San Antonio at Utah. San Antonio Spurs (30 - 18) <font size="1">Road: 13-11 Last 10: 4-6</font> Utah Jazz (24 - 22) <font size="1">Home: 19-6 Last 10: 5-5</font> Previous Game Sacramento 96 @ San Antonio 91 Dallas 88 @ Utah 91 Team History Last team they played, San Antonio beat them 87-78 at the SBC Center. Duncan had a mediocre game with 16 and 10, but Ginobili was a torch, pulling 18, 7 and getting 3 steals. Kirilenko was widly ineffective with 10 points and 5 boards. Harpring led the team with 11 points. Probable Starters Spurs PG: Tony Parker SG: Manu Ginobili SF: Bruce Bowen PF: Tim Duncan C: Rasho Nesterovic Jazz PG: Carlos Arroyo SG: Deshawn Stevenson SF: Andrei Kirilenko PF: Michael Ruffin C: Greg Ostertag Key Matchup vs. Bruce Bowen: 6.9 PPG (.401 FG%), 3.30 RPG, 1.5 SPG Andrei Kirilenko: 16.5 PPG (.470 FG%), 8 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.58 SPG, 2.23 SPG Injuries <u>Utah Jazz</u> Matt Harpring Keon Clark Ben Handlogten Curtis Borchardt <u>San Antonio Spurs</u> Jason Hart Alex Garcia Sean Marks Keys to the Game: <u>San Antonio Spurs</u> <ul> [*]Keep Kirilenko and Ruffin off the glass [*]Contain Raja Bell and Andrei Kirilenko [*]Force Arroyo into tough, contested shots [*]Don't turn the ball over [/list] <u>Utah Jazz</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 [*]Make Duncan beat you with free throws [/list] Just a reminder... There's no Matt Harpring here now, so the leading scorer is gone. Last time, Kirilenko was ineffective, so the Jazz's other role players must step up. Crossover's Prediction Utah is a good team at home, but between Duncan and Nesterovic, they're really going to give Kirilenko some hell. They need to keep Ruffin from getting rebounds to give Utah another chance and buckets, and keep the crowd quieted since they're on the road. Ginobili will more than likely have his way against Stevenson, but Arroyo may prove a challenge to Parker. If Ginobili has more than ten points in the paint, Utah would be better off forfeiting. I'm calling the Spurs by 7.
I like the first preview of yours that I have seen. I have seen anybody else doing FG% in their previews, but I like when people do it. Keys to the game are simple and straight to the point, always a plus. So good preview. I think the Spurs will win too, the Jazz are a lot worse without Harper so they can't contend with elite teams. Spurs by 8.
Nice preview. I agree that the Spurs are gonna take it, but I doubt that Kirilenko will have all that much trouble in the game, unless he decides to take it in on every possession. Instead, I feel that he'll continue to take mid range jumpers. And on the defensive end, because of his length and quickness, he'll be able to double up on Duncan and wreak havoc, and still be able to get back to Bowen to prevent the three, a la the Phoenix Suns in last year's playoffs. Still, Spurs by 8.
Great previews as always Mike, I say that the Spurs take this, with ease, no contest, their defense will destroy the offense of Kirilenko. Mike told me Bell is their other, so him too. Bowen, Rose, Ginobili, Duncan and Parker will kill them defensively. Spurs by at least 15.
The question should be who will actually step up to give Duncan some help? Will Manu finally start playing consistant basketball? I'm not counting on it.
I wont make any predictions for this game cos i dont think we have found our consistency yet.....I think it will be an evenly matched game tonight....I say spurs by 4 points..no more than that though!!!!!!!
Spurs will win in a rugged one. Jazz will probably be tugging at their heels all night. I say AK47 and Duncan will both stand out for their respective teams.
By the way, people, I made a mistake. They're actually playing this game at the SBC Center. They play in Utah Monday. Spurs up 40-38 at the half.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Tim Duncan had 33 points and 14 rebounds to help the San Antonio Spurs beat Utah 85-81 Saturday night for their 15th consecutive win over the Jazz. Carlos Arroyo's layup with 4 seconds left pulled the Jazz to 83-81, but Manu Ginobili hit two clutch free throws to seal it. Ginobili finished with six points, going 6-for-6 from the foul line in the final 21 seconds. Tony Parker added 20 points for the Spurs, 10 in the fourth quarter, and Hedo Turkoglu scored 13. San Antonio has not lost to Utah since Feb. 6, 2000. </div> Full Report
I love when spurs get down and dirty.....That makes the game exciting...When both teams battle it out.....But good win for us anyways!!!
And weren't we just talking in another thread about how Parker "lost his touch?" Great game, but the rematch in Utah is Monday night. And as I predicted, Andrei Kirilenko was pretty much a non factor in this game, scoring only 13 points and pulling down 6 rebounds.
