GT: Spurs vs. Celtics

Post #1 » by **Nolan** » Wed Nov 21, 2012 4:37 am

When: 7:30 PM ET, November 21, 2012
Where: TD Garden, Boston, MA

Starting Lineups:

Spurs:
PG - Tony Parker
SG - Danny Green
SF - Manu Ginobili
PF - Tim Duncan
C - DeJuan Blair

Celtics:
PG - Rajon Rondo
SG - Jason Terry
SF - Paul Pierce
PF - Brandon Bass
C - Kevin Garnett

This is the first game of a six game road trip for us and it should be a tough one against another veteran team in the Celtics.

The key to this is going to be the battle in the paint. Outside of KG the Celtics are very weak inside and if we can exploit that weakness we can win this one.

Go Spurs!!

co_laper · Post #2 » by **co_laper** » Wed Nov 21, 2012 11:15 am

Well, outside of Duncan, we're kinda weak inside ourselves even offensively to exploit it.

Honestly, I'm not feeling this one. Even after Pop blasted the team, I'm not sure we have enough advantage.

It's at their house. They're rested. They're coming off a loss themselves so Boston will be extra focused. Not to mention they're healthy. We're likely going to see a lot of weird lineups that we're not used to seeing. I'd like to see if we even play smallball in this game. And then I think Neal's shot is all messed up because the band-aid on his hand is at his shooting hand and it's on that finger. If it bothers him gripping and dribbling the ball, it sure will bother his shot.

Just a whole lot of stuff not to like for this game. And Parker needs to get out of his slump. This no flopping rule has had a huge effect on Parker. Even Battier said that the flopping rule has had a bigger effect on offensive players so far instead of defensive players where guys don't act like they got shot after the slightest contact. Parker was on the video earlier in the year from the NBA to officials about what to watch for. He's clearly not been getting his usual calls this season.

Ballings7 · Post #3 » by **Ballings7** » Thu Nov 22, 2012 2:56 am

Great win right there

Wow

TwentyOne920 · Post #4 » by **TwentyOne920** » Thu Nov 22, 2012 8:27 am

The frontcourt heard Pop and Delivered.

co_laper · Post #5 » by **co_laper** » Thu Nov 22, 2012 11:13 am

Yeah, I mean we shot 58% from the field, 50% from 3. Hard to say if we had anybody that didn't play well.

Our bench definitely won this game for us. The group that got us the double digit lead was Nando, Manu, Splitter, Diaw, and Neal. I remember Boston's lineup was Sullinger, Barbosa, Lee, Green, and Wilcox and you can just see the difference between the two group. Celtics bench had no identity offensively and was sort of lost defensively.

TwentyOne920 · Post #6 » by **TwentyOne920** » Thu Nov 22, 2012 3:00 pm

co_laper wrote:Yeah, I mean we shot 58% from the field, 50% from 3. Hard to say if we had anybody that didn't play well.

Our bench definitely won this game for us. The group that got us the double digit lead was Nando, Manu, Splitter, Diaw, and Neal. I remember Boston's lineup was Sullinger, Barbosa, Lee, Green, and Wilcox and you can just see the difference between the two group. Celtics bench had no identity offensively and was sort of lost defensively.

Splitter scored 23 points. The entire Celtics bench scored 17. :lol:

Ballings7 · Post #7 » by **Ballings7** » Thu Nov 22, 2012 5:50 pm

Splitter's a different player this year... he was a factor last year, but just seems to be notably better right now

I only saw the 4th qtr, but obviously the depth is working out again

I just still don't like if Duncan or Splitter are ever unavailable how undersized we'll be (when we already kinda are) - gotta get Bonner off this team for a big with length

co_laper · Post #8 » by **co_laper** » Fri Nov 23, 2012 4:22 pm

I don't see anything different from Splitter compared to last year, other than that he's getting used to playing with Duncan. I mean, Splitter played really really well last year in the limited minutes he got and I personally don't think he's gonna put up better averages than last year. 9 points and 5 rebounds on 62% shooting in 19 minutes.. I mean damn.. He regressed in the playoffs when his free throws somehow abandoned him and it got into his head, but Splitter's regular season last year was pretty awesome.

Sadly, I really don't see any improvements from his game compared to last year. It looks like he is what he is. Great around the basket, decent low post game, physical and hard working, gets the rebounds he's supposed to get. I think he's a solid starting quality Center.

He's going to be a FA this summer, it'll be interesting what kind of numbers he command. He's very productive in a position that is dying.