Big game tonight?

[cleannfresh4life]

http://static.eventful.com/images/thumb/I0-001/001/178/907-8.png

Statement game or None Statement game?
Spurs Versus Cavaliers

[Spursmania]

Statement game definitely. If Spurs win tonight they send a signal to the rest of the NBA. We're here and we're ready to play Defense and watch us shut teams down.:ihit
Granted, they need our 2 bigs back to even compete with La, but we have to be damn proud of the statements they're making now without our 2 bigs. Spurs win tonight thus beginning their trail back to a 5th Larry.

:lobt::lobt::lobt::lobt::flag:

[bigfan]

Im starting to get a Pop-like attitude for the regular season in that it doesnt really matter to whom you win/lose, it just matters to win enough to get home court in the playoffs if possible. The playoffs are what are important, if you win or lose to the Lakers or whoever during the regular season, it means nothing in the playoffs.

[tonylongoriafan]

non statement game...it's important to keep getting better defensively and get guys like george hill more comfortable out there, but it means nothing in the big scheme of things. we'll probably be 2nd or 3rd seed and without manu and potentially tim (he shouldn't play btw), no statements will be made or received from this game

[tlongII]

I think Cleveland is going to crush the Spurs tonight.

[Flux451]

I think Cleveland is going to crush the Spurs some pecans tonight.








heard it was the bet...loser...you know...does that

[m33p0]

it's a statement game for the spurs role players to prove to themselves that the current defense they've been playing is for realz. other than that, it's just another game in february.

[m33p0]

I think Cleveland is going to crush the Spurs tonight.
sour puss.:nutkick:

[PDXSpursFan]

Nah, nothing big about tonight's game - the Spurs are short-handed so a loss means nothing.

[VI_Massive]

The Spurs should sit down with a tape of last night's Rockets-Cavs game for a clinic on how to stop LeBron. Artest and Battier were ridiculously good on LBJ. Hope Bowen and Ime can replicate it.

Other than that, I agree completely with m33p0. Great if we can keep up this nasty defense, other than that, nothing big.

[AnotherArgie]

I say a non-statement game. Even if the Spurs win tonight you'll never know if the Cavs came out over-confident because of the Spurs' injuries. Let's see what happens on the court...

[lefty]

Cavs will beat us


Then we'll destroy them in the Finals

[xellos88330]

I just want to watch the game already. :flag:

[MoSpur]

I think the Spurs look at it as a measuring stick. The Cavs are one of the top teams in all the NBA.

[EricB]

Eh, if the Spurs were 100% and the cavs were 100% I would say yes.

But the injuries make this game a "if we win, great, if we don't hey, theres a reason for it"

[Yuixafun]

This is an important game for the confidence if the team.

If Timmy doesn't play, and the Spurs get a solid victory over Cleveland, with a motivated Lebron James (who went the first game of his career without and assist and shot poorly last night), they can take that and put it in the back of their mind, that even without our star player we can win against a top team.

This game should test our defensive rotations and unit cohesiveness, since the Cavs will probably look to move the ball all game.

Not a statement game, but a would be a great building block for the team. Even if we are competitive and hold our own and lose it will still be a positive.

I don't see us having an Artest/Battier combination though to throw at LBJ. And he will be looking to drive the ball.. it's going to be tough task for the Spurs D no doubt.

[FromWayDowntown]

I'm expecting a huge night from Lebron. In fact, I got to wondering what the existing scoring record is for the AT&T Center. Somehow, I don't know that.

[VI_Massive]

I can see that. I think James has to be furious after last night. It was LBJ's first ever game without an assist. I suspect he'll play tonight like a man possessed. Whatever Artest and Battier did to stop him last night, we need to copy it to keep him from exacting revenge on us.

[Killakobe81]

Big game IF Duncan plays ...and if he does Spurs win. If he doesnt and Spurs still win proves my point Cavs overrated Spurs underrated ...

[Yuixafun]

I'm expecting a huge night from Lebron. In fact, I got to wondering what the existing scoring record is for the AT&T Center. Somehow, I don't know that.

Duncan scored 41 points (15 rebounds, 6 assists) in a OT loss against Dallas Monday May 22, 2006.

Duncan, Manu and TP have all scored 39 points at the AT&T center.

[MoSpur]

To say that the Cavs are overrated is not accurate. You don't win all those games by coincidence. You have to be a very good team to have the home record they have. Their defense is much improved from years past.

[FromWayDowntown]

In fact, I got to wondering what the existing scoring record is for the AT&T Center.

It appears that the opponent single-game scoring record in the regular season at AT&T Center is Chris Paul's 38 back at the end of January. Tony Parker's 39 against Portland on Wednesday appears to have tied Tim Duncan's 39 against Seattle in 2004 for the regular season record in the building.

The overall building record belongs to Duncan -- it appears -- with his 41 in Game 7 against Dallas in 2006. In fact, from what I can tell, there have only been 3 games in AT&T Center history in which a player has gone over 40 points and all 3 belong to Tim Duncan in playoff games (41 v. DAL in '06 (Gm. 7); 40 v. PNX in '08 (Gm. 1); and 40 v. DAL in '03 (Gm. 1)).

If anyone knows different, please correct me!

[EricB]

41 v. DAL in '06 (Gm. 7); 40 v. PNX in '08 (Gm. 1); and 40 v. DAL in '03 (Gm. 1)).


1-2 in those games too.

Fascinating.

[duncan228]

Thanks for the research FWD. Fun stuff to know.

[DPG21920]

I think Cleveland is going to crush the Spurs tonight.

I was worried about this game, but he just took care of the reverse jinx for us. WWTLIID

[hater]

statement game????

can't possibly a statement game w/out Manu. And Duncan might be out. Not to mention Wallace is out for Cavs.

Meaningless game.

[hater]

I'm expecting a huge night from Lebron. In fact, I got to wondering what the existing scoring record is for the AT&T Center. Somehow, I don't know that.

you obviously have not seen Lebron play his recent games. He has been struggling especially shootingwise

[FromWayDowntown]

For the sake of recording this stuff and being able to find it later, here is a list of the biggest single-game scoring nights in AT&T Center history from 2002 through February 26, 2009:

41 -- Tim Duncan, 5/22/06 (v. DAL)
40 -- Tim Duncan, 5/19/03 (v. DAL)
40 -- Tim Duncan, 4/19/08 (v. PNX)
39 -- Tony Parker, 2/25/09 (v. PRT)
39 -- Manu Ginobili, 5/17/05 (v. SEA)
39 -- Tim Duncan, 12/8/04 (v. SEA)
38 -- Dirk Nowitzki, 5/19/03 (DAL)
38 -- Bonzi Wells, 5/2/06 (SAC)
38 -- Amare Stoudemire, 5/18/07 (PNX)
38 -- Tim Duncan, 1/14/03 (v. PNX)
38 -- Chris Paul, 1/31/09 (NOH)

[jag]

I think Cleveland is going to crush the Spurs tonight.

With no Manu (and possibly no Tim) it's gonna be difficult to beat Cleveland because they're an actual contender.

[024]

statement game for the spurs defense. it will finally be tested against a team with many offensive weapons. cavs have lebron drives, z jumpers, role player three shooters, mo williams jump shots, and pick and rolls with either lebron or williams.

[gwidlon]

TP will carry the team again and the rest of the guys will play very hard to earn Pop's confidence and more minutes.
Spurs got this one.

[FromWayDowntown]

you obviously have not seen Lebron play his recent games. He has been struggling especially shootingwise

If Tim Duncan doesn't play, I suspect that Lebron is going to be committed to driving the ball as much as possible, particularly after getting stonewalled last night by Battier and Artest. For all that Bowen is, he can't do that for 48 minutes at this point; and without a big shotblocker back there, I don't think he can keep Lebron on the perimeter all night.

Trust me -- I hope I'm wrong. I just have a bad feeling about this one and what LBJ might do.

[101A]

Non-Conference game in February?

No, not a statement; just 1/82.

[Spurs Brazil]

For the sake of recording this stuff and being able to find it later, here is a list of the biggest single-game scoring nights in AT&T Center history from 2002 through February 26, 2009:

41 -- Tim Duncan, 5/22/06 (v. DAL)
40 -- Tim Duncan, 5/19/03 (v. DAL)
40 -- Tim Duncan, 4/19/08 (v. PNX)
39 -- Tony Parker, 2/25/09 (v. PRT)
39 -- Manu Ginobili, 5/17/05 (v. SEA)
39 -- Tim Duncan, 12/8/04 (v. SEA)
38 -- Dirk Nowitzki, 5/19/03 (DAL)
38 -- Bonzi Wells, 5/2/06 (SAC)
38 -- Amare Stoudemire, 5/18/07 (PNX)
38 -- Tim Duncan, 1/14/03 (v. PNX)
38 -- Chris Paul, 1/31/09 (NOH)


I'm very very suprised that Kobe isn't in that list

I thought he scored 40 pts against us but that was at the Dome during the 01 and 02 Playoffs

[Agloco]

http://static.eventful.com/images/thumb/I0-001/001/178/907-8.png

Statement game or None Statement game?
Spurs Versus Cavaliers

Non.

[pad300]

Depend who plays and who wins

Spurs win W/o Duncan & Manu - Big Statement
Spurs Lose W/o Duncan & Manu - What did you expect?

Spurs Win W/o Manu (but with Duncan) - Small statement
Spurs Lose W/o Manu (but with Duncan) - What did you expect?

[weebo]

I just hope the Spurs can keep playing that tenacious defense they've been playing the last few games!!!

[DBMethos]

For the sake of recording this stuff and being able to find it later, here is a list of the biggest single-game scoring nights in AT&T Center history from 2002 through February 26, 2009:

41 -- Tim Duncan, 5/22/06 (v. DAL)
40 -- Tim Duncan, 5/19/03 (v. DAL)
40 -- Tim Duncan, 4/19/08 (v. PNX)
39 -- Tony Parker, 2/25/09 (v. PRT)
39 -- Manu Ginobili, 5/17/05 (v. SEA)
39 -- Tim Duncan, 12/8/04 (v. SEA)
38 -- Dirk Nowitzki, 5/19/03 (DAL)
38 -- Bonzi Wells, 5/2/06 (SAC)
38 -- Amare Stoudemire, 5/18/07 (PNX)
38 -- Tim Duncan, 1/14/03 (v. PNX)
38 -- Chris Paul, 1/31/09 (NOH)

One of these things is not like the other...one of these things just doesn't belong...

[FromWayDowntown]

One of these things is not like the other...one of these things just doesn't belong...

True. What really amazes me, though, is how many of those big scoring nights came in playoff games -- 7 of the 11 were games played during the tournament; and until January 31, 2009, 7 of the 9 biggest scoring nights in the history of the building came in the playoffs.