After the San Antonio Spurs (26-13) went into the NBA All-Star break on such a high note, the Spurs have been struggling since. They’re 2-3
since the break, have dropped three home games (15-4) in less than two weeks, and are 6-4 in their last 10 games overall.
The Spurs will be glad to welcome back All-Star point guard Tony Parker as he returns from a minor injury that sidelined him Friday against the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Spurs might catch a break as the lowly Washington Wizards visit the AT&T Center, but don’t let the Wizards’ second-to-last place in the Eastern conference record fool you, they just defeated the Los Angeles Lakers this past week.
The Wizards come into San Antonio with some major problems as two of their frontline members are on the trade block, as Andre Blatche has spoiled his relationship with the fans and even coaching staff at times this season, and dunker Javale McGee is also showing some poor decisions on the court, despite having a good season statistically.
Case No. 40: Washington Wizards (9-30)
Road record: 3-14. Last 10 games: 2-8
The King
John Wall – 17.4 points, 7.9 assists, 1.3 steals, 4.9 rebounds, 13.9 FGA (43%), 6.7 (80%)
Parker is fresh and ready to go, the Spurs will need his guidance on offense and quickness on defense to keep Wall busy on both sides of the ball.
The Knights
Nick Young – 16.6 points, 15 FGA (40%), 5 3PT FGA (36%)
Young versus rookie Kawhi Leonard will present an interesting perimeter matchup as Leonard looks to have the physical build to defend Young.
Jordan Crawford – 13 points, 12.3 FGA (40%), 3.9 3PT FGA (29%)
Crawford will most likely be seeing Danny Green defending him, but on defense, Crawford will have to try his best to stop a Manu Ginobili who has scored 39 points in his last two games combined.
JaVale McGee – 11.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, 9.7 FGA (53%)
The Bishops
Andray Blatche – 8.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, 9.8 FGA (38%)
Blatche may actually be relieved to play in San Antonio as opposed to Washington, because in Washington he is constantly being booed by his own fans for trashing the fans and organization early in the season.
Trevor Booker – 8.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.1 steals, 6.3 FGA (56%)
The Pawn
Rashard Lewis (Questionable) – 7.8 points, 7.9 FGA (39%), 2.4 3PT FGA (24%)
Lewis is making 21 million this season, who cares if he’s shooting 24% from behind the three-point arc?
Offense vs. Offense
- 1. Points: Spurs (99.7) – Wizards (93.6) = Spurs
- 2. Assists: Spurs (22.1) – Wizards (18.3) = Spurs
- 3. Shooting percentage: Spurs (46.1%) – Wizards (43.3%) = Spurs
- 4. Three point shooting percentage: Spurs (39.6%) – Wizards (31.8%) = Spurs
- 5. Free throw attempts: Spurs (21.8) – Wizards (22.3) = Wizards
- 6. Turnovers: Spurs (13.1) – Wizards (14.8) = Spurs
Leader: Spurs 5-1
Defense vs. Defense
- 1. Opponent scoring: Spurs (95.9) – Wizards (102) = Spurs
- 2. Opponent shooting: Spurs (45%) – Wizards (46%) = Spurs
- 3. Rebounds: Spurs (41.6) – Wizards (42) = Wizards
- 4. Personal Fouls: Spurs (17.3) – Wizards (21.9) = Spurs
Leader: Spurs 3-1
Game Expectation
The Spurs need to use this game as a means of establishing and building their chemistry, specifically on defense, as they’re almost fully healthy outside of T.J. Ford. The Wizards are a struggling team who can easily wilt under constant and routine attacks from the Spurs’ offense, and communication by the Spurs’ defense.
Wall and Young are the main components of the Wizards’ offense, if Parker, Leonard, Green, and Jefferson can have an impact defensively on them, then the Spurs’ depth and other players should be able to lead the team to a win.
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