NBA Sundays preview: Boston Celtics vs San Antonio Spurs

Former NBA coach Neal Meyer takes a look at Sunday's big game

(Getty Images)

San Antonio Spurs @ Boston Celtics

This Sunday’s game pits the NBA’s most successful franchise ever, the Boston Celtics (17 NBA championships), against the San Antonio Spurs who have won 5 titles in the last 16 years.

The Spurs

San Antonio are going to be one of the top teams this season. They’re led by one of the best coaches in NBA history Gregg Popovich and have an established group that has seen them achieve a lot of success in recent years.

In veterans Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili they have vast experience and in Kawhi Leonard they have one of the best young players in the NBA. Over the summer they’ve added one All-Star forward, LaMarcus Aldridge, and have also brought in veteran David West to add strength off the bench. It’s a formidable line-up and one they hope can challenge for a title.

Player to Watch: LaMarcus Aldridge – LMA was a star at the Portland Trail Blazers last season. He’s one of the best scorers in the game and was a highly sought after free agent this summer. The Spurs will be delighted to have him on their roster and hope he can give them that little bit extra to help get them back to the NBA Finals. He scores well inside and has a nice jump shot making him very difficult to defend.

The Celtics

Boston is a real up and coming team, filled with talented youngsters. I got to see them up close and personal as they were in Madrid and Milan for NBA Global Games. They’ve got some good pieces and a young coach, Brad Stevens, who did a great job to help them get into the NBA Playoffs last year, which a lot of people didn’t expect.

Player to Watch: Isaiah Thomas (above, right) is so exciting. He’s only 5ft 10in but he can get anywhere he wants on the court. He’ll likely come off the bench for Boston and the Celtics will be hoping he can continue his fine form of the end of the regular season last year to help propel them towards the NBA Playoffs.

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Who wins? Tweet your prediction using #NBASUNDAYS

NBA Sundays on BT Sport – an NBA live game every Sunday at 8.30pm. This week on Nov 1 the Boston Celtics will host the San Antonio Spurs on BT Sport 1

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NEAL MEYER'S NBA CV

October 94 - August 95 - San Antonio Spurs - Assistant Video Coordinator & Camp Director, Basketball Operations

September 95 - July 97 - Denver Nuggets - Video Coordinator & Camp Director, Basketball Operations

August 97 - August 00 - Portland Trail Blazers - Video Coordinator & Camp Director, Basketball Operations

September 00 - July 02 - Portland Trail Blazers - Assistant Coach & Scout, Basketball Operations

October 02 - April 03 - Atlanta Hawks, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors - Regional Advance Scout

August 03 - June 09 - Los Angeles Clippers - Assistant Coach & Director of Player Development, Basketball Operations

September 09 - October 10 - Cleveland Cavaliers - Video Coordinator/Coach, Basketball Operations

October 10 - present - Senior Director for the NBA's Basketball Operations across Europe, Middle East and Africa