San Antonio Spurs @ Houston Rockets
Toyota CenterDecember 10, 2012, 7:00 PM Spurs Time
TV: FSSW, CSN-H - RADIO: 1200 WOAI, KBME
The Silver and Black travel to the Houston Rockets after destroying the Charlotte Bobcats. San Antonio proved to have the deepest bench in the league as its entire dressed out squad brought pain and misery to Charlotte Saturday night. 19 from long range helped to put down the Cats by 30. PTR's very own J. Gomez did a great review of the game. So the heroes turn from torching the tomcats to traveling to Houston to take on the Rockets.
Houston was dominated by the Spurs in the last meeting (past Friday) in the paint. San Antonio had their way at the rim as the Spurs were led by their veteran big man and team captain Tim Duncan. No matter if Omer Asik, Patrick Patterson, Greg Smith or anyone else on the Houston team, there was no slowing down San Antonio in the paint. Houston may attempt to pack the paint in the rematch but let them beware that Charlotte attempted the same and was torched by 19 from deep and roasted to the tune of 30 points.
Team Captain Tim Duncan gives a similar warning to all team, "We've been really good about moving the ball and we're really getting on the same page with that. When our guys get open shots they knock them down. So if they don't want to concede them in the paint, we will hurt them on the outside." Perhaps Houston with their Hall of Fame (as a player) coach, Kevin McHale, can work some home made magic on these league leading Spurs. Mr. McHale was away from the team due to the loss of his daughter. Coach McHale has returned to his responsibilities and expressed a desire to get back with his team. "I've got to get caught up, so these next few days will be good for us." said Kevin McHale.
Coach Pop of the Spurs is a whole different animal. Not pleased with is team's performance during the 3rd quarter of the Rockets game, he apparently gave his squad an emotional talking to. Cold blooded shooter, Gary Neal, remembered Pop expressing his lack of happiness, "Coach Pop kind of rattled the cage a little bit with that timeout." This was after the Rockets closed the gap to eight in the third quarter. The Spurs responded by going on a 15-0 run and preventing Houston from scoring for four minutes. Hopefully the Spurs can keep their heads in the game and not resort to needing Pop to tell them to pull their heads out of their arses.
For Alamo:
Battle of Position
Point Guard: Tony Parker vs Jeremy Lin
Lin is still getting used to playing in the Western Conference, Tony has been dominating for years.
Advantage: Tony
Shooting Guard: Gary Neal vs James Harden
Neal had a quite night the last time these two teams played. He went 6-11 with 12 points. His last game was more quiet with 5 points on 2-6 shooting. Harden put in 39 his last game but it took him 17 shots and 16 freebies to do it. Neal is as needed, Harden is needed every night, all the time. Neal is meant to be an important role player on a potential championship team. Harden is meant to be a star on a lottery team.
Advantage: Harden
Small Forward: Danny Green vs Chandler Parsons
Green lit up the Bobcats last game with 23 points and shooting 8-10, 7-9 of those were 3's. Parson's had 18 on 6-17 shooting versus the Mavericks. Green is a level 5 efficiency ninja, Parson's is a level 1 efficiency initiate.
Advantage: Green
Power Forward: It's the GOAT PUFF. 'Nuff Said.
Advantage: Yeah, the guy in Silver and Black with 21 on his jersey.
Center: DeJuan Blair vs Omer Asik
Blair sprained his ankle against Charlotte and is a game time decision. Asik made a lot of money from Houston.
Advantage: Asik
Bench Mob: Manu, Tiago, DeColo, Diaw, Mills, Anderson, Bonner, Joseph vs Delfino, Morris, ?
Spurs clearly have the numbers and skills at all positions off the bench.
Advantage: Manu
Lineups
Starters
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Lineups
Starters Head Coach Kevin McHale |
Rockets perspective can be found here: The Dream Shake
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Game Prediction: Houston has won their last 3 games at home against the Spurs. That was a different time and a different Rockets team, Spurs by 14. Vegas is quiet at 11:45 pm.
Game Previewers Prediction Records & how many points off per prediction
Joe deLarios 5-0 (-1, 3, 5, 0, 1)
Wes Thorne 6-1* (-1, 0, 23, 2, -8*,1, 28) *@MIA
Racm 1-3 (-25, -14, -5, 15)
Stijl 1-1 (-12, 11)
Fred 1-0 (3)
CapHill 1-0 (13)
As always Tony must dominate Fisher, and 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.