Game 57: Blazers vs Celtics, 7:30pm ESPN

Blazers Analysis Celtics
PG
Rajon Rondo has been thoroughly impressive this season. He leads the league in steals with 2.5 spg and is 4th in the league with 9.6 apg. Boston is lucky they found a solid young point guard to go with the aging tri-fecta of super stars.
I think Rondo is clearly the better overall player, but that doesn't mean Miller won't have a great game. He torched Boston for 28 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists on January 22nd . With Bayless being the change of pace off the bench and Miller running the show, our boys can beat Rondo.
PG
SG
Ray Allen has been somewhat inconsistent for Boston this season. It used to be that he was an offensive assassin every time he stepped on the floor. But lately, he's been pretty hit or miss and I'm banking on more misses tonight in the Rose Garden.
Brandon Roy is expected to give his hamstring a shot in this game, even after devastating comments speaking to the contrary on Tuesday. He's having a major mental battle with his injured hamstring and I don't blame him for it. I don't see Roy outplaying Allen tonight.
SG
SF
I have never been a Paul Pierce fan, he's way over rated, dramatic, and the beneficiary of way too many foul calls. He'll end up going to the line tonight 10 plus times, but besides that I love our small forwards.

Martell Webster was shooting the ball better than he ever has against the Clippers on Tuesday. When Martell is feeling it, it's over. Then Nicolas, who has been a bit quiet lately, will get his kicks from guarding Pierce. PP will get frustrated and we'll win the match-up.

SF
PF
Kevin Garnett is simply not the same weapon he once was. On his scale of balancing bark and bite, the bark is certainly winning the battle. I'm sure he'll be irritating tonight from a chirping stand-point but I don't see him doing much offensively.
This will be a game where LaMarcus gets a little mad and wants to take it to KG. I don't think LA will score 30 points, but I see 20 meaningful points and almost 10 rebounds. LA wins it.
PF
C
Tonight is Portland's first night with their new center, Marcus Camby. After trading Steve Blake and Travis Outlaw to the Clippers, Portland received some much needed interior support. Camby will be able to step right in and play his defensive game, but in a lot of ways he'll be rusty.
Despite having a true center guarding the paint, I still see Perkins and Sheed being a tough tandem to deal with. Perkins is committed to the boards and Sheed will hit a few threes. They'll win the match-up but not that game.
C
Blazers	Analysis	Celtics
PG	Rajon Rondo has been thoroughly impressive this season. He leads the league in steals with 2.5 spg and is 4th in the league with 9.6 apg. Boston is lucky they found a solid young point guard to go with the aging tri-fecta of super stars. I think Rondo is clearly the better overall player, but that doesn't mean Miller won't have a great game. He torched Boston for 28 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists on January 22nd . With Bayless being the change of pace off the bench and Miller running the show, our boys can beat Rondo.	PG
SG	Ray Allen has been somewhat inconsistent for Boston this season. It used to be that he was an offensive assassin every time he stepped on the floor. But lately, he's been pretty hit or miss and I'm banking on more misses tonight in the Rose Garden. Brandon Roy is expected to give his hamstring a shot in this game, even after devastating comments speaking to the contrary on Tuesday. He's having a major mental battle with his injured hamstring and I don't blame him for it. I don't see Roy outplaying Allen tonight.	SG
SF	I have never been a Paul Pierce fan, he's way over rated, dramatic, and the beneficiary of way too many foul calls. He'll end up going to the line tonight 10 plus times, but besides that I love our small forwards. Martell Webster was shooting the ball better than he ever has against the Clippers on Tuesday. When Martell is feeling it, it's over. Then Nicolas, who has been a bit quiet lately, will get his kicks from guarding Pierce. PP will get frustrated and we'll win the match-up.	SF
PF	Kevin Garnett is simply not the same weapon he once was. On his scale of balancing bark and bite, the bark is certainly winning the battle. I'm sure he'll be irritating tonight from a chirping stand-point but I don't see him doing much offensively. This will be a game where LaMarcus gets a little mad and wants to take it to KG. I don't think LA will score 30 points, but I see 20 meaningful points and almost 10 rebounds. LA wins it.	PF
C	Tonight is Portland's first night with their new center, Marcus Camby. After trading Steve Blake and Travis Outlaw to the Clippers, Portland received some much needed interior support. Camby will be able to step right in and play his defensive game, but in a lot of ways he'll be rusty. Despite having a true center guarding the paint, I still see Perkins and Sheed being a tough tandem to deal with. Perkins is committed to the boards and Sheed will hit a few threes. They'll win the match-up but not that game.	C