Spurs at Hawks Previews

[duncan228]

Game is Tuesday, 6:00 CST.


San Antonio (58-19) at Atlanta (44-33) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2011040501)
Tipoff: 7:00 pm EDT Tue Apr 5, 2011
TV: FSSW
By Matt Becker

The San Antonio Spurs ended their longest losing streak in 14 years with a convincing win over a banged-up team that’s out of playoff contention.

Building on that victory and earning the top overall seed for the playoffs might not be as easy.

In a game that could have major playoff implications, the Spurs look to end their road struggles against Eastern Conference playoff teams when they face the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night.

San Antonio (58-19) defeated a Phoenix club that was missing Steve Nash 114-97 on Sunday to snap a six-game losing streak, the franchise’s longest since the 1996-97 season.

George Hill led the way with 29 points and the West-leading Spurs moved 2 1/2 games ahead of the second-place Los Angeles Lakers, who lost later Sunday. That lead was seven games following San Antonio’s previous win March 21.

“We’ve got a lot of confidence, and hopefully we can finish in first place,” said guard Tony Parker, who missed nine of 11 shots and scored seven points.

While the Spurs managed to pad their lead over the Lakers, they’re just 1 1/2 games ahead of East-leading Chicago for home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.

If the Spurs and Bulls finish with the same record, home court would go to the team with the better mark against the opposing conference because the clubs split their season series. San Antonio and Chicago are both 22-7 against the opposing conference, and each plays their final interconference game Tuesday, with the Bulls hosting the slumping Suns.

San Antonio beat Atlanta 108-92 on Dec. 10, its eighth victory in nine meetings. Richard Jefferson and Manu Ginobili each scored 18 points to lead six Spurs in double figures.

Although they’ve had little trouble against the Hawks lately, the Spurs have had some problems on the road, losing four straight and seven of 10 away from San Antonio. They are 0-6 on the road this season against East teams that have clinched playoff spots.

The Hawks have won their last three at Philips Arena.

Atlanta (44-33) will likely be the fifth seed in the East. It is four games back of fourth-place Orlando and four games up on sixth-place Philadelphia with five to play.

The Hawks are coming off a 114-109 loss to Houston on Sunday that snapped a four-game winning streak. Joe Johnson had a team-high 25 points and Atlanta shot 53.1 percent, but the Hawks allowed the Rockets to shoot an opponent season-high 57.3 percent.

Atlanta, which yielded 83.8 points and 42.6 percent shooting over the previous four games, allowed 56 points in the paint.

“That’s way too many,” forward Josh Smith said. “We’ve got to make it more stingy. If we would have closed in some of those gaps and made them kick out to shooters, I would think it might have been a different outcome.”

While tightening their interior defense and forcing perimeter shots could have been the answer for the Hawks on Sunday, that strategy might not work against the Spurs.

San Antonio leads the league in 3-point shooting at 39.8 percent and made 15 of 29 from beyond the arc against the Suns. Jefferson hit all four of his 3-point attempts Sunday and was 5 of 6 on 3s in the first meeting with the Hawks, as the Spurs went 10 of 21 from long range.

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

Team Stat Leaders

Points
Manu Ginobili SA 17.6
Joe Johnson Atl 18.6

Rebounds
Tim Duncan SA 9.0
Al Horford Atl 9.5

Assists
Tony Parker SA 6.6
Joe Johnson Atl 4.9

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

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

San Antonio 58-19 1st Southwest / 1st West 103.6 97.9 Road 24-14 Won 1 4-6
Atlanta 44-33 3rd Southeast / 5th East 95.3 95.3 Home 24-15 Lost 1 5-5

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2011040501

[Budkin]

They're pretty much locked into 5th, dunno how hard they'll be playing. Even if they are we have no excuse not to beat these guys.

[Bruno]

Tuesday will be a big day to determine who will have HCA in case of a Spurs/Bulls final. Spurs will face Hawks ad Bulls will face Phoenix.

If Spurs win and Bulls lose, Spurs will have the tiebreaker.
If Spurs lose and Bulls win, Bulls will have the tiebreaker
If both teams win or lose, the tiebreaker will be a coin flip.

[JR3]

This is the toughest game left on our schedule in my opinion. If we win this one, we can finishe the season with a nice little win streak. Get it done guys.

[JR3]

This is the toughest game left on our schedule in my opinion. If we win this one, we can finishe the season with a nice little win streak. Get it done guys.

oooh.. forgot... besides the lakers that is.

[crc21209]

Tuesday will be a big day to determine who will have HCA in case of a Spurs/Bulls final. Spurs will face Hawks ad Bulls will face Phoenix.

If Spurs win and Bulls lose, Spurs will have the tiebreaker.
If Spurs lose and Bulls win, Bulls will have the tiebreaker
If both teams win or lose, the tiebreaker will be a coin flip.

Even if the Spurs finish with a better overall record than the Bulls? Or are you saying in case they finish with the same record ?

[Ditty]

I'll be at the game in town for wrestlemania :)

[Bruno]

Even if the Spurs finish with a better overall record than the Bulls? Or are you saying in case they finish with the same record ?

If Spurs finish with a better record than Bulls, they will have HCA.
Tomorrow will determine who has the tiebreaker that will be used if both teams are ... tied.

[timtonymanu]

This is the game the Spurs have to win since it's gonna be the most challenging opponent before we face LA again.

Win this game and our chances to stay the 1st seed are better.

[Mel_13]

Tuesday will be a big day to determine who will have HCA in case of a Spurs/Bulls final. Spurs will face Hawks ad Bulls will face Phoenix.

If Spurs win and Bulls lose, Spurs will have the tiebreaker.
If Spurs lose and Bulls win, Bulls will have the tiebreaker
If both teams win or lose, the tiebreaker will be a coin flip.

I believe the original article got the tiebreaker rule wrong. When breaking a tie between playoff team from opposite conferences, only the records against the playoff teams from the opposite conference are taken into account. By my calculation, the Bulls have already clinched the tiebreaker over the Spurs.

TIEBREAKER BASIS:
(-) Tie breaker not needed (better overall winning percentage)
(1) Division leader wins tie from team not leading a division
(2) Head-to-head won-lost percentage
(3) Division won-lost percentage
(4) Conference won-lost percentage
(5) W-L Percentage vs. Playoff teams, own conference
(6) W-L Percentage vs. Playoff teams, other conference

http://www.nba.com/statistics/playoff_picture.html

[crc21209]

this is the game the spurs have to win since it's gonna be the most challenging opponent before we face la again.

Win this game and our chances to stay the 1st seed are better.

+1.

[spursfaninla]

I believe the original article got the tiebreaker rule wrong. When breaking a tie between playoff team from opposite conferences, only the records against the playoff teams from the opposite conference are taken into account. By my calculation, the Bulls have already clinched the tiebreaker over the Spurs.

TIEBREAKER BASIS:
(-) Tie breaker not needed (better overall winning percentage)
(1) Division leader wins tie from team not leading a division
(2) Head-to-head won-lost percentage
(3) Division won-lost percentage
(4) Conference won-lost percentage
(5) W-L Percentage vs. Playoff teams, own conference
(6) W-L Percentage vs. Playoff teams, other conference

http://www.nba.com/statistics/playoff_picture.html

After reading the link above, you are quoting from the wrong rule actually. That is the basis for determining a tie-breaker for initial seeding.

Instead, I think you need to look at these rules:
(1) Better winning percentage in games against each other.
(2) Better winning percentage against teams in own division (only if tied teams are in same division).
(3) Better winning percentage against teams in own conference.
(4) Better winning percentage against teams eligible for playoffs in own conference (including teams that finished the regular season tied for a playoff position).
(5) Better winning percentage against teams eligible for playoffs in opposite conference (including teams that finished the regular season tied for a playoff position)."

we are assuming rule 1 is already a tie, and rule 2 does not apply b/c they are not the same division. Rule 3 then applies, and does not say it does not apply when teams are in different conferences, as prior poster claims.

Thus, it looks to me that Rule 3 should determine the HCA between SA and CHI; SA at 36-12 and CHI at 34-13. Rule 4 would only apply if rule 3 were a tie.

If rule 3 can control, Spurs have a 1 loss advantage against chicago.

[Bruno]

I believe the original article got the tiebreaker rule wrong. When breaking a tie between playoff team from opposite conferences, only the records against the playoff teams from the opposite conference are taken into account. By my calculation, the Bulls have already clinched the tiebreaker over the Spurs.


http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=PERDiem-110401&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba %2finsider%2fcolumns%2fstory%3fcolumnist%3dholling er_john%26page%3dPERDiem-110401


NBA TIEBREAKERS
Two Teams Tied
In the case of a tie in regular-season records involving only two teams, the following criteria will be used in the following order:

(1) Division winner (this criterion is applied regardless of whether the tied teams are in the same division)
(2) Better winning percentage in games against each other
(3) Better winning percentage against teams in own division (only if tied teams are in same division)
(4) Better winning percentage against teams in own conference
(5) Better winning percentage against teams eligible for playoffs in own conference (including teams that finished the regular season tied for a playoff position)
(6) Better winning percentage against teams eligible for playoffs in opposite conference (including teams that finished the regular season tied for a playoff position)
(7) Better net result of total points scored minus total points allowed against all opponents ("point differential")
---------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------
More Than Two Teams Tied
In the case of a tie in regular season records involving more than two teams, the following criteria will be used in the following order:
(1) Division winner (this criterion is applied regardless of whether the tied teams are in the same division)
(2) Better winning percentage in all games among the tied teams
(3) Better winning percentage against teams in own division (only if all tied teams are in the same division)
(4) Better winning percentage against teams in own conference
(5) Better winning percentage against teams eligible for playoffs in own conference (including teams that finished the regular season tied for a playoff position)
(6) Better net result of total points scored less total points allowed against all opponents ("point differential")
Other ties are broken all at once. This is an important distinction because it's different from how the NFL does it. Although the NBA identifies the division winners before settling other ties, in all other cases, it settles ties with everybody thrown in the same stew. So, for example, if there's a three-way tie for a playoff spot and two of the teams are from the same division, they don't break the division tie first. All three teams get plunked into the pot together, and then the NBA fishes them out one by one based on the three-way tiebreaker. (See inset box.)
Jason Terry's act is getting tired. Sorry, that had nothing to do with the tiebreakers. Just wondering when his burgeoning résumé of cheap shots finally lands him in hot water with the league office. Now, where were we ...
Division winners get the tiebreaker. If two teams tie for a spot in the top four, and one is a division winner, the division winner automatically wins the tiebreaker. So, for example, in a tie between Dallas and the Lakers for the No. 2 seed in the West, L.A. would automatically get the tiebreaker as the division winner.
Partially broken multiteam ties reset. This one is tricky, but let's say that three teams tie for a playoff position and it goes to one of them on the fifth tiebreak (record against playoff teams in conference) ... but that the other two teams are still tied on that criteria. In that case, those other two teams revert to the first tiebreaker and start the dance all over again. That is also true if one of the teams eliminates itself at a tiebreaker by being the worst in any criteria.
This is NOT true, however, if the tiebreaker criteria separates all three teams from each other. In that case, they just get ranked based on where they fell on that criteria.
The better seed does not necessarily get home-court advantage. Home-court advantage goes to the team with the best record. Period. The seeding doesn't matter. It won't be an issue this season, but it has been a big one in others. It's most common to see home-court advantage go to the lower seed in the 4 versus 5 matchup, but it's also possible for a 6 to have home-court against a 3 in the first round, as the Clippers did against Denver in 2006. Theoretically, in the second round it's also possible for a 7 to have home-court advantage against a 3 or an 8 to have home-court against a 4, and in the conference finals for a 6 or 7 to have home-court advantage on a 4.
The rules are different for the Finals. See all that information in the box? The league barely uses any of it to break ties for home-court advantage in the Finals. If the two participants have the same record, the first tiebreaker is head-to-head record. If that is also a tie, the next tiebreak is record against the opposite conference. That's all they use.
And if that's tied, too? They do a random drawing. For the most important game of the season. Really.

[Mel_13]

After reading the link above, you are quoting from the wrong rule actually. That is the basis for determining a tie-breaker for initial seeding.

Instead, I think you need to look at these rules:
(1) Better winning percentage in games against each other.
(2) Better winning percentage against teams in own division (only if tied teams are in same division).
(3) Better winning percentage against teams in own conference.
(4) Better winning percentage against teams eligible for playoffs in own conference (including teams that finished the regular season tied for a playoff position).
(5) Better winning percentage against teams eligible for playoffs in opposite conference (including teams that finished the regular season tied for a playoff position)."

we are assuming rule 1 is already a tie, and rule 2 does not apply b/c they are not the same division. Rule 3 then applies, and does not say it does not apply when teams are in different conferences, as prior poster claims.

Thus, it looks to me that Rule 3 should determine the HCA between SA and CHI; SA at 36-12 and CHI at 34-13. Rule 4 would only apply if rule 3 were a tie.

If rule 3 can control, Spurs have a 1 loss advantage against chicago.

The same logic that leads you ignore division record (they're not in the same division) should lead you to ignore conference record as they're not in the same conference.

[mfanatic]

We don't need HC against the Bulls if for some reason we face them in the Finals. The Bulls are one of the only teams we can play small and win pretty easily, don't give me regular season W/L, if we make it to the Finals we will prevail. Tony Hill Manu Mcdyess Duncan will see majority of minutes.

[Mel_13]

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=PERDiem-110401&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba %2finsider%2fcolumns%2fstory%3fcolumnist%3dholling er_john%26page%3dPERDiem-110401

Well that settles it. Great job by Hollinger and Bruno to get the actual info.

Boo to the NBA for failing to post the full and complete rules on their website.

Thanks, Bruno.

[spursfaninla]

Mel, it was not LOGIC that I used to say rule 2 did not apply; the rule itself states as much.

However, rule 3 does not say that.


I trust Hollinger, so I guess this is all moot.

[Reck]

They know what's at stake. Losing is not an option. At least to these up coming teams.

[Dex]

We got 'dis. :smokin

[Strategic]

If the Spurs best the Hawks they should be able to secure HCA throughout the West before the Lakers game. If that happens would like to see Ginobili and McDyess get rested for the entire last week before beginning of playoffs, along with taking it easy on Duncan, Parker and even Jefferson. I really think the Bulls will have a difficult time making it out of the East. Boozer and Deng are one step below the Mavs when it comes to playoff success. Why would that change this year?

[Budkin]

oooh.. forgot... besides the lakers that is.

If we win all the other games it doesn't matter if the Lakers beat us.

[Giuseppe]

I hope about 7PM local time here yer 1 & 7.

tee, hee.

[shelshor]

http://www.nba.com/news/referee.html
Referee Assignment
Tue. Apr. 5
San Antonio @ Atlanta: Scott Foster; Derek Richardson; Sean Wright

[JR3]

The NBA wants that lakers spurs game to decide #1. So we will probably have to beat the hawks AND the refs tonight. Just prepare yourselves mentally for that.

[duncan228]

Advanced Scouting: San Antonio Spurs at Atlanta Hawks (http://www.48minutesofhell.com/)
by Scott Sereday
48 Minutes of Hell

San Antonio Spurs at Atlanta Hawks 6:00 CST April 5, 2011

The Spurs not only snapped their losing skid in a 114-97 blowout victory over the Nash-less Suns (http://www.48minutesofhell.com/san-antonio-spurs-phoenix-suns-slump-buster); they were also able to limit Ginobili to 24 minutes and Duncan to 18 minutes. At this point in the season, I think everyone can be happy with results like that.

Although Atlanta is much more formidable than Phoenix, the Hawks have struggled since the All star break. The primary reason for these difficulties appears to be the loss of Mike Bibby. Atlanta’s performance with Kirk Hinrich in the lineup has not met expectations:

Hawks with Hinrich -7.2 per 100 possessions in 561 minutes
Hawks without Hinrich +1.3 per 100

Keep reading → (http://www.48minutesofhell.com/spurs-stats-advanced-scouting-atlanta-hawks-4-5#more-13511)

[duncan228]

Hit the link for more quotes.


More than No. 1 seed, Spurs seek momentum (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/05/more-than-no-1-seed-spurs-seek-momentum/)
Jeff McDonald

Sunday’s slump-busting 114-97 win over Phoenix brought laughter back to the Spurs’ locker room.

Players joked and cut up, basking in the end of a six-game losing streak that had begun to wear on all of them.

Leave it to Tim Duncan, the team’s captain and emotional touchstone, to bring the room back down.

“This,” he said, “was a good start.”

Translation: Hold the champagne shower. There is work to be done.

Keep reading... (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/05/more-than-no-1-seed-spurs-seek-momentum/)

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/05/more-than-no-1-seed-spurs-seek-momentum/

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


Tuesday: Spurs (58-19) at Hawks (44-33) (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/05/tuesday-spurs-58-19-at-hawks-44-33/)
Jeff McDonald

...Spurs have lost four straight road games, with last away win coming March 18 at Dallas. They have won eight of past nine against Hawks...Popovich needs one victory to match Boston’s Red Auerbach for second place on NBA’s all-time wins list with one team (795). Jerry Sloan holds NBA record after notching 1,127 wins with Utah.

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/05/tuesday-spurs-58-19-at-hawks-44-33/