Spurs Open Up Four Game Lead in Southwest
The San Antonio Spurs are at the top of their game evidenced by their win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night.
The Spurs have won eight straight games and sit atop the Western Conference by one game over the Oklahoma City Thunder, three games over the Los Angeles Clippers and four games over Southwest division rivals the Houston Rockets.
The ease with which the Spurs are winning games has made it easier for coach Gregg Popovich to experiment during games with different players and lineups.
The Spurs are making the right passes, sharing the ball and playing excellent on the defensive end. They are beginning to look like the same team that won the Western Conference a season ago and nearly stole the NBA title from the Miami Heat.
Tim Duncan was able to sit the entire fourth quarter and Manu Ginobili played just 46 seconds. Tony Parker was put in the fourth for three minutes mainly to see a smaller lineup that features him.
Popovich was pleased with his team’s play and thinks his players are remaining fresh each time they are on the court.
Chasing the Spurs in the Southwest division are the Rockets who are four games behind and cannot seem to get any closer.
The Rockets have won 7 of their past 10 games overall, but that does nothing for them when San Antonio wins 9 of 10 to grow their lead from 2 games to 4.
The Spurs are idle on Thursday, but the Rockets face a tough battle against the Chicago Bulls. The Spurs defeated the Bulls on Tuesday by 8 points, but were ahead at the half 61-33.
Houston is trying to move into third place in the Western Conference playoff standings, but had their winning streak of five games snapped by the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday. The Rockets faced the Thunder, now the Bulls and then must travel to Miami to end a three-game road trip.
Against Chicago, the Rockets will be facing one of the league’s most physical teams, but their physical game on Tuesday against the Thunder should prepare them for tonight’s battle in Chicago.
The animosity between Houston and Oklahoma City was obvious on Tuesday. Last year Russell Westbrook was knocked out of the postseason by Houston’s Patrick Beverley with a knock on his knee.
Westbrook got the better of Beverley on Tuesday. Beverley scored just two points and was assessed five fouls.
James Harden the leading scorer for Houston is averaging 32 points over his past four games.
The Rockets have won four consecutive games versus the Bulls including a victory at home on December 18 by the score of 109-94.
Houston needs to win this game as they head to Miami for their next game and a loss in Miami would mean three straight. Miami lost on Wednesday to Brooklyn at home and will be eager to get back on the winning track after losing to Chicago over the weekend in overtime.
