timvp
01-20-2010, 04:33 PM
Between the four-game road trip they just finished and the eight-game Rodeo Road Trip that begins when the calendar flips to February, the Spurs play six consecutive home games. The first of the six is tonight against the Utah Jazz. The Spurs are 0-3 against the Jazz this season, losing 113-99 on Nov. 5, 90-83 on Nov. 19 and 104-101 on Dec. 7.
Keys to a Spurs Victory
1. Drive to the hoop. The Jazz are the most physical team in the NBA. If you take it hard to the rim, you'll oftentimes find yourself at the free throw line. The Spurs need the energy to keep attacking and avoid shooting too many three-pointers.
2. Limit the assists. In the three previous matchups, the Jazz are averaging 26 assists per game against the Spurs. That is way too many. If the Spurs can interrupt the pick-and-rolls and force Utah into isolations, that would give the Spurs a great chance of winning.
3. Slow Carlos Boozer. Boozer is averaing 24 points, 10.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists against the Spurs. Finding someone who can slow him is key for San Antonio. DeJuan Blair defended David West well in his last outing ... perhaps he's up for the challenge against another All-Star level talent.
Matchup to Watch
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3527.jpg vs. http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3929.jpg
After going up against the best point guard in the NBA last game in Chris Paul, the road doesn't get easier for Tony Parker. When facing the Jazz, Parker has to lead his team against arguably the second best point guard in the NBA, Deron Williams. Williams is banged up but he's still producing at a high level. He's averaging 21.7 points, 9.7 assists and 4.3 rebounds against the Spurs this season, while shooting 54% from the floor and 55.6% from beyond the three-point arc. If Richard Jefferson misses another game and George Hill starts, we may see Hill on Williams to begin the night.
Inside the Numbers
Tim Duncan needs 15 points to score his surpass 20,000 career points. George Gervin is the all-time leading scorer in franchise history with 23,602 points. For Duncan to pass Gervin, he'll need to average 20 points for 181 more games -- or two and a half more seasons.
Did You Know?
Prior to losing all three games against the Jazz this season, the Spurs were 29-6 against the Jazz in their previous 35 meetings. The Spurs lost to the Jazz at home in front of the AT&T Center crowd back in November. To find the last time the Jazz won in San Antonio, you'd have to go back to February of 1999 in the Alamodome.
Keys to a Spurs Victory
1. Drive to the hoop. The Jazz are the most physical team in the NBA. If you take it hard to the rim, you'll oftentimes find yourself at the free throw line. The Spurs need the energy to keep attacking and avoid shooting too many three-pointers.
2. Limit the assists. In the three previous matchups, the Jazz are averaging 26 assists per game against the Spurs. That is way too many. If the Spurs can interrupt the pick-and-rolls and force Utah into isolations, that would give the Spurs a great chance of winning.
3. Slow Carlos Boozer. Boozer is averaing 24 points, 10.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists against the Spurs. Finding someone who can slow him is key for San Antonio. DeJuan Blair defended David West well in his last outing ... perhaps he's up for the challenge against another All-Star level talent.
Matchup to Watch
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3527.jpg vs. http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3929.jpg
After going up against the best point guard in the NBA last game in Chris Paul, the road doesn't get easier for Tony Parker. When facing the Jazz, Parker has to lead his team against arguably the second best point guard in the NBA, Deron Williams. Williams is banged up but he's still producing at a high level. He's averaging 21.7 points, 9.7 assists and 4.3 rebounds against the Spurs this season, while shooting 54% from the floor and 55.6% from beyond the three-point arc. If Richard Jefferson misses another game and George Hill starts, we may see Hill on Williams to begin the night.
Inside the Numbers
Tim Duncan needs 15 points to score his surpass 20,000 career points. George Gervin is the all-time leading scorer in franchise history with 23,602 points. For Duncan to pass Gervin, he'll need to average 20 points for 181 more games -- or two and a half more seasons.
Did You Know?
Prior to losing all three games against the Jazz this season, the Spurs were 29-6 against the Jazz in their previous 35 meetings. The Spurs lost to the Jazz at home in front of the AT&T Center crowd back in November. To find the last time the Jazz won in San Antonio, you'd have to go back to February of 1999 in the Alamodome.