Detroit Bad Boys - Pistons vs. Spurs: Complete Game CoverageA community of Detroit Pistons fans since 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48119/detroitbadboys-fave.png2013-02-09T00:42:03-05:00http://www.detroitbadboys.com/rss/stream/37339172013-02-09T00:42:03-05:002013-02-09T00:42:03-05:00Knight on Pistons' win vs. Spurs, Drummond injury
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<p>Video of <span>Brandon Knight</span> speaking to the media after <a target="_blank" href="http://www.detroitbadboys.com/2013/2/8/3969720/pistons-final-score-andre-drummond-injury-highlights-spurs-winning-streak-2013">the Pistons' 119-109 win against the Spurs</a> comes <a target="new" href="http://pistonspoint.blogspot.com/2013/02/pistons-brandon-knight-postgame-2-8-13.html">via Dave Pemberton</a> over at The Oakland Press:</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="http://eplayer.clipsyndicate.com/embed/iframe?aspect_ratio=16x9&auto_next=1&auto_start=0&page_count=5&pf_id=9603&pl_id=21443&rel=3&show_title=0&va_id=3935053&volume=8&windows=1" width="425" height="330"></iframe></p>
<p>If for some reason you can't watch/listen, Knight stressed the importance of the team's defense in starting the offense, even though they gave up 109 points. When asked about his new role at shooting guard, Knight says he's still adjusting to the position and <span>Jose Calderon's</span> style of play (as well as noting that Calderon is adjusting to Knight's). Knight also talks about how the <a href="https://www.detroitbadboys.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Pistons</a> are going to miss <span>Andre Drummond</span>, who as you know, will <a target="_blank" href="http://www.detroitbadboys.com/2013/2/8/3969228/andre-drummond-injury-stress-fracture-for-pistons-big-man">miss about 4-6 weeks due to a stress fracture </a>in his lower back.</p>
<p>Knight had 24 points on 10-for-21 shooting with five rebounds and two assists (one turnover). </p>
https://www.detroitbadboys.com/2013/2/9/3969928/brandon-knight-pistons-vs-spurs-andre-drummond-injury-2013Packey2013-02-08T23:53:10-05:002013-02-08T23:53:10-05:00Pistons end Spurs' 11-game winning streak
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<figcaption>Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>NO BIG DEAL. </p> <p>Moments before tip off, news broke that <a href="http://www.detroitbadboys.com/2013/2/8/3969228/andre-drummond-injury-stress-fracture-for-pistons-big-man" target="_blank">the Pistons' best, and certainly most exciting, player will miss anywhere from four to six weeks due to a stress fracture</a> to his fifth lumbar vertebra, an injury that pretty much destroys any glimmer of hope the Pistons had at making the playoffs. The team may have known earlier in the day, giving them time to cope, but had to have been quite a blow to the team nonetheless.</p>
<p>So how did the struggling Pistons respond against the team with the league's best record?</p>
<p>Oh, you know ... by spanking them, of course. 119-109.</p>
<p>The Pistons shot an astounding 52-percent from the field and 46-percent from three-point land en route to a weighty 119 points against the NBA's second best defense per the defensive rating metric. It's the most points the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/">Spurs</a> have given up all season and the most since March 9 of last year.</p>
<p>I don't really know, but it happened.</p>
<p><span>Greg Monroe</span> had 26 points on 9-for-16 shooting and 16 rebounds, his first monster game of the season in which the Pistons actually won. He also had five turnovers, but that number looks a whole lot smaller when those other two are so big. Basic mathematics and stuff.</p>
<p>Brandon Knight was the Pistons' second highest scorer with 24 points on 10-for-21 shooting. <span>Jose Calderon</span> had eight assists and no turnovers. Mmmm, pointmesean guardicken.</p>
<p>Let's never mind the fact the Pistons closed out the first half on the doo-doo end of an 8-0 run and were only up a few baskets late in the fourth quarter. The Pistons ended a team's 11-game winning streak tonight on the heels of some bad news to a member of their family. 'Tis cause for celebration this Friday evening. Beam me up, Jimmy.</p>
<p>• 20/20 keys to the game: It's a good thing I wasn't on the road when I was typing up <a href="http://www.detroitbadboys.com/2013/2/8/3967192/pistons-vs-spurs-game-preview-san-antonios-rodeo-road-trip-heads-to" target="_blank">those keys</a>. The Pistons failed to stop Parker (31 points and eight assists), did not deny <span>Danny Green</span> (5-for-7 threes) and I don't know if <span>Brandon Knight's</span> 24 points on 21 shots constitutes him playing really well, although I will certainly settle for it. MO_ose and Charlie Villaneuva's 21 points were the major keys to the Pistons winning. 26 assists, too.</p>
<p>• Freaking love Jose Calderon:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Really happy tonight! Great team effort! We share the ball and everybody trusted each other. My first Win as a Pistons. <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23feelgood">#feelgood</a></p>
— jose manuel calderon (@josemcalderon8) <a href="https://twitter.com/josemcalderon8/status/300090163227406336">February 9, 2013</a>
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<p>• <a href="http://www.nba.com/games/20130208/SASDET/gameinfo.html?ls=iref:nbahpgt[0021200739]#Q2" target="_blank">Box score</a></p>
<p>• Peep the <a href="http://www.poundingtherock.com/" target="_blank">PtR</a></p>
<div>• Roll Call</div>
<p>33 commenters, 443 comments</p>
<p> </p>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="1">
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<th width="20">#</th> <th>Commenter</th> <th># Comments</th>
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<td>1</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Trout%20Jefferson">Trout Jefferson</a></td>
<td>48</td>
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<tr class="alt">
<td>2</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Shinons*">Shinons*</a></td>
<td>44</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/BandWagonerPaysTheDues">BandWagonerPaysTheDues</a></td>
<td>38</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>4</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/XstreamINsanity">XstreamINsanity</a></td>
<td>37</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Frankdog">Frankdog</a></td>
<td>34</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>6</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Mike%20Payne">Mike Payne</a></td>
<td>33</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/OK%20from%20J">OK from J</a></td>
<td>33</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>8</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Rusty_Shackleford">Rusty_Shackleford</a></td>
<td>30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/stevenyc">stevenyc</a></td>
<td>28</td>
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<tr class="alt">
<td>10</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/J%20Dre">J Dre</a></td>
<td>24</td>
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<tr>
<td>11</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/mcflies">mcflies</a></td>
<td>14</td>
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<tr class="alt">
<td>12</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/SpursfanSteve">SpursfanSteve</a></td>
<td>13</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>13</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/bugman222">bugman222</a></td>
<td>7</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>14</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/alaskanpistonsfan">alaskanpistonsfan</a></td>
<td>7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Packey">Packey</a></td>
<td>6</td>
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<tr class="alt">
<td>16</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/soufpaw">soufpaw</a></td>
<td>6</td>
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<td>17</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/sabetodo">sabetodo</a></td>
<td>6</td>
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<tr class="alt">
<td>18</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Sean_Corp">Sean_Corp</a></td>
<td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>19</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Kriz">Kriz</a></td>
<td>5</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>20</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/WaveOcean">WaveOcean</a></td>
<td>4</td>
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<td>21</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/blubomber17">blubomber17</a></td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>22</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Don%20Mega-Tron">Don Mega-Tron</a></td>
<td>2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>23</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Supa%20Dupe">Supa Dupe</a></td>
<td>2</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>24</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Goose15">Goose15</a></td>
<td>2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>25</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/kyle.m.jenkins">kyle.m.jenkins</a></td>
<td>2</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>26</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/jayod">jayod</a></td>
<td>2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>27</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Birdman84">Birdman84</a></td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>28</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Grant%20E.">Grant E.</a></td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>29</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/TheyCallMeBruceLee">TheyCallMeBruceLee</a></td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>30</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/JWurm">JWurm</a></td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>31</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/-PS-">-PS-</a></td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>32</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/The%20Boourns">The Boourns</a></td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>33</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Flyman">Flyman</a></td>
<td>
<p>1</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
https://www.detroitbadboys.com/2013/2/8/3969720/pistons-final-score-andre-drummond-injury-highlights-spurs-winning-streak-2013Packey2013-02-08T18:48:15-05:002013-02-08T18:48:15-05:00Andre Drummond out approximately 4-6 weeks
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Drummond out 4-6 weeks with stress fracture to 5th lumbar vertebra. No surgery, just rest <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Pistons">#Pistons</a></p>
— Ryan Field (@RyanFieldFSD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanFieldFSD/status/300025712046383104">February 8, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
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https://www.detroitbadboys.com/2013/2/8/3969228/andre-drummond-injury-stress-fracture-for-pistons-big-manSean Corp2013-02-08T12:18:29-05:002013-02-08T12:18:29-05:00Spurs at Pistons: SB Nation Insight from the Enemy
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<figcaption>Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Once or twice a year, the people at DetroitBadBoys welcome the people of PoundingTheRock, our weird long-lost cousins that resemble us in uncomfortable ways. Welcome them again as we ask SpursFanSteve to tell us just how the mighty Spurs continue to do it...</p> <p>The sky is blue, Washington is gridlocked and the <a href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">San Antonio Spurs</a> have the best record in the NBA. There are some things we can always rely on, even if the latter feels increasingly unlikely. With the 2005 NBA playoffs long behind us as <a href="https://www.detroitbadboys.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Pistons</a> fans, it's common for us to look at what the Spurs have accomplished since with plenty of admiration. It makes you wonder just what Detroit could have accomplished had they squeezed the Going to Work core for just a few more seasons...</p>
<p>How the hell do the Spurs do it? Is it black magic? Cult sacrifice? To demystify the mystery, we turn to our own brother-at-arms and resident Spurs specialist, MF Spurs Fan Steve. It's a part of an annual tradition between two communities that share way too many similarities to exist in comfort, DetroitBadBoys and <a href="http://www.poundingtherock.com/">PoundingTheRock</a>. Hello, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/SpursfanSteve">SpursFanSteve</a>, and Hello, PTR People!</p>
<p>(I answered a few questions for MFSFS and the PoundingTheRock community, which you can <a href="http://www.poundingtherock.com/2013/2/8/3966684/fraternizing-with-the-bad-boys-sfs-and-mike-payne-discuss-spurs-and">check out here</a>)</p>
<p><b>MP</b>: There is talk that the Spurs might try for a deadline deal that would make <span>Al Jefferson</span> a Spur for the remainder of the season. How do you feel about Jefferson in a San Antonio jersey, and where do you think that would place the team in the 2013 playoffs? Who would SAS have to give up to make that happen?</p>
<blockquote>
<p><br><b>MFSFS</b>: I just heard this rumour today, and what I heard was Splitter/Jackson/<span>Patty Mills</span>. I love the idea of Big Al in a Spurs jersey...circa 2007. I'm not sure his style fits what we do anymore, and he definitely doesn't address the teams only real weakness- defending mobile power forwards in the pick and roll. He's perfect for a team that needs a go-to guy in the post, and in my opinion it's tough to have too many of those type of guys, but Splitter I think is more mobile and a better fit defensively. Also, <span>Stephen Jackson</span> is up there with <span>Josh Smith</span> and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute as far as combo forward defenders. He does it a bit differently than they do, as he's much better at denying the ball than they are but he's not as athletically gifted as far as blocking shots. Splitter and Jackson fit what they Spurs want to do about as well as you can possibly ask them to. So I don't think I'd give them up.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><br><b>MP</b>: I remember the first time DBB/PTR fraternized, we talked about the age-induced twilight of the Spurs current dynasty. That was two years ago, and they're still dominant. Best-record-in-the-league dominant. How is this happening? Is it wizardry? Vampirism? How can Detroit get some?</p>
<p> </p>
<blockquote>
<p><br><b>MFSFS</b>: Well, <span>Tim Duncan</span> is a wizard. Manu Ginobili is Batman. <span>Tiago Splitter</span> kind of looks like that sparkly guy from Twilight. Aron Baynes recently signed with the Spurs after finishing terrorizing Gotham City. So we've got a pretty wide collection of fictional characters on our team, and all of them stand the test of time pretty well. But to answer your question, I'll say this: the Spurs age is greatly exaggerated. <span>Danny Green</span> and <span>Kawhi Leonard</span> represent the young nucleus of the team, Manu and Tim the old, and Tony, <span>Gary Neal</span>, Boris, and Tiago are right in the middle. So the front office has done a great job of perfectly balancing the roster. Add that age balance to Pop's ability to keep the older guys on restricted minutes (at last check, only Tony and Kawhi were averaging much more than 30 per game) and you've got a pretty constantly fresh roster. Plus, everything fits together perfectly. When you've got a team full of Swiss Army knives or Leatherman multi-tools, chemistry just reaches an absolutely incredible point. There isn't a player in the rotation right now who only has one use, which is a pretty sharp contrast both to the rest of the league and to Spurs' teams of the past who relied on role players to do a specific job and not much else.</p>
<p><br>On top of that, Tim has had "sore knees" for the past few weeks and has been in and mostly out of the lineup. Manu has also missed time with a sore hamstring. So, really, we're probably more dominant than our record indicates.</p>
<p>I think Detroit might be on it's way to getting some, but it's probably too early to tell. Players who rely more on savvy than athleticism always age better, and a casual observer would probably notice that Moose isn't especially athletic, but still pretty talented. He should age well. Detroit Newby Jose Calderon, also, should age well. From the little I've seen of athletic freak <span>Andre Drummond</span>, I'd also think his game should translate well. While he's an uber-athlete, he seems to be pretty good at playing positionally and has good rebounding and defensive techniques. If he and Monroe can play together, you've got a young big tandem that only Utah can match as far as potential.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><br><br><b>MP</b>: <span>Manu Ginobili's</span> contract expires this summer, and Tiago Splitter will be a restricted free agent. What does San Antonio do this summer to prolong its dominance for another year or two?</p>
<p> </p>
<blockquote>
<b>MFSFS</b>: I wish I had the answer to this question. I expect Manu to likely re-sign a year-to-year style contract or retire. Personally, my money is on him sticking around until Tim also decides to go. But Manu has young twins and the family itch effects everyone differently.
<p> </p>
<p><br>Splitter is a huge question mark. He's a really, really good role player on both sides of the ball. But he's not a franchise altering player. I'm hoping the Spurs can talk him in to doing what Tim, Manu, and Tony have done as far as taking less than what they are worth, but I'd bet the farm some bonehead GM is going to offer him so much money he can't turn it down. Or maybe we'll get lucky and they'll look at his stats, see that he doesn't really block many shots, get many steals, or score off of much other than the pick and roll, and they'll throw their money at <span>Greg Oden</span> instead. One can always hope. As far as responding to that kind of market pressure, the Spurs just brought over Aussie big man Aron Baynes, who was in the middle of a solid season in Europe. Reports are that we signed him to a multi-year, non guaranteed deal. He's an athletic rim protector that can probably do most of the things Tiago does, plus block more shots and get moar dunks. He'll need time to incorporate himself into the Borg, um, I mean, the Spurs' system. But with half a season, the playoffs, and training camp next year, if Tiago leaves we're still in pretty good shape.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>MP</b>: Looking ahead to the playoffs, do you think OKC could get by San Antonio again this summer without <span>James Harden</span>? Which team(s) do you think will pose the greatest challenge to San Antonio on yet another Quest for the Ring?</p>
<p> </p>
<blockquote>
<p><br><b>MFSFS</b>: On my optimistic days, I'm 100% positive that there isn't a team in the league capable of beating the Spurs in a seven game series. Unfortunately, even my optimistic side remembers being that confident last year, too. Looking at our regular season losses, a couple of them have come at the hands of the <a href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Thunder</a> and <a href="https://www.clipsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Clippers</a>...so if I was going to pick two teams that could beat us in the playoffs, it would be those two. The good news, though, is that they should probably have to play each other in the playoffs before meeting up with us. There's no reason the Spurs should not get the number one seed. After the road trip ends at the end of this month, the team rarely leaves San Antonio for the rest of the season. While the strength of schedule picks up again once we get to all those home games, if we can stretch the conference lead to three or four games by the end of February, barring a major injury that should probably be enough to effectively lock up home court through the playoffs. Other teams I'm confident but slightly nervous about are Golden State with a healthy Bogut and the always physical, defensively elite, but offensively inept <a href="https://www.grizzlybearblues.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Memphis Grizzlies</a>.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><br><b>MP</b>: PoundingTheRock memes. What new memes have arisen in the last year that we here at DetroitBadBoys should know about? Do red pandas still show up from time-to-time?</p>
<blockquote>
<p><br>MFSFS: As far as new memes, I've been out of the game-thread loop for awhile, so I'm not the best person to ask (although I'll make sure someone who knows comes over to DBB and fills everyone in). Regarding the red pandas, I post them any time I find an excuse to, which isn't really that hard, considering they are the most awesome animals on the planet. I try for at least one a week, just so they stay fresh on everyone's mind (because everyone could use a weekly panda), although I'm not nearly as consistent as I should be.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Thanks SpursFanSteve, for your continued insight and brotherhood from historically unlikely places.</p>
https://www.detroitbadboys.com/2013/2/8/3967806/spurs-at-pistons-getting-to-know-our-much-respected-frenemiesMike Payne2013-02-08T11:21:03-05:002013-02-08T11:21:03-05:00San Antonio's rodeo road trip heads to The Palace
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<figcaption>Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Losers of seven of their last nine and three straight, the skidding Pistons host the steaming Spurs on Friday night. </p> <p>This is the first meeting between these two teams this season and the first in almost a full calendar year. The Spurs have won five of the last six match ups and I can't keep my heart from aching with each defeat serving as a shivering reminder of what the hell happened in 2005, now eight years ago.</p>
<p>Game tips around 7:30 p.m. ET.</p>
<p><b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.detroitbadboys.com/">Detroit Pistons</a>: 18-32 (13-14 home)<br><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/">San Antonio Spurs</a>: 39-11! (17-9 away)</b></p>
<p><a href="http://www.tiqiq.com/nba/detroit-pistons-tickets/?brandid=sbnation_detroitbadboys" target="_blank">Detroit Pistons tickets</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><b>The Situation</b></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">The Spurs are maddening. Eight years after they beat the Pistons in the 2005 NBA Finals, they still rock the league's best record with that same core -- <span>Tony Parker</span>, <span>Manu Ginobili</span> and <span>Tim Duncan</span>. With some good drafting, some tinkering here and there and some luck, the Spurs have been able to admirably keep the party going, even if it hasn't resulted in another championship since 2007. (Oh my! 2007 was soooooo long ago, I was just a wee wittle lad!)</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">The window is closing on the Spurs' version of The Big Three, though, and nobody knows that better than Gregg Popovich, one of the greatest coaches in NBA history. Pop received flak and a fine earlier this season for resting his old guys in Miami, a nationally televised, otherwise meaningless, game and the Spurs' fourth game in five nights. (The <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8847216/san-antonio-spurs-sued-lawyer-resting-top-players" target="_blank">Spurs were also sued</a>.) The Spurs managed to hang with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.hothothoops.com/">Heat</a> that night, losing 105-100, and went on to win their next five games and are 26-7 since then.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Even classic Popovich tactics couldn't prevent the injuries of two of his Big Three, though. Ginobili and Duncan have been hurt for the last six games or so and are doubtful to play on Friday night against the Pistons. And yet, the Spurs have still managed to rattle off, oh, only 11 straight wins. Two of the team's four best players are hurt and they have not missed a single beat. I guess that's called <a href="http://www.poundingtherock.com/2013/2/7/3966038/chemistry-continuity-and-discipline" target="_blank">a cohesive team with a working system</a> (and good players).</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">The biggest reason for the Spurs' success is the great Tony Parker, who has been an absolute stud in the middle of his prime. He is currently on pace to best the season he had in leading the Spurs to that 2007 'ship and is killing it during this 11-game winning streak, putting up over 23 points on 58-percent shooting and 9.3 assists per game. Parker doesn't always do his best work against the Pistons, falling below most of his career averages in 20 games, but he frightens me Friday night.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">I'm not a huge Parker fan. He's pesky, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3o5SB1CfgU">French</a> and cheated on Eva Longoria, allegedly, and in December, <a href="http://www.projectspurs.com/2012-articles/december/parker-jokes-that-spurs-are-the-new-bad-boys.html" target="_blank">he joked that the Spurs were the new 'Bad Boys.' </a>I don't like jokes like that. But he's very good at basketball and also grossly underrated in my mind. The Spurs will go as far as Parker takes them. On Friday, it will likely be to their 12th straight win.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Keys to the game</b></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><i>Stop Tony Parker? </i> I don't know if I made myself clear enough above, but he's going to be the source of the Spurs' success. <span>Jose Calderon</span> is going to have his hands full, so the Pistons are going to need to help him out with timely help defense and a tranquilizer.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><i>Go Green, deny <span>Danny Green</span>: </i>Green is coming off a career high 28-point performance in which he hit eight threes. He is hitting 44-percent of his long bombs during the Spurs' 11-game winning streak and 59-percent of them over his last five games. Don't let him touch the ball beyond the arc. Don't even let him look at it.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><i><span>Brandon Knight</span>: </i> As frustratingly inconsistent Knight is, the Pistons are a much, much better team when he plays well (4-0 this year when he has a Game Score over 17). I think it's still way too early to write off Knight, but he needs to show up in his third game as the team's starting shooting guard if the Pistons are going to have any chance of winning.</p>
https://www.detroitbadboys.com/2013/2/8/3967192/pistons-vs-spurs-game-preview-san-antonios-rodeo-road-trip-heads-toPackey