Spurs vs. Kings Preview

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The Spurs (2-0) return home after a hard fought win in Memphis to face the Sacramento “Queens” (0-1). 
For the  “Queens”, they will be without Ron Artest, who is serving a 7 game suspension after pleading no-contest to a charge of domestic violence, and Mike Bibby, who is out for 8 weeks after surgery to repair ligaments in his left thumb.  Missing these two players only makes for a long night for the “Queens”.  Basically, they are missing their best offensive and defensive player.  Ouch!  Not only that, they lost thier top draft pick in Spencer Hawes for the season and their second year player, Quincy Douby, went down with a concussion in last night lost to the Hornets.  Not a great start of the season for the “Queens”.
However the “Queens” still have Kevin Martin, John Salmons, Brad Miller, newly acquired Mikki Moore, and Shareef Abdul-Rahim to shoulder the load.  But it will be a tough task for new NBA coach Reggie Theus to beat the defending champs in San Antonio especially after going 13-28 on the road last year.
For the Spurs, they started off the season winning their first two games (Blazers and Grizzlies) and are on a mission to defend their title for the first time.  Duncan, Parker, and Ginobilli look great so far and will be a handful for the “Queens” to handle.  The Spurs are just to powerful for the “Queens” to handle so expect a possible Spurs beat-down on Sacramento.
Key match-up will be Bowen vs. Martin.  If Bowen can lock down Martin, the “Queens” have no chance to beat the Spurs.  In game one of the Spurs season, Bowen shut down Blazers Brendan Roy so expect Bowen to do the same to Martin.
Sacramento needs bodies out there and perhaps they can resign Doug Christie but that won’t help them at all.  In the end, the Spurs will be 3-0 to begin the new season.   
Jeff
Co-Host The Spurscast