San Antonio Spurs battles Portland Trail Blazers on NBA tip-off
The San Antonio Spurs will begin their 2007-2008 NBA Season with bang as they host the Portland Trail Blazers on opening night at.
Led by reigning Finals MVP Guard Tony Parker, the San Antonio Spurs will be pumped up as they try to gun for four championships in sex years and fifth in the last 10 years.
Parker, who averaged 24.5 points and shooting impeccably 56.8 percent in last year’s Finals, he said that he is in better shape after an off season of weight training following his highly publicized marriage to Desperate Housewive’s actress Eva Longoria.
“It helps having the same guys coming back this year,” said Tim Duncan, “All in all, what it comes down to is we’ve got the guys that have been through it, that have been through the wars and know what it takes and what it’s about. So that gives us an advantage.”
Together with their veterans with the like of Manu Ginobili, Bruce Bowen, Robert Horry, Brent Barry and Jacque Vaughn, making them a heavy favorite to win.
While the Spurs are making a bid for back-to-back titles, the Portland Trail Blazers made the necessary changes. Blazers drafted stalwart Greg Oden as the first over all pick of the 2008 Draft then traded Zach Randolph in exchange for forward Channing Frye. Also, they waived the services of former All Star guard Steve Francis.
Bannered by 2007 Rookie of the Year Brandon Roy and forward/center LaMarcus Aldrige to form a potent combination in the paint together with Oden.
But early in September, Oden underwent micro fracture surgery on his right knee after an exploratory procedure revealed damage. Even with their superstar center sidelined, Blazers have a strong core- Frye, Aldrige and Webster. Frye averaged 9.5 points and 5.5 rebounds last season, while Aldridge - the No. 2 pick in 2006 - contributed 9.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game and the athletic Webster, who averaged 7.0 points and 2.9 rebounds. Blazers backcourt of Roy, who averaged 16.8ppg last season and Jarret Jack, 12ppg and 5 apg will have their hands full defending the duo of Parker and Ginobili.
The Spurs have the numbers winning their eight straight home games over the Blazers and they won 10 straight games between the teams since a 107-99 loss Jan. 24, 2005.
Spurs by 15.
