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Game #82 Preview: Spurs at Suns - the Pre-Season is finally over.

Before Amar'e left for the cold lights of New York City, this was a team that consistently gave the Spurs trouble. For the past 7 years, if there was a game to be watched on television, the Spurs and Suns or the Spurs and Mavs would have been it. This Spurs/Suns rivalry had many battles, including the '07 suspensions, the Duncan 3, Marbury's halfcourt 3, and Nash's bloody nose. If there was one thing that exposed this rivalry, it was Nash after the sweep of the Spurs in the Western Conference Quarter Finals last year. According to Simmons, Nash was crying tears of happiness after finally beating us. When you're bawling after a win, you know it meant something. It saddens me that Nash won't be in this year's playoffs.

After last night's meaningless game, we have one more tonight. Don't worry, kids, this won't last long. We'll be in meaningful games before you know it and all the intensity and excitement that comes with the playoffs will have many a Spurs fan clutching at their heart and yelling at the TV. It happens every spring, and while we should be used to it by now, I don't think anyone knows what to expect this year. Enjoy the last pre-season game tonight, and wave goodbye to the Suns. We will miss you.


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San Antonio Spurs @ Phoenix Suns
Where: US Airways Center

When: April 13, 2011 9:30 PM Spurs Time - Timezone Converter
Watch: FSSW


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By the Numbers

Data sources:
hoopdata.com | basketball-reference.com | John Hollinger's team stats

Category Offense
(rank)
Defense
(rank)
Efficiency Rating 109.5
(t-1st)
102.6
(11th)
Rebound %
25
(t-20th)
74.6
(10th)
Field Goal % 47.7
(3rd)
45.7
(14th)
3-Point % 39.9
(1st)
36.8
(22nd)
Free Throw %
76.5
(14th)
76.3
(16th)
Turnover %
12.94
(9th)
12.74
(22nd)
Assist %
58.49
(13th)
53.52
(3rd)
Category Offense
(rank)
Defense
(rank)
Efficiency Rating 107.0
(9th)
107.4
(25th)
Rebound %
23.6
(28th)
71.5
(28th)
Field Goal % 47.1
(6th)
47.2
(26th)
3-Point % 37.7
(4th)
36.8
(23rd)
Free Throw %
75.8
(18th)
75.4
(7th)
Turnover %
13.26
(13th)
13.18
(16th)
Assist %
60.12
(7th)
56.97
(11th)
Record Wins Losses
Overall 61 20
Conference 38 13
Division 10 6
Home 36 5
Away 25 14
Position Conference Division
Record 1st 1st
Lineups

Starters
PG: Tony Parker
SG: Manu Ginobili
SF: Richard Jefferson
PF: DeJuan Blair
C: Tim Duncan

Key Bench Players
George Hill
Gary Neal
Tiago Splitter
Matt Bonner

Record Wins Losses
Overall 39 42
Conference 22 29
Division 9 7
Home 22 18
Away 17 24
Position Conference Division
Record 10th 2nd
Lineups

Starters
PG: Steve Nash
SG: Grant Hill
SF: Jared Dudley
PF: Channing Frye
C: Marcin Gortat

Key Bench Players
Robin Lopez
Aaron Brooks
Mickael Pietrus
Vince Carter
Hakim Warrick

Matchup Analysis

Point Guard
Shooting Guard
Small Forward
Power Forward

Center
Bench
Coach
Intangibles
Mojo
Winner

Starters

PG: Parker needs to not get injured/dominate Fisher.

SG: Manu needs to not get injured

SF: R.J. is allowed to get injured if he wants to.

PF: Blair is just happy to be playing again

C: Duncan needs to not get injured

Bench

I expect these guys to get a ton of playing time. It'd be good for all of them

Coaching

Pop wins all matchups. He's a under-the-radar master!

Intangibles

We're in the playoffs

Mojo

Mojo?

Prediction

With neither team having anything to play for, I don't see them playing their starters full minutes. However, I do think our second string is better and will prevail.

Key(s) to the Game

Key 1 - Don't get injured!

Other Reading

Spurs

48 Minutes of Hell - They're prepping for the playoffs.

Spurs Planet - Our old friend Wayne Vore is back.

Project Spurs

Spurs Nation

OPPONENT

Bright Side of the Sun (SB Nation) - These guys are pretty chill.

Following Along

TV

FSSW

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.