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Game #35 Preview: Spurs @ Celtics

So, that game last night was an unmitigated disaster, wasn't it? Well, Spurs fans, it gets worse: not only did we lose a game in embarrasing fashion despite long minutes from our starters last night, but our SEGABABA is against the best team in the Eastern Conference... in their house. Yeah, the chances of the Spurs going on the first losing streak of the season look to be pretty high right now.

The Spurs are also 2-3 in their last 5 road games, winning only a controvesial last-second victory at Denver and a Dirk-less contest in Dallas. The rodeo road trip is starting to loom on the horizon, and we suck on the road. Not. Good.

Hit the jump if you dare, and check out PtR user Artis Gilmore's breakdown as well.

Angry music:

For those of you who aren't quite as angry as me:

WARNING: Extreme over-negativity ahead. Proceed with caution.
You all knew this kind of preview was coming. Y'all might be mad at me for this, but it had to be done. Just remember, this is going to hurt me more than it's going to hurt you.

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San Antonio Spurs @ Boston Celtics
Where: TD Garden

When: 01/05/2011, 6:30 PM Spurs Time - Timezone Converter
Watch: FSSW


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By the Numbers

Data sources:
hoopdata.com | basketball-reference.com | John Hollinger's team stats

Category Offense
(rank)
Defense
(rank)
Efficiency Rating 110.0
(1st)
99.9
(7th)
Rebound %
25.5
(15th)
75.3
(8th)
Field Goal % 47.1
(5th)
45.3
(14th)
3-Point % 40
(2nd)
40
(29th)
Free Throw %
77.3
(11th)
73.6
(4th)
Turnover %
12.6
(2nd)
14.2
(11th)
Assist %
61.8
(6th)
54.1
(3rd)
Category Offense
(rank)
Defense
(rank)
Efficiency Rating 105.3
(12th)
96.6
(1st)
Rebound %
20.8
(30th)
76
(5th)
Field Goal % 50
(1st)
43.3
(3rd)
3-Point % 37.1
(11th)
34
(6th)
Free Throw %
75.6
(18th)
75.3
(14th)
Turnover %
14.5
(24th)
15.2
(5th)
Assist %
64.2
(2nd)
55.2
(5th)
Record Wins Losses
Overall 29 5
Conference 20 3
Division 5 2
Home 19 2
Away 10 3
Position Conference Division
Record 1st 1st
Lineups

Starters
PG: Tony Parker
SG: Manu Ginobili
SF: Richard Jefferson
PF: DeJuan Blair
C: Tim Duncan

Key Bench Players
George Hill
Matt Bonner
Gary Neal
Antonio McDyess
Tiago Splitter

Record Wins Losses
Overall 26 7
Conference 21 4
Division 8 1
Home 14 2
Away 12 5
Position Conference Division
Record 1st 1st
Lineups

Starters
PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Ray Allen
SF: Paul Pierce
PF: Glen Davis
C: Shaquille O'Neal

Key Bench Players
Jermaine O'Neal
Nate Robinson
Marquis Daniels
Von Wafer
Luke Harangody

Matchup Analysis

Point Guard
Shooting Guard

Small Forward
Power Forward
Center

Bench

Coach

Intangibles

Mojo

Winner

Starters

PG: Tony is one of two Spurs who didn't suck last night, therefore I'll call it a draw between him and the most dynamic passer in the league. Rondo, btw, is freaking awesome. If the comparisons Ricky Rubio has drawn to him are correct, Rubio is going to be a major star when he finally makes it to the NBA.

SG: Jesus Shuttlesworth is playing some really good ball this year, with career highs in both field goal percentage and 3-point percentage. When one of the league's best shooters over the last decade is shooting his best ever, that's pretty damn good. Meanwhile, a certain Argentine had the worst +/- on the team last night for the Spurs.

SF: Pierce is the heart and soul of this C's team, and has been for the last decade. Meanwhile, RJ 2.0 seems to have stepped aside in favor of 2009-10 RJ. Bad rage! No soup for you!

PF: Blair, like Tony, didn't suck last night. Big Baby has struggled a bit since he was thrust into the starting lineup, but having Rondo back to find him in the right spots should help him immensely.

C: Look, Timmy, I wanted to give you the Spur, but that was one heck of an egg you laid last night. The defense lived and dies with ya, Timmy. Shaq, meanwhile, is putting up some staggering per-minute totals. The old guy's still got it.

Bench

Boston's got a lot of depth, and a commitment to playing defense from the first guy all the way to the 12th. Every Spurs bench player sucked last night except Hill(he still had 3 TO's).

Coaching

If Pop's constant harping on the defense doesn't prevent the team from allowing 128 in a game, he should probably try a different approach.

Intangibles

Defense - Boston plays it, the Spurs don't.

Mojo

See last night's beatdown.

Prediction

This is not going to be pretty, but maybe it'll be the wakeup call the Spurs need. Celts win a laugher.

Key to the Game

Don't suck at defense - Yeah, that's basically it. With Boston, you can't "cut off the head" of the snake, since they're more like a hydra, so we need good defense as a team to have any chance. Now, why on earth would I not be confident in that happening tonight, I wonder?

Other Reading

Spurs

48 Minutes of Hell

OPPONENT

CelticsBlog(SB Nation) [fair warning: CB is known for their quick ban-trigger. Don't visit if you've got nothing nice to say]

Following Along

TV

Fox Sports Southwest

Radio

WOAI 1200AM; Audio League Pass[streaming]

Online

As always, NBA league pass is recommended for those who are willing to pony up the cash. Almost every Spurs game will be broadcast there, which is especially helpful for those of us who aren't in the San Antonio area.

Please don't post links to illegal game feeds in the game thread. Links to illegal feeds are not permitted on SBNation, but you can probably find them out there on the internets if you're resourceful and desperate. You can also shoot an email to poundingtherockmail@yahoo.com(IMPORTANT: Please include your PtR username in the email for reference) for further assistance.