Preseason Game Preview #4: Los Angeles Clippers @ San Antonio Spurs

by LatinD on Oct 14, 2009 9:11 AM CDT in Game Previews

Totally and completely related to this preview

So! Today we're going to try something new: we are planning on breaking the regular season games in several different sections/posts: game preview, game thread, quick recap, recap, and maybe a couple more. Since the preseason is when you want to test things, we're going to give it the old school try for our fourth preseason game against the Clippers. Let us know what you think.

Levity, misinformation and the secret to Youngetivity , after the jump:

Just kidding: No one knows the secret to Youngetivity.

Los Angeles Clippers @ San Antonio Spurs (Preseason)
Where: AT&T Center - San Antonio, TX
When: October 14, 2009, 7:30 PM Spurs time, 9:30 PM Argentina... and people will have to help me with the rest
Watch: It's probably on local TV in LA, but the rest of us are out of luck.

How They Stack Up


0-0	Home	0-0
0-0	Road	0-0
0.0	Offense	0.0
0.0	Defense	0.0
0	FG%	0
0	3-pt%	0
0	FT%	0
0	Rebounds	0
0	TOs	0
0-0	Last 10	0-0
N/A	Streak	N/A


	PG
	SG
	SF
	PF
	C
	Bench
	Coach
	Intangibles
	Mojo
	Winner

Spurs
(0-0)

Vs

Clippers
(0-0)

Matchups

George Hill

Baron Davis

Tony Parker said in his Facebook account that he'd be sitting this one out, so George gets the start against a guy that usually gives Tony problems. This should be a good test for Pop's new favorite player, if not a test for Davis as he returns from last season's injury.
Advantage: Clippers

Coach's Pet

Dr. Hollywood

Manu Ginobili

Eric Gordon

Manu already proved he's got his extra step (the not-quite-Euro step, let's call it) back, but hopefully he'll get a few more minutes today and start trying to get involved in the team's offense instead of working solely as a facilitator. In the meantime, I can't look at Gordon's face without cracking up.
Advantage: Spurs

FSM's favorite son

Life's a sandy shore

Richard Jefferson

Al Thornton

We all know Richard Jefferson is a great player, and maybe even better than Al Thornton (who is not chopped liver). Instant offense, our 4th big, etc. etc. etc. - am I the only one that wants to see something more from RJ by now, beyond a sweet reverse layup? I'd settle for good passing to the perimeter shooters and the hint of a budding chemistry between him and Tim.
Advantage: Spurs

Make me love you

I'm on the Clippers? *@%#!

Tim Duncan

Marcus Camby

Camby is an injury risk, but he's a still one of those players that does a little bit of everything, and he does it all well. I'd still love to see him in black and white, but I guess it's time to move on. As in Manu's case, I want to see Tim try to look for his shot more often when he's playing - mainly so we can find out how effective the role players can be when they're not monopolizing the game.
Advantage: Spurs

Skinny dude

Trade for Bonner

Antonio McDyess

Chris Kaman

I have nothing. McDyess over the caveman. I imagine that Ian will be taking the bulk of the minutes at the 5 tonight, and he's been showing steady improvement so I have high hopes for him.
Advantage: Spurs

Savvy

Post Haircut

DeJuan Blair

Bench

Blake Griffin

Griffin against Golden State: 15 points and 9 rebounds, despite foul trouble at the half. Pretty good for a rookie, yes, but not DeJuan Blair numbers. Hmm, I wonder if Pop will let DeJuan compete for the ROY award. Rasual Butler is the only other Clipper likely to get significant minutes, while most of the Spurs bench will probably play a good number of minutes.
Advantage: Spurs

Breaking arms

Not breaking arms

Gregg Popovich

Coach

Mike Dunleavy

I give Dunleavy points for effort: he has stayed steadfast at the helm of the Clippers while they evolved from a perennial loser to a playoff team in 2005-06, and the following rapid decline to the utter mess it is today.
Advantage: Spurs

Before Beard (B.B.)

Clipperized

images via yahoo.com

Intangibles: At home, with a crowd excited about the team's potential and the new players, and riding a seemingly endless wave since that first RJ trade in July. Advantage: Spurs

Mojo: Anyone who has watched the Clippers in the last few seasons knows that they drink a special, extra-strong blend of bad luck coffee. Their starters are all mostly healthy right now, but can that last? Does it matter? Advantage: Spurs

Winner: Have I ever picked against the Spurs? I'm such a homer.

Keys To The Game

Blaircalypse: The story of the game will be the first head-to-head matchup between DeJuan Blair and Blake Griffin. So far DeJuan has been the star, but Blake is a baller. I give this matchup 5 broken arms out of 5.
Rosters: "Preseason? What's that?" In their win against Golden State the Clippers used a rotation that wouldn't seem out of place during the regular season. In the meantime, Pop isn't a moron and has been finetuning our roster in these ultimately meaningless game. Dunleavy wants these games more... for some reason.
TV: If the Spurs win thanks to Blair's 30-20 performance and no Spurs fan can watch it because of the lack of TV coverage, does it really happen?

Last Time They Met

These teams last bumped heads on March 27th, and the Spurs took care of business by winning 111-98. The big three were facing a depleted Clippers team that has since been rehabilitated and reloaded. Here, have some higlights:

Some Other Reading

Clippers

Clips Nation: SB Nation blog. The owner, Steve Perrin, is a workhorse and every day he makes us look bad by producing tons of great content on his own.
ClipperBlog: Part of the TrueHoop network, but it's no 48MoH.

Spurs

48 Minutes of Hell: The lair of Tim and Graydon. Go and seek wisdom.
Project Spurs: Nice guys, good content, a solid Spurs blog you should visit.

Head-to-Head Analysis

Check out BlaseE's story on why the Spurs are better than the Clippers.

Twitter Spurs

Sunday Bloody Sundaaaaaaaaaaay... http://pic.gd/d62bef
@manuginobili

on the plane after a nice win in MIami. The young fella Blair looked good!
@moneymase

I am playin 2K10, getting ready to go to bed after this game... got practice in the am!
@dejuan45

is this on? hello?
@coachpop

Some Other Viewing

Hill gets some luv from the bearded Buddha ("I like him a lot better than I liked Tony at the same age"), Hill provides the laughs ("French? Nah, I'm still trying to learn English all the way"), and the first video quickly becomes a must-see. I'm starting to believe Pop when he says Hill's his favorite player.

Other things of possible interest

Blake Griffin is No DeJuan Blair - Good article, but a bit too soon.
DeJuan Blair FACTS - My homepage as of today.
The Count: College’s Kings of Glass - Why tonight could be special.
Blake Griffin Is Not the Best Big Man in the Country - Old article, but it's nice to read now that we know how the crazy, crazy the draft went.
Yahoo Answers - is never wrong.

Where to Tune In

TV

We're out of luck on this one. Preseason games are not even being aired locally, unless Spurs.com is wrong.

Online

Please don't post links to illegal game feeds in this thread. Links to illegal feeds are not permitted on SBNation, but you can probably find them out there on the internets if you're resourceful and desperate. In fact, nobody can stop you from googling "atdhe". You can also shoot an email to dmenendez@gmail.com for more assistance.

Spurs League Pass audio is still free this year, but won't be working until the regular season. Bookmark it now, especially if you don't have the video league pass.

Radio

If you're in the San Antonio area and aren't near a TV, tune in to WOAI (1200 AM). Yahoo might have an audio link at gametime, and we'll post that here if it becomes available.

In Pictures

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Comments

If the Spurs win thanks to Blair’s 30-20 performance and no Spurs fan can watch it because of the lack of TV coverage, does it really happen?

The fans at the game? Once again, though, why can I pay to watch Summer League, but preseason is off limits to the fans??? Shouldn’t the NBA be trying to ramp up interest with preseason games!?!?

by BlaseE on Oct 14, 2009 10:19 AM CDT reply actions

The fans at the game aren’t on TV, so they don’t exist, either.

Straight from the No-Stat Zone to your computer!
Dunkin' Cheerleaders

by LatinD on Oct 14, 2009 10:33 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

AWESOME!

"He's Manu Ginobili"
"moonshine is dangerous stuff."- HIpuks

by the little o on Oct 14, 2009 10:50 PM CDT up reply actions

/Sigh. The NBA needs better cable deals. Also, does each team manage their own television deals or so? I read somewhere Portland is aiming to stream all their games live on their website by Jan next year or so.

For Portland fans, that negates taking League Pass(well most of them). Wonder if that really comes to pass.

by LionZion on Oct 14, 2009 10:25 AM CDT reply actions

BTW, the kids at the bottom are Blair and Griffin. In case it wasn’t obvious enough.

Straight from the No-Stat Zone to your computer!
Dunkin' Cheerleaders

by LatinD on Oct 14, 2009 10:34 AM CDT reply actions

Good preview. But to reiterate what I wrote previously :

- Instead of white dot triple column, put in some other comparisons giving us a sense of where the Spurs stand with respect to the rest of the league in terms of some key stats like :: the ones here for Dean Olliver’s four factors for both offense and defense. So we could have our stats in one column and then the league leader in the other with the team name alongside abbreviated.

- Again, put the white dots with the player match ups under their names or so.

The first point I think makes for a cooler review( if its a lot of work, don’t worry about it) plus it really tells us where we stand in terms of the Lakers lol. I am sure they are going to lead in a lot of the categories. But if we are in the ball park, heck, it will be fun!

Plus it will be an original twist to typical game previews on most of the blogs. I think.

by LionZion on Oct 14, 2009 11:27 AM CDT reply actions

I’m all for getting rid of the white dots, but it’s not as if they’re useless right now – they serve as a sort of summary of all the text that comes afterwards. Those four factors sound good, but where are the numbers? Help me here, because Basketball Reference gives me a headache.
The white dots would be pretty useless in the matchups rows, because it says “Advantage:##” to the right of their mugshots. I’d just get rid of them altogether.

If it’s not too much work, I’m all for it.

Straight from the No-Stat Zone to your computer!
Dunkin' Cheerleaders

by LatinD on Oct 14, 2009 11:34 AM CDT up reply actions

Oh, and thanks for the feedback. :)

Straight from the No-Stat Zone to your computer!
Dunkin' Cheerleaders

by LatinD on Oct 14, 2009 11:34 AM CDT up reply actions

I agree about the headache while browsing Basketball Reference :P

Now if you go to the second link, the numbers are not adjusted for pace. So in effect, if we compare LA and Spurs, a lot of the numbers seemingly ‘look’ close for the season. They have something called a SRS(simple rating system) which seems a more reasonable team index for league comparisons which we can include(assuming its updated on a daily or weekly basis). The numbers from last season look favourable seeing as how the playoffs went.

Glaringly, they NO index for predicting how the gonads of our 3pt specialists will vanish during the playoffs.

by LionZion on Oct 14, 2009 11:47 AM CDT up reply actions

Better link for a season

Here is a link which shows the factors for last season. I am not sure if its updated on a daily basis.

by LionZion on Oct 14, 2009 11:38 AM CDT up reply actions

I’ll check it in a bit, thanks.

Straight from the No-Stat Zone to your computer!
Dunkin' Cheerleaders

by LatinD on Oct 14, 2009 4:40 PM CDT up reply actions

Sorry, but I don’t think Baron Davis is a better point guard than Hill. He might be a better all around player, shooter, etc., but not a better point guard. He might school Hill 1-on-1 in a pickup game, but he ain’t a better poing guard.

A point guard should lead, direct, and facilitate his teammates chances of scoring points. That is exactly what Hill does. Baron Davis? He’s another Allen Iverson “get out of the way and let me shoot” point guard. We’ve seen how often that works in the NBA.

by JCR_210 on Oct 14, 2009 11:34 AM CDT reply actions

Baron Davis does average over 7 assists per game for his career. His shooting percentages could be better though…

by BlaseE on Oct 14, 2009 1:14 PM CDT up reply actions

Allen Iverson single handedly led his team to the finals and Baron Davis has been the starting PG for his team his whole career (except rookie year). Hill is a wonderful young guard and is still a backup PG. Extreme homerism going on here (notice this is the first time I use homerism, yey!!)

"If an expert says it can't be done, get another expert"
- DBG

by LasEspuelas on Oct 14, 2009 3:51 PM CDT up reply actions

Sucks that Pre-Season games not on TV

BTW, I won some tickets for the game tonight, and I look forward to seeing DeJuan Blair in person. I hope it’s not one of those “Gladiator” moments where the guy seems smaller in person than his legend.

by JCR_210 on Oct 14, 2009 11:36 AM CDT reply actions

I hope it’s not one of those "Gladiator" moments where the guy seems smaller in person than his legend.

That reminded me of this pic:

That’s 6′2″ 240 pound Arnold Schwarzenegger as Conan in the middle, Wilt Chamberlain on the left and Andre the Giant on the right.

We now return to another Lakers dynasty - already in progress. October 2009

by olf on Oct 14, 2009 12:36 PM CDT up reply actions

Any of you tweeps see this?

Noticeably missing were Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett. The blogger gave a lame apology for excluding them, claiming that they were past their pime.

Funny how none of the top 5 have won a ring and how number 1 (No-win-ski) is the ultimate choker.

RT @SI_24Seven: The Top 5 Power Forwards going into the 09-10 NBA Season

by JCR_210 on Oct 14, 2009 11:44 AM CDT reply actions

forgot the link

by JCR_210 on Oct 14, 2009 11:45 AM CDT up reply actions

must be doing something wrong, still new to this

http://sportige.com/top-5-power-forwards-league-2009-2010/

by JCR_210 on Oct 14, 2009 11:46 AM CDT reply actions

You can’t put links in the subjct line, if that’s what you were trying to do. It doesn’t work :/

9.20.21.24.34
ACLs are like crutches. They’re only for the weaklings who can’t get along without them. -jollyrogerwilco

by Tim C. on Oct 14, 2009 1:39 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah, leaving out Duncan was especially egregious, as was omitting Deron Williams from his top 5 PGs. Here are his lists, with names listed in order of their ranking (I didn’t see the centers ranked yet):
PG: Paul-Parker-Billups-Rondo-Rose (no Williams! GOL!)
SG: Bryant-Wade-Roy-J. Johnson-Redd (No Gino, No VC)
SF: LeBron-Melo-Pierce-Durant-Granger (This was his most accurate list, IMO)
PF: Dirk-Pau-Bosh-Amar’e’e’e-Aldridge (LaMarcus over Duncan and KG! LOL)

by Gino20 on Oct 14, 2009 5:46 PM CDT up reply actions

I’m betting that he’ll list Duncan and KG as centers.

From under the radar to hanging in the rafters - Big50
5 in 10

by J.R. Wilco on Oct 14, 2009 5:59 PM CDT up reply actions

I stand corrected..

The center list is now up.

C: D.Howard-Al Jefferson-David Lee (!!!)-Okur-Snaq

I assume this is like the SLAM list where they are ranked based on expectations for this season. In fact, the title of the post is “Top Five Centers in the NBA, Going into 2009-2010.” This would account for the absence of one Yao Ming.

By the way, someof these guys (save for O’Neal, probably Howard and maaaybe Okur) would have been PF if we went back to the early part of this decade.

RE: David Lee. Is the center position so weak now that he is third best? I would say no, but it is fairly weak.

by Gino20 on Oct 14, 2009 6:43 PM CDT up reply actions

One more thing from this list...

The section on Al Jefferson says

(Jefferson is) constantly adding moves to his low post game and with the crew assembled around him, despite Ricky Rubio bolting to Barcelona, the Wolves can be a pleasant surprise and may have an outside chance in the playoff race. A small one, but still there. If Jefferson stays healthy this year, that is.

Is it just me, or does Minny have a better shot at the worst record in the league than they have of making the playoffs (though SAC may again sport the worst record)?

by Gino20 on Oct 14, 2009 6:47 PM CDT up reply actions

They were on a roll last year right before Jefferson got hurt. Don’t count them out.

9.20.21.24.34
ACLs are like crutches. They’re only for the weaklings who can’t get along without them. -jollyrogerwilco

by Tim C. on Oct 14, 2009 7:12 PM CDT up reply actions

Maybe this is for fantasy numbers.

We specialize in misinformation around here. Facts and stats just get in the way.

by Wayne Vore (ATS) on Oct 14, 2009 6:48 PM CDT up reply actions

A little music to get you in the right frame of mind. I’m totally bummed I’m not going to be in Houston tonight. First time I’ve missed a U2 concert in Texas since… hmm… before the Joshua Tree tour at least. Anyway, it’s still A Beautiful Day.

Superman wears Manu Ginobili pajamas to bed. - CMoney

by bellasa on Oct 14, 2009 4:53 PM CDT reply actions

HAHA! pop is just having a good laugh….. he just lost a bet or something, no way he speaks like that about a player!!

"Rock and Roll angels bring that HardRock Hallelujah"

by Chilai on Oct 14, 2009 5:19 PM CDT reply actions

Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool!

If you haven't lived with a squirrel, you haven't lived. - Bob Ross

by Hipuks on Oct 14, 2009 6:54 PM CDT reply actions

What a night.

Straight from the No-Stat Zone to your computer!
Dunkin' Cheerleaders

by LatinD on Oct 14, 2009 7:15 PM CDT up reply actions

We’re going to the World Cup female dogs!

If you haven't lived with a squirrel, you haven't lived. - Bob Ross

by Hipuks on Oct 14, 2009 7:03 PM CDT reply actions

What was (or is?) the score?

The Roleplayer's Realm

by silverandblack_davis on Oct 14, 2009 7:09 PM CDT up reply actions

We beat Uruguay 1-0.

If you haven't lived with a squirrel, you haven't lived. - Bob Ross

by Hipuks on Oct 14, 2009 7:10 PM CDT up reply actions

I can’t imagine a world cup without Argentina. Is Maradona this bad as a coach? I mean this is freakin Argentina! Soccer Gods! WHAT HAPPENED??!!

by SaSleepless on Oct 14, 2009 8:26 PM CDT up reply actions

Maradona IS that bad of a coach. To have world class players and barely manage to make it to the World Cup takes some real talent.

If you haven't lived with a squirrel, you haven't lived. - Bob Ross

by Hipuks on Oct 14, 2009 11:35 PM CDT up reply actions

Great preview, LD. Amazing that Clips Nation almost has the same traffic as we do and yet the threads aren’t even half as active.

By the way, hilarious touch on Pop’s “twitter account.”

The Roleplayer's Realm

by silverandblack_davis on Oct 14, 2009 7:14 PM CDT reply actions

Thanks, man. By the way, the game thread is up… :)

Straight from the No-Stat Zone to your computer!
Dunkin' Cheerleaders

by LatinD on Oct 14, 2009 8:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Oh my… I’m getting terrified for George. Pop’s putting a lot of expectations on the kid.

"Yes, it's important that I have good numbers, and I'm well-respected as a player. But I think it's more important that I'm respected as a man." - Some Tall Guy Who Wore #50

by theonlyromeo on Oct 15, 2009 11:27 PM CDT reply actions