Celtics Meet 76ers in First Atlantic Clash of 2009-10

Celtics
The Celtics were 15-1 against Atlantic Division opponents last season.

They are allowing 81.3 points per game this season, fewest in the NBA.

Rajon Rondo leads the NBA with 47 assists and 10 steals.

Kendrick Perkins has nine blocks, second in the NBA behind the Blazers’ Greg Oden.

Kevin Garnett is fourth with seven blocks.

Paul Pierce has made 13 3-pointers, second in the NBA behind the Knicks’ Danilo Gallinari.

Ray Allen has averaged 21.2 points per game in his career against the Sixers.

Rasheed Wallace has averaged 14.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.7 blocks against Philadelphia.

76ers
The Sixers were 6-10 against Atlantic Division opponents last season.

They are averaging 115.3 points per game this season, second-most in the NBA.

Marreese Speights is shooting 75 percent from the floor, the best in the NBA.

Elton Brand is a perfect 11-for-11 from the free-throw line.

Louis Williams is averaging 20.3 points per game, a career high.

Andre Iguodala is averaging 19.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 6.7 assists.

Thaddeus Young is 1-for-11 from 3-point range against the Celtics in his career.

Samuel Dalembert averages 7.9 points and 8.4 rebounds against the C’s.

Celtics
Brian Scalabrine, who suffered a sprained ankle in the Celtics’ final preseason game, is nearing a return. He has been practicing with the team for the past few days.

Bill Walker has been out since the beginning of October. He has undergone successful arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.

Glen Davis is out indefinitely with a thumb injury sustained in an altercation last week.

76ers
Jason Smith missed all of last season after tearing his ACL in an August 2008 workout. He is back with the team this season.

Elton Brand returns this year after sustaining a shoulder injury last December. The Sixers shut him down for the rest of the 2008-09 season on Feb. 5.

In 1995, the Celtics play at their new arena, then called the Fleet Center, for the first time. They lost to the Milwaukee Bucks 101-100, as future Celtic Vin Baker torched them for 30 points on 12-of-24 shooting.

“Sure, you go into the free-agent market, and maybe he could have earned more money. The grass is always greener on the other side. But I also look at this as his second contract, and he’ll be in his prime when this contract expires so there’s still more ahead.”
–Bill Duffy, agent to Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo, in The Boston Globe, after Rondo signed a five-year, $55 million contract extension

Celtics
Rajon Rondo gets the point.

Doc Rivers reacted happily to the Rondo news.

The Celtics still have room to improve.

76ers
Eddie Jordan is still piecing these Sixers together.

The young team is having growing pains.

Louis Williams is flying high.

NBA
The Kings ruined Allen Iverson‘s Grizzlies debut.

Rudy Gay isn’t re-upping in Memphis.

Bill Walton retired from the broadcast booth.

Outlook

It’s a battle of great defense againt great offense in Philadelphia. The Celtics are looking like one of the best defensive teams in NBA history so far, but the season is young. They’re about to face a true test from a Philadelphia team that can run and gun with the best of them. Williams and Iguodala will keep the Celtics on their feet, and the Sixers’ big men will make things difficult for the Celtics down low. This one won’t be easy.