Game Blog: Spurs vs Cavs - Apr 22

Game Blog - Spurs vs Cavs

http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/.ele...mlogos/CLE.gif AT http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/.ele...mlogos/SAS.gif

Game Info

• Date: April 22nd, 2012
• Time: 6:00pm CDT/ 7:00pm EDT
• TV: FSSW
• Arena: AT&T Center
• Officials: D. Jones, K. Scott, M. Smith

Game Links

• TV Companion
• Spurs Notes
• Cavs Notes

Season Series

• 04/03 - SAS 125 @ CLE 90 [Link]

Game Preview

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The San Antonio Spurs' average victory margin during their current six-game run is 19.1 points.

That figure pales in comparison to the margin of their rout of the Cleveland Cavaliers earlier this month.

The Spurs can take another step toward clinching the best record in the Western Conference on Sunday night when they host the Cavaliers.

San Antonio (46-16) is one-half game ahead of Oklahoma City for the West's best mark and owns the tiebreaker over the Thunder. The Spurs maintained that gap with Friday's 121-97 home win over the Lakers, although their focus is clearly on what lies ahead.

"We've been playing pretty well but the playoffs, that's a situation where you have to do it night after night for a while," coach Gregg Popovich said.
Tim Duncan had 21 points and eight rebounds, Tony Parker had 20 points and 10 assists, and Manu Ginobili added 20 points and seven assists Friday. Those three players have combined to log 18 fourth-quarter minutes over the last four games, with rest a priority.

"That's our goal, to try and play our best basketball when the playoffs start," Parker said. "The main key is to stay healthy and to make sure everyone's fresh and I think that's Pop's main focus right now."

Parker and Duncan sat out the entire fourth quarter of a 125-90 win in Cleveland on April 3. That remains San Antonio's most lopsided victory since beating Golden State 123-98 on Dec. 6, 2008.

While the Spurs' stars can be expected to see limited minutes Sunday, Cleveland (21-41) may rest Kyrie Irving. The leading Rookie of the Year candidate has played twice since a nine-game absence due to a shoulder injury, and coach Byron Scott wants to protect him even though the point guard's impact on the team is obvious.

"He's a difference-maker," Scott said. "When he's on the floor, I think guys feel a little more comfortable and they know he's going to get things done."
Irving made a difference Friday with a game-high 21 points, and Manny Harris had 19 and a career-high 12 rebounds as the Cavaliers ended a three-game slide with a 98-90 home win over New York.

"I'm happy to play, but if (Scott) pulls me out, I understand completely," said Irving, whose 18.6 scoring average tops all rookies by a wide margin. "Getting a chance to get back out there, competing with my teammates again, felt good. Especially with the fan turnout we had. It was an amazing thing."

Friday's contest marked Irving's first home game since the blowout loss to the Spurs earlier this month. San Antonio built a 14-point lead after one quarter and went on to outscore Cleveland 18-0 in fast-break points.

Parker had 19 points and five assists in 22 minutes in his first matchup with Irving, who made 5 of 15 shots for 13 points. The Cavs surrendered their highest point total all season in their fourth straight loss to the Spurs.

San Antonio shouldn't be any easier to slow down Sunday, having averaged 120.0 points in the past four games. The Spurs have shot 59.8 percent from the field over the last three after hitting a season-high 61.0 percent Friday.

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Go spurs Go!! :flag:

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o.../spurs_win.jpg

You forgot something...

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o.../spurs_win.jpg

Thanks hah

Will the big 3 be available?

:flag:

Lets put this one away early and stay healthy. Go Spurs Go!

I want to see kawhi go off in this game

So with the Thunder loss, is the Spurs' magic number to lock the #1 seed, 2 wins?

2 wins

Today and Tomorrow wins and the 1st seed is ours.

Who's in the starting lineup tonight?

Go Spurs Go! :flag:

Spurs just need to win 1 out of the next 4 to clinch 1st seed.

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Originally Posted by Spurs4#5

2 wins

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Not really. While officially OKC is one full game behind the Spurs they are really 2 behind.

Spurs owns the tie breaker so it doesn't matter if they end up tied in the standings. 1 more win is all they need.

it's Blair/Diaw on nba.com... so no Tim.

Spurs need 2 wins of the next 4 for HCA in the West

Finally a Spurs call!!

Damn can't believe we still have four games to play while most teams have 1-2 games left.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shadowflames

Not really. While officially OKC is one full game behind the Spurs they are really 2 behind.

Spurs owns the tie breaker so it doesn't matter if they end up tied in the standings. 1 more win is all they need.

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no...if we lose 3 games we'll be at 19 loses while the thunder will only have 18...so we have to win 2

So Tim is taking the night off, I guess.

Tim is warming up, hope he plays a little.

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Originally Posted by eyestalker

Faggot fuck!! Why not Tiago?

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because tiaho is more effective with ginobili on the court

Bill just said Blair and Diaw will start.

I don't think TD will play off the bench. He'll get a DNP

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Originally Posted by Spurs4#5

because tiaho is more effective with ginobili on the court

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And because Pop is appeasing cheeseburger Blair.

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Originally Posted by Spurs Brazil

Bill just said Blair and Diaw will start.

I don't think TD will play off the bench. He'll get a DNP

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I really hope Pop learned his lesson about bringing Duncan off the bench.

I have no problem giving Blair the start. He basically got thrown to the end of the bench against the Lakers and still came in ready to play and worked hard.

lol wtf was that, Danny?

lol Blair.

Blair's fat ass

Tony 22222

We need to get rid of Blair this off season. He makes the Spurs look terrible.

Tony found the floater again. Good timing.

Good start for Tony

Diaw is the man

lol Irving trying to pull a Chauncey.

Tony going for 30 tonight

dial should take that shot

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shadowflames

We need to get rid of Blair this off season. He makes the Spurs look terrible.

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As good as he is on offense, you really have to marvel at how bad he has to be on defense to have so little value.

Diaw has gotta shoot for once.

He had a wide open look but no one was under the rim.

Blair turnover machine

You keep giving up that wide-open three, don't they have to start hitting it?

Pop talks about respecting this team, but then doesn't start Tim.

Gotta love Diaw throwing multiple pumpfakes from beyond the arc when no one is within 15 feet.

We need to run the pick and roll on this team, we could bury them quickly if we do. Right now we are just going one on one (except Diaw who's turning down shots).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DMC

Pop talks about respecting this team, but then doesn't start Tim.

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what are you talking about im pretty sure tim aint playing because he is getting the day off

:lol Blair airball

Diaw playing SF

I hope diaw's unwillingness to shoot won't bite the spurs in the ass in playoffs...

Bad first quarter so far. We'll get 'em in the second.

Blair is a JOKE

Blair absolutely sucks

Call CPS, Blair is getting abused.

Blair needs to be on the bench. He fucking sucks.

Blair just sucks...

Nice work, Boris!

I hate Blair.

Honestly wtf has gotten into Blair

God Blair is a POS.

Pretty embarrassing so fAr. Glad Blair is out

Good God. Get Blair out.

Solid

Spurs are lucky Pop didn't wait till the playoffs to see the light regarding Blair

Blair hurt this team too much.

blair just making his stupid plays like always out there he had diaw wide open if he would of just passed it off to him instead of trying to take it to the basket all by himself

Just like that

KL! What's his 3 number in the last 10 games? around 70%?

Neal with the hail mary to the upper deck

Leonard 33333

Byron's looking especially shiny.

Yep now I don't even wanna see Blair play against scrub teams. I'd rather see Anderson play PF over Blair.

How did they wait until Splitter missed that shot to blow the whistle? Fuck.

Blair out we make a run, it's been like that the whole year.

I hope Pop is not crazy to start him in the playoffs

Manu/Splitter PnR !!!

There's that wide open three again. They didn't hit it yet.

manu 3

Leonard is getting some nice practice, how to defend top NBA PG-s. Maybe he is getting ready against Clipps and possibly the Bulls?

Manu and Leonard playing great

It's gonna be a sad mufvkn day when Manu Ginobili retires :depressed

Quote:

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Originally Posted by timvp

It's gonna be a sad mufvkn day when Manu Ginobili retires :depressed

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:depressed:depressed:depressed:depressed

Damn, Splitter block

nice block Splitter

:flag:

Bonner fighting for the boards, I like this trend

The Bonner-Splitter frontcourt is pretty damn good.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ace3g

Bonner fighting for the boards, I like this trend

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Trouble is, he was fighting with Splitter.

Matty in full blown playoff mode.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Obstructed_View

Trouble is, he was fighting with Splitter.

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:lol

that was close

Quote:

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Originally Posted by timvp

It's gonna be a sad mufvkn day when Manu Ginobili retires :depressed

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Glad like hell that it aint happening very soon...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by timvp

It's gonna be a sad mufvkn day when Manu Ginobili retires :depressed

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I'm hoping he will coach the Spurs when he retires from playing. Maybe he could find some players like himself to bring in.

The Spurs have to be #1 at allowing the other team to score on a buzzer beater.

You woudl think 04 Fisher would teach them something.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by szkorhetz

The Bonner-Splitter frontcourt is pretty damn good.

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Let's see how you think about it after the 1st playoff game.