Pistons Spurs Preview

Detroit Pistons VS San Antonio Spurs

The skinny: The Pistons lost at home to a team with 16 fewer wins. The Spurs scored 75 points and suffered their worst defeat of the season. Not usually how we enter a Pistons-Spurs matchup, is it? That’s the scenario following Wednesday night’s events, an 83-82 Philadelphia victory at The Palace and a 100-75 rout by the Hornets in New Orleans, the combined effects of which should hone the players’ focus for Friday night.

“I think both teams are going to be ready to play,” Pistons coach Flip Saunders said Thursday. “We lost last night, which we’re not happy about; they got beat bad by New Orleans. I’m sure they’re not happy about (it).”

Tayshaun Prince said every meeting with the reigning champs “presents a good game, especially on the defensive end” regardless of the timing. But with both teams coming off exasperating losses, “it should be an even better one.”
“We know what to expect from them, obviously,” he said. “There’s nothing new between the two teams.”

Not quite. Both sides have tinkered with their rosters in similar ways, each adding a veteran scoring punch to their backcourt (Juan Dixon in Detroit, Damon Stoudamire in San Antonio) and a veteran big man (6-foot-10 Theo Ratliff, 6-foot-9 Kurt Thomas) since these teams met Jan. 10.

Surely both teams want to rebound from their last outing, but it’s hard to argue that San Antonio doesn’t have more to gain from a W. They certainly have more to lose. The Pistons are settled firmly into the East’s No. 2 spot, but the Spurs (44-20) are one game out of first place in the conference and home-court advantage through the West bracket… They also are tied within the division with the scorching Houston Rockets and could slip to No. 4 or farther if they stray from the win column too long.

The Spurs’ Southwest Division has more teams with at least 42 wins - four - than the entire Eastern Conference, which has three (Boston, Detroit and Orlando). “In that situation there (in the West) you can go from being first to seventh in two games so the one thing we have going that our guys have to understand is unlike in the East, where things are pretty much settled … we’re playing teams right now over the next three games that are, to them, almost in must-win type situations,” Saunders said. “And so [the Spurs] really have a sense of urgency and so we have to match that sense of urgency.”

What to watch: Spurs swingman Manu Ginobili has been instrumental to San Antonio’s success the past five years, but his contributions have jumped to another level in his sixth NBA season: a team-high 20.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game.
The Pistons will try to slow Ginobili down by running several different defenders at him, giving him different looks and matchups to deal with. Chuancey Billups, Rip Hamilton and Prince are sure to each take their turns. “I think when most guys are (hot) like that […] you put different people on them,” Saunders said. “You get so much into a comfort level when you have just one person just guarding [you].”

Detroit’s defense was effective on Jan. 10, when Ginobili scored nine points on 3-of-12 shooting, including 0-for-3 beyond the arc. The Spurs were outscored by 20 when Ginobili was on the court, and Detroit won in San Antonio, 90-80.
As hot as Ginobili has been lately, he’s been even better on the road, scoring four more points per game and shooting about 4 percent better from the floor. At home, he’s averaging 18.4 points on 43.3 percent from the field and 38.4 from 3-point range. His numbers are 22.2 points, 47.8 FG% and 42.9 3FG% on the road.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich won’t have 6-foot-5 forward Ime Udoka available due to an inflamed right ankle, so the 6-foot-6 Ginobili might be asked to play even more minutes Friday.

For Detroit Keys to Win

Limit Parker Ginobili and Duncan

Execute Great Ball Movement and Player Movement

Join The Scoring party (Billups, Hamilton. Prince Wallace and Mcdyess) Including Reserves

Execute Great Defense (Prince, Wallace and Hunter)

Focus on the Game While on the lead.


For San Antonio

Limit Hamilton and Billups

Execute Better Ball Handling

Extend Duncan's Performance

Its gonna be a good game

DEEEETROIT BASKETBALL!!!!