SIXERS: Game Night: Spurs vs Sixers

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Wednesday, February 8, 7:00 PM at the Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA

17-9 (1st in Soutwest, 3rd in West)

VS

18-7 (1st in Atlantic, 3rd in East)

TV: Comcast SportsNet Radio: WIP Tickets | TV Companion

Sixers vs Spurs Scouting Report - 2/8/2012

Doug Collins at Shoot-around - 2/8/2012

Andre Iguodala at Shoot-around 2/8/2012

Elton Brand at Shoot-around - 2/8/2012

Lavoy Allen at Shoot-around - 2/8/2012

In a battle between Atlantic and Southwest Division leaders, the Sixers host the San Antonio Spurs Wednesday as their set of “death row” games wind down. So far, the Sixers are 4-1 since last Monday when they began a stretch of seven meetings with elite opponents that many thought might halt their momentum. Meanwhile, San Antonio enters the match-up riding a five-game winning streak, but they are just 4-8 on the road as they head into their annual “Rodeo Trip,” a season-long nine game road trip.

This season, Philadelphia is holding teams to just 86.6 points per game and continues to maintain the league’s best point differential at +10.1. The Sixers also continue to win the turnover battle by causing 15.0 turnovers and committing just 10.7 turnovers a game, which is best in the league and a full 3 TOs better than the next best team, San Antonio. The Sixers also boast the best assist-to-turnover ratio in the league at 2.11, 0.5 assists ahead of the Spurs at third in the NBA.

Along with their defensive prowess, the Sixers have been one of the best teams in the league at sharing the ball. They are one of just four NBA teams with six players averaging double digit scoring (Charlotte, Denver and Portland are the others) and have two more averaging more than 9.0. They are also fourth among all teams with 22.5 assists a game, but perhaps most telling is that the Sixers’ leading scorer, Lou Williams, comes off the bench, which cannot be said about any other team, and is eighth on the team in minutes per game.

San Antonio continues to be a force led by four-time NBA champions in head coach Greg Popovich and veteran power forward Tim Duncan. Popovich’s masterful coaching and Duncan’s sound execution have helped the Spurs maintain their excellence for over a decade. With All-Star swingman Manu Ginobili sidelined while he heals from a broken hand, much of the scoring load has been placed on point guard Tony Parker. The 2007 NBA Finals MVP is averaging 18.2 points and a career-high 7.7 assists. On Saturday, Parker poured in 42 points and dished 9 assists in a 107-96 win against the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder.

The teams split the two-game series last season, each winning on their home floor, with the Sixers taking the second of the two in a 77-71 defensive battle. Expect another tough match-up between two very well-coached teams as the Sixers continue their February stretch against some of the league’s best and San Antonio tries to keep their winning streak alive. Elton Brand will likely make his return to the starting line-up while the Sixers will again be without Spencer Hawes.