Game #50 Preview: Spurs at Kings, Yes... there's another game after last night
3rd game of the RRT and I'm already tired of the road. Though last night's win definitely put me in a much better mood. I just love seeing us beat the Lakers, though I wish we had beaten them by more. I expect to see a lot of Splitter tonight to give McDyess his day off because he was so good in that last .3 seconds. The only thing different is if there had been .4 seconds when he tipped it back in, but what can I say, I'm a little cold.
Sure the Kings are in the bottom half of the league, but have started playing much better in their last 5 games. They narrowly lost to Boston on Tuesday, scored 30 more points against the Hornets the game before that, Beat the Lakers at home the game before that, and beat the Blazers by 15 in Portland. Is this a trap game? Does David Stern love the Lakers? This is far worse than a trap game, we're in for a horrible ride on the SEGABABA,
and I for one am a little worried about this one.
The Kings have a good assortment of promising talent, along with that come quite a few headcasees (Cousins, I'm looking at you). Unfortunately for them, up until recently, nearly all of them have been under performing. Cousins was supposed to be the second coming of Duncan (bwahaha), Evans is the reigning Rookie of the Year (a year in which he dominated the ball so much that they had to give him the award). Jason Thompson comes off the bench,
and Beno Udrih has been, well, Udrih. If they ever get a coach that will discipline them, they could easily make some noise in the League. Of course, you can say that about nearly every team.
The only thing I really remember from last year's Spurs/Kings matchup was this:
AT&T Connection - BatManU (via veteran37)
But it's infinitely awesome, so we'll just leave it at that and get into the stats.
San Antonio Spurs @ Sacramento Kings Where: Arco Arena When: February, 4, 2011, 9:00PM Spurs Time - Timezone Converter Watch: KENS 5
By the Numbers
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Lineups
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Lineups
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Matchup Analysis
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Coach | |
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Mojo | |
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Winner |
Starters
PG: Parker needs to dominate Fisher. He didn't last night and I was disappointed. So far this season, Udrih has been shooting extremely well from 2 point. He excels in that mid-range game that the Spurs hate so much. I expect him to score close to 20 points this game. That being said, Parker is Parker, and I don't think Udrih can keep him out of the lane.
SG: To be fair, Evans has been doing better lately, ever since he went home for Christmas and ate some comfort food. But Batmanu is returning, and there's nothing PETA can do about it.
SF: Omri Casspi is awesome. RJ 2.0 is pretty good. I expect a push.
PF: Cousins might be the only big guy that Blair can't push around. Cousins is also playing so much worse than even Splitter. He's shooting 42% on the season. Of course, even the blind squirrel finds a nut. We need Blair to Beast him up.
C: Often referred to as the Black Hole from Haiti, Dalembert has never been able to pass. He averages 1 assist every 2 games (for his career!). This is what Mahinmi could have turned into, in my own humble opinion. Duncan is GOATPUFF, need I say more?
Bench
I left Dyess off last time. Though, judging the Portland game, I think he deserved it (ed. I wrote this up before that awesome tip. I'm sorry DYESS). I also don't know if he's actually gonna play, being that this is SEGABABA. We need Neal to hit his stride again. Hill just needs to be Hill.
They are missing Jason Thompson. It's too bad, he's a good rotational player.
Coaching
Did you know that Westphal coached Barkley to the Finals? Pop coached Duncan to 4 championships...
Intangibles
RRT, SEGABABA, are there any intangibles in our favor?
Mojo
The Mojo is with us after missing 3 shots to win and then finally getting one to drop
Prediction
We've seen the Spurs fall to the Clippers on a SEGABABA, but I have faith they eke (no pun intended) one out with Blair destroying Cousins.
Key(s) to the Game
Key 1 -Rebounding. Both Offensive and Defensive rebounding needs to be a priority. This team loves to get O-Rebounds, but isn't disciplined to get D-Rebounds.
Key-2 - Tired legs, the Kings will be looking to pounce on us early. Let's take it to them first!
Other Reading
Spurs
Spurs Planet - Our old friend Wayne Vore is back.
OPPONENT
Sactown Royalty - Used to be run by the great Tom Ziller. It's still good though. Go ahead and check them out.
Following Along
TV
KENS 5
Radio
WOAI 1200AM; Audio League Pass[streaming]
Online
As always, NBA league pass is recommended for those who are willing to pony up the cash. Almost every Spurs game 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. You can also shoot an email to poundingtherockmail@yahoo.com(IMPORTANT: Please include your PtR username in the email for reference) for further assistance.
133 comments
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Comments

Yo Pop, “You will be my Valentine, jes? Then play me more, you will.”
"It's hard to see all my teammates working hard and have to sit there and watch the games." "Of course, the massages are nice." ~Tiago Splitter
by eastbaysd on Feb 4, 2011 3:00 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
I can’t choose which to vote, so many choices…..
Yo, I’m 6-11, but I just want to dribble through my legs and shoot jumpshots like a guard. - Marc Blucas on Tim Duncan
ha ha
"I had an excellent game. It was just an excellent game. We are an excellent team. I had an excellent game." DeJuan Blair 12/29/10 SA 97 - LA 82
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/gilmoar01.html
by Joe deLarios on Feb 4, 2011 11:19 AM CST up reply actions
Its not a tarp. A tarp is a game that the Spurs should theoretically win 9 times out of ten, and Tarps do not include segababas, because the Spurs are terrible at them.
[ "Duncan, the Spurs' 34-year-old captain, was aghast when Splitter told him he used to watch him as a kid."]
"I didn't enjoy that at all," Duncan said
agree. this is not a tarp. we should expect to lose this game. it will be amazine if we win.
"We just keep putting wins in the bag, kind of like picking strawberries." - RJ 2.0
I feel like the Ho on the corner…I’m not over the last one and I got to go again.
by indiancharlie on Feb 4, 2011 9:51 AM CST reply actions 2 recs
?
"I had an excellent game. It was just an excellent game. We are an excellent team. I had an excellent game." DeJuan Blair 12/29/10 SA 97 - LA 82
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/gilmoar01.html
by Joe deLarios on Feb 4, 2011 11:19 AM CST up reply actions
Blair should be up for this game. Cousins is a good physical player and it’ll be fun watching him and Blair in the mosh pit for four quarters.
Surely the Spurs will shoot better tonight than they did against the Lakers, so that might offset some of the fatigue. I’m hoping the law of averages applies.
Asked before the game how Parker has looked, Popovich said, "He’s still cute. "
Sactown Royalty is still ran by Ziller.
I’ll be at this game tonight in the lower section wearing my Robinson jersey.
Who the hell is Jordan Leithart and where can I get more?
Good job!
Biggest coach Pop/Tiago Splitter homer on the internet™
by Josh Guyer (completely deck) on Feb 4, 2011 10:15 AM CST reply actions
Tony scored 21 points last night, Fisher 2 points. What would it take for Tony to have dominated him?
Parker only played well for 1 quarter. Fisher stayed in front of him more often than I’d like.
by Jordan Leithart on Feb 4, 2011 10:52 AM CST up reply actions
Parker was in a shooting slump that began a couple nights earlier in Portland. I think he did a good job getting the funk out as the game progressed. Jackson was pretty much forced to go to Blake in the final quarter.
All these GIFs are breaking my browser.
That’s a good point. I just remember being discouraged that Fisher was able to stay in front of Parker up until the third. A lot of that is Bynum being in, but it wasn’t quite the domination we expect.
by Jordan Leithart on Feb 4, 2011 3:10 PM CST up reply actions
Excellent, jleithart, you name-changer, you. Rec’d for the poll, alone.
In other news, I’m missing this one again because it’s the weekend and it’s my birthday. So please, Spurs. WIN (again), if that isn’t too much to ask.
"A life, Jimmy, you know what that is? It’s what happens while you wait for moments that will never come." - Lester Freamon, The Wire
by silverandblack_davis on Feb 4, 2011 10:31 AM CST reply actions
Happy Birthday S&B Davis!
"I had an excellent game. It was just an excellent game. We are an excellent team. I had an excellent game." DeJuan Blair 12/29/10 SA 97 - LA 82
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/gilmoar01.html
by Joe deLarios on Feb 4, 2011 11:20 AM CST up reply actions
birthday!
Biggest coach Pop/Tiago Splitter homer on the internet™
by Josh Guyer (completely deck) on Feb 4, 2011 12:22 PM CST up reply actions
Congratulations and best wishes. Let the Spurs win tonight and every other night.
"We just keep putting wins in the bag, kind of like picking strawberries." - RJ 2.0
Thanks, guys. ::sniff:: Gold stars for everyone.
"A life, Jimmy, you know what that is? It’s what happens while you wait for moments that will never come." - Lester Freamon, The Wire
by silverandblack_davis on Feb 4, 2011 8:43 PM CST up reply actions
This game could be bad. Thankfully we have enough bench guys to buy our starters time to rest. I don’t think our bench would be severely over-matched against their main guys.
"I've got Tim (Duncan) and you don't. That's the difference." -Gregg Popovich
Theoretically yes, but Anderson’s just coming back from injury, Bonner will probably still be out, and although Neal’s 2’s have been dropping, he hasn’t hit from three, so I’m a bit worried with the heavy minutes our starters played last night.
Definitely agree. I think Bonner being out still is really putting a strain on the big guys on the roster. It’s forcing Duncan and McDyess to get more minutes than wanted. I think this is going to be a game where Duncan and McDyess are going to really look slow and worn out from last night. The question will be whether Blair and Splitter can make an impact while playing big minutes.
I hope Pop gives Dice the well-deserved night off and plays Tiago and BLAAAAAAIRR big minutes tonight. Antonio should only come in, if the foul sitch is dire. Other than that, have him sit. Limit Timmeh too. Play small-ball, if you have to; I don’t give a damn.
↓↘→ ↓↘→ ↓↘→ + P
by transgojobot on Feb 4, 2011 12:20 PM CST up 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 Ginobili
by spursfan87 on Feb 4, 2011 11:39 AM CST reply actions 12 recs
I love it when I get to make these green.
It's in the dictionary under D-E-F-E-N-S-E...I may be wrong, I may be wrong, I may be wrong, I may be may be may be wrong, but I doubt it.
by SpursfanSteve on Feb 4, 2011 12:30 PM CST up reply actions
Less minutes for Timmeh, Manu and Dice. Forget LA and get another W. Help Gary break out of his slump (unless he’s still hurt). Meaningful minutes for Tiago and JA. GSG!
Pau looks as though he is about to sneeze.
I don’t consider this a typical trap game, as the next game is three days away and not on the players’ minds, but I do consider this a bench game. With the opponent and tension from last night combined with a Kings team playing well against top competition, this looks like a game decided by less than six points either way. Our bench, led by G-men George and Gary, need to bring the energy and make their open shots.
The Sac crowd appears from TV to have gotten larger and more boisterous with their improved play. Being a Friday night against the best team in the league, this should be an enthused arena.
Ugly ones count too. Go Spurs Go!
- Thank you SF Giants for an incredible 2010 season and painting the City orange & black!
- I vow to never again mention "playoffs" and "49ers" together until we have a "quarterback."
- You gotta bring ass to get ass.
That look on Pau’s face probably comes from beng poked in the eye by McDyess (accidentally). That was another great play by McDyess – Gasol was not quite the same afterwards and had a little mouse under the eye as the game went on, spending more time on the bench to recover as well.
"Ginobili. . .He's weaving, he's throwing up triple axels in sneakers, he's willing the ball into the basket. It's Cirque du Soleil with refs." Dan Oshinsky / KENS 5
Gasol is kind of a wuss. His main contributions down the stretch consisted of theatrical flopping, hitting some ensuing free throws, and winking his poor wittle eye. And then hunching over the scorers table at the injustice of it all. Why? Why me, gods?
But I may be a little biased. To be fair, he did do a nice job contesting Duncan’s last shot.
All these GIFs are breaking my browser.
Guys… there’s snow on the ground in San Antonio. REAL SNOW. This hasn’t happened since the winter before I was born.
Can anyone post pics? That would be epic.
I can show people here in SD what snow looks like. ;)
"It's hard to see all my teammates working hard and have to sit there and watch the games." "Of course, the massages are nice." ~Tiago Splitter
I think a fan posted “Go Spurs Go” written in the snow on twitter. Tiago linked it.
by Jordan Leithart on Feb 4, 2011 3:12 PM CST up reply actions
That was janieannie
Biggest coach Pop/Tiago Splitter homer on the internet™
by Josh Guyer (completely deck) on Feb 4, 2011 5:21 PM CST up reply actions
This made me laugh.
I do not want people to be agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them. - Jane Austen
That was January 1985 right?
"Entropy isn't what it used to be."
by oldtimeyspurfan on Feb 4, 2011 3:29 PM CST up reply actions
That was “The Big One,” but I’ve been told there was a reprise in ’87. This is a once-in-quarter-century thing.
by DrumsInTheDeep on Feb 4, 2011 3:35 PM CST up reply actions
And “The Big One” consisted of what, 2 inches of snow?
I do not want people to be agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them. - Jane Austen
Don’t mock! This city goes into a tailspin with ICE.
by DrumsInTheDeep on Feb 4, 2011 4:35 PM CST up reply actions
No. The BIG ONE was 17+ inches. Shut the city down for 3 days – no snow/ice handling equipment. That was 6 months after I moved from S.A. to Austin. We only got 8 inches here. …. but I only had a motorcycle then, so I was screwed for 3 days.
"Entropy isn't what it used to be."
by oldtimeyspurfan on Feb 4, 2011 5:36 PM CST up reply actions
That is a big snowstorm. Nothing to mock there. Makes me remember my first week of work here – I went to work on Monday and didn’t get back in until Friday, since Mother Nature decided to dump over 3’ of snow on the Denver metropolitan area.
I do not want people to be agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them. - Jane Austen
Probably the biggest element then was the one of surprise. The moisture came from the Pacific Ocean overrunning across Mexico and into Texas. As I recall, the weathermen missed it (at least the ones in Austin did) and no one predicted the snow. No one was ready for it.
You stayed at work for 5 days because of snow? In Denver? 3 feet is a whole lot, but I’d think that Denver would have the equipment to deal with that at least a bit more than marginally. Did you get meals and overtime pay thrown in for the ordeal?
"Entropy isn't what it used to be."
by oldtimeyspurfan on Feb 4, 2011 6:21 PM CST up reply actions
Heavens no – I wrote that badly. The storm hit early Tuesday and continuously snowed, through Wednesday, and I couldn’t get back to the office until Friday. There was a hellacious wind too, and since I was living in the boonies at that time, I couldn’t tackle the 6-foot snow drifts with just a shovel. I had to wait for one of my neighbors to come dig me out with a tractor.
I do not want people to be agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them. - Jane Austen
OK. That makes more sense. Thank goodness for neighbors! Especially for good ones. Maybe ONLY for good ones… Then you only got paid for two days your first week there. It was a rough start in Colorado between the weather and the money then.
When the BIG ONE hit here, I was only 3 blocks away from the Safeway, and it happened on a Friday morning, so it didn’t affect my work schedule, it wasn’t too bad.
"Entropy isn't what it used to be."
by oldtimeyspurfan on Feb 4, 2011 6:38 PM CST up reply actions
Are you saying it’s not appropriate to call it “The Big One” if it only consists of 2 inches?
Damn it.
I did a lot of soul searching. I didn't find anything.
You of all people should recognize that you need at least 10 inches to qualify as a “Big One.”
by DrumsInTheDeep on Feb 4, 2011 6:43 PM CST up reply actions
Thought it was 12.
"Entropy isn't what it used to be."
by oldtimeyspurfan on Feb 4, 2011 6:45 PM CST up reply actions
Expectations aren’t what they used to be, Ol’ Timer.
by DrumsInTheDeep on Feb 4, 2011 6:46 PM CST up reply actions
Ahhh. Eye Sea. Damn pollution.
"Entropy isn't what it used to be."
by oldtimeyspurfan on Feb 4, 2011 6:48 PM CST up reply actions
We can still call you The Big One if you want, whether this is appropriate or not.
"We just keep putting wins in the bag, kind of like picking strawberries." - RJ 2.0
But my nick for him was Happy Puke.
I supposed I could call him The Big One but it may make his head essplode.
"It's hard to see all my teammates working hard and have to sit there and watch the games." "Of course, the massages are nice." ~Tiago Splitter
Yes. There were several really hairy (for us) winters around that time in south and central texas. I think 87 was mostly ice though. At least it was in Austin. 86 was dry but the temp stayed well below 32 degrees for a week or so – the ice that year was caused by bursting pipes. 87 was the year I broke down and got a car again because of the winters.
"Entropy isn't what it used to be."
by oldtimeyspurfan on Feb 4, 2011 5:45 PM CST up reply actions
“The winters.” I like that. I’ll use it to get off work next week.
by DrumsInTheDeep on Feb 4, 2011 6:49 PM CST up reply actions
Ever ride a motorcycle in freezing temperatures?
"Entropy isn't what it used to be."
by oldtimeyspurfan on Feb 4, 2011 6:51 PM CST up reply actions
I don’t recommend it for prolonged periods of time, even with the proper outerwear. Human antifreeze helps, but that tends to mess with your balance, and the foremost object in motorcycle riding is ‘rubber side down’.
"Entropy isn't what it used to be."
by oldtimeyspurfan on Feb 4, 2011 7:45 PM CST up reply actions
Still have the “M” on my license, but haven’t ridden in some time now. The last bike I owned was the one that I sold a couple of years after the mini ice age around here, so not since around 1990.
"Entropy isn't what it used to be."
by oldtimeyspurfan on Feb 4, 2011 7:48 PM CST up reply actions
I ride my sister’s bicycle because mine is effed up. Of course being a woman’s cruiser I don’t feel too good about it, but the other day I was riding the bike with my dog running next to me, and this guy goes, " Man, that’s a sick ass bike".
Point being, I’m also a badass like you.
I did a lot of soul searching. I didn't find anything.
by Hipuks on Feb 4, 2011 7:52 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
GOL. Since when is riding a ‘sickle qualification for being ’bad ass’? I know some oldies that regularly get their "Gold Wing’, or whatever, on and ride. They ain’t no bad asses though.
"Entropy isn't what it used to be."
by oldtimeyspurfan on Feb 4, 2011 7:56 PM CST up reply actions
There’s also the dentists who buy really expensive custom bikes and ride them once a year.
I did a lot of soul searching. I didn't find anything.
Yep. I used to put them together for those kind of folks. Worked as a mechanic at Alamo Cycle Sales in S.A. in the late 70’s. – Honda Gold Wings – and whatever the Suzuki equivalent was at the time.
"Entropy isn't what it used to be."
by oldtimeyspurfan on Feb 4, 2011 8:03 PM CST up reply actions
People often say to me “That’s a nice bicycle David” and I reply, “Yes, it is made out of a titanium composite alloy such as NASA uses on the space shuttle and it has Shimano gears which are the best.” Just a few weeks ago, while I was taking a rest from riding my bicycle on a park bench, a man walking past said to me “That’s a nice bicycle, can I take it for a ride? I will bring it right back” and I said “Sure, but be careful because it is made out of a titanium composite alloy such as NASA uses on the space shuttle and it has Shimano gears which are the best.”
by DrumsInTheDeep on Feb 4, 2011 7:57 PM CST up reply actions
Did he bring it back (GOL)?
"Entropy isn't what it used to be."
by oldtimeyspurfan on Feb 4, 2011 7:58 PM CST up reply actions
He decided he didn’t want to ride it after all.
by DrumsInTheDeep on Feb 4, 2011 7:59 PM CST up reply actions
Maybe he thought it was made out of the same stuff Nasa used on the Challenger.
I did a lot of soul searching. I didn't find anything.
My bicycle also features:
-Seat constructed by a team of physicists using the largest and most expensive laser on earth.
-Tires made from rubber collected from a rare tree in the Amazon forest by tribal elders.
-Handle bars made from Polycarbonate fiber from the future.
-Brakes made from Pretanium, a metal not yet discovered by man.
-Pedals formed by pressure in the lower atmosphere of Jupiter.
-Shimano gears because they are the best.
Full disclosure: I do not own this bicycle.
by DrumsInTheDeep on Feb 4, 2011 8:05 PM CST up reply actions
Yes yes.
- butt poker supreme
- gum rubber
- weird steerer (sic)
- no brakes – Mercier conquered that issue
- stand up pedals
- Shimano does rock. Don’t know of any better, but I’m no expert.
Full disclosure – I did not pay for mine. No further comment on that.
"Entropy isn't what it used to be."
by oldtimeyspurfan on Feb 4, 2011 8:11 PM CST up reply actions
Prolly the complexity and wonder of those Shimano gears. I had one of them years ago. A Mercier. You could almost legally ride on the freeway with that thing. It was fast.
"Entropy isn't what it used to be."
by oldtimeyspurfan on Feb 4, 2011 8:01 PM CST up reply actions
Is it game time yet?
"Entropy isn't what it used to be."
by oldtimeyspurfan on Feb 4, 2011 8:05 PM CST up reply actions
Really? Between hanging in Austin, Salado and San Antonio, I think I’ve seen snow and or ice every winter for 4 or 5 years straight now.
"Entropy isn't what it used to be."
by oldtimeyspurfan on Feb 4, 2011 5:53 PM CST up reply actions
Today on DITD Watches ESPN so You Don’t Have To…
The Sports Shouting AtH commentariat said the following: the Spurs can win ugly, will run away with the #1 seed, etc., but primarily focused on the Lakers losing.
Wilbon on PtR wants Timmy dumped off the All-Star team in favor of Kevin Love, but also definitely called the Spurs the best team in the league. Again, only a cursory reference while they discussed the Lakers.
Dipping back beneath the radar.
PtR? I mean PTI. Curse you, muscle memory!
by DrumsInTheDeep on Feb 4, 2011 4:57 PM CST up reply actions
I want Timmy dumped off the All-Star team as well. Kevin Love would be the recipient. Let Timmy go home and rest and sleep.
by Jordan Leithart on Feb 4, 2011 5:17 PM CST up reply actions
Good. Give him all of Tim’s minutes.
"Entropy isn't what it used to be."
by oldtimeyspurfan on Feb 4, 2011 6:52 PM CST up reply actions
I thought, Kevin and LaMarcus were the biggest snubs. I don’t think Melo deserves it this year. Pop may start Timmy at center now.
"We just keep putting wins in the bag, kind of like picking strawberries." - RJ 2.0
Timmy and Gasol are the biggest guys on the team, so he pretty much has to start one of them.
Free Tiago Splitter!
You’d think the Lakers losing to top teams would be such an old story that it requires no new conversation.
- Thank you SF Giants for an incredible 2010 season and painting the City orange & black!
- I vow to never again mention "playoffs" and "49ers" together until we have a "quarterback."
- You gotta bring ass to get ass.
Spurs by 12. Calling it.
[enter some witty remark here]
by fanoftheunderdogs on Feb 4, 2011 5:55 PM CST reply actions
Fake Coach Pop needs to read the news more.
Here is a tweet from him:
I invented the Stock Show for team bonding purposes. 2 week training camp RT @jleithart: What’s the real reason for the rodeo trip?
JK, Faker. You’re good!
What if it’s a trap the other way around, as Bonner comes back and nails like nine threes? That would be most epic.
Free Tiago Splitter!
He’s along on the road trip. Don’t think he’s playing tonight – goes and checks NBA.com – He’s listed as “Doubtful” tonight. But that is better than the listing for the last few games, which was “OUT”.
"Entropy isn't what it used to be."
by oldtimeyspurfan on Feb 4, 2011 7:53 PM CST up reply actions

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