http://www.nba.com/media/act_tim_duncan.jpg"> [b]O 17.6 points, 8.20 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.60 blocks per game Duncan: 24.0 Points, 14.50 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 3.00 blocks per game Injury Lists Miami Heat Jerome Beasly Matt Frejie Dorell Wright San Antonio Spurs Linton Johnson III Romain Sato Sean Marks Key's To The Game <u>Miami Heat</u> <ul>Attack the rim and get Shaq going early on. Force Tim Duncan into foul trouble. Don't slack off defensively, otherwise the Spurs guards will have a field day attacking the rim. Play for the full 48 minutes and don't let up. Offensively get everyone involved early, the Heat were exposed against Dallas by giving up open jump shots. They can't do that for the 2nd straight night otherwise the same result will happen. The Heat's bench needs to come in and give energy, scoring and defense. Any extra points against the Spurs is very important. Players like Dooling, Jones and Doleac need to add something to the game with Wade being questionable because of injury[/list] <u>San Antonio Spurs</u> <ul>As always get Tim Duncan going early on, feed him the ball as much as possible. Undonis Haslem may start out guarding him which is a total mis-match If I ever saw one. Of course the Heat may switch and put Shaq on him but as always that could become a problem If Shaq gets into foul trouble. Tony Parker will need to pick up his game If he is forced to guard Wade, he will be tough to keep up with but TP will need to give Wade ihs own problems on the other end of the floor. attacking the rim will give the Spurs may options wether It's with Duncan inside or Brent Barry on the three-point arc[/list] Game Prediction The Heat are coming off a 20 point home loss to the Dallas Mavericks, in that game Dwyane Wade injured his ankle and is questionable wether he will play tonight. A 2nd night of a back to back and playing the Spurs is not very easy at all. The Spurs have had a day off and will be ready to go and will look to take it to the Heat early on. I fully expect the Spurs to win this game, in front of the home crowd and continue to stay unbeaten at the SBC center. Spurs by 11
Anyway, I think its key Eddie Jones shows up tonight to offset what Manu going to bring to the table for the spurs. EJ got to get out in the opencourt and create some easy points for himself. I think that thats a key matchup the heat may have to win in order to have a chance at pulling this game out, especially if Wade isnt there to provide the offense in the backcourt. Rasho Nestrovic is one of Shaq's many girlfriend's at the center spot. Everytime Shaq sees Rasho across from him he gets that look, he gonna try to put up at least 30 tonight, even with the injury. The Duncan vs Udonus Haslem matchup is interesting one because of course Duncan gonna out play him overall. But I think if Haslem is making that 13 foot mid-range shot then he might have some success drawing TD away from the basket. And creating some driving lanes for the guards, as well as some space down low for shaq, by occuping Duncan, so he cant be a help defender. Anyway, difficult game for the Heat, back to back, Wade nor Shaq will be 100%. I'll take the Spurs by 7-10pts.
nice preview i'm going to watch manu runs around the court and shoot and feed and win the game. i predict spurs win by 15
you guys have make nice preview i hope that rasho have good game an my prediciton is that spurs will win by 9
Huge game from Manu last night, he really did save the Spurs with some clutch shooting. Although they never looked like losing the lead even though the Heat cut the lead down in the final 5 minutes.