76ers-Spurs Preview

[duncan228]

http://www.nba.com/games/20080114/PH...scoreboardhome

76ers-Spurs Preview
By NICOLINO DI BENEDETTO, STATS Writer

After routing the worst team in the NBA, the San Antonio Spurs hope to take advantage of another struggling opponent Monday night when they host the Philadelphia 76ers, a team they have lost to once at home in almost 21 years.

The Spurs (24-11), who are one game behind first-place Dallas in the Southwest Division, have won 19 of the last 20 home meetings with the 76ers (14-23). The lone loss in that span was an 83-77 defeat on Jan. 3, 2004 that snapped the Spurs' 16-game home winning streak in the series, which started on Feb. 26, 1987.

San Antonio has taken five of the last six overall meetings against Philadelphia, winning both last season.

The Spurs are 18-3 at home for the best mark in the Western Conference. However, all of those losses have come in the last eight games at the AT&T Center after they opened the season with a 13-game winning streak there.

Those struggles at home are part of an overall 15-game stretch in which San Antonio has lost eight times.

"We can always play better, any team can play better whether you're the worst team in the league or the best team in the league," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.

The Spurs appeared to be getting back on track Saturday as Manu Ginobili scored 22 points in a 105-88 win over league-worst Minnesota.

"Actually, the last probably 10-15 games I felt like we could have played better," Ginobili said. "We are just not playing well.

"We look frustrated and sometimes things look like they are going bad and they are not going bad at all. I guess it's just a mental block and hopefully we are going to come back to play the way we were playing in November."

Ginobili, one of the top reserves in the league with 19.1 points per game, is playing with a splint on his left index finger, which he injured in a victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Dec. 22. The injury caused him to miss five games, and he has scored 20 or more points in three of the four games since his return.

The Spurs also hope to continue getting strong contributions from point guard Tony Parker, the team's leader with 20.3 points and 6.5 assists per game. He had 21 points and eight assists against the Timberwolves after struggling with only 12 and four, respectively, in a 90-80 loss to Detroit on Thursday.

The Sixers, meanwhile, are looking to halt a season-high six-game losing streak with their first win of the new year. They haven't won since beating Seattle 98-90 on Dec. 31, and last dropped seven games in a row during a 12-game slide from Nov. 25-Dec. 20, 2006.

Philadelphia saw its current slide continue Friday with a 100-97 loss to Chicago.

"The ball is just not falling our way right now," said Sixers point guard Andre Miller, who scored 20 points against the Bulls. "We've played some good teams and we have to make some shots, play good defense and continue to fight through this."

Philadelphia hopes center Samuel Dalembert can build on a terrific effort Friday, as he scored 21 points and grabbed a season-high 20 rebounds after getting only eight points and six boards in a 109-96 loss at Toronto on Wednesday. The center is averaging career highs of 11.4 points and a team-leading 9.8 boards.

[duncan228]

Spurs.com with Horry still listed as a probable starter...

http://www.nba.com/spurs/gameday/080114.html

Spurs vs. Sixers Preview

Probable Starters

T. Parker
Guard
20.3 PPG
M. Finley
Guard
10.5 PPG
B. Bowen
Forward
6.1 PPG
T. Duncan
Forward
18.8 PPG
R. Horry
Forward
1.8 PPG

Injury/Inactive Report
Barry (torn plantaris muscle, left calf) is out.

The San Antonio Spurs host the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night, a team they have lost to once at home in almost 21 years.

The Spurs (24-11), who are one game behind first-place Dallas in the Southwest Division, have won 19 of the last 20 home meetings with the 76ers (14-23). The lone loss in that span was an 83-77 defeat on Jan. 3, 2004 that snapped the Spurs' 16-game home winning streak in the series, which started on Feb. 26, 1987.

San Antonio has taken five of the last six overall meetings against Philadelphia, winning both last season.

The Spurs are 18-3 at home for the best mark in the Western Conference. However, all of those losses have come in the last eight games at the AT&T Center after they opened the season with a 13-game winning streak there.

The Spurs appeared to be getting back on track Saturday as Manu Ginobili scored 22 points in a 105-88 win over Minnesota.

Ginobili, one of the top reserves in the league with 19.1 points per game, is playing with a splint on his left index finger, which he injured in a victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Dec. 22. The injury caused him to miss five games, and he has scored 20 or more points in three of the four games since his return.

The Spurs also hope to continue getting strong contributions from point guard Tony Parker, the team's leader with 20.3 points and 6.5 assists per game. He had 21 points and eight assists against the Timberwolves after struggling with only 12 and four, respectively, in a 90-80 loss to Detroit on Thursday.

The Sixers, meanwhile, are looking to halt a season-high six-game losing streak with their first win of the new year. They haven't won since beating Seattle 98-90 on Dec. 31, and last dropped seven games in a row during a 12-game slide from Nov. 25-Dec. 20, 2006.

Philadelphia saw its current slide continue Friday with a 100-97 loss to Chicago.

Philadelphia hopes center Samuel Dalembert can build on a terrific effort Friday, as he scored 21 points and grabbed a season-high 20 rebounds after getting only eight points and six boards in a 109-96 loss at Toronto on Wednesday. The center is averaging career highs of 11.4 points and a team-leading 9.8 boards.

Spur in the Spotlight
Fabricio Oberto
"Fabricio is always somebody who gets taken for granted because he plays great every night. He hits the boards, plays tough defense, and he hits his shots. Fabricio was very solid for us tonight."

-Coach on Pop on Oberto's play after facing the T-Wolves on Saturday night.

Did You Know...
Sixers head coach Maurice Cheeks averaged 10.9 points, 6.0 assists and 3.3 rebounds in 50 games with the Spurs during the 1989-90 season … the Spurs made their NBA debut in Philadelphia on 10/22/76, defeating the Sixers 121-118 … that game also marked Hall of Famer Julius Erving’s first ever NBA game … the Sixers snapped their 17-game losing streak in San Antonio with an 83-77 win on 1/3/04 … the Sixers set a team record with 38 turnovers against the Spurs on 10/22/76.

[duncan228]

76ers.com

http://www.nba.com/sixers/news/Game_...rs_080114.html

Philadelphia 76ers vs San Antonio Spurs

Your Philadelphia 76ers
Overall Record: 14-23
Road Record: 7-12
Against the West: 6-11
Fourth Place, Atlantic Division

The Sixers look to dethrone the reigning NBA Champions in a regular season matchup. The Sixers have been playing scrappy, hard-fought basketball of late and they'll need to continue such play to pull out a win against the Spurs. The Sixers fell to the Chicago Bulls on Friday night, 100-97. A majority of players were productive in Friday's contest, including three Sixers who scored 20-plus points, marking the third time this feat has been accomplished this season. Andre Iguodala led all Sixers' scorers with 25 points, along with posting six rebounds, four steals, two blocks and a team-high five assists. Iguodala has scored 20-plus points in ten of the past 16 games and his 2.14 steals per game place him fifth best in the NBA. On the season, Iguodala has posted five double-doubles, he has grabbed 10-plus rebounds five times and in the past 10 games, leading into Friday night, he was shooting 47.3% from the floor. Samuel Dalembert had a big night on Friday, shooting 8-12 from the field for 21 points and 20 rebounds – 11 of which were off the defensive glass. Dalembert's 20 rebounds credited him with a season-high marking the third time he has reached that feat in his career and the first time he has ever achieved a 20/20 night. The backcourt of Andre Miller and Lou Williams proved valuable again, as the guards teamed up for 35 points, six assists and four steals. After being on the road for six-games, the Sixers pack their bags again for a three-game expedition starting with the Spurs.

Strength: The Sixers have outrebounded the opposition in four straight games and in 24 of the past 37.

San Antonio Spurs
Overall Record: 24-11
Home Record: 18-3
Against the East: 7-2
Second Place, Southwest Division

The Spurs are having another championship caliber season, defeating the Timberwolves on Saturday night, 105-88, marking their 18th home win in 21 games and lifting head coach Gregg Popovich to his 600th regular season victory. In the win, sixth man Manu Ginobili had a team-high 22 points, five rebounds and five steals. Despite the fact that Ginobili has been hampered by a sprained left index finger, that has not stopped the 6-6 guard, who is second on the team in scoring (19.0), second in assists (4.1) and first in steals (1.48). Ginobili has scored 10-plus points 26 times this season which included back-to-back nights of 37 points when Tim Duncan was out of the line up. This season, Ginobili has led the team in scoring nine times, in seven games he has led the team in blocks and in 11 games he has led the team steals. Tony Parker chipped in with 21 points and eight assists on Saturday night. Parker has led the Spurs 23 times this season in assists placing him first on the team and 14th in the NBA in that category with 6.5 per game. His 20.3 points per game (23rd in the NBA) and his 10.8 field goals per 48 minutes (seventh in the NBA) are among the League leaders. Jacque Vaughn and Brent Barry balance out the offense with direct passes and a three-point attack while Bruce Bowen and Fabricio Oberto provide the team with man tight defense.

Strength: The Spurs are 16-0 this season when holding a halftime lead.
Weakness: The Spurs are ranked 29th in the NBA in blocks with 3.67 per game.

Key Matchup: Tim Duncan vs. Samuel Dalembert - Dalembert has recorded four double-doubles in six games this month and he is ranked fourth in the NBA in blocks with 2.59 per game. Duncan is having another MVP-type season averaging a double-double with 18.8 points per game and 10.7 rebounds per game. His strength is backing down his opponent in the low post, squaring up, and then using the corner of the backboard as a guide. Dalembert’s defensive ability will prove vital for the Sixers.

Opposing Player to Watch: Michael Finley - Finley is averaging 10.5 points per game which is his highest average since 2004-05. He has scored in double figures 21 times this season and he is shooting 38.4% from behind the arc (40th in the NBA). When double teams start to formulate on Duncan, Parker and Ginobili, Finley is often the guy they look for.

[1Parker1]

Go Sixers!!!!!!!! ermmm...I mean Spurs!

[ancestron]

Still can't believe they traded Kyle Korver.

[MoSpur]

The Sixers? Isn't that the team A.I use to play for? Wait a minute...A.I still plays for them.

[TDMVPDPOY]

easy win, next

if we lose.....


mite as well pack up our bags and book for the bahamas...tank this season

[BonnerDynasty]

Probably won't even watch it.

ty team, and the Spurs aren't even trying.

[1Parker1]

Hey, the Sixers could easily sneak up on the Spurs if they're not careful. They haven't won a game yet in 2008, Igodala has it in him to go off at any moment. And Dalembert can be a good rounding/blocker if in the mood. Though it's rarely the case for either.

Spurs will probably win, I'm just not sure it's a guarantee with the way they've been struggling lately.

[101A]

Eastern Conference team; Spurs could easily lose this one.

[Budkin]

I hate watching games against ty opponents because the Spurs seem to always sleepwalk through them, at least in the first half.