Spurs at Blazers Previews

[duncan228]

Game is Tuesday, 9:00 CST.


Blazers coming up: Eventful week starts with NBA's best, and could end with history against NBA's worst (http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2011/01/blazers_coming_up_4.html)
By Mike Tokito, The Oregonian

• San Antonio, 7 p.m., Tuesday: The week's biggest challenge surely will come from the Spurs (40-7), who have a 7.5-game lead over the Lakers for the best record in the Western Conference (http://stats.oregonlive.com/nba/teamstats.asp?teamno=22&type=schedule).

How good have the Spurs been? They have had only one losing streak all season, and it only lasted two games, and have winning streaks of 12, 10 and eight games. The Blazers' longest winning streak this season is five games.

Game 5 of the 10-game streak, which came in December, was a 95-78 home win over the Blazers (http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2010/12/san_antonio_95_portland_78_spu.html) on Dec. 12. That game came at a time when the Blazers were still unsure of Brandon Roy's health. He played 30 minutes and scored nine points, shooting 4 for 16 from the field, and would play just two more games before going on what has become an extended leave, now at 21 games.

The Blazers shot 37.9 percent from the field and were subdued in the final three quarters, prompting coach Nate McMillan to say, "We are a ways away from the way that team is playing.

The Blazers do have a four-game home winning streak over San Antonio, but this is a different Spurs team, playing a much more uptempo style that has them off to the best start in the history of the franchise (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/01/30/how-the-spurs-start-ranks-with-others-in-the-teams-history/)-- a franchise that has won the NBA title four times in the last 12 years.

Like the Boston Celtics, who beat Portland 88-78 Thursday to start a four-game road trip, San Antonio is also are starting a long road trip in Portland -- very long. The Spurs are starting their annual "rodeo trip" (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/01/31/rodeo-road-trippin/) -- their annual road foray as they clear the AT&T Center for the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo. This year's trip lasts nine games.

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2011/01/blazers_coming_up_4.html

[duncan228]

If anyone missed it. Anderson is also with the team.


Bonner to make trip, but doubtful for Tuesday (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/01/31/bonner-to-make-trip-but-doubtful-for-tuesday/)
Mike Monroe

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/01/31/bonner-to-make-trip-but-doubtful-for-tuesday/

http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=171423

[YODA]

[QUOTE=duncan228;4938033]If anyone missed it. Anderson is also with the team.



U know, its been so long since Ive seen him that IVe really forgotton how he played. Someone please refresh my image of him. All I recall is some hot shooting from 3 points land. I dont recall any D, Driving to the basket or anything for that matter.

[PDXSpursFan]

This is a trap game.

[Beaverfuzz]

It's a trap! Spurs should be able to take it inside all night long since Aldridge is banged up, White Thirlla Gorilla can only go for so long, and Batum is also hobbled.

Patty Mills will be one to watch to stop as he can move both with and without the ball and fill up the hoop very quickly if left alone. Spurs should win by 12+, and payback for last year's sweep. :flag:

[Brutalis]

Lol @ trap game.

[TDMVPDPOY]

contain the scoring of mathews and we should win this

[duncan228]

Hit the link for the whole piece.


Monday Practice Report (http://www.blazersedge.com/2011/1/31/1966548/monday-practice-report)
by Ben Golliver
Blazersedge

...Portland expects Aldridge to see a slightly different look on Tuesday night, as McMillan believes DeJuan Blair -- an undersized but powerful power forward who you might remember from the 2009 NBA Draft, when the Blazers passed on drafting him 7,219 times -- will front Aldridge, with Tim Duncan providing help defense underneath.

"For the most part we expect them to put Blair on LaMarcus and double-team from the weakside with Tim. Save Tim's legs and front LaMarcus," said McMillan. "[Duncan] plays smart defense. He's not taking you out. He plays position defense and they play good team defense. He's not a stopper. They're going to make [Aldridge] work. They will double-team off of Joel [Przybilla] and Dante [Cunningham] and [those guys have] got to make shots. They're going to have to make some plays."


...McMillan also made some interesting comments about his team's mental approach and results against Boston. "I thought the Boston game, I thought we showed too much respect," McMillan said. "I think you respect all of your opponents but sometimes you can show too much respect. We kind of came in and we weren't the aggressors. San Antonio is going to be the same time of team tomorrow night. Very good team. A lot of options. We've got to win the game of being aggressive."

He continued: "Sometimes you can give too much respect to certain teams. You don't play them, you end up watching them. Those teams are very good, you're going to have to play, you're going to have to hit. You have to expect to get hit. You've got to be the aggressors. You're not going to be able to go toe-to-toe with teams as good as Boston and San Antonio. You've got to create something extra and take advantage of it."


...Injury Report

Small forward Nicolas Batum did not run in practice today but is expected to play tomorrow night.

Guard Wesley Matthews participated in portions of practice, but not the whole thing. He is also expected to play tomorrow night.

Nate McMillan says he doesn't expect center Marcus Camby to play on this upcoming road trip. Camby does note on Twitter (http://twitter.com/MarcusCamby23/status/32124203146678273) that his rehab is "coming along."

http://www.blazersedge.com/2011/1/31/1966548/monday-practice-report

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Blazers practice report: Nate McMillan wants more aggression, less respect against San Antonio (http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2011/01/blazers_practice_report_1.html)
By Mike Tokito, The Oregonian

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2011/01/blazers_practice_report_1.html

[Muser]

Every single game this season has been a trap to people on here..

[Banzai]

41-7.

[duncan228]

Hit the links for the whole piece/video.


Trail Blazers: New-look Spurs bring NBA's best record to Rose Garden (http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2011/01/trail_blazers_new-look_spurs_b.html)
By Joe Freeman, The Oregonian

...When McMillan was lavishing praise on the Spurs after practice Monday, he started breaking down their weapons piece by piece and, before you knew it, he had reeled off the names of virtually everyone in the rotation.

“All of their guys are really, I would say, at the top of their game at this day and time,” McMillan said. “Richard Jefferson is playing great basketball. Manu Ginobili is playing great basketball. Tony Parker is playing great basketball. Tim Duncan ...”

McMillan went on and on, detailing a roster that features eight players averaging at least 7.6 points for a team that is averaging 104.4 points per game — the most the Spurs have averaged since the 1994-95 season. Indeed, this Spurs team is different than the ones that visited the Rose Garden in recent seasons.


...“They play different this year,” Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge said. “They’re more of an up-and-down team. Traditionally they’ve been a slow, grind-it-out, play-through-Tim Duncan (team) where you can kind of scheme (against) them better. Now they’re giving Tony Parker the green light, they’re giving Ginobili the green light. They’re running way more pick and rolls than they used to run. They’re playing up and down more now. I think that makes them a little bit harder to scout.”


...Having a healthy Batum against the Spurs is vital. After all, the Blazers are shorthanded enough as they prepare for one of the NBA’s deepest teams.

“You’ve got a team that everybody’s playing well, playing up to their potential,” McMillan said. “And there are a lot of options over there. And when you’re lucky enough to have that, especially with the experience that they have, that’s tough. I don’t think people were talking about them winning a championship this year. People had written them off. But their guys are playing good basketball. All of them. I can’t think of anyone there having a bad year.”

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2011/01/trail_blazers_new-look_spurs_b.html

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Trail Blazers game preview: San Antonio Spurs at Portland (http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2011/02/trail_blazers_game_preview_san.html)
By Oregonian Sports

...About the Blazers: After winning five consecutive games, the Blazers have dropped two in a row. ... This is the final game of a five-game home stand that has seen the Blazers go 2-2 so far. ... The Blazers went 8-6 in January. ... Portland is 17-1 when it shoots a higher percentage from the field than its opponent. ... Rudy Fernandez is averaging over than four points more per game at the Rose Garden (10.7) than on the road (6.2). He's shooting 39.0 percent from three-point range (41 for 105) at home this season. ... Batum (left knee) and Matthews (right ankle) did not practice Monday but are expected to play against the Spurs. ... The Blazers travel to Denver after the San Antonio game and coach Nate McMillan said the team had not yet decided if injured center Marcus Camby would make the trip.

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2011/02/trail_blazers_game_preview_san.html

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Trail Blazers practice video: LaMarcus Aldridge, Wesley Matthews preview the Spurs (http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2011/01/trail_blazers_practice_video_a.html)
By Sean Meagher, OregonLive.com

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2011/01/trail_blazers_practice_video_a.html

[ElNono]

http://www.scootys.com/easy_capture/images/its_a_tarp.gif

[jestersmash]

:lmao @ "trap game." This isn't a trap game.

Facing a Kings team that just beat L.A. and New Orleans while we're on the second night of a back to back...that's a "trap" game.

[ohmwrecker]

U know, its been so long since Ive seen him that IVe really forgotton how he played. Someone please refresh my image of him. All I recall is some hot shooting from 3 points land. I dont recall any D, Driving to the basket or anything for that matter.

Use the force.

[duncan228]

San Antonio (40-7) at Portland (25-22) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2011020122)
Tipoff: 10:00 pm EST Tue Feb 1, 2011
TV: FSSW, CSNW
By Kate Hedlin

The San Antonio Spurs begin a nine-game road trip with the league’s best record and a comfortable lead atop the Southwest Division, but they aren’t taking anything for granted.

The Spurs look to snap a four-game losing streak in Portland on Tuesday night when they visit the Trail Blazers, who will be trying to avoid their first three-game home skid in nearly three years.

While San Antonio (40-7) typically uses this annual road trip, which occurs when the rodeo takes over the AT&T Center, to work out problems, there aren’t many visible weaknesses with the Spurs. They have won three straight and 11 of 12 while reaching 40 victories in the fewest games in franchise history.

“You keep competing, executing and trying to improve,” coach Gregg Popovich said. “It doesn’t matter if you have the best record or the worst record.”

The road trip, which lasts until Feb. 17, begins in Portland, where the Spurs have dropped four straight. However, they beat the Trail Blazers 95-78 at home Dec. 12, snapping a five-game overall losing streak in the series.

San Antonio also begins the stretch after an impressive 108-95 win over Houston on Saturday. Manu Ginobili scored 22 points while DeJuan Blair added 14 points and 12 rebounds. Every Spurs starter scored in double figures.

“It’s just such an honor to be on this team, on this quest for greatness, and we’ve just got to keep it going,” Blair said.

The Spurs are looking to improve on a 15-5 road record. Tim Duncan said defense will be the team’s biggest focus during this trip.

San Antonio is allowing opponents to average 99.9 points on the road compared to 94.7 at home. In its last two road games - both wins - it gave up more than 100 points.

“It’s goal No. 1 all the time,” Duncan said. “We’ve been a little lacking on that. Obviously we’ve been winning games and that’s great in that respect but it comes down to the end of the season, the playoffs, we want to be as best defensively as possible.”

The recent meetings between San Antonio and Portland have been defensive battles with neither team cracking 100 points in the last five contests. The Spurs haven’t reached the century mark against the Blazers since a 100-79 victory Dec. 2, 2007, a span of nine games.

However, it’s Portland (25-22) that has struggled offensively its last two games, losing 96-81 to Sacramento on Jan. 24 and falling 88-78 to Boston on Thursday. The Blazers have shot 38.1 percent in those games.

Portland made only two of its first 12 shots in the fourth quarter Thursday to fall behind 78-63 before a late rally fell short. LaMarcus Aldridge, who suffered a bruised hip against the Kings, finished with 17 points and 16 rebounds while Wesley Matthews had 12 points, although he shot just 4 of 15.

“We were in the game this whole time, but it felt like we were down by 40,” Matthews told the Blazers’ official website.

The injury-riddled Blazers received another scare when forward Nicolas Batum left the game with a sore hip in the second quarter. However, an MRI revealed no damage except for a contusion. Batum, who is averaging 11.8 points and 4.8 rebounds, is day-to-day.

Tuesday ends a five-game homestand for Portland, which hasn’t lost three in a row at the Rose Garden since March 29-April 6, 2008.

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Team Stat Leaders

Points
Manu Ginobili SA 18.8
LaMarcus Aldridge Por 21.0

Rebounds
Tim Duncan SA 9.4
Marcus Camby Por 11.3

Assists
Tony Parker SA 6.9
Andre Miller Por 7.1

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2011020122

[timtonymanu]

Portland's been hit or miss all season. One night, they look like they got their shit together. The next night, they can't execute. They've lost to Boston and Miami on their home floor so hopefully the Spurs can do the same.

[Beaverfuzz]

contain the scoring of mathews and we should win this

Matthews doesn't matter, get fouls on Aldridge and that takes Portland out of it's ballgame. And contain Mills when he's in the game. :flag:

[shelshor]

http://www.nba.com/news/referee.html
Referee Assignments
Feb. 1, 2011
San Antonio @ Portland: Mike Callahan; Olandis Poole; Derek Richardson

[duncan228]

Advanced Scouting: San Antonio Spurs at Portland Trail Blazers (http://www.48minutesofhell.com/spurs-stats-advanced-scouting-portland-trail-blazers-2-1-11)
by Scott Sereday
48 Minutes of Hell

http://www.48minutesofhell.com/spurs-stats-advanced-scouting-portland-trail-blazers-2-1-11

[duncan228]

Tuesday: Spurs (40-7) at Trail Blazers (25-22) (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/02/01/tuesday-spurs-40-7-at-trail-blazers-25-22/)
Mike Monroe

...Spurs begin nine-game Rodeo Road Trip with league-best 15-5 road record, but haven’t won in Rose Garden since April 6, 2008, dropping four in a row there. …

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/02/01/tuesday-spurs-40-7-at-trail-blazers-25-22/

[duncan228]

LeBron had a pic of him dunking on Duncan in his locker during the 2006-07 season. A reporter told Duncan about it when the Finals started that year and Duncan offered to sign it for LeBron. Maybe he'll do the same for Aldridge. :lol


...As for three-time Finals MVP Tim Duncan? He is putting up career-lows of 13.6 points and 9.5 rebounds per game — but much of that is due to the way the Spurs run their offense, which generally begins with Ginobili.

“He can still do it if he has to,” Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge said of Duncan.

Aldridge has long viewed Duncan as the gold standard to which power forwards should aspire. When McMillan was touting Aldridge’s potential at the beginning of the season, Duncan was the measuring stick for what he hoped he’d become. And in Aldridge’s room sits an action photo of him dunking on Duncan.

Not that Duncan is aware of this.

“What am I going to say? Aldridge asked. “ ‘Hey Tim, I got a picture of me dunking on you!’ ”

No, that likely won’t happen. Aldridge admires the four-time champion too much.

Spurs provide familiar challenge for Blazers (http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/feb/01/spurs-provide-familiar-challenge-for-blazers/)
By Matt Calkins

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/feb/01/spurs-provide-familiar-challenge-for-blazers/

[Blake]

if the Spurs win by less than 15, I will be mildly disappointed.

[duncan228]

Duncan practices Tuesday morning and will be ready to go tonight (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/02/01/duncan-practices-tuesday-morning-and-will-be-ready-to-go-tonight/)
Tim Griffin

Tim Duncan will be ready to play tonight against Portland after practicing with the Spurs earlier this morning in their shootaround at the Rose Garden.

Duncan was on the floor with his teammates when media covering the team’s morning practice was ushered onto the court. He shot jumpers and free throws and moved around the floor without even a trace of a limp.

Asked about reports that he had been seen limping on his left knee to the team plane for Monday’s flight to Portland, Duncan just laughed.

“I limp all the time,” he said. “It’s nothing new.”

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/02/01/duncan-practices-tuesday-morning-and-will-be-ready-to-go-tonight/

[Fireball]

The Blazers are tough to play at the Rose Garden. Spurs have to limit offensive rebounding and make their shots. And not too many alley oop dunks by Aldridge, please !!

[tlongII]

If we hit our shots we should win tonight. We're due to have a good shooting game. :tu

[DPG21920]

If we hit our shots we should win tonight. We're due to have a good shooting game. :tu

But what if the shots don't fall? What then? All the Spurs have to do is beat the team they are supposed to beat and just make sure fluky shots don't go in.

[Beaverfuzz]

If we hit our shots we should win tonight. We're due to have a good shooting game. :tu

Well if San Antonio makes it's shots, they should win by 40. Great analysis there t. :flag:

[Rummpd]

Portland is a good team that could turn it up down the stretch and I have a lot of respect for their coach and players for hanging in there and playing competitively and hard most nights. It really is a shame that Roy and Oden are both hurt or this could be back to back games coming up against the very top tier of the league but don't kid yourself for those that have not seen the TBs play - they are still a fine team.

I also have a lot of respect for Thong II who has stuck with his Blazers thru thick and thin for years.

Spurs win by any amount I am fine on the road to start the rodeo trip.

[concken]

Matt Bonner will not play tonight against the Blazers (sore right knee).

http://twitter.com/#!/spurs

[tlongII]

Matt Bonner will not play tonight against the Blazers (sore right knee).

http://twitter.com/#!/spurs

And so it begins...

:pimpslap

[duncan228]

Blazers shootaround video: Batum, Przybilla, Assistant Coach Ociepka.

http://www.nba.com/blazers/tbtv/video.html?videoID=883

[Rummpd]

And so it begins...

:pimpslap

Good more action for Splitter and then the Red Rocket goes off against the LAL!