The Celtics had better rough up the CP3-less Hornets in New Orleans to get some confidence going into the long All Star layoff. I understand that the Bayou will still be bumpin’ from the Saints win and might provide an energy boost to a team that just had 48 dropped on them by Vincanity. I would be more concerned with them playing angry from having to wear those atrocious Mardi Gras uniforms they have been sporting the past week.
Darren Collison is not a rookie PG to be slept on, so Paul being out is not exactly a God send. Despite averaging only 8 PPG on the year, Collison has been pouring it on in the last three games with a 22.7 PPG average and a season high 27 PTS against the Magic in a loss. I haven’t seen him enough to rate his defense but allowing 123 PTS to the Magic points to a general lack of D.
Someone named Morris Peterson is their two guard and is blistering the basket with a 4.9 PPG tally. If Ray has trouble with this dude, he should be traded. Let’s hope I didn’t just jinx him and Peterson blows up for 43 on Jesus.
Peja Effing Stojakovic will be patrolling the perimeter and looking to get loose with some threes and maybe a drive or two to the rack. He isn’t exactly shooting the lights out but is still a pain if he starts feeling it from deep since it is hard to get a hand in his 6’ 10” face, especially when left alone as Boston has tended to do. Pierce is questionable for the game but usually abuses the slower Peja on the way to 20 point nights.
David West is probably the Hornets best player with Chris Paul out and is averaging 18 PPG. KG should be able to handle to undersized PF who is only 6’ 9”. How Peja is 6’ 10” and playing SF and West at PF can only be a weight thing. At any rate, if Garnett is feeling healthy and not dragging his broken wheel around he should be able to get over on West for his trademark drop step fade away.
The big question for me is how Kendrick Perkins will handle Emeka Okafor. Perk has been playing some weak ball inside and doesn’t seem to be his usual angry self while banging down low. If Okafor outplays Perk I think it’s time for an intervention to see what Kendrick is on.
Come home, Perk. Come home.
Lee Herman covers the NBA and Boston Celtics for North Station Sports.
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