SAN ANTONIO – PREGAME NOTES: Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich spoke about the snow in San Antonio ahead of the Celtics game at the AT&T Center. Popovich joked about the quick change in weather.
“Nobody will believe us today, there’s no evidence at all, it’s gone..they’ll say your all full of baloney,” Popovich said.
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Boston has won 22 of their last 24, and have the best record in the league at 22-4.
The Spurs are 17-8 without the services of Kawhi Leonard. Popovich remained vague about Leonard's return. ESPN reported Leonard might possibly make his return on Tuesday at Dallas.
Popovich was asked pregame if Leonard would return during the Spurs upcoming road trip and joked, "sooner rather than later."
Popovich also discussed Tony Parker's recent play. Parker is averaging 8.2 points and 17.6 minutes per game since his return. Popovich credited Parker's weight room training for his solid play.
"He’s never wanted to be Schwarzenegger in the weight room, he’s never been like that,” Popovich said. “In this particular case, he just didn’t want to be sitting out. He was playing so well last year before he got hurt so he wanted to get back so he worked hard at it."
PREVIOUS GAME PREVIEW NOTES:
The Spurs are coming off two quality wins over the Detroit Pistons and Miami Heat, but found themselves having to dig out of holes in both games.
"We are going to have to be a little sharper than we have been lately and not put ourselves in the holes we have put ourselves into early on because with more talented teams it's hard to come back," Pau Gasol said during Friday's shootaround.
The Celtics are led by Kyrie Irving, who averaging 23 points a game, and a steal a a half per contest.
"It is a tough team to contain, Kyrie is always a handful but then they have surrounded him with very good players so it's a big threat," said Manu Ginobili.
After getting knocked on the his right knee during Wednesday's game, Ginobili said he is good to go tonight. "It was a little sore yesterday, but today I'm good and ready to go."
One key to the Spurs success lately is assists. San Antonio has dished out 30 assists each of the last two games.
They had seven guys in double figures Monday against Detroit and eight players in double figures Wednesday against the Heat.
This will be the second and final regular season meeting between Boston and San Antonio.
The Celtics beat the Spurs on Oct. 30, 108-94, in Boston.