Sunday, January 17th, 2010...2:00 pm
Preview: San Antonio Spurs @ New Orleans Hornets
A year ago this game would have headlined the daily marquee as a matchup between arguably the league’s top two point guards. A week ago Hoopsworld.com reported the Spurs tried to trade Tony Parker for Chris Paul. But tomorrow, despite those tidbits of information, the matchup has lost some of its luster.
I say arguably the league’s top two point guards because while Paul has cemented his status as the best point guard on the planet for some time now, it was only last year that Parker made his claim as an elite player. Unfortunately for the Spurs, Parker has struggled the past two games-as he has all season-with plantar fasciitis.
The Spurs are struggling heading into this game, having lost the last two games on the road to Charlotte and Memphis. The offense is floundering, scoring 76 and 86 points in those games with the Spurs backcourt of Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker combining to shoot 13-36 (36%).
Known for their slashing, the duo only managed to hit five shots in the paint, only one of which came from Ginobili. This is probably a good indicator that the previously surging Spurs were simply feeling the effects of a busy work week (five games in seven nights).
What does that mean for this game? Even with a day off, the early start (2:30 CST) leaves little turnaround and you have to wonder how much they’ll have in the tank.
New Orleans comes in playing some of their basketball of the season, winning eight of the past 10. With offseason acquisition Emeka Okafor having earned a permanent spot in the crunch time rotation, the Hornets turnaround, as USA Today noted, has been on defense, allowing only two opponents to top 100 points this month (a win over Washington and an overtime loss to Detroit).
“We’re trying to settle in to who we are, developing an identity on how we want to play,” says forward David West, second on the team in scoring (17.4 points) and rebounding (7.5). “We’re a pretty good defensive team when we decide to sit down and play D to help us generate the offense.
For all the talk of the Spurs predicating their success on defense, it’s the offense that’s going to have to begin pulling its own weight again. As always, the matchup with David West merits special attention with Blair and Jefferson likely getting the bulk of the minutes. West has historically given us problems and it will be up to those two to limit him and Jefferson to to attack him when the Spurs go small.
Look for Manu Ginobili to get going against the likes of Devin Brown, Marcus Thorton, Peja Stojakovic and even James Posey. Should he falter, the Spurs could again leave Duncan with too little help.
14 Comments
January 17th, 2010 at 2:30 pm
We hear the TP/CP3 (or other pg) rumors periodically. The likelihood of truth to them this time around doesn’t seem any higher than any other time, but some of that might hinge on TP’s desire to re-sign and/or any internal problems with which we’re unaware. But would CP3 be an immediate improvement for the Spurs THIS season? He certainly is a stat machine, but he facilitates the offense in a completely different fashion. I’m not a TP hater, like some, but the Spurs have adjusted to having a pg of his style by being a good passing team over all. What would adding a league-leading assist-maker to the offense, even with half the season gone?
January 17th, 2010 at 3:20 pm
Josh,
im not a tony parker hater eithe, but hes avg only 5 assists, and cannot throw a alleyoop to save his life. if you think about it, when tony doesnt score the ball he becomes a problem, he can’t defend 90% of nba pg’s, hes not great at sharing the ball while penetrating. it looks to me like pop is treating parker the same way hes treated himm since the beginning, and i think t.p is tired of it. Spurs fans seem to notice the lack of passion, and determination from our french pg. I think if we could get a future dominant big man for parker and a bench player i say we do it after this year. i dont think parker wants to play here anymore. i think everyone can sense this. and maybe theres more tension than we think between pop and parker
January 17th, 2010 at 3:38 pm
I guarantee if Jefferson matches up against West the Spurs will lose.
Pop subbed Mason for Blair in the 1st qtr with Gasol and Randolph on the floor. What happened on the 1st 2 possessions for the Grizzlies? A missed shot, an offensive rebound, a layup put back. Both times.
Pop has lost his mind with this small ball fetish.
January 17th, 2010 at 4:25 pm
It’s been a tough schedule for the Spurs, and I wouldn’t actually be all that surprised if they lose this one too. Having three games in four nights, against young teams that are on the rise, is just a nightmare of a schedule - something that any other team would struggle to get through.
Jefferson-West match up indeed seems interesting. I wonder if Pop will reduce Parker’s minutes to rest his foot, and allow Jefferson to attack more often. Jefferson has got to step up especially when two of the Spurs’ big 3 are struggling on offence, and I believe neither West nor Stojakovic can defend Jefferson should he choose to be more aggresive. Hornets is not a good rebounding team as far as I know (esp. if they go small) and this could make Blair a huge factor in this game. Should be an interesting game to watch.
January 17th, 2010 at 6:38 pm
@ Zack & Josh - I can’t see Parker resigning in SA he’ll be looking to the BRIGHT lights as that’s where the lil lady will be, so I think we nned to look to get some real value for him (I’d be willing to take pain for adjusting to CP3!!!)
Anyone got any idea’s on who/what might make the deal work?
Before we gett all huffy I LOVE TP don’t want to trade him but I just can’t see him re-signing with the SPURS and well I love my SPURS more and want the best for the team, cause I know Parker will get his as he is that good
January 17th, 2010 at 9:37 pm
@ everyone. I’m not sure what it is that makes you think Tony Parker is leaving San Antonio? Everyone assumes he’s “Hollywood”, but in what world could the Lakers possibly afford him? Unless we go uncapped (highly doubtful) where do you think he’ll sign. And as for the Pop/Tony relationship, didn’t he make a point this season to turn over the offense to Parker?
January 18th, 2010 at 6:33 am
Guys, you are forgetting something……..there is NO WAY the Hornests take TP instead of CP3, we are talking of the best PG in the NBA…
We better start looking for other option….
January 18th, 2010 at 7:47 am
Guys, I love Ginobili, and even though his passing is great, man he needs to start producing on shows also. I mean, he’s just not shooting well at all.
I really think we need to trade, Jefferson, HE SUCKS!!! with half the season gone, I haven’t seen much improvement. I’m tired of hearing these excuses… too many new players… Look at the hornets, they have even gone through staff change and are surging.
We look lazy, tired and even older than previous seasons.
Why didn’t we keep Gooden, I would rather have him than RJ. He’s not worth half of what he’s making.
I regardless of what anyone says… The Spurs miss Bonner. Bogans is too streaky, and please… he needs to stop dribbling the ball.
I truly would have rather lost to the Lakers and won the road games. We did not have, not even one decent road game. We won 2, but because the other teams sucked, not because we played so well, come on, we lost an 18 point lead to beat the thunder in overtime in what was a ridiculous play.
How are we expecting to win on the Rode trip.
I’m predicting another loss tonight…
January 18th, 2010 at 8:15 am
I am pretty dissappointed with
Richard Jefferson, I know he’s suposed to be a fourth option and all, but when he is on the court he looks so passive. it’s kind of irritating and he needs to do what we brought him here to do, and thats score the ball, set up teammates and get to the foul line on a regular basis.
We should definitely be second in the West right now, we need to start putting together a win streak and building confidence, because it’ll only get tougher from here.
January 18th, 2010 at 8:21 am
I am a big fan of spurs and Manu but after seeing their half season i am totally dissapointed of their play. no way they are not a championship contender team even not top 4. you know we are lacking off the shooters except boner and finley can you say confidently is there any shooter ?? ok right MANU was but not manu is????? some times roger mason????? and i agree with JT no excuses we are almost half way mark still rotating players? i told several times RJ is not a good fit on this team better to trade him and build the team with youngers. we are no more to depend on big 3 and i am not understanding pop’s rotation. in memphis loss i will blame pop. you know without boner and finley and poor shooting of manu you have only one shooter left that is roger why he is not using roger properly and he used timmy last 4 min of game in 4th qtr?? and i hate to see parkers game?? give him some rest?? lets hope for better GO SPURS!! GO
January 18th, 2010 at 8:31 am
I think it is time to start looking for some trade options…
No one is gonna take Jefferson, not the way he is playing..
The spurs have some expiring contracts (Finley, Bonner, Mason, Mahinni).
Maybe they can pack some expirings (Finley Im looking at you!) and get another post player o a decent defensive stopper.
Im from Argentina so trading Manu its not even a thing that comes thru my mind, but trading Parker? Seems a good possibility, this team is going NOWHERE as it is.
January 18th, 2010 at 8:54 am
Seems like every team the Spurs play these days has won 8 of their last 10.
January 18th, 2010 at 10:37 am
Like lvmainman, I was flabbergasted when Pop took Blair out and went to small ball against Memphis. They kept both Gasol and Randolph in and started killing us on the boards, with Randolph really getting into a groove. That changed the entire tenor and flow of the game, and of course, it was the second quarter that we lost by. Sometimes Pop’s thinking is an absolute freaking mystery.
January 18th, 2010 at 12:34 pm
Spurs suck this season! They are too inconsistent. McDyess trade hasn’t really worked out well either. Blair is playing better ball than him.
RJ is not playing bad offense (comparatively to Bruce Bowens), but his defense is weak. I’m blaming Pop for this, because RJ has no business playing at the 4! He needs to work into his role as a small forward and adjust to the Spurs system. Why make the guy play power forward….even for some minutes at a time?
RJ is shooting well, percentage wise, but is not very aggressive. He needs to put up 10 shots a game at a minimum!
Parker will be fine once his foot heals. Don’t you guys remember the 50 pt performance? The guy is the best PG for the Spurs.
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