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Rogers' EARLY ANNIHILATION >> 15-7 This Week! 19-6 L25 NBA!
(NBA) San Antonio vs. Boston,
Point Spread: -3.00 | -109.00 San Antonio (Away)
Result: Win
Point Spread: -3.00 | -109.00 San Antonio (Away)
Result: Win
The set-up: The San Antonio Spurs are off to a 12-3 start bur get lost in all the hoopla surround the Warriors' "Super Team" (Golden State has won nine straight to reach 13-2) and the LA Clippers, who have the NBA's best record at 14-2. However, the spurs do own the NBA's only perfect road record (they're 8-0) and will look to keep that alive with a Friday afternoon visit to the TD Garden in Boston to take on the 9-6 Celtics, who are a modest 4-2 at home.
San Antonio: The Spurs 8-0 road start this season ties them with 2010-11 team for the best start away from home in franchise history. "It's a weird year," Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich told reporters. "We've lost three in a row at home, and last year we lost one the whole year. Now we're undefeated on the road, so don't ask me. That's why they call it a game because you never know what's going to happen." San Antonio has won seven in a row overall buoyed by shooting 39.7 percent from three-point range and 84.0 percent from the FT line (both figures are No. 1 in the entire NBA). SF Leonard (25.1-6.3) is now unquestionably the team's best player and Aldridge his No. 1 sidekick, averaging 18.6 & 6.9 playing PF. However, as always, the Spurs' depth and overall balance is a key to the team's success.
Boston: The Celtics return off a perfect 3-0 road trip and have won six of their last eight, the latest being a 111-92 victory at Brooklyn on Wednesday. Isaiah Thomas (team's leading scorer at 26.2 PPG) scored 23 points and Boston improved to 5-1 with Al Horford, who has missed nine games due to a concussion. Horford has hit the ground running after his absence, averaging 18.3 & 7.3 in his three games back in the lineup, all Boston wins. SF Jae Crowder had his best effort versus the Nets since returning from an ankle injury three games ago, recording 15 points and five rebounds in just 22 minutes (he was Boston's top frontcourt scorer last year at 14.2 PPG). Thomas has scored at least 20 points in all but one game but also has fallen into a bit of a shooting slump by hitting only 38.5 percent over his last seven contests. Avery Bradley is his backcourt partner (17.9 & 8.0) and he recorded 22 points, seven rebounds and five steals against Brooklyn.
The pick: With both Horford (concussion) and Crowder (ankle) rejoining the team for the recently complete 3-0 road trip, spirits are back up in Boston. However, defeating Detroit, Minnesota and Brooklyn on the road is hardly a reason to make plans for the NBA Finals, as those teams are a combined 15-29 (.341). Beating the Spurs would be something to cheer about but the bottom line is that the Spurs are 37-9 against the Celtics since Feb. 11, 1992 and more recently have defeated the Celtics on nine straight occasions, including four in a row at Boston. San Antonio is an 8* play.
San Antonio: The Spurs 8-0 road start this season ties them with 2010-11 team for the best start away from home in franchise history. "It's a weird year," Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich told reporters. "We've lost three in a row at home, and last year we lost one the whole year. Now we're undefeated on the road, so don't ask me. That's why they call it a game because you never know what's going to happen." San Antonio has won seven in a row overall buoyed by shooting 39.7 percent from three-point range and 84.0 percent from the FT line (both figures are No. 1 in the entire NBA). SF Leonard (25.1-6.3) is now unquestionably the team's best player and Aldridge his No. 1 sidekick, averaging 18.6 & 6.9 playing PF. However, as always, the Spurs' depth and overall balance is a key to the team's success.
Boston: The Celtics return off a perfect 3-0 road trip and have won six of their last eight, the latest being a 111-92 victory at Brooklyn on Wednesday. Isaiah Thomas (team's leading scorer at 26.2 PPG) scored 23 points and Boston improved to 5-1 with Al Horford, who has missed nine games due to a concussion. Horford has hit the ground running after his absence, averaging 18.3 & 7.3 in his three games back in the lineup, all Boston wins. SF Jae Crowder had his best effort versus the Nets since returning from an ankle injury three games ago, recording 15 points and five rebounds in just 22 minutes (he was Boston's top frontcourt scorer last year at 14.2 PPG). Thomas has scored at least 20 points in all but one game but also has fallen into a bit of a shooting slump by hitting only 38.5 percent over his last seven contests. Avery Bradley is his backcourt partner (17.9 & 8.0) and he recorded 22 points, seven rebounds and five steals against Brooklyn.
The pick: With both Horford (concussion) and Crowder (ankle) rejoining the team for the recently complete 3-0 road trip, spirits are back up in Boston. However, defeating Detroit, Minnesota and Brooklyn on the road is hardly a reason to make plans for the NBA Finals, as those teams are a combined 15-29 (.341). Beating the Spurs would be something to cheer about but the bottom line is that the Spurs are 37-9 against the Celtics since Feb. 11, 1992 and more recently have defeated the Celtics on nine straight occasions, including four in a row at Boston. San Antonio is an 8* play.
