Game Preview: Utah Jazz at San Antonio Spurs

San Antonio Spurs vs Utah Jazz

AT&T Center
12/31/11, 6:30 PM Spurs Time
TV: NBA TV - RADIO: 1200 WOAI

Well that was ugly. It seems we either blow out our opponents and Duncan gets to rest, or we get blown out and Duncan gets to rest. As Pop said, "...it was a great opportunity to treat [the game] like training camp...treat it like practice." With a shortened season, there will be many games like the previous one. Especially until we find a solid backup big.

Lineups Starters PG: Tony Parker SG: Manu Ginobili SF: Richard Jefferson PF: Tim Duncan C: DeJuan Blair Key Bench Players Tiago Splitter Kawhi Leonard James Anderson			Lineups Starters PG: Devin Harris SG: Raja Bell SF: Gordon Hayward PF: Derrick Favors C: Al Jefferson Key Bench Players Paul Millsap Josh Howard CJ Miles

I'm terrified of the Jazz, if I'm honest. And I am honest since my mother raised me that way. I'm not terrified that we will lose to them (I prefer to think we've had enough rest in between games). I am terrified because I don't want us to become like them when Pop retires. It's not that the Jazz are a bad team, they just seem to have no direction. They have so many weapons firing off in all directions that it's impossible to mount a successful attack. They have a decent point guard (hey! remember when we thought New Jersey was getting the better end of that deal for Kidd?) who works best as a bigger mini Tony Parker, but then you have a big guy who just wants to hold onto the ball for 15 seconds before pirouetting toward the basket for a lay up. I can see the Jazz making some noise in the regular season, maybe even making the playoffs after some cohesion time. But at the moment they're still reeling under the effects of a Jerry Sloan hangover, and the Spurs definitely ain't the cure.

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.