Spurs vs. Raptors Previews

[Blackjack]

Sunday: Spurs (20-11) at Raptors (16-18) (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Sunday_Spurs_20-11_at_Raptors_16-18.html)

Time: 5 p.m.
TV: FSNSW
Radio: WOAI-AM 1200, KCOR-AM 1350

STARTING LINEUPS
POS - SPURS - RAPTORS

PG - 9 Tony Parker (6-2, 9th year) - 1 Jarrett Jack (6-3, 5th yr)
Jack starting in place of Jose Calderon, questionable with sore left hip.

SG - 10 Keith Bogans (6-5, 7th yr) - 10 DeMar DeRozan (6-7, 1st yr)
DeRozan quietly putting together solid rookie campaign at 7.6 ppg.

SF - 24 Richard Jefferson (6-7, 9th yr) - 26 Hedo Turkoglu (6-10, 9th yr)
Turkoglu returned vs. Celtics after leaving prior game with knee bruise.

PF - 21 Tim Duncan (6-11, 13th yr) - 4 Chris Bosh (6-10, 7th yr)
Bosh went into Saturday’s game averaging 23.8 ppg, 11.3 rpg.

C - 45 DeJuan Blair (6-7, 1st yr) - 7 Andrea Bargnani (7-0, 4th yr)
Blair averaging 8.1 ppg, 6.6 rpg while starting last seven games.

SPURS RESERVES
20 Manu Ginobili, G, 6-6, 8th yr
22 Marcus Haislip, F, 6-10, 4th yr
1 Malik Hairston, G, 6-6, 2nd yr
3 George Hill, G, 6-2, 2nd yr
8 Roger Mason Jr., G, 6-5, 6th yr
24 A. McDyess, C/ F, 6-10, 14th yr
42 Theo Ratliff, F/C, 6-10, 15th yr

RAPTORS RESERVES
3 Marcus Banks, G, 6-2, 7th yr
0 Marco Belinelli, G, 6-5, 3rd yr
15 Amir Johnson, F, 6-9, 5th yr
44 P. Mensah-Bonsu, F, 6-9, 4th yr
12 Rasho Nesterovic, C, 7-0, 10th yr
24 Sonny Weems, G, 6-6, 2nd yr
21 Antoine Wright, G/F, 6-7, 5th yr

COACHES
Spurs: Gregg Popovich
Raptors: Jay Triano

INJURIES
Spurs: Michael Finley (left ankle sprain) and Matt Bonner (broken bone, right hand) are out.
Raptors: Reggie Evans (left midfoot sprain) is out; Calderon (sore left hip) is questionable


PROJECTED INACTIVE PLAYERS
Spurs: Ian Mahinmi, Finley, Bonner.
Raptors: Evans, Calderon, Patrick O’Bryant

NOTABLE
Spurs set Popovich-era scoring record in Nov. 9 win over Raptors, getting 131 points in blowout win. ... Raptors won last game vs. Spurs in Toronto when Roko Ukic scored career-high 22. ... Raptors had a season-best five-game win streak ended Saturday night in Boston. ... Raptors’ nine wins in December set a team record.

— Mike Monroe

[Blackjack]

Spurs-Raptors Preview (http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/article/2010-01-03/spurs-raptors-preview)

STATS Senior Writer

The Toronto Raptors have been vulnerable lately when their defense struggles.

The San Antonio Spurs have already completely overwhelmed that unit once this season.

The Spurs, who scored their most points of the season against the Raptors two months ago, look to win six straight for the first time in more than a year Sunday at Air Canada Centre, as Toronto's Chris Bosh tries to become the franchise's all-time leading scorer.

San Antonio (20-11) is coming off a 97-86 win over Washington on Saturday, behind Tim Duncan's 23 points and a season-high 20 from Roger Mason Jr. The Spurs won their fifth in a row and improved to 11-2 since Dec. 9 after opening the season 9-9.

The offense has keyed San Antonio's surge, averaging 105.8 points on 52.3 percent shooting in the last five games. The Spurs haven't won six consecutive games since Dec. 4-14, 2008.

Despite its solid play over the past few weeks, this San Antonio team that strives for perfection isn't satisfied.

"We're not where we want to be, obviously," Duncan said. "We need some big wins on the road. We need to beat some of the good teams on the road. Once we start doing that, our confidence will build. ... There are still a lot of hiccups throughout the game."

As well as San Antonio's offense has been playing lately, it was nearly unstoppable against the Raptors (16-18) on Nov. 9.

Playing without Duncan and Tony Parker, who were both out with left ankle injuries, the Spurs beat Toronto 131-124. It was the most points scored by San Antonio in a non-overtime game since Gregg Popovich took over as coach in December 1996.

Manu Ginobili led the way with 36 points and eight assists, while Richard Jefferson added 24 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for the Spurs, who were 14 of 28 from 3-point range.

The Raptors have one of the worst defenses in the league, allowing an average of 105.7 points, and defensive play has determined their fate in recent games. Toronto has won eight of 13, yielding 87.9 points in the eight victories, compared to 112.8 points in the defeats.

The Raptors saw their season-high five-game winning end with a 103-96 loss to Boston on Saturday, as they allowed a Celtics team playing without Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to shoot 51.4 percent from the floor.

Bosh led Toronto with 25 points on 11 of 15 shooting to move within 14 points of tying Vince Carter as the franchise scoring leader with 9,420.

Bosh finished with 32 points and 10 rebounds against the Spurs in November, but some of that could have to do with Duncan being out of the lineup.

The Toronto power forward is averaging 31.0 points on 55.9 percent shooting in two career games against San Antonio when Duncan is out, compared to 13.5 points on 39.1 percent shooting in 10 career games against the Spurs with the 11-time All-Star in the lineup.

Duncan, meanwhile, is averaging 22.0 points on 60.6 percent shooting and 11.0 rebounds in his last seven games against the Raptors.

San Antonio has won 10 of its last 13 meetings against Toronto.

[Manu-of-steel]

Manu has a cold but said he can play against the raptors. Hope the win streak continues.

[TinTin]

Is Blair really gonna play against Andrea? He'll probably be pulled and have dice inserted like with Beasley

That being said, how would blair match up with other front courts being a starter :\

[HarlemHeat37]

Blair has to pound him back on the other hand and on the boards..Bargnani is one of the worst rebounders I've ever seen..his post D is alright, but Blair should be fine against him on that end..hopefully Bargnani doesn't get hot offensively though..

[biziofromdowntown]

Blair can't guard Bargnani on 3 points line...difficult matchup.

[Chieflion]

Blair can't guard Bargnani on 3 points line...difficult matchup.
Bargs doesn't do that anymore. The only time he takes a three is when he decided to take it before the possession, then he would stand at the three point line. He plays more of the inside game now.

[TDMVPDPOY]

tim duncan has to show whose rapual

believe in our bench fellas

[Josepatches_]

The Toronto power forward is averaging 31.0 points on 55.9 percent shooting in two career games against San Antonio when Duncan is out, compared to 13.5 points on 39.1 percent shooting in 10 career games against the Spurs with the 11-time All-Star in the lineup.

Duncan, meanwhile, is averaging 22.0 points on 60.6 percent shooting and 11.0 rebounds in his last seven games against the Raptors.

[YoMamaIsCallin]

Calderon being hurt is a big break for the Spurs. He is usually very effective against them.

The Spurs depth should overwhelm the Raptors second unit. I would hope to see big things from Manu, Mason, and McDyess.

Actually I would think about starting McDyess on Bosh and letting Blair run with the 2nd unit, that would really blow out the Raptors bench.

[vander]

wow Celtics beat this team without 3 of their big 4

[shelshor]

Referee Assignments
Sun. Jan 3
San Antonio @ Toronto: Bennett Salvatore; Marc Davis; Eli Roe

[yavozerb]

Bargs doesn't do that anymore. The only time he takes a three is when he decided to take it before the possession, then he would stand at the three point line. He plays more of the inside game now.

He may not shoot as many but he is 3-12 in his last 3 games..

[Chieflion]

He may not shoot as many but he is 3-12 in his last 3 games..
He didn't really go out and practice his threes the off season. He is banging more in the post now which is what he wanted to do, with that said, his rebounding still sucks.

[DPG21920]

His rebounding has improved overall, but suffered as of late. He can still be dangerous though. 20+ PPG potential and can get to the rim.

[Rummpd]

No Duncan tonight Pop sitting him

[blkroadrunners]

His rebounds on the offensive end has slightly improved, but still, he rebounds like a SG. Much better offensive player though.

[blkroadrunners]

No Duncan tonight Pop sitting him

Is he alright?

[Rummpd]

Per NBA TV Pop plans to rest him tonight strange decision why not wait for a team with few bigs?

[blkroadrunners]

On FSN-SW, they say he'll be coming off the bench. Idk wtf is up.