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Tony has had trouble against Cassell in the past? I would think Tony could blow past him?
After a much-needed two-day break, the Spurs return to the SBC Center Tuesday night to face the surprising Los Angeles Clippers.
The Spurs have won their past seven games against the Clippers and haven't lost at home to them since Jan. 31, 2002.
Tony Parker has frequently had a difficult time covering Sam Cassell, the Clippers new starting point guard(but Tony has shown that he's open to become a Bruce Bowen going against AI, Rip in the finals, etc...), and this is a NEW Clippers team.
When Cassell was with Minnesota, the Spurs sometimes used Bruce Bowen to guard him.
with Manu probably in bench and Tim Duncan a probable, how can we really beat the Clippers, who just lost to Detroit in their last meeting?
the Clippers Win/loss game record this season:
Nov 2 @Sea Won 101-93 1-0
Nov 4 Atl Won 92-77 2-0
Nov 5 Min Won 100-99 3-0
Nov 7 @Min Lost 78-93 3-1
Nov 9 @Wash Won 102-97 4-1
Nov 10 @Atl Won 102-95 5-1
Nov 13 @Phi Lost 108-113 5-2
Nov 15 Mil Won 109-85 6-2
Nov 18 @LAL Won 97-91 7-2
Nov 20 GS Won 113-101 8-2
Nov 23 Tor Won 103-100 9-2
Nov 25 @Den Lost 95-105 9-3
Nov 27 IND Lost 92-97 9-4
Nov 29 @Min Won 93-84 10-4
Nov 30 @Cle Lost 105-112 10-5
Dec 3 Cle Won 102-90 11-5
Dec 5 Mia Won 99-89 12-5
Dec 7 NY Won 84-79 13-5
Dec 10 Pho Won 101-91 14-5
Dec 11 Det Lost 101-109
Tony has had trouble against Cassell in the past? I would think Tony could blow past him?
"Manu went down today in practice with a foot injury, so he definitely will not play for a while," explained Popovich. "A minimum a week would be my guess. He stretched the ligaments across the mid-portion of the top of his foot. He stepped on a player's foot and it just went forward in such a way his foot actually got sprained."
-greg popovich
will Manu Play On Christmas Day???????? That Would Be The Best Christmas Gift
Chuck Miketinac on Maximum Sports tonight said Manu got tangled up with Bruce Bowen (sound familiar?).
what a sad sad day. But I Think the spurs can still pull this through...Parker said Ginobili told him he fell over Bruce Bowen during a drill at practice.
here's my own 3 ways to beat them:
1. try to shoot more from the arc. Spurs have better 3pt shooters, in Bruce Bowen(50%); Barry (48%), NVE & Finley(since Manu is out). They only have to watch out for Clips' Mobley who is shooting @ around 38% this season.
This will loosen up a little bit of Duncan's woes from the low post if they can make them.
2. Be agressive for more FTs-Finley and Nazr are making 80 % FT. Foul trouble for the Clips.
Impt : limit these 3 clips from trips to FT line because the make 80% too! Margette-87%, Cassell 88%, Mobley 84%.
3. Limit Elton Brand's FGs, he's making 55%, more than our own MVP Duncan is making this yr.
in rasho we trust
Give Duncan and Parker a lot of touches. With Ginobili out, I expect them to both score much more.
If Tim PF is hurting, don't expect too much from him.
Well, he said its been there all season, and he's had a pretty good season so far. I think he'll be fine unless it hurts a lot worse than it has been.
Cassell abuses him on offense, he shoots right over him
Sam is a lot like Kyle Korver in respects that he doesn't need ANY space to shoot. But his release isn't that quick. His game is entirely one dimensional, i don't know why guys can't stop him. Get close to him, keep arms up all the time. Let him drive by you if needed.
cassell can easily post tp up. the only problem with putting bowen on him is that probably leaves parker on maggette or mobley.
Parker supposedly has 15 lbs more muscle this year that he put on during the summer. I don't think he'll get posted up as easily this year. I say he takes Alien to the cleaners tonight.
Maggette is out for tonight.
My guess for the matchup :
The matchup on Defense for Spurs will likely be :
Parker on Cassel
Bowen on Mobley
Finley on Ross
Duncan on Brand
Rasho on Kaman
If Cassel is on fire, Parker and Bowen can switch.
Clippers will use the same matchup on Defense execpt that Kaman will likely defend on Duncan and Brand on Rasho (to rest Brand).
Shaun Livingston killed us in LA last year. He is out along with Maggette.
Spurs should win this game.
It would be nice to see our bench stepping it up. Barry, Michael, Nick, etc
In the past, Rasho has covered Brand quite a bit and has done a better job than you would think.
Maybe but do you think that rasho will start to defend on Brand and Duncan on Kaman ?
I see this game won in the front court.
Kaman is one aggressive beast. Elton Brand has got to have the longest arm/body height ratio in the league...if there is such a stat. I guess the best way to put it is Brand is a "long tweener" playing at the 4.
ESPN.com
Dec 13, 2005
Link: ESPN
LA Clippers (14-6) at San Antonio (16-4) 8:30 pm EST
SAN ANTONIO (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Clippers will find out just how far they have come when they visit the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday.
The Pacific Division-leading Clippers have been one of the biggest surprises of the season, racing to one of the best starts in team history thanks in large part to the exploits of Elton Brand.
Brand is an early MVP candidate, collecting 36 points and 10 rebounds in a 109-101 loss to Detroit on Sunday. In his last six games, the seven-year standout is averaging 31.2 points, and he is the only player currently in the top 10 in scoring and rebounding.
Los Angeles now has the challenge of facing defending champion San Antonio, which will come into the game with extra motivation.
San Antonio is coming off a surprising 94-84 defeat in Atlanta on Saturday which ended its six-game winning streak. Tony Parker scored 20 points but also committed five turnovers against just two assists.
Tim Duncan also struggled, scoring just 12 points on 5-of-14 shooting.
The Spurs have won seven straight games against the Clippers, including all four meetings last season.
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Today's Line
FAVORITE OPEN CUR UNDERDOG O/U
SAN ANTONIO -8 8 LOS ANGELES 183
The Spurs are favorites but the Clippers are playing really well.
Can someone explain to me the Fox Sports ranking system.......... It's as confusing as and I don't understand .
Thanks anywasy
that's a consolationat least their 2nd scorer is out..but, I didn't hear Margette or Livingston out for tonight's game. Why is that? are they day-2-day?
okay i get it now...Corey is definitely out.Chris Kaman added 16 points and Cuttino Mobley had 14 for the Clippers, who played without forward Corey Maggette for a third straight game as he continues to nurse a sprained left foot.
Injuries
LA Clippers
Player Injury
S. Livingston-Back
C. Maggette-Foot
Z. Rebraca-Heart
San Antonio
Player Injury
T. Duncan-foot
M. Ginobili-foot
T. Parker-knee
we could still be an NBA-best 9-1 at home after tonight.
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