Spurs vs. Sonics Dec. 8th -- Game Blog

[duncan2k5]

Tonight is a statement game. This game will decide whether or not seattle is a legit threat to the spurs. We already dismantled Dallas (even though Streaky Finlet was injured) and Detroit. Now we need to Kill Seattle, Minnesota and the Suns to solidify our dominance. I know the first game against Seattle caught us off guard, but now we know what they are about and how we need to play them. We need to gome out guns blazing. parker needs to spin in the lane with his floaters. manu needs to wreak havoc timmy NEEDS to posterize that 300 pound, rasta wannabee after his lackluster first game. Rash needs to block shots, rebound and make his shots. brent needs to keep shooting. Bowen NEEDS to play lights out defence against allen and Lewis. Devin needs to be Devin, Beno needs to be solid. Rose needs to be himself, not TIM#2. Horry (if he plays) needs to rebound and defend. I dont mind him missing shots that moch because he takes good shots. Mass Needs to clobber them (not thuggery, just payback) for how their big men play people sometimes. thats my keys to winning this big game (i know its early in the season, but still a big game).

[bigzak25]

hand in the shooters face and limit turnovers and our Spurs will be fine.

don't get lackadaisakal (fk if i know how to spell it) with the long boards either.

[TheWriter]

bigz, I've been meaning to ask... who's the woman in the green top in your sig?

[bigzak25]

J Luv Hewitt man.

[maxpower]

same one as in the avatar.

[ShoogarBear]

bigz, I've been meaning to ask. . .

But he had to wait for an opportunity when he could type with both hands . . .

[boutons]

when I stumble across the The Tuxedo on cable, I watch it just for JLH. :) Funny looking chick, but she's got "something".

[ShoogarBear]

Yeah, you just wish you could put your finger on it . . .

[Marcus Bryant]

My fellow St. Croix resident lays it down.

[2centsworth]

an elbow to FAT Boy' Forston's groin and we'll be in good shape.

[ShoogarBear]

Ohboy, watch out duncan2k5, now The Man Without a Country is a VI-er.

[ShoogarBear]

Some interesting numbers from a rare (for them) interesting article on nba.com. I have bolded what I think the key factor will be:

Two of the league's best meet tonight
Inside the Numbers: Spurs and Sonics

By Rob Peterson

Dec. 8 -- At the SBC Center tonight in San Antonio (8:30 p.m. ET, NBA League Pass), the Spurs host the Sonics, two of the best teams in the NBA. While most people have been stunned by the Sonics' 15-3 start, others are surprised the Spurs' 16-3 record is the best start in their rich history, besting a 14-5 start they've achieved twice.

As for the Sonics' best start, well, this season's Sonics have a ways to go. They would need to win their next 11 to match the 26-3 start of George Karl's 1993-94 Sonics team. That being said, here's a look at some of the impressive team numbers these two stellar squads bring into the contest.

THE BASICS

1 -- Seed in the West the Spurs would be if the playoffs started today

2 -- Seed the Sonics would be

3 -- Number of losses for each team

8 -- San Antonio's current winning streak, longest in the league right now

15 -- Sonics wins, tied with Phoenix for second most

16 -- Spurs wins, tops in the NBA

THE RECORDS

8-0 -- Spurs' record this season at the SBC Center (one of two teams undefeated at home)

9-0 -- Sonics' record at Key Arena (Yep, they're the other team)

7-0 -- San Antonio's record when scoring more than 100 points

0-1 -- Spurs' record when opponent scores more than 100 points

10-0 -- Seattle's record when scoring more than 100 points

THE STATS

+7.05 -- Spurs' assists per game differential (22.57 apg to their opponents' 15.52 apg)

12.0 -- Spurs' point differential, tops in the league with Phoenix

30 -- The largest margin of victory (108-78 vs. Kings on Nov. 10) and largest margin of defeat (114-84 at Clippers on Nov. 3)

28.4 -- Percentage of Sonics' shots that are 3-pointers

.381 -- San Antonio's defensive 3-point percentage, third worst in the league

.396 -- Seattle's 3-point percentage, best in the NBA

.399 -- Sonics' record for team 3-point percentage (2000-01)

.407 -- The Spurs' defensive field goal percentage, tops in the NBA

429 -- Total number of Spurs' assists this season

.451 -- Seattle's overall field goal percentage, ninth best in the NBA

.473 -- Seattle's overall field goal percentage without 3-pointers

.719 -- San Antonio's free throw percentage, up from .688 the previous season

.800 -- Seattle's free throw percentage

84.1 -- Points per game Spurs allow opponents, tops in the league by more than five points

100.2 -- Points per game the Sonics are averaging, fifth highest total in the league

113-94 -- Score of Sonics' win in the first meeting between the teams this season on Nov. 7 in Seattle

Link (http://www.nba.com/features/inside_sonicsspurs_041207.html)

[timvp]

This should be a good game. The Spurs haven't been doing a good job guarding the three-point shooters. If they don't fix that for this game, it's going to be a long night.

Expect to see a lot of Rose and Horry tonight. I also expect Parker to abuse Ridnour.

[ALVAREZ6]

I expect to see Manu abuse the sonics

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

Look for Bowen to slow down Allen just enough to win this one. It will be close, but the SBC Center will continue to be good to the Spurs.

[myhc]

grrr. 2 offensive rebounds already.

[mattyc]

12:00 Start of period
12:00 SA Jumpball received by Manu Ginobili
11:57 SA Manu Ginobili made 3-pt. Jump Shot

Good start. :)

[SPURS21]

Reggie Evans>TD

I wanna see TD go hard, no jump shots, none of this pussy shit

If Fortson has his way tonite with timmy :pctoss

[myhc]

we're getting outmuscled down there. 10-5 rebounding edge for the sonics.

[ALVAREZ6]

Why dont they cancel the game and just have a 3 point contest

thats what it seems like...

[duncan2k5]

My fellow St. Croix resident lays it down.
you from st croix too? where u live?

[myhc]

Seattle up by 12. Does anyone still think they're a fluke?

[deepsouth]

They are killing us with the rebounds.
Could anyone of you who are looking at the game please describe what is happening?

[Manu20]

We are getting our butt kicked. Seattle with a 19 point lead at the half.
Anybody think the Spurs are going to comeback and win this game?

[myhc]

We are getting our butt kicked. Seattle with a 19 point lead at the half.
Anybody think the Spurs are going to comeback and win this game?

With the way we're shooting tonight and the way Seattle is always capable of shooting, no. Plus we're scared to get after rebounds so that's another negative.

[ggoose25]

sweet i like it when the spurs get blown out. And by like i mean hate.

[ducks]

pop made a good half time speech

[deepsouth]

What is happening with horry?

[ggoose25]

fortson can shoot ft's? And TD can't? WTF!!@#

[Dalamar_the_Dark]

We're back we're back trailing by 2 points only!

[CHAMPS AGAIN]

AD.made the difference in the game he was great in the 2nd.quarter he was the player of the game.

[Solid D]

After all that momentum...a key moment in the game. Malik has just drawn the Spurs within 2. The Sonics miss at the other end and try as he might...Tim cannot quite corral the rebound and stumbles trying to get to the loose ball before it goes out of bounds. So close...yet so far away. :( Sonics inbound and Tim doesn't close out on the switch and Ray Allen knocks down a three. Instead of the Spurs having the ball, momentum and going for the tie, they are down by 5 in the blink of an eye.

Two trips later, Allen banks in a three and the Spurs are down by 10.

Anyone, still questioning Fortson's value to this Sonics team? Anyone? If you do, you're missing some good games.

[Manu20]

Yeah, looked like Tim lost his balance and at the same time lost the ball. That ruined the spurs momentum.

[boutons]

"Tim doesn't close out on the switch and Ray Allen knocks down a three"

switch? The guy who's killing us all night gets the ball, and Tim gives him a distant, little "hi Ray, ya gonna shoot?" limp-wrist wave rather than really switch onto Ray.

result: Ray sinks the dagger 3. Game over.