Spurs vs Bobcats Previews

[duncan228]

Game is Saturday, 7:30 CST.


Saturday: Bobcats (28-40) at Spurs (55-13) (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/03/18/saturday-bobcats-28-40-at-spurs-55-13/)
Mike Monroe

...Spurs won the first game of the season series, beating the Bobcats in Charlotte, 95-91 in the sixth game of season...Even at 28-40, the Bobcats are just a 1 1/2 games out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/03/18/saturday-bobcats-28-40-at-spurs-55-13/

[Darkwaters]

I'll be attending this game in the flesh!

[duncan228]

Charlotte (28-40) at San Antonio (55-13) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2011031924)
Tipoff: 8:30 pm EDT Sat Mar 19, 2011
TV: CW35
By Brett Huston

The San Antonio Spurs bounced back from their most lopsided loss of the season with one of their most impressive wins. Less than 24 hours later, they’ll have to guard against a letdown.

The Spurs have lost just once at home since December and twice in their history against the Charlotte Bobcats, dominant stints they’ll look to continue Saturday night at the AT&T Center.

San Antonio (55-13) has a record that’s six games ahead of their next-closest pursuer, but the past two weeks have raised major questions regarding its claim as the NBA’s best team. The Spurs trailed by as many as 32 in a 99-83 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on March 6 - their first at home since Nov. 26 - and were embarrassed 110-80 on Monday in Miami.

That left plenty of time for coach Gregg Popovich to fire up his team prior to Friday’s visit to Dallas, and San Antonio played like an inspired group. Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan combined for 80 points and the Spurs won 97-91, taking a big step toward clinching the Southwest Division by pulling 7 1/2 games ahead of the Mavericks.

“When you have Pop in your ear for three days, it can be a long three days,” said Parker, who had 33 points. “In the film sessions we talked about not playing physical, not playing with intensity or playing good defense. Tonight we wanted to make sure we stayed in front of people and made sure their shots were hard.”

Now, San Antonio returns home, where it’s 13-0 against Eastern opponents.

The Bobcats (28-40), meanwhile, have been woeful lately in interconference road contests. They lost 94-78 at Houston on Wednesday and weren’t much more competitive Friday in Oklahoma City, falling 99-82.

Coach Paul Silas’ team has averaged just 79.9 points while losing seven straight road games to Western foes by an average of 17.8 points. Seven losses in nine games overall, meanwhile, have left the Bobcats 1 1/2 games behind Indiana for the East’s eighth and final playoff spot.

“It’s tough because losing is always tough,” Silas said. “We just have to pick it up and all I ask is that we play hard and play tough and I thought we did that for a certain point and then really fell off, which makes it difficult to really assess where we are now.”

Charlotte has averaged 83.3 points in 13 games against San Antonio since entering the league, and its only road win in the series came 95-92 in overtime on Nov. 15, 2006.

Ginobili had 26 points to lead the Spurs to a 95-91 win on Nov. 8 in Charlotte.

Slowing down the Argentinian All-Star seems to be the best way to have a chance against San Antonio. The Spurs are 33-3 when Ginobili scores at least 18.

The Bobcats, meanwhile, are desperate for offense as they’ve averaged 84.2 points over their past 10 games.

Former Spur Stephen Jackson missed three of those contests with a strained left hamstring, but he’s had a tough month when he’s been on the court. Jackson has averaged 13.8 points and shot 30.8 percent in six games since March 2.

Charlotte is 15-11 when Jackson scores 21 points or more, and 13-29 otherwise.

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

Team Stat Leaders

Points
Stephen Jackson Cha 18.9
Manu Ginobili SA 17.8

Rebounds
Kwame Brown Cha 6.7
Tim Duncan SA 9.1

Assists
D.J. Augustin Cha 5.8
Tony Parker SA 6.5

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

Team Comparison
Team Record Standings PF PA Road/Home Streak L10

Charlotte 28-40 4th Southeast / 9th East 92.9 96.8 Road 11-24 Lost 2 2-8
San Antonio 55-13 1st Southwest / 1st West 103.3 97.1 Home 31-3 Won 1 7-3

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2011031924

[jay_shs]

Bobcats 1002
Spurs 106

Spurs bad defense will once again be exposed and we'll be giving up second chance points to their big men who can barely even play. I can feel it already.

[Budkin]

Yeah this game is going to be a major letdown after tonight. I think we'll win but it will be one of those WTF is this a nail biter games? At least they don't have Gerald Wallace anymore.

[jay_shs]

Yeah this game is going to be a major letdown after tonight. I think we'll win but it will be one of those WTF is this a nail biter games? At least they don't have Gerald Wallace anymore.
It'll be fun, though, to boo that guy that they left on the team to rot that shoots 40 shots per game and was unwanted by the Spurs even after he was a component of a certain championship run every time he touches the basketball.

[chazley]

Anyone else laughing when they put up the Gerald Wallace pic twice, once during halftime and the other after the game, when they showed we were playing the Bobcats tomorrow?

[Budkin]

It'll be fun, though, to boo that guy that they left on the team to rot that shoots 40 shots per game and was unwanted by the Spurs even after he was a component of a certain championship run every time he touches the basketball.

I'm still pissed that Stephen Jackson left the Spurs... our shooting was woeful in the 2004 Playoffs and he would have greatly helped in that regard.

[Fireball]

Let Timmy sit out this game ... start Tiago ... this game is not important anymore

[shelshor]

http://www.nba.com/news/referee.html
Referee Assignment
Sat. Mar. 19
Charlotte @ San Antonio: Mike (Duke) Callahan; David Guthrie; Josh Tiven

[Budkin]

Let Timmy sit out this game ... start Tiago ... this game is not important anymore

I think we need to grab at least our home wins especially if they are easy... the rest of our schedule is no cakewalk.

Mon 21 vs Golden State
Wed 23 @ Denver
Fri 25 @ Portland
Sun 27 @ Memphis
Mon 28 vs Portland
Thu 31 vs Boston

Fri 01 @ Houston
Sun 03 vs Phoenix
Tue 05 @ Atlanta
Wed 06 vs Sacramento
Sat 09 vs Utah
Tue 12 @ LA Lakers
Wed 13 @ Phoenix

[Bill_Brasky]

Saint Tiago could possibly play meaningful minutes in this one.......I say he puts up pretty decent numbers, if that is indeed the case.

[DPG21920]

:lol It just sucks that many of us keeping asking & hoping for certain things (Tiago PT), but we just don't realize the writing on the wall. There is around 15 games left and he is not going to be a part of this run.

[duncan228]

Advanced Scouting: Charlotte Bobcats at San Antonio Spurs (http://www.48minutesofhell.com/advanced-scouting-charlotte-bobcats-at-san-antonio-spurs)
by Scott Sereday
48 Minutes of Hell

http://www.48minutesofhell.com/advanced-scouting-charlotte-bobcats-at-san-antonio-spurs

[Juggity]

Bobcats 1002
Spurs 106


You know your defense needs work when the other team scores >1000 points in 48 minutes :hat

[duncan228]

It was bound to happen sometime. Tim Duncan will get the night off tonight vs. Bobcats. His first night off this season.



Stephen Jackson (hamstring) and Joel Przybilla (knee) will not play for Charlotte vs. Spurs.



Tiago Splitter will get his first career start tonight, replacing Tim Duncan.