duncan228
11-17-2008, 04:26 AM
Spurs not looking cool, just OK (http://probasketballnews.com/amico_111708.html)
By Sam Amico
The San Antonio Spurs look like four dorks and Tim Duncan, yet they are somehow finding a way to survive.
OK, calling Duncan’s current cast of teammates a bunch of dorks may be a bit harsh -- but consider the Spurs’ starting five in Sunday’s 90-88 win at Sacramento:
Besides Duncan, there was Fabricio Oberto at center, Michael Finley at small forward, Roger Mason at one guard and rookie George Hill at the other. Not horrible, but not exactly Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor, either.
Still, these Spurs have now won two in a row (their first winning streak of the season) by a total of four points (they beat Houston 77-75 in their previous game). Is it pretty? Uh, no. Not unless you like game-winning shots like the one by Duncan against the Kings, in which he closed his eyes and let it fly with 15.5 seconds remaining.
Duncan didn’t really close his eyes, but he did admit to not completely seeing his prayer of a layup that became the night’s final basket.
“They said it went about 90 miles an hour off the glass and went in,” he told San Antonio reporters. “I couldn’t see anything.”
If the rim saw the shot, it likely cringed with fear. But that’s just the way the Spurs have been winning these days. They've been doing it by any means necessary.
Would you believe Finley led the Spurs in scoring with 21 points (Duncan finished with 20)? Would you believe Finley made 8 of 17 field-goal attempts, including 3-of-5 shooting on three-pointers? Would you believe Finley is 35 years old, and hasn’t averaged more than 10.1 points per game in four years?
Ah, yes. The Spurs minus Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili are giving hope to anyone who has ever been told they’re outdated and undermanned. Obviously, a lot of credit must go to old standbys like Duncan and coach Gregg Popovich -- and to a lesser degree, swingman Bruce Bowen and point guard Jacque Vaughn (10 points, six assists off the bench).
Those four understand the concept of getting it done with scratching and clawing and grabbing and clutching at the defensive end. Those four realize that with this rag-tag bunch, defense is their only hope.
“We’re not exactly an offensive juggernaut here,” Popovich said. “Eighty-eight points is about our limit. If teams score more than that, we’re in trouble.”
Actually, the Spurs only gave up 82 the other day to Milwaukee and still lost. That’s probably why Popvich said the Spurs were “thrilled” to get out of Sacramento with a win.
Here’s the thing about this team:
All it wants to do right now is get by. The Spurs are living in the Land of Make Do, having become pro basketball’s version of a once-fancy winter coat that’s become old and tattered, with stuffing coming out of the seams. They don’t have any more stuffing and can’t afford another coat. They just have a bottle of glue. It’s not ideal, and the coat isn’t going to be anything close to what it once was. It’s ugly, damaged, nearly laughable -- but at least it will still keep you warm.
And that is what makes these Spurs so admirable. They know Parker and Ginobili will return someday, that all they need to do is stay in the pack of potential Western Conference playoff teams. They know that if they fight for every inch, they’ll have a chance. They also know that the guys who are going to battle now are getting valuable experience in close games, learning how to succeed by following the lead of their star player and coach.
They play hard and still believe.
It won’t ever be pretty and it won’t always work. Especially when you consider that role players such as Mason, Vaughn and even reserve forward Matt Bonner are being asked to play well on a regular basis -- something not many role players are inclined to do.
But as Popovich said, “We don’t need those guys to be superstars. We just need them to contribute.”
Right now, the Spurs seem to be heeding to that rally cry.
Maybe they're not just a bunch of dorks, after all.
By Sam Amico
The San Antonio Spurs look like four dorks and Tim Duncan, yet they are somehow finding a way to survive.
OK, calling Duncan’s current cast of teammates a bunch of dorks may be a bit harsh -- but consider the Spurs’ starting five in Sunday’s 90-88 win at Sacramento:
Besides Duncan, there was Fabricio Oberto at center, Michael Finley at small forward, Roger Mason at one guard and rookie George Hill at the other. Not horrible, but not exactly Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor, either.
Still, these Spurs have now won two in a row (their first winning streak of the season) by a total of four points (they beat Houston 77-75 in their previous game). Is it pretty? Uh, no. Not unless you like game-winning shots like the one by Duncan against the Kings, in which he closed his eyes and let it fly with 15.5 seconds remaining.
Duncan didn’t really close his eyes, but he did admit to not completely seeing his prayer of a layup that became the night’s final basket.
“They said it went about 90 miles an hour off the glass and went in,” he told San Antonio reporters. “I couldn’t see anything.”
If the rim saw the shot, it likely cringed with fear. But that’s just the way the Spurs have been winning these days. They've been doing it by any means necessary.
Would you believe Finley led the Spurs in scoring with 21 points (Duncan finished with 20)? Would you believe Finley made 8 of 17 field-goal attempts, including 3-of-5 shooting on three-pointers? Would you believe Finley is 35 years old, and hasn’t averaged more than 10.1 points per game in four years?
Ah, yes. The Spurs minus Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili are giving hope to anyone who has ever been told they’re outdated and undermanned. Obviously, a lot of credit must go to old standbys like Duncan and coach Gregg Popovich -- and to a lesser degree, swingman Bruce Bowen and point guard Jacque Vaughn (10 points, six assists off the bench).
Those four understand the concept of getting it done with scratching and clawing and grabbing and clutching at the defensive end. Those four realize that with this rag-tag bunch, defense is their only hope.
“We’re not exactly an offensive juggernaut here,” Popovich said. “Eighty-eight points is about our limit. If teams score more than that, we’re in trouble.”
Actually, the Spurs only gave up 82 the other day to Milwaukee and still lost. That’s probably why Popvich said the Spurs were “thrilled” to get out of Sacramento with a win.
Here’s the thing about this team:
All it wants to do right now is get by. The Spurs are living in the Land of Make Do, having become pro basketball’s version of a once-fancy winter coat that’s become old and tattered, with stuffing coming out of the seams. They don’t have any more stuffing and can’t afford another coat. They just have a bottle of glue. It’s not ideal, and the coat isn’t going to be anything close to what it once was. It’s ugly, damaged, nearly laughable -- but at least it will still keep you warm.
And that is what makes these Spurs so admirable. They know Parker and Ginobili will return someday, that all they need to do is stay in the pack of potential Western Conference playoff teams. They know that if they fight for every inch, they’ll have a chance. They also know that the guys who are going to battle now are getting valuable experience in close games, learning how to succeed by following the lead of their star player and coach.
They play hard and still believe.
It won’t ever be pretty and it won’t always work. Especially when you consider that role players such as Mason, Vaughn and even reserve forward Matt Bonner are being asked to play well on a regular basis -- something not many role players are inclined to do.
But as Popovich said, “We don’t need those guys to be superstars. We just need them to contribute.”
Right now, the Spurs seem to be heeding to that rally cry.
Maybe they're not just a bunch of dorks, after all.