Solid D
01-02-2007, 05:31 PM
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17657221&BRD=1698&PAG=461&dept_id=21848&rfi=6
Bob Finnan, [email protected]
01/02/2007
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Spurs, a franchise Cavaliers are trying to emulate, bring 11-3 road mark to The Q
The Cavaliers are going from playing the team with the best home record in the NBA to the team that rarely loses on the road. They host the San Antonio Spurs (23-8) at 7 tonight at Quicken Loans Arena. The Spurs are an NBA-best 11-3 on the road this season. They had a 12-game road winning streak, which dated back to last year, snapped earlier in the season.
The Spurs are a veteran team led by their two star players (Tim Duncan and Tony Parker), are well-coached (Gregg Popovich), play rugged defense and are battle-tested.
"They've had the same nucleus and core that has been together year after year after year," Cavs coach Mike Brown said. "They have experience of winning on the road. They've been winning on the road since '98 and '99, and before I got there. It's a veteran team that's been through everything you can imagine, and found a way to come out on top. That's a great coach down there (Popovich).
"They post up, are a very good 3-point shooting team and can get out and run. They are very good defensive team. We'll have our hands full."
Conversely, the Cavaliers (17-12) have lost nine of their 13 road games this season, including a 103-96 verdict at Chicago on Saturday. The Bulls are an NBA-best 14-2 at home.
The Cavs emulate everything San Antonio. However, they have just one star player (LeBron James), their coach is not yet in Popovich's class and haven't been in many big battles. They do defend every bit as well as the Spurs.
Cleveland is trying to win three in a row over the Spurs for the first time since 1988. James is averaging 39.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists in his last two games against the Spurs. He's also shooting 55.9 percent from the field (33 of 59) in that span.
He fired in 44 points against San Antonio on Feb. 13, and followed that up with 35 in the Cavs' 88-81 victory on Nov. 3.
The Cavs are just one game off the Bulls' pace at home. They are 13-3 heading into the Spurs game, 4-0 against Western Conference teams. San Antonio has yet to lose to an Eastern Conference team on the road (3-0).
It might be a good time to play the Spurs. They have been ravaged by a stomach virus that has afflicted six players, two trainers, one assistant coach, at least three wives and assorted other family members. Duncan was suffering a bit on Sunday, but still finished with 17 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks in the Spurs' 95-81 victory over Atlanta.
Popovich has spared from the virus, but he's been sick of watching his team's defense.
"We don't seem to have the same passion for it, and it doesn't seem to hold the same sense of urgency," he told San Antonio writers. "I'm not sure this group believes in it as much as past groups as to how important it is for us. That's a major concern for us. We just don't have the same defensive consistency. That doesn't bode well for the team as we progress."
Despite Popovich's claims, the Spurs are among the top defensive teams in the league statistic-wise.
Notes
Center Zydrunas Ilgauskas is averaging 15 points and 8.1 rebounds in his last eight games. He's also shooting 50.5 percent from the field. During that stretch, he ranks second among NBA centers in scoring, third in offensive rebounds (3.6) and sixth in rebounds. ... All teams received a shipment of 10 new leather balls on Dec. 14, of which they could work into their rotations. Then they got 10 new balls and four used ones on Dec. 20. By the end of January, each team will receive an additional shipment of leather balls from Spalding. That shipment will bring each team's total to approximately 50. The Cavaliers will begin to use the leather balls against the Spurs.
ŠThe News-Herald 2007
Bob Finnan, [email protected]
01/02/2007
Email to a friendPost a CommentPrinter-friendly
Spurs, a franchise Cavaliers are trying to emulate, bring 11-3 road mark to The Q
The Cavaliers are going from playing the team with the best home record in the NBA to the team that rarely loses on the road. They host the San Antonio Spurs (23-8) at 7 tonight at Quicken Loans Arena. The Spurs are an NBA-best 11-3 on the road this season. They had a 12-game road winning streak, which dated back to last year, snapped earlier in the season.
The Spurs are a veteran team led by their two star players (Tim Duncan and Tony Parker), are well-coached (Gregg Popovich), play rugged defense and are battle-tested.
"They've had the same nucleus and core that has been together year after year after year," Cavs coach Mike Brown said. "They have experience of winning on the road. They've been winning on the road since '98 and '99, and before I got there. It's a veteran team that's been through everything you can imagine, and found a way to come out on top. That's a great coach down there (Popovich).
"They post up, are a very good 3-point shooting team and can get out and run. They are very good defensive team. We'll have our hands full."
Conversely, the Cavaliers (17-12) have lost nine of their 13 road games this season, including a 103-96 verdict at Chicago on Saturday. The Bulls are an NBA-best 14-2 at home.
The Cavs emulate everything San Antonio. However, they have just one star player (LeBron James), their coach is not yet in Popovich's class and haven't been in many big battles. They do defend every bit as well as the Spurs.
Cleveland is trying to win three in a row over the Spurs for the first time since 1988. James is averaging 39.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists in his last two games against the Spurs. He's also shooting 55.9 percent from the field (33 of 59) in that span.
He fired in 44 points against San Antonio on Feb. 13, and followed that up with 35 in the Cavs' 88-81 victory on Nov. 3.
The Cavs are just one game off the Bulls' pace at home. They are 13-3 heading into the Spurs game, 4-0 against Western Conference teams. San Antonio has yet to lose to an Eastern Conference team on the road (3-0).
It might be a good time to play the Spurs. They have been ravaged by a stomach virus that has afflicted six players, two trainers, one assistant coach, at least three wives and assorted other family members. Duncan was suffering a bit on Sunday, but still finished with 17 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks in the Spurs' 95-81 victory over Atlanta.
Popovich has spared from the virus, but he's been sick of watching his team's defense.
"We don't seem to have the same passion for it, and it doesn't seem to hold the same sense of urgency," he told San Antonio writers. "I'm not sure this group believes in it as much as past groups as to how important it is for us. That's a major concern for us. We just don't have the same defensive consistency. That doesn't bode well for the team as we progress."
Despite Popovich's claims, the Spurs are among the top defensive teams in the league statistic-wise.
Notes
Center Zydrunas Ilgauskas is averaging 15 points and 8.1 rebounds in his last eight games. He's also shooting 50.5 percent from the field. During that stretch, he ranks second among NBA centers in scoring, third in offensive rebounds (3.6) and sixth in rebounds. ... All teams received a shipment of 10 new leather balls on Dec. 14, of which they could work into their rotations. Then they got 10 new balls and four used ones on Dec. 20. By the end of January, each team will receive an additional shipment of leather balls from Spalding. That shipment will bring each team's total to approximately 50. The Cavaliers will begin to use the leather balls against the Spurs.
ŠThe News-Herald 2007