Phoenix Suns: Preview of Match-up with San Antonio Spurs
The Phoenix Suns have won two of their last three games, but will be tasked with slowing down the red-hot San Antonio Spurs.
The Phoenix Suns will host the San Antonio Spurs (20-5) tonight in their first meeting of the regular season.
The Suns still aren’t playing too well this season, but have nearly won three consecutive games. They beat the Los Angeles Lakers, 119-115, on December 9, lost to the New Orleans Pelicans 120-119 in overtime on December 11, and squeaked out a win over the New York Knicks just two days ago, a 113-111 overtime victory.
Despite winning two of their last three, the Suns are 8-17 and still in the basement of the Western Conference.
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The Spurs on the other hand, are still one of the best teams in basketball despite losing center Tim Duncan after 19 seasons. Head coach Gregg Popovich is likely to lead the Spurs to their twentieth-straight season that features a postseason appearance.
San Antonio has won six of their last seven games, and 20 of their first 25. They’ve become the second team in the league to reach the 20-win plateau, second behind the Golden State Warriors.
Popovich no longer has the luxury of turning to the big three of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobli, and Tony Parker. Instead, he has a committee of All-Stars lead by forward Kawhi Leonard. Leonard leads the team with 24.7 PPG. Following in Leonard’s footsteps are LaMarcus Aldridge, Pau Gasol, and Patty Mills, all who average more than 11.0 points scored per game.
Parker and Ginobli are still in the equation, but have seen their minutes reduced as they come off the bench for Popovich. Parker averages 9.9 PPG in 25.3 minutes per game, while his sidekick Ginobli puts up 7.5 per game and appears in 19.6 MPG.
The league is changing and the playing careers of Parker and Ginobli are dwindling. Parker is 34 years old, while Ginobli turns 40 next July. Popovich no longer has the three musketeers like he did for so many years, but he’s got the new kids on the block who have carried over the winning tradition the Spurs have enjoyed for so long.
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Despite the Suns latest streak of two wins in three games, it might not be enough to compete with Popovich and his Spurs.