Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Clippers
3/12/12
10:30 PM Eastern time
Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA
TV: ESPN (206 directv), Local TV: Prime (694 directv)
Line: Clippers -5.5
2011-12 Records:
Boston Celtics: 21-19 (7th in Eastern Conference)
Los Angeles Clippers: 23-16 (5th in Western Conference)
Players of interest:
Boston Celtics: Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen
Los Angeles Clippers: Chris Paul, Blake Griffin
Why you want to watch:
Both the Celtics and Clippers are coming off close losses from the night before to the Lakers and Warriors respectively. The Celtics might have had a better night sleeping after losing to a very tough Lakers team at home where they have only loss twice in 20 games this season and took a last second shot from Andrew Bynum to seal the deal. Conversely, the Clippers’ home loss to the lowly Warriors last night surely caused some stomach pains and indigestion making a night’s sleep uncomfortable.
Early on this season the Clips were the talk of Los Angeleswith their high flying in-game acrobatics and solid play that propelled them to the top of the Pacific division. While the Lakers were still the kings in Los Angeles in terms of popularity, the Clippers were newsworthy and grabbing headlines from the Lakers for the first time in their history in Los Angeles. The Clippers ship is beginning to take sail in a completely different direction but one that they find not all that uncommon. The Clippers have lost 7 of their last 11 games and are now looking up to the Lakers in the Pacific division. They need to ride the ship in the right direction pretty quickly as a string of losses in the Western conference can drop a team from a top seed to being outside of the playoff picture. The Clippers are currently in 5th place in the Western conference but are just 3 ½ games ahead of the 9th place Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Celtics reign over the Eastern conference appears to be finally coming to an end. They currently stand in the 7th position in the Eastern conference with an uninspiring 21-19 record and very poor road record of 5-11. It won’t make the task any easier for the rickety old legs of the Celtics that they will be coming in on a 2nd night of a back to back against the Clippers.
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