timvp
11-29-2008, 05:39 AM
On Monday, the Spurs welcomed back Manu Ginobili. Tonight, the Spurs welcomed back Tony Parker after a three-week absence due to a sprained ankle. In his AT&T Center official welcome back party, the Spurs took care of the Memphis Grizzlies by a final score of 109-98.
With the Grizzlies hanging around with seven minutes to go in the fourth quarter, Ginobili hit a three-pointer to put the Spurs up by six. George Hill then followed with an and-1 off of a fast break assist by Ime Udoka to extend the lead to nine points. The game was never in again.
After losing to the Spurs in Memphis on Monday, the Grizzlies played much better in this contest. Rudy Gay and OJ Mayo were both excellent – hitting contested shots from virtually every angle. Combined, the duo hit 24-of-37 from the field for a remarkable 64.9%. The defense wasn’t great for the Spurs but they didn’t have much of a chance with how well Gay and Mayo were shooting.
In the 15th game of the season, San Antonio finally got to see their Big Three in action. While Ginobili and Parker still need a few more games before they are 100% healthy, the early returns look fantastic for the Spurs. The offense was clicking and the on-court chemistry was noticeable no matter the combination Pop threw out on the court.
Tim Duncan
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3173.jpg
31 minutes, 11 points, 12 rebounds, two blocks
4-for-9 from the field, 3-for-6 at the line
Darko Milicic might go down as a gargantuan bust but you have to give him credit for how well he has guarded Tim Duncan in the last two games. He uses his length and bulk to keep Duncan off balance and out of his comfort zones. Thankfully the Spurs didn’t need too much offense from Duncan with as well as his supporting cast was playing. That said, he provided six of his 11 points on the night during a two-minute stint in the fourth quarter when the Spurs were putting the game away. Defensively, Duncan wasn’t too active, but he did do a good job on the boards.
-------------------------------
Manu Ginobili
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3380.jpg
21 minutes, 14 points, two assists, three turnovers
6-for-10 from the field, 2-for-4 on three-pointers
Although his stats were nice, the most promising sign for Ginobili against the Grizzlies was how well he was moving. After being a bit stiff in his first two games, Ginobili moved more smoothly in his third contest of the season. That allowed him to play better defense and be more active overall. His scoring was once again very good and outside of a few careless turnovers, Ginobili played another flawless game. Considering that he’s coming off of surgery, Ginobili is playing at an extremely high level right now.
-------------------------------
Tony Parker
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3527.jpg
17 minutes, 15 points, 7 assists
6-for-9 from the field, 3-for-5 at the line
Tony Parker seemed to shake off the rust instantaneously and played extraordinarily well. He made very good decisions all night long and was particularly impressive passing the basketball. His speed and explosion looked to be close to 100% and his outside jumper still looked as smooth as it was earlier in the season. Parker, who came off the bench in his return, looks ready to be put back into the starting lineup and pick up where he left off.
-------------------------------
Roger Mason, Jr.
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3628.jpg
35 minutes, 20 points, five assists, three rebounds
8-for-13 from the field, 4-for-6 on three-pointers
Roger Mason, Jr. has scored more points as a Spur but this might have been his best offensive game of the season. Not only was he hitting his shots, he was making great passes – especially off the dribble. With the Big Three intact, Mason should begin to flourish even more. Defenses won’t be able to key in on him and his three-pointers will become even more open. As it is, Mason leads the NBA in three-pointers made, has hit at least two three-pointers in 13 of 15 games this season and is shooting 53.1% from deep.
-------------------------------
Michael Finley
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3023.jpg
28 minutes, 12 points, four rebounds, two assists
5-for-9 from the field, 2-for-4 on three-pointers
After two games in which he struggled shooting the ball, Michael Finley rediscovered his stroke on Friday night. His shot selection was good and he did a fine job of moving without the ball. Defensively, Finley didn’t play too well but he did help out on the boards. His 2-for-4 showing from beyond the three-point line was good to see considering he was just one for his last 15 from downtown.
-------------------------------
Bruce Bowen
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3167.jpg
15 minutes, two assists
0-for-3 from the field
The last time Bruce Bowen matched up with Mayo he got the better of the matchup. This time, Mayo adjusted and played well versus Bowen’s defense. With Bowen unable to slow Mayo, Pop decided to look elsewhere and limit Bowen’s minutes. Overall, it was Bowen’s first sub par defensive performance in a few weeks, although his effort and aggressiveness weren’t a problem. On the other end of the court, Bowen was 0-for-3 and is in his first shooting slump of the season, as he’s hit just two of his last 11 attempts.
-------------------------------
Fabricio Oberto
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3988.jpg
23 minutes, four points, four rebounds, three assists
2-for-4 from the field
Fabricio Oberto once again passed the ball great and set mean screens. This time, though, he actually mixed in a few rebounds. Although he still needs to rebound more, it was a good start. Oberto also did a good job looking for his shot, with his four field goal attempts being his most attempts in seven games. With Ginobili back in the fold, Oberto will likely see his offense improve due to the much utilized Ginobili and Oberto pick-and-roll.
-------------------------------
George Hill
http://www.iupuijags.com/images/2007/12/12/player_hill.jpg
25 minutes, 12 points, seven assists, three rebounds
3-for-5 from the field, 6-for-6 at the line
George Hill’s streak of impressive games was extended with his performance on Friday night against the Grizzlies. Even though his shot attempts were down, his impact on the game was the same. In fact, he led the Spurs in plus/minus with a +15 and it was his second straight game leading the team in that category. Offensively his passing was very good, no matter if he was at point guard or shooting guard. He continually made the right decision whether it was to pass the ball, attack the rim or pull the ball to run a play. Finishing with 12 points on five shots to go with seven assists and no turnovers is great no matter how you slice it. On the whole, it’s difficult not to be extremely impressed with Hill’s play and excited about his future.
-------------------------------
Ime Udoka
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3501.jpg
16 minutes, five points, two steals
2-for-4 from the field, 1-for-1 on three-pointers
Ime Udoka played well for the second straight game after being mired in a slump. He didn’t force the action offensively and was active on defense. Udoka still isn’t playing the lockdown defense he has played in the past and his rebounding has been sporadic lately. While he can definitely play better, Udoka at least no longer appears to be confused and unsure of himself.
-------------------------------
Matt Bonner
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3748.jpg
13 minutes, four points, three rebounds
2-for-4 from the field
Matt Bonner doesn’t fit defensively against the Grizzlies but he played well in his minutes out on the court. He rebounded well enough and found ways to score even though Memphis was running him off the three-point line. On defense he competed well despite being at a size disadvantage or a speed disadvantage in each matchup. Bonner continues to be a revelation since his re-birth a couple weeks ago.
-------------------------------
Kurt Thomas
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3012.jpg
nine minutes, seven points, three rebounds
3-for-3 from the field
After an extremely slow start to the season, Kurt Thomas played his second straight very good game. On defense, he’s both protecting the rim and grabbing rebounds. Offensively, he’s moving well without the ball and is hitting his jumper. If Thomas can keep playing at the level he’s shown in the last two contests, the hole next to Duncan in the frontcourt doesn’t look as deep.
-------------------------------
Anthony Tolliver
http://msn.foxsports.com/fe/img/NBA/Headshots/140x170/4371.jpg
eight minutes, five points, two rebounds
2-for-3 from the field
Anthony Tolliver gave the Spurs a good amount of energy at the end of the first half. He ran the floor hard and played good defense. Tolliver also found ways to contribute offensively without resorting to the three-point ball. As a 12th man, Tolliver played exactly how he should play when Pop calls on him to add a spark.
-------------------------------
Gregg Popovich
http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/topstory/sports/popovich_gregg030428.jpg
Pop had a coach’s favorite hardship – juggling a wealth of talent coming off the bench. I thought he did a good job of finding minutes for everyone. It’ll become tougher to find minutes for everyone once Parker and Ginobili are healthy but the result will be a perimeter attack with a ton of options. I don’t think Pop can go wrong unless he doesn’t give Mason and Hill the needed minutes to continue their growth in the system. Against the Grizzlies, Pop did a good job of keeping the minutes in check, especially considering it was the first game of a back-to-back.
-------------------------------
Offense
The Spurs have to ecstatic about their offensive effort. Scoring 109 points on 56.6% shooting while draining 9-of-16 three-pointers is a very productive night at the office. The offensive explosion was mostly due to good ball movement, with the Spurs racking up 31 assists on 43 made baskets. On a personnel level, it was great to see Parker and Hill work so well together when Pop went to the small backcourt. We also got our first glimpse at the Parker, Ginobili and Mason trio that should see a lot of time together as the season progresses.
Defense
The defensive stats look poor on paper. The Grizzlies scored 98 points, including 62 points in the second half. Memphis was also able to shoot 54.5% from the field, which is by far the highest percentage the Spurs have given up since getting off to a slow defensive start to the season. While the stats point to bad defense, a lot of the credit goes to Mayo and Gay for hitting a number of miraculous shots. Those two players were on fire and even though the Spurs could have defended better, it wasn’t all the fault of the defense on this night. On the plus side, the Spurs won the battle of the boards 37-31.
Drive to Five
At 9-6 and the Big Three healthy, the Spurs are in a good position to tackle a tougher section of their schedule. The first test comes on Saturday night against a Houston Rockets team that will be looking for revenge. It will be a tough game to win but if the Spurs can pull out a victory they will move into first place in the Southwest Division.
Believe.
With the Grizzlies hanging around with seven minutes to go in the fourth quarter, Ginobili hit a three-pointer to put the Spurs up by six. George Hill then followed with an and-1 off of a fast break assist by Ime Udoka to extend the lead to nine points. The game was never in again.
After losing to the Spurs in Memphis on Monday, the Grizzlies played much better in this contest. Rudy Gay and OJ Mayo were both excellent – hitting contested shots from virtually every angle. Combined, the duo hit 24-of-37 from the field for a remarkable 64.9%. The defense wasn’t great for the Spurs but they didn’t have much of a chance with how well Gay and Mayo were shooting.
In the 15th game of the season, San Antonio finally got to see their Big Three in action. While Ginobili and Parker still need a few more games before they are 100% healthy, the early returns look fantastic for the Spurs. The offense was clicking and the on-court chemistry was noticeable no matter the combination Pop threw out on the court.
Tim Duncan
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3173.jpg
31 minutes, 11 points, 12 rebounds, two blocks
4-for-9 from the field, 3-for-6 at the line
Darko Milicic might go down as a gargantuan bust but you have to give him credit for how well he has guarded Tim Duncan in the last two games. He uses his length and bulk to keep Duncan off balance and out of his comfort zones. Thankfully the Spurs didn’t need too much offense from Duncan with as well as his supporting cast was playing. That said, he provided six of his 11 points on the night during a two-minute stint in the fourth quarter when the Spurs were putting the game away. Defensively, Duncan wasn’t too active, but he did do a good job on the boards.
-------------------------------
Manu Ginobili
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3380.jpg
21 minutes, 14 points, two assists, three turnovers
6-for-10 from the field, 2-for-4 on three-pointers
Although his stats were nice, the most promising sign for Ginobili against the Grizzlies was how well he was moving. After being a bit stiff in his first two games, Ginobili moved more smoothly in his third contest of the season. That allowed him to play better defense and be more active overall. His scoring was once again very good and outside of a few careless turnovers, Ginobili played another flawless game. Considering that he’s coming off of surgery, Ginobili is playing at an extremely high level right now.
-------------------------------
Tony Parker
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3527.jpg
17 minutes, 15 points, 7 assists
6-for-9 from the field, 3-for-5 at the line
Tony Parker seemed to shake off the rust instantaneously and played extraordinarily well. He made very good decisions all night long and was particularly impressive passing the basketball. His speed and explosion looked to be close to 100% and his outside jumper still looked as smooth as it was earlier in the season. Parker, who came off the bench in his return, looks ready to be put back into the starting lineup and pick up where he left off.
-------------------------------
Roger Mason, Jr.
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3628.jpg
35 minutes, 20 points, five assists, three rebounds
8-for-13 from the field, 4-for-6 on three-pointers
Roger Mason, Jr. has scored more points as a Spur but this might have been his best offensive game of the season. Not only was he hitting his shots, he was making great passes – especially off the dribble. With the Big Three intact, Mason should begin to flourish even more. Defenses won’t be able to key in on him and his three-pointers will become even more open. As it is, Mason leads the NBA in three-pointers made, has hit at least two three-pointers in 13 of 15 games this season and is shooting 53.1% from deep.
-------------------------------
Michael Finley
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3023.jpg
28 minutes, 12 points, four rebounds, two assists
5-for-9 from the field, 2-for-4 on three-pointers
After two games in which he struggled shooting the ball, Michael Finley rediscovered his stroke on Friday night. His shot selection was good and he did a fine job of moving without the ball. Defensively, Finley didn’t play too well but he did help out on the boards. His 2-for-4 showing from beyond the three-point line was good to see considering he was just one for his last 15 from downtown.
-------------------------------
Bruce Bowen
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3167.jpg
15 minutes, two assists
0-for-3 from the field
The last time Bruce Bowen matched up with Mayo he got the better of the matchup. This time, Mayo adjusted and played well versus Bowen’s defense. With Bowen unable to slow Mayo, Pop decided to look elsewhere and limit Bowen’s minutes. Overall, it was Bowen’s first sub par defensive performance in a few weeks, although his effort and aggressiveness weren’t a problem. On the other end of the court, Bowen was 0-for-3 and is in his first shooting slump of the season, as he’s hit just two of his last 11 attempts.
-------------------------------
Fabricio Oberto
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3988.jpg
23 minutes, four points, four rebounds, three assists
2-for-4 from the field
Fabricio Oberto once again passed the ball great and set mean screens. This time, though, he actually mixed in a few rebounds. Although he still needs to rebound more, it was a good start. Oberto also did a good job looking for his shot, with his four field goal attempts being his most attempts in seven games. With Ginobili back in the fold, Oberto will likely see his offense improve due to the much utilized Ginobili and Oberto pick-and-roll.
-------------------------------
George Hill
http://www.iupuijags.com/images/2007/12/12/player_hill.jpg
25 minutes, 12 points, seven assists, three rebounds
3-for-5 from the field, 6-for-6 at the line
George Hill’s streak of impressive games was extended with his performance on Friday night against the Grizzlies. Even though his shot attempts were down, his impact on the game was the same. In fact, he led the Spurs in plus/minus with a +15 and it was his second straight game leading the team in that category. Offensively his passing was very good, no matter if he was at point guard or shooting guard. He continually made the right decision whether it was to pass the ball, attack the rim or pull the ball to run a play. Finishing with 12 points on five shots to go with seven assists and no turnovers is great no matter how you slice it. On the whole, it’s difficult not to be extremely impressed with Hill’s play and excited about his future.
-------------------------------
Ime Udoka
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3501.jpg
16 minutes, five points, two steals
2-for-4 from the field, 1-for-1 on three-pointers
Ime Udoka played well for the second straight game after being mired in a slump. He didn’t force the action offensively and was active on defense. Udoka still isn’t playing the lockdown defense he has played in the past and his rebounding has been sporadic lately. While he can definitely play better, Udoka at least no longer appears to be confused and unsure of himself.
-------------------------------
Matt Bonner
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3748.jpg
13 minutes, four points, three rebounds
2-for-4 from the field
Matt Bonner doesn’t fit defensively against the Grizzlies but he played well in his minutes out on the court. He rebounded well enough and found ways to score even though Memphis was running him off the three-point line. On defense he competed well despite being at a size disadvantage or a speed disadvantage in each matchup. Bonner continues to be a revelation since his re-birth a couple weeks ago.
-------------------------------
Kurt Thomas
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3012.jpg
nine minutes, seven points, three rebounds
3-for-3 from the field
After an extremely slow start to the season, Kurt Thomas played his second straight very good game. On defense, he’s both protecting the rim and grabbing rebounds. Offensively, he’s moving well without the ball and is hitting his jumper. If Thomas can keep playing at the level he’s shown in the last two contests, the hole next to Duncan in the frontcourt doesn’t look as deep.
-------------------------------
Anthony Tolliver
http://msn.foxsports.com/fe/img/NBA/Headshots/140x170/4371.jpg
eight minutes, five points, two rebounds
2-for-3 from the field
Anthony Tolliver gave the Spurs a good amount of energy at the end of the first half. He ran the floor hard and played good defense. Tolliver also found ways to contribute offensively without resorting to the three-point ball. As a 12th man, Tolliver played exactly how he should play when Pop calls on him to add a spark.
-------------------------------
Gregg Popovich
http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/topstory/sports/popovich_gregg030428.jpg
Pop had a coach’s favorite hardship – juggling a wealth of talent coming off the bench. I thought he did a good job of finding minutes for everyone. It’ll become tougher to find minutes for everyone once Parker and Ginobili are healthy but the result will be a perimeter attack with a ton of options. I don’t think Pop can go wrong unless he doesn’t give Mason and Hill the needed minutes to continue their growth in the system. Against the Grizzlies, Pop did a good job of keeping the minutes in check, especially considering it was the first game of a back-to-back.
-------------------------------
Offense
The Spurs have to ecstatic about their offensive effort. Scoring 109 points on 56.6% shooting while draining 9-of-16 three-pointers is a very productive night at the office. The offensive explosion was mostly due to good ball movement, with the Spurs racking up 31 assists on 43 made baskets. On a personnel level, it was great to see Parker and Hill work so well together when Pop went to the small backcourt. We also got our first glimpse at the Parker, Ginobili and Mason trio that should see a lot of time together as the season progresses.
Defense
The defensive stats look poor on paper. The Grizzlies scored 98 points, including 62 points in the second half. Memphis was also able to shoot 54.5% from the field, which is by far the highest percentage the Spurs have given up since getting off to a slow defensive start to the season. While the stats point to bad defense, a lot of the credit goes to Mayo and Gay for hitting a number of miraculous shots. Those two players were on fire and even though the Spurs could have defended better, it wasn’t all the fault of the defense on this night. On the plus side, the Spurs won the battle of the boards 37-31.
Drive to Five
At 9-6 and the Big Three healthy, the Spurs are in a good position to tackle a tougher section of their schedule. The first test comes on Saturday night against a Houston Rockets team that will be looking for revenge. It will be a tough game to win but if the Spurs can pull out a victory they will move into first place in the Southwest Division.
Believe.