Health over home court: Boston and San Antonio can win NBA Title as second seeds

During the playoffs, there’s no place like home –unless you’re the Celtics or Spurs. 

Boston and San Antonio have all but conceded first in their respected conferences, which means they could face Cleveland and Los Angeles come playoffs without the luxury of home court advantage.

But these teams don’t need an extra night in their own bed to beat top competition and advance to the NBA Finals. With or without home court, they can win it all. Here’s why:

• Experience trumps homecourt. Last year, the Celtics faced a first round challenge from the Hawks en route to their seventeenth banner, while the Spurs’ core have won multiple NBA Titles. No situation will intimidate either team. 

• Doc Rivers and Gegg Popovich are two of the game’s best sideline bosses. Rivers’ personable style and Pop’s meticulous nature provide an edge in crunch time. 

• Both squads have excellent supporting players capable of stepping-up in a seven game series. Youngsters Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins have continued to emerge this year for Boston, while ‘Big Shot Rog’ Mason and Matt Bonner are having fine seasons in San Antonio. 

• Their All-Star trios present match-up problems. Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce each had their moments during last year’s run. When healthy, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker still get it done. 

• Most importantly, Boston and San Antonio play airtight defense. Teams that get-stops can always win on the road. For example, the Celtics held the Lakers to 91 points in Staples Center to win game four of the 2007-08 NBA Finals. 

Health is the priority. Kevin Garnett recently returned from a fifteen game injury. And several other Celtics have also been nursing injuries. Meanwhile, Manu Ginobili has been battling ankle troubles since the Beijing Olympics. Expect the Celtics and Spurs to give key players nights off, so they can be well rested for the playoffs.

Home court would be nice. But for veteran squads like the Celtics and Spurs, it’s hardly a necessity.

What is more important for the Celtics and Spurs: health or homecourt? Get at us in the comment box below and come back to HoopsVibe The Blog for more NBA tidbits. Photo courtesy of killbucky.