No Parker, No Ginobili, No Problem

The San Antonio Spurs execution with two top players out was a sight to see and the stand-ins did an excellent job making use of rare minutes on the court.   Corey Joseph, in for Parker, scored 18 points, dished five assists and collected four boards while Ginobili’s stand in, Marco Belinelli was 7-12 from the field and 4-6 from the three point line to tally 20 points, six assists and two rebounds.

“I think he is getting his rhythm,” San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said of Belinelli. “He didn’t come back in great shape. At this point, he is starting to feel pretty good. The injury held him up after he was trying to get into shape. He is just beginning to start the season really.”

The Spurs face the Jazz, the Knicks, the Lakers and Nuggets this week.  Be sure to get your tickets and help cheer on the Defending NBA Champions!

Parker shines as bright as new Championship Rings

Tony Parker hit the go ahead three pointer with a minute seven remaining in the game, but Parker was hitting from all over the floor on this night.   Parker was 9-15 from the field and 4-4 from the three point line and led the Spurs in scoring with 23 points in nearly 35 minutes of playing time.  The Mavericks Monta Ellis led all scorers with 26 points in a 101-100 Spurs thriller.

“It was a great basketball game, you can’t kick off the season with a better game than this for the fans — there’s no way,” Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. “Unfortunately, the slim margins of winning and losing are all that anybody remembers. If we get one more stop one more basket than we’re all him here singing a different tune. That’s the world we live in the Western Conference.”

The Spurs began the night with the unveiling of the 2014 Championship Banner and Rings and ended with their 5th opening season victory in a row following a championship.

“It’s special,” Ginobili said. “I think it helps you actually. Sometimes you don’t play that sharp because it’s the first game of the season. You have to move from the success of the previous season to the new beginning. But it all gets your emotions up so you want to get out on the court and do a lot of things, hustle, jump, run and win.”

With the victory, Head Coach Gregg Popovich is now 17-1 in season opening games and leads all coaches in NBA history with that mark.

The Spurs hit the road and face the Phoenix Suns on Friday.  Plenty of great seats and cheap tickets still remain so be sure to get yours now!

 

Spurs ready for Thunder in Round Three

The San Antonio Spurs received some information about Oklahoma starting center Serge Ibaka’s injury over the weekend but for Guard Tony Parker, this may very well be misinformation.

“I don’t really believe it,” Parker told reporters Sunday. “I’ll believe when I see tomorrow he is not on the court. It’s hard to believe. We’ll see.”

The Spurs are back at full strength with Tony Parker back and ready for game one after a hamstring injury in round two.  Game One begins tonight at 8 p.m.  and the Spurs know that no matter who shows up to play, the game still needs to be played out and doesn’t what his team dwelling on what cannot be changed.

“It’s really a waste of time,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich told the San Antonio Express-News. “When the game starts, everybody will know what’s going on, and everybody will adjust both ways.”

Great seats and cheap tickets are still available so be sure to get yours today and support your Spurs on their Drive to Five.