Game Preview: San Antonio Spurs at Charlotte Hornets

San Antonio Spurs vs Charlotte Hornets

Time Warner Cable Arena, Charlotte, NC
Date: 3/21/16, Time: 6:00 PM Spurs Time
TV: FSSW / NBATV - RADIO: 1200 AM WOAI

So two weeks ago, I wrote a preview for the Spurs game against the Pacers.  That's the last time San Antonio lost. Here is why I am not a jinx: Since that fateful night in Indianapolis the Spurs have blown thru the best the NBA has to offer including a thrilling, if not atheistically pleasing, win over the might Golden State Warriors.  The Spurs will come off of that high in Charlotte where they face an improved Hornets team.

Charlotte sits tied for the 5th spot in the East with Boston. They appear to be a year or two ahead of schedule after the disastrous Lance Stephenson experiment which they somehow got out of thanks to Doc Rivers brilliant GM abilities. The Hornets appear to be what they are, a middle of the road Eastern Conference team. It's a little surprising to see them doing better than the likes of Indiana and Chicago.  Clearly this team is greater than the sum of it's parts, and they are lead by Kemba Walker.  He will be a tough guard for Patty Mills or Tony Parker,  and I anticipate Danny Green getting some time trying to slow down the former UConn star.

The Hornets appear to roll with a pretty short bench and of the main 4 guys off the bench, two of them are big men. Marvin Williams starts at Power Forward which means that Charlotte starts small, but certainly doesn't come off the bench small with, Al Jefferson and Frank Kaminsky, III. Charlotte's bench may be short, but it pack plenty of scoring punch with the aforementioned big men and Jeremy Lin rolling out with the second unit. The Spurs bench might have their hands full with the short but potent bench in Charlotte.

The Hornets are 11th in scoring this year, and a surprising 10th in points allowed. They are top ten in in both offensive and defensive rating. This team may not strike fear into you like Cleveland, Golden State or even the Thunder, but they can ball. This game screams trap game. First game on the road after an extended home stand, coming off of beating the best team in basketball and an Eastern team that doesn't really get the juices flowing (read: any Eastern team). This would game would be a prime time to leave a couple of guys home, but who knows with Pop.  I do think San Antonio should have enough talent and depth the survive this type of trap game, but I've been wrong before.

Game prediction: Spurs by 17.

For the Hornets fans' perspective, visit At The Hive.

As always, Tony must dominate Fisher.