The C’s have dominated the Knicks for years under the leadership of Rivers and captain Paul Pierce and no rough patch is rough enough to keep the Celtics from storming into MSG and taking care of business. The Celtics may have lost three of their last four, but they’re up against a 3-9 Knicks squad that’s already looking forward to next May’s draft lottery.
When and Where
Sunday, Nov. 22, 1 p.m. ET (CSNE)
Madison Square Garden, New York, N.Y.
Records
Knicks (3-9, 4th place in Atlantic Division)
Head To Head
Skinny
What’s there to say about this season’s Knicks? Not much. David Lee and Al Harrington are having productive seasons, but the Knicks have very little else going for them and the team is already looking ahead to next summer rather than focusing on the game at hand. 2010 will be fun for the Knickerbockers — they’ve got a rich draft class and an even richer free-agent market waiting for them. The wait will be painful, though.
Projected Starters
Point guard: Rajon Rondo
Shooting guard: Ray Allen
Small forward: Paul Pierce
Power forward: Kevin Garnett
Center: Kendrick Perkins
Knicks
Point guard: Chris Duhon
Shooting guard: Larry Hughes
Small forward: Danilo Gallinari
Power forward: Wilson Chandler
Center: David Lee
Stat Sheet
The Celtics are 4-1 on the road this season.
They have 115 steals, second-most in the NBA.
Rajon Rondo leads the NBA with 32 steals.
Kevin Garnett‘s 13 points and 11 rebounds against Orlando on Friday night were his third double-double of the season.
Paul Pierce has averaged 22.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game against the Knicks in his career.
Kendrick Perkins has blocked 5.9 percent of attempted shots this season.
Ray Allen is shooting 32.0 percent from three-point range this season, the lowest single-season percentage of his career.
Knicks
The Knicks have allowed 109.5 points per game this season, second-most in the NBA.
They are 1-6 at home.
Larry Hughes is fourth in the NBA with 2.2 steals per game.
Danilo Gallinari has attempted 34 threes, second-most in the NBA.
Chris Duhon has 6.1 assists and only 2.2 turnovers per game.
David Lee is averaging 17.3 points and 9.3 rebounds this season. He has two double-doubles.
Wilson Chandler has averaged 14.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per game against the Celtics in his career.
Black and Blue
Tony Allen has yet to play this season after offseason knee surgery. He has practiced with the team this week but is not ready to return.
Glen Davis has a broken thumb. He is out indefinitely.
Bill Walker, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee earlier this fall, is now back in action with the Maine Red Claws of the NBA Development League.
Knicks
Eddy Curry returned to practice last week after resting a sore shoulder throughout the preseason. He is now back in action with the Knicks.
This Date in Celtics History
Overheard
–Doc Rivers in Saturday’s Boston Herald.
Press Box
The Celtics disappeared on Friday against Orlando.
The C’s are still lacking a signature win.
Kevin Garnett has had some off nights.
Knicks
The Knicks were the best of the worst.
Misery loves company in the tri-state area.
The answer? His name is Eddy Curry.
NBA
The Hornets snapped the Hawks’ winning streak.
LeBron James carried the Cavaliers past the Sixers.
Carlos Boozer and the Jazz took control in overtime.
Outlook
If the Celtics can’t get back on track now, they’ve got serious problems. Yes, the C’s have lost three of their last four games, but the Knicks have lost five of their last seven, and one of the two victories barely counts — it came against the 0-13 Nets. If the Celtics want to put this losing funk behind them and go on a run, they can start by making quick work of an Eastern Conference bottom-feeder at Madison Square Garden.
