Spurs at Jazz Previews

[duncan228]

Utah Jazz look to avoid 1-4 start against San Antonio (http://www.sltrib.com/jazz/ci_13713474)
By Ross Siler
The Salt Lake Tribune


With one message posted on his Twitter account Tuesday afternoon, Deron Williams underscored the urgency facing the Jazz in the season's first week. "On the way to the Dallas game!!!" Williams wrote. "Need this win . . . Bad."

Even if it was the first week of November, the Jazz already were playing a must-win game. By the end of the night, they had been punched in the gut courtesy of Dirk Nowitzki and his 29-point fourth quarter.

In the span of 24 hours, the Jazz swung from one extreme to another, yet dropped both games all the same -- embarrassed at home by a Houston team that had eight players score in double figures and flattened on the road almost single-handedly by Nowitzki.

Now the Jazz must regroup at EnergySolutions Arena tonight against San Antonio, in front of the same fans who booed them repeatedly only three nights earlier and didn't bother to stick around for the final horn against the Rockets.

"We haven't gave them much reason to cheer yet," Williams said. "We've got to get the best fans in the world up and out of their seats for a little bit, and we haven't been able to do that."

One quarter in Dallas away from improving to 2-2 with an inspirational victory, the Jazz instead fell to 1-3. Not only are they in desperate need of a victory against San Antonio, the Jazz are in desperate need of making a statement to their fans.

Only twice in the last 25 years have the Jazz opened 1-4 -- coming in 2001-02 and 2002-03. They got off to a 5-0 start last season and 12-1 start in 2006-07. Even in losing 56 games in 2004-05, the Jazz opened that season 4-0.

"That always should be your objective is to want fans to want to watch you play," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said, "and it's a matter of trying to get five guys to play well together, and that's what we've got to do whoever we play.

"You win some ballgames and it turns things around a lot quicker. We're digging a little bit of a hole to start with, but that's part of this league."

The Jazz couldn't have asked for better in the first three quarters against the Mavericks. They held Dallas to 52 points on 31.9 percent shooting, scored nine straight points to close the quarter and appeared in control with a 67-52 lead.

"We thought we were headed in the right direction if you watched the first three quarters," Williams said. "We didn't shoot the ball well, we didn't score well -- we executed, we just had some open shots that we missed.

"But the thing is we were getting stops. Defensively, we were getting stops. We were helping each other out. We were able to force turnovers and get out and run a little bit. All until that fourth quarter."

Nowitzki took over in the quarter, with a barrage for the Mavericks record books. The Jazz lost the fourth quarter 44-18, one night after the Rockets hit them with a 22-4 run and won the quarter 34-20 behind the likes of Chase Budinger and Kyle Lowry.

"We've got to figure out how to play 48 minutes of basketball," said Williams, who played the entire second half Tuesday. "Not 42, not 43. Forty-eight. We had chances, we had them down 15, we just had to get some stops and we couldn't do it."

Carlos Boozer added: "We fought, there's no question about that. We definitely fought, but it's tough when you still come up short and you don't win. It's hard to take a lot of good things out of the game when you lose."

Sloan nevertheless was happier with his team's effort, one night after what he described as one of the "poorest defensive nights I've seen" in the Houston loss.

"I tell them the best thing to do is not get your head down," Sloan said. "There's a lot of basketball left to be played."

[VivaPopovich]

The Jazz are going to bring it against San Antonio. Sloan and Pop, two tough SOBs, it'll be good to see the chess game play out.

I don't think Deron is going to single-handedly beat the Spurs for Utah. They need AK47, Mehmet, Millsap, Boozer to return to old form.

The Jazz also have issues with a lack of firepower off the bench. While everyone else was retooling, Sloan didn't do anything to his lineup really. He does have a good starting lineup and 6th man when their all healthy, but with these rosters that just isn't good enough anymore. You need firepower off the bench.

[VivaPopovich]

AK47 most of all needs to start bringing in the effort

It's sad that you actually have an NBA team where the coach is tougher than the players

[Muser]

As long as Boozer plays i'm not worried.

[VivaPopovich]

As long as Boozer plays i'm not worried.

We all know DeJuan is a tenacious rebounder, but Pop should test him to see if he can hold the fort and man-up as well. Similar to the way Rodman gave Kemp/Malone a hard time.

I'd like to see those two clash.

Defensively, Boozer is a terrible matchup for the Jazz on Duncan. Not unless he uses all his strength to box him way out of the post. Duncan has lost weight after all.

[alchemist]

dangerous game. :flag:

[Spursmania]

It will be a good game since Jazz are desperate for a win. On the other hand, the Spurs are going to bring it, since they haven't played in a few days. This will be either a great game or a blow out.

[duncan228]

Jazz vs. San Antonio
At EnergySolutions Arena
Time » 8:30 p.m.
TV/Radio » TNT, 1320 AM, 98.7 FM

Records » Jazz 1-3; San Antonio 2-1
Last meeting » Jazz lost 105-99 on April 10


About the Jazz » The Jazz will get their first look at Spurs rookie DeJuan Blair, whom they brought to Utah for a draft workout but ultimately passed on with their No. 20 first-round pick over concerns about his knees. The Pittsburgh forward slid all the way to San Antonio with the 37th pick in the second round but has been a force thus far in averaging 8.3 points and 8.3 rebounds. Blair became the first Spurs rookie since Tim Duncan in 1997 to record a double-double in his debut and was San Antonio's leading scorer and rebounder in the preseason.

About the Spurs » The Spurs haven't played since beating Sacramento 111-93 at home Saturday. . . .San Antonio swept the season series 3-0 against the Jazz in 2008-09. . . .Acquired from New Jersey in an off-season traded, Richard Jefferson is averaging 11.7 points and scored a season-high 21 against the Kings....Tim Duncan had 28 points and 16 rebounds last week in a loss at Chicago . . .. Manu Ginobili is averaging 13.7 points and 0.3 (much-replayed) bat kills this season.

[PDXSpursFan]

Looking foward to see Blair vs Millsap - interesting matchup

[Spursmania]

http://www.nba.com/jazz/schedule/110509_jazz_vs_spurs.html

Utah Jazz vs. San Antonio Spurs, 11/5/09


GAME TIME: 8:30 PM MT with TV broadcast being available on TNT / RADIO - 1320

by Steve Klauke



The Jazz host the Spurs tonight looking to snap a four-game losing streak to San Antonio. Coach Gregg Popovich’s team swept the three-game season series last year including a 106-100 win in the Spurs’ only appearance at EnergySolutions Arena.
Overall, the Spurs averaged 110 points against the Jazz while shooting a red hot 51 percent from the field. Tony Parker led San Antonio at 27.5 points, followed by Roger Mason at just over 19 points and Tim Duncan at nearly 19 points per game. Deron Williams paced the Jazz at 22 per game against the Spurs.


The San Antonio coaching staff may have needed to pass out “Hello, My Name Is…” stickers on the first day of training camp, as there were several new faces wearing the silver and black as the Spurs looked to get a little younger and a little more athletic.


The biggest acquisition was forward Richard Jefferson, who was picked up from the Bucks for Kurt Thomas and longtime Spurs defensive specialist Bruce Bowen, who later retired. Jefferson will give the Spurs a dangerous scorer on the wing, especially since he stepped up his game from three point range last season with Milwaukee, hitting a career-high 40 percent from beyond the arc. He averaged nearly 20 points while appearing in all 82 games for the second consecutive season and for just the third time in his eight-year career. Veteran Michael Finley, who started 77 games in 2008-09, will back up Jefferson.


The Spurs also signed free agent Antonio McDyess, who will open his 14th season as the starting power forward for his fifth different NBA team. McDyess averaged just less than 10 points and 10 boards for Detroit last season. He won’t be expected to score much, but he will be counted on to be a force on the glass. He will be backed up by Matt Bonner, who gives San Antonio a completely different look at the four position when he is in the game. Bonner prefers the perimeter where last season he shot a career-best 44 percent from three point range. Another option will be rookie DeJuan Blair, a second round pick from the University of Pittsburgh. Blair took advantage of his minutes during the preseason including a 28-point night off the bench against Miami on October 12th in which he hit 11-of-13 shots from the field.


One area where the Spurs hope to improve is their health. Duncan and Parker missed a handful of games, while Manu Ginobili missed over half the season in 2008-09. Ginobili told reporters at Spurs media day that he feels no pain after ankle problems limited the 32-year-old to just 44 games last season and kept him out of the playoffs. Popovich told NBA.com that the Spurs were offensively challenged without Ginobili. “We didn’t realize how much we were challenged until we got to see him play again. He adds so much now that he’s healthy.”


One of the big questions is whether or not Ginobili can return to his form from the 2007-08 campaign when he put together his best season with career highs in points (19.5), rebounds (4.8) and assists (4.5). He will likely come into games as a spark plug off the bench with Roger Mason getting the start. Mason, who had floundered with three teams in his first four seasons, blossomed with the Spurs averaging nearly 12 points last year. Veteran Keith Bogans, who split time with Milwaukee and Orlando, was signed as a free agent and can be a third option at the position.


Duncan, aka “The Big Fundamental”, put up a double-double average for the 12th time in his 12-year Hall of Fame career. His 19.3 points and 10.7 rebounds per game last season were slightly below his career numbers, but he also averaged less than 34 minutes per game as Coach Popovich, when possible, tends to limit his playing time down the stretch to save him for the playoffs. Another key free agent signing by the Spurs came in the person of Theo Ratliff, who will give the team a shot blocking presence when Duncan is off the floor.


Parker is coming off a season in which he posted career bests in points (22.0) and assists (6.9). With the addition of Jefferson and the return of Ginobili, Parker may not be counted upon to score as much as last season, but other teams know the threat is there and that his assist numbers may skyrocket. Second year man George Hill returns as Parker’s back-up. Hill, who started seven games for the Spurs, averaged nearly six points and two assists last year, but those numbers increased to nearly 10 points and three and one-half assists in those seven starts.

Spurs Fun Fact: Matt Bonner is only the second player from the state of New Hampshire to appear in an NBA game. The first was Jeff Cross, who appeared in 21 games for the Clippers during the 1985-86 season.

[duncan228]

Utah Jazz: Down after loss, but upbeat about effort (http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705342258/Utah-Jazz-Down-after-loss-but-upbeat-about-effort.html)
By Tim Buckley
Deseret News

Whether it haunts them down the road remains to be seen.

The funny thing, though, is that the Jazz seemed more flustered Tuesday night by their seemingly devastating loss at Dallas than they did spooked.

One night after Jerry Sloan ranted about what he deemed to be one of the worst defensive efforts he's seen in his many years during an embarrassing home loss to the Houston Rockets, in fact, the longtime Jazz coach was more upbeat than melancholy.

"I told them, 'We had the loss (Monday night), but the effort was so much better (Tuesday)," Sloan said after the Jazz blew a 16-point fourth-quarter lead in the 96-85 loss to the Mavericks.

"I thought we competed," added Sloan, whose Jazz return home tonight to face San Antonio in a late-starting, TNT-televised game.

"Yeah, we made some mistakes. But if you don't compete, then you don't have much of a chance to have anything good happen for you."

Having his players believe all that, however, may be as tough as getting them to buy into the need to run a structured offense and actually play defense.

"We fought. No question about that. We definitely fought," power forward Carlos Boozer said. "But it's tough when you still come up short and you don't win. It's hard to take a lot of good things out of the game when you lose, you know what I mean?"

Point guard Deron Williams does.

"You know, we thought we were headed in the right direction, if you watched the first three quarters," Williams added. "We didn't shoot the ball well (34.1 percent in the first half), we didn't score well (37 points through two quarters).

"But the thing is, we were getting stops. Defensively, we were getting stops. We were helping each other out. We were able to force turnovers and get out and run a little bit. All until that fourth quarter."

That, of course, is when Mavs star Dirk Nowitzki took over, scoring 29 of his game-high 40 points in the fourth as the Mavs overcame a 16-point deficit with just more than eight minutes to go and eventually swung the game by 27 points.

Dallas trailed 67-52 after three quarters, marking the first time this season that the Jazz have led heading into the fourth.

But the Mavs outscored Utah 44-18 in that final period, leaving the Jazz with a fourth-quarter collapse that ties for third-worst in franchise history — just five points off a blown 20-point advantage vs. Seattle (now Oklahoma City) in 2007.

"We have to do a better job of protecting our lead," Boozer said.

"We've got to figure out how to play 48 minutes of basketball," Williams added. "Not 42, not 43. Forty-eight."

Cliches notwithstanding, the Jazz also know there is more to victory tonight than beating Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and the Spurs.

They also have some rather unhappy fans to win over, many of whom headed for the exits at EnergySolutions Arena with more than four minutes still to go in Monday's loss to Houston and the outcome — even as they were again getting blown away in the fourth — then still arguably in doubt.

"We haven't given them much to cheer yet," Williams said.

"That should always be your objective, is to want fans to want to watch you play," Sloan added. "But it's a matter of trying to get five guys to play well together, and that's what we've got to do, whoever we play."

For the Jazz, that's a work in progress.

"You can win some ballgames that way, and turn things around a lot quicker," Sloan said.

And oh does Sloan's club ever need that.

"We're digging a little bit of a hole to start with," he said.

The 1-3 Jazz indeed are facing the prospect of matching (from 2001 and 2002) their worst start since opening 1-5 in 1982.

"The only thing I know is to stay together with it," Sloan said. "I tell them the best thing to do is not get your head down, and there's a lot of basketball left to be played."

*******************

Utah Jazz
Record: 1-3

Probable starters

C. Boozer, F

(12.8 ppg, 9.0 rpg)

A. Kirilenko, F

(12.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg)

M. Okur, C

(16.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg)

D. Williams, G

(22.3 ppg, 8.8 apg)

R. Brewer, G

(14.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg)

San Antonio Spurs
Record: 2-1

T. Duncan, F

(14.7 ppg, 12.7 rpg)

R. Jefferson, F

(11.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg)

M. Bonner, C

(8.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg)

T. Parker, G

(16.3 ppg, 5.3 apg)

M. Finley, G

(7.7 ppg, 1.0 rpg)

Game Notes

It's the third game in four nights for the Jazz, who lost Monday to Houston and Tuesday at Dallas. ... San Antonio has been idle since Saturday night, when it beat Sacramento 113-94. ... Utah has lost four straight to the Spurs, including all three games last season. ... The Jazz have won just six of their last 35 vs. San Antonio. ... Utah already is 0-1 on national TV this season.

[duncan228]

Thursday: Spurs (2-1) at Jazz (1-3) (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/Thursday_Spurs_2-1_at_Jazz_1-3.html)

Time: 9:30 p.m.
TV: TNT
Radio: WOAI-AM 1200, KCOR-AM 1350

STARTING LINEUPS
POS - SPURS - JAZZ

PG - 9 Tony Parker (6-2, 9th yr) - 8 Deron Williams (6-3, 5th yr)
Parker is Spurs' leading scorer in both victories this season.

SG - 4 Michael Finley (6-7, 15th yr) - 9 Ronnie Brewer (6-7, 4th yr)
Brewer has been breakout scoring star for injury-riddled Jazz.

SF - 24 Richard Jefferson (6-7, 9th yr) - 47 Andrei Kirilenko (6-9, 9th yr)
Jefferson coming off best game as Spur: 21 points, 7 of 8 shooting.

PF - 21 Tim Duncan (6-11, 13th yr) - 5 Carlos Boozer (6-9, 8th yr)
Blowout victories good for Duncan's knees, bad for his box score.

C - 15 Matt Bonner (6-10, 6th yr) - 13 Mehmet Okur (6-11, 8th yr)
Okur appears to be over knee and ankle sprain that hampered him early.

SPURS RESERVES

8 Roger Mason Jr., G, 6-5, 6th yr
20 Manu Ginobili, G, 6-6, 8th yr
3 George Hill, G, 6-2, 2nd yr
24 A. McDyess, C/F, 6-10, 15th yr
45 DeJuan Blair, F, 6-7, 1st yr
10 Keith Bogans, G/F, 6-5, 7th yr
42 Theo Ratliff, F/C, 6-10, 15th yr

JAZZ RESERVES

44 Kyrylo Fesenko, C, 7-1, 3rd yr
41 Kostas Koufas, C, 7-0, 2nd yr
23 W. Matthews, G/F, 6-5, 1st yr
3 Eric Maynor, G, 6-3, 1st yr
24 Paul Millsap, F, 6-8, 4th yr
17 Ronnie Price, G, 6-2, 5th yr
26 Kyle Korver, G/F, 6-7, 7th yr

COACHES
Spurs: Gregg Popovich
Jazz: Jerry Sloan

INJURIES

Spurs: None.
Jazz: Matt Harpring (knee, ankle), C.J. Miles (left thumb surgery) and Korver (left knee surgery) are out.

PROJECTED INACTIVE PLAYERS

Spurs: Ian Mahinmi, Malik Hairston, Marcus Haislip
Jazz: Harpring, Miles

NOTABLE

After four-day layoff, Spurs commence on westward back-to-back trip against Jazz and Trail Blazers. ... EnergySolutions Arena has long been a tough place to play. Jazz were 33-8 there last season. Spurs handed Utah one of its home losses, 106-100, en route to sweeping the season series. ... Spurs averaging 113 points in two victories this season. They scored 85 in loss at Chicago.

- Jeff McDonald

[duncan228]

San Antonio (2-1) at Utah (1-3) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2009110526&prov=ap)
Game info: 10:30 pm EST Thu Nov 5, 2009
TV: TNT, FSUT
By Matt Beardmore

San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili has admittedly lost a step, but he can still find ways to help the team. No matter how unconventional those ways can be.

Ginobili and the well-rested Spurs open a two-game trip Thursday night at EnergySolutions Arena, where they’ll face a Utah Jazz team off to its worst start in seven seasons.

After missing 38 games and the playoffs in 2008-09 due to ankle injuries, Ginobili has played well coming off the Spurs’ bench this season, averaging 13.7 points and 3.7 assists.

He had 13 points in Saturday’s 113-94 victory over Sacramento, but received his loudest cheers from the San Antonio crowd when he swatted a bat out of the air with his bare hand in the first quarter, before scooping it off the court so play could resume.

“When you can’t dunk anymore, you have to find a way to make it into the news,” said Ginobili, who posted a message on his Facebook page Monday saying he had to be vaccinated for rabies. “So that’s what I did. I grabbed a bat. I didn’t think it was a big deal.”

The Spurs (2-1) didn’t feel that way about Ginobili’s clutch performance in their last game in Utah - a 106-100 victory on Jan. 27.

Ginobili scored 10 of his 13 in the fourth quarter, including a 6-of-6 effort at the foul line in the final 24 seconds, as San Antonio snapped a four-game slide in Salt Lake City.

“Until that horn goes off, you’re worried about whatever may happen,” Tim Duncan said after scoring 24 points with nine rebounds and eight assists in the Spurs’ first victory in Utah since April 4, 2006. “Luckily enough, Manu was great down the stretch hitting free throws and giving us the lead we needed.”

Utah (1-3) felt its 16-point fourth-quarter lead against Dallas on Tuesday was enough, but the Jazz collapsed in the final 8-plus minutes and lost 96-85.

Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki scored 29 of his 40 points in the fourth - many against Mehmet Okur, who was forced into the difficult defensive assignment with Carlos Boozer playing with five fouls.

“Obviously, there wasn’t anything we were able to do with Nowitzki,” said Jazz coach Jerry Sloan, whose club looks to avoid its slowest start since opening 1-4 in 2002-03. “He was sensational. He made every basket and got to the free throw line, but the most important thing he did was he was able to take the ball to the basket.”

Jazz point guard Deron Williams, who leads the team with 22.3 points per game and 8.8 assists, averaged 22.0 and 11.5 in two games versus the Spurs last season. Williams missed the 119-94 loss in San Antonio on Nov. 21 with a left ankle injury.

Spurs guard Tony Parker was also sidelined in that game due to an injured ankle. In the final two matchups with Utah last season, Parker averaged 27.5 points and 6.5 assists as San Antonio swept the season series for the first time since 2005-06.

First-year Spur Richard Jefferson, acquired from Milwaukee in the offseason, hit 7 of 8 shots and scored a season-high 21 on Saturday.

He is averaging 21.7 points in six career games in Utah.

The Spurs have won four straight and 29 of 35 against the Jazz.

[Agloco]

Wow, I didn't realize that the Spurs were dominating this match up. I guess I've got too many memories of the Malone-Stockton era stuck in my head.

[FromWayDowntown]

When I looked at the referee assignments for tonight's game, it appears that SA/UTH will have the same officiating crew (Scott Foster, Leon Wood, Sean Wright) that had the Spurs/Bulls game in Chicago last Thursday.

I'm not sure that I've ever seen that happen before.

[balli]

Utah's going to lose. Boozer was -27 on the ol' +/- the other night. We'll never win a game in which he's featured. It doesn't help that Memo's on one leg.

If Sloan has an epiphany and turns the frontcourt over to Memo, Millsap, AK and Big Fes, we might have a chance.

:depressed

[duncan228]

Hey balli, you going to join us toinight?

[lefty]

Hey balli, you going to join us toinight?
He'll leave at the end of the 3rd quarter :D

[duncan228]

Spurs head to Salt Lake City to battle Jazz (http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=nba/scores/live/pv11897.htm)

(Sports Network) - The San Antonio Spurs will hit the road for two games starting with Thursday's tilt with the Utah Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena.

San Antonio will also visit the Portland Trail Blazers and lost its only road game of the season to the Chicago Bulls on October 29. The well-rested Spurs improved to 2-1 on the season with Saturday's 113-94 triumph versus the Sacramento Kings at the AT&T Center, as Tony Parker registered 24 points and seven assists to lead the charge.

Richard Jefferson scored 21 points and George Hill contributed 15 points and five rebounds for the Spurs, who suffered a 92-85 loss at Chicago last Thursday following a season-opening win against New Orleans. Sixth man Manu Ginobili notched 13 points and had an unusual run-in with a bat flying around the floor. Ginobili tracked it down and grabbed the bat with his hand before it was disposed of.

"It was good to see the group continue to execute defensively in the fourth quarter," Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich said. "That was the best part of the game, for me, besides Manu's catch."

Spurs forward Antonio McDyess is probable for Thursday's game with flu-like symptoms. He did not play in the win over Sacramento.

The Jazz are off to a rough start at 1-3 and have dropped back-to-back contests, including Tuesday's 96-85 setback at Dallas.

Deron Williams tallied 22 points and Mehmet Okur contributed 14 points and 14 rebounds to pace Utah, which blew a comfortable lead in the fourth quarter and was burned by Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki. Nowitzki scored a Dallas-record 29 points during the fourth quarter en route to a 40-point night.

"It just seemed like either he made his shot or he was shooting free throws," Jazz forward Carlos Boozer said of Nowitzki. "I thought we couldn't be physical with him, couldn't touch him too much without them calling a foul on us. Obviously he was aggressive, he's a great player."

Boozer and Andrei Kirilenko each had 12 points in a losing effort. Utah is hoping to avoid its worst start since kicking off the 2002-03 campaign with a 1-4 record.

San Antonio took all three matchups with Utah last season and has won four in a row and 10 of the last 14 contests in this series. The Spurs, though, have lost six of their last nine trips to Salt Lake City.

[balli]

He'll leave at the end of the 3rd quarter :D
lol, yeah, I'll probably be around. Hopefully for the whole game.

[Muser]

We all know DeJuan is a tenacious rebounder, but Pop should test him to see if he can hold the fort and man-up as well. Similar to the way Rodman gave Kemp/Malone a hard time.

I'd like to see those two clash.

Defensively, Boozer is a terrible matchup for the Jazz on Duncan. Not unless he uses all his strength to box him way out of the post. Duncan has lost weight after all.


Well yeah he is a bad matchup for the Jazz but it's just him. When he is playing the whole Jazz team just look bad.

[SpursFanATL]

Damn, we better be hitting our shots tonight. This one is going to be tough. The Jazz are beyond pissed.

[AussieFanKurt]

we'll get the win by 8

[duncan228]

NBA Match Game, 11.5 (http://dimemag.com/2009/11/nba-match-game-115/)
By Austin Burton

San Antonio @ Utah:

Tim Duncan vs. Jerry Sloan
What’s a coach to do? Lining up position-by-position, Carlos Boozer is the one who would guard TD, but it’s no secret that Booz’s defense has holes. Mehmet Okur is Utah’s best post defender, but coming off a 29-points-in-one-quarter assault at the hands of Dirk Nowitzki, he might need a night off. Paul Millsap is short but strong; Kyrylo Fesenko is tall but wet behind the ears. If Duncan is in scoring mode tonight like he was the last time you saw him on national TV, the backboards at EnergySolutions Arena will get a workout. (TNT, 10:30 p.m. EST)

Tony Parker vs. Deron Williams
You know how I feel about this one. As much as I love Deron’s game, head-to-head, I’ll take Parker. Deron is looking like an All-Star lock, however, doing his best to carry Utah through a frustrating stretch where even the home fans have been booing them. Meanwhile, Parker (16.3 ppg, 5.3 apg) has been up-and-down in San Antonio’s first three games.

[quentin_compson]

NBA Match Game, 11.5 (http://dimemag.com/2009/11/nba-match-game-115/)
By Austin Burton

San Antonio @ Utah:

Tim Duncan vs. Jerry Sloan
What’s a coach to do? Lining up position-by-position, Carlos Boozer is the one who would guard TD, but it’s no secret that Booz’s defense has holes. Mehmet Okur is Utah’s best post defender, but coming off a 29-points-in-one-quarter assault at the hands of Dirk Nowitzki, he might need a night off. Paul Millsap is short but strong; Kyrylo Fesenko is tall but wet behind the ears. If Duncan is in scoring mode tonight like he was the last time you saw him on national TV, the backboards at EnergySolutions Arena will get a workout. (TNT, 10:30 p.m. EST)

Actually, that is a nice way to put it. Boozer's D is just awful. Duncan could go for 30/15 tonight.

[TDMVPDPOY]

SPURS ARE -2.5 2.05/1 ...umm thinkn putting 140 on it....

[JustinJDW]

This game is going to have some great matchups!

Tony Parker vs. Deron Williams
Richard Jefferson vs. Andrei Kirilenko
Tim Duncan vs. Carlos Boozer
Matt Bonner vs. Mehmet Okur (Both outside shooting big man)

Go Spurs Go! :downspin:

[duncan228]

Jazz notes: NBA's Batman comes to Utah (http://www.sltrib.com/jazz/ci_13723163)
By Steve Luhm
The Salt Lake Tribune

Batman visited EnergySolutions Arena on Thursday night.

Last weekend, San Antonio's Manu Ginobili swatted a bat out of the air during the Spurs-Kings game at the AT&T Center.

Video of the incident has become a world-wide hit on the Internet.

The bat delayed the game for a second time by swooping across the floor when Ginobili slapped it, picked it up and handed it to arena worker for disposal.

After the Jazz's shootaround Thursday morning, Carlos Boozer was asked about the bat attack.

"I saw it on ESPN," he said. "It was pretty impressive he just smacked it [after] they chased it for five or 10 minutes."

Did Boozer plan to shake Ginobili's hand before the game?

"If he doesn't have rabies," he said, "I'll shake his hand."

For the record, PETA criticized Ginobili for his actions and has undergone a series of rabies shots. The Spurs have also reminded their players that, in the future, bat removal should be left to the experts.

In addition, the Freetail Brewing Company in San Antonio has announced every time the Spurs win and Ginobili does not do battle with a bat, its patrons will receive a free beer. The restaurant will also donate $1 to Bat Conservation International.

[B]Fessing up

Before facing San Antonio, Kyrylo Fesenko averaged five points and 1.5 rebounds in 11 minutes. He was the second-highest scoring non-starter behind Paul Millsap through the Jazz's first four games.

Because the Spurs can use a small frontcourt that includes perimeter-oriented Matt Bonner , coach Jerry Sloan didn't commit to playing Fesenko.

"I wouldn't want to put him on the kid that shoots three-point shots for them," Sloan said. "That wouldn't be a fair match-up, if they go to a small lineup."

On the other hand, Sloan said, "Hopefully we get him in the game" because Fesenko has earned the chance to play.

"Two months ago, we didn't know if we'd be able to get him in a game or not," Sloan said. "But he's made some progress and had some success here and there. ...

"We'll look for places to try and play him a little more, so he can gain some more confidence and hopefully get better."