Spurs to play at Portland on Christmas opening day?

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Hollinger and others are reporting that the 5 games to open off the season will be:

Boston @ New York
Chicago @ Los Angeles
Miami @ Dallas
Memphis Grizzlies @ OKC Thunder.
San Antonio Spurs @ Portland Blazers



http://i52.tinypic.com/27yads9.png



http://www.ksat.com/news/Spurs-vs-Portland-on-Christmas-Day/-/478452/4846398/-/i5yepgz/-/index.html

[MR.SILVER&BLack]

wow thats a great group of games.

[lefty]

I want the Grizz :madrun

[silverblk mystix]

I want the Grizz :madrun

so does the grizz...

Gasol and Randolph et all drool at the sight of a Pop coached-Duncan/Bonner front line...

[Bruno]

Good news.
In a season that has so many in such a short time, having an additional day of rest on the season compared to the 20 teams that will start the season the 26th December can't hurt.

From what I've read, Spurs preseason games should be 2 games (home and away) against a team close geographically. I guess it will be the Rockets.

[hater]

I want the Grizz :madrun

eventhough they would rape us I would love to see this too

[jiggy_55]

Hollinger and others are reporting that the 5 games to open off the season will be:

Boston @ New York
Chicago @ Los Angeles
Miami @ Dallas
Memphis Grizzlies @ OKC Thunder.
San Antonio Spurs @ Portland Blazers



http://i52.tinypic.com/27yads9.png



http://www.ksat.com/news/Spurs-vs-Portland-on-Christmas-Day/-/478452/4846398/-/i5yepgz/-/index.html

"I'll guess"... it means its pure guessing lol! He even confirmed later that this is just random speculation on his part

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Several news outlets are reporting it, so I thought it was thread worthy. And I'm sure there's some substance behind Hollinger's post.

Friday morning we will get the official news.

[jag]

It's almost too bad the Suns are so shitty now. The Christmas matchup with them was a doozy.

It seems like it was pure speculation on Hollinger's part. It'd be great and all, but I just don't see the Spurs being scheduled on Christmas.

[Seventyniner]

How many times have the Spurs opened on the road in the Duncan era? Once?

[FromWayDowntown]

How many times have the Spurs opened on the road in the Duncan era? Once?

Timmy's first game was the opener in 1997-98, which the Spurs played in Denver.

I know they opened on the road in 2002-03 with a game at the Lakers.

They also opened on the road in Dallas in 2006-07 -- that game is famous for the Mavericks' choice to save their Western Conference Champions banner ceremony for their second home game.

[Seventyniner]

Timmy's first game was the opener in 1997-98, which the Spurs played in Denver.

I know they opened on the road in 2002-03 with a game at the Lakers.

They also opened on the road in Dallas in 2006-07 -- that game is famous for the Mavericks' choice to save their Western Conference Champions banner ceremony for their second home game.

Thanks for the info. I only remembered that last one off the top of my head.

Two of those three were championship years, so here's hoping!

[FromWayDowntown]

From what I've read, Spurs preseason games should be 2 games (home and away) against a team close geographically. I guess it will be the Rockets.

That's what it was in 1999.

I guess at this point, the Rockets and Hornets may be closer geographically, but NO-MEM makes a lot of sense as well.

In 1999, some teams played home and away sets with the same team, but not all -- Portland played both Seattle and Vancouver. Those 3 aside, the matchups in 1999 were:

Indiana/Chicago
Boston/Toronto
San Antonio/Houston
Cleveland/Detroit
New Jersey/New York
Milwaukee/Minnesota
Golden State/Sacramento
Washington/Philadelphia
Atlanta/Charlotte
Denver/Utah
Lakers/Clippers
Miami/Orlando
Phoenix/Dallas

[Seventyniner]

That's what it was in 1999.

I guess at this point, the Rockets and Hornets may be closer geographically, but NO-MEM makes a lot of sense as well.

NO/MEM makes more sense, given that DAL/OKC is a likely matchup. That would leave Phoenix paired with one LA team, and the other likely headed to Golden State.

I could see PHO/LAL, LAC/GS, SAC/POR, DAL/OKC, NO/MEM, with the rest the same as 1999.

[Fireball]

In the tweet it says Blazers-Spurs ... who has the info it might be a road game?

[gospursgojas]

In the tweet it says Blazers-Spurs ... who has the info it might be a road game?

If true probably a road game as that'll be the late west coast game

[Fireball]

If true probably a road game as that'll be the late west coast game

All right, that makes sense ... hate to start the season on the road though ... also against a team the Spurs often struggle against.

[DesignatedT]

Starting the season @Portland wouldn't be bad. Better than having to fly up there during a b2b or something later in the year.

[Fireball]

Cannot wait another month ... with only 2 preseason games this will be a lot of fun

[Jacob1983]

No Bobcats, Pacers, or Kings?

[crc21209]

According to Spurs Nation, the Spurs-Blazers game on Christmas night might be in doubt now because it's now being reported that the night-cap game is the LA Clippers @ the Warriors. The full schedule is released tomorrow so I guess we'll find out.....

[Obstructed_View]

Yeah, it's the Spurs and Portland, but it's not on TV.

[stephen jackson]

According to Spurs Nation, the Spurs-Blazers game on Christmas night might be in doubt now because it's now being reported that the night-cap game is the LA Clippers @ the Warriors. The full schedule is released tomorrow so I guess we'll find out.....
of course they rather have bg on tv. :depressed

[crc21209]

Yeah, it's the Spurs and Portland, but it's not on TV.

Link?

[Obstructed_View]

Link?

Joke, actually.

[DMC]

With the shortened, compressed season and the RRT, the Spurs should see considerable home games for a couple of months.

[Fireball]

Spurs will not play on Christmas ...

the other two games will be Magic vs. Thunder and Clippers vs. Warriors

http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2011/12/02/merry-christmas-5-times-from-the-nba/?ls=iref:nbahpt1

[Amuseddaysleeper]

That's a bummer, was looking forward to that potential game

[lazerelmo]

"The revised 66-game schedule will be released Tuesday night during an NBA TV special."

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/Orlando-Magic-Oklahoma-City-Thunder-Los-Angeles-Clippers-Golden-State-Warriors-added-to-Christmas-NBA-lineup-120211

[dylankerouac]

Ooh I like T.V. specials.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Man, I really really hope the Spurs come to Toronto this year, though I'm sure it's gonna be unlikely.

Road trip to Detroit, here I come!

[Bruno]

Parker is leaking the schedule on his Radio show.

First 2 games are at home: 26th vs. Grizzlies, 28th vs. Clippers.

The season will end with 8 games in 11 days. Spurs won't play against Lakers before April.

Spurs will have a back to back to back between on April 17th, 18th and 19th.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Parker is leaking the schedule on his Radio show.

First 2 games are at home: 26th vs. Grizzlies, 28th vs. Clippers.

The season will end with 8 games in 11 days. Spurs won't play against Lakers before April.

:wow


I also hope the Spurs will make the trip to Toronto this year, but I doubt it

[timtonymanu]

The official schedule is suppose to be released tomorrow, right?

[crc21209]

Damn. Opening night against the Grizzlies huh? Awesome....payback is a bitch!

[Mel_13]

The official schedule is suppose to be released tomorrow, right?

NBA TV at 6pm CT.

[Fireball]

Parker is leaking the schedule on his Radio show.

First 2 games are at home: 26th vs. Grizzlies, 28th vs. Clippers.

The season will end with 8 games in 11 days. Spurs won't play against Lakers before April.

Spurs will have a back to back to back between on April 17th, 18th and 19th.

Does this mean the Spurs were kind of lucky and have only one stretch of B2B2Bs? Having to play 8 games in 11 days before the playoffs start is a real problem though. Strong start into the season is necessary, secure a playoff spot early ...