When the Celtics took the court Thursday night at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, they were just barely able to extend their winning streak without Shaquille O'Neal.
Now, they'll have to do it again.
The C's are taking on the Charlotte Bobcats on the road Saturday night, and Shaq is again out of the lineup with a sore calf. Semih Erden will again step in for the veteran O'Neal, getting his second career start at center.
It's possible that both teams will be thin up front at Time Warner Cable Arena — the Celtics are without both of their O'Neals, and the Bobcats will likely be lacking backup big Tyrus Thomas, who is nursing quad pain and will probably sit out.
It'll be a war of attrition on Saturday night. If your bigs survive the night, you've got a shot.
Here's the likely lineup card for C's-Bobcats:
Celtics
Rajon Rondo, PG
Ray Allen, SG
Paul Pierce, SF
Kevin Garnett, PF
Semih Erden, C
Bobcats
D.J. Augustin, PG
Stephen Jackson, SG
Gerald Wallace, SF
Boris Diaw, PF
Nazr Mohammed, C
