timvp
12-14-2008, 04:50 AM
The last time the San Antonio Spurs were in Minnesota, Tony Parker dropped 55 points on the Timberwolves to help the Spurs win a double overtime thriller and get the first victory of the 2008-09 season. On Friday night, Parker’s 16 fourth quarter points helped the Spurs secure their 14th win of the season.
Entering the fourth with only one point, Parker went 7-for-10 in the quarter and also dished off two assists. The biggest individual shot of the final quarter was authored by Matt Bonner. With the T’Wolves trimming the lead to nine points with six minutes remaining, Bonner hit a three-pointer and Minnesota never broke the double-digit barrier again. When all was said and done, the Spurs had won by a final score of 98-86 to win their fifth straight game.
Regarding the T’Wolves, Al Jefferson is a beast on the low block. There isn’t an NBA player who scores as consistently against Tim Duncan as Minnesota’s starting center. He has a disgusting array of post moves to go along with a delicate touch around the rim. It’s amazing that the T’Wolves don’t give him the ball virtually every time up the court.
The win for the Spurs was another good one. Minnesota has been a difficult destination as of late and even though San Antonio went through stretches where their energy was non-existent, the Spurs were able to turn it up in the second half to come out on top.
Tim Duncan
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3173.jpg
35 minutes, 17 points, 13 rebounds, five blocks, five turnovers
7-for-13 from the field, 3-for-6 at the line
Tim Duncan had a decent enough outing. Offensively, he scored when he was aggressive on the low post and he also drained a few jumpers. He got caught unaware a few times and was stripped of the ball by help defenders and his passes weren’t as crisp as usual – leading to his five turnovers. On the other end of the court, his individual defense against Jefferson wasn’t very good but his help defense was impressive. When the small bigmen of Minnesota tried to muscle up shots around the rim, Duncan was there to block the attempt. It wasn’t an especially good performance by Duncan but he was one of the players who turned up the energy in the second half to get the win.
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Manu Ginobili
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3380.jpg
29 minutes, 16 points, four rebounds
6-for-17 from the field, 1-for-4 on three-pointers, 3-for-4 at the line
Manu Ginobili had one of his more hyper games since his return. He was quick to loose balls and made a number of hustle plays. However, Ginobili was a bit too quick with his trigger. A number of times he took quick shots before letting the offense create an open look. As a result of him looking often at the basket, Ginobili finished without an assist or a turnover. Overall though, it was a step in the right direction for the Argentine guard. He’s starting to get his controlled recklessness back, which is an important aspect of his game.
-------------------------------
Tony Parker
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3527.jpg
36 minutes, 17 points, nine assists, four rebounds
7-for-15 from the field, 3-for-4 at the line
Tony Parker’s first three quarters were rather interesting. He missed all five field goals he attempted but he didn’t seem too distressed about his struggles. Instead, he stayed patient – sometimes overly so – and was content letting others carry the load. In the fourth, he became much more aggressive looking for his own shot and was able to completely shake off his previous struggles. On the night, he also handed out nine assists and didn’t have a turnover. Defensively, he was sleepwalking in the first half but turned up his intensity in the final two quarters. On the whole, Parker’s night had to be considered a good one.
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Michael Finley
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3023.jpg
28 minutes, 12 points, seven rebounds
5-for-9 from the field, 2-for-4 on three-pointers
Michael Finley didn’t have the best shot selection but he knocked down a number of difficult looks. Defensively, he was solid once again and did a great job helping out on the defensive glass. His offseason weight loss has made him much more agile and he also looks to be jumping better. In the last five games, Finley is averaging 12.2 points per game on 53.2% shooting from the field and 47.4% from beyond the three-point arc.
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Matt Bonner
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3748.jpg
29 minutes, 12 points, four rebounds, three assists
5-for-7 from the field, 2-for-3 on three-pointers
Matt Bonner once again shot the ball well. He seems to be draining just about every open look he’s getting from the perimeter. Bonner also mixed in a few good passes and his movement without the ball is getting better and better. Defensively, his one-on-one defense was good but he struggled on his rotations for the first time in a while. He also didn’t do a very good job on the defensive glass. Although, all things considered, the Spurs have to be ecstatic with what they are getting from their center position.
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Roger Mason, Jr.
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3628.jpg
21 minutes, five points, two rebounds, two assists
2-for-6 from the field, 1-for-4 on three-pointers
Roger Mason, Jr. is going through his first slump in a Spurs uniform. He just hasn’t been able to figure out where he fits now that all the pieces are in place. It also didn’t help that he was missing wide open jumpers against the T’Wolves. The good news is he continues to shoot the ball confidently, which should allow him to break out of this slump sooner than later. In his last five games, Mason is shooting 39.5% from the floor and 29.7% from downtown.
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George Hill
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/4488.jpg
22 minutes, nine points, six rebounds, three steals, one assist
3-for-5 from the field, 1-for-1 on three-pointers, 2-for-2 at the line
George Hill quietly had one of his better all-around games of the season. Defensively, he was exceptional. His one-on-one defense was good but he really shined when it came to his help defense and his rebounding. Hill’s defensive energy seemed to be lacking over the last week but he had boundless energy on Friday night. Thanks to his defensive exploits, Pop used him to close out the game. On offense, Hill picked his spots nicely and coolly switched between point guard and shooting guard duties.
-------------------------------
Kurt Thomas
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3012.jpg
18 minutes, six points, four rebounds, three blocks
1-for-4 from the field, 4-for-4 at the line
With the Spurs getting beat on the offensive boards, Kurt Thomas was called into action to add some physicality. He did a great job of doing just that. He rebounded well and defended the rim with authority – as his three blocked shots suggest. On offense, Thomas set good picks and his physical play led to a season-high four free throw attempts. After a slow start to the season, Thomas seems to be finding his niche on this team.
-------------------------------
Fabricio Oberto
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3988.jpg
Ten minutes, one point, three rebounds, two assists, two blocks
0-for-2 from the field, 1-for-2 at the line
Fabricio Oberto continues his positive play. He was a factor on the boards and even blocked two shots – doubling his season total. In fact, he has three of his four blocks in his last two games. Offensively, even though his shot wasn't dropping, he was still effective. He set sturdy picks and he made a few fantastic passes. The area to be most excited about Oberto’s progression is his rebounding. In November, he averaged 7.8 rebounds per 48 minutes. In December, that number has risen to 13.2.
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Bruce Bowen
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3167.jpg
Ten minutes, one assist, one block
Since Minnesota doesn’t have a perimeter scorer that needs extra attention, Bruce Bowen wasn’t needed much on Friday night. He had a few quality defensive plays while he was in the game but he didn’t play in the final 32 minutes of the contest.
-------------------------------
Gregg Popovich
http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/topstory/sports/popovich_gregg030428.jpg
Pop coached a good game against the T’Wolves. He recognized the need for toughness and Thomas delivered when he was called upon. Playing Hill extra minutes was good to see and had positive results. My only complaint is how he’s handling Mason’s minutes. Mason has had five consecutive games with less than 30 minutes and had only 21 minutes against Minnesota. I’d like to see Pop carve out a role for Mason that has him playing 30-32 minutes per game.
-------------------------------
Offense
The offense started out very slowly but each quarter the Spurs scored more points than the previous quarter. By the fourth, the offense was rolling and they were able to put 32 points on the board. For the night, the Spurs shot 46.8% from the floor, connected on 8-of-18 three-pointers and had 23 assists to only ten turnovers. Don’t look now but San Antonio seems to be climbing the ranks offensively. In their last nine victories, the Spurs are averaging 108.6 points per game.
Defense
The Spurs did a great job defending the T’Wolves. They set a season-high with 12 blocks and held Minnesota to 40.9% field goal shooting. Take out the 8-for-8 showing by the T’Wolves in garbage time at the end of the game and that percentage lowers to 35%. The Spurs also did good work when it came to closing out on shooters, as the T’Wolves shot just 2-for-6 on three-pointers. The rebounding was a struggle at some points but San Antonio came away with a 47-44 edge in that category.
Drive to Five
At 14-8, the Spurs have to be very happy with where they sit. As long as they stay healthy, they should be able to have a good chance at a high seed. On Sunday, the Spurs take on the 2-22 Oklahoma City Thunder. A letdown here is unacceptable, especially considering the difficult set of games on the upcoming schedule. A stomping of the Thunder would be a nice way to get some revenge for the fired PJ Carlesimo.
Believe.
Entering the fourth with only one point, Parker went 7-for-10 in the quarter and also dished off two assists. The biggest individual shot of the final quarter was authored by Matt Bonner. With the T’Wolves trimming the lead to nine points with six minutes remaining, Bonner hit a three-pointer and Minnesota never broke the double-digit barrier again. When all was said and done, the Spurs had won by a final score of 98-86 to win their fifth straight game.
Regarding the T’Wolves, Al Jefferson is a beast on the low block. There isn’t an NBA player who scores as consistently against Tim Duncan as Minnesota’s starting center. He has a disgusting array of post moves to go along with a delicate touch around the rim. It’s amazing that the T’Wolves don’t give him the ball virtually every time up the court.
The win for the Spurs was another good one. Minnesota has been a difficult destination as of late and even though San Antonio went through stretches where their energy was non-existent, the Spurs were able to turn it up in the second half to come out on top.
Tim Duncan
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3173.jpg
35 minutes, 17 points, 13 rebounds, five blocks, five turnovers
7-for-13 from the field, 3-for-6 at the line
Tim Duncan had a decent enough outing. Offensively, he scored when he was aggressive on the low post and he also drained a few jumpers. He got caught unaware a few times and was stripped of the ball by help defenders and his passes weren’t as crisp as usual – leading to his five turnovers. On the other end of the court, his individual defense against Jefferson wasn’t very good but his help defense was impressive. When the small bigmen of Minnesota tried to muscle up shots around the rim, Duncan was there to block the attempt. It wasn’t an especially good performance by Duncan but he was one of the players who turned up the energy in the second half to get the win.
-------------------------------
Manu Ginobili
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3380.jpg
29 minutes, 16 points, four rebounds
6-for-17 from the field, 1-for-4 on three-pointers, 3-for-4 at the line
Manu Ginobili had one of his more hyper games since his return. He was quick to loose balls and made a number of hustle plays. However, Ginobili was a bit too quick with his trigger. A number of times he took quick shots before letting the offense create an open look. As a result of him looking often at the basket, Ginobili finished without an assist or a turnover. Overall though, it was a step in the right direction for the Argentine guard. He’s starting to get his controlled recklessness back, which is an important aspect of his game.
-------------------------------
Tony Parker
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3527.jpg
36 minutes, 17 points, nine assists, four rebounds
7-for-15 from the field, 3-for-4 at the line
Tony Parker’s first three quarters were rather interesting. He missed all five field goals he attempted but he didn’t seem too distressed about his struggles. Instead, he stayed patient – sometimes overly so – and was content letting others carry the load. In the fourth, he became much more aggressive looking for his own shot and was able to completely shake off his previous struggles. On the night, he also handed out nine assists and didn’t have a turnover. Defensively, he was sleepwalking in the first half but turned up his intensity in the final two quarters. On the whole, Parker’s night had to be considered a good one.
-------------------------------
Michael Finley
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3023.jpg
28 minutes, 12 points, seven rebounds
5-for-9 from the field, 2-for-4 on three-pointers
Michael Finley didn’t have the best shot selection but he knocked down a number of difficult looks. Defensively, he was solid once again and did a great job helping out on the defensive glass. His offseason weight loss has made him much more agile and he also looks to be jumping better. In the last five games, Finley is averaging 12.2 points per game on 53.2% shooting from the field and 47.4% from beyond the three-point arc.
-------------------------------
Matt Bonner
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3748.jpg
29 minutes, 12 points, four rebounds, three assists
5-for-7 from the field, 2-for-3 on three-pointers
Matt Bonner once again shot the ball well. He seems to be draining just about every open look he’s getting from the perimeter. Bonner also mixed in a few good passes and his movement without the ball is getting better and better. Defensively, his one-on-one defense was good but he struggled on his rotations for the first time in a while. He also didn’t do a very good job on the defensive glass. Although, all things considered, the Spurs have to be ecstatic with what they are getting from their center position.
-------------------------------
Roger Mason, Jr.
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3628.jpg
21 minutes, five points, two rebounds, two assists
2-for-6 from the field, 1-for-4 on three-pointers
Roger Mason, Jr. is going through his first slump in a Spurs uniform. He just hasn’t been able to figure out where he fits now that all the pieces are in place. It also didn’t help that he was missing wide open jumpers against the T’Wolves. The good news is he continues to shoot the ball confidently, which should allow him to break out of this slump sooner than later. In his last five games, Mason is shooting 39.5% from the floor and 29.7% from downtown.
-------------------------------
George Hill
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/4488.jpg
22 minutes, nine points, six rebounds, three steals, one assist
3-for-5 from the field, 1-for-1 on three-pointers, 2-for-2 at the line
George Hill quietly had one of his better all-around games of the season. Defensively, he was exceptional. His one-on-one defense was good but he really shined when it came to his help defense and his rebounding. Hill’s defensive energy seemed to be lacking over the last week but he had boundless energy on Friday night. Thanks to his defensive exploits, Pop used him to close out the game. On offense, Hill picked his spots nicely and coolly switched between point guard and shooting guard duties.
-------------------------------
Kurt Thomas
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3012.jpg
18 minutes, six points, four rebounds, three blocks
1-for-4 from the field, 4-for-4 at the line
With the Spurs getting beat on the offensive boards, Kurt Thomas was called into action to add some physicality. He did a great job of doing just that. He rebounded well and defended the rim with authority – as his three blocked shots suggest. On offense, Thomas set good picks and his physical play led to a season-high four free throw attempts. After a slow start to the season, Thomas seems to be finding his niche on this team.
-------------------------------
Fabricio Oberto
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3988.jpg
Ten minutes, one point, three rebounds, two assists, two blocks
0-for-2 from the field, 1-for-2 at the line
Fabricio Oberto continues his positive play. He was a factor on the boards and even blocked two shots – doubling his season total. In fact, he has three of his four blocks in his last two games. Offensively, even though his shot wasn't dropping, he was still effective. He set sturdy picks and he made a few fantastic passes. The area to be most excited about Oberto’s progression is his rebounding. In November, he averaged 7.8 rebounds per 48 minutes. In December, that number has risen to 13.2.
-------------------------------
Bruce Bowen
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3167.jpg
Ten minutes, one assist, one block
Since Minnesota doesn’t have a perimeter scorer that needs extra attention, Bruce Bowen wasn’t needed much on Friday night. He had a few quality defensive plays while he was in the game but he didn’t play in the final 32 minutes of the contest.
-------------------------------
Gregg Popovich
http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/topstory/sports/popovich_gregg030428.jpg
Pop coached a good game against the T’Wolves. He recognized the need for toughness and Thomas delivered when he was called upon. Playing Hill extra minutes was good to see and had positive results. My only complaint is how he’s handling Mason’s minutes. Mason has had five consecutive games with less than 30 minutes and had only 21 minutes against Minnesota. I’d like to see Pop carve out a role for Mason that has him playing 30-32 minutes per game.
-------------------------------
Offense
The offense started out very slowly but each quarter the Spurs scored more points than the previous quarter. By the fourth, the offense was rolling and they were able to put 32 points on the board. For the night, the Spurs shot 46.8% from the floor, connected on 8-of-18 three-pointers and had 23 assists to only ten turnovers. Don’t look now but San Antonio seems to be climbing the ranks offensively. In their last nine victories, the Spurs are averaging 108.6 points per game.
Defense
The Spurs did a great job defending the T’Wolves. They set a season-high with 12 blocks and held Minnesota to 40.9% field goal shooting. Take out the 8-for-8 showing by the T’Wolves in garbage time at the end of the game and that percentage lowers to 35%. The Spurs also did good work when it came to closing out on shooters, as the T’Wolves shot just 2-for-6 on three-pointers. The rebounding was a struggle at some points but San Antonio came away with a 47-44 edge in that category.
Drive to Five
At 14-8, the Spurs have to be very happy with where they sit. As long as they stay healthy, they should be able to have a good chance at a high seed. On Sunday, the Spurs take on the 2-22 Oklahoma City Thunder. A letdown here is unacceptable, especially considering the difficult set of games on the upcoming schedule. A stomping of the Thunder would be a nice way to get some revenge for the fired PJ Carlesimo.
Believe.