Game Blog: Spurs vs. Knicks - 11.11.2008

[VaSpursFan]

hill has nice handles

[bdictjames]

why is it Pop always likes to beat d' Antoni?

or he's just smarter?

Duncan : 23 pts, 9 rbds, 7 assts. :worthy:
And two blocks to put icing on the cake. Solid game from Timmy tonight.

[mVp]

Nice win to get the confidence up... even if it is against the Knicks.

[tp2021]

why is it Pop always likes to beat d' Antoni?

or he's just smarter?

Duncan : 23 pts, 9 rbds, 7 assts. :worthy:


Jesus, I thought he was having an off night :lol

That's how good he is. It's like a freakin Chuck Norris joke.
Tim never has an off-night. He just takes it easy on occasion. He's earned it, he's the Goddamn Tim Duncan.

[TDfan2007]

put bonner in!

NEVER!

[Biggems]

That's how good he is. It's like a freakin Chuck Norris joke.

I wonder who would win that staredown

[TDfan2007]

That's how good he is. It's like a freakin Chuck Norris joke.
Tim never has an off-night. He just takes it easy on occasiion. He's earned it, he's freakin Tim Duncan.

LOL! That was gold.

[Manufan909]

Mason can shoot badly, cuz he does everything, ala Toll and Bruce.

[MI21]

7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and only 2TO's for Mason. At least when his shot is off he contributed. I didn't think he had that in him to be honest.

[tomtom]

Great game overall. Young guys definitely looking good save for Tolliver's jumpshot but I love his intensity. Duncan solid as always. Hills look really good, two of his drives shoulda went in but he did great on both ends of the court, hopefully his confidence is up now. BONNER IN!!

[milkyway21]

congratulations San Antonio. Keep It Up!

[tp2021]

Matt Bonner Time!

Darko Milicic v2.0

[benefactor]

And Bonner gets the "human victory cigar" treatment.

[pawe]

awww Mike D are you gonna cry like a wittle boy ow ow ow ow ow

[lurker23]

Listen to that applause for Matt Bonner. :lol

[tomtom]

But yeah the defense looks very good now.

[Biggems]

is it just me or is D'Antoni far less whiny than he was with PHX?

[Manufan909]

Mason with 8 pts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

EDIT: Make it 10!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!:worthy:

[bdictjames]

Hill is solid.

[tp2021]

92-80 Spurs!

[tomtom]

sweet victory!!

[benefactor]

Double digit win. Damn right baby.

[#2!]

I don't really get how the Knicks think they're going to land Lebron, or Wade. Why would those guys want to go play for a SSOL team. The system has proved to not be viable in the playoffs, and D'antoni couldn't get it done with the All star cast in Phoenix, why would it work for a new one?

[boutons_]

Finally, some pleasure watching a Spurs game.

[milkyway21]

And two blocks to put icing on the cake. Solid game from Timmy tonight. thanks for telling me that. I forgot to check his blocks :toast

[lurker23]

92-80 final.

Great win for the Spurs. Awesome to see Spurs Basketball again.

[bdictjames]

Great win.

[mVp]

Nice debut for Hill in the starting lineup... he looked good.

For Tim it was another day at the office :lol

[Biggems]

I don't really get how the Knicks think they're going to land Lebron, or Wade. Why would those guys want to go play for a SSOL team. The system has proved to not be viable in the playoffs, and D'antoni couldn't get it done with the All star cast in Phoenix, why would it work for a new one?

East sucks....easier road to the Finals....dont have to go through SA to get there.

[Manufan909]

Why didn't Farmer get no love, cuz Fin didn't suck ass for a change!?!

[Ice009]

Bonner sucks.

[Spurs Brazil]

JV -7

The only one with a negative +/-

[tp2021]

Tomorrow we shall see what kind of effort the young guys bring in the second game of a back-to-back.

[tp2021]

Why didn't Farmer get no love, cuz Fin didn't suck ass for a change!?!

Pretty much.

[SAtown]

awww Mike D are you gonna cry like a wittle boy ow ow ow ow ow

I love his facial expressions and body language when he loses to San Antonio. I'd blow it up fathead style and put it in my living room if i could

[lurker23]

Why didn't Farmer get no love, cuz Fin didn't suck ass for a change!?!

That's at least part of it. Also, with Hill starting and Tolliver being the first big off of the bench, I suspect Pop felt he needed another veteran presence out there. That's also part of the reason Vaughn got decent playing time early on, I suspect.

[Darkwaters]

Somebody had to replace Finley's typical production with Mike hitting his shots.

Enter Jacque Vaughn and an 0-5 night.

[byrdman31]

we have a better record than the mavs... whoo

[#2!]

East sucks....easier road to the Finals....dont have to go through SA to get there.

There's bound to be another defensive minded team to shut down D'antoni...oh well I'm sure there will be a superstar stupid enough to go waste his talent trying to convince himself that defense doesn't matter.

[Ice009]

I'll do that.

I like everything else Tolliver has done, which is a good sign, but his shooting is putrid to say the least.

Man I am impressed with Tolliver's game except his shooting. Come on AT. Start hitting man.

[xellos88330]

For the first time this season, I finally saw THE Spurs!!!

[Darkwaters]

At least this one didn't take 2 OT's.

Hey, we beat a team with a winning record. Woohoo!

[T Park]

nice suprise to open the laptop up to

[milkyway21]

"I am Tim Duncan, I am here 11 yrs"

4 titles, 3 finals MVP, 2 season MVPs(currently working for my 3rd)

[Solid D]

That lineup of Mason at the 1, Finley, Bowen, Tolliver and Thomas was outstanding! They were the group that got the double-digit separation in the 2nd half.

[ginobilized]

George Hill
1 Turnover
Not bad for his first start

[duncan228]

Final: Spurs 92, Knicks 80 (http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/spursworld/2008/11/gameday_spurs_vs_knicks.html)

FOURTH QUARTER

Even with Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili sidelined, the Spurs looked more like their familiar selves in the second half as they beat the New York Knicks 92-80 Tuesday at the AT&T Center.

Tim Duncan led the Spurs with 23 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. The Spurs outscored the Knicks 54-39 in the second half, including an 11-0 run to start the fourth quarter.

Bruce Bowen, who hadn't scored more than five points in a game this season, had 13 points off the bench. It was the first time Bowen has come off the bench in his seven-plus seasons as a Spur.

Michael Finley also came off the bench and scored 14. George Hill started at point guard and had 12 points and one assist.

Bowen made an inside basket and a 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter. The Spurs lead 87-75 with 2:29 left.

The Spurs opened the fourth quarter with a 8-0 run that included baskets from Kurt Thomas, Anthony Tolliver, Michael Finley and Roger Mason Jr. They have their biggest lead of the game at 75-64 with 9:20 left in the game. The Spurs made the run with Mason at point guard and Tim Duncan on the bench.

THIRD QUARTER

Roger Mason Jr. made his first field goal with 8.2 seconds left in the third quarter and Bruce Bowen hit a 3-pointer with a half second left to give the Spurs a 67-64 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

George Hill is up to 12 points and the Spurs lead 54-49. Fabricio Oberto is quietly having a solid game - six points, nine rebounds and three assists midway though the second quarter.

Ime Udoka came out on target the second half. He had a basket and a 3-pointer in the first two minutes of the third quarter.

SECOND QUARTER

New York's Jamal Crawford had 14 points including the final basket of the first half as the Knicks took a 41-38 halftime lead.

Tim Duncan led the Spurs with 15 points and four assists. George Hill, Jacque Vaughn and Roger Mason Jr., the three Spurs guards who handled the ball the most, had ZERO combined assists the first half. Plus, Ime Udoka was 0-8 from the field and Mason was 0-3.

Duncan hit six of his first eight shots. He has 12 points but the Knicks still led 31-30.

The teams combined to miss eight of their first 11 free throws of the second quarter.

Anthony Tolliver hit a 3-pointer to score the Spurs' first points of the second quarter. There was some confusion when the three points first were given to the Knicks on the scoreboard. New York's David Lee made a pair of baskets and the Knicks led 25-23 with 8:30 left in the quarter.

FIRST QUARTER

Michael Finley hit a basket and a 3-pointer in the final 1:20 of the first quarter and the Spurs and Knicks finished the period tied 20-20.

New York's Zach Randolph and Chris Duhan hit back-to-back 3-pointers to help the Knicks take an 18-15 lead.

The Spurs subbed four out of five players with 2:22 left in the first quarter. Anthony Tolliver, Jacque Vaughn, Finley and Bruce Bowen are the first players off the Spurs bench. Tim Duncan is the only starter still on the floor, although Bowen and Finley are used to starting. Former Spur Malik Rose is in for the Knicks.

George Hill's fast-break basket gave him five points and gave the Spurs an 11-8 lead at the first timeout.

STARTING LINEUP

Spurs starters: George Hill, Roger Mason, Ime Udoka, Tim Duncan and Fabricio Oberto. That answers the question, at least for tonight, of who will start in place of Tony Parker.

BOWEN COMING OFF THE BENCH

For Bruce Bowen, this game marked the first time since the 2000-2001 season that he played but wasn't in the starting lineup. Over the last seven seasons, including this one, the Spurs have played 579 regular-season games. Bowen did not play in one game last season - he started all the rest.

PREGAME

When the team captains and officials met before the game, there was only one captain for the Spurs: Tim Duncan.

The Knicks have a winning record while the Spurs are losing. The Knicks are occasionally playing defense, of all things, under new coach Mike D'Antoni. The Spurs have struggled on the defensive end and lost another key scorer when Tony Parker went down with an ankle sprain on Friday.

The Knicks and Spurs square off tonight at the AT&T Center with the Spurs facing the prospect of trying to get back on track with both Parker and Manu Ginobili sitting on the bench.

[Ice009]

That lineup of Mason at the 1, Finley, Bowen, Tolliver and Thomas was outstanding! They were the group that got the double-digit separation in the 2nd half.

Yes it was. Good take as usual Solid D.

[Obstructed_View]

...and a collective "oh shit" arises from the rest of the NBA.

Thanks, Mike! Just when we needed ya!

http://photos.upi.com/story/t/aa9cd86c7b468c2576810eb0900378e8/Mike_DAntoni_hired_to_coach_NY_Knicks.jpg

I'd ask for a Spur if I hadn't been so hugely wrong about Anthony Tolliver.

[tp2021]

Spurs won (2-4), Mavs lost (2-5).
Spurs move past them in the standings.

[Whisky Dog]

That lineup of Mason at the 1, Finley, Bowen, Tolliver and Thomas was outstanding! They were the group that got the double-digit separation in the 2nd half.

Mason handled the ball well and made some shots, Finley finally woke up this season and woke up in 2000, Bowen arose in 2004, KT and Tolliver were a force defensively and on the boards. It might not work every game, or even very often, but for this night that lineup was money.


The difference between Bonner and Tolliver. Bonner hustles. Tolliver hustles and makes plays. If he can stop rushing his shots and get in a groove he'll become the true anti-Bonner.

[SpursDynasty]

Funny how Bowen and Finley combine for 11-for-15 shooting including 5-for-5 from the arc when they get moved to the bench.

[alchemist]

Bonner comes in and the first thing the Knicks do is score on him:pctoss :bang

[Slippy]

The Spurs opened the fourth quarter with a 8-0 run that included baskets from Kurt Thomas, Anthony Tolliver, Michael Finley and Roger Mason Jr. They have their biggest lead of the game at 75-64 with 9:20 left in the game. The Spurs made the run with Mason at point guard and Tim Duncan on the bench.


The Spurs also opened the 4th holding knicks with-out a FG for over 5mins.

Spurs D showed up tonight. lets hope they keep it up. Gutsy Win!

[Borosai]

Good.

[Biggems]

I am not sure if we tried to use it on him, and if we didn't, I am a bit disappointed.......but, I was kind of hoping we would try and use the Beno exemption to get Chandler from the Knicks. He has a nice little jump shot and is a hustle player.

Of course, we don't really have room for him now, but he would have been yet another scrappy youngin to add to the roster.

[milkyway21]

The Spurs opened the fourth quarter with a 8-0 run that included baskets from Kurt Thomas, Anthony Tolliver, Michael Finley and Roger Mason Jr.except Finley it was the same line-up who made a run in the 4Q vs the Heat , cut the lead from 24 to 9, and almost made it but fell short

[Biggems]

The Spurs played awesome D tonight. Other than a handful of open looks for Crawford, they did a great job of contesting shots, playing the passing lanes, help defense, and rebounding.

The Heat played horrible D on Friday. Almost all of the Spurs jumpers were wide open. They just couldn't get them to fall.

[Obstructed_View]

except Finley it was the same line-up who made a run in the 4Q vs the Heat , cut the lead from 24 to 9, and almost made it but fell short

When you play defense, a late run will extend the lead from 1 to 10 instead of cutting the deficit from 20 to 11. It also keeps you in the game until those shots start falling. The Spurs didn't shoot any better in the first half of this game than they did against Miami.

[Biggems]

except Finley it was the same line-up who made a run in the 4Q vs the Heat , cut the lead from 24 to 9, and almost made it but fell short

actually they cut the lead down to 7.

[peskypesky]

so good to get home, check the scores and see that the Spurs won. sounds like Hill did a pretty nice job. good to hear that bowen, finley and thomas are showing signs of life (shaking off the rust?). duncan a monster once again.

and mason, well, what can you say except that he seems to be a gift from the basketball gods?

[milkyway21]

actually they cut the lead down to 7. they did? maybe I missed that one. thanks!


When you play defense, a late run will extend the lead from 1 to 10 instead of cutting the deficit from 20 to 11. It also keeps you in the game until those shots start falling. The Spurs didn't shoot any better in the first half of this game than they did against Miami okay!

[duncan228]

Spurs break through at home (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Spurs_break_through_at_home.html)
By Jeff McDonald

Mike D’Antoni walked into the AT&T Center for the first time as coach of the New York Knicks on Tuesday morning, and the memories came flooding back.

“Right there,” D’Antoni said, pointing to a spot on the arena floor. “That’s the scene of the disaster.”

Let the record show he was referring to Robert Horry’s infamous hip check of Steve Nash in the 2007 playoffs, back when D’Antoni was coaching the Phoenix Suns. He was not referring to the injury-plagued mess that had become of the Spurs’ November.

For one night, at least, the Spurs were able to remove the caution tape from around their home court. With injured stars Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili in street clothes — and with their team’s best hope for victory supposedly resting with them — the Spurs dug deep to beat the mercurial Knicks 92-80.

Tim Duncan scored 23 points while a pair of former starters — Michael Finley and Bruce Bowen — combined for 27 off the bench, as the Spurs won at home for the first time this season.

The Spurs (2-4) came in reeling from their worst five-game start in 12 seasons and facing up to four more weeks without their high-scoring guards.

They responded as they often have over the past several seasons, winding up their defense and setting it loose on the unsuspecting Knicks.

The Spurs held the Knicks — pinball wizards averaging 102.5 points per game — to their lowest scoring output of the season. New York (4-3) managed to shoot just 38 percent from the floor.

“It was out best defensive game of the year,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said, “and that’s the reason for the win.”

In some ways, Tuesday night was throwback night at the AT&T Center.

Without Parker and Ginobili, the Spurs’ offense looked straight out of 2001: Dump the ball to Duncan and get out the way.

He made 11 of 17 from the field, and dropped in 15 points in the first half.

Finley looked like he was back in Dallas again, finishing with 14 points.

Coming off the bench for the first time in a Spurs’ uniform, Bowen looked like he was back in Miami.

He responded with 13 points and three 3-pointers — including a back-breaker to put the Spurs up 87-75 with 2:50 to play.

Meanwhile, the Spurs’ once-vaunted defense — the foundation of four titles in 11 seasons — made its season debut.

Ahead 67-64 entering the third quarter, the Spurs held New York to just 16 points in the fourth.

“We got stops, and that’s San Antonio basketball,” said Roger Mason Jr., whose team had been giving up more than 105 points per game.

Throwback night, however, only went so far.

With his team playing for the first time since Parker sprained his ankle, Popovich trotted out a lineup he couldn’t have just two seasons ago.

George Hill started in place of Parker, the first Spurs’ rookie to do that since Beno Udrih in 2004-05. Alongside him in the backcourt were a first-year Spur (Mason) and second-year Spur (Ime Udoka).

Hill accomplished his most pressing mission.

He looked like an NBA point guard, finishing with 12 points and infusing the Spurs with some much-needed youthful exuberance.

The Spurs didn’t always play better Tuesday than they had in five previous outings. But, often, they played harder.

Snapshots from the fourth quarter bear that out.

It was Anthony Tolliver skidding across the floor for a loose ball.

It was Bowen sliding in to draw a charge on little Nate Robinson.

It was Finley — never paid for his defense — bodying up Quentin Richardson and forcing him into a traveling violation.

By night’s end, even D’Antoni was having flashbacks.

Some of the Spurs’ faces had changed. But the results looked awfully familiar.

“These guys are just tough,” D’Antoni said. “Been tough. Are tough. Will be tough.”

[tp2021]

He's the first Spurs rookie to start since Beno Udrih in 2004-05.:wow

[Obstructed_View]

He's the first Spurs draft pick to play more than one game since Beno Udrih in 2004-05.

[lurker23]

He's the first Spurs draft pick to play more than one game since Beno Udrih in 2004-05.


Well, Mahinmi played 6 games last year, unless you were just counting the year immediately after they were drafted.

[Obstructed_View]

Well, Mahinmi played 6 games last year, unless you were just counting the year immediately after they were drafted.

Oh yeah. He's been hurt so long I forgot about him again. :lol

[spurspf]

Listen to that applause for Matt Bonner. :lol


No, when Matt Bonner was coming in Tim Duncan was leaving raising his hand to the crowd. So were we chearing for Timmy or for Bonner, you tell me.

[lurker23]

No, when Matt Bonner was coming in Tim Duncan was leaving raising his hand to the crowd. So were we chearing for Timmy or for Bonner, you tell me.

It was a joke. I am fully aware that the crowd was cheering for another amazing performance by Tim Duncan. Hence the laughter at the end of my post. :)

[Manufan909]

Some people just don't get the laughng face.

[NBA Junkie]

Mike D'Antoni walked into the AT&T Center for the first time as coach of the New York Knicks on Tuesday morning. Immediately, the memories came flooding back.

“Right there,” D'Antoni said, pointing to a spot on the arena floor. “That's the scene of the disaster.”

For a second there, I thought he could have also referred to the area where Duncan hit the game tying three in game one last season

[Obstructed_View]

For a second there, I thought he could have also referred to the area where Duncan hit the game tying three in game one last season

One would think that one would be fresher in his memory. If he's going to be harping over Horry's foul, he should have pointed to the spot where Diaw and Amare ran onto the floor.

[m33p0]

:depressed
i missed the game.