Spurs vs. Nets Previews

[duncan228]

New Jersey (19-23) at San Antonio (28-13) Preview (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2009012324&prov=ap)
Game info: 8:30 pm EST Fri Jan 23, 2009
TV: YES, My35
By Anthony Giornalista

Though there have been some rough stretches, the San Antonio Spurs’ defense is again the team’s strength. In recent years against the New Jersey Nets, San Antonio has never wavered from its hard-nosed play.

The Spurs, enjoying an outstanding run on defense, look to extend a 12-game winning streak against the visiting Nets on Friday night.

San Antonio (28-13) has the same record at the midway point of the season as it did a year ago, becoming a contender yet again in the Western Conference despite starting 2-5 and playing without injured stars Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker earlier in the season.

San Antonio’s response was to get back to its defense-first ideology, which has led it to four titles since 1999. Ginobili and Parker then rejoined the lineup, and the Spurs have won 26 of their last 34.

“We haven’t played our best and we still have a pretty good record,” guard Roger Mason said. “We can get better and we’re going to continue to do so.”

The Spurs are allowing 93.7 points per game, and 84.0 en route to winning their last three contests. There have been some rough patches, though.

San Antonio allowed 100 points or more in three of its first four games, and in three straight before its current run.

Against the Nets (19-23), however, the Spurs have been dominant, holding them to 79.0 points and 38.1 percent shooting during a 12-game winning streak— including the postseason. New Jersey hasn’t beaten San Antonio since a 77-76 home win in Game 4 of the 2003 NBA finals on June 11, 2003.

The Nets also enter this contest having lost a season-high four straight, averaging 90.5 points during that stretch, and with star point guard Devin Harris’ status uncertain due to a nagging rib injury.

If Harris can’t play, that would leave veteran Keyon Dooling to match up with Parker, averaging a career-best 20.4 points.

Parker and Tim Duncan never left the bench in the fourth quarter of San Antonio’s 99-81 home win over Indiana on Tuesday night, giving the Spurs’ starters a much-needed break.

San Antonio emerged from a busy stretch 4-1, with a win over the Los Angeles Lakers, getting routed at Philadelphia and a pair of close victories at Chicago and Charlotte.

Duncan had 27 points and 10 rebounds Tuesday, while Ginobili scored 26 before the Spurs sat their stars.

Ginobili barely played in the fourth, but his outstanding 20 minutes continued a recent re-emergence. Ginobili, the reigning sixth man award-winner, has scored 20-plus points in three of his last five games.

“He’s starting to look like the old Manu,” San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said.

Harris, meanwhile, is at less than 100 percent. He played a little less than 28 minutes and was 1-of-11 shooting as New Jersey lost its fifth straight on the road Wednesday night, 102-92 to New Orleans.

Harris is averaging 21.8 points on the season but has a total of 13 in his last two games, shooting 17.6 percent (3-for-17).

Vince Carter, left to carry the load for the Nets, had 20 points versus the Hornets after averaging 7.3 in his previous three contests. He’s averaging 20.4 points in his last seven games against San Antonio, but is shooting 39.4 percent in that span.

Notes

Nets:

G Devin Harris was benched in Saturday's loss to the Boston Celtics. Bothered by bruised ribs, Harris had another off-night against New Orleans, scoring six points on 1-of-11 shooting. ... New Jersey is 10-9 on the road. ... Nets were 9-of-19 from beyond the arc. ... New Jersey's starting five had 22 baskets; the reserves had 15, including six 3-point shots.

Spurs:

The Spurs are 6-0 when the second half of back-to-back games are at home. ... G Manu Ginobili, the NBA's reigning sixth man award-winner, has scored 20-plus points in three of his last five games. ... At the midway point of the season, the Spurs are 28-13, the same as a year ago.

Team Stat Leaders

Points

Devin Harris NJ 21.8
Tony Parker SA 20.4

Rebounds

Brook Lopez NJ 8.0
Tim Duncan SA 10.2

Assists

Devin Harris NJ 6.4
Tony Parker SA 6.7

Team Comparison
Team Record Standings PF PA Road/Home Streak L10

New Jersey 19-23 3rd Atlantic / 9th East 98.7 101.9 Road 10-9 Lost 4 4-6

San Antonio 28-13 1st Southwest / 2nd West 96.9 93.7 Home 16-7 Won 3 8-2

[duncan228]

On To San Antonio ... And Sean's Back (http://blogs.nypost.com/sports/nets/archives/2009/01/on_to_san_anton.html)
By FRED KERBER

NEW ORLEANS/HOUSTON/SAN ANTONIO - Ah, the joy of travel. Hit practice in New Orleans. Connect in Houston. Nearly die of jalapeno kickbacks in San Antonio.

The Nets just recalled Sean Williams from the D-League. In eight games with Colorado, Williams averaged of 9.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.88 blocks in 25.9 minutes. He scored 27 in one game, had 16 rebounds twice.

Today's tests on Devin Harris were negative, and he's day-to-day with bruised ribs. Harris had X-rays Tuesday. They were negative. Harris tried playing Wednesday. His results were negative. He sat the entire fourth quarter and the end of the third.

No word on if he will play tomorrow night.

Oh, and Keyon Dooling has a stiff and sore ankle.

"I got a call into Magic," joked Lawrence Frank before practice at Tulane University. "Doug Overton is on staff. No, look, you go with what you got. If Devin can't go, Keyon. Look, it gives other guys an opportunity. You just got to find a way."

The way might have been a third point guard, something the Nets looked at, considered, searched for and never found. Management is heating up the phone lines - the priorities are upgrading the overall small forward spot and the reserve point guard position beyond Harris and Dooling.

So for now, Vince Carter gets to add to his resume.

"When you deal with injuries, it is what it is," said Carter. "It's unfortunate, he's (Harris) been playing well, but at the end of the day, getting that taken care of is more important. I'd rather lose him for 3-4 games now instead of anything where he'd be out for the season. So I'd rather see him take care of it now."

Well, if he's out tomorrow in San Antonio, figure the Nets' chances of breaking their 11-game losing streak against the Spurs dips from ridiculously poor to nearly impossible.
* * *
The Nets have lost four straight, their worst streak of the season, to fall four under .500, their worst standing of the season. After Wednesday night, they were back out of the playoff picture, in ninth in the East where not too long ago it looked like the major requirement for the playoffs was a working pulse.
Or semi-working pulse.

The team is admittedly fragile right now. There are the injuries - and don't forget Yi Jianlian is still out for up to a month. There are the trade rumor talks. And the losses. The Nets don't sneak up on anybody. People have seen their capabilities. And this is about the time of year when the legit playoff teams start getting rid of the cobwebs, preparing for the post All-Star Game push. Staying positive is kind of tough for the Nets right now.

"We just have to be better for longer. You look at it: the Milwaukee game we gave ourselves a chance to win. Playing Boston twice, they kicked our ass," Lawrence Frank said. "Portland if we could have gotten some fourth-quarter stops. That's how fragile things are when you go from winning to losing."
* * *
One other source of point guard help could be Trenton Hassell. Nets are awaiting to see his practice reaction to a calf strain. He was inactive for the 102-92 loss to Hornets. Even if he's not at point, he frees Carter for more minutes there. And Chris Douglas-Roberts might see time there, although Frank prefers to keep him in his wing role.
* * *
Useless fact of the day: The Alamo originally was a Spanish mission, of course, named in honor of St. Anthony. But the name "Alamo" originated from a group of Spanish cavalry who occupied the mission in the early 18th Century and dubbed the place "Alamo" from a grove of trees that grew near the river. "Alamo" is the Spanish word for "cottonwood."

[duncan228]

Friday: Nets (19-23) at Spurs (28-13) (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Friday_Nets_19-23_at_Spurs_28-13.html)
Express-News

Time: 7:30 p.m.
TV: KMYS
Radio: WOAI-AM 1200, KCOR-AM 1350

STARTING LINEUPS
POS - SPURS - NETS

PG - 9 Tony Parker (6-2, 8th yr) - 34 Devin Harris (6-3, 5th yr)
Harris is NBA's highest-scoring PG; Parker ranks third.

SG - 8 Roger Mason Jr. (6-5, 5th yr) - 15 Vince Carter (6-6, 11th yr)
Carter held to single-digits in scoring department twice in past five games.

SF - 4 Michael Finley (6-7, 14th yr) - 21 Bobby Simmons (6-6, 7th yr)
Finley has managed just one field goal in four of past five games.

PF - 21 Tim Duncan (6-11, 12th yr) - 20 Ryan Anderson (6-10, 1st yr)
Death, taxes, and Duncan: Spurs' PF will make his 10th straight All-Star start.

C - 15 Matt Bonner (6-10, 5th yr) - 11 Brook Lopez (7-0, 1st yr)
Lopez one 20-point game from tying Nets' rookie record (seven).

SPURS RESERVES

12 Bruce Bowen, F, 6-7, 13th yr
20 Manu Ginobili, G, 6-6, 7th yr
3 George Hill, G, 6-2, 1st yr
7 Fabricio Oberto, C, 6-10, 4th yr
40 Kurt Thomas, C/F, 6-9, 14th yr
5 Ime Udoka, G/F, 6-5, 5th yr
22 Austin Croshere, F, 6-10, 12th yr

NETS RESERVES

13 Maurice Ager, G/ F, 6-5, 3rd yr
2 Josh Boone, C, 6-10, 3rd yr
55 Keyon Dooling, G, 6-3, 9th yr
17 Chris Douglas-Roberts, G/F, 6-7, 1st yr
22 Jarvis Hayes, F, 6-8, 6th yr
14 Eduardo Najera, F, 6-8, 9th yr
6 Stromile Swift, F, 6-10, 9th yr

COACHES

Spurs: Gregg Popovich
Nets: Lawrence Frank

INJURIES

Spurs: Ian Mahinmi (sprained right ankle) is out.

Nets: Yi Jianlian (broken pinkie right hand) is out. Trenton Hassell (strained right calf) is day-to-day.

PROJECTED INACTIVE PLAYERS

Spurs: Malik Hairston, Jacque Vaughn, Mahinmi.

Nets: Sean Williams, Hassell, Yi.

NOTABLE

Spurs open second half of season against struggling Nets, who come in on a season-high four-game losing streak. ... Since Dec. 3, Spurs are 19-5, boasting the second-best record in the NBA during that stretch behind Orlando (20-3). ... Spurs have won 11 in a row against New Jersey, and six in a row at the AT&T Center.

- Jeff McDonald

[mystargtr34]

I wont mind at all if Harris doesnt play.

[milkyway21]

it will be live here. I hope George Hill will be given longer minutes.

[Yorae]

Cottonwood? No wonder Pop uses the 'soft' card.

[Spurs Brazil]

Nets' Harris Doubtful For Spurs Duel

New Jersey point guard Devin Harris is doubtful for the team's battle with San Antonio on Friday night.

He is expected to sit because of a rib injury that forced him to leave the team's game against New Orleans on Wednesday in the third quarter.

Officially, Harris has a bruised right rib and is listed as day-to-day.

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/56771/20090123/nets_harris_doubtful_for_spurs_duel/

[duncan228]

New Jersey Nets (19-23) at San Antonio Spurs (28-13) (http://sportsnetwork.com/)

Complete Domination
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x282/duncan228/temp%20duncan/completedomination.jpg
The Spurs aim for a 12th consecutive regular-season victory over the Nets.

(Sports Network) - The New Jersey Nets are currently mired in their longest losing streak of the season. If recent history is any indication, a matchup with the San Antonio Spurs isn't likely to help solve the club's woes.

The Spurs will shoot for a 12th consecutive regular-season victory over the Nets when the two teams face off tonight at the AT&T Center.

San Antonio has actually defeated the Nets 13 straight times, having taken Games 5 and 6 of the 2003 NBA Finals against New Jersey to close out that series. The Nets have not beaten the Spurs in regular-season play since a 91-82 triumph at the Izod Center on November 13, 2002 and are 5-34 lifetime in San Antonio including the postseason.

Making matters worse for New Jersey, the team could be without the services of leading scorer Devin Harris for tonight's tilt. The standout guard, who's averaging 21.8 points and 6.4 assists per game, left Wednesday's 102-92 loss at New Orleans in the second half with bruised ribs and is considered day-to- day.

A hobbled Harris made just 1-of-11 field goal attempts and scored six points against the Hornets. Vince Carter paced the Nets with 20 points, while Bobby Simmons netted 16 in a losing cause.

Wednesday's setback kicked off a four-game road trip for New Jersey, which is 10-9 as the visitor this season. The Nets will also face Memphis and Oklahoma City on the jaunt.

While the Nets have been sinking as of late, the Spurs have been surging. San Antonio earned its third consecutive win with Tuesday's 99-81 home decision over Indiana and have posted a stellar 19-5 record since December 4. The flourish has put the Spurs one game in front of New Orleans for first place in the competitive Southwest Division.

Tim Duncan, selected as one of the Western Conference starters for next month's All-Star Game on Thursday, led the way in Tuesday's win with 27 points and 10 rebounds. Manu Ginobli contributed 26 points on 8-of-10 shooting to help the Spurs improve to 16-7 at the AT&T Center this season.

Following tonight's test, San Antonio will embark on a challenging three-game road trip against Western Conference contenders the Los Angeles Lakers, Utah and Phoenix.

[duncan228]

MORE PAIN FOR REELING NETS (http://www.nypost.com/seven/01232009/sports/nets/more_pain_for_reeling_nets_151522.htm)

SAN ANTONIO - The NetsNew Jersey Nets ' losing streak is at four, a season high. Trade rumors are swirling. The benching controversy of last weekend has subsided somewhat.

Tonight's opponents, the Spurs, are as sure a bet as death and taxes when it comes to playing the Nets, beating them 11 straight. And starting point guard Devin Harris is day-to-day with bruised ribs.

All that was yesterday's good news.

Harris, who left late in the third quarter of Wednesday's 102-92 loss in New Orleans when his ribs made it "hard to breathe," went for additional tests yesterday. Those tests were negative.

Now before you go and get all heady about that positive note, consider backup point guard Keyon Dooling is limping with a sore right ankle. Didn't want to spoil you with all that good news about the Nets, who recalled Sean Williams from the D-League yesterday.

"We're a little fragile, but as long as we stay together and grit our teeth, there's no reason why it can't still be a successful trip," said Dooling, who turned his ankle Wednesday but still would start if Harris can't go.

"We've been good on the road all year."

Yeah, life could be better for the 19-23 Nets.

"In this league, things go from bad to good, good to bad quickly," coach Lawrence Frank said as the Nets prepped for practice at Tulane before flying here.

"Combine the deal: tough stretch of the schedule, dealing with injuries, dealing with some things that go along with losing. We'll see our way through."

That tough stretch sees a murderous five-game segment end with the Spurs, after two losses to Boston plus defeats to Portland and the Hornets. Suddenly, games at Memphis, the tail end of a back-to-back tomorrow, and Oklahoma City to end the trip don't look as appealing.

There are daily trade rumors, but team execs say the Nets are more apt to stand pat than trade - though the Feb. 19 deadline is still nearly a month away. They already are down one starter, Yi Jianlian (broken pinkie). In hindsight, they should have picked up a third point guard.

Harris is dealing with his third injury (ankle, hamstring, ribs). Dooling has had ankle issues. So Vince Carter gets pressed into service fairly regularly.

The recall of Williams, who'll work in New Jersey with Kiki Vandeweghe and won't join the team on the trip, does not signal an additional move such as a trade, team execs maintain. Vandeweghe left the team on the trip to work with Yi and will be joined by Williams.

Too bad Williams can't play point.

"You deal with injuries," said Carter, third in the All-Star voting for East guards, a half-million votes behind Allen Iverson - and more than 100,000 ahead of fourth-place Harris.

"If [Harris is out], everyone has to do more. We can always use another point guard. But that's not my decision. I don't mind playing it, but I'm sure that's not what they want me to do."

[duncan228]

The Internets (http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/nets/2009/01/harris-a-go-for-tonight.html)
Julian Garcia

Brook Lopez is pumped. Tim Duncan is his idol and he gets to face him for the first time tonight.

Lopez has made so secret how much he looks up to Duncan. He is compared to him sometimes and just about blushes when he hears it.

"If I could become half the player he is I feel I’d be alright in this league," Lopez said.

I remember the first and only time I met Bruce Springsteen - whom I'm compared to a lot - and I felt like a little girl meeting Hannah Montana. It was great that Bruce was so cool about it to, not minding how I threw my arm over his shoulder and mumbled something ridiculous. What if Duncan is not so gracious later?

"I’d be so hurt I don’t know what I’d do," Lopez said. "It’ll probably get in my head, and there goes the game."

Vince Carter talked about what it was like playing against Michael Jordan for the first time. Remember, Carter already knew MJ from North Carolina. But Jordan was a different guy on the court than he was paling around off the court. Lopez can take this as advice.

"I don’t care if you’re a fan of him or don’t like him, Michael Jordan is coming to play - you take the challenge or you get embarrassed," Carter said.