Spurs @ Rockets P <font color="Blue"><font size="4"><font color="DarkOrange">Preview by Dexter And Allnet</font></font></font> San Antonio Spurs (13-10) @ Houston Rockets (13-7) Previous Game Blazers 91 @ Rockets 93 Blazers 77 @ Spurs 101 Streaks Rockets: Won 4 Spurs: Won 4 Head Coaches Jeff Van Gundy/Gregg Popovich Probable Starters Steve Francis/Tony Parker cuttino mobley/emanuel ginobili. Jim Jackson/Bruce Bowen kelvin cato/Tim Duncan Yao Ming/radoslav nesterovic Key Match-up kelvin Cato/Tim Duncan Rocket's Outlook by Dexter The key to tonight's game is defense. The most important person to stop is the reigning MVP, Tim Duncan. Tim Duncan is the focal point of the Spurs offense and lets face it, without him they are not a very good team. There is no way however that we will be able to stop Duncan completely. He will get his points, the key will be just to keep his points to a minimum. The Rockets didn't do a great job on Tuesday of limiting Zach Randolph's production. If Houston is not able to limit Duncan's production we will lose this game. The other key person the Rockets need to be concerned with is Manu Ginobili, who is having a good year averaging 14.5 points and 2 steals a game. Cuttino Mobley is having a great year, so it will be fun to watch these two go at it. On offense, the Rockets must feed the ball to Yao from the start of the game till the final buzzer. Rasho is absolutely no match for Yao down low so at the start of the game, Yao should have an easy time on offense. Eventually they will double team him, which means wide open shots for our perimeter players. Cuttino Mobley is having a fantastic year shooting the ball. He is shooting over 45% from the field and 40% from the three point line. He will need to have a good game tonight. Overall the gameplan of the Rocketd has three main parts; contain Tim Duncan, feed Yao the ball in the post, and move the ball on offense. If they do this, we will win the game. Dexter's Game Prediction The Rockets extend their record to 14-7 as they defeat the Spurs by a final score of 91-85. Spurs Outlook by Allnet The key to the game for the Spurs will be keeping Cato and Ming off the glass.Try and give Yao the outside jumper.Keep him from dominating downlow.Guarding the shooters will also be a key part of this game.The spurs need to make sure players like Francis,Mobley,Jackson and Piatkowski don't get hot from outside.Making it as tough as possible for their big man to score inside will be a main focus.As when Cato and Ming score and rebound the basketball well they normally get the W.Spurs have always been known for great defense and lately that has certainly showed through.Giving up only 77 to the Blazers last night was impressive.Stopping the outside shooting while giving players like Randolph all he can handle inside. The Spurs key on offense will as always get the ball to Tim Duncan in the post.Let him go to work by getting the Rockets big men into foul trouble.Players like Bowen,Hedo,Manu,Parker and even Horry will need to hit their open shots consistantly.As Duncan will get double teamed at some stage.Tony Parker has been racking up the assists lately with two 10+ assists games.He will need to give up the ball again in this game for the Spurs to come away with the win.Also the play of Rasho nesterovic has been very good as of late.He is averaging 17 points 7 rebounds and 2 blocks in his last 4 games.The play of him will be very important when guarding Ming and making sure he gives Duncan some help at the other end. Allnet's Game Prediction Spurs are finally starting to get back to team basketball.Starting to get some confidence after the last 4 games.The road record has improved after the recent east trip.Rockets struggled with the Spurs last season...Stopping or contending Duncan never really happened.My prediction Spurs extend their winning streak to 5 games.92-88
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Houston Rockets 67 San Antonio Spurs 71 After San Antonio and Houston combined for a dubious NBA record in the first half, the Spurs turned to Tim Duncan to extend their longest winning streak of the season. Duncan scored 14 of his 22 points in the second half to lead San Antonio to a 71-67 victory over Houston on Thursday night in a game in which the teams combined for the lowest first-half point total in NBA history. The teams combined for a total of 55 points in the first two periods, the fewest two-team total since the shot clock was introduced in the 1954-55 season. Duncan scored seven of his 10 fourth-quarter points in a 15-6 run as the Spurs erased a four-point deficit and took a 68-63 lead with 1:25 remaining. Devin Brown made two free throws with one second left to seal the victory, San Antonio's fifth straight. Cuttino Mobley scored 19 points, and Francis had 18 for Houston, which had its four-game winning streak halted.</div> Recap Box Score The two teams meet again on saturday.This time back in San Antonio
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Sandman:</div><div class="quote_post">Sick, terrible, a joke. I just don't understand the scoring.</div> "When you play as many games as we play, this kind of thing is bound to happen. "Luckily it happened to both of us at the same time. If it had happened to only one team, the other would have led by 20 in no time. Neither one of us could make a shot and neither one of us could take care of the ball."
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting allnet:</div><div class="quote_post">The two teams meet again on saturday.This time back in San Antonio</div> Great... we get to this this treat again.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting purehoops:</div><div class="quote_post">Great... we get to this this treat again.</div> The two teams won't play anywhere near as bad today as they did on thursday.Or at least I hope not.Won't be good to watch if it is...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting allnet:</div><div class="quote_post">The two teams won't play anywhere near as bad today as they did on thursday.Or at least I hope not.Won't be good to watch if it is...</div> The most suprising thing is... it came from what is supposed to be 2 of the better teams in the L. I could expect the Clippers, Magic or Hawks to possibly (accidently is more like it) get 25 in a quarter.
I know I'm late but from what I've seen the Spurs are doing very well this season. They got another w on this game and that added on to all the other w's they got( lost count) anyway I think they'll got to the semifinals or further in the playoffs if they keep this up
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting purehoops:</div><div class="quote_post">The most suprising thing is... it came from what is supposed to be 2 of the better teams in the L. I could expect the Clippers, Magic or Hawks to possibly (accidently is more like it) get 25 in a quarter.</div> To be honest It shouldn't be that big a suprise.Rockets and Spurs are two of the best defensive teams in the league.So stopping each other is expected in a way.The score tonight was 86-73 to Spurs...Was a better game.Although Rockets scored only 8 points in the 1st quarter.The same amount they got on thursday in the 2nd quarter.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting allnet:</div><div class="quote_post">To be honest It shouldn't be that big a suprise.Rockets and Spurs are two of the best defensive teams in the league.</div> That is no excuse for scoring 25 points in a quarter. Steve Francis, Tim Duncan, Yao Ming... these guys are known more for their offensive talents than defensive talents. 30 and especially 25 is extremely unacceptable.
Ugly game. The Rockets only managed to score 8 points in the 2nd quarter? Thats pathatic, i'll be sure to skip the next game. Even if they are the top defensive teams, they could at least crack 75 points.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting purehoops:</div><div class="quote_post">That is no excuse for scoring 25 points in a quarter. Steve Francis, Tim Duncan, Yao Ming... these guys are known more for their offensive talents than defensive talents. 30 and especially 25 is extremely unacceptable.</div> Not trying to make an excuse for it.It is unacceptable for two NBA teams to score so little points in a half.However being two of the top defensive teams you can understand why so little points were put up.
