Celtics Facing Cavaliers in Star-Studded Season Opener

by

Oct 27, 2009

Celtics Facing Cavaliers in Star-Studded Season Opener The Celtics are ready to open their 2009-10 regular season, and their first game will be no cakewalk. The C's will get their first look at the revamped Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night, and it's a revamped Cavs team out for blood.

The C's took last week's preseason matchup with Cleveland en route to a 6-2 finish in the preseason, but the regular season will be another story altogether. These Cavs, led by King LeBron James, will be ready.

When and Where

October 27, 2009, 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio

Records

Celtics (6-2 in preseason, 1st place in Atlantic Division)
Cavaliers (3-4 in preseason, 3rd place in Central Division)

Head To Head

This is the second consecutive year the Celtics have faced off with Cleveland to open their regular season — they hosted the Cavs last year and won, 90-85, on Oct. 28. In four total meetings last season, the two teams split 2-2, with the home team winning all four.

Skinny

The Cavs did a lot of work this offseason to revamp their roster. Most notably, they locked up one of the greatest centers of this generation in June, packaging together Sasha Pavlovic, Ben Wallace, cash and a 2010 second-round draft pick to bring in Shaquille O'Neal.

Shaq and LeBron will make a formidable duo, but that's not all — the Cavs also brought in a pair of former Raptors, Jamario Moon (most recently of the Heat) and Anthony Parker, to bolster their bench.

Projected Starters

Celtics
Point Guard: Rajon Rondo
Shooting Guard: Ray Allen
Small Forward: Paul Pierce
Power Forward: Kevin Garnett
Center: Kendrick Perkins


Cavaliers
Point Guard: Mo Williams
Shooting Guard: Anthony Parker
Small Forward: LeBron James
Power Forward: Anderson Varejao
Center: Shaquille O'Neal

Stat Sheet

Celtics
The Celtics allowed 102.3 points per 100 possessions last season, second-fewest in the NBA.

They were 27-14 on the road.

Ray Allen made 199 threes, second-most in the NBA.

Kendrick Perkins had 150 blocks.

Paul Pierce had 20.5 points per game last year, making it the eighth 20-plus season of his career.

Rajon Rondo averaged 11.9 points, 8.2 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game in the playoffs last year.

Kevin Garnett has averaged 18.8 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game against the Cavaliers in his career.

Cavaliers
The Cavs were 39-2 at home last season, best in the NBA.

They made 656 three-pointers, third-most in the league.

LeBron James had a 31.67 Player Efficiency Rating (PER) last season, ranking as the fourth-best individual season in NBA history.

Mo Williams was third in the NBA with 183 three-pointers.

Anderson Varejao averaged 7.2 rebounds last season, 5.1 of them on the defensive end.

Shaquille O'Neal has averaged 25.4 points, 11.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game against the Celtics in his career.

Delonte West is a 60 percent three-point shooter against the C's.

Black and Blue

Celtics
Glen Davis reportedly injured his right thumb in a private altercation with a friend this week. He could miss a significant amount of time this season.

Bill Walker has been out all October. He underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, and the Celtics hope to have him back in November.

Tony Allen is rehabbing from right ankle surgery and is still a little sore. He is day-to-day.

Brian Scalabrine sprained his ankle last week after stepping on a cameraman's foot and is still recovering.

Cavaliers
Leon Powe had microfracture and ACL surgeries this summer. He is expected to be out of the lineup until 2010.

Delonte West's status is in doubt for personal reasons. He has experienced a lot of off-the-court trouble this offseason, including weapons charges and allegations of domestic abuse.

This Date in Celtics History

In 2006, the Celtics waived Brian Grant, a 12-year veteran power forward and former No. 8 overall draft pick. Rather than explore free agency, Grant succumbed to nagging injuries and opted to retire that winter.

Overheard

"I'm in a position where I've got to learn everything right away if I want to play. The defense, the offense, everything. I've got to learn everything perfect."
–Celtics backup point guard Lester Hudson, in Monday's Boston Globe.

Press Box

Celtics
It was a bad break for Big Baby.

Ray Allen's injury is only minor.

Lester Hudson has a point to make.

Cavaliers
The Cavs could use a little extra time to get ready.

LeBron wants a title.

It's more trouble for Delonte West.

NBA
There's bad news for No. 1 overall draft pick Blake Griffin.

Charles in Charge? Charles Barkley, that is.

Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah are sticking around Chicago.

Outlook

The Celtics are 2-0 in season openers since bringing in Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen in 2007. But this one is sure to be a doozy — not only is it the Cavaliers, one of the NBA's heavyweights, but it's the Cavs at home, where they were close to unbeatable last season.

LeBron James enters the final year of his contract in Cleveland hungry for a title, and the road to Ring No. 1 begins now for the King and his men. This is a hungry Cavs team, and the Celtics have their work cut out for them.

Previous Article

Report: Rajon Rondo Heading Toward Restricted Free Agency

Next Article

No. 1 Pick Blake Griffin Sidelined Six Weeks With Broken Kneecap

Picked For You