Celtics (14-4) at Spurs (10-6) 12/3

[FLCeltsFan]

  at 
Boston Celtics (14-4) at  San Antonio Spurs (10-6)
Thursday, December 3
8:00 PM ET
Game #19,  Road Game #9
TV: TNT, TSN
Radio:  ESPNR, WOAI, WEEI
AT&T Center
Home of the San Antonio Spurs, the AT&T Center is one of newest and most modern arenas in the NBA today. The history of the Spurs dates back to 1973 when the team was part of the ABA and played at the HemisFair Arena. For two decades the Spurs at this 16,000 seat arena that was known as the loudest arena in the NBA. In 1993 the Spurs moved to the newly constructed Alamodome.
This dome stadium, built primarily in hopes that the city would get a NFL franchise was an upgrade from the HemisFair Arena for the Spurs. At the Alamdome the Spurs attracted some of the biggest crowds in the NBA as the seating for basketball games could be expanded up to 39,500. Because the Alamodome was so large and the sightlines were not the best, the Spurs began to pursue a new arena in the mid to late 1990s. In 1999 voters approved an increase in car rental and hotel taxes to finance the construction of a new arena. The Spurs contributed $28.5 million and 50% of the funding came from private contributors.
Constructed on the east side of the city, the arena was originally known as the SBC Center after SBC Communications bought the naming rights for $41 million over 20 years. In 2006 the building was renamed the AT&T Center after AT&T acquired SBC Communications. The Spurs played their first game at the AT&T Center on October 18, 2002.

Coach: Doc Rivers
Average Age: 27.9
Average Height: 6-6
Average Weight: 224

Probable Starters

Rajon Rondo/Ray Allen/Paul Pierce/Kevin Garnett/Kendrick Perkins

Reserves
Rasheed Wallace
Marquis Daniels
Eddie House
Shelden Williams
Lester Hudson
JR Giddens
Brian Scalabrine

Injuries
Tony Allen (ankle)  out
Glen Davis (thumb)  out

D-League
Bill Walker




Coach: Gregg Popovich
Average Age: 28.7
Average Height: 6-7
Average Weight: 224

Probable Starters

Tony Parker/Keith Bogans/Richard Jefferson/Tim Duncan/Antonio McDyess

Reserves
Michael Finley
Matt Bonner
DeJuan Blair
George Hill
Manu Ginobili
Malik Hairston
Theo Ratliff
Marcus Haislip
Ian Mahinmi
Roger Mason

Injuries
None

Team Connections
Doc Rivers played for San Antonio during the 1994-95 and 1995-96 seasons
Theo Ratliff, Antonio McDyess and Rasheed Wallace all were teammates in Detroit during the 2007-08 season
McDyess and Wallace were teammates in Detroit from 2004-09
Richard Jefferson and Brian Scalabrine were teammates in New Jersey from 2001-05
Michael Finley and Marquis Daniels were teammates in Dallas during
the 2003-04 season

Key Matchups
vs
Rajon Rondo vs Tony Parker
Rondo has been compared to Parker at times and this matchup will be a big challenge for both players.    When Rondo is aggressive and focused, he can pretty much take on any point guard in the league, including Parker.  Rondo usually gets up for big games and this is a big one.

vs
Kevin Garnett vs Tim Duncan
This is a matchup of the two best power forwards in the league.  KG is playing very well so far on this trip and should continue that trend in this game although Duncan's defense could slow him down.  Duncan is also playing at a high level, averaging 18.5 points, 10.8 rebounds and 2 blocks for the season.  This should be a battle and a fun one to watch at that. 

Honorable Mention
Kendrick Perkins vs Antonio McDyess
Perk has been tearing it up on both ends of the court recently.  He should have the advantage against McDyess and I expect another big night from him. 

Game Notes
• The Spurs and Celtics split the season series 1-1 during the 2008-09 season
• Ray Allen led the Celtics with 18.5 points per game last season against San Antonio
• Tim Duncan led the Spurs with 19.0 points and 11.0 rebounds against the Celtics last year
• The C’s are 4-6 against the Spurs since the 2004-05 season
• The Celtics and Spurs are tied 37-37 all-time in the season series with the Celtics 19-18 at home

The Spurs lost 6 of their first 10 games but have righted the ship and, like the Celtics, have won their last 5 games.  One of these teams will get their sixth straight victory, while stopping the other's win streak at 5.   

The Spurs have been off since Sunday, while  the Celtics played on Tuesday and are playing in the 3rd game of a 4 game road trip.  The Celtics ended the Bobcats' 4 game win streak and hopefully they will do the same for the Spurs 5 game win streak. 

Keys to the Game 
Defense - The Celtics appear to have returned to their defensive form that we saw in the first 5 games.  They need to continue to play the swarming team defense that we have come to know and love.

Focus
The Celtics problems during their mini slump earlier were due to a lack of focus.  They need to come out focused and stay focused for 48 minutes.  This game won't be easy, but if they focus like they have in their past 2 games, they will give themselves to get another road win.

Rebound The Spurs are a good rebounding team and the Celtics need to concentrate on crashing the boards.  Tony Parker is very good at running the break when the Spurs get defensive rebounds and Duncan is one of the best at putting back offensive rebounds.  By dominating the boards, the Celtics can prevent both from happening.

Run the Offense  In recent games we have seen the Celtics return to the ball movement that makes them so tough to guard.  They also have to continue to take the ball inside rather than just depend on jumpers.   

[Bahku]

Really looking forward to this one ... the C's are hitting their stride and starting to really get in a groove, and the Spurs are almost always a good matchup. Thanks, Florida ... great work as usual. (TP)

[Greenbean]

This should be a great game. The Spurs will be a different team than we have seen in the past. Right now they are more efficient offensively than they are defensively. I still have them in the WCF this year with an outside chance at beating LA if they can put it all together and remain healthy.

Go C's!

[Brickowski]

Well, this will be a test.  Can they hold Matt Bonner under 20?

[twinbree]

Start strong, rebound and defend the 3 and we should be in good shape especially if Perk and KG continue their scorching shooting. I'm looking forward to this one game. Games against the Spurs are always among my favorites. They are my team-in-law as I like to call them so I hate to see them lose but who cares they're playing the Cs. Crush them! J/K.
TP FL. Go Celtics!

[thirstyboots18]

Both teams have excellent benches, too.  My husband and I were remarking that if you combined the Celts and Spurs benches and named them the Nets, the Nets would have a 500 record....

Should be a fun game to watch!   TP as always, FL.  Thanks.

[Cman]

TP4UFLCF
Looking forward to the game!

[GreenFaith1819]

TP to FLCeltsFN and thanks for post!

We should win this game handily, with the way we have been playing. Will be a challenge, but as long as we stay in the groove we are in we should be ok.

Must also watch McDyess with those mid-range jumpers, and keep the bench from having a big game.

[RAcker]

This makes me nervous because their record vs. ours is highly misleading.  I think they are still struggling to get their chemistry just right.  I just hope tonight is not the night where they are able to put it together.

Being agressive is the key. Rondo needs to take it to Parker on both ends of the floor.  He cannot allow blow by drives tonight. Foul trouble would hurt us, especially if it's our bigs. And if KG's shot is on and he can get one big out of the paint, maybe Perk can continue his great play.

[Kiorrik]

Dear FLCeltsFan,

I really appreciate your posts, and I want that publicly known. However I think, one day I might forget telling you I've TP'd you up for your fantastic pregame topics. On that note, I want you to know that I will always TP you for every pre-game posts I read, for I, and lots of others, are sincerely grateful for the time and effort you put into your posts.

In short: TP.

Go Celtics!

[Kiorrik]

Man, I'm psyched for this game. Can't wait. Got basketball practice first, again, but that doesn't matter. I'm watching this game, no matter how late I'll get to work tomorrow

I severely dislike the Spurs. I want them SMASHED. I dislike Manu (flopper!!), I dislike "Timmy" (ffs the guy is, what, twelve feet thirty-two? Edited.  Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline. is with the "my" in that nick!?) and by association I dislike Tony Parker.

So yeh, I'm going to stock up on snacks and drinks in a bit so I can thoroughly enjoy this one.

Oh, and I got my laptop (woohoo) yesterday so I can watch the games on my flatscreen instead of on my bloody old computer Yay!

[Celtic]

Six in a row, here we go!

[LB3533]

We should be able to beat these Spurs. I am expecting a win, by 7 to 10.

[lon3lytoaster]

We should be able to beat these Spurs. I am expecting a win, by 7 to 10.

This is not the place to be modest, nor humble.

Celtics by 91.

[Kiorrik]

We should be able to beat these Spurs. I am expecting a win, by 7 to 10.

This is not the place to be modest, nor humble.

Celtics by 91.

TP. You would have gotten two if you had spelled it out.

You have much to learn, young padawan.

Harharhar >_<