Spurs at Clippers Previews

[duncan228]

San Antonio (28-20) at Los Angeles (21-28) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2010020612&prov=ap)
Game info: 10:30 pm EST Sat Feb 6, 2010
TV: KENS, FSPT
By Brett Huston

The Los Angeles Clippers couldn’t beat the San Antonio Spurs with Mike Dunleavy on the sidelines. Now they’ll find out how they fare against the Spurs without him.

Two days after Dunleavy’s exit as coach, interim replacement Kim Hughes must try to help the Clippers end a 14-game losing streak to San Antonio - tied for the league’s longest drought against one opponent - on Saturday night at Staples Center.

Dunleavy was the NBA’s third-longest tenured coach despite a 215-325 record and one playoff appearance in 6 1/2 seasons on the bench. He stepped down Thursday from leading the Clippers (21-28) on the court, though he’ll continue to serve as general manager.

Dunleavy and a statement from the team called the decision voluntary and mutual - he says he’ll focus on “personnel opportunities” - but team president Andy Roeser suggested that perhaps others had a say in his removal.

“It just seems clear that the team needs a fresh voice, and we hope that our players will respond in a positive way,” Roeser said.

Los Angeles was 17-18 on Jan. 10 despite not getting one minute out of injured No. 1 overall pick Blake Griffin, but has lost 10 of 14 - all but one of those defeats came on the road.

The Clippers beat Chicago 90-82 on Tuesday, but concluded their eight-game road trip Wednesday in Atlanta by blowing a 13-point second-half lead in a 103-97 loss.

Hughes, a former ABA and NBA player who has never been a head coach, takes over after spending the past seven seasons as Dunleavy’s assistant.

His first task on the bench couldn’t be much more difficult. Los Angeles has dropped 14 straight to San Antonio (28-20) by an average of 15.4 points. The only other active win streak by one team against another that has lasted that long is also owned by the Spurs, who have won 14 in a row against New Jersey.

After Dunleavy won his first game against San Antonio on Dec. 1, 2003, Los Angeles is 1-22 in the series - including two losses this season by an average of 21.0 points.

Los Angeles has averaged 84.9 points during the 14-game skid against San Antonio, but Hughes expects to let point guard Baron Davis run a more up-tempo style than the organized half-court sets Dunleavy preferred.

“I’ll leave a lot of the play calling up to Baron,” Hughes said. “We’ll try to push the ball whenever possible. … If I call a play in timeouts and someone has a better idea, I’m good with that.”

Hughes will face the league’s two longest-tenured coaches - Gregg Popovich and Utah’s Jerry Sloan - in his first two games, and his first adversary was hardly pleased with his team’s latest effort.

San Antonio got Tony Parker back in the lineup Thursday at Portland and led by 10 early in the fourth quarter, but fell apart en route to a 96-93 loss. The Spurs had three turnovers in the final 8:41 after having three total before that.

“Handled the ball well all night then turned it over down the stretch and didn’t shoot well,” Popovich said. “The combination of poor shooting and the turnovers down the stretch gave us the loss.”

Parker had 18 points in his return, showing no ill effects from a sprained ankle that caused him to miss three games. Manu Ginobili, who’s averaged 16.8 points in his last eight games, had 21.

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

Team Stat Leaders

Points
Tim Duncan SA 19.7
Chris Kaman LAC 20.1

Rebounds
Tim Duncan SA 10.8
Marcus Camby LAC 12.1

Assists
Tony Parker SA 5.8
Baron Davis LAC 7.9

[poop]

heres how it goes. i think they get a win here. this forum gains a bit of heart/hope. then next game, we play hard,look good, blow lead in late 3rd, end up getting raped.

[spurs10]

heres how it goes. i think they get a win here. this forum gains a bit of heart/hope. then next game, we play hard,look good, blow lead in late 3rd, end up getting raped.
That's the spirit!!:lobt2::lobt2::lobt2::lobt2:

[duncan228]

Saturday: Spurs (28-20) at Clippers (21-28) (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/Saturday_Spurs_28-20_at_Clippers_21-28.html)

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

STARTING LINEUPS
POS - SPURS - CLIPPERS

PG - 9 Tony Parker (6-2, 9th yr) - 1 Baron Davis (6-3, 11th yr)
Parker started strong in first game back from ankle sprain, but faded late.

SG - 3 George Hill (6-2, 2nd yr) - 10 Eric Gordon (6-3, 2nd yr)
Hill averaging 16.5 points in 13 games as starter, 8.7 as reserve,

SF - 24 Richard Jefferson (6-7, 9th yr) - 45 Rasual Butler (6-7, 7th yr)
After making strides in January, Jefferson reverts to jump-shooting self.

PF - 21 Tim Duncan (6-11, 13th yr) - 23 Marcus Camby (6-11, 14th yr)
Camby is NBA’s second-leading rebounder at 12.1 per game.

C - 34 Antonio McDyess (6-10, 15th yr) - 35 Chris Kaman (7-0, 7th yr)
Averaging 20.1 points and 9.6 rebounds, Kaman popular All-Star snub.

SPURS RESERVES

45 DeJuan Blair, F, 6-7, 1st yr
15 Matt Bonner, C/F, 6-10, 6th yr
10 Keith Bogans, G, 6-5, 7th yr
4 Michael Finley, G, 6-7, 15th yr
20 Manu Ginobili, G, 6-6, 8th yr
8 Roger Mason Jr., G, 6-5, 6th yr
42 Theo Ratliff, C, 6-10, 15th yr

CLIPPERS RESERVES

6 Bobby Brown, G, 6-2, 2nd yr
25 Mardy Collins, G, 6-6, 4th yr
31 Ricky Davis, G/F, 6-7, 12th yr
9 DeAndre Jordan, C, 6-11, 2nd yr
20 Steve Novak, F, 6-10, 4th yr
8 Brian Skinner, F, 6-9, 12th yr
5 Craig Smith, F, 6-7, 4th yr

COACHES
Spurs: Gregg Popovich
Clippers: Kim Hughes

INJURIES

Spurs: None.
Clippers: Blake Griffin (stress fracture of left patella) and Sebastian Telfair (ruptured groin) are out.

PROJECTED INACTIVE PLAYERS

Spurs: Ian Mahinmi, Malik Hairston.
Clippers: Griffin, Telfair.

NOTABLE

Spurs continue rodeo trip against a Clippers club in the midst of turmoil. Tonight’s game is their first since Mike Dunleavy was relieved of bench duties, passing them off to long-time assistant Hughes. ... Clippers have lost six of eight coming in. Spurs have lost seven of 11. ... Spurs own 14-game winning streak vs. Clippers. Los Angeles’ last win was March 7, 2006 at Staples Center. ... This game marks start of an extended residency in L.A. for Spurs. They face conference-leading Lakers on Monday.

— Jeff McDonald

[duncan228]

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x282/duncan228/lead/lead374a.jpg

CLIPPERS - SPURS NOTES (http://www.nba.com/clippers/games/pregame_SASLAC_100206.html)

CONNECTIONS: Clippers head coach Mike Dunleavy played for the Spurs during the 1982-83 season and averaged 7.8 points in 79 games...Dunleavy appeared in 11 playoff games with the Spurs in 1982-83, averaging 5.5 points and 4.5 assists.

* 2009-10 HIGHLIGHTS: Dec. 13, 2009 - Spurs 115, Clippers 90: The Spurs opened the game with their highest-scoring quarter of the season, jumping out to a 39-23 advantage... The Clippers chipped away, getting as close as seven points in the third quarter...Tim Duncan scored 21 points, one of six Spurs in double figures...Duncan keyed San Antonio's fast start against the Clippers, making all four of his field-goal attempts in the first quarter and scoring nine points...The Spurs were 15-for-19 overall in the opening quarter...Rookie DeJuan Blair finished with 14 points off the bench on 7-for-9 shooting...Manu Ginobili also contributed to a 57-32 San Antonio advantage in bench scoring, producing 17 points on 4-for-6 from 3-point distance...The Spurs were 11-for-20 from beyond the three-point line as a team...Richard Jefferson also scored 17 points for San Antonio, George Hill had 11 points off the bench and Tony Parker scored 10...Clippers point guard Baron Davis did not start the game because he missed practice with an upset stomach but he came on to score seven points in the final six minutes of the first quarter...Davis finished with a team-high 20 points and six assists...The Clippers put themselves back in striking distance, however, closing the first half on a 26-11 run...Clippers center Chris Kaman scored 11 of his 19 points in the second quarter...Thornton continued his strong play for Los Angeles, scoring 16 points...Dec. 21, 2009 - Spurs 103, Clippers 87: For the 14th-straight time, San Antonio defeated the Clippers...Tony Parker had 19 points off 7-for-11 shooting in 27 minutes against the Clippers...The Spurs missed six of their last seven shots and still shot almost 51 percent...San Antonio has won 42 of the last 46 games against the Clippers...Mason hit his first five shots and finished with 12 points...Ratliff got 23 minutes against the Clippers and scored 10 points on 5-for-10 shooting and led the team with seven rebounds...Duncan played almost 25 minutes and scored 13 points on 5- for-8 shooting and had three assists...Chris Kaman had his fifth double-double in six games with 23 points and 15 rebounds...San Antonio hit 5-of-10 from 3-point territory.... The Spurs disposed of the Clippers after the opening 8 minutes of the game....San Antonio had a 18-17 lead at that point, but the Spurs closed out the rest of the quarter by outscoring the Clippers 15-2...Even though Los Angeles hit half of its 18 shots in the third quarter, the Clippers failed to make it to the free-throw line while San Antonio was 11-for-15 from the line...by early in the fourth quarter the Spurs made a 25-point lead their largest margin of the game.

* The Clippers have now lost 14 in a row against San Antonio, last defeating the Spurs on March 7, 2006 in a 98-85 win at STAPLES Center...The Clippers have lost 20 of their last 24 games against the Spurs dating back to Dec. 1, 2003, and are 5-42 vs. the Spurs since the 1997-98 season.

* The Clippers last won in San Antonio on Jan. 31, 2002 in a 91-87 win over the Spurs, a span of 13 games.

* Clippers forward Ricky Davis swatted a career-high 3 blocks Jan. 18, 2004 vs. San Antonio.

* Clippers forward Al Thornton scored 25 pts and had six rebounds in 43 minutes on Dec. 22, 2007 at San Antonio.

* Spurs forward Tim Duncan recorded the 19th 20-20 game of his career on Dec. 13, 2005, finishing with 27 pts and 22 rebs against the Clippers, also hitting a pair of foul shots with 12 seconds left tying the score at 84-84 and sending the game into overtime, with the Spurs pulling out a 95-87 win.

* Spurs guard Manu Ginobili played a career-high 50 minutes April 9, 2005 against the Clippers, finished the game with 40 points and 9 assists....Spurs guard Tony Parker dished for a career-high 15 assists Dec. 8, 2006 vs. the Clippers...Parker became the youngest player in Spurs history on Oct. 30, 2001 when he made his NBA debut against the Clippers at 19 years, 166 days of age...Parker scored 25 pts, including the game-winning lay-up with 7.8 seconds remaining vs. the Clippers on Jan. 19, 2005.

MISCELLANEOUS TEAM NOTES

* CLIPPERS ANNOUNCE COACHING CHANGE: The Los Angeles Clippers announced that Head Coach and General Manager Mike Dunleavy will step away from his day to day coaching responsibilities (http://www.nba.com/clippers/news/breakingnews100204.html) and focus exclusively on the team’s personnel matters. The decision was reached mutually during a meeting at the team’s Playa Vista Training Center earlier today. In attendance at that meeting were Clippers’ President Andy Roeser, Dunleavy and Assistant General Manager Neil Olshey, who will continue in his role as Dunleavy’s top aide in Basketball Operations. Current Clippers’ Assistant Coach Kim Hughes will immediately assume the role of Interim Head Coach, and will retain the position through the remainder of the ’09-’10 season.

* CAMBY GRABS 20: Clippers forward Marcus Camby grabbed 20 rebounds on Feb. 3, 2010 in Atlanta...It is the fifth time this season Camby has had a 20-rebound game, the second-highest total in the NBA behind Dwight Howard’s seven...Since the 1986-87 season, Camby has had 38 20-rebound game, the sixth highest total in the NBA during that time and is currently second in the NBA amongst all active players in 20-rebound games, trailing Ben Wallace’s 42...Camby grabbed 25 rebounds on Jan. 20. 20, 2010, the third-highest total in the NBA this season...Camby has had two of the top 10 rebounding games in the NBA this season.

* Not counting his injury-shortened stint vs. the Nets, in which he played only 6:55 in the first quarter on Jan. 27, 2010 due to a bruised rib, Clippers forward Marcus Camby is averaging 15.4 rebounds in his last six games.

* THE LONG ROAD COMES TO AN END: Los Angeles ended their season-long eight-game road trip with a loss to Atlanta on Feb. 3, 2010...The trip started on Jan. 21, 2010 and the 14-day trip saw them stop in eight cities and travel approximatley 8,642 miles. The Clippres finished 2-6 on the trip, and 7-19 on the road overall this season...With the loss to the Hawks, the Clippers fell to 1-14 against teams that are .500 or better on the road, and 7-18 overall against .500 or better teams.

* STARTING OFF WELL: The Clippers used the starting lineup of Rasual Butler, Marcus Camby, Chris Kaman, Eric Gordon and Baron Davis for the 13th time in 2009-10 on Feb. 3, 2010...That starting group is now 10-3 (.769) this season when beginning the game.

* Clippers point guard Baron Davis led the Clips in assists for the 44th time this season on Feb. 3, 2010....There have only been five games in 2009-10 that Davis has not led the Clippers in assists...Davis is one of just six active NBA players to average at least 16 points a game and over seven assists a game this season, joining LeBron James, Deron Williams, Chris Paul, Steve Nash and Russell Westbrook.

* Following their 103-97 loss to Atlanta on Feb. 3, 2010, the Clippers fell to 2-21 this season when their opponent scores over 100 points in a game...

* The Clippers dropped a 103-97 contest to Atlanta on Feb. 3, 2010 despite owning a 13-point lead in the third quarter...It was the seventh time this season the Clips have had a double-digit lead in a game and lost the contest...It was the ninth time this season L.A. has lost a game when leading by nine or more points...The Clippers lost a 22-point lead to Toronto on Nov. 13, 2009, 20-point lead to New York on Dec. 18, 2009 and an 18-point lead on Jan. 12, 2010 to Memphis.

* KAMAN GETS BACK TO WHERE HE BELONGS: Clippers center Chris Kaman returned to the Clippers lineup on Feb. 2, 2010 after missing the previous two games with a sprained left ankle suffered in New Jersey on Jan. 27, 2010...Against Atlanta on Feb. 3, 2010, Kaman recorded his 19th double-double of the season..Kaman ranks 21st in the NBA with 19 double-doubles...The Clippers are 0-6 in 2009-10 without Kaman...Since the 2007-2008 season, the Clippers are 15-67 when forced to play without Kaman.

[Bukefal]

http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/1781/spurswin.jpg

:flag:

[xtremesteven33]

Spurs need to play with confidence and swagger. Its hard to play like that when youve been losing games though...

[shelshor]

Referee Assignments
Sat. Feb 6
San Antonio @ L.A. Clippers: Derrick Stafford; Tommy Nunez Jr.; Gary Zielinski

[Chomag]

Spurs not only need to win this game and should., but they need to come out with fire and destroy this clippers team. It shouldn't even be close.

[duncan228]

http://cdn3.sbnation.com/entry_photo_images/264156/72341_spurs_clippers_basketball.jpg

Clippers vs. San Antonio - Game Preview (http://www.clipsnation.com/2010/2/6/1297859/clippers-vs-san-antonio-game)
by Steve Perrin
Clips Nation

The Back Story:

• December 13 in Los Angeles - San Antonio 115, Clippers 90
• December 21 in San Antonio - San Antonio 103, Clippers 87

The Big Picture:

The Kim Hughes era begins with a very difficult task: the San Antonio Spurs. In the history of this little blog, the Clippers have never beaten the Spurs. Think about that for a minute. Since the beginning of the 2006-2007 season, when I started writing previews and recaps of every single game, the Clippers have played the Spurs 13 times and lost every damn one of them. So every damn recap I've written has been a tale of woe - and woeful they have been. Of course, the Spurs dominance of LA has been going on for even longer than that. They've won 14 straight overall, and they're 42-5 in the Tim Duncan era. Maybe Hughes will have better luck than Mike Dunleavy against them. MDsr beat the Spurs only twice in 22 games against San Antonio as the Clippers coach. Then again, the Clippers did end a nine game losing streak against the Lakers earlier this season, so it could happen. For Hughes, maybe it's a blessing - the Clippers never beat the Spurs, so if they lose this first game with him at the helm, that's just what everyone expects to happen. If they somehow win, it's a new and glorious day in Clips Nation. The real story is going to be watching for stylistic differences under the new head coach. Will they run more, will they compete on every play (a theme for everyone at the Clippers practice yesterday), how will the substitution patterns change, who gets the ball on key possessions, etc? Personnel-wise, everyone is relatively healthy (except of course Sebastian Telfair and Blake Griffin and Kareem Rush - the Clippers, where you say everyone is healthy if only three guys are out long term). Kaman had a terrible game in Atlanta, and often struggles against the Spurs, so if he can have a good game it would be a big bonus. Baron has been playing well. Eric Gordon had his first good game in awhile in Chicago. Basically, all those guys have to play well for the Clippers to have a chance against their nemesis.

The Antagonist:

The Clippers and the Lakers just got back from the Grammy trip, and the Spurs have just begun their Rodeo trip. It started in Sacramento on the third of February, it lasts through the All Star break and beyond, and the Spurs play only two home games the entire month. Traditionally, the Spurs begin to round into playoff shape on their Rodeo trip - they were 5-3 on it last season, 6-3 the season before that. They've started 1-1 on this one with a win in Sacramento and a loss in Portland. But this team feels different than many Spurs teams of the past. Tony Parker doesn't seem unguardable. Manu Ginobili is shooting the worst percentage of his career (unless he's playing the Clippers). Tim Duncan on the other hand is as good as ever. But the team, traditionally among the toughest visting teams in the league, actually has a losing record on the road, and they've played fewer road games than any other team in the NBA. If this trip doesn't go well, it's not inconceivable that the Spurs could fall out of the top eight in the West by the end of it - they're only a game and a half ahead of ninth place Houston. Richard Jefferson has not really provided the scoring and athleticism boost they were hoping for, although DeJuan Blair was a steal in the draft and has killed the Clippers in the first two meetings. Parker missed three games last week with a sprained ankle, but played Thursday against Portland and should be 100% tonight.

The Subplots:

• Please let Duncan play the fourth. The first two meetings between the Clippers and the Spurs have been so lopsided that Tim Duncan did not play a minute in the fourth quarter of either one. For that matter, neither did Tony Parker, and Ginobili didn't play in the fourth in the first meeting. Even if the Clippers can't win, it would be nice to keep it competitive past my kids' bedtime.

• Matt Bonner slumping. Bonner broke his hand in December and missed a bunch of games. Since returning, his three point shot has not. And if Matt Bonner isn't making threes, what exactly is he doing for you? He's made only 2 out of 17 three point attempts since returning to action. He'll no doubt make five threes tonight.

• Michael Finley sighting. Michael Finlay missed 28 games and most of two months with a sprained ankle. He returned to the active roster three games ago, but has yet to score a point in 24 minutes of play. He'll no doubt make five threes tonight.

• Home Court Advantage? It's been such a long time that it's easy to forget, but the Clippers were actually on quite a roll at home back before Beyonce and Taylor Swift took over the Staples Center. They came within one point against the team with the best record in the NBA of winning their last nine games at home. The last loss before that Cleveland game? Dec. 13. By 25. Against the Spurs.

• Bobby Brown homecoming. He's been with the team for a long time already, but this will be the home town debut for former Westchester High and Cal State Fullerton star Bobby Brown. Welcome home.

• Manu and Tony. Ginobili's PER has been 22 or higher for five consecutive season. It's 19.9. Parker's has been 20 or higher for four straight. It's 17.1. When the All Star teams were chosen last week, neither of those guys joined starter Tim Duncan - and nobody batted an eye.

• Posting up Parker. If MDsr were still the coach, I'd say that the Clippers would try to post up whichever guard Tony Parker is defending. We'll see if Kim Hughes plays the "exploit-a-mathcup" game the same way. The approach certainly has merit, but it can backfire. Let's say you forcefeed Quinton Ross touches in the post against Steve Nash. Should Ross theoretically be able to score on Nash? Sure. But it's not who he is, and it's not who your team is either, and the team can get completely out of sync. Baron is terrific in the post, and is particularly good passing out of double-teams. EJ in the post is not something I want to see a lot of - not yet. Maybe in a couple more seasons he'll be there.

• TV Quote:


Stan: All right, here everybody, Tweek, give everyone a rubber band. Hey, somebody's gotta help Timmy put his condom on.
Timmy: TIMMAH!

No Spurs quotes, no San Antonio quotes, so you get a Timmy quote from a South Park episode about proper condom use. You're welcome.

[ffadicted]

Must win game here, there's no excuse to lose, especially not right before the Fakers

[timtonymanu]

Spurs need to blow out this team to get some confidence and rest for the real LA team.

[ohmwrecker]

I don't suppose there's much of a chance of a Clippers fan getting the jump on the "official" game thread.

[dbestpro]

No blog?

[Fabbs]

I know it's a tough challenge facing the Clippers but we have coach Greg Popovich! He took on the Kings the other night and won. Barely, but still won.

Greg Pop! (He's won 4 titles you know).