Celtics (22-4) @ Spurs (17-8) – 9:30 PM, Fri, Dec. 8, 2017

[Parliament10]

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'Next man up' Celtics continue to find ways to win
By A. Sherrod Blakely | December 06, 2017, 11:57 PM

http://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/next-man-celtics-continue-find-ways-win

BOSTON – Five minutes into the season, the Boston Celtics had little choice but to embrace a “next man up” mentality.

Since then, this approach to the game has been fine-tuned and is now at a point where it doesn’t seemingly matter who is missing from the Celtics lineup.

Short-handed or fully stacked, this team continues to find ways to win, with the latest victory being a 97-90 win over the Dallas Mavericks which came with a pair of key Celtics players out....

“They both did a pretty good job,” said Celtics head coach Brad Stevens. “And those guys work really hard. I mean, nobody’s in the gym more than Nader. And it’s good to see that first shot go down and … then to make a steal and to make some plays in there. And then Guerschon, I thought, did a good job of kind of playing through him. We need to be able to play through him (Yabusele) in the high post and top of the key, kind of like we do Al (Horford) when he’s in the game, and I thought he did a pretty good job of that.”

During the Celtics’ shoot-around prior to the game, one of the main topics discussed was the importance of all 11 players in uniform, being ready to play and play well.

“We always have to have that 'next man up' mentality,” said Terry Rozier who had 12 points and nine rebounds off the bench. “We’re just covering for one another; we’re a team. We’re pros for a reason. You put in all this hard work, you have to be ready.”

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It's officially official.

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SAN ANTONIO SPURS Roster, 2017-18

















BOSTON CELTICS Roster, 2017-18


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VC Count, Regular Season, 2017-18
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Victory Cigar
(6) Kyrie Irving
(6) Al Horford
(4) Jaylen Brown
(2) Shane Larkin
(1) Marcus Smart
(1) Aron Baynes
(1) Marcus Morris
(1) Jayson Tatum






Ties go to the Team.
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(7) Jayson Tatum
(7) Kyrie Irving
(3) Marcus Smart
(2) Al Horford
(1) Jaylen Brown
(1) Terry Rozier
(1) Marcus Morris





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[ConstableGeneva]

This could be Kawhi's first game back. Parker's been playing for a few games now. LMA has been having a great season. Last Celtics win in San Antonio: March 2011. Maybe we can break that losing streak too. Cs have won against every Western Conference opponent so far (8-0). Gonna be a tough, fun one.

[KevinGamble34]

Going to be a tough game as the Spurs are a quality team. Looks like we last won there in 2011. Let's end this drought!!!!!!!

[steefP2]

Would be nice to sweep the spurs for the first time in forever.

[FlatearthZorro]

Yea, if we get this, it'd be super sweet. Beating the Spurs on their home floor is not an easy thing to do.

Hoping Jaylen and Morris are back.

[87rottweiler]

Spurs are great.


Hope we beat em by 40.


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[Celtics_History_Lesson]

Two guys who don't speak English well and three backup point guards, can the Spurs match that lineup?

Yabu-Dabu-Du, The Theis is, Smart, Larkin, Rozier versus Joffrey Lauvergne, Marc Gasol's brother, Parker, Mills, Murray.



A couple of tank jobs got them an Admiral and Timmy, and now the Spurs will fade into mediocrity.

If you added the ages of P Gasol and Ginobili together, they would equal the age of Mario Andretti, or Thon Maker.



Spurs have become an ugly team to watch, with a hysterical and confused coach and a roster that doesn't know who takes the shots or finishes games. Murray was the superstar guard, and then demoted to third point guard. Kawhi back would help them, or maybe would hurt Aldridge more.

Baynes will be important, and he won't be nice to the frontcourt there as none of those players were Spurs when he was.

Irving should have an easy time with their point guards.

If Kawhi isn't there, then their starting small forward doesn't play defense so Tatum can score a lot.

Davis Bertans, not even the second-best Latvian to play in the NBA.

[Afam]

Kyrie Irving is star, no doubt it now.

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[radcot]

The Spurs are a mediocre team on the road (5-6). Unfortunately, the game is in San Antonio where they are very tough to beat (12-2). They'll also be looking for payback. A victory tonight will top our home win over GS as the most impressive win of the season. I'll be requiring some significant alcoholic sedative to get through this one without a heart attack.

[ConstableGeneva]

Fun (?) Useless Fact: Of all our active players, only Morris and Irving have beaten the Spurs in San Antonio. Once each as a member of the Suns and Cavs, respectively. Horford hasn't won there in 8 tries. Irving scored a career-high 57 pts in their OT win.

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[BRUNiNHO91]

This would be a massive win for us. These guys are 17-8 without Kawhi and battling a whole bunch of other injuries. They are really, really good.

We really haven't played a full good game in a while..this will have to be one if we want to win.

[tlee324]

This isn't a team that you want to be down double-digits with for a long period of time. Hoping for a sustained effort on both ends. I'm a big fan of Leonard's, and hope he's back at full health for the season.

[estendius]

If Hayward and Kawhi is healthy, this will be a very interesting match-up.

[steefP2]

Baynes revenge game 3.0

[SMTBSI]

This would be a massive win for us. These guys are 17-8 without Kawhi and battling a whole bunch of other injuries. They are really, really good.

Yeah, amazingly, after everything they've done under Pop, people are still sleeping on the Spurs. 17-8 without one of the best players in the league. Say what you want about their individual parts, but this team is still very, very dangerous. They'll have something to say about how the season plays out, out west.

[FlatearthZorro]

Kyrie Irving is star, no doubt it now.

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Dude there was never a doubt. If we continue playing this way and with his effort on both ends of the court and willingness to move the ball, I'd dare say he's a superstar, not a star. The layups that he makes are AND1 like especially with his weak hand, just absurd.

[sam_I_am]

This would be a massive win for us. These guys are 17-8 without Kawhi and battling a whole bunch of other injuries. They are really, really good.

We really haven't played a full good game in a while..this will have to be one if we want to win.

My sense is that we have played down to competition lately. But stats suggest that our offense is getting real good. Last 6 games our Off. Eff. is 115 vs. 106 during the streak. 22-4 is on pace to 69 win season. But even if you just assume we play as good as since the streak the rest of way (6-2) you get 64-65 wins.

Obviously, that is magical thinking right now.... but if the team can combine the historic defense during the streak with the great offense of past 6 games ..... we are a ridiculously good team.....

okay that might still be magical thinking.....

[tfribs45]

should be a battle, please save the 12 man rotations for the weak games Brad. Bring your A game against Popovich. We need some offensive help, hopefully JB and Morris are back!

[Parliament10]

should be a battle, please save the 12 man rotations for the weak games Brad. Bring your A game against Popovich. We need some offensive help, hopefully JB and Morris are back!

I'm actually a fan of giving the 3rd Unit a few mins of play, each game.
Keep them fresh, for insurance purposes -- Next Man Up.

[GoCeltics123]

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