The numbers don’t lie and the rings force you to remember.
The San Antonio Spurs (0-1) come into the Rose Garden tonight for Portland’s home opener 31-13 all-time against the Blazers (0-1). Regardless if it has been a visit from Mr. Robinson’s neighborhood or Tim Duncan, the Spurs have always had Portland’s number. And four NBA titles never hurts the argument that San Antonio remains one of the elite teams to beat out West.
No doubt they are banged up. San Antonio will be without their two Argentineans in Manu Ginobili (ankle) and Fabricio Oberto (heart). Those guys keep the Spurs feisty (and Bruce Bowen) in what is usually a vanilla filled squad – nothing too flashy, no bruisers; just straight-up results.
Hence the .705 winning percentage against Portland.
We know all about Duncan and Tony Parker. But the new addition to the Spurs – and a guy the Blazers should be mindful of tonight is Roger Mason, Jr.. Very interesting journey to the NBA: drafted by Chicago in 2002 (31st overall), traded and released by Toronto, played over in Greece and Israel, before latching on with his hometown Washington Wizards (where he averaged 9.1 points per game last season in place of an injured Gilbert Arenas and former Blazer Antonio Daniels). He signed a two-year free-agent contract with the Spurs this past offseason. Mason is one of those cats you have to keep your eye on.
He’s been around – is always moving without the ball. Lose him and he’ll make Portland pay.
And then there is Gregg Popovich (insert Grizzly Adams and Z.Z. Top reference here).
How can you not like Pop (think surly grandfather and cool uncle rolled into one)?
Just ask Shaq. You probably know this story by now. Shaq recently referred to San Antonio’s “hack-a-Shaq” tactics in the playoffs last year as “cowardly”. Here’s Pop’s rebuttal courtesy of YouTube….
Classic.
pic via: washington times
There’s only been one time when the Blazers had the Spurs’ number – that was before Duncan, when Strickland was playing for San Antonio. Was that 1990? or 1989?
Back a ways. – S.
i’m thinking that was back in ‘89….i think. either way it’s been a minute….
HaHa that minute finally came to pass last night. What a game to watch. Everyone played good. Travis was actually attacking, Rudy doing the intangibles, Brandon and L.A. doin’ the dang thang, and BATUM showing everyone that even though he is 19, he ain’t gonna play like it. Beat the Suns!!!
not only did they play with energy….but they kept it lit from horn to horn. that’s big. and i am in no way taking anything away from portland – they needed that win before heading back out on the road and played strong- but we all know this is a watered down version of the spurs right now.
let’s see how they do on the roadie….