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Game Preview: Cleveland Cavaliers @ San Antonio Spurs

Cleveland heads to San Antonio to get out of Ohio and get some good Mexican food. They might also play a basketball game in which the Cavs will be without their stars.

It's called Defense, Gary. Defense with a "D"
It's called Defense, Gary. Defense with a "D"
Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

San Antonio Spurs vs Cleveland Cavaliers

AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX
March 16, 2013, 7:30 PM Spurs Time
TV: FSSW - RADIO: 1200 AM WOAI

Man, I get all the best games. Well, it's time again Spurs fans, your team takes on another bottom dweller, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and will likely lose by double digits. I think that's the March game plan. Beat all the good teams, and the Mavericks (bazinga!), and lose horribly to the terrible teams to throw everyone off our trail. It must be working as the Spurs are dropping like rocks in the power rankings. I mean third?! What the hell? It's clearly time to blow it up.

Ok, no, I'm not going to do another one of those previews. You can't go around doing too many of those, it messes with the mojo. Speaking of mojo, Manu needs to stop upsetting the balance of the universe and get back to being awesome. Maybe Duncan will share some of the magic potion he's been taking to be turn back the clock. Why does the clock only turn back for one person? If Timmeh's turning it back shouldn't I be seeing some benefits from yesteryear? Whatever, I'm sure we'll Manu improve over the next couple of weeks. He has always been one of those guys that needs to play his way out of a slump. I'm just hoping Pop gives him the time he needs.

On to the Cavs, the poor saps. So Cleveland is now without their two best players and Kyrie Irving is out 3-4 weeks with a shoulder injury. This after Anderson Varejao went down for the year a couple months back. That probably doesn't bode well for the Spurs as they will likely get run out of the building by Ormi Casspi and Luke Walton. How is Luke Walton still in the NBA? The dude has never done anything worth getting paid millions of dollars for, but I digress.

So the Cavs are in South Texas without their two best players and are on a SEGABABA after playing in Dallas last night. I refused to watch that drek. For the Spurs to win, they will simply need to execute. Pop said they've been playing like they're in mud recently and it's time to shake that off and take it to a lesser team. I look for Manu to have a nice game. He's due and the Cavs won't be able to slow him down.

Meanwhile, if the Spurs just don't let the Cavs have the games of their lives, like they did in Minnesota, they'll have a very solid chance to have a nice easy win. A win in which the starters don't have to play 30+ minutes and I can go to bed at a reasonable hour. I'm so old. Anywho, Cleveland does have several guys that can randomly get hot and really cause some trouble. Keep a lid on that and your Spurs should cruise....should.

Lineups

Starters
PG: Cory Joseph
SG: Danny Green
SF: Kawhi Leonard
PF: Tim Duncan
C: Tiago Splitter

Key Bench Players
Manu Ginobili
Boris Diaw
Stephen Jackson

Head Coach
Gregg Popovich

Lineups

Starters
PG: Shaun Livingston
SG: Dion Waiters
SF: Alonzo Gee
PF: Tristan Thompson
C: Tyler Zeller

Key Bench Players
C.J. Miles
Marreese Speights
Daniel Gibson


Head Coach

Byron Scott

Cavs perspective can be found here: Fear the Sword (I'm still not sure what S-word we're supposed to fear, but whatever.)

Game Prediction: Cavs by 12....the trend continues.

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.

Get your San Antonio Spurs tickets here!