Tag: Earl Watson

Spurs’ huge playoff experience advantage has paid dividends

The Spurs have looked much more confident than Utah in the first two games of the series, dominating play virtually throughout in both games.

In the first two games, the Spurs have trailed for only 4 minutes, 40 seconds and have not been behind past the first quarter in either of the games.

One of the biggest reason could be the Spurs’ experience advantage.

In terms of playoff games, the Spurs have played more than double the number of games than Utah with a 622-310 edge.

Here’s the difference in playoffs games between the two teams heading into Saturday’s game. Totals include appearances made in the first two games of the series.

San Antonio Spurs 

Tim Duncan                178        Spurs

Tony Parker               140        Spurs   

Manu Ginobili              124       Spurs

Stephen Jackson           60       Spurs, Pacers, Warriors, Spurs

Boris Diaw                       41       Suns, Bobcats, Spurs

Matt Bonner                   34       Spurs

DeJuan Blair                   16        Spurs

Gary Neal                         8        Spurs

Patty Mills                         7       Trail Blazers, Spurs

Danny Green                    6        Spurs

Tiago Splitter                    4       Spurs

James Anderson              2        Spurs

Kawhi Leonard                2        Spurs

Total                              622       Overall     

Total with Spurs          544

Utah Jazz

Raja Bell                        68          76ers, Mavericks,  Suns

Josh Howard                 64         Mavericks, Jazz

Paul Millsap                  46          Jazz

Jamaal Tinsley             39          Pacers, Jazz

Devin Harris                 39          Mavericks, Jazz

C.J. Miles                      23           Jazz

Al Jefferson                     9          Celtics, Jazz 

Earl Watson                    8           Grizzlies

 Blake Ahearn                 2           Jazz

Alec Burks                       2           Jazz

DeMarre Carroll             2           Jazz

Jeremy Evans                 2           Jazz

Derrick Favors                2           Jazz

Gordon Hayward            2           Jazz

Enes Kanter                     2           Jazz

Total                             310

Total with Jazz              91

LAYER GAMES TEAMS(S) PLAYER GAMES TEAM(S)

Anderson 2 Spurs Ahearn 2 —

Blair 16 Spurs Bell 68 76ers/Mavericks/Suns

Bonner 33 Spurs Burks 2 —

Diaw 41 Suns/Bobcats/Spurs Carroll 2 —

Duncan 178 Spurs Evans 2 —

Ginobili 124 Spurs Favors 2 —

Green 6 Spurs Harris 39 Mavericks

Jackson 60 Spurs/Pacers/Warriors/Bobcats Hayward 2 —

Leonard 2 Spurs Howard 64 Mavericks

Mills 7 Trail Blazers/Spurs Jefferson 9 Celtics

Neal 8 Spurs Kanter 2 —

Parker 140 Spurs Miles 24 Jazz

Splitter 4 Spurs Millsap 46 Jazz

Tinsley 39 Pacers

Watson 9 Grizzlies

Total 622 Total 311

Spurs Total 544 Jazz Total 91

Saturday: Jazz (1-2) at Spurs (2-1)

Time: 7:30 p.m.
TV: FSNSW
Radio: WOAI-AM 1200, KCOR-AM 1350

STARTING LINEUPS

Point guard
Spurs: 9 Tony Parker (6-2, 11th yr)
Jazz: 5 Devin Harris (6-3, 8th yr)
Harris scored 10 but had only 2 assists in season-opening loss to Nuggets.

Shooting guard
Spurs: 20 Manu Ginobili (6-6, 10th yr)
Jazz: 19 Raja Bell (6-5, 12th yr)
A rare matchup this season in which Manu (34) is younger; Bell is 35.

Small forward
Spurs: 24 Richard Jefferson (6-7, 11th yr)
Jazz: 20 Gordon Hayward (6-8, 2nd yr)
After making 6 of first 11 3-pts. of season, Jefferson went 1-5 vs. Rockets.

Power forward
Spurs: 21 Tim Duncan (6-11, 15th yr)
Jazz: 15 Derrick Favors (6-10, 2nd yr)
Duncan played 15:37 in first half in Houston; sat entire second half.

Center
Spurs: 45 DeJuan Blair (6-7, 3rd yr)
Jazz: 25 Al Jefferson (6-10, 8th yr)
Averaging 16.0 PPG, Blair is coming off 2nd 20-or-more game of season.

SPURS RESERVES
25 James Anderson, G, 6-6, 2nd yr
15 Matt Bonner, C/F, 6-10, 8th yr
11 T.J. Ford, G, 6-0, 8th yr
4 Danny Green, G/F, 6-6, 3rd yr
5 Cory Joseph, G, 6-3, 1st yr
2 Kawhi Leonard, F, 6-7, 1st yr
14 Gary Neal, G, 6-4, 2nd yr
22 Tiago Splitter, C, 6-11, 2nd yr

JAZZ RESERVES
10 Alec Burks, G, 6-6, 1st yr
40 Jeremy Evans, F, 6-9, 2nd yr
8 Josh Howard, F, 6-7, 9th yr
0 Enes Kanter, C, 6-11, 1st yr
34 C.J. Miles, G/F, 6-6, 7th yr
24 Paul Millsap, F, 6-8, 6th yr
6 Jamaal Tinsley, G, 6-3, 9th yr
11 Earl Watson, G, 6-1, 11th yr

COACHES
Spurs: Gregg Popovich
Jazz: Tyrone Corbin

INJURIES
Spurs: Gary Neal (appendectomy) is out.
Jazz: None

PROJECTED INACTIVE PLAYERS
Spurs: Gary Neal
Jazz: None

NOTABLE
Spurs swept 2010-11 season series, 3-0. … Tonight’s game is second of a back-to-back set for Jazz, who played at home against 76ers on Friday. … Spurs didn’t practice Friday after their first back-to-back set of season.

— Mike Monroe