6* - San Antonio Spurs (-2)
Defense and coaching. Those are the keys to success in the NBA?s second season and while talent certainly is a required element to win in the playoffs, most teams playing at this level have that.
Sacramento has played some pretty good defense down the stretch, but not in the first two games of this series as they have allowed the Champs to score a total of 250 points. In comparison, the Spurs have allowed their opponents to break the 100 point mark just two times in their last 16 games. Artest has unquestionably boosted the Kings defensive play since joining the team but in Game One, seven different Spurs? players scored in double figures as San Antonio handed Sacramento their largest defeat all season.
As far as the coaching match-up goes, Gregg Popovich is twice the coach Rick Adleman will ever be. If there is any doubt about that, let me offer an example. Despite the fact that Kevin Martin scored a career high 26 points while filling in for Artest in Game two, take a guess who Adelman will start in tonight's game. Artest scored just 16 points in Game One and while he held Ginobli to only 10 points, Parker was able to penetrate the middle and score seemingly at will. Plain and simple, Adelman does not have the balls to play Martin in favor of Artest as he should. Great coaches are not afraid to adjust when necessary and if there was ever a game when adjustments are needed, this is it.
The talent of the Spurs? team is better than that of the Kings from top to bottom and on the road they are averaging 4.3 points per game more than their opponents while holding them to 6.5 points below their season average. With two or more days rest, San Antonio is 22-7 ATS this season and in the history of the franchise is 17-1 SU when up 2-0 in a playoff series which clearly demonstrates that Popovich knows how to go for the jugular in these situations.
The Kings? role players stepped up in a big way on Tuesday with Abdur-Rahim scoring 28 and Wells adding 27 to go along with Martin?s 26 points. During the regular season those same players scored an average of 12.3, 13.6 and 10.8 points respectively so I do not expect to see the same kind of production from that trio. Despite a great 1st half performance by the Kings, they were ultimately embarrassed by the Spurs for the second game in a row and I think San Antonio does it again tonight.
Defense and coaching. Those are the keys to success in the NBA?s second season and while talent certainly is a required element to win in the playoffs, most teams playing at this level have that.
Sacramento has played some pretty good defense down the stretch, but not in the first two games of this series as they have allowed the Champs to score a total of 250 points. In comparison, the Spurs have allowed their opponents to break the 100 point mark just two times in their last 16 games. Artest has unquestionably boosted the Kings defensive play since joining the team but in Game One, seven different Spurs? players scored in double figures as San Antonio handed Sacramento their largest defeat all season.
As far as the coaching match-up goes, Gregg Popovich is twice the coach Rick Adleman will ever be. If there is any doubt about that, let me offer an example. Despite the fact that Kevin Martin scored a career high 26 points while filling in for Artest in Game two, take a guess who Adelman will start in tonight's game. Artest scored just 16 points in Game One and while he held Ginobli to only 10 points, Parker was able to penetrate the middle and score seemingly at will. Plain and simple, Adelman does not have the balls to play Martin in favor of Artest as he should. Great coaches are not afraid to adjust when necessary and if there was ever a game when adjustments are needed, this is it.
The talent of the Spurs? team is better than that of the Kings from top to bottom and on the road they are averaging 4.3 points per game more than their opponents while holding them to 6.5 points below their season average. With two or more days rest, San Antonio is 22-7 ATS this season and in the history of the franchise is 17-1 SU when up 2-0 in a playoff series which clearly demonstrates that Popovich knows how to go for the jugular in these situations.
The Kings? role players stepped up in a big way on Tuesday with Abdur-Rahim scoring 28 and Wells adding 27 to go along with Martin?s 26 points. During the regular season those same players scored an average of 12.3, 13.6 and 10.8 points respectively so I do not expect to see the same kind of production from that trio. Despite a great 1st half performance by the Kings, they were ultimately embarrassed by the Spurs for the second game in a row and I think San Antonio does it again tonight.
