sportsnet; RADIO: FAN590

WEB: Yes, the usual in-game blog will begin shortly before 7 p.m., come for all the fun.

 

Probable starters

Boston: Avery Bradley, Courtney Lee, Paul Pierce, Brandon Bass, Kevin Garnett; Toronto: Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, Rudy Gay, Amir Johnson, Aaron Gray.

 

Key backups tonight

Boston: Leandro Barbosa (The Blur will go left and try to beat you with his speed), Jeff Green (tough matchup with varied skills); Toronto: Terrence Ross (needs to have a more consistent impact), Alan Anderson (taking shots is okay as long as you’re making them).

 

Season series

Boston leads, 1-0

Celtics won by 18 in Boston in mid-November when the Raptors were trying, unsuccessfully, to get off to a good start to the season. Rajon Rondo and Jason Terry both had 20 in that one; Raptors are 15-18 all time at home against Boston but have won last two at the Air Canada Centre.

 

What happened this morning

How big a game is it?

The Celtics are eighth in the East, 7 1-2 games up on Toronto and what’s that pucks phrase:

It’s a four-pointer.

Dwane Casey was saying, correctly, that every game is a big game but some are bigger than others and this one has some extra significance.

It’s not a “must win” because every game is a “must win” in some regard but the first tiebreaker is head-to-head and the Celtics already lead the season series.

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A much-anticipated return

Because they are overly-careful, the Raptors wouldn’t confirm what we already presume to be true: Andrea Bargnani will be back tonight after missing 26 games.

Toronto went 13-13 in that time – Bargnani was hurt Dec. 10 in Portland – and he’d been struggling offensively before, shooting just 40 per cent from the field and 32 per cent from three-point range.

But with Kyle Lowry the undisputed starting point guard now and Rudy Gay making his third Toronto appearance, Bargnani is coming back to an entirely different team.

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Daily stat that probably means nothing, Part 1

Aaron Gray has 10 or more rebounds in four straight games, a career-best.

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What’s up in Boston?

This is up, courtesy of Murph at the Herald suggests the veteran aren’t getting too caught up in the trade chatter.

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Men in charge?

Not a Derek to be seen as Bennie Adams, Brent Barnaky and Pat Fraher will be tooting whistles and drawing derision this evening.

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Daily stat that probably means nothing, Park 2

The Raptors have led at half in nine straight games, they have been out-scored in the second half of six of those games.

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Comments

[Drew]

Caron butler did a un classy move but he should of been met with a massive Oakley swipe to the ground from behind. He wants to be a clown then guess what you get the wrath back! Bush league, nope no respect thats what it was. Too bad it was against the rook, as I`m sure if it was done against Allan anderson then it would of been sorted out with a massive "bump"