MVN - Most Valuable Network

Spurs look for third win against Kings

The Spurs hope to open the season with three consecutive wins when the Sacramento Kings come to San Antonio tonight. It would be the first time in seven seasons that the Spurs opened 3-0, which is hard to believe considering the Spurs are the most successful team over these seven years.

In the first two games, the Big Three have picked up where they left off, with Tim Duncan averaging 20.5 points, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks, Tony Parker averaging 18 points and 4.5 assists and Manu Ginobili averaging 23 points, 7.5 assists and 3.5 steals. There have been no real surprises with them. Ginobili is playing as well as ever, thanks to a restful summer, while Duncan is as consistent as ever. Parker’s assist total (4.5) and field goal percentage (44.1) are down from last year, but I expect them to eventually move towards 5.5 and 50%, which are more normal for him.

Even though the Big Three are playing at their expected level, the team is missing the mark in other aspects, namely defense. Opponents have shot 48.7% overall and 44.4% on threes so far, which is a big difference from the 44.3% and 33.4% from last year. Typically the Spurs start slow, so perhaps they just haven’t found their defensive groove yet. Tonight would be a good night to show the vaunted Spurs defense, as Sacramento isn’t exactly an offensive powerhouse.

The Kings lost their first game to New Orleans 104-90. Ron Artest is suspended for the first seven games and Mike Bibby will miss at least eight weeks after surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb. So their offense has fewer weapons than before. Kevin Martin can inflict some damage, but the Spurs can focus on him without Bibby and Artest to help out. Small forward John Salmons has never been a big scorer, as 8.5 ppg is his career high, but he scored 22 against the Hornets. The Kings will likely look to him for another big performance.

One interesting note is that Beno Udrih signed with Sacramento on Thursday. He probably won’t play, which is good for the Kings. I don’t want their fans to witness Udrih too early.

This entry was posted on Friday, November 2nd, 2007 at 1:40 pm and is filed under San Antonio Spurs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.