Spurs at Thunder Previews

[duncan228]

Wednesday: Spurs (23-13) at Thunder (21-16) (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Wednesday_Spurs_23-13_at_Thunder_21-16.html)

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

STARTING LINEUPS
POS - SPURS - THUNDER

PG - 9 Tony Parker (6-2, 9th yr) - 0 R. Westbrook (6-3, 2nd yr)
Sore foot could be contributing factor to dip in Parker’s production.

SG - 10 Keith Bogans (6-5, 7th yr) - 2 Thabo Sefolosha (6-7, 4th yr)
Bogans, Sefolosha among league’s more under-the-radar defenders.

SF - 24 Richard Jefferson (6-7, 9th yr) - 22 Jeff Green (6-9, 3rd yr)
Jefferson’s efficiency picking up after shaky start to season.

PF - 21 Tim Duncan (6-11, 13th yr) - 35 Kevin Durant (6-9, 3rd yr)
Durant’s 28.8 ppg ranks fourth behind Kobe, LeBron, Carmelo.

C - 45 DeJuan Blair (6-7, 1st yr) - 12 Nenad Krstic (7-0, 6th yr)
Thunder are 12-2 when Krstic scores in double figures.

SPURS RESERVES

20 Manu Ginobili, G, 6-6, 8th yr
22 Marcus Haislip, F, 6-10, 4th yr
3 George Hill, G, 6-2, 2nd yr
28 Ian Mahinmi, C/F, 6-11, 2nd yr
8 Roger Mason Jr., G, 6-5, 6th yr
34 A. McDyess, F, 6-9, 14th yr
42 Theo Ratliff, C, 6-10, 15th yr

THUNDER RESERVES

4 Nick Collison, F/C, 6-10, 6th yr
13 James Harden, G, 6-5, 1st yr
9 Serge Ibaka, F/C, 6-10, 1st yr
6 Eric Maynor, G, 6-3, 1st yr
36 Etan Thomas, C, 6-10, 8th yr
7 Kevin Ollie, G, 6-2, 13th yr
3 D.J. White, F, 6-9, 2nd yr

COACHES
Spurs: Gregg Popovich
Thunder: Scott Brooks

INJURIES

Spurs: Michael Finley (sprained left ankle) and Matt Bonner (fractured right hand) are out.
Thunder: Kyle Weaver (shoulder surgery) is out. Ollie (right knee surgery) is day-to-day.

PROJECTED INACTIVE PLAYERS

Spurs: Malik Hairston, Finley, Bonner.
Thunder: Weaver, Byron Mullens.

NOTABLE

Spurs are 2-3 against Thunder since move from Seattle. ... Oklahoma City won previous meeting this season 101-98 on Nov. 14 at AT&T Center. Durant, Green and Westbrook combined for 54 points in that game. ... Tonight opens a four-game road trip for the Spurs.

- Jeff McDonald

[Ditty]

hopefully the win against the lakers in the start of a winning the streak that is possible to come

[duncan228]

San Antonio (23-13) at Oklahoma City (21-16) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2010011325&prov=ap)
Game info: 8:00 pm EST Wed Jan 13, 2010
TV: FSSW, KSBI
By Kate Hedlin

It isn’t a surprise that the San Antonio Spurs are playing better now than they were when they faced the Oklahoma City Thunder in November.

The fact that the Thunder have improved as well is something few would probably have predicted.

The surging Spurs look to extend their run as one of the NBA’s hottest teams over the last month when they visit the Thunder on Wednesday night.

San Antonio (23-13) got off to the franchise’s worst start in 13 years with six losses in its first 10 games, including a 101-98 defeat at home to Oklahoma City (21-16) on Nov. 14.

As expected, the Spurs recovered once they got healthy, and they’ve gone 14-4 since Dec. 9, trailing only Cleveland’s 15-4 mark for the best record over that stretch. San Antonio won its second consecutive game Tuesday, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 105-85.

With Pau Gasol out and Kobe Bryant limited to 33 minutes because of back spasms, San Antonio shot 57.3 percent and outscored Los Angeles 27-10 off turnovers. Tim Duncan had 25 points and 13 rebounds while Tony Parker added 22 points and six assists.

The Lakers are just the fourth winning team the Spurs have beaten this season.

“We needed this one,” Duncan said. “Obviously they’re dealing with some injuries, and Kobe doesn’t play in the fourth quarter or whatever it may be, but it’s a great win for us. We’ll take it where we can get it.”

The Spurs have held their last nine opponents to 90.7 points.

Duncan was 12 of 19 (63.2 percent) from the field Tuesday, the fifth time in seven games he’s shot 60 percent or better. He scored 22 points on 64.3 percent shooting against the Thunder in November - San Antonio’s third defeat in its last four games against Oklahoma City.

Although the Thunder’s win over the Spurs moved them to just 5-4, it seemed to signal the team was making progress after winning 23 games in 2008-09 and 20 games the season before.

Oklahoma City has won eight of its last 10 and suddenly a playoff berth is not out of the realm of possibilities.

The Thunder are looking to win their third straight Wednesday after a 106-88 win over New York on Monday. They held the Knicks to 38.2 percent shooting and forced 20 turnovers. Kevin Durant had 30 points - the ninth time in 11 games he’s scored at least 30.

It was the fourth time in the last 10 games Oklahoma City held an opponent to fewer than 90 points.

“Our effort is there and it’s making our defense work and our guys deserve a lot of credit for coming in every game and continuing to play defensive basketball,” coach Scott Brooks said.

The Thunder could be challenged soon, though. Seven of Oklahoma City’s last nine games have come against teams with losing records, but Wednesday begins a stretch of contests against some of the NBA’s elite. The Thunder visit Dallas on Friday, then host Miami on Saturday before going back on the road next week to face Atlanta.

“When you look at the schedule, we know we’re capable of beating anybody,” center Nick Collison said. “That doesn’t mean we’re going to win every game, but it’s a lot more fun when you come in and you know that if you play well, you’ve got a great chance to win.”

Durant scored 25 points against the Spurs in November but went just 6 for 18 from the field. He’s averaging 25.5 points and shooting 48.7 percent in eight career games against them.

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

Team Stat Leaders

Points
Tim Duncan SA 20.0
Kevin Durant OKC 28.8

Rebounds
Tim Duncan SA 10.4
Kevin Durant OKC 6.9

Assists
Tony Parker SA 5.8
Russell Westbrook OKC 7.2

[Bruno]

Thunder are playing damn well (8-2 in the last 10 games) so it won't be easy at all especially if, as expected, Duncan doesn't play or only plays limited minutes.

It would also be nice if Finley could be back for this game. To counter Jeff Green at PF, Spurs will likely play a lot of smallball and an extra wing would be welcomed.

[timtonymanu]

dont have a good feeling about this game. tim will most likely sit out. parker has his injury. hopefully we see alot of mahinmi and the bench can help the spurs win.

[ffadicted]

Anyone else want to see Ian beast it up tonight with 20+ minutes? That'd work perfectly and let Tim rest a bit after his heavy minutes last night

[Muser]

Looks like a game Ian should get some more burn.

[the crimson blur]

We're running into a buzzsaw with this game. 2nd half of a back 2 back (Timmy played 40 min), on the road, and against a team that is playing their best ball of the year. With the way b2bs fuck with Pop's head, who knows our rotation...we will probably see some funky lineups.

I expect a loss. But hey, you never know.

[TinTin]

Who is going to guard 6'9 durant? Dont think duncan or blair can keep up with him. Would jefferson or bogans pick him up?

[Chieflion]

Who is going to guard 6'9 durant? Dont think duncan or blair can keep up with him. Would jefferson or bogans pick him up?
Durant, if I remember correctly, is not that laterally quick, at least from draft measurements, so I think Bogans can pick him up. Mix and match with different players guarding Durant would be nice though. The Spurs just need to take care of the ball, otherwise the fast break will be devastating.

[Muser]

IIRC didn't Hill defend Durant well last time the Spurs played OKC?

[the crimson blur]

IIRC didn't Hill defend Durant well last time the Spurs played OKC?

"well" is an understatement. He played him better than anyone I have seen thus far.

It speaks to the greatness of our head coach for even trying Hill on Durant. I want to see it again to see if that matchup has any legs for the playoffs. Do it Pop. :)

[VI_Massive]

IIRC didn't Hill defend Durant well last time the Spurs played OKC?

He did do well against him. The way Durant is playing now though, I'd like to see an array of guys on him throughout the game: RJ, Hill, Bogans, maybe even Ian or Haislip if they play.

More than anything, I hope Pop sits Timmy tonight, and maybe Parker too.

[shelshor]

Referee Assignments
Wed. Jan 13
San Antonio @ Oklahoma City: Joe DeRosa; Brian Forte; David Guthrie

[duncan228]

Oklahoma City vs. San Antonio Game Preview (http://www.krgv.com/sports/nba/game.aspx?sched=12013)

The surging San Antonio Spurs hope to build on an impressive win over the defending NBA champions when they open a four-game road trip tonight against the much-improved Oklahoma City Thunder.

The red-hot Spurs waxed the Los Angles Lakers, 105-85, in the Alamo City last night. Tim Duncan scored a game-high 25 points with 13 rebounds in the rout.

Tony Parker added 22 points with six assists, while George Hill provided a spark with 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting and six assists in the win. San Antonio assisted on 29-of-47 made baskets and took advantage of a hobbled Kobe Bryant, who was suffering from back spasms.

"We played well tonight. They obviously were wounded. Both facts are true and we're happy to get the win," Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich said.

After getting off to the franchise's worst start in 13 years, the Spurs have rebounded to go a Western Conference-best 14-4 since Dec. 9, moving to within 1 1/2 games of Dallas for the Southwest Division lead.

San Antonio, which will also visit Charlotte, Memphis and New Orleans on its trek, is just 6-7 on the road this season.

The Thunder, meanwhile, continue to ride rising superstar Kevin Durant to a possible playoff berth and are hoping to finish a four-game homestand in positive fashion tonight.

Oklahoma City improved to 2-1 on its trek with a 106-88 rout of New York on Monday. Durant poured in 30 points to lead the Thunder in that one.

Russell Westbrook added 17 points and Serge Ibaka scored 10 to go with seven rebounds for the Thunder, who won for the eighth time in 10 contests.

The Thunder entered the 2009-10 season as the second-youngest team in the NBA with an average age of 25 years and 130 days, but this budding squad has performed well with a 21-16 record. Last season through 37 games, the Thunder held a 5-32 mark, on the way to a 59-loss campaign.

"The bench came in and gave us a great spark," Durant said. "They pitched the ball ahead for easy baskets and got stops. That's what we need from them. Everybody came in and did a great job."

Oklahoma City has won three of its past four meetings with the Spurs, including a 101-98 triumph in San Antonio on Nov. 14.

[TJastal]

Thunder are playing damn well (8-2 in the last 10 games) so it won't be easy at all especially if, as expected, Duncan doesn't play or only plays limited minutes.

It would also be nice if Finley could be back for this game. To counter Jeff Green at PF, Spurs will likely play a lot of smallball and an extra wing would be welcomed.

Green is much too big and athletic for Finley to handle in the paint, and also too quick for Fin on the perimeter.

I got an amazing idea. Why don't we start using some of these younger guys were paying millions of dollars in guaranteed contracts who have been sitting around gathering dust?

Specifically, Marcus Haislip. He has the size 6'10" and the athleticism and speed to cover Green.