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you Bonner !
6:30pm
Never posted a game blog, but I didn't see one yet. Go Spurs!
The line is Miami by 6.5 and that Accuscore thingy on ESPN says 78%/22% in favor of Miami. What say you?http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=320117014
Spurs-Heat Preview
The upcoming schedule this week was already going to be a challenge for the Miami Heat.
Playing it without injured star guard Dwyane Wade would make it significantly tougher.
With Wade out for at least this game, the struggling Heat open a five-game homestand Tuesday night against the San Antonio Spurs, who are again trying to carry their home success to the road.
Wade has already missed three games due to a previous foot injury and is averaging just 19.6 points -- well off his 2010-11 pace of 25.5 per game. That was before he sprained his right ankle in the fourth quarter of Friday's 117-104 loss at Denver, Miami's third consecutive defeat to close a five-game trip.
Wade did not practice with the Heat (8-4) on Sunday, and while coach Erik Spoelstra ruled him out for this game Tuesday morning and did not offer a timetable for Wade's return, forward Chris Bosh would prefer his teammate take his time to get back to 100 percent.
"He needs to get healthy," said Bosh of Wade, who turns 30 on Tuesday. "That's the most important thing. He's been pushing it. He's been giving us everything he has. And unfortunately in the last game, he turned his ankle. But sometimes things happen. He probably needed to sit down and rest in the first place.
"He needs to just chill out right now, get better and we'll hold it down until he can come back," Bosh added.
Bosh is averaging 19.2 points overall, but has scored 16.3 per game on 41.7 percent shooting his last four contests. That has left LeBron James shouldering the offensive burden -- something he has done by averaging 29.0 points in those four games -- but it has not gotten the Heat back to winning.
Things likely won't get much easier with the Los Angeles Lakers and Atlantic Division-leading Philadelphia visiting after the Spurs.
"I've got to step it up even more offensively and defensively," James said. "Revert back to some of the ways back in Cleveland, when I knew I for the most part had to be the No. 1 option offensively."
Even without injured guard Manu Ginobili, San Antonio (9-4) has always found enough offense at home. On Sunday night, Tim Duncan picked up the slack with a season-high 24 points and 11 rebounds in 31 efficient minutes during a 102-91 victory over Phoenix as the Spurs improved to 9-0 at home.
For Duncan, the offseason work on his jumper paid dividends as he made 10 of 14 from the field.
"Especially this summer, I worked on it a lot trying to extend my range a little bit," said Duncan, who is shooting a career-low 47.3 percent. "Be a little more consistent. It's been up and down so far but great tonight."
Defensively, the Spurs appear to have found a groove. They've limited opponents to 89.7 points per game and 41.7 percent shooting during their three-game winning streak after yielding an average of 110.3 points on 53.1 percent shooting in the previous three, a 1-2 stretch.
"It's been up and down. We're not at the consistency where we need to be at," Duncan admitted. "All in all we're getting there. It's a work in progress. We know it's a long season. We use the season to get where we want to be. But defensively we have to be a lot better."
That's certainly true on the road, where the Spurs have gone 0-4 and allowed 106.3 points per game on 52.5 percent shooting. San Antonio has allowed each opponent to shoot 50.6 percent or better and score at least 105 points.
The home team won by 30 in each meeting between these teams last season, with the Heat's 110-80 victory ending San Antonio's three-game win streak in Miami.
I think they can take this one if they can man up and play hard on the road.
you Bonner !
The way we have been playing of late and the way the Heat have been somewhat struggling I definitely expect us to compete for our first road win tonight. We just need to hang in there throughout and stay within arms length at the least so that when crunch time rolls around LeBron will get in his own head and then its anyone's contest. Definitely looking forward to seeing what Kawhi can do in the toughest test of a match up yet in his young career.
JMcDonald_SAEN Gary Neal (thigh bruise) will be available tonight. Dwyane Wade (ankle sprain) will not play.
JMcDonald_SAEN Manu Ginobili is on this two-game Florida trip, but obviously won't play while recovering from a broken hand.
JMcDonald_SAEN Beginning tonight, Spurs play 16 of next 21 on road. Stretch includes six back-to-backs, and nine road games vs. 2011 playoff teams
JMcDonald_SAEN Pop, on change of coaching young players: "We've got a guy who can dunk now. He did it today in practice, about three of us fell over.
JMcDonald_SAEN Pop, on change of coaching young players: "We've got a guy who can dunk now. He did it today in practice, about three of us fell over.
I wonder, this guy that can dunk...Malcolm Thomas? Or maybe just Kawhi Leonard?
Will Malcolm Thomas be available?
I need two in-a-row...and I need 'em close together.
Rise sunshine state. Let no heart be faint. Let every arm be steeled.
Charge!!!!!!!
Truly are weird...
None of this!
None of this!
It's hard to think about the game when I see that girl's ass in your sig....what was I gonna say?? Oh yeah........where is the girl with the sign, with the relatively long skirt. Back to the game, it's going to be great seeing Kawhi on Lebron. Also glad to hear Neal will be playing, hopefully less pg!
Thanks for getting it going, as for our odds, if Pop doesn't throw in the towel the first time the going gets tough, I think it will be close.
Go Spurs Go!!
Win or loss. Not important.
Just wanna see Kawhi on Lebron.
NBA TV preview of the game currently streamed on NBA.com
http://www.nba.com/nbatv/fannight/#?ls=iref:nbahpt1
We haven't really competed on the road as of yet so I expect them to put it all together tonight and bring home a W. I am a little concerned about the Bosh/Blair matchup. Blair doesn't have the length to deal with Bosh so hopefully Pop comes to his senses early and put Splitter on him.
Splitter has the ability to contain if not lock down Bosh. He also provide defense to prevent James from consistently scoring in the paint. Pop doesn't care though and will play Blair more minutes. On the bright side Blair should be able to decent on offense against the heat bigs,imho.
Wade out
Manu out
Spurs winless on road
Miami hasn't played since Friday (3 full days rest) - the most disturbing thing IMO.
Miami -6.5 is the spread.
I need it so bad tonite I can taste it.
Please, God, please let it be so.
Parker and RJ have been terrible in away games this season. They both need to step it up tonight
Thanks. That was the missing piece to this thread.
Thanks. That was the missing piece to this thread.
Gentlemen, the first road win of the season begins tonight.
If not, we will still be in the company of the Wizards and the Bucks who are the only others to not win on the road yet.
Gentlemen, the first road win of the season begins tonight.
Let's get it!
I teach you well
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