Celtics Will Have Their Hands Full With Wizards Even If John Wall Sits Out

The Celtics spent their four-game road trip last week dispatching of the NBA's biggest stars. First Kevin Durant, then LeBron James, then Rudy Gay. Next up might be John Wall. Or it might not be.

Wall has a sprained left foot and his status for Wednesday night in Boston is in doubt. If he plays, he'll be sure to dazzle the TD Garden crowd with his speed, athleticism and crafty playmaking skills. But if the rookie sits this one out, the Wiz still have plenty of talent to make this a game.

When and Where

Wizards at Celtics
Wednesday, Nov. 17, 7:30 p.m. (CSNNE)
TD Garden, Boston, Mass.

Head to Head

The Celtics went 3-1 against the Wizards last season, but it was a hard 3-1. One of the wins was by two points, coming down to the final possession. Another was by three, and they trailed at home for most of the game. The last time these two teams met, the Wizards won 106-96 at the TD Garden, and the Celtics were booed off of their own floor. The Wiz are the type of young, athletic team that can challenge the veteran Celtics.

Key Matchup

Rajon Rondo vs. John Wall
It's a natural rivalry in the making, because of the Kentucky connection. Both point guards donned the blue and white for UK back in their college days, and the battle is on to find the best former Wildcat. If Wall plays, it's sure to be a marquee matchup at the point. But even if he can't go, Rondo will have his hands full — the Wizards' guards are athletic and can hit big shots. Expect Gilbert Arenas and Kirk Hinrich to be a handful for the Celtics' speedy young guard.

Starting Lineups

Celtics
Point guard: Rajon Rondo
Shooting guard: Ray Allen
Small forward: Paul Pierce
Power forward: Kevin Garnett
Center: Shaquille O'Neal

Wizards
Point guard: John Wall
Shooting guard: Kirk Hinrich
Small forward: Al Thornton
Power forward: Andray Blatche
Center: JaVale McGee

Stat Sheet

Celtics

• Rajon Rondo leads the NBA in assists with 151. Deron Williams is second with 113. Rondo's also third in steals with 27.
• Ray Allen is fourth in the NBA in 3-point field goals made (28) and fifth in 3's attempted (61).
• Shaquille O'Neal is averaging 11.5 points and 6.5 rebounds over his first two games back from a knee injury.

Wizards

• Gilbert Arenas scored 20 points in the Wizards' win over the Raptors on Tuesday, shooting 7-of-14. He's averaging 25.0 points over his last two games.
• Kirk Hinrich had 13 points and 12 assists on Tuesday for his first double-double in a Wizards uniform.
• Al Thornton is averaging 9.1 points and 4.4 rebounds per game in seven career meetings with the Celtics.

Black and Blue

Celtics

• Delonte West returns Wednesday from a 10-game suspension.
• Avery Bradley is on the mend from offseason ankle surgery. He is practicing with the team and could return soon.
• Jermaine O'Neal has a knee injury that will cause him to miss 2-3 weeks.
• Kendrick Perkins has a torn ACL and will be out until 2011.

Wizards

• John Wall missed Tuesday night's game against the Raptors with a sprained left foot. He is questionable to return Wednesday.
• Yi Jianlian also sat out Tuesday. He has a bruised right knee.
• Andray Blatche made his return Tuesday night from a swollen left knee. He started and played 31 minutes.
• Josh Howard underwent surgery on his left knee in September and is out indefinitely.

Outlook

The Celtics have always prided themselves on having the best fast-break weapon on the floor in Rajon Rondo. The point guard makes plays on the defensive end, he runs the break with speed and he generates points in transition. But against John Wall and Gilbert Arenas, it won't be that easy. The Wizards will be able to fight speed with more speed, making for a scary matchup for Rondo and the Celtics.

The C's might have to fall back on their half-court sets, hoping their superior ball movement and unselfish play can net them a win. It just might work.