Game Preview #59: New Orleans Hornets @ San Antonio Spurs

by CapHill on Mar 5, 2010 2:00 AM CST in Game Previews

We play the NOOCH tonight. It seems like it was just Monday when we played them last. It was? Well, let's hope history repeats itself in more ways than one tonight. I'm feeling uncharacteristically optimistic today. Plus, there's the benefit of the game being broadcast on national TV (ESPN), meaning we don't have to listen to the Hornets' announcers for a second game in a row.

Having just sat through three days of training on "Advanced Work Zone Management and Design", I'm just happy to be able to watch some basketball. Although it's not necessarily a bad thing that I missed the craptacular Oklahoma State - Texas A&M game on Wednesday. Oy! March Madness can't get here soon enough.

Since tonight's game has a bit of a Deja Vu feeling, I present you with this:

Hopefully, everyone here can appreciate the greatness of Monty Python.

Now for the basketball related preview (and yes, some of this is cut and paste from Monday's game).

New Orleans Hornets @ San Antonio Spurs
Where: AT&T Center - San Antonio, TX
When: March 5, 2010; 8:30 PM Spurs time
Watch: KENS, ESPN

How They Stack Up


21-10	Home	20-11
13-14	Road	11-20
100.8	Offense	99.7
96.7	Defense	101.4
47.0	FG%	45.6
36.1	3-pt%	36.0
74.5	FT%	79.0
42.4	Rebounds	40.9
13.0	TOs	12.6
6-4	Last 10	4-6
Won 1	Streak	Lost 3
2nd, Southwest	Position	4th,Southwest


Country/Time Zone	Game Time
Sydney	10:30 AM
Tokyo	9:30 AM
Philippines/Perth	8:30 AM
Egypt	4:30 AM
Central Europe	3:30 AM
Argentina	11:30 PM
US Time Zones
Eastern	9:30 PM
Mountain	7:30 PM
Pacific	6:30 PM

Spurs (34-24)	Matchups	Hornets (31-31)
Tony Parker Baguette	Point Guard Collison has been playing well in Paul's absence, but he's still a rookie. Tony's minutes are down lately due to his multiple boo-boos, but he's still scoring efficiently. Advantage: Spurs	Darren Collison Rookie

George Hill Mountain	Shooting Guard Wow, has Georgie been playing great lately or what? Not only is his scoring up, but he's eating up major minutes without any downturn in his play. Peterson didn't do much against us the last game. Advantage: Spurs	Morris Peterson Not Thornton

Richard Jefferson Somewhat Angry	Small Forward I'm back on the RJ bandwagon (join me, there's plenty of room). The stats might not show much improvement, but it's like he's a new player. I'm loving his newfound aggressiveness on both ends of the court. Peja is still not shooting well. Advantage: Spurs	Peja Stojakovic Not a Shooter

Tim Duncan The Man	Power Forward West is a good player, but he was a bit of a chucker in the last game. Timmeh put up a ho-hum 22 & 9 on Mondays. He's old - let's trade him. Advantage: Spurs	David West Inefficient Chucker

Antonio McDyess Rested	Center I'm assuming that Dice will be playing. He got the last game off, a little sore from his knee scare. Okafor quietly goes about his business, putting up solid numbers game after game. Advantage: Hornets	Emeka Okafor Solid Big Man

Manu Ginobili Back in Black	Bench & Role Players In my eyes, Manu is back to form. His confidence has skyrocketed lately, and he's back to his awe-inspiring, crazy ways. Thornton went off in the last game. He's shooting over 40% from 3-pt land, and has put up double-digits in his last 9 games. Advantage: Tied	Marcus Thornton Crazy Hot

Gregg Popovich Still Needs a Beard	Coach I don't think I need to explain why Pop gets the white box. Advantage: Spurs	Jeff Bower Looks Like Your Friendly I.R.S. agent
	images via yahoo.com

	Other Factors
Intangibles
We're playing at home, coming off of two wins. The Bees have lost 3 in a row. Advantage: Hornets
Mojo
The Mojo is dead. Advantage: No One
Winner:
We've been playing well lately. We need to keep the wins coming.

Keys To The Game

Protect the Paint - The Hornets have good big guys. The Spurs need to make sure they don't make a living in the lane.
Defend Thornton - The rookie went off against us the last game, going 6-7 from behind the arc. That is not acceptable defense.
Balance the Baskets - Our success against the Bees had a lot to do with the balanced scoring. Getting four or more in double digits would be a success.

Strength of Schedule

This is a FIGABABA, with the Spurs traveling to Memphis tomorrow night. The Spurs haven't played since Monday. The Hornets lost at Memphis on Wednesday night, and they don't play again until Monday.

Last Time They Met

For those of you who can't remember all the way back to Monday, the Spurs beat the Hornets 106-92. We had six guys in double digits; they did not.

Some Other Reading

Hornets

At The Hive - The SB Nation site for the Hornets.
Hornets 24/7 - The NOOCH's TrueHoop affiliate.

Spurs

48 Minutes of Hell: The best TrueHoop team blog. A must read.
Project Spurs: Check out their podcasts and articles.

Where to Tune In

TV

This game will be aired on KENS in San Antonio and nationally on ESPN (Woo Hoo!). If you have cable or satellite, you'll have to look up your individual channel. And of course, there's always League Pass for the haves. For the have nots, read on.

Online

As always, NBA League Pass is recommended for those who are willing to pony up the cash. Most Spurs games will be broadcast there, which is especially helpful for those of us who aren't in the San Antonio area.

Please don't post links to illegal game feeds in the game 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 poundingtherock@yahoo.com for more assistance.

NBA League Pass audio is still free this year, so check it out.

Radio

If you're in the San Antonio area and aren't near a TV, tune in to WOAI (1200 AM).

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Comments

A Spurs game? Finally?……………..Yay!

by ZeusVizzle on Mar 5, 2010 2:19 AM CST reply actions

What do games have to do with PtR?

by swgeek on Mar 5, 2010 11:53 AM CST up reply actions

There’s a loose association. Stick around for a bit and you’ll eventually see it.

Rest the Croissant!

by J.R. Wilco on Mar 5, 2010 1:10 PM CST up reply actions

well

i dont know how to win this unless , Tony dominates Fisher. second, off this game essentially has a hold on weather i move to Texas or not. In reality it doesn’t, since i know whats her face will go there anyways, but i do want to be there because i have crazy student loans. To fill you guys, in the first game i ever went to, the big 50 scored 71 points. i was a clippers fan until then. regardless of my spelling errors, i need this win, because whore face asshole aka “fiance” is a rockets fan. please make us win

by jakob_taylor on Mar 5, 2010 4:34 AM CST reply actions

Couple’s pet names make me sick, keep your saccharine to yourself.

To serve man.
Gustatus similis pullus.

by Hipuks on Mar 5, 2010 5:06 AM CST up reply actions

+1 Well played

by Big50 on Mar 5, 2010 10:15 AM CST up reply actions

Killjoy.

by swgeek on Mar 5, 2010 11:55 AM CST up reply actions

Here’s to hoping your Fiance doesn’t read PtR much.

by Big50 on Mar 5, 2010 10:15 AM CST up reply actions

i was a clippers fan until then

So that explians how the drinking started.

The Lakers "Too big, too strong, too long, too good."

by olf on Mar 5, 2010 10:27 AM CST up reply actions

nice

Rest the Croissant!

by J.R. Wilco on Mar 5, 2010 11:03 AM CST up reply actions

Sweet

by Heman on Mar 5, 2010 12:29 PM CST up reply actions

keep in mind, when i say "student loans, i mean, whats her face will be a lawyer and i plan on making that benificial. Not that i think Texas doesn’t respect student loand (does it?) but i plan on her paying them off

by jakob_taylor on Mar 5, 2010 4:37 AM CST reply actions

Is what’s her face going to be an immigration lawyer?

To serve man.
Gustatus similis pullus.

by Hipuks on Mar 5, 2010 5:05 AM CST up reply actions

whats her face is going to be whatever the school lets her to be. also, i expected better than http://www.jaspersbarbecue.com/ i really expected better. anyone know a better bbq place?

by jakob_taylor on Mar 5, 2010 5:44 AM CST up reply actions

another lawyer……………….great, prosecute people whether or not they are guilty for your future political career or defend people whether or not thye are guilty for your $$$

maybe she chooses to be a contract laywer for the Spurs…….

"Mr. Gilmore deserves to be in the Basketball Hall of Fame damnit. Highest field goal percentage EVER"

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/gilmoar01.html

by Joe deLarios on Mar 5, 2010 8:50 AM CST up reply actions

Rudy’s Country Store and BBQ. Even LatinD liked the food even though the idea of the place made him queezy.

by Big50 on Mar 5, 2010 10:16 AM CST up reply actions

You know, we’re 2-0 since we stopped putting the “Tony has to dominate Fisher thing”. Lets keep it up!

"Everything in life is pure luck" -Donald Trump

by ddog28 on Mar 5, 2010 4:59 AM CST reply actions

“it’s not necessarily a bad thing that I missed the craptacular Oklahoma State – Texas A&M game on Wednesday”

Yeah……that was a cringefest (although getting in the game free was kinda cool—made my Wednesday night lol). Nights like that remind me why I’m a fan of Spurs bball.

"You may all go to hell, and I will go to Texas." -Davy Crockett
"Give me an army of West Point graduates, and I'll win a battle. Give me a handful of Texas Aggies, and I'll win a war." -Gen. George S. Patton

by spursfan4ever on Mar 5, 2010 9:22 AM CST reply actions

I was hoping we would have our 13th man by now. Oh well, not much longer to wait for our mystery person.

"I like the fact that he’s a man." – Hubie Brown on Blair

by Manu ex Machina on Mar 5, 2010 9:33 AM CST reply actions

I’d love to see Hairston in there to guard that Thornton kid. Hopefully I can join y’all on the game thread tonight for a bit.

by Big50 on Mar 5, 2010 10:18 AM CST reply actions

not to worry about your pokes. they are in – and potentially dangerous…..and sorry about your luck with that work zone management and design stuff……..fortunately, i’m no engineer, but that sure sounds like one of those meetings where 5 hour energy is necessary……..

as for tonite.. meh? a couple of drinks and all the bad things will go away………we need to get these winnable games coming up. this one, knicks, minne and the clips all coming up at home. yeah i know we go to cleveland, i just didnt count that one as a must……gonna need all those to keep pace or climb the western ladder.

by bones on Mar 5, 2010 2:22 PM CST reply actions

Yes, the Kansas game put us in. The Pokes are a strange case this year. If our top 3 players shoot well, we can beat anyone. If no one shows up to help Anderson, we can easily be beaten. The Spurs are downright consistent compared to Oklahoma State.

by CapHill on Mar 5, 2010 2:34 PM CST up reply actions

Gotta see this

If y’all haven’t seen this funny stuff you need to check out the comments from Ms.Smith. Great stuff here in this fanshot on Jason Terry. Great stuff.

by Big50 on Mar 5, 2010 5:29 PM CST reply actions

Fuck it Spurs by 25

"He was just a young skinny guy who looked like a winner. We didn’t know he was going to be as good as he is."
—Popovich on Manu Ginobli

by spursfan87 on Mar 5, 2010 5:36 PM CST reply actions

Hey. That worked last time right! :D

by LionZion on Mar 5, 2010 7:08 PM CST up reply actions

yes ; )

"He was just a young skinny guy who looked like a winner. We didn’t know he was going to be as good as he is."
—Popovich on Manu Ginobli

by spursfan87 on Mar 5, 2010 7:11 PM CST up reply actions

i am looking forward to our guys playing tonight on national television. i hope Mark Jackson, Stan van Gundy and Mike Breen do our game also.

by gunnin' gervin on Mar 5, 2010 5:41 PM CST reply actions

Finally a spurs game after a loooooooong time. oops, the last game was only this week, fuck it..i dont care. I’m happy we are playing tonight

by Heman on Mar 5, 2010 6:32 PM CST reply actions

yeah breen is on game one. i like those three doing games. they make me laugh and eventhough they do d*ck ride like most anouncers, they will call out when the stars screw up. i like hubby brown alot because he gives props to everybody. he praises the ball boy and person whipping up sweat.

by gunnin' gervin on Mar 5, 2010 6:47 PM CST reply actions

Damn, this is late.

I smell death... everywhere.

by LatinD on Mar 5, 2010 7:12 PM CST reply actions

Sup, Argentine.

"If I was the kind of guy who posted a signature line, this would be it from now on." -SiMA

by SgtinManusArmy on Mar 5, 2010 7:15 PM CST up reply actions

Hey, cowboy.

I smell death... everywhere.

by LatinD on Mar 5, 2010 7:15 PM CST up reply actions

You’re actually gonna watch the game with us tonight?

I smell death... everywhere.

by LatinD on Mar 5, 2010 7:15 PM CST up reply actions

Well, I’m gonna watch the game. And I know you’ll be out there somewhere. Sooooo, kinda.

But Mrs. SiMA’s out of town for the weekend and I have grand plans to quietly watch the game alone in my cave, undisturbed and slowly ingesting various beverages. I’m really excited. So although I’ll have my laptop nearby, I want to take it all in and focus on the Manu without having to keep staring at a screen or rebuting a comment or suggesting that we fire a certain HOF coach and/or player.

We’ll see though. Your mere presence alone motivates consideration.

"If I was the kind of guy who posted a signature line, this would be it from now on." -SiMA

by SgtinManusArmy on Mar 5, 2010 7:21 PM CST up reply actions

That’s a pretty longwinded way of saying you’re a poor multitasker, and will abandon us to really focus on Sean Elliot’s commentary.

I smell death... everywhere.

by LatinD on Mar 5, 2010 7:24 PM CST up reply actions

I’d rather be known as a “poor multitasker” than a “untimely and inconsiderate deliverer of travelogues that the public so clearly clamors for.”

So there.

"If I was the kind of guy who posted a signature line, this would be it from now on." -SiMA

by SgtinManusArmy on Mar 5, 2010 7:31 PM CST up reply actions

Ha!

Spurs Basketball. Improving [other] NBA teams since 2010! - swgeek

by Tim C. on Mar 5, 2010 7:32 PM CST up reply actions

Life. Work. Interchangeable for me right now.

I smell death... everywhere.

by LatinD on Mar 5, 2010 7:32 PM CST up reply actions

I kid, I kid.

“jack-ooo-zee” is fully operational now, BTW. Minor problems fixed and all is well. I’m still pissed about it falling through though. Must’ve been something to do with nationalities or something.

"If I was the kind of guy who posted a signature line, this would be it from now on." -SiMA

by SgtinManusArmy on Mar 5, 2010 7:35 PM CST up reply actions

You mean to tell us that your workload doesn’t magically go away when you take 3 weeks off to stalk Manu accross the US?

Spurs Basketball. Improving [other] NBA teams since 2010! - swgeek

by Tim C. on Mar 5, 2010 7:36 PM CST up reply actions

anybody watching the pistons beating up on the cavs? why did the pistons waste so much money on villanueva and ben gordon? lebron is hurt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by gunnin' gervin on Mar 5, 2010 7:39 PM CST reply actions