Finally, a real game against the Spurs

Celtics (42-10)
Offensive Efficiency (110.9, 4th in NBA); Defensive Efficiency (100.4, 1st)

Spurs (33-15)
Offensive Efficiency (108.1, 12th); Defensive Efficiency (104.7, 4th)

Ah, the Spurs, the team the Celtics might have been had the Great Tanking Strategy of 1996-97 worked and landed the Celtics Tim Duncan instead of Ron Mercer and Chauncey Billups, the former a one-dimensional gunner who tried to con the C’s into a max contract, and the latter a good one Rick Pitino jettisoned too soon. And there’s Tony Parker, too, the point guard taken seven spots after Red Auerbach (reportedly) insisted on using the 21st pick of the first round on Joseph Forte in 2001.

The Celtics clearly tanked the 1997 season, and I’m ashamed now to say I cheered every loss. I wanted Duncan. He was quiet, composed, with a polished game and a desire to win above all else–a perfect Celtic. The Spurs, though, out-tanked us, and I’m left with only an autographed photo of Duncan I won on eBay in 1998 for $50–meaning it’s almost surely fake.

But that was then. Now Timmy is one-third of the core of a Spurs team that is aging quickly and no longer the Celtics equal — at least by the numbers. That’s what makes the Spurs interesting, though. They have enough of a winning pedigree that people — very smart ones — toss out the numbers and insist they won’t matter when it’s time to man up.

As for this game, we will finally get to see these two teams play at full strength. The Celtics won both match-ups last year, two close ones in which neither team cracked 100. Tony Parker (ankle), Kevin Garnett (ab strain) and Kendrick Perkins (not important enough to be mentioned in the AP recap) missed the first game, a 98-90 win highlighted by Pierce’s 35 points on 18 shots, Rondo’s team-high 11 boards and Big Baby “holding” Duncan to 22-14.

The C’s won the follow-up, too, 93-91, to kick off their scorched earth campaign through the Texas Triangle. Ray Allen missed that game, giving Sam Cassell license to jack up crazy shots en route to 17 points. KG held Duncan to just 10 points on eight shots, and the C’s rallied from 22 down in the second quarter to win.

Today’s game is another biggie for the Celts, who are in the middle of a brutal eight-game stretch in which they need to play well (6-2?) to have a decent shot at home court. The win at New York was encouraging, if only to fend off criticism–for now–that the C’s are an “insecure” team prone to funks after a tough loss. Let’s see if they respond against one of the league’s elite. This is also their last home game before a six-game road trip through the Western Conference.

As for the Spurs, we know they’ll be well-rested, even though this is game three of their annual Rodeo road trip. They haven’t played since Tuesday, and Gregg Popovich held Parker, Duncan and Ginobli out of that game, so those three haven’t played since Monday. (By the way–that move by Pop is either a genius concession that February games don’t matter OR an admission that his team is far enough behind the Lakers that they will need everything to be absolutely perfect in June to have any shot against LA. Or maybe both?)

This will be the Celtics third game in four days, and KG’s back might be a little sore after he fell into a cameraman’s knee against the Knicks.

This game is like manna from heaven for fans who like match-ups. We’ve got arguably the two best power forwards ever going head-to-head in the latest chapter in the debate over who’s better — a debate that pits David Berri against Bill Simmons. (According to Elias, Duncan and KG are two of the three active players averaging a 20-10 in their careers. Shaq is the other, and Elton Brand just fell of of this list).  We’ve got Rondo and Parker out-quicking each other, and Ray Allen and Ginobli running all over the place without the ball.

Which leaves us with Pierce. Who guards him? Finley? Roger Mason Jr.? Bowen? Please, please and Bowen doesn’t play that much anymore.

Let’s hope we see continued good play from House, and that the other big guys (Perk, Davis and Powe) can pound on the glass and work the low post for good shot attempts while Duncan is occupied with KG. As Brian noted, House and Powe have played especially well two games in a row, and it would nice if those guys could establish themselves as consistent scoring threats.

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