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Posted: **Sun Feb 10, 2008 4:46 pm**

San Antonio Express-News

SPURS (32-16) at CELTICS (38-9)

Time: Noon TV: ABC
   

Radio: WOAI-AM 1200, KCOR-AM 1350

STARTING LINEUPS


D. Stoudamire (5-10, 13th yr)
Rajon Rondo (6-1, 2nd yr)

When Stoudamire spurned Boston for Spurs, Rondo got to keep his job.

Manu Ginobili (6-5, 6th yr)
 Ray Allen (6-5, 12th yr)

Ginobili vs. Knicks: 20 points, nine assists, seven rebounds, six turnovers.

Bruce Bowen (6-7, 12th yr)
Paul Pierce (6-7, 10th yr)

With move to the East, Allen's rivalry with Bowen reduced to twice-a-year affair.

21 Tim Duncan (6-11, 11th yr)
Brian Scalabrine (6-9, 7th yr)

Scalabrine for Garnett? Spurs will take that tradeoff.

7 Fabricio Oberto (6-9, 3rd yr)
Kendrick Perkins (6-10, 5th yr)

Oberto's blue-collar dirty work reaping dividends for Spurs.

RESERVES


25 Robert Horry, C, 6-10, 16th yr
42 Tony Allen, G, 6-4, 4th yr
15 Matt Bonner, F, 6-10, 4th yr
11 Glen Davis, F, 6-9, 1st yr
16 Francisco Elson, C, 6-11, 5th yr
50 Eddie House, G, 6-1, 8th yr
4 Michael Finley, G, 6-7, 13th yr
41 James Posey, F, 6-8, 9th yr
5 Ime Udoka, F, 6-5, 4th yr
0 Leon Powe, F, 6-8, 2nd yr
11 Jacque Vaughn, G, 6-1, 11th yr
   
COACHES

Spurs: Gregg Popovich
Celtics: Doc Rivers

INJURIES

Spurs: Brent Barry (left calf strain) and Tony Parker (bone spur, left heel) are out.

Celtics: Kevin Garnett (abdominal strain) and Scot Pollard (sore left ankle) are day-to-day.

PROJECTED INACTIVE PLAYERS

Spurs: Barry, Parker.

Celtics: Garnett, Gabe Pruitt.

NOTABLE

Each team's Big Three has been reduced by one for this nationally televised showdown. Spurs will play without Parker for the sixth consecutive game; Celtics are likely to be missing Garnett for the seventh straight. ..... Celtics' record of 38-9 leads the NBA. They won just 24 games last season. ..... Spurs have won 18 of 19 against Boston since 1997, with Celtics' lone victory in that stretch coming last season in San Antonio. ..... Spurs have won four games in a row, their longest winning streak since early December. They are 4-2 on their nine-game rodeo road trip.

Posted: **Sun Feb 10, 2008 5:04 pm**

Spurs win by 5

Posted: **Sun Feb 10, 2008 5:14 pm**

From what I hear, Perkins isn't playing either, and Pollard's still injured.

Posted: **Sun Feb 10, 2008 5:54 pm**

WOOHOO, I finally get to watch Damon. I am excited about this game. Hopefully the Spurs pull it off. I'm curious to see if Bowen will be on Allen or Pierce. Duncan should be well off against their frontline. I think he needs to get 20+ shots in this game.

Posted: **Sun Feb 10, 2008 6:02 pm**

So Vaughn and Gino starting? Hmmm...

Posted: **Sun Feb 10, 2008 6:09 pm**

GINOBLIIIIII ON FIRE!!

Doh! Pierce on fire too.

Posted: **Sun Feb 10, 2008 7:10 pm**

You're lucky Ray is off. Our 3 biggest players are out, and we're still in the game.

Posted: **Sun Feb 10, 2008 7:16 pm**

Dude we have Parker and Barry out, it's even , no excuses by either team using injuries.

Plus Boston clearly have the refs on their side so far. It's almost embarrassing how lopsided the calls have been so far.

Posted: **Sun Feb 10, 2008 7:26 pm**

We are not playing good in my opinion... Boston isn't as well.. but eh...

Posted: **Sun Feb 10, 2008 7:43 pm**

does Bruce Bowen still make 3's?..

everyone needs to start taking better shots too..nobody is making anything..

Posted: **Sun Feb 10, 2008 7:54 pm**

Trade for Mike Miller.. ASAP PLEASE.

Trade for Ben Wallace.. ASAP.

Then we will be able to win back to back.

Posted: **Sun Feb 10, 2008 7:57 pm**

Execution will be crucial down the stretch. Spurs need to stick with the plan as usual. Defensively, we need to have rotation in the D like we did earlier in the 3rd quarter.

Posted: **Sun Feb 10, 2008 8:19 pm**

Adde91202 wrote:Trade for Mike Miller.. ASAP PLEASE.

Trade for Ben Wallace.. ASAP.

Then we will be able to win back to back.

no thanks..

Posted: **Sun Feb 10, 2008 8:23 pm**

Ime needs to make open shots..that 3 would have cut the lead to 1, but instead it's at 6..

Posted: **Sun Feb 10, 2008 8:24 pm**

Not gonna pull this one out I think...

Posted: **Sun Feb 10, 2008 8:27 pm**

I'm ok with us not making a move at all....let all these teams try to gel together while dallas and we are going against each other for the nba-finals-spot...dont forget: we are without a healthy parker! so its not like we are at our best!

Posted: **Sun Feb 10, 2008 8:30 pm**

two crucial rebounds...

Posted: **Sun Feb 10, 2008 8:38 pm**

I'd rather have ben wallace's defense, rebounding and energy rather than Elsons and Obertos. Plus, Ben does an excellent job against shaq and bynum.
What do you think, Oberto is going to stop bynum?

We need a trade, that's just the bottom line.

Posted: **Sun Feb 10, 2008 8:41 pm**

I'm ok with a loss...but next time I have to mute the color-comentators when I'm watching a boston-game.

as for ben: I'd rather have obertos ability to but the ball into the basket if left alone after a manu or timmy pass!

Posted: **Sun Feb 10, 2008 8:43 pm**

Lack of energy cost us the game. Once again we cruised through the game and tried to switch it on in the last 5 mins. We still didn't try hard enough and didn't deserve to win. Where was our rebounding hussle? Just poor effort.

Boston don't really scare me at all though based on today. Boston played out of their skins on D to beat us while we just coasted and barely lost.

Of course I'd rather see them with KG and us with Parker and barry. Let's hope we get to see both teams at full strength next time.

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