Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs: NBA Match Preview
Two National Basketball Association (NBA) heavyweights, the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs, go head-to-head for the first time in the 2010-11 season at AT&T Centre on Friday night.
With guards Manu Ginobili, George Hill and forward Tim Duncan on their roster, the Spurs are enjoying their best season yet; especially at home. Currently they hold a 28-2 record at home. The Spurs played their first home game of the season on 27 October,
2010 against the Indiana Pacers, who they defeated 122-109. Since then, they have eased past different NBA franchises to enjoy an enviable home record.
The AT&T Centre has been a lucky charm for the Spurs, where they have recorded a franchise-record 21 consecutive victories. It was their longest winning streak since Lebron James spurred the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 23-0 home start in 2008-09. Their only
two home defeats have come against the New Orleans Hornet (99-90) on 30 October and the Dallas Mavericks (103-94) on 26 November.
San Antonio has the best overall record in the NBA this season with 50 wins and only 11 defeats. Additionally, they have a five-and-a-half game cushion over the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference.
To maintain their NBA record, San Antonio will need to win a third consecutive game without Tony Parker, who will not be available up to four weeks with a left calf injury. However, the Spurs have split two games without him and the credit definitely goes
to George Hill, who has stepped in at point guard and filled the gap efficiently.
Hill came up with a big game for the Spurs in a 109-99 road victory over the Cavaliers in their previous match at Quicken Loans Arena. He scored a team-high 22 points, five assists and five rebounds in the victory.
Forward Tim Duncan stressed that Hill would have to play his role in the absence of Parker. He said, "As long as Tony Parker is out, that is what he is going to have to do. He will have to accept that role and give us some fire from that position."
The Heat on the other hand, are in a strong position with LeBron James and Chris Bosh having joined Dwyane Wade. Miami leads the Southeast Division and are second in the Eastern Conference behind the Boston Celtics.
However, the Heat turned in perhaps their most disappointing performances of the season, as they lost their last two games. The Orlando Magic rallied from a 24-point third-quarter deficit to trounce Miami 99-96 on Thursday night at the American Airlines
Arena. Prior to that, the New York Knicks defeated the Miami Heat 91-86 on Sunday night. The Knicks rallied from a 15-point first-half deficit, picking up their biggest win since acquiring Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said, "What you hope is the pain of a game like this resonates enough to make a change. That is what we need to do. We need to get better with our execution in these types of games."
Even though the Heat has lost five of their past six meetings, but has split their past two visits to San Antonio. The Spurs performed well in their last game, but it remains to be seen whether they will be able to continue their form against Miami.
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