<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span> December 14, 2006 - 9:30 pm ET<span style="color:#FF0000">Game on TNT</span></div> <span style="color:#000000">San Antonio Spurs</span> <span style="color:#808080">(17-6)</span><span style="color:#808080">PG</span> <span style="color:#000000">Tony Parker</span> <span style="color:#808080">SG</span> <span style="color:#000000">Manu Ginobili</span> <span style="color:#808080">SF</span> <span style="color:#000000">Bruce Bowen</span> <span style="color:#808080">PF</span> <span style="color:#000000">Tim Duncan</span> <span style="color:#808080">C</span> <span style="color:#000000">Francisco Elson</span> <span style="color:#808080">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#000000">Michael Finley, Brent Barry, Fabricio Oberto, Robert Horry, Beno Udrih</span> <span style="color:#00CCCC">New Orleans Hornets</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">(10-10)</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">PG</span> <span style="color:#00CCCC">Chris Paul</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">SG</span> <span style="color:#00CCCC">Rasual Butler</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">SF</span> <span style="color:#00CCCC">Desmond Mason</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">PF</span> <span style="color:#00CCCC">Cedric Simmons</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">C</span> <span style="color:#00CCCC">Tyson Chandler</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#00CCCC">Jannero Pargo, Marc Jackson, Hilton Armstrong, Linton Johnson III</span> Injury Report<span style="color:#FFCC00">NO:</span> <span style="color:#00CCCC">Peja Stojakovic will not play (lower back strain)</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">NO:</span> <span style="color:#00CCCC">David West will not play (strained right forearm)</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">NO:</span> <span style="color:#00CCCC">Bobby Jackson will not play (cracked left rib)</span> Who To Watch Out For<span style="color:#000000">Tim Duncan</span><span style="color:#808080">Season Stats: 21.4 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.7 bpg</span><span style="color:#000000">Tony Parker</span><span style="color:#808080">Season Stats: 18.9 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 5.7 apg</span><span style="color:#000000">Manu Ginobili</span><span style="color:#808080">Season Stats: 14.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.5 spg</span><span style="color:#00CCCC">Chris Paul</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 18.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 9.0 apg, 2.1 spg</span> Rookie Watch <span style="color:#808080">ORL:</span> <span style="color:#000000">James White</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 31</span><span style="color:#808080">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#000000">Has not played.</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">NO:</span> <span style="color:#00CCCC">Cedric Simmons</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 15</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#00CCCC">3.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 0.9 bpg</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">NO:</span> <span style="color:#00CCCC">Hilton Armstrong</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 12</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#00CCCC">4.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 0.4 bpg</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">NO:</span> <span style="color:#00CCCC">Marcus Vinicius</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 43</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#00CCCC">1.0 ppg, 0.2 rpg, 0.4 apg</span> <span style="color:#000000">San Antonio's X-Factor</span><span style="color:#000000">Fabricio Oberto</span><span style="color:#808080">Season Stats: 6.0 ppg, 5.2 rpg</span><span style="color:#000000">Oberto lost his job to Elson, who I believed should have started from the beginning. He needs to still play well off the bench, and tonight he has an advantage over a young bunch of bigs for the Hornets.</span> <span style="color:#00CCCC">New Orleans' X-Factor</span><span style="color:#00CCCC">Marc Jackson</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 7.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg</span><span style="color:#00CCCC">Jackson is the tough guy off the bench. He has to be extra badass tonight up against Tim Duncan. He needs to stay out of foul trouble, play smart, and use his body.</span> <div align="center">Key Matchup vs. <span style="color:#000000">Tony Parker</span> <span style="color:#000000">vs.</span> <span style="color:#00CCCC">Chris Paul</span></div><span style="color:#000000">CP3 is already one of the best PG's in the NBA, and Tony Parker is right up there as well. Both of them are lightning quick guards and they make things happen. Parker is more of a scorer, while Paul is more of a playmaker, but both of them can do either or. This should be a nice matchup between two Western Conference All-Star PG's.</span> CelticBalla's Extra Thoughts/NotesThe Hornets back in New Orleans! Too bad 2 of their top 3 players will be missing. CelticBalla's PredictionI think San Antonio will win this one with little problems. I think the Hornets will bring a lot of energy because they are back at their real home, but San Antonio is just a much better team. Also, it doesn't help New Orleans' case that Peja, West, and Bobby Jackson are all out of the lineup. I can't see the Hornets winning this.
I think this is going to be a great game. Tony Parker vs. CP3 should be a great matchup. I am going to have to go with the Spurs on this one though. Nobody on that team is going to be able to stop Tim Duncan. period. Although it is a back to back game which is not good for the Spurs, I THINK they should pull this one out.
This should be a great game, I'm suprised this game isen't the one on TNT, I think the PG matchup is great with Parker and CP3 battling it out against each other. SHould be a close game but I think the Spurs end up pulling this one out.EDIT- Wow I'm a dumbass I just realized this was the 2nd TNT game.
:ranting: This is the first time I have fallen asleep for the second game of a double header. I remember the buzzer sounding off in Charlotte, I watched that entire game, then the last thing I remember is Jessica Simpson naked in my bed... wait, that was a dream. Ugh...
