Spurs at Magic Previews

[duncan228]

Game is Thursday, 7:00 CST on TNT.


Thursday: Spurs (25-3) at Magic (16-12) (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2010/12/22/thursday-spurs-25-3-at-magic-16-12/)
Jeff McDonald

...Spurs have lost two in a row at Orlando, losing by an average of 19 points. … Spurs are 3-1 on the second night of back-to-backs this season, with wins coming at Oklahoma City, Utah and Denver.

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2010/12/22/thursday-spurs-25-3-at-magic-16-12/

[TDMVPDPOY]

will be a close game, but the spurs have this in the bag

i expect another 20pt game from neal

as for blair he better out muscle d12 for boards...

[Ditty]

I have a feeling the spurs can run away with this one. I'm not too fond of magic's move that they made, plus they still need time to get everyone getting going togetehr. Unless Howard has a beast game, and Spurs knock down shots the regualarly make. I think the Spurs could run away with this one easily even on a back to back.

[duncan228]

...Departing about 90 minutes after Wednesday’s game, their charter flight was scheduled for a 2:15 a.m. touchdown in Orlando.

...The short turnaround was the primary reason veteran big man Antonio McDyess played only 2 minutes, 56 seconds against the Nuggets.

“I know what’s coming in Orlando,” McDyess said. “A lot of time against Dwight Howard.”

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2010/12/22/seldom-seen-zone-saves-spurs/

[Sean Cagney]

TOUGH TOUGH GAME! This one will be a war! This one could be an L, but if they play their game they can win it.

[Spursfanfromafar]

The Magic are a bit disoriented now with all their new additions. Their defense beyond Howard is loose and unco-ordinated and they haven't quite integrated Richardson that well as yet. And Arenas is playing pathetic, shooting a low percentage and generally ball hogging.

That said, Dwight Howard is quite brilliant in the low post. He seems to have added a couple of moves to his arsenal (which is still a bit predictable though). And his rebounding and shot blocking are still supreme. And Brandon Bass is under-rated and doing good work.

I think if the Spurs can harass the Magic's three point shooters and force them to go to Howard and double team/ foul him regularly.. they stand a good chance.

I think this will be a W for the Spurs.

[BanditHiro]

that monkey pietrius is gone so one less spur killer to deal with for now...

[duncan228]

Preview: San Antonio Spurs at Orlando Magic (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-magic/os-magic-spurs-preview-1223-20101222,0,7888312.story)
Reeling, new-look Magic try to upset Spurs
Brian Schmitz
Orlando Sentinel

...My Take

The Magic, losers of four in a row and eight of their last nine, are trying to form a new identity during a murderer's row stretch of games. Tonight, it's the Spurs followed by the Celtics on Christmas Day. They had one of their best outings of the season in San Antonio Nov.22 before losing 106-97. The margin of error is tiny against San Antonio when you're cohesive, so this will require a huge defensive effort.

Dwight Vs.:

Howard, facing DeJuan Blair and later Antonio McDyess, finished with 26 points and 18 rebounds in the first meeting. Thin on the frontline, Howard will need to steer clear of foul trouble against drives of Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker.

Marquee Matchup

Ginobili will test the defensive skills of Jason Richardson or J.J. Redick. He scored 25 points in the first game, making clutch plays at crunch time.

3 Spurs facts

1. San Antonio will be on a back-to-back, playing at home Wednesday night against Denver.

2.Ginobili went into that game as leading scorer at 19.7 ppg.

3.Tim Duncan is playing about 29 minutes per game, saving his legs for the playoffs.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-magic/os-magic-spurs-preview-1223-20101222,0,7888312.story

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

More Orlando news.

Orlando Magic newcomers practice together for first time (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-magic/os-orlando-magic-news-1223-20101222,0,5009295.story)

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-magic/os-orlando-magic-news-1223-20101222,0,5009295.story

Magic hope Hedo Turkoglu can regain his old form (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-magic/os-magic-hedo-turkoglu-1223-20101222,0,7204190.story)

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-magic/os-magic-hedo-turkoglu-1223-20101222,0,7204190.story

[99-03-05-07]

this is the second game of the back to back games, we need to come ready to play.

[duncan228]

San Antonio (25-3) at Orlando (16-12) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2010122319)
Tipoff: 8:00 pm EST Thu Dec 23, 2010
TV: TNT, FSFL
By Brett Huston

The San Antonio Spurs needed a fourth-quarter rally to hold off the Orlando Magic last month for their 11th straight win.

A win Thursday might provide more than a little deja vu.

San Antonio can pick up an 11th consecutive victory for the second time this season when its visits the Amway Center seeking to hand the new-look Magic a ninth loss in 10 games.

The Spurs (25-3) led after three quarters during the first 10 victories of their 12-game winning streak last month, but had to rally in the fourth to beat Orlando 106-97 on Nov. 22. San Antonio came from behind again two nights later to beat Minnesota in overtime for the final victory of its run.

After splitting four games in the interim, the NBA’s top team is on another tear. The Spurs had to mount a major fourth-quarter comeback to stretch their latest streak to 10, but they did, outscoring Denver 29-14 in the final 12 minutes Wednesday to escape with a 109-103 win.

“It was a huge fourth quarter,” said Manu Ginobili, who finished with 22 points. “I’m still kind of in shock by the way we won it.”

The last time San Antonio had two double-digit winning streaks in a season was 2003-04, when it had streaks of 13 and 11 games.

The Magic (16-12) would simply settle for any victory these days. Orlando lost five of six prior to Saturday’s blockbuster trades that brought in Gilbert Arenas, Jason Richardson and Hedo Turkoglu, and the situation hasn’t gotten any better.

The new acquisitions have been around for the past two games, a 91-81 loss at Atlanta on Monday and a 105-99 defeat against Dallas on Tuesday, but haven’t done much to help. The trio is shooting a combined 13 for 53 (24.5 percent).

“I don’t know if it’s being in a new situation or putting too much pressure on themselves,” coach Stan Van Gundy said. “All three of them are struggling to shoot the ball.”

Dwight Howard has certainly been doing his part to help carry the load while Orlando adjusts to its new lineup. The two-time defensive player of the year has had three straight 20-rebound games, but he’s also played 40 minutes in each contest. That workload that could turn into a problem, as the Magic have little frontcourt depth after trading backup Marcin Gortat.

“We’re just in a tough stretch right now, but it’s December. It can’t get any worse,” Howard said. “One thing I tell the guys is, ‘Don’t get frustrated with what’s going on right now. We all hate losing. But you know, we’ve got to learn from our mistakes and we have to stay together. We can’t allow games we lose to take us off our goal and keep us from each other.’”

Howard has averaged just 11.5 points and 10.0 rebounds during San Antonio’s last two visits, but the Magic have won by an average of 19.0 points.

He’ll have his hands full underneath with Tim Duncan, but Orlando’s biggest concern should be the Spurs’ backcourt. Ginobili and Tony Parker combined for 49 points and 19 assists during the win over the Magic last month.

Ginobili led the way with 25 points, and when he’s played well versus Orlando, so has San Antonio. The Spurs are 5-0 when Ginobili scores 25 or more against the Magic.

Orlando might also want to keep an eye on Matt Bonner. The 3-point specialist has had 15 points during each of San Antonio’s last two wins in the series.

The Spurs are 15-0 when Bonner scores at least six points.

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

Team Stat Leaders

Points
Manu Ginobili SA 19.7
Dwight Howard Orl 21.7

Rebounds
Tim Duncan SA 9.7
Dwight Howard Orl 13.2

Assists
Tony Parker SA 7.1
Jameer Nelson Orl 7.1

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2010122319

[Libri]

The Spurs can't overlook J.J. Redick. He's recently had big games, 21 against Dallas and 29 against Denver.

[Rather.Unique]

that monkey pietrius is gone so one less spur killer to deal with for now...


there's something very racist about that comment. it sounds so wrong reading this as a black person...luckily, i know exactly what you're talking about and i appreciate good humor. :lol:lol

[duncan228]

Advanced Scouting: San Antonio Spurs at Orlando Magic (http://www.48minutesofhell.com/spurs-stats-advanced-scouting-orlando-magic-san-antonio-spurs-12-23)
by Scott Sereday
48 Minutes of Hell

http://www.48minutesofhell.com/spurs-stats-advanced-scouting-orlando-magic-san-antonio-spurs-12-23

[BackHome]

So since Gortat is gone who replaces Howard when he is out?

[Texas_Ranger]

So since Gortat is gone who replaces Howard when he is out?

Earl Clark.

[DMC]

The fact the Spurs beat three good teams on the second of a back to back should say something good about them. Then again, what good can you say about them? They lucked into this record...