duncan228
02-11-2008, 09:52 AM
http://www.nba.com/games/20080211/SASTOR/preview.html?nav=scoreboardhome
Spurs-Raptors Preview
By MIKE VOTTA, STATS Senior Writer
The Toronto Raptors are at their best when their offense is efficient, but that's hard to pull off against San Antonio.
The Raptors will be trying to build on a string of impressive offensive performances on Monday when they host the Spurs.
Toronto (27-22) won 105-82 at Minnesota on Sunday for its fifth win in eight games. Andrea Bargnani scored 16 points and Jose Calderon had 15 and 10 assists for his second consecutive double-double, as the Raptors reached triple figures for the seventh time in eight games.
T.J. Ford contributed 13 assists. He and Calderon, who has posted at least 10 assists in eight of his last nine games, combined for more assists than the Timberwolves had combined.
"We just tried to get everyone involved,'' said Calderon, who has 19 double-doubles. "We just tried to find the wide open guys and not force it. ... Everybody made the extra pass, that's how we beat this team tonight.''
Toronto shot 50.6 percent against the Timberwolves and has shot at least 50 percent in its last five wins and six of its past seven victories. The Raptors are 12-2 when shooting better than 50 percent, but they also have been held under 40 percent their last five defeats.
Points and high-percentage shots likely won't come easy against the Spurs (32-17), one of the best defensive teams in the league. San Antonio is holding opponents to just 91.3 points per game and 45.3 percent shooting, and none of its last six opponents have shot 50 percent.
The Raptors have only shot 50 percent twice in 24 all-time games against the Spurs and have reached triple digits just four times. They have lost nine of 11 against San Antonio, but won 83-73 on the road on Dec. 28.
The Spurs lost 98-90 in Boston on Sunday, ending a four-game winning streak. Tim Duncan had 22 points, 14 rebounds and six assists, and Manu Ginobili scored 21 points for the Spurs, who fell to 4-3 on their current nine-game road trip.
"We have an opportunity and a great shot by (Michael Finley) that rattles in and out to tie the game down the stretch,'' Duncan said. "Then two turnovers in a row and they get two offensive rebounds. Just too many mistakes that bit us down the stretch there.''
Point guard Tony Parker missed his sixth straight game with a sore left ankle.
The Spurs should be a tough test for the Raptors, whose last three opponents - including Miami and the Los Angeles Clippers - are all in last place in their divisions. Toronto bounced back Sunday after a disappointing 102-98 loss to the Clippers on Friday.
"(Friday) was a tough game,'' said Bargnani, who is averaging 19.8 points - nearly double his 10.0 season average - and shooting 50.7 percent his last five games. "We played good almost the whole game, then lost at the end on very bad luck. We did a good job to stay focused as they came back today.''
Spurs-Raptors Preview
By MIKE VOTTA, STATS Senior Writer
The Toronto Raptors are at their best when their offense is efficient, but that's hard to pull off against San Antonio.
The Raptors will be trying to build on a string of impressive offensive performances on Monday when they host the Spurs.
Toronto (27-22) won 105-82 at Minnesota on Sunday for its fifth win in eight games. Andrea Bargnani scored 16 points and Jose Calderon had 15 and 10 assists for his second consecutive double-double, as the Raptors reached triple figures for the seventh time in eight games.
T.J. Ford contributed 13 assists. He and Calderon, who has posted at least 10 assists in eight of his last nine games, combined for more assists than the Timberwolves had combined.
"We just tried to get everyone involved,'' said Calderon, who has 19 double-doubles. "We just tried to find the wide open guys and not force it. ... Everybody made the extra pass, that's how we beat this team tonight.''
Toronto shot 50.6 percent against the Timberwolves and has shot at least 50 percent in its last five wins and six of its past seven victories. The Raptors are 12-2 when shooting better than 50 percent, but they also have been held under 40 percent their last five defeats.
Points and high-percentage shots likely won't come easy against the Spurs (32-17), one of the best defensive teams in the league. San Antonio is holding opponents to just 91.3 points per game and 45.3 percent shooting, and none of its last six opponents have shot 50 percent.
The Raptors have only shot 50 percent twice in 24 all-time games against the Spurs and have reached triple digits just four times. They have lost nine of 11 against San Antonio, but won 83-73 on the road on Dec. 28.
The Spurs lost 98-90 in Boston on Sunday, ending a four-game winning streak. Tim Duncan had 22 points, 14 rebounds and six assists, and Manu Ginobili scored 21 points for the Spurs, who fell to 4-3 on their current nine-game road trip.
"We have an opportunity and a great shot by (Michael Finley) that rattles in and out to tie the game down the stretch,'' Duncan said. "Then two turnovers in a row and they get two offensive rebounds. Just too many mistakes that bit us down the stretch there.''
Point guard Tony Parker missed his sixth straight game with a sore left ankle.
The Spurs should be a tough test for the Raptors, whose last three opponents - including Miami and the Los Angeles Clippers - are all in last place in their divisions. Toronto bounced back Sunday after a disappointing 102-98 loss to the Clippers on Friday.
"(Friday) was a tough game,'' said Bargnani, who is averaging 19.8 points - nearly double his 10.0 season average - and shooting 50.7 percent his last five games. "We played good almost the whole game, then lost at the end on very bad luck. We did a good job to stay focused as they came back today.''