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NBA Finlas Preview....
Edit: This game is on NBA TV. I don't know why it's not listed in the preview.
Boston (51-18) at San Antonio (45-22) Preview
Game info: 8:30 pm EDT Fri Mar 20, 2009
TV: CSNE, FSSW
By Mike Lipka
Both of the last two NBA champions are hoping to make a run at another le this spring. But first, the Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs need to get healthy.
It’s unclear which of the clubs’ banged-up stars will be in the lineup when they meet Friday night in San Antonio, but both the Celtics and Spurs are in need of a victory as they try to hold onto second place in their respective conferences.
San Antonio’s Manu Ginobili and Boston’s Kevin Garnett are the biggest names to miss considerable time recently for the two teams, with Ginobili out for the last 16 games with an ankle problem and Garnett missing the last 13 with a knee strain.
But they’re hardly alone on the injured list. The Celtics were also without Ray Allen, Leon Powe, Brian Scalabrine and Tony Allen for Wednesday night’s 112-108 overtime win over Miami, and Tim Duncan rested his knees for the Spurs during their 93-86 victory over Minnesota on Tuesday night.
While Duncan should return Friday and Ginobili is likely to remain out, it’s unclear whether the Celtics will have Garnett or Ray Allen, who is dealing with a hyperextended elbow.
Paul Pierce picked up the slack for his absent All-Star teammates against the Dwyane Wade-less Heat, scoring 36 points - including 21 in the fourth quarter and overtime—as the Celtics avoided a third straight loss and clinched the Atlantic Division.
Rajon Rondo, who missed two games last week with a sprained ankle, added 27 points and 10 assists, while Glen Davis returned from a four-game absence due to a similar injury.
“We know that we are injured,” Pierce said, “but just to get back on the winning mind-frame is big for us.”
The Celtics (51-18) are 7-6 since Garnett’s injury, fading from contention for the top seed in the Eastern Conference and struggling to hold off Orlando for the No. 2 spot, with a half-game separating the teams.
Without the reigning NBA defensive player of the year, the Celtics have at times struggled to stop teams, giving up a season-high 127 points in Tuesday night’s loss at Chicago. Garnett had originally been expected to return Friday, but Saturday night’s game at Memphis could be a more likely target.
“We miss (Garnett’s) leadership out on the floor, his verbal leadership,” coach Doc Rivers said. “He’s the one guy that holds everybody accountable defensively.”
The Spurs (45-22) miss Ginobili’s 16.1 points per game, and without the NBA’s sixth man of the year, their bench managed just 13 points in an ugly 78-76 loss at Oklahoma City on Monday night.
Coach Gregg Popovich held Duncan out Tuesday to avoid having the two-time league MVP play back-to-back games down the stretch in a season during which he has struggled with knee problems.
“He doesn’t love it, but it’s important for him to be fresh and healthy at the end of the season,” Popovich said.
Led by 24 points from Tony Parker, San Antonio still rebounded against the Timberwolves, maintaining a 1 1/2-game lead on Houston atop the Southwest Division. The Rockets are atop a crowded pack of West teams within a few games of the Spurs as they jockey for postseason positioning.
“Right now it’s a tight race in the West and every game is needed,” Spurs guard George Hill said.
The Celtics swept San Antonio in last season’s series, but the Spurs need only a home victory to return the favor. They won 105-99 in Boston on Feb. 8.
Notes
Celtics:
F Kevin Garnett and G Ray Allen did not play for the Celtics. ... Boston outscored the Miami Heat, 34-21, in the first quarter but was outscored, 33-15, in the second. ... G-F Paul Pierce collected 36 points, 11 rebounds and five assists for the Celtics, who needed overtime to down the shorthanded Heat.
Spurs:
F Tim Duncan sat out Tuesday's loss with soreness in his knees. F Kurt Thomas started in his place and finished with 10 points, 10 boards and six assists. ... The Spurs turned the ball over just four times.
Team Stat Leaders
Points
Paul Pierce Bos 20.6
Tony Parker SA 21.4
Rebounds
Kevin Garnett Bos 8.8
Tim Duncan SA 10.7
Assists
Rajon Rondo Bos 8.5
Tony Parker SA 6.7
Team Comparison
Team Record Standings PF PA Road/Home Streak L10
Boston 51-18 1st Atlantic / 2nd East 101.4 93.4 Road 23-12 Won 1 5-5
San Antonio 45-22 1st Southwest / 2nd West 97.0 93.0 Home 24-9 Won 1 6-4
Last edited by duncan228; 03-19-2009 at 09:08 PM.
NBA Finlas Preview....
That could very well be the case.
would be interesting -- kind of like playing a mirror image of ourselves.
older team, great defense, championship pedigree, etc.
That was part of what made the Pistons series so great.
I'll be there with bells on..and my Spurs gear on..Bruce Bowen authentic jersey, black Spurs hat..I'll be screaming my ass off.
Anyone know if KG or Allen are playing? It's gonna be a downer if the scrubs get a lot of PT in this one. Not really a good barometer for us. Just get a win.
The latest from the Boston Globe.
Garnett, Allen taking flight?
Marc J. Spears
The shorthanded Celtics could be getting some crucial reinforcements as soon as tomorrow.
Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen are on the team's plane to Texas for tomorrow night's game against the Spurs. While it remains uncertain whether either will play -- Garnett has been sidelined since Feb. 19 with strained right knee, while Allen suffered a hyperextended elbow Tuesday against the Bulls and missed last night's win over Miami -- it is an encouraging sign that both players are making the trip.
Garnett has not accompanied the Celtics on a road trip since suffering his injury. Coach Doc Rivers has said he will err on the side of caution regarding Garnett's return date, but the All-Star forward has had solid workouts this week, and if he has a strong shootaround tomorrow, he could return to action tomorrow night.
Because they are coming off back-to-back games, the Celtics will not practice today. They also have a game Saturday night at Memphis following tomorrow's matchup with the Spurs, so they may not see the practice court for a few more days.
Yeah, a wins a win still and Houston's right behind ya. I really don't want the Blazers facing the Spurs in the first round
I have a good feeling about this game.
On a completely unrelated note, just been watching the Memphis/Denver game, if you shoot a 3 and it's an airball, but it goes to your teammate for a lay in does it count as a assist? Seems as it didn't touch anything.
Only for Chris Paul at home.
Just when we thought we were worse off with injuries, we see another total complete mirror image of the Spurs with more injuries.
I'll be at this game, and the Houston game on Sunday. I've been to 2 Spurs games before, in 2 different seasons, and each time Manu was hurt. Hopefully he'll be good to make an appearance for one of them.
Finals preview indeed...It would be sweet to knock off the defending champions in the Finals ala Detroit in 05'.
KG and Ray Allen flew in today to San Antonio. Seems kind of silly to fly them in just to watch. Maybe they will both play or at least one of them.
Celtics limp into San Antonio
By Lenny Megliola
Playing the San Antonio Spurs in their gym is never a team's idea of a good time. An opponent has to bring it's A-game to even have a chance.
A-Game? Celtics coach Doc Rivers just wants enough able bodies so his team doesn't have to forfeit tonight's game. No Kevin Garnett? No Ray Allen? No Leon Powe? No Brian Scalabrine? No Tony Allen? o Bill Walker and Gabe Pruitt, and be prepared to put in a few minutes, J.R. Giddens.
Rivers has conceded the best overall Eastern Conference record to Cleveland. Now it's a question of holding off Orlando for the No. 2 spot, with 13 games remaining. It does no good for the Celtics to cry in their beer over injuries. Last year they stayed healthy and did great things. They had to know this year would be more challenging, whether they stayed healthy or not.
They face the Spurs coming off a satisfying overtime win over the Heat at the Garden. They did it, mostly, on the back of Paul Pierce, who poured in 16 fourth-quarter points and started the OT by nailing a three in the 112-108 win. He finished with 36 points.
"Pierce really made it tough," said Miami coach Erik Spoelstra, who tried a number of guys on the Boston captain. "He was scoring on every one of his matchups. Before we could ever come over to help, he was shooting the pull-up jump shot. One dribble, over the top."
"(Pierce) is a killer. He does what he needs to do at the end of the game in order to win the game," said new teammate but long-time Pierce observer Stephon Marbury.
"It's unbelieveable, when he's hitting shots, crazy shots," said Kendrick Perkins.
Pierce conceded "we needed a win any way we can get it." And they couldn't have gotten it without him taking over. "It's big for us, especially when you're going into San Antonio."
It's not that the Spurs are unbeatable at the AT&T Center. They've lost nine home games. The Lakers long ago wrapped up the best record in the west bauble, while the Spurs are in a similar situation as the Celtics. While Boston strives to hold the two-spot with only Orlando contesting, the Spurs have three teams - Houston, Denver and Portland - chasing them, with New Orleans and Utah not out of the picture.
So this is a big one for the Spurs and Celtics.
Without the defense-minded Garnett, the Celtics were bound to give up more points, but at times it's gone too far. "We're not getting stops. We're giving up 30, 37-point quarters. That doesn't happen when he's in there," said Rivers.
There's no time for the Celtics to catch their breath after tonight's game. They play at Memphis tomorrow. How many players will Doc have then?
"We want to try and get through this stretch and hold on to that second spot, if we can," he said.
Would love to see these two in the finals.wouldn't be a sure bet for us thats for sure.
Rajon Rondo, Tony Parker missing link
By Mark Murphy
SAN ANTONIO - Not long ago, as he held court with several members of the European media during All-Star weekend, Tony Parker was asked about Celtics guard Rajon Rondo.
The two have been mentioned together before - Parker as the veteran point guard who is living proof that a little man can routinely finish at the rim, and Rondo a great example of someone who appears to be following in the Spurs guard’s footsteps.
But Parker cooled at mention of the comparison.
“He does a good job playing with three All-Stars,” he said of Rondo, whom he will face for the second time this season here tonight. “He tries to do the best he can to run the team.”
Parker’s mood darkened, however, when the subject of shooting was brought up.
Though one of the best point guards to come into the NBA in the last decade, Parker was not known for his jump shot - at least not in his formative years.
And Parker certainly knows about this same weakness in Rondo’s game - an outside shot so inconsistent that opponents still dare the Celtics point guard to shoot.
“Oh no,” said Parker, shaking his head. “I think I was a better shooter than him when I started.”
Curiously enough, Rondo was just as cool about his perceived link to Parker. Five days before that press conference, Parker had seven points and seven assists during San Antonio’s 105-99 win in Boston.
Rondo, who scored only six points but also had 16 assists, probably wasn’t in the mood to hear about his opponent, judging from his lukewarm response to the same question.
“I don’t know,” he said. “I guess I do see some similarities.”
The most obvious is shooting percentage.
Thanks to his 27-point, 10-assist performance during Wednesday night’s win against Miami, Rondo is now shooting .506 from the floor this season.
Only five guards in the entire league are shooting better than 50 percent from the field, with 40 or more games as the standard.
Parker routinely has been the league leader in this category. Like Rondo, he has built his high percentage - .491 this season and .488 in his career - on layups.
Rondo may be the more athletic and flashier of the two, but both little men have displayed a remarkable consistency for finishing in the paint.
Parker now makes defenses respect him from the outside as well by hitting the open jumper.
“They both have a great proclivity for finishing at the rim and they both are known for working on their jumpers all the time,” San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said. “I mean, you can’t have everything. If they were both 40 or 50 percent shooters from 3, then they would both be impossible to guard.”
Celtics notes
The NBA decided to split the baby yesterday after looking into Tuesday night’s encounter between Doc Rivers and referee Bill Kennedy.
Rivers was ejected with his second technical foul and later, at length claimed that he had been baited and goaded by Kennedy. The NBA indication yesterday that it agreed with Rivers, and fined Kennedy an undisclosed amount of money. But the league also refused to rescind the technical and fined the Celtics coach $25,000. . . .
As expected, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen flew with the team to San Antonio but are doubtful to play.
Too many injuries for this game- both teams have major players out.
But maybe the game will be evenly matched??
I guess we at ST aren't the only ones who get contentious when comparing Parker and Rondo......
Friday: Celtics (51-18) at Spurs (45-22)
Express-News
Time: 7:30 p.m.
TV: FSNSW
Radio: WOAI-AM 1200, KCOR-AM 1350
STARTING LINEUPS
POS - SPURS - CELTICS
PG - 9 Tony Parker (6-2, 8th yr) - 9 Rajon Rondo (6-1, 3rd yr)
Ankle injury robbing Rondo of his greatest asset — his speed.
SG - 8 Roger Mason Jr. (6-5, 5th yr) - 20 Ray Allen (6-5, 13th yr)
Allen missed victory at Heat with elbow injury, 50-50 to play tonight.
SF - 4 Michael Finley (6-7, 14th yr) - 34 Paul Pierce (6-7, 11th yr)
Only two names ahead of Pierce on Celtics' all-time scoring list: Havlicek and Bird.
PF - 21 Tim Duncan (6-11, 12th yr) - 11 Kevin Garnett (6-11, 14th yr)
It will be a race from the training room for these two hobbled All-Stars.
C - 15 Matt Bonner (6-10, 5th yr) - 43 Kendrick Perkins (6-10, 6th yr)
Bonner went bombs away on hometown team in February meeting (23 points).
SPURS RESERVES
12 Bruce Bowen, F, 6-7, 13th yr
90 Drew Gooden, F/C, 6-10, 8th yr
3 George Hill, G, 6-2, 1st yr
7 Fabricio Oberto, C, 6-10, 4th yr
40 Kurt Thomas, C/F, 6-9, 14th yr
5 Ime Udoka, G/F, 6-5, 5th yr
11 Jacque Vaughn, G, 6-1, 12th yr
CELTICS RESERVES
4 J.R. Giddens, G, 6-5, 1st yr
11 Glen Davis, F, 6-9, 2nd yr
50 Eddie House, G, 6-1, 9th yr
7 Mikki Moore, C, 7-0, 3rd yr
0 Leon Powe, F, 6-8, 3rd yr
13 Gabe Pruitt, G, 6-4, 3rd yr
8 Stephon Marbury, G, 6-2, 13th yr
COACHES
Spurs: Gregg Popovich
Celtics: Doc Rivers
INJURIES
Spurs: Ian Mahinmi (right ankle surgery) and Manu Ginobili (stress reaction, right ankle) are out.
Celtics: Tony Allen (left thumb), Brian Scalabrine (post-concussion syndrome), Leon Powe (strained right knee) are out. Kevin Garnett (strained right knee) is questionable. Ray Allen (right elbow sprain) is day-to-day.
PROJECTED INACTIVE PLAYERS
Spurs: Mahinmi, Ginobili, Malik Hairston
Celtics: Scalabrine, Tony Allen, Bill Walker
NOTABLE
Both teams are injury plagued entering tonight's game between the past two NBA champions. The Celtics win the battle of "most players on the injured list," though it is possible they will get Garnett back from a knee injury tonight. ... Duncan is expected to play for Spurs after taking one game off to rest a sore knee. ... Spurs broke a three-game losing streak vs. Celtics with 105-99 win Feb. 8 in Boston. ... Celtics clinched Atlantic Division with Wednesday's victory at Miami.
- Jeff McDonald
You sure Mikki Moore is a third year vet?
Who does the fact checking? Anyone?
They also had KG listed as #11.
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