Tag: Portland

Spurs ready for Game Two

After dismantling the Portland Trailblazers in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals 92-116, the San Antonio Spurs are hoping that they can bring the same momentum that took down the Dallas Mavericks and set the tone for the series against the Trailblazers.

Game two, scheduled for tonight, will be a challenge for the Spurs as they know that Portland will come out with a lot of fire.

“The key tomorrow is just match their energy,” Parker said after practice Wednesday. “They’re going to come back and they’re going to be very motivated. The way we handle the win, that’s going to make the difference for us.”

For Portland’s La Marcus Aldridge,  a former Texas hoopster,  coming out strong will be the key to leaving San Antonio with a win.

“Most of the guys on our team haven’t even been in the second round and they’ve won championships,” said Aldridge, one of the most experienced Blazers who had 32 points and 14 rebounds. “They’ve been here. I think they definitely came out and they let us know how it’s going to be. I think every guy on the team understands that.”

Great Tickets and cheap seats for tonight’s game are still available! Be sure to get yours now and help your San Antonio Spurs get back to the NBA finals

 

Spurs take Game Four

The San Antonio Spurs came into game four knowing that they needed a much better performance than what they put on Sunday afternoon.   They did just that,  coming out and quickly putting the Mavericks in a 20-point deficit. In the end, the Spurs walked out of American Airlines Center with a 93-89 victory.

The Mavericks battled back and at one point in the game was tied at 87 apiece.  The Spurs then ran a simple pick and roll play with Tony Parker being trailed by Devin Harris.  Nowitzki, who was in foul trouble most of the fourth quarter, was playing a bit too soft and the defensive exchange did not happen in time giving Boris Diaw time to float to the top of the key the go-ahead 3-pointer.

“It was just a regular pick-and-roll,” Diaw said. “We try to put Dirk Nowitzki in pick-and-roll because it’s harder for him than for [Samuel] Dalembert, for example, to switch on Tony. It’s harder for Dirk to be able to help and come back to the player that set the screen. That’s why I was the one on the pick-and-roll. That’s exactly what happened. He helped on Tony and he was a little late and I was wide open for the three.”

Before the game, both the Spurs and the Mavericks showed solidarity to the Clippers organization and protested the Clippers owner by wearing black socks.

“My understanding is that the whole league is doing it,” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. “The fact that they’re together and doing it to basically say that this is not right, is something I respect.”

“We’re going to do the same thing that Houston and Portland did,” Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich said before the game.  “Both teams are going to wear the black socks. Rick (Carlisle) and I talked and we’re both going to wear them in support.”

Tickets for GAME FIVE are still available so be sure to get yours now and support your San Antonio Spurs

NBA free agent sweepstakes begin

The NBA’s free agent sweepstakes have begun, and we already have proof why, no matter what restrictions and penalties it puts in place, the league will never be able to complete protect owners from themselves:

Minnesota has – the same Batum who averaged 13.9 points per game last season for the Trail Blazers and has never showed signs of being more than a good role player – a four-year deal that would roughly quintuple his annual salary north of $10 million.

And so it went on opening day, with teams wasting little time in rushing to spend – or, some cases, squander – their hard-earned cap space.

As it was with the draft, it would appear to be a relatively uneventful period for the Spurs.

Franchise legend Tim Duncan is a formality to re-sign, role players Daniel Green and Patty Mills are both restricted, and Boris Diaw has lost enough battles with croissants over the years to make any team leery about throwing major dollars his way despite his solid contributions to the Spurs after his late-season addition.

Any additions will likely be of the nickel-and-dime variety, as has been the Spurs’ penchant over the years. Various reports have identified past-their-primers like Utah small forward Josh Howard and Toronto point guard Jose Calderon as potential targets.

With the perimeter seemingly in solid shape, reserve bigs like Greg Stiemsma (Boston, restricted), Marcus Camby (Houston, unrestricted) or Reggie Evans (L.A. Clippers, unrestricted) could be economical pickups worth exploring.

A handy list of all the available players can be found .

Elsewhere around the league:

* Indiana All-Star center and restricted free agent Roy Hibbert has reportedly (4 years, $58 million) from Portland and at least one other team.

* Toronto will reportedly at longtime Phoenix cornerstone Steve Nash in an attempt to lure him back home to Canada.

* With for multiple years, Boston will try to for the services of aging sharp shooter Ray Allen.

* Los Angeles Clipper forward Blake Griffin is , while teammate Chris Paul turned one down in the hopes of landing a richer deal next year.

* to deal the grossly overpaid Joe Johnson to the Brooklyn Nets, where he could join Dwight Howard, who – predictably – has renewed his trade demands.