Spurs at Jazz Previews

[duncan228]

Game is Friday, 8:00 CST.

San Antonio (9-1) at Utah (8-4) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2010111926)
Tipoff: 9:00 pm EST Fri Nov 19, 2010
TV: KENS, FSUT
By Kate Hedlin

While his teammate is dealing with some difficult personal matters, Tim Duncan is approaching a San Antonio Spurs milestone.

Duncan can surpass David Robinson as the Spurs’ career scoring leader Friday night when they visit the Utah Jazz.

San Antonio (9-1) can also set a new team record after tying the best 10-game start in franchise history with a 103-94 victory over Chicago on Wednesday. The Spurs also started 9-1 in 1980 and ’81, with both teams losing their 11th game.

On Wednesday, Tony Parker scored 21 points hours after his actress wife Eva Longoria filed divorce papers to end their three-year marriage. He met with reporters before the game, making brief responses to three questions about the divorce. Afterward, a team official said reporters would have their access to Parker cut off if he was asked any more personal questions.

“It was a weird game,” said Parker, who has surpassed 20 points in four straight games while shooting 62.1 percent. “I had a rough start.”

The Spurs rallied from an 10-point deficit at the half, outscoring the Bulls 37-12 in the third quarter en route to their eighth straight win. They haven’t won nine in a row since an 11-game run Feb. 11-March 6, 2008.

Duncan scored eight of his 16 points in the third quarter while finishing with a season-high 18 rebounds. He is 12 points shy of Robinson’s all-time franchise scoring record of 20,790 points.

Duncan appeared in his 987th career game Wednesday, matching the number Robinson played during his 14-year career.

The power forward has a good chance to surpass Robinson on Friday. He’s scored at least 14 points in his last 15 meetings with Utah, averaging 18.5 in the last six.

While Duncan has been consistent against the Jazz (8-4), the Spurs lost all four games against them last season - the first time Utah swept the season series since 1993-94.

“They are a great team, they always execute great, they have great players that play hard and they never give up, so there’s nothing new about them,” San Antonio guard Manu Ginobili said. “They’re the Jazz so we have to go there and play great to come back with a win.”

The Jazz are coming off a 98-88 win over New Jersey on Wednesday, bouncing back after their five-game winning streak was snapped by a 115-108 loss to Oklahoma City on Monday.

Against the Nets, Paul Millsap had 19 points and 15 rebounds and Deron Williams had 23 points, going 12 of 13 at the free-throw line. Utah shot 40.2 percent from the field and was just 1 of 12 from 3-point range, but it went 31 of 37 at the line and had all five starters score in double figures for the first time this season.

Raja Bell returned after a one-game absence due to a groin injury and contributed 15 points.

“I haven’t been helping out the way I should be,” said Bell, who came in averaging 7.0 points. “Tonight I was determined to get out there, be aggressive and give my team some help.”

Bell’s biggest presence may be on the defensive end. He helped the Jazz hold New Jersey to 37.6 percent shooting after they gave up a season-high in points to the Thunder.

C.J. Miles left Wednesday’s game with a strained lower back, but said he doesn’t plan to miss any games. Miles is Utah’s top scorer off the bench, averaging 10.0 points.

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

Team Stat Leaders

Points
Manu Ginobili SA 21.2
Deron Williams Uta 22.2

Rebounds
Tim Duncan SA 9.8
Paul Millsap Uta 9.5

Assists
Tony Parker SA 7.6
Deron Williams Uta 10.1

[ace3g]

ChrisMannixSI Chris Mannix
Jazz coach Jerry Sloan will miss this weekend's games against San Antonio and Portland to attend a funeral for a family member

[lefty]

Duncan228 and Ace3g would make a nice couple

[jjktkk]

Duncan228 and Ace3g would make a nice couple

Strictly rumor? Link? :married:

[GinobiliForTres]

Anybody got us winning? VERY tough place to play.

[lefty]

Anybody got us winning? VERY tough place to play.
Certainly not Barkley

[GinobiliForTres]

Obviously lol.

Anybody HERE?

[Spurs Brazil]

Jerry Sloan to miss next two gamesEmail Print Comments2 Associated Press

SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan will miss the team's next two games to attend funeral services for a family member.

Jazz assistant coach Phil Johnson will assume head coaching duties in Friday night's home game against San Antonio and Saturday's game at Portland.

Sloan is expected to rejoin the team prior to the Jazz's home game Monday night against Sacramento.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5821884

[Bukefal]

On to the next win :flag:

Nice to see some recognition for the spurs today on ATH and Jackie MacMullan saying Pop is the best coach in the NBA :tu

[ivanfromwestwood]

On to the next win :flag:

Nice to see some recognition for the spurs today on ATH and Jackie MacMullan saying Pop is the best coach in the NBA :tui saw that as well. sometimes i agree and sometimes i dont.

[JR3]

I will be there!

[jestersmash]

I'm very curious to see the Accuscore data on spurs-jazz -

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=301119026

The favorite team to win according to Accuscore for matchups involving the spurs have been accurate so far with the exception of spurs-hornets.

If I had to make an educated guess, I'd say Accuscore will show the Jazz as 60-40 favorites. We'll see tomorrow.

[justinandimcool]

OKC just got a win there. It's very simple- minimize Millsap and Jefferson's effectiveness. Besides, if we can't shut these quasi-twin towers down how can we expect to shut down Gasol/Odom/Bynum? This is a good early test for our frontcourt defense.

[UnWantedTheory]

I wonder how much the Jazz will be effected with the absence of Sloan? Either way they are a tough team & it is always difficult up there.

[jestersmash]

OKC just got a win there. It's very simple- minimize Millsap and Jefferson's effectiveness. Besides, if we can't shut these quasi-twin towers down how can we expect to shut down Gasol/Odom/Bynum? This is a good early test for our frontcourt defense.

You boiled down the game plan to shutting down two Jazz players, and Deron Williams is not one of them?

[justinandimcool]

If we shut those two down and hold them to 15 points each at the most, let's see Deron try to win the game on his own with the paint closed off. Utah's not as good of a shooting team without Korver and Okur. If Millsap and Jeff are ineffective we have the best chance of winning (see OKC game and how they beat them). If they kill us, all Williams has to do is throw it in and stand around (see Miami/Orlando games).

[Bruno]

Thanks to duncan228 and ace3g for posting all these news. :tu

I've penciled this game as a loss. Jazz at home will play hard, Spurs won't respond to that intensity and lay an egg.

[Russ]

To quote Avery Johnson at the '99 championship celebration, "Did Utah win the championship? Hell, no."

To quote Terrell Owens, "Get ya popcorn ready."

[TDMVPDPOY]

we win this game we can finish the month with 1 loss only...

[jjktkk]

On to the next win :flag:

Nice to see some recognition for the spurs today on ATH and Jackie MacMullan saying Pop is the best coach in the NBA :tu

Please don't tell Tjastal this, he thinks Pop is a horrible coach.

[duncan228]

Spurs quietly off to blazing start (http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/jazz/50707888-87/spurs-jazz-antonio-utah.html.csp)
By Brian T. Smith
The Salt Lake Tribune

The New Orleans Hornets have made the most early-season noise, courtesy of the buzzing return of All-Star guard Chris Paul. The Jazz have initially earned the most respect, following a breathtaking 4-0 road trip that plastered Utah on television highlight reels across the country. But Utah’s opponent tonight at EnergySolutions Arena is the hottest team in the NBA. And, as always, the San Antonio Spurs are operating under the radar.

San Antonio (9-1) has won eight consecutive games, moving into a tie with the Hornets for the best record in the league and first place in the Western Conference’s Southwest Division. While many in the media continue to fawn over Miami’s Big Three, praise Boston’s Big Four, drool upon contact with Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant and kowtow before the Los Angeles Lakers, the Spurs are doing what they always do: win.

Since Gregg Popovich took over the franchise in 1997, San Antonio has won the NBA championship four times while making the playoffs 13 consecutive seasons. Granted, the Spurs have not produced the same spark the past two years, dealing with injuries while adjusting to change. But a San Antonio core of Popovich, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili remains intact, while recent additions such as Richard Jefferson, Antonio McDyess, George Hill and DeJuan Blair have either added proven veteran experience or passionate youth. Factor in that longtime general manager R.C. Buford is still discovering diamonds — 26-year-old rookie reserve guard Gary Neal is averaging 6.1 points and 2.5 assists while shooting 45.2 percent behind the 3-point line — and there is no doubt that the Spurs are still the Spurs. Which could spell trouble for a Jazz team that will take the floor during the next two games without coach Jerry Sloan, who will be absent after a death in the family.

Sloan and Utah All-Star guard Deron Williams dished out heavy praise for San Antonio prior to Utah’s practice Thursday. The grace was guided by Sloan, who credited Popovich with consistently producing competitive teams characterized by great leadership and teamwork.

“He’s a very well respected coach,” Sloan said. “I think a lot of what he does we’d like to be able to do sometimes, and we don’t get it done.”

Meanwhile, Williams broke the Spurs down to their most basic traits: great coach, good system, great players.

“Those three things make you a good team,” Williams said.

Williams also believes that improved play from Ginobili and Parker - combined with a more comfortable and in-tune Jefferson — has San Antonio clicking just 10 games into its season.

Jefferson was technically a bust in 2009-10, despite averaging 14.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists while shooting 46.7 percent from the field. But the veteran forward has turned a year’s worth of experience in the Spurs’ demanding system into early rewards this time around. His average numbers have significantly jumped — 18.7 points, 53.9 percent from the field, 46.3 on 3-point attempts. And as Jefferson has suddenly ascended, San Antonio’s longtime star, Duncan, has been allowed to temporarily slumber. The two-time NBA most valuable player is putting up career-low statistics — 13.7 points, 9.8 rebounds. But he is also averaging an all-time low in minutes (29.9), which should him allow him to rise up and peak when the games truly begin to count in mid-April.

“Right now, Tim’s not even having to score for those guys to be successful,” Williams said.

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

At a glance

Hot streak

The Spurs (9-1) have won eight consecutive games and are tied with New Orleans for the best record in the NBA

Date Opp. Final

Nov. 1 Los Angeles Clippers 97-88

Nov. 3 Phoenix 112-110

Nov. 6 Houston 124-121, OT

Nov. 8 Charlotte 95-91

Nov. 10 Clippers 107-95

Nov. 13 Philadelphia 116-93

Nov. 14 Oklahoma City 117-104

Wednesday Chicago 103-94

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

Spurs vs. Jazz

At EnergySolutions Arena

Tipoff » 7 p.m.

TV » FSN Utah

Radio » 1320 AM, 1600 AM, 98.7 FM

Records » Spurs 9-1, Jazz 8-4

Last meeting » Jazz, 105-98 (Jan. 20)

About the Spurs » San Antonio has won eight consecutive games and is tied with New Orleans for first place in the Southwest Division after starting the season 1-1. … Manu Ginobili tops the Spurs with 21.2 average points per game. He is shooting 47.5 percent from the field and 41.8 percent behind the 3-point line. … Forward Matt Bonner (back spasms) is day to day.

About the Jazz » Utah has won eight of its last 10 games. … Five Jazz players — Deron Williams, Paul Millsap, Al Jefferson, Andrei Kirilenko and C.J. Miles — are averaging at least 10 points. … Utah ranks fourth in the league in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.7), trailing only the Lakers, Hornets and Celtics.

[TDMVPDPOY]

for some odd reason these clowns especially okur and al jeff usually have career season games against us

[gospursgojas]

Wait...

Theres a nba spurs season going on?

[crc21209]

I'm watching the Nuggets-Blazers game, and with Utah coming up tomorrow I'm glad to see that Wes Matthews is with the Blazers now...the guy has developed into a pretty damn good player.

[duncan228]

Friday: Spurs (9-1) at Jazz (8-4) (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2010/11/18/friday-spurs-9-1-at-jazz-8-4/)
by Jeff McDonald

...Last season, Utah earned its first season series sweep vs. Spurs since 1993-94, winning all four games

...The Spurs’ eight-game winning streak is their longest since claiming 11 in a row between Feb. 11 and March 6, 2008.

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2010/11/18/friday-spurs-9-1-at-jazz-8-4/

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


Trip could be good for beleaguered Parker (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2010/11/18/trip-could-be-good-for-beleaguered-parker/)
by Jeff McDonald

...In the midst of a divorce from his actress wife, there’s a sense the 28-year-old Spurs point guard might benefit from a road trip — like tonight’s to face the Jazz — in order to get his mind off the turbulence at home.

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2010/11/18/trip-could-be-good-for-beleaguered-parker/

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

Hit the link for the whole piece.


Duncan seeks record, Spurs seek Utah breakthrough (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2010/11/19/duncan-seeks-record-spurs-seek-utah-breakthrough/)
By Jeff McDonald

...Tim Duncan arrived here Thursday afternoon just 13 points shy of eclipsing Hall of Famer David Robinson as the Spurs’ all-time NBA scoring leader.

...Had it come in San Antonio, Duncan figures, he’d probably have one of the most fearsome shot-blockers in league history to contend with.

“If we’re at home, I’m sure David will try to come out of the stands and block my shot,” Duncan joked.

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2010/11/19/duncan-seeks-record-spurs-seek-utah-breakthrough/

[NASpurs]

I've penciled this game as a loss. Jazz at home will play hard, Spurs won't respond to that intensity and lay an egg.

They'll be without Sloan and they've recently lost to OKC at home.

Saying all that, I wouldn't be surprised if the Spurs lost. But they also have been road warriors so far this early season and I would like to also think the Spurs have a chip on their shoulder after being swept last year in the regular season after owning the Jazz for a long time.

As long as the Spurs don't have a lead more than 15+ they should be alright. :toast

[gospursgojas]

As long as Bonner doesn't get crossed by Mehmet again

[duncan228]

Sharpshooting Spurs center Matt Bonner left Wednesday’s 103-94 victory over Chicago with back spasms after a collision with Bulls center Joakim Noah.

After the game, Bonner said he expected to be ready to play in Utah, but the final determination might not come until after this morning’s shootaround.

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2010/11/18/trip-could-be-good-for-beleaguered-parker/

[NASpurs]

“We lost four times against them, so of course I remember,” Spurs point guard Tony Parker said. “We’ve got to get a little revenge against them.”

“We lost all four last season, but we played them very early,” Manu Ginobili said. “We were not the same team we ended up being in February, March and April.”

Nothing like showing your muscle while having revenging on a team that beat you last year and might face in the future in the playoffs.

[gospursgojas]

Nothing like showing your muscle while having revenging on a team that beat you last year and might face in the future in the playoffs.

Yes.

This is the first game of the season that really means something more than just a win.

[G-Dawgg]

Anybody got us winning? VERY tough place to play.

We should win without Sloan at the helm...

[jestersmash]

We should win without Sloan at the helm...

I doubt that will help much with the likes of the Utah Jazz.

If this was a novice team with young(er) players, then sure. But the Utah Jazz? I wouldn't hold my breath.

If we do win, it will be record setting for the spurs. The spurs have never started 10-1 before. Seems like fate is keeping this record out of reach by pitting us against the Jazz on their home court no less.

I'd like a win of course, but I'd like to think that I'm well-prepared (mentally) if we lose tomorrow. As long as we split the next two games by winning against the cavaliers, I'll be satisfied leaving the weekend 10-2

[Chieflion]

Boozer destroyed the Spurs last season. Bonner had a helluva game against the Jazz last season tbh. I wanted him to take the game-winning shot too.

[jjktkk]

As long as Bonner doesn't get crossed by Mehmet again

I sure hope not since Mehmet is recovering from a achilles injury. Won't be back until December I believe.

[Leonard Curse]

i could definitely see the spurs being able to lose this game but not the way weve been playing guys we have a ton of confidence and you better believe all of our players know we got swept last season by these guys (reg season)

im wondering if the stars are aligned perfectly for tiago splitter to play?

[024]

i remember the jazz games last year. bonner made okur look like pau gasol.

[JWest596]

Sloan and Utah All-Star guard Deron Williams dished out heavy praise for San Antonio prior to Utah’s practice Thursday. The grace was guided by Sloan, who credited Popovich with consistently producing competitive teams characterized by great leadership and teamwork.

“He’s a very well respected coach,” Sloan said. “I think a lot of what he does we’d like to be able to do sometimes, and we don’t get it done.”

Pop modeled the Spurs when he became GM on the Jazz business model under Sloan for small market teams and said so years ago. They are two definitive most successful franchises in the NBA for small markets.

Both are old school to the max and it's embarrassing for the NBA that Jerry Sloan has never won COY. Winning in Utah is always a tough nut.

[WeNeedLength]

Accu-score Projections has us as a 51% favorite coming into tonight:wow

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=301119026

[silverblackfan]

Won't be an easy game by any means, but I think the team can pull it off. As long as Tim is hitting his shots, it should be too much offense even for the Jazz defense. And Boozer, Okur, and Korver are not there to shine against the Spurs.

[ajballer4]

I saw al jeff and Millsap were day to day with injuries. Any news on their availability?

[shelshor]

http://www.nba.com/news/referee.html
Referee Assignments
Fri. Nov. 19
San Antonio @ Utah: Marc Davis; Olandis Poole; Leon Wood

[mingus]

Spurs win this one and lose against Cleveland. I look for Neal to come up big in this game. I also hope Pop plays Splitter. Utah crowd brings a playoff type atmosphere that can prepare him quite a bit for the playoffs.

[in2deep]

No Boozer. We might win this one. Everytime Utah kill us is because Boozer looked like Wilt Chamberlain out there.

[alchemist]

tough game with Deron running things

[duncan228]

Advanced Scouting: San Antonio Spurs at Utah Jazz (http://www.48minutesofhell.com/advanced-scouting-san-antonio-spurs-at-utah-jazz)
by Scott Sereday

http://www.48minutesofhell.com/advanced-scouting-san-antonio-spurs-at-utah-jazz

[TimDunkem]

As long as Bonner doesn't get crossed by Mehmet again
I remember him crossing McDyess as well...

[Chomag]

Going to be a good game, I think Spurs will pull out win though. Hope we get to see soem more of Splitter tonight.

[timtonymanu]

I think we'll win. All the losses to Utah last year were close. Also there's no more Boozer, Korver, Brewer, and Matthews. And I guess Sloan is out too tonight.

[rjv]

much respect for the jazz. just a solid franchise. be nice to see if our bench can get us through (and splitter get some minutes). this one may be very, very much down to the wire.

[99-03-05-07]

no boozer. no problem. salt lake is a tough place to play, it will be a very close game. if d-will is on his game, it will be a struggle.

[duncan228]

The latest out of Utah.


Sloan gone, but Jazz healthy for 9-1 San Antonio (http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/jazz/50712377-87/sloan-jazz-antonio-johnson.html.csp)
Steve Luhm
The Salt Lake Tribune

The Jazz will be without coach Jerry Sloan but will likely have everybody else available Friday night, when they challenge the San Antonio Spurs at EnergySolutions Arena.

C.J. Miles (back), Paul Millsap (illness) and Al Jefferson (back) are listed as probable as Utah tries for its seventh win in the last eight games.

It won’t be easy against the veteran Spurs, who are 9-1 overall and 3-0 in the only games they’ve played that have been decided by less than nine points.

As always, San Antonio is led by Manu Ginobili (21.2), Tony Parker (18.6) and Tim Duncan (13.7).

The Spurs, who come off a 103-94 win over Chicago on Wednesday, are shooting 44.2 percent on three-pointers. Matt Bonner is 10-for-12 this season.

Veteran Jazz assistant Phil Johnson will take over for Sloan against the Spurs.

Sloan will miss tonight and Saturday’s game at Portland so he can attend the funeral of a family member.

Asked if there is a difference in the Jazz when Sloan coaches or when he’s in charge, Johnson said, “Not much. I have done it quite a bit.…I’m not going to change anything. He’s given me a lot of leeway and delegated a lot of authority over the years, so it won’t be that big of a change.”

Said Jazz point guard Deron Williams: “…They are similar but different. They have the same philosophies, the same principles. They’ve been together so long, it’s pretty much like you don’t miss anything. Phil’s a head coach, anyway. We know that.”

During a game, one of Johnson’s tasks is to jump between Sloan and an official — to try and prevent technical fouls.

Asked who will inherit the job of restraining him, Johnson smiled and said, “Money.”

[duncan228]

Spurs ready for jazzy battle, and other notes from shootaround (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2010/11/19/spurs-ready-for-jazzy-battle-and-other-notes-from-shootaround/)
by Jeff McDonald

...Yet, despite those changes, the Spurs seem to know what to expect when the game tips off. Same old Jazz.

“It’s always a tough battle,” Spurs captain Tim Duncan said after this morning’s shootaround. “I don’t care if one team is playing well and one team is playing badly, it always ends up being a battle. It’s always going to be very physical. We know we’re in for a game every time we step into this building.”

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2010/11/19/spurs-ready-for-jazzy-battle-and-other-notes-from-shootaround/

[Spurs Brazil]

JMcDonald_SAEN
Matt Bonner says he feels "good enough" to play tonight. Watching him bend over to pick up bags,looking like my grandpa, has me skeptical.

[crc21209]

Boozer destroyed the Spurs last season. Bonner had a helluva game against the Jazz last season tbh. I wanted him to take the game-winning shot too.

Boozer and Okur always kill the Spurs....thankfully, Boozer is in Chicago and Okur is hurt.

[crc21209]

I think we'll win. All the losses to Utah last year were close. Also there's no more Boozer, Korver, Brewer, and Matthews. And I guess Sloan is out too tonight.

+1. All those guys absolutely killed us last year. Replace those guys with Al Jefferson and Gordon Hayward and I'm not so scared...:lol

[crc21209]

JMcDonald_SAEN
Matt Bonner says he feels "good enough" to play tonight. Watching him bend over to pick up bags,looking like my grandpa, has me skeptical.

This is not good news. The Jazz are always one of the better defensive teams at clogging the paint and Bonner would really help in stretching the floor tonight...

[duncan228]

Plenty of subplots for Spurs against Jazz (http://www.foxsportssouthwest.com/11/19/10/Plenty-of-subplots-for-Spurs-against-Jaz/landing.html?blockID=356886&feedID=3742)
By Mike Piellucci
FOXSportsSouthwest.com

On a night with two marquee inter-conference matchups in the Southwest region (Thunder-Celtics and Mavericks-Bulls), a battle between two division leaders in the West could steal the show.

Here’s why San Antonio’s road tilt at Utah could be the marquee game of the night.

Duncan’s Climb to the Top

If you’re a Spurs fan, you’ve probably already heard by now; Tim Dunan is just a baker’s dozen shy from breaking David Robinson’s all-time Spurs points record and climbing into 31st place overall in NBA history.

When asked if his old teammate would celebrate his record falling, Duncan joked that he wasn’t so sure.

“If we’re at home, I’m sure David will try to come out of the stands and block my shot,” Duncan cracked to My San Antonio.com’s Jeff McDonald.

Duncan is averaging 13.7 points per game for the season, so while it seems likely he’ll break the mark tonight, the numbers suggest it is far from a certainty.

Of course, some Spurs fans still believe he still has a ways to go to truly break the mark. George Gervin’s combined NBA/ABA scoring mark of 23,602 points is nearly 3,000 more than Robinson’s current record of 20,790, and a few loyalists regard The Iceman’s career total as the Spurs benchmark.

Duncan, for his part, wouldn’t be against Gervin’s ABA numbers counting as part of the record.

“It’s not something I think about, but sure, why not?” Duncan said.

“He could score, that’s for sure.”

Duncan also is approaching another NBA milestone, this time on the glass. The hulking power forward sits just 30 rebounds behind Elgin Baylor for 24th all-time.

Extending the Streak

After losing their second game of the season to New Orleans and dropping to 1-1, the Spurs have not lost since. Defeating the Jazz would make it nine in a row for San Antonio, and improving to 10-1 give them the franchise’s best-ever start to a season.

"We talked about it all preseason. In training camp, in preseason - that we wanted to have a good start and not have the same mistakes as last year," Tony Parker said after Tuesday’s win over Chicago.

It won’t come easy against Utah, who swept the Spurs 4-0 in last season’s meetings. Of course, as Parker pointed out to McDonald, that figure helps create added motivation.

“We lost four times against them, so of course I remember,” Parker said. “We’ve got to get a little revenge against them.”

Early Season Measuring Stick

As the NBA season approaches its one-month mark, the Spurs are one of many teams in the ever-competitive Western Conference who are looking to separate themselves from the rest of the pack. Getting a chance to tangle with another division leader is a great way to help distinguish just how good they are.

In addition to heading up the Northwest division, the Jazz have something else that makes them especially dangerous: poise in the fourth quarter. After losing three of their first four games to open the season, Utah set an NBA record by rallying from double-digit deficits to win five consecutive games.

Suffice it to say, the Spurs have taken notice.

“It’s just another testament to a team that, over the years, has been the most mentally tough in the league,” Gregg Popovich said.

The Jazz will be without coach Jerry Sloan for tonight’s meeting as the venerable coach will be attending the funeral of a family member. While that figures to be an advantage for San Antonio, the Spurs insist that the biggest edge the hold heading into tonight lies within themselves.

“We lost all four last season, but we played them very early,” Manu Ginobili said. “We were not the same team we ended up being in February, March and April.”