NBA Preseason 2013: Spurs host CSKA Moscow in first preseason game

Jun 13, 2013; San Antonio, TX, USA; A general view of the game between the Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs during the second half of game four of the 2013 NBA Finals at the AT

The San Antonio Spurs open up their preseason tonight against CSKA Moscow, at the AT&T Center.  This game against CSKA Moscow is part of CSKA’s U.S. Tour 2013.  They are coming off of a 108 to 106 overtime win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The win over the Timberwolves became just the second game to ever see a foreign team come on U.S. soil to beat an NBA team.  CSKA is a team that many in the league should not take lightly on their tour.  They are one of the premier teams overseas and have had many former NBA players play for them.  The most recent that many NBA fans would know is that of Nenad Krstic.

As for San Antonio, this will be the start of their preseason and for many to see what some of the new additions to the team can do, Marco Belinelli and Jeff Ayers.  This is a chance to see how well these players and others will mesh with the style of play that San Antonio runs with.  It is preseason games and not many people pay any mind to them.  This though is a chance to see whom has developed over the off-season and has been working on those areas that troubled them a season ago.

Many of the Spurs players are still in game shape with the Eurobasket 2013 taking up some of the Spurs rosters time.  Not much rust could be seen from them as it was just a month ago that it had ended.  What can show though is that fatigue in those players that do continue to play year round.

While watching this game there are some areas in which I will be keeping a close eye on.  One is that battle for the small-forward spot.  Many feel that it will be between Corey Maggette and Sam Young.  Both of which can play a good role to back-up Kawhi Leonard.  Seeing how either one of these players not only during this game but throughout the preseason will be good to see.

Another area is that of their mind set.  We all know what happened, what the team is coming off of.  Yes it still hurts to this day that we should all be talking about the fifth title but it is history, come and gone.  How will San Antonio respond to it.

The game tips off at 7:30 pm central standard time at the AT&T Center.