Pre-Game Thoughts: Blazers at Spurs
Tonight’s ESPN broadcast kicks off at 7:00 ET. It’s something of an internet double feature, with the Spurs game available on ESPN360 and the Toros contest available at 8:30 ET on Futurecast. You know where I’m directing my halftime browser.
No one is certain if Tim Duncan will play tonight, so it’s pretty difficult to throw up a meaningful preview. It’s not inconceivable that these two teams will meet in the first round of the playoffs, which would seem to favor San Antonio. The Blazers are 31-7 at home this season; they’re 18-21 on the road. That’s a pretty sharp drop. Portland has lost 11 straight in San Antonio. So, Duncan or not, this should be a good game. If anything, it will be fun to see how the Spurs develop their post-Ginobili rotation and whether Gooden can string together a series of impressive outings.