timvp
02-27-2009, 02:05 PM
Playing their second game without the services of both Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, the San Antonio Spurs faced another tough test against a Western Conference playoffs hopeful. Once again, the Spurs passed with flying colors as they ran away from the Portland Trail Blazers by a final score of 99-84.
Although the Spurs had control of the contest for most of the night, the Blazers made a run in the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to four points with five minutes remaining. At that point, Tony Parker put an exclamation point on his fantastic evening. In the next four minutes, Parker scored ten points and ran the offense beautifully as he nailed the coffin shut.
The Blazers are undeniably talented but they didn’t show much on Wednesday night. Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge were both held in check. Though San Antonio’s defense played a part in their demise, a young team fighting for a postseason spot usually comes with more energy than what was on display in the AT&T Center.
As for the Spurs, this win combined with the victory over the Mavericks shows how far the team has come. Down two of their Big Three, the Spurs have responded by stepping up their defense and simply playing tougher and smarter than their opponents. These last two games are Spurs Basketball at its finest.
Tony Parker
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3527.jpg
35 minutes, 39 points, nine assists, five rebounds
17-for-27 from the field, 1-for-1 on three-pointers, 4-for-5 at the line
It’s difficult to put into words how well Tony Parker played. While he was great against the Mavs and undoubtedly the biggest reason why the Spurs won that game, he was much, much better against the Blazers. From the opening tip to the final buzzer, Parker dominated the action. His decisions on the offense end couldn’t have been scripted any better. He knew exactly when to look for his own shot, when to run the offense and when to give the ball to each teammate. Not only did he produce more offense than the entire Blazers team when he was on the court, he could have finished with another five or six assists if more open shots were made. Overshadowed in Parker’s offensive performance was his inspired defensive play. He held Steve Blake scoreless on nine shots and was also active on the boards and in the passing lanes. Overall, it’d be difficult for any point guard in the league to play a better ballgame than Parker did against Portland. If there were any doubts on whether or not he’s an All-Star talent, the last two outings have provided more than enough answers.
-------------------------------
Roger Mason, Jr.
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3628.jpg
27 minutes, six points, two rebounds
2-for-9 from the field, 1-for-5 on three-pointers
Though the stats for Roger Mason, Jr. don’t look very impressive, he played an important role in the victory. His defense against Roy was very good. No matter if he was forced to go around screens or pick up Roy in transition, Mason was almost always on time and ready to defend with intensity. Since the All-Star break, Mason is playing his best defense of the season and seems to have gotten comfortable with the system and the expectations of him within the system. On offense, Mason had a tough shooting game and mixed in a few ill-advised attempts. That said, he was a calming influence when playing next to George Hill and helped the Spurs run their offense with Parker out of the game.
-------------------------------
Michael Finley
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3023.jpg
37 minutes, 13 points, six rebounds
6-for-11 from the field, 1-for-3 on three-pointers
Like he did against the Mavs, Michael Finley connected on shots at the most opportune times. Whenever the Spurs needed a shooter to come through with a momentum-changing shot, it was usually Finley who answered the bell. On defense, Finley was impressive. After a brief bout with stiffness in the middle of the season, it appears as if Finley’s athleticism has returned and he’s moving much better. As a result, like it was earlier in the season, his defense is acceptable once again.
-------------------------------
Matt Bonner
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3748.jpg
30 minutes,15 points, nine rebounds, two steals
6-for-9 from the field, 3-for-5 on three-pointers
Matt Bonner is looking more and more like a legitimate NBA starter. Against the Blazers, I was pleased with the level of tenacity he illustrated on the defensive end. At times he’d make a mistake or find himself out of position but instead of giving in, Bonner fought through it and ultimately turned in a very good defensive performance. He pestered Aldridge and also pulled down nine rebounds – many of which were highly contested. On offense, Bonner played under control and knocked down a number of key buckets.
-------------------------------
Kurt Thomas
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3012.jpg
32 minutes, eight points, ten rebounds
4-for-6 from the field
Though Parker has obviously been the key player in the last two games, Kurt Thomas has a great case to be second on that list. Filling in for Duncan, Thomas has actually done a very good Duncan-like impression. Defensively, he’s been outstanding in nearly every possible aspect. He’s closing off the lane, intimidating shots in the paint and his quick hands have been extremely disruptive. On offense, Thomas is setting bone-jarring screens, which not only is giving the guards open alleys to the rim, it’s giving him space to look for his mid-range jumper on pitch backs. Right now, Thomas is playing very good basketball and he’s making the Spurs frontcourt depth appear to be a strength rather than a weakness.
-------------------------------
Fabricio Oberto
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3988.jpg
26 minutes, two points, four rebounds, three assists
1-for-2 from the field
If there is one player who has taken a Robert Horry-esque pace to the 2008-09 season, it has to be Fabricio Oberto. Not long ago, Oberto appeared to be a washed up big whose time in the sun was nearing an end. Now, Oberto looks like he’s completely defrosted and playing exactly how he’s expected to play. His defense is physical and his intensity on that end has returned. Offensively, Oberto’s passing is a huge asset. With Duncan out, Oberto’s ability to pass from the low block area is a much needed ingredient.
-------------------------------
Bruce Bowen
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3167.jpg
24 minutes, six points, two rebounds
2-for-3 from the field, 2-for-3 on three-pointers
Along with Mason, Bruce Bowen helped shut down Roy. Although Bowen isn’t as unbelievably quick as he was a few years ago, he’s making up for most of it by mastering veteran maneuvers. Off the ball, he’s being more physical and even more annoying. Like most players on the team, Bowen’s attention to detail on defense has elevated since the All-Star break. Versus Portland, Bowen nailed a pair of first quarter three-pointers that helped the Spurs get off on the right foot.
-------------------------------
George Hill
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/4488.jpg
16 minutes, four points, two assists
2-for-6 from the field, 0-for-1 on three-pointers
The most unenviable position on the team right now may be entering the game as Parker exists. With Parker playing on a “super stud” level, as Pop described it, George Hill’s play is underwhelming by comparison. But in reality, Hill is producing at a better than expected level. Though his defense has been inconsistent, he played well on that end against the Blazers. On offense, he did a decent job of keeping the pace and running the sets. An interesting strategy by Pop has been to play Hill next to Parker since Ginobili got hurt. By doing so, Pop is able to recreate some of the havoc-inducing play typically caused by the grouping of Parker and Ginobili.
-------------------------------
Ime Udoka
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3501.jpg
13 minutes, six points, two rebounds, two assists
2-for-5 from the field, 1-for-3 on three-pointers
Since playing well against the Wizards, Ime Udoka has found himself back in the rotation. However, he’ll have to perform better to stay in his current spot. The Blazers game once again demonstrated a pattern we’ve seen often from Udoka this season. In his first few minutes, Udoka struggled and seemed totally out of rhythm. Near the end of his 13 minutes of action, he found his groove and started to give the team a lift. There’s enough of the season remaining for Udoka to squeeze out a relatively significant role, though he’ll need to play much more consistently to do so.
-------------------------------
Pops Mensah-Bonsu
http://www.eurocupbasketball.com/resourceserver/15602/b5de75e9-26b9-4125-bb5c-30691cab4e9b/bc3/rglang/en-US/filename/b5d.jpg
34 seconds, one rebound
After leading the D-League in both scoring and rebounding while with the Austin Toros, the Spurs have given Pops Mensah-Bonsu a ten-day contract. Though a little bit undersized and not overly skilled, Mensah-Bonsu is a breathtaking athlete with a good motor and a good amount of toughness. It’s a long shot that he’ll play noteworthy minutes while in San Antonio this season, however the Spurs could definitely use a bigman with his skillset to help against the fleeter teams in the NBA. If Pops can earn props from Pop, he may be able to stop, drop, shut them down and open up shop next to Duncan in the low block.
-------------------------------
Gregg Popovich
http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/topstory/sports/popovich_gregg030428.jpg
If Parker is proving why he was an All-Star, Pop is proving why he’s a future Hall of Fame coach. Without arguably his best two players, Pop has guided the team to two fairly easy victories over two quality teams. The main reason, outside of Parker’s play, is the fact that Pop has the team playing great defense once again. He’s rewarding those players who bring energy and effort on that end of the floor. Combine that level of defense with an unselfish offensive attack and you wouldn’t even know the Spurs are shorthanded at the moment.
-------------------------------
Offense
The Spurs executed their offense with precision. Scoring 25 or more points in three of the four periods, the Spurs ended up shooting 53.8% from the floor and 9-for-21 from beyond the three-point stripe. Although they only got to the line eight times, San Antonio made up for it by accumulating 20 assists while only turning the ball over seven times.
Defense
A few weeks back, the defense looked atrocious. In the last four games, the defensive play has taken a sharp detour for the better. Opponents in the last four contests are averaging 77.5 points per game and shooting a 36.4% from the field. The Blazers finished at 37.6% from the field and connected on only 5-of-17 three-pointers. The Spurs also did fine work of allowing Portland to shoot just 17 free throws and hand out a measly 12 assists. Although the Blazers won the battle of the boards 43-41, it seemed like the Spurs grabbed all of the important caroms off the glass.
Drive to Five
The Spurs definitely deserve to feel confident and content with what they have accomplished in the last two games. That said, this is no time to drop their guard. With the Cleveland Cavaliers invading the AT&T Center on Friday night, the Spurs have their work cut out for them if they hope to extend the winning streak to five games.
Believe.
Although the Spurs had control of the contest for most of the night, the Blazers made a run in the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to four points with five minutes remaining. At that point, Tony Parker put an exclamation point on his fantastic evening. In the next four minutes, Parker scored ten points and ran the offense beautifully as he nailed the coffin shut.
The Blazers are undeniably talented but they didn’t show much on Wednesday night. Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge were both held in check. Though San Antonio’s defense played a part in their demise, a young team fighting for a postseason spot usually comes with more energy than what was on display in the AT&T Center.
As for the Spurs, this win combined with the victory over the Mavericks shows how far the team has come. Down two of their Big Three, the Spurs have responded by stepping up their defense and simply playing tougher and smarter than their opponents. These last two games are Spurs Basketball at its finest.
Tony Parker
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3527.jpg
35 minutes, 39 points, nine assists, five rebounds
17-for-27 from the field, 1-for-1 on three-pointers, 4-for-5 at the line
It’s difficult to put into words how well Tony Parker played. While he was great against the Mavs and undoubtedly the biggest reason why the Spurs won that game, he was much, much better against the Blazers. From the opening tip to the final buzzer, Parker dominated the action. His decisions on the offense end couldn’t have been scripted any better. He knew exactly when to look for his own shot, when to run the offense and when to give the ball to each teammate. Not only did he produce more offense than the entire Blazers team when he was on the court, he could have finished with another five or six assists if more open shots were made. Overshadowed in Parker’s offensive performance was his inspired defensive play. He held Steve Blake scoreless on nine shots and was also active on the boards and in the passing lanes. Overall, it’d be difficult for any point guard in the league to play a better ballgame than Parker did against Portland. If there were any doubts on whether or not he’s an All-Star talent, the last two outings have provided more than enough answers.
-------------------------------
Roger Mason, Jr.
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3628.jpg
27 minutes, six points, two rebounds
2-for-9 from the field, 1-for-5 on three-pointers
Though the stats for Roger Mason, Jr. don’t look very impressive, he played an important role in the victory. His defense against Roy was very good. No matter if he was forced to go around screens or pick up Roy in transition, Mason was almost always on time and ready to defend with intensity. Since the All-Star break, Mason is playing his best defense of the season and seems to have gotten comfortable with the system and the expectations of him within the system. On offense, Mason had a tough shooting game and mixed in a few ill-advised attempts. That said, he was a calming influence when playing next to George Hill and helped the Spurs run their offense with Parker out of the game.
-------------------------------
Michael Finley
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3023.jpg
37 minutes, 13 points, six rebounds
6-for-11 from the field, 1-for-3 on three-pointers
Like he did against the Mavs, Michael Finley connected on shots at the most opportune times. Whenever the Spurs needed a shooter to come through with a momentum-changing shot, it was usually Finley who answered the bell. On defense, Finley was impressive. After a brief bout with stiffness in the middle of the season, it appears as if Finley’s athleticism has returned and he’s moving much better. As a result, like it was earlier in the season, his defense is acceptable once again.
-------------------------------
Matt Bonner
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3748.jpg
30 minutes,15 points, nine rebounds, two steals
6-for-9 from the field, 3-for-5 on three-pointers
Matt Bonner is looking more and more like a legitimate NBA starter. Against the Blazers, I was pleased with the level of tenacity he illustrated on the defensive end. At times he’d make a mistake or find himself out of position but instead of giving in, Bonner fought through it and ultimately turned in a very good defensive performance. He pestered Aldridge and also pulled down nine rebounds – many of which were highly contested. On offense, Bonner played under control and knocked down a number of key buckets.
-------------------------------
Kurt Thomas
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3012.jpg
32 minutes, eight points, ten rebounds
4-for-6 from the field
Though Parker has obviously been the key player in the last two games, Kurt Thomas has a great case to be second on that list. Filling in for Duncan, Thomas has actually done a very good Duncan-like impression. Defensively, he’s been outstanding in nearly every possible aspect. He’s closing off the lane, intimidating shots in the paint and his quick hands have been extremely disruptive. On offense, Thomas is setting bone-jarring screens, which not only is giving the guards open alleys to the rim, it’s giving him space to look for his mid-range jumper on pitch backs. Right now, Thomas is playing very good basketball and he’s making the Spurs frontcourt depth appear to be a strength rather than a weakness.
-------------------------------
Fabricio Oberto
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3988.jpg
26 minutes, two points, four rebounds, three assists
1-for-2 from the field
If there is one player who has taken a Robert Horry-esque pace to the 2008-09 season, it has to be Fabricio Oberto. Not long ago, Oberto appeared to be a washed up big whose time in the sun was nearing an end. Now, Oberto looks like he’s completely defrosted and playing exactly how he’s expected to play. His defense is physical and his intensity on that end has returned. Offensively, Oberto’s passing is a huge asset. With Duncan out, Oberto’s ability to pass from the low block area is a much needed ingredient.
-------------------------------
Bruce Bowen
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3167.jpg
24 minutes, six points, two rebounds
2-for-3 from the field, 2-for-3 on three-pointers
Along with Mason, Bruce Bowen helped shut down Roy. Although Bowen isn’t as unbelievably quick as he was a few years ago, he’s making up for most of it by mastering veteran maneuvers. Off the ball, he’s being more physical and even more annoying. Like most players on the team, Bowen’s attention to detail on defense has elevated since the All-Star break. Versus Portland, Bowen nailed a pair of first quarter three-pointers that helped the Spurs get off on the right foot.
-------------------------------
George Hill
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/4488.jpg
16 minutes, four points, two assists
2-for-6 from the field, 0-for-1 on three-pointers
The most unenviable position on the team right now may be entering the game as Parker exists. With Parker playing on a “super stud” level, as Pop described it, George Hill’s play is underwhelming by comparison. But in reality, Hill is producing at a better than expected level. Though his defense has been inconsistent, he played well on that end against the Blazers. On offense, he did a decent job of keeping the pace and running the sets. An interesting strategy by Pop has been to play Hill next to Parker since Ginobili got hurt. By doing so, Pop is able to recreate some of the havoc-inducing play typically caused by the grouping of Parker and Ginobili.
-------------------------------
Ime Udoka
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3501.jpg
13 minutes, six points, two rebounds, two assists
2-for-5 from the field, 1-for-3 on three-pointers
Since playing well against the Wizards, Ime Udoka has found himself back in the rotation. However, he’ll have to perform better to stay in his current spot. The Blazers game once again demonstrated a pattern we’ve seen often from Udoka this season. In his first few minutes, Udoka struggled and seemed totally out of rhythm. Near the end of his 13 minutes of action, he found his groove and started to give the team a lift. There’s enough of the season remaining for Udoka to squeeze out a relatively significant role, though he’ll need to play much more consistently to do so.
-------------------------------
Pops Mensah-Bonsu
http://www.eurocupbasketball.com/resourceserver/15602/b5de75e9-26b9-4125-bb5c-30691cab4e9b/bc3/rglang/en-US/filename/b5d.jpg
34 seconds, one rebound
After leading the D-League in both scoring and rebounding while with the Austin Toros, the Spurs have given Pops Mensah-Bonsu a ten-day contract. Though a little bit undersized and not overly skilled, Mensah-Bonsu is a breathtaking athlete with a good motor and a good amount of toughness. It’s a long shot that he’ll play noteworthy minutes while in San Antonio this season, however the Spurs could definitely use a bigman with his skillset to help against the fleeter teams in the NBA. If Pops can earn props from Pop, he may be able to stop, drop, shut them down and open up shop next to Duncan in the low block.
-------------------------------
Gregg Popovich
http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/topstory/sports/popovich_gregg030428.jpg
If Parker is proving why he was an All-Star, Pop is proving why he’s a future Hall of Fame coach. Without arguably his best two players, Pop has guided the team to two fairly easy victories over two quality teams. The main reason, outside of Parker’s play, is the fact that Pop has the team playing great defense once again. He’s rewarding those players who bring energy and effort on that end of the floor. Combine that level of defense with an unselfish offensive attack and you wouldn’t even know the Spurs are shorthanded at the moment.
-------------------------------
Offense
The Spurs executed their offense with precision. Scoring 25 or more points in three of the four periods, the Spurs ended up shooting 53.8% from the floor and 9-for-21 from beyond the three-point stripe. Although they only got to the line eight times, San Antonio made up for it by accumulating 20 assists while only turning the ball over seven times.
Defense
A few weeks back, the defense looked atrocious. In the last four games, the defensive play has taken a sharp detour for the better. Opponents in the last four contests are averaging 77.5 points per game and shooting a 36.4% from the field. The Blazers finished at 37.6% from the field and connected on only 5-of-17 three-pointers. The Spurs also did fine work of allowing Portland to shoot just 17 free throws and hand out a measly 12 assists. Although the Blazers won the battle of the boards 43-41, it seemed like the Spurs grabbed all of the important caroms off the glass.
Drive to Five
The Spurs definitely deserve to feel confident and content with what they have accomplished in the last two games. That said, this is no time to drop their guard. With the Cleveland Cavaliers invading the AT&T Center on Friday night, the Spurs have their work cut out for them if they hope to extend the winning streak to five games.
Believe.