The Celtics are cruising, having beaten the Cavaliers 106-87 on Tuesday night for their fourth consecutive win, and the Portland Trail Blazers are slumping.
Portland lost on Tuesday 88-79 to the wretched 76ers for their fourth straight loss. But the Blazers are always a tougher team than they appear on paper — they've overcome adversity a million times before, and they'll surely be a challenge for the Celtics on Wednesday night.
Blazers at Celtics
Wednesday, Dec. 1, 7:30 p.m. (CSNNE)
TD Garden, Boston, Mass.
This is the first of two meetings this season between the Celtics and Blazers. The C's swept two last year, and they're now 5-1 against Portland since the start of the new Big Three era in Boston.
Ray Allen vs. Brandon Roy
As NBA shooting guards go, Roy is as tough a cover as they come — when he's healthy. He's big, he's physical, and athletic, but above all he's versatile. He can thrive with the ball in his hands, creating shots for himself and making plays for others, or he can play off the ball, spotting up from beyond the arc on occasion.
Wednesday night's matchup, however, might not see the same Roy, as he's battled through knee issues this year. That won't mean Allen will be taking his defensive assignment lightly.
Celtics
Point guard: Rajon Rondo
Shooting guard: Ray Allen
Small forward: Paul Pierce
Power forward: Kevin Garnett
Center: Shaquille O'Neal
Blazers
Point guard: Andre Miller
Shooting guard: Brandon Roy
Small forward: Wesley Matthews
Power forward: LaMarcus Aldridge
Center: Marcus Camby
Celtics
Blazers
Celtics
Blazers
The Blazers play a slow, methodical, efficient brand of basketball. They're not a running, gunning, fast-breaking team — they use their size, strength and ball movement to create shots in the half-court and break you down. This is the kind of matchup the Celtics can handle, but they can't afford any defensive lapses. The Blazers are loaded with shot-makers, and any one of them can carry the load on any given night. The C's will need a complete effort on the defensive end to extend their winning streak.