By Ben Couch With a nod to South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, tonight's pick requires only one word: Tim-my!! There are two Thursday night games: the Celtics hosting the Cavaliers (7 p.m. ET, ESPN; Also: At my series blog. Whutup shameless plugs?) and the Hornets visiting the Spurs (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). Though LeBron James -- and Paul Pierce -- are each due for big games in the wake of their atrocious performances in Monday's Game 1 (combined 4-32 FGs, 12 points), that series looks like it's going to stretch, and we'll want to save 'Bron and Boston's Big Three for later in the week. The Spurs are down 2-0 after twin drubbings by the Hornets, and though the series is moving to San Antonio, you'll want to make sure you spend a Spur here, so you have the option of using all three big PRA ballers this round, just in case the Spurs really are starting to slip. While you can make solid cases for foreign-born Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, it's time to break that three-Expert-pick run (though we're still feeling the frontcourt) and tab Tim Duncan. Duncan's playoff PRA (31.6) is just a hair under his regular-season average (33.4). The Big Fundamental kills with consistency -- and that sweet bank shot -- but meets big moments right where they are. With San Antonio desperately needing a win to stunt the series momentum, you can count on Duncan to do his best Karl Malone impression and deliver the PRA post right to your point totaling (e-)mailbox. Tony Parker's been phenomenal through the Spurs' playoff run thus far (35.9 PRA), and while he approached that in Game 1 (22 points, five rebounds, five assists), his Game 2 performance was much more muted (11 points, four rebounds, three assists). You're trying your luck that he won't expend too much defensive energy on Chris Paul to be a factor on the offensive end. Manu Ginobili, meanwhile, could certainly pop off (25.1 PRA), but Duncan's the safer call. That 30-plus PRA (regular- AND post-season, remember) should be considered his floor, while Manu might not reach that plateau. Thursday night, Timmy D's the way to be. Enjoy the powerhouse performance. Play Drive to the Finals Now!

Tim Duncan, SASWhen: Thursday, May 8 at 9:30 p.m. ET Opponent: vs. New Orleans Hornets Pts: 21.0 Reb: 11.4 Ast: 2.1 Playoffs Average PRA: 31.6 Yesterday's Pick: Mehmet Okur, UTA Expert Pick Playoffs Total: 577 Expert Pick Archive 1. Tony Parker, SAS vs. NOH (35.9 PRA) 2. Manu Ginobili, SAS vs. NOH (25.1 PRA) 3. LeBron James, CLE @ BOS (44.6 PRA) With the Spurs down 2-0, you should strongly consider burning one of them here to make sure you maximize your point-scoring potential. If you're set on saving Duncan, it's a tossup between Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, based on regular-season PRA (28.8 and 27.9, respectively). One should note, however, that Parker is currently playing way over his head (35.9 playoff PRA). Give him a slight edge. Alternately, if you think Cleveland's Cavalier calvary isn't enough to push LeBron James past the semifinals, you could bank on a monster game from King James, who's sure to be stewing over a poor Game 1 performance (2-18 FGs, 10 TOs). James did showcase his versatility, chalking up 12 points, nine assists and nine boards for a PRA total of 30. The kid's got game if he ain't got nothin' ...