Spurs vs. Blazers Previews

[duncan228]

Wednesday: Trail Blazers (48-28) at Spurs (49-27) (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Wednesday_Trail_Blazers_48-28_at_Spurs_49-27.html)
Express-News

Time: 6 p.m.
TV: KMYS, ESPN
Radio: WOAI-AM 1200, KCOR-AM 1350

STARTING LINEUPS
POS - SPURS - TRAIL BLAZERS

PG - 9 Tony Parker (6-2, 8th yr) - 2 Steve Blake (6-3, 6th yr)
Parker’s team-high and career-high 6.9 assists ranks 12th in NBA.

SG - 8 Roger Mason Jr. (6-5, 5th yr) - 7 Brandon Roy (6-6, 3rd yr)
Roy leads Blazers in scoring (22.9), assists (5.1) and steals (1.1).

SF - 4 Michael Finley (6-7, 14th yr) - 88 Nicolas Batum (6-8, 1st yr)
Only game Finley has missed was at Denver when he was rested.

PF - 21 Tim Duncan (6-11, 12th yr) - 12 L. Aldridge (6-11, 3rd yr)
Aldridge sprained wrist Sunday but played at Memphis on Tuesday.

C - 15 Matt Bonner (6-10, 5th yr) - 10 Joel Przybilla (7-1, 9th yr)
Przybilla went scoreless in 20 minutes in Sunday loss at Houston.

SPURS RESERVES

12 Bruce Bowen, F, 6-7, 13th yr
1 Malik Hairston, G, 6-6, 1st 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
11 Jacque Vaughn, G, 6-1, 12th yr

TRAIL BLAZERS RESERVES

4 Jerryd Bayless, G, 6-3, 1st yr
5 R. Fernandez, G/F, 6-6, 1st yr
44 Channing Frye, F, 6-11, 4th yr
25 Travis Outlaw, F, 6-9, 6th yr
52 Greg Oden, C, 7-0, 2nd yr
11 S. Rodriguez, G, 6-3, 3rd yr
51 Michael Ruffin, G/F, 6-8, 9th yr

COACHES

Spurs: Gregg Popovich
Trail Blazers: Nate McMillan

INJURIES

Spurs: Manu Ginobili (stress fracture, right ankle) is out.

Trail Blazers: Raef LaFrentz (right shoulder) and Martell Webster (left foot) are out.

PROJECTED INACTIVE PLAYERS

Spurs: Ginobili.

Trail Blazers: LaFrentz, Webster, Shavlik Randolph.

NOTABLE

Trail Blazers blew out Spurs in Portland on March 1, a 102-84 outcome in which Portland led by 25 early in the second quarter. ... Game is second of road-to-home, back-to-back set. It’s first of two at AT&T Center against Northwest Division teams. The Spurs play Jazz on Friday night. ... Blazers also playing second game of a back-to-back, with first game at Memphis on Tuesday night.

- Mike Monroe

[ElNono]

Martel Webster is out? Wow. That guy always gave us problems with his reliable jumper.

[duncan228]

Portland (49-28) at San Antonio (50-27) Preview (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2009040824&prov=ap)
Game info: 7:00 pm EDT Wed Apr 8, 2009
TV: ESPN, My35
By Mike Lipka

The San Antonio Spurs had an easy start to life without Manu Ginobili, but if they’re serious about making a run at their fifth NBA title without one of their three stars, they’ll have to quickly adjust to tougher competition.

That process will start Wednesday night, when the Portland Trail Blazers look to end an 11-game losing streak in San Antonio and move into a tie with the Spurs in the crowded Western Conference standings.

Ginobili has struggled with an ankle injury all season, but it was only Monday that the Spurs announced he would miss the rest of the season - including playoffs - with a stress fracture in his right ankle.

The news leaves San Antonio (50-27) without one of its key contributors from its last three NBA championship teams.

“It’s going to be tough,” Spurs point guard Tony Parker said. “Obviously, Manu is a big part of what we do. But you have two choices: You take it as a great challenge, or the season is going to end up real quick.”

The Spurs won 99-89 at Oklahoma City on Tuesday night, but they’re still 18-15 without Ginobili in the lineup this season, as opposed to 32-12 with the Argentine guard.

Parker had 21 points and 10 assists and Tim Duncan scored 25 points and added 15 rebounds against the Thunder, but the key contribution may have come from reserve Drew Gooden. Gooden’s 20 points were his most since joining the Spurs last month.

“Everybody’s got to do that much more now collectively as a group to replace what Manu does because he brings that every night with his ability to slash and make plays,” Gooden said. “We’re going to be missing that a lot, but as long as we collectively make up for it, we’re going to be OK.”

Things are about to get much tougher, however, with San Antonio’s next two games against fellow contenders and possible first-round opponents in the West playoffs.

The Spurs are currently atop the Southwest Division and in third place in the conference, but Houston is within a half-game and Portland is one game back.

The Blazers (49-28) would tie San Antonio with a victory Wednesday, but only after Portland survived a lackluster performance for a 96-93 win at Memphis on Tuesday night.

After trailing by 18 in the first half, the Blazers used a jumper from Travis Outlaw with 13 seconds remaining to take the lead for good.

“This is new for us, clinching the playoffs with seven games left,” star guard Brandon Roy said. “We’re just trying to figure out how to compete and play and stay motivated.”

Playing for home court in the first round of their first playoff appearance since 2003 should provide incentive, especially considering the Blazers are 31-7 at the Rose Garden this season. But they visit San Antonio with one road win all season against a West playoff team - a 97-89 win at New Orleans on Feb. 2.

Portland has also lost its last 11 road games against the Spurs since a 95-76 victory on Nov. 9, 2002. No current Blazers were on the roster for that game, and Roy has averaged 10.0 points on 27.4 percent shooting in his five visits to San Antonio.

The Spurs were without Ginobili and Duncan but Parker had 39 points in their 99-84 home win over Portland on Feb. 25, although the Blazers have beaten San Antonio twice at home this season.

Portland had been swept in its previous three season series with the Spurs, but it can win the series for the first time since 1999-2000 with a victory in this game.

Notes

Blazers:

G Rudy Fernandez and F LaMarcus Aldridge scored 15 apiece for the Trail Blazers. F Travis Outlaw finished with 11 points and C Greg Oden scored 10. ... G Brandon Roy scored 13 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter to key Portland's comeback. F Travis Outlaw banked in a 14-footer with 13 seconds left to complete the final surge.

Spurs:

G Tony Parker scored 24 points but got no help from G Manu Ginobili (four points) or F-C Tim Duncan, who had just six and didn't score after the 2:56 mark of the first quarter. ... Down by 13 at halftime, the Spurs came out strong and pulled within 62-57 midway through the third period.

Team Stat Leaders

Points

Brandon Roy Por 22.9
Tony Parker SA 21.8

Rebounds

Joel Przybilla Por 8.5
Tim Duncan SA 10.6

Assists

Brandon Roy Por 5.2
Tony Parker SA 6.9

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

Portland 49-28 2nd Northwest / 5th West 99.3 94.8 Road 18-21 Won 1 7-3

San Antonio 50-27 1st Southwest / 3rd West 97.0 93.4 Home 26-12 Won 1 5-5

[alchemist]

Portland (49-28) at San Antonio (50-27) Preview (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2009040824&prov=ap)
Game info: 7:00 pm EDT Wed Apr 8, 2009
TV: ESPN, My35
By Mike Lipka

The San Antonio Spurs had an easy start to life without Manu Ginobili, but if they’re serious about making a run at their fifth NBA title without one of their three stars, they’ll have to quickly adjust to tougher competition.

That process will start Wednesday night, when the Portland Trail Blazers look to end an 11-game losing streak in San Antonio and move into a tie with the Spurs in the crowded Western Conference standings.

Ginobili has struggled with an ankle injury all season, but it was only Monday that the Spurs announced he would miss the rest of the season - including playoffs - with a stress fracture in his right ankle.

The news leaves San Antonio (50-27) without one of its key contributors from its last three NBA championship teams.

“It’s going to be tough,” Spurs point guard Tony Parker said. “Obviously, Manu is a big part of what we do. But you have two choices: You take it as a great challenge, or the season is going to end up real quick.”

The Spurs won 99-89 at Oklahoma City on Tuesday night, but they’re still 18-15 without Ginobili in the lineup this season, as opposed to 32-12 with the Argentine guard.

Parker had 21 points and 10 assists and Tim Duncan scored 25 points and added 15 rebounds against the Thunder, but the key contribution may have come from reserve Drew Gooden. Gooden’s 20 points were his most since joining the Spurs last month.

“Everybody’s got to do that much more now collectively as a group to replace what Manu does because he brings that every night with his ability to slash and make plays,” Gooden said. “We’re going to be missing that a lot, but as long as we collectively make up for it, we’re going to be OK.”

Things are about to get much tougher, however, with San Antonio’s next two games against fellow contenders and possible first-round opponents in the West playoffs.

The Spurs are currently atop the Southwest Division and in third place in the conference, but Houston is within a half-game and Portland is one game back.

The Blazers (49-28) would tie San Antonio with a victory Wednesday, but only after Portland survived a lackluster performance for a 96-93 win at Memphis on Tuesday night.

After trailing by 18 in the first half, the Blazers used a jumper from Travis Outlaw with 13 seconds remaining to take the lead for good.

“This is new for us, clinching the playoffs with seven games left,” star guard Brandon Roy said. “We’re just trying to figure out how to compete and play and stay motivated.”

Playing for home court in the first round of their first playoff appearance since 2003 should provide incentive, especially considering the Blazers are 31-7 at the Rose Garden this season. But they visit San Antonio with one road win all season against a West playoff team - a 97-89 win at New Orleans on Feb. 2.

Portland has also lost its last 11 road games against the Spurs since a 95-76 victory on Nov. 9, 2002. No current Blazers were on the roster for that game, and Roy has averaged 10.0 points on 27.4 percent shooting in his five visits to San Antonio.

The Spurs were without Ginobili and Duncan but Parker had 39 points in their 99-84 home win over Portland on Feb. 25, although the Blazers have beaten San Antonio twice at home this season.

Portland had been swept in its previous three season series with the Spurs, but it can win the series for the first time since 1999-2000 with a victory in this game.

Notes

Blazers:

G Rudy Fernandez and F LaMarcus Aldridge scored 15 apiece for the Trail Blazers. F Travis Outlaw finished with 11 points and C Greg Oden scored 10. ... G Brandon Roy scored 13 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter to key Portland's comeback. F Travis Outlaw banked in a 14-footer with 13 seconds left to complete the final surge.

Spurs:

G Tony Parker scored 24 points but got no help from G Manu Ginobili (four points) or F-C Tim Duncan, who had just six and didn't score after the 2:56 mark of the first quarter. ... Down by 13 at halftime, the Spurs came out strong and pulled within 62-57 midway through the third period.

Team Stat Leaders

Points

Brandon Roy Por 22.9
Tony Parker SA 21.8

Rebounds

Joel Przybilla Por 8.5
Tim Duncan SA 10.6

Assists

Brandon Roy Por 5.2
Tony Parker SA 6.9

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

Portland 49-28 2nd Northwest / 5th West 99.3 94.8 Road 18-21 Won 1 7-3

San Antonio 50-27 1st Southwest / 3rd West 97.0 93.4 Home 26-12 Won 1 5-5
wow, does the AP hate the Spurs too?

[duncan228]

Game 78 Preview: Blazers vs. Spurs (http://www.blazersedge.com/2009/4/8/826802/game-78-preview-blazers-vs-spurs)
by Dave, Blazers Edge

A Look at the Spurs

From a strictly production standpoint, to know Tony Parker and Tim Duncan is to know the Spurs. Parker averages 22 points per game, Duncan near 20. Parker adds 7 assists, Duncan 10.5 rebounds. Both shoot over 50% from the field. Both draw fouls. Both are capable of producing well beyond their averages when they smell blood in the water. Both are carrying a team that otherwise has talent issues to 50+ wins.

The loss of Manu Ginobili for the season makes the Spurs a lot closer to a .500 team than a championship contender. But that doesn't mask the fact that they are slowly but surely headed that direction anyway. Nor does it mask the fact that despite that, they aren't there yet. This teams still wins with or without its main players. In fact there are only two types of teams the Spurs have lost to in the last few months: serious playoff teams and the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Blazers will need to prove they're one of the former if they want to win tonight.

San Antonio's defense is decent, though not at the stellar level of their heyday. They neither block shots nor force turnovers. They just play smart, position defense and try to force you into contested shots, which they are then happy to rebound. They have the highest defensive rebounding percentage in the league. They are 4th in the league in points in the paint allowed. They want you shooting over the top with a hand in your face. They do not foul and bail you out either. You earn your points or you don't get them. Opponents don't take many threes against them but the ones they do take they tend to hit. The Spurs either get out there and prevent the shot or cede it to you. With enough inside pressure offensively the Blazers may be able to make some inroads from the three-point arc tonight.

On offense the Spurs are increasingly a perimeter team. Duncan was never your prototypical low-post power forward and the rest of the scorers on this team are perimeter-oriented. Only the Pistons and Raptors score fewer points in the paint than do the Spurs. San Antonio isn't much of a fast break team either. Despite this they still have a high field goal percentage because they know how, when, and where to get their shots. They're deadly from the arc. They don't draw fouls though. They don't offensive rebound worth a darn but they don't turn the ball over either. Once again, they're playing the percentages. Meat and potatoes, forget the stinkin' garnish and seasoning.

The Blazers will have to watch out for Roger Mason, Michael Finley, Matt Bonner, and Bruce Bowen, all of whom can stroke from distance and all of whom are accomplished at playing off of the two stars. Portland will also have to contend with the defense of Bowen and Ime Udoka on Brandon Roy. But the big headache remains Tony Parker, who is too quick and talented for our guards to contain. If Nicolas Batum can't slow him down the Blazers better be prepared for an offensive explosion.

Keys to the Game

1. The Blazers will obviously have to get creative defending Parker, and Batum is probably the first option. You have to find a way to limit his points. Portland can probably still win if he scores his average but if he gets 30 the Blazers are going to have a hard time filling all of the leaks he will cause.

2. Fast break points for Parker or anybody will make this game difficult to win. San Antonio usually makes you slog it out offensively. The Blazers are up for that but they can't spot the Spurs extra points. Don't turn the ball over. Be aware that they're going to rebound hard and make sure you get back.

3. Unless he proves he's going to have a monster night you probably want to value keeping a hand in the face of three-point shooters over doubling Duncan.

4. LaMarcus needs to have a huge night. Brandon will have to work hard for anything he gets. LMA scoring would take the pressure off.

5. Make your threes.

Final Thoughts

This is a big game for San Antonio, much as Sunday's was for Houston. Things are stacked against the Blazers. How they respond will say as much as whether they actually win or not. A win would be fantastic, making a stunning 3-1 road trip. Whatever is in the cards, this game needs to be hotly contested.

For those outside of the local area this game is broadcast on ESPN tonight. It begins at 4:00 Pacific.

[onarollbaby]

Let's hope the Blazers live up to their billing as a poor road team. They are 1-11 on the road against play off bound teams from the west.

[AussieFanKurt]

wow thats quite a stat

[45 bank shot]

wait a sec, y is Malik in the reserves list?
so does it mean hez been recalled

[aldapej]

The spurs will come out with the win this game is important so that we can has some ground on the 3rd seed go spurs go

[tlongII]

We need this game tonight.

[shelshor]

Referee Assignments
Wed. Apr. 8
Portland @ San Antonio: E. Rush, J. Clark, L. Richardson

[duncan228]

Portland Trail Blazers (49-28) at San Antonio Spurs (50-27) (http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=nba/scores/live/preview.aspx?id=11289)

(Sports Network) - San Antonio is barely holding on to its Southwest Division lead and hopes that a pair of home games will help cushion the advantage, starting with Wednesday's tilt against the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Spurs are just a half-game ahead of Houston in the division, with New Orleans only two games off the pace. They just went 2-1 on a three-game road trip and recorded a 99-89 victory at Oklahoma City last night. Tim Duncan ended with game-highs of 25 points and 15 rebounds, while Tony Parker added 21 points, 10 assists, and five steals for the Spurs, who reached the 50-win plateau for the 10th consecutive season.

Drew Gooden ended with 20 points off the bench and Roger Mason replaced guard Manu Ginobili in the starting lineup, finishing with 13 points. Ginobili is out for the year with a stress fracture in his right fibula. San Antonio became just the third team in NBA history to record 50 or more wins in 10 straight seasons. Boston, who had two separate streaks, and the Los Angeles Lakers are the only other franchises to record such a run.

San Antonio, which is 1 1/2 games behind Denver for the second seed in the Western Conference, will also host Utah on the residency and is 26-12 in the Alamo City this season.

Portland is still within striking distance of the Nuggets in the Northwest Division standings, as it sits 2 1/2 games off the top spot. The Blazers will wrap up a four-game road trip tonight and improved to 18-21 away from the Rose City after Tuesday's 96-93 victory at Memphis.

Travis Outlaw's bank shot with 13.3 seconds to go in the game lifted Portland to victory and kept the team just a half-game behind the Rockets for the fourth seed in the West.

Brandon Roy scored eight of his 24 points in the final two minutes, while Rudy Fernandez and LaMarcus Aldridge chipped in 15 points apiece in a winning cause. The Blazers are 2-1 on the trip and have won five of their last six.

The Blazers are 2-1 against the Spurs this season, but San Antonio has won 20 of the past 23 matchups between the teams. The Spurs are unbeaten in the last 11 contests as the host in this series.

[angel_luv]

When did the time change for this game? I had it as a 7:30 tip in my hand held schedule.

[duncan228]

When did the time change for this game? I had it as a 7:30 tip in my hand held schedule.

I'm not sure exactly when, but why it changed is because ESPN picked it up.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

I hope Tim's feeling good enough to go tonight after expending quite a bit of energy last night.

[angel_luv]

I'm not sure exactly when, but why it changed is because ESPN picked it up.

Thank you. :)

I was just shocked because my wallet size schedule said tip off was 7:30 pm and that schedule is what I use to know what time to report for my job in the spurs arena.

I am scheduled at my day job today, until three, which due the tip off change is when I am due to be at the arena. :oops

When I called to explain my dilemna to my boss, he said that the new time has been in effect for a month now.
I can't believe I missed it. :oops :oops

Thanks for posting this thread! I would have really been scrambling without it. :)

[Dex]

Thank you. :)

I was just shocked because my wallet size schedule said tip off was 7:30 pm and that schedule is what I use to know what time to report for my job in the spurs arena.

I am scheduled at my day job today, until three, which due the tip off change is when I am due to be at the arena. :oops

When I called to explain my dilemna to my boss, he said that the new time has been in effect for a month now.
I can't believe I missed it. :oops :oops

Thanks for posting this thread! I would have really been scrambling without it. :)

SpursTalk saves the day!!

[angel_luv]

I always come here for my Spurs info. Spurstalk has all the best info and normally before everyone else. :)

[Big P]

So the game is at 6 pm central right? The Express News is showing THREE different times,
6pm, 7pm & 730pm. Thanks

[angel_luv]

So the game is at 6 pm central right? The Express News is showing THREE different times,
6pm, 7pm & 730pm. Thanks


6 PM Central time.
http://www.nba.com/spurs/news/broadc...es_090213.html

[duncan228]

Blazers/Spurs Pre-Thoughts (http://ripcityproject.com/2009/04/08/blazersspurs-pre-thoughts-3/)
by: SJ

I figure I might as well get my thoughts on last night. I absolutely see no reason to gripe about last night’s. Why? Because the Blazers won. At this time of the season, a win is a win is a win. And honestly…like Coup said in his re-thoughts, it’s so much better being on the other side. The past couple years, that’s been the Blazers blowing that lead while the playoff team steals a win. It’s nice to have that dirty, guilty, Lady GaGa type feeling. However, if Portland dares to try and show up at the AT&T Center with their C-game like they did last night…things will get uglier than what Lil Kim looks like when she wakes up in the morning. I guarantee it. Also, last night proved more than anything that for Portland to make any sort of noise in the post-season, they will have to have home-court advantage. So boom.

And that quest for home-court advantage continues as the Blazers end their 4-game road trip with a match-up against the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs just recently learned that Manu Ginobili will be out for the season and are reacting accordingly. Do not leave the Spurs out for dead quite yet. You know better than that people. Counting San Antonio out is like taking a shot of tequila when you’re already drunk: you can hope all you want but it’s not going to end up well. As long as they have Pop, Duncan and Parker they are very dangerous. Vulnerable but dangerous. They still execute well and they still play great team basketball on both ends. Also remember that Manu hasn’t played one minute against the Blazers this year. And also go back in that memory tank of yours and recall that the Spurs defeated us in their place without Manu or Tim Duncan. Speaking of Duncan, their is a thought that he may or may not play (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Popovich_still_watching_stars_minutes.html). Pop has not decided yet. Pop wants to rest his guys for the playoffs, we know this. Recently, Duncan has tended to sit out the second half of a back-to-back. How do I know? He’s on my fantasy team and it’s caused me great frustration. He played 33 minutes last night in a win over Oklahoma City, so monitor that situation.

More than the Spurs themselves, there are numbers that scare me. 1-11 and 0-11. The first number is Portland’s record is Western Conference playoff teams. That sole win came nearly two months ago over New Orleans. Blazers Road Swag -10. That second number signifies the fact that the Blazers have lost 11 straight in San Antonio and 14 of their last 15. That last win in San Antonio came early in 2002…David Robinson was still in the league, Stephen Jackson wasn’t crazy yet, Bonzi and Sheed were still Blazers, Steve Blake had just won a National Championship and I was barely a freshman in high school. Blazer Swag in San Antonio -1,000.

(Not to mention the struggles B-Roy has had in this building. We’re not going there because while I am a realist, I am no masochist. I need a little bit of optimism with my Frosted Flakes this morning.)

Tonight’s contest is going to come down to a couple of things. The first is what kind of game the Blazers bring. It doesn’t matter who the Spurs throw out there, if Portland is going to be sloppy with the ball like they were in Memphis and turn it over 12 times in the first half…doom. If Portland is going to play without energy on the defensive end…doom. There is a certain amount of energy and execution that you have to play with to beat the top teams in the NBA. Portland can never quite stay at that level on the road, hanging around for a while before a run kind of ends it. It would be nice to go into the playoffs having gotten a big road win because the intensity will be ramped up times 1000 in a couple weeks. Back to tonight, Portland will have to focus on the Spurs “other guys”. We know what Tim Duncan and Tony Parker can do. But those two alone can’t win the game. San Antonio needs their role players to step up and take some of the pressure off of Manu’s absence. San Antonio is traditionally great at shaking off injuries. If you remember to the last game in San Antonio, Parker got help from everyone. Case in point to people stepping up: Drew Gooden scoring 20 points last night. Guys who I believe can do it? Gooden, Matt Bonner, Michael Finley and Roger Mason Jr. Those are the guys who I could see going off for 15-20. Bonner, Finley and Mason will more than likely get great looks from behind the arc. Gooden is a wild card but he just had 20 and obviously is gaining freedom and health so you never know.

Fun fact: Channing Frye is averaging 12.3 points against the Spurs this year. No clue why I put that in there but it struck me as odd. Honestly, I feel like you could win money off of a buddy by going ‘true or false’ on this fact. Someone try it, please.

Keys to success

* Make Tony Parker into a scorer or a distributor but not both. He is the guy who has absolutely killed us this season. Portland cannot let him score and distribute…it is a recipe for disaster. The numbers don’t lie, the Spurs are damn tough when teams let him do both. They are 12-3 when he gets a double-double of points and assists and 32-9 when he has 7+ assists. If he’s able to penetrate and get to the paint and score…and get open looks for the role players. No bueno.

* Play with playoff intensity. I believe that means to play the opposite of whatever that was we saw in the first 24 minutes in Memphis.

* Scoring from outside from the superstars. B-Roy traditionally struggles in this building. San Antonio has the bigs to bother LaMarcus. This is one of those games where the bench can make a huge statement. They were great last night…but they need to show up tonight. Outlaw, Rudy, Blake, Frye and Oden can make life a lot easier on the stars tonight. They are going to get good looks and are going to have to knock them down. That depth and balance needs to start showing up.

* Get off to a great start. This is important because if Portland digs themselves a hole in San Antonio it will be a lot harder to get out of. Why? San Antonio knows exactly what to do when they get a lead. They may let us crawl back in but you and I both know the Spurs have a knack for making timely buckets. It’s what they do. They are the king of going on those mini-runs to dash your hopes, get a timeout called and leave your frustrated during the commercial break. So it’s important Portland doesn’t get down big early. I don’t want to see a Bonner/Finley/Bowen three followed by a crowd eruption and some music. I just don’t.

[poop]

anyone want to make a post that isnt 25 paragraphs long??

[Big P]

6 PM Central time.
http://www.nba.com/spurs/news/broadc...es_090213.html

Thank you.:toast

[Josepatches_]

A loss would put Portland over us in the standings with 3-1 in the series.
So it's very important for HCA in the 1st round.

[Spurs Brazil]

Referee Assignments
Wed. Apr. 8
Portland @ San Antonio: E. Rush, J. Clark, L. Richardson

He SUCKS

[koriwhat]

i cant wait to sit in row12 tonight... thank god my boss left town and left me his tickets. yeah yeah!