Kings vs. Spurs: YOU AGAIN

Lets see a lot of this!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXd4NgAjDMo&feature=plcp&context=C3214d3aUDOEgsToPDskJjh8-UOxBRBedE-7VaYmzx

The Kings are back on the road starting with San Antonio who has the best home record in the NBA at 9-0. Not your most favorable situation to start a road trip. Now they aren’t undefeatable, as evident by their 1-5 road record. They have lost to Milwaukee, Minnesota, Houston, Miami (Wadeless), and Oklahoma City. Unfortunately for the Kings, their opponents had to shot 50%+ from the field and between 35-60% from three to secure the victory.

For the season, the Spurs are one of the top teams in FG%, 3P% and Assists. With Blair starting at Center and Splitter as his backup the Kings should dominate the Offensive and possibly the Defensive boards. Plus even with the Kings poor showing early in the season from the FT line, they currently have a higher FT% (73.6%) and a higher rate at getting to the FT line than the Spurs.

In recent games (I’m looking more toward the time with Coach Smart and without Genobili) the Kings, Spurs and Houston are all tied in turnovers per game at 15. The Kings are the only one of the three with fewer turnovers than their opponents. The biggest difference is in steals where the Kings are currently ranked 10th with just under 10 per game.

The Spur’s opened the season with Genobili as the starting 2 rather than their scorer off the bench as he had in the past. It was working, and the Spurs pulled out wins against the Jazz, the Grizz and the Clips and their only loss came in Houston. Then they lost in Minnesota in the game where Genobili fractured his hand. Since the injury they have gone with James Anderson (1gm), Gary Neal (4gms), and currently Kawhi Leonard (5gms) as his replacement in the starting rotation.

As a starting 2, Leonard is averaging 10pts, 6rebs, 1ast on 44% from the field and 50% on 5 of 10 shooting from 3pt range. Duncan is the leading Rebounder at 7rpg, followed by Blair at 6.5 with Leonard the only other player averaging over 5 per game. Genobili was there leading scorer but now it’s Parker at 17 ppg followed by Duncan at 13, Blair at 11 and Jefferson at 11. Neal, Splitter and Danny Green are the main reserves off the bench and are averaging between 7-9 ppg each.

The Kings may actually have the advantage at the FT line and on the Offensive Glass but the Spurs just beat Orlando when the Magic owning a 14 rebound advantage on the Offensive end and a 10pt advantage at the FT line. Why? Because the Magic shot 33% from the field and 19% from the 3Pt line. The Kings are currently last in FG% at 39.7% and 2nd to last in 3P% at 25.8%.

The Spurs aren’t likely to score in single figures in the 4th quarter as Indy did and certainly not at home. They will take good quality shots and make their shots down the stretch when they have to score. I like the ball movement and hustle that Coach Smart has instilled into the Kings offense, but more than one or two players need to start hitting their open shots if the Kings are going to win. And, our starting backcourt needs to shot a lot better than 8 for 31. If the Kings are going to win this one, I think that the Kings are going to have to do what the other teams that have beaten the Spurs have done; Shot 50% from the field or pretty close to it. Although the only time the Kings have shot over 50% this season was the 7 pt loss to Orlando.