Spurs at Kings Previews

[duncan228]

Game is Friday, 9:00 CST.


Friday: Spurs (41-8) at Kings (12-34) (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/02/04/friday-spurs-41-8-at-kings-12-34/)
Mike Monroe

...Kings have used 18 different starting lineups this season, but have had recent success with starting both Cousins and Dalembert on the front line. It was the starting lineup for road win over Lakers and win at ARCO Arena that ended New Orleans’ 10-game win streak.

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/02/04/friday-spurs-41-8-at-kings-12-34/

[scottspurs]

Moving on

[024]

sactown has been picking off good teams lately and stayed competitive against the celtics. wouldn't be too surprised at a loss during a back to back with the emotionally drained spurs.

[NASpurs]

Ok this is the definition of a trap game. The Kings have beaten strong teams as of late and the Spurs are coming off such a fierce game in LA. It would suck to win in LA and lose this one.

[justinandimcool]

For the love of god no letdowns. Please.

[concken]

what was that, like 45 minutes of celebration? whew

[boutons_deux]

B2Bs are an abomination. NBA "business" sucks

[Ross Parrot]

Thank management for our bench! Win by 10.

[Texas_Ranger]

Don't let that Beno guy destroy us.

[gospursgojas]

Leave it to Duncan228 to remind us there is a game tomorrow night. :toast

[Warlord23]

Manu, Tony and RJ all 36+ minutes, Tim with 33, Dice with 30 tonight. My guess is we'll see a fair amount of Splitter, Owens, Anderson, Quinn against the Kings.

[Mugen]

bwahaha this might be the toughest game of the season so far after that win.

[jestersmash]

Don't care about this game as much, to be honest. If I had to pick one game to win between Lakers and Kings, I'm glad we won against the Lakers.

The Kings pose no threat to us whatsoever in the playoffs, and they are clearly an inferior team. If we lose because our starters were exhausted from tonight's game, then so be it.

Winning is ideal, of course, but I really don't mind losing this one against the Kings.

I do expect the Spurs to win against Detroit and Toronto on the back to back next week. Detroit != Lakers. Spurs should be able to handle two sub-.500 teams in a row successively.

[TimmehC]

If ever there was a trap game...

[duncan228]

San Antonio (41-8) at Sacramento (12-34) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2011020423)
Tipoff: 10:00 pm EST Fri Feb 4, 2011
TV: KENS, CSCA
By Kate Hedlin

After picking up their first victory on their nine-game road trip in dramatic fashion, the San Antonio Spurs hope for an easier time against their next opponent.

The league-leading Spurs look to win their 10th straight over the Sacramento Kings on Friday night when they begin an easier stretch in their schedule.

San Antonio (41-8) opened its longest road trip of the season with a 99-86 loss to Portland on Tuesday, but bounced back with an 89-88 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday.

After failing to protect a four-point lead in the final two minutes, Antonio McDyess tipped in Tim Duncan’s missed jump shot at the buzzer.

“I was in the right place at the right time, and it bounced right to me,” said McDyess, who eluded Lamar Odom and Kobe Bryant for the winning tip. “I haven’t had too many (buzzer-beaters). I can probably count them on one hand, but this is a big one.”

McDyess finished with eight rebounds, including six offensive, while Tony Parker scored 21 points and Manu Ginobili had 14 points and eight assists.

The Spurs, winners of 12 of 14, have struggled offensively the first two games of the trip, shooting 42.7 percent against Portland and 41.2 percent against the Lakers. However, they held one of the league’s best shooting teams to 42.5 percent from the field.

Defense on the road had been one issue San Antonio was looking to improve on during this trip. Before Thursday, the team had split its previous four road games with opponents averaging 100.5 points while shooting 49.4 percent. The Blazers shot 50.7 percent Tuesday.

The Spurs have a chance to further work on their defense during the next few weeks as their schedule on this road trip lightens considerably. Their next six opponents all own losing records.

San Antonio will try to avoid a letdown against Sacramento (12-34), a team the Spurs haven’t lost since Nov. 26, 2007.

While the Kings have the Western Conference’s second-worst record, they have given some of the NBA’s elite trouble recently. After wins over the Lakers and New Orleans, they suffered a 95-90 loss to Boston on Tuesday.

“We’ve proven we can play against these good teams and beat them,” Omri Casspi told the Kings’ official website. “We have a lot of good energy, and we need to keep it up. … We have a big game (Friday), and it’s a good time to show it.”

In the second game of a six-game homestand, Sacramento led Boston 54-45 at the end of the first half, but was outscored 29-17 in the third quarter. DeMarcus Cousins and Tyreke Evans finished with 20 points apiece.

Cousins seems to be thriving against the tougher competition. The rookie has averaged 24 points and shot 52.7 percent the last three games.

Sacramento has lost 20 of the last 23 games against San Antonio and five straight at Arco Arena.

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

Team Stat Leaders

Points
Manu Ginobili SA 18.7
Tyreke Evans Sac 17.8

Rebounds
Tim Duncan SA 9.3
DeMarcus Cousins Sac 7.7

Assists
Tony Parker SA 6.7
Tyreke Evans Sac 5.5

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2011020423

[duncan228]

This year, Duncan lets Ginobili, Parker lead Spurs (http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/04/3376814/this-year-duncan-lets-ginobili.html)
By Jason Jones
Sacramento Bee

For more than a decade, the San Antonio Spurs have been driven by the brilliance of Tim Duncan. This season, though, he could be referred to as Duncan Light.

He's not the same Duncan whose ability to control the paint on both ends was a big reason the Spurs won NBA championships in 1999, 2003, 2005 and 2007.

This season, he has been able to take it easier as the Spurs have dominated from the start. They have the best record in the NBA, thanks largely to guards Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker.

"The problem with those guys is they don't have any weaknesses," said Kings coach Paul Westphal.

Duncan hasn't gone away. But his scoring (13.6 points per game entering Thursday), rebounding (9.4) and minutes (29.3) are career lows. Then again, there's no need to wear down the 34-year-old Duncan in the regular season.

The Spurs don't have a player in the top 50 in minutes played this season.

"I know nobody's playing major minutes, but they're winning like crazy, so nobody has to," Westphal said.

Only Parker, Ginobili and Richard Jefferson average more than 30 minutes.

Ginobili is averaging more than 30 minutes for the first time since the 2007-08 season and, at 18.8 points per game, is on pace for the second-best scoring average of his career.

Parker is on pace for the second-best assist average of his career at 6.8 per game, just off the 6.9 he averaged two seasons ago.

The Spurs are the second consecutive conference leader the Kings have played, having hosted Boston on Tuesday.

Defending guards has been a problem for the Kings this season, with Kobe Bryant scoring 38 points last Friday.

Ray Allen got loose for 22 points, and Rajon Rondo had 17 points and 10 assists Tuesday for the Celtics.

Dealing with Ginobili and Parker won't be easy. And Westphal isn't discounting the ability of Duncan, who was named to the Western Conference All-Star team with Ginobili.

The Spurs come to Sacramento having played Thursday night in Los Angeles. This will be their third road game in four nights, so Spurs coach Gregg Popovich won't hesitate to monitor Duncan's minutes.

That would mean more of one of the best backcourts in the NBA.

"That's the NBA," said Kings forward Omri Casspi. "One night you can have Kobe, the next night you have Paul Pierce – they keep coming. Then Manu. It's a tough league."

Casspi likely will get help defending Ginobili. Kings forward Jason Thompson has been upgraded to questionable with a sprained right ankle and participated in part of practice Thursday. He sprained his ankle Saturday against New Orleans.

The Kings also will have forward Darnell Jackson (rib cartilage inflammation) available.

Ginobili leads the Spurs in scoring.

"He's an amazing player," Westphal said. "He might have a bad shooting game, but he'll beat you with defense, with passing, getting to the foul line."

Parker is shooting above 50 percent and leads the Spurs in assists.

"He's slightly under the radar, but he's a big reason for their success," Westphal said.

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/04/3376814/this-year-duncan-lets-ginobili.html

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


Kings game plan vs. San Antonio (http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/04/3376893/kings-game-plan-vs-san-antonio.html)
By Jason Jones

...THREE KEYS

• 1. Pack the paint: The Kings must keep guards Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili out of the paint to have a chance. Both are playing great this season and are big reasons the Spurs have the best record in the NBA.

• 2. Finding Blair: DeJuan Blair has a knack for rebounding, and the Kings can't lose track of him. Sacramento has been hurt by giving up offensive rebounds late in close games.

• 3. Value the ball: The Spurs execute as well as any team in the NBA. The Kings can't afford to commit many turnovers and give them extra opportunities to score.

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/04/3376893/kings-game-plan-vs-san-antonio.html

[Crazymaddopeyo]

This one is going to be really tough with how tired our guys are going to be.

[Dex]

Wonder if Anderson will see any court time against these younger clubs. I was hoping he'd be part of the equation going through the RRT, but those were two tough games to start.

[Fireball]

Wonder if Anderson will see any court time against these younger clubs. I was hoping he'd be part of the equation going through the RRT, but those were two tough games to start.

I think it was a mistake to call Anderson back from the Toros after only two games. He should have stayed there for the Western part of the RRT to get back into game shape and then join the team for the east coast part. I think the small injury by Neal took that away ...

[shelshor]

http://www.nba.com/news/referee.html
Referee Assignments
Fri. Feb. 4
San Antonio @ Sacramento: Monty McCutchen; Marat Kogut; Leon Wood

[K-State Spur]

The formula is pretty simple - keep Cousins from getting great post position & force Evans to be a jumpshooter. They don't have a whole lot of other guys who can beat you (unless you just crap yourself the rest of the game).

[lefty]

Good win, Kings

[Supergirl]

Should be a good game for Blair and Duncan and Dice. Kings are thin and weak on the front line.

[FalleNxWiZarDx]

you guys should rest all your all stars

pop would be smart to do so

[tuncaboylu]

I'm expecting a significant perfomance from Splitter today.

[SpurAddict561]

This is a trap

[honestfool84]

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_NOXa1CXNsxg/SRWGa8XbxuI/AAAAAAAACa0/9LqeZgrQLnQ/s400/Bear+Trap.jpg

[duncan228]

Advanced Scouting: San Antonio Spurs at Sacramento Kings (http://www.48minutesofhell.com/spurs-stats-advanced-scouting-sacramento-kings)
by Scott Sereday
48 Minutes of Hell

http://www.48minutesofhell.com/spurs-stats-advanced-scouting-sacramento-kings

[JR3]

Yeah I think our bench will take this game over. No worries here.

[PDXSpursFan]

This is a trap

+1. Beno will kill us :bang

[duncan228]

Will the Spurs be able to rest either Duncan or McDyess tonight? (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/02/04/will-the-spurs-be-able-to-rest-either-duncan-or-mcdyess-against-the-kings/)
Tim Griffin

...In previous seasons, Sacramento might have been one of those games that Spurs coach Gregg Popovich could have afforded to give Duncan or McDyess extended rest or enable them to sit out for the game entirely.

But Sacramento rookie center DeMarcus Cousins has averaged 24 points per game and 9.3 rebounds in his last three contests. The Kentucky product’s development was a key reason why the Kings were able to beat the Lakers in Los Angeles last week, beat New Orleans and nearly beat Boston before falling, 95-90, on Tuesday night.

Cousins is a big, beefy challenge at 6-foot-11 and 270 pounds. He will be a formidable challenge for whoever is playing inside for the Silver and Black.


...The Spurs need contributions from Splitter and hope that DeJuan Blair stays out of foul trouble to buy some extra rest for Duncan and McDyess over the rest of the season.

One other factor is that the Spurs won’t be playing again until Tuesday night at Detroit — a four-day break that will enable them to return to San Antonio for some of their preparations before their next game.

So look for Duncan and McDyess both to play tonight with hopes of giving them plenty of rest during the upcoming break away from game action before the next game.

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/02/04/will-the-spurs-be-able-to-rest-either-duncan-or-mcdyess-against-the-kings/