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SALT LAKE CITY -- Coming off a disappointing road loss to Minnesota, the Jazz will try to get back on the right track when they host the San Antonio Spurs Monday night in Salt Lake City.
Utah (11-8) allowed Minnesota, one of the worst offensive teams in the NBA, to shoot 57% from the field in a 108-101 defeat Saturday.
"If you can't guard anybody better than that, I don't know how you can even expect to win," said Jazz coach Jerry Sloan.
San Antonio (9-8) has won five out of their last seven games, although they have lost twice already to the Jazz this season, including the first Jazz win in San Antonio in ten years.
KSL takes a look back and ahead as we prep for the game against San Antonio.
What did we learn about the Jazz against the Minnesota Timberwolves?
- Motivation may be an issue with this team. The Jazz held their previous four opponents to 93 points or fewer, but on the road in Minnesota they gave up 108 to one of the worst offensive teams in the NBA.
- Andrei Kirilenko may be more valuable than most realize, as the games he has missed is when the defensive lack of effort is most apparent.
What can the Jazz expect from San Antonio?
- Manu Ginobili is scoring just over 15 points a game, while shooting less than 38 percent from the field. Some of his problems can be related to a hamstring problem. Michael Finley, who starts at the two guard before Ginobili enters the game, averages five and one-half points in 17 minutes.
- Tony Parker has struggled at times, as he has a less than two-to-one assist ratio and is shooting 47 percent from the field after hitting over 50 percent over the last four seasons.
Probable Jazz starting lineup
- C - Mehmet Okur, 6-11, 273 lbs., Turkey
- PF - Carlos Boozer, 6-9, 260 lbs., Duke
- SF - Ronnie Brewer, 6-7, 236 lbs., Arkansas
- SG - Wesley Matthews, 6-5, 224 lbs., Marquette
- PG - Deron Williams, 6-3, 207 lbs., Illinois
Probable Spurs starting lineup
- Forward 24 Richard Jefferson 6-7 225
- Forward 21 Tim Duncan 6-11 260
- Center 34 Antonio McDyess 6-9 245
- Guard 10 Keith Bogans 6-5 215
- Guard 9 Tony Parker 6-2 180
Spurs leaders
Tim Duncan 18.5 ppg, 10.8 rpg / Tony Parker 16.5 ppg, 5.5 apg
Jazz Injury Updates
- Andrei Kirilenko - (back) Probable
- Kyle Korver - GAME TIME DECISION (left knee surgery)
- Ronnie Price - Doubtful
Spurs Injury Updates
- None
Conclusion
The Jazz haven't won a season series against the Spurs since the 1997-1998 season. With Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili back in the lineup, the Spurs will give the Jazz all they can handle. Someone other than Carlos Boozer will need to step up for the Jazz to win their third straight over San Antonio.
