New Jersey at San Antonio. New Jersey Nets (21-18) <font size="1">Road: 9-10 Last 10: 5-5</font> San Antonio Spurs (27-15) <font size="1">Home: 16-5 Last 10: 5-5</font> Previous Game New Jersey 93 @ Dallas 106 San Antonio 77 @ Detroit 85 Team History Spurs beat the Nets in the NBA Finals last year to win the NBA Championship in six games, 4-2. This season, the Spurs won at New Jersey, 85-71. Tim Duncan was the high scorer and rebounder with 31 points and 12 boards. For the Nets, Kenyon Martin posted a double double (14 and 11), while Jason Kidd had a triple double (14, 12, and 13). Probable Starters Tony Parker (SAS) against Jason Kidd (NJN) Manu Ginobili (SAS) against Kerry Kittles (NJN) Bruce Bowen (SAS) against Richard Jefferson (NJN) Tim Duncan (SAS) against Kenyon Martin (NJN) Rasho Nesterovic (SAS) against Jason Collins (NJN) Key Matchup vs. Tony Parker: 14.0 PPG (.444 FG%), 5.6 APG, 3.30 RPG, .60 SPG Jason Kidd: 17.2 PPG (.392 FG%), 9.7 APG, 6.40 RPG, 1.81 SPG Injuries <u>San Antonio Spurs</u> Jason Hart Alex Garcia Sean Marks <u>New Jersey Nets</u> Tamar Slay Keys to the Game: <u>New Jersey Nets</u> <ul> [*]Contain Tim Duncan [*]Keep Charlie Ward and Hedo Turkoglu from getting open threes [*]Force Nesterovic to leave the paint on both ends [*]Clean the offensive glass and don't allow the Spurs second chance points [*]Send Tim Duncan to the striple [/list] <u>San Antonio Spurs</u> <ul> [*]Don't let Kenyon Martin get going early [*]Slow the pace of the game [*]Play tough defense on Jason Kidd and make him shoot [*]Productive night from Nesterovic on defense [*]Make free throws [/list] Just a reminder... These two teams are rivals. A rematch of the NBA Finals last year, as well as trade rumors about Jason Kidd coming to San Antonio bearing down hard on Tony Parker. This should provoke both teams in a great game. Crossover's Prediction Well, the Nets are on a three game road trip, with this one being the second. It's a back to back, because after Dallas tonight, they head straight out to San Antonio. The Nets are really a great road team, nor do they fair well against the Spurs. At home, the Spurs should be able to get going quickly and motivate the Twin Towers from the get-go. K-Mart will have a handful trying to deal with Duncan, while Jason Kidd will likewise trouble Tony Parker and Charlie Ward throughout the game. Look for Jasin Kidd to pull at least a double double in points and assists, and try to take over the game for the Nets in the late third and early fourth. If the Spurs can keep them from running the court on fastbreaks (especially Richard Jefferson), then they should win this game. Spurs by 12.
Great reminders, definitely agree with you there. I forgot about the Parker threat, it sure changed him for the better though. I think Spurs will take this one, I mean come on, Jason Collins, what a joke! Spurs by 9. edit: Jason Collins and Rodney Rogers would probably be injured with the way they play.
Very nice preview Crossover. I agree with you on the key matchup, and I think this will be one of those games where Parker plays beside himself. Due to that, and the consistent excellence of Duncan, I'd say you're on the money with Spurs by 12.
Spurs are not winning by 12, this is a hard game for the Nets. They cant throw the ball in the ocean in the half court set. And against the Spurs D its going to be even harder to score. I see this being a grind it out game score in the low 80's. But the spurs will win if K-mart gets in early foul trouble. I say the spurs by 5 points.
And the Nets lose to the Mavericks. Jefferson and Martin had to use up a lot of energy in the loss, so I'm looking to see them moving a bit sluggish tomorrow.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Crossover:</div><div class="quote_post">And the Nets lose to the Mavericks. Jefferson and Martin had to use up a lot of energy in the loss, so I'm looking to see them moving a bit sluggish tomorrow.</div> I know Duncan is a nice guy and all but he should hold a grudge at KMart for what he did at the NBA Finals, slapping his hand away when he tried to help him up.
Yea, I say Timmy goes out like its his last game EVER, But i still love when these two go head to head, Its exciting!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">All Duncan needs to do is remind Martin of the magic fiqure 3-23 </div> How much help did duncun have in that Finals? Alot. K-mart had to try & score on Robinson & duncun in the low post all Finals. He was getting beat up the whole finals yet the Refs kept their whistles in their pockets. you throw out K-mart shooting 3-23 in game 6 like Duncun stop him one on one. And before K-mart got sick with food posioning in game 5, the K-mart vs Duncun match was alot closer than you might think. And thats with Duncun getting the benefit of most of the calls.
Duncan was good enough to play him one on one,he is a great defender,all NBA defensive team.It's not like he needed Robinson's post defense to stop Martin.For a guy like Garnett It could be a different story.Duncan blocked Martin several times from what I remember in that game.He got shut down plain and simple. Duncan gets the calls for a reason,the way he plays gets the refs to call something inside.No one can stop Tim Duncan,teams have to foul him so he doesn't get two points every time down the floor.Only Ben Wallace can guard this guy one on one.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">Duncan was good enough to play him one on one,he is a great defender,all NBA defensive team.It's not like he needed Robinson's post defense to stop Martin.For a guy like Garnett It could be a different story.Duncan blocked Martin several times from what I remember in that game.He got shut down plain and simple. Duncan gets the calls for a reason,the way he plays gets the refs to call something inside.No one can stop Tim Duncan,teams have to foul him so he doesn't get two points every time down the floor.Only Ben Wallace can guard this guy one on one.</div> Iam not telling you what you think he needs Iam telling you what he got. He got alot of help from David Robinson. K-mart had to try & score on 2 all defesive style players. K-Mart would make a good move on Duncun & then Robinson would come over and block his shot. Or when K-mart would drive in the lane he would be surronder by to players. Duncan DID NOT stop K-mart by himself. If you dont believe me then you should try.And find some video tape of the Finals & see the type of attention K-mart got around the Basket not alot of people could score under those type of conditions. And I never said K-mart could stop Duncan one on one, but it makes it much harder to try & guard someone when you know your NEVER going to get the benefit of a close call. And if you dont think Duncan gets alot of suspect calls in his favor all you have to do is go back to the Piston game early in the week. The trip before Duncan got blocked by Ben Wallace the refs clearly tried to give Duncan a chance to give his team the lead by calling a foul when Wallace stripped him, when there was clearly no foul. If Duncan could shoot free throws that would have changed the entire complexion of that game. Now explain to me how is that fair? I dont care who you are. You should not get horrible calls like that.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Iam not telling you what you think he needs Iam telling you what he got. He got alot of help from David Robinson. K-mart had to try & score on 2 all defesive style players. K-Mart would make a good move on Duncun & then Robinson would come over and block his shot. Or when K-mart would drive in the lane he would be surronder by to players. Duncan DID NOT stop K-mart by himself. If you dont believe me then you should try.And find some video tape of the Finals & see the type of attention K-mart got around the Basket not alot of people could score under those type of conditions</div> Clearly Robinson's defensive presents helped Duncan when guarding Martin,however It was Duncan who D'ed him up the most and got the better end of the battle.Martin got blocked several times but again missed two many open jumpers,a few lay-ups and that wasn't just down to really tough defense.He looked out of stink.Cracking under the pressure of an important game 6. I watched every game in that series and Duncan alot of the time guarded Martin one on one,Robinson at times came to help when Martin tried to turn the corner.However It was Duncan's presents inside that forced Martin to take too tough a shot after each time down the floor..Robinson was just back-up <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">And if you dont think Duncan gets alot of suspect calls in his favor all you have to do is go back to the Piston game early in the week. The trip before Duncan got blocked by Ben Wallace the refs clearly tried to give Duncan a chance to give his team the lead by calling a foul when Wallace stripped him, when there was clearly no foul. If Duncan could shoot free throws that would have changed the entire complexion of that game. Now explain to me how is that fair? I dont care who you are. You should not get horrible calls like that.</div> That play you are talking about where Wallace went for the ball by knocking it loose looked like a reach in foul to me,Even if he got the ball,the refs will always see it as a reach in foul in matter if the defender got the ball or not.Wether it would be Duncan or anyone else.When you go reaching in for a ball when in the post most times the refs will call a foul either way.It's just the way they see the game. Duncan at times does get some lucky calls but for the most part he gets the calls because of his great post game,footwork around the basket and his abilty to draw fouls.
All Iam Saying is that if you drive the lane and its cloged by 2 7footers, how can you score. And he took alot of jumpers in game 6 because he wasnt getting the benefit of any calls down low. Why should he keep trying to score in the post when he getting beat up in the post yet the refs dont see fit to call anything. And the second part of your statment is so untrue and you know it. Not every player would get a foul called like that in their favor down the stretch of a big ball game. They might get that call in the 1st 3 quarters but not down the stretch. Only a few people get cheap calls like that. When to big men are trying to decide the fate of a ball game, refs cant call cheap fouls like that to give a player an edge. And that exactly what the refs tried to do on that play. Wallace had a prefect strip the refs knew it, I knew it, You knew it but they called a foul anyway because it was Duncan. They were trying to give him every opportunity to win the game.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">All Iam Saying is that if you drive the lane and its cloged by 2 7footers, how can you score. And he took alot of jumpers in game 6 because he wasnt getting the benefit of any calls down low. Why should he keep trying to score in the post when he getting beat up in the post yet the refs dont see fit to call anything.</div> I understand your point,but Robinson came over to help when Martin got into a good position downlow.Robinson was a good weak side shot blocker in the playoffs.It was Duncan that played him straight up and forced Martin into some very tough shots inside and outside.As I said Robinson was just the defensive back-up just incase Martin went around Duncan.They never doubled him,if they did then you would be right in what you were saying. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">And the second part of your statment is so untrue and you know it. Not every player would get a foul called like that in their favor down the stretch of a big ball game. They might get that call in the 1st 3 quarters but not down the stretch. Only a few people get cheap calls like that. When to big men are trying to decide the fate of a ball refs cant call cheap fouls like that to give a player an edge. And that exactly what the refs tried to do on that play. Wallace had a prefect strip the refs knew it, I knew it, You knew it but they called a foul anyway because it was Duncan. They were trying to give him every opportunity to win the game.</div> Sorry buddy but I see that kind of call happen every week,Duncan may get some star threatment just like Shaq,Kobe,AI e.t.c do but when you are going for the ball in the post and you suddenly reach in for the ball and strip the offensive player the refs will alot of the time call a foul.No matter If It's the right decision or not,It's just the way it works these days
Spurs by 7 Martin had a hard time (and still does this year) creating a shot for himself. Reminds me of a PF version of Ced Ceballos, got a lot of scrap points, ran the floor, finished.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">, I see that kind of call happen every week,Duncan may get some star threatment just like Shaq,Kobe,AI e.t.c do but when you are going for the ball in the post and you suddenly reach in for the ball and strip the offensive player the refs will alot of the time call a foul.No matter If It's the right decision or not,It's just the way it works these days</div> Thats exactly my point its the star treatment. But its still a cheap call. Ben Wallace 2-time defensive player of the year should get just as much respect on that type play as Duncan. And I'll put my money that if they wouldnt have called that foul on that play, they would have called it on the play where Duncan got blocked. But calling to straight fouls like that would have been showing clear cut favortism toward Tim. Just answer the question was that play where Duncan got stripped a foul? yes or No.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Henacy:</div><div class="quote_post">Thats exactly my point its the star treatment. But its still a cheap call. Ben Wallace 2-time defensive player of the year should get just as much respect on that type play as Duncan. And I'll put my money that if they wouldnt have called that foul on that play, they would have called it on the play where Duncan got blocked. But calling to straight fouls like that would have been showing clear cut favortism toward Tim. Just answer the question was that play where Duncan got stripped a foul? yes or No.</div> I will answer the question first Ben reached in and got the ball,so therefore by reached in It gave the refs a reason to call a foul.As I said even when you get the ball in that situation they will alot of the time calls fouls.Ben reached in,so therefore they will call those kind of plays Do I think those kind of calls ruin games? yes do I agree with the refs calling fouls like that? no Do I understand why they did call it? yes Fact is Duncan isn't the only player who at times gets those kind of calls,referees have a gut feeling that players reached in and they call it. They aren't prefect.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">I will answer the question first Ben reached in and got the ball,so therefore by reached in It gave the refs a reason to call a foul.As I said even when you get the ball in that situation they will alot of the time calls fouls.Ben reached in,so therefore they will call those kind of plays Do I think those kind of calls ruin games? yes do I agree with the refs calling fouls like that? no Do I understand why they did call it? yes Fact is Duncan isn't the only player who at times gets those kind of calls,referees have a gut feeling that players reached in and they call it. They aren't prefect.</div> Agreed, I Know why they called it but I still dont agree with the call.
