timvp
03-28-2009, 01:48 AM
http://spurstalk.com/box1mar27.jpg
http://spurstalk.com/box2mar27.jpg
With Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker healthy and on the court for the first time since the All-Star break, the Spurs made quick work of the Clippers. After a run by San Antonio in the third quarter, the fourth was 12 minutes of garbage time before the 111-98 final score became official.
I know it was just the Clippers but watching the Big Three dominate the action was great to see. Also, the Spurs needed this type of dominant performance after a stretch of close game after close game. The Big Three playing nearly flawless basketball was a giant cherry on top.
Like is usually the case, the Clippers have talent but they just don't care about putting all the pieces together. They seem content playing as five individuals with absolutely no team concept. Writing any more about the Clippers would require more thought than Los Angeles exhibited on Friday night in the AT&T Center.
For the Spurs, this performance shows exactly what this team is capable of doing if they can remain healthy. Hopefully the team uses this outing as a springboard to catapult themselves to a strong finish.
-Tim Duncan was back after a one-game respite and played very well without breaking a sweat. His effort in terms of defending and running the court wasn't where it'll need to be in the playoffs but the only news that matters is that Duncan is looking healthier. He appears to be strong and isn't being pushed around as easily as just a week ago. Duncan performing very well in limited minutes was the best possible outcome to this game.
-Manu Ginobili had a difficult debut but his second game was spectacular. It's tough to isolate the best aspect of his performance. His passing was amazing, he shot the ball well from the perimeter and finished well at the rim. He even defended and hustled at near his usual levels. Watching the difference between how the second unit plays without him compared to how they play with him just goes to show how great of a basketball player Ginobili is and how he makes everyone else's job easier.
-Tony Parker couldn't have played much better. He finished with 18 points, six assists and no turnovers in 17 minutes, while knocking down 8-of-10 field goals including a three-pointer. Perhaps most impressively, Parker had a plus/minus of +24 in his limited time on the court. Right now, Parker is playing with as much confidence as he ever has in his career. Combine that with good health and the complete understanding of the offense and you have a point guard playing at a superstar level.
-If there was one player who benefited most from Ginobili's return it was Roger Mason, Jr. With the Clippers forced to keep an eye on Ginobili at all times, Mason was freed up to make plays. As a result, Mason had one of his best all-around games of the season - scoring eight points, pulling down eight rebounds and dishing out six assists while finishing without a turnover. Mason didn't shoot the ball well but if he can become the fourth playmaker on this team, it'd make the Spurs even more difficult to defend.
-Matt Bonner continued his physical play. He was throwing around his body and delivered a few hard hits. Offensively, Bonner's slump appears to be nearing an end. He's not hesitating at all on the offensive end and that should result in his three-point stroke returning. The bad news is that Bonner once again didn't help out on the boards. On the season, his rebounding is down approximately 10% from last year.
-I liked the way Michael Finley played against the Clippers. He took smart shots, didn't force the issue and constantly tried to move to the open spots. Defensively, Finley gave very good effort and was actually effective on that end. Now that Finley is back to being the fifth option, it's imperative that he continues to be aggressive and shoot his open attempts. He doesn't help out enough in other areas if he doesn't shoot it early and often.
-George Hill led the bench in minutes one game after registering his first DNP-CD of the season. Hill struggled a bit in the fourth quarter in garbage time but I thought he played well during his first couple of stints. He defended with a good amount of energy and offensively he obviously attempted to attack more than usual. He had mix results on offense but it was good to see that he recognizes where the coaching staff wants him to improve.
-Ime Udoka continues to play like he thinks he belongs. Gone is that version of Udoka of earlier in the season where he was second-guessing each step on the court. His play is still not very consistent but Pop is likely to reward him for his gritty play. An added bonus of playing Udoka is that he's a perimeter player who rebounds like a big. Over his last six games, Udoka is averaging 8.6 rebounds per 40 minutes. To compare, Bonner averages 8.2 rebounds per 40 minutes on the season.
-Drew Gooden got his first extended playing time with Ginobili and that combination looked promising. With Ginobili's passing and Gooden's finishing ability, there's a potential for a lot of connections between the two. Gooden also continues to show that he's capable of scoring in one-on-one situations. Defensively, Gooden took a step backwards against the Clippers. The Spurs just have to hope that there's enough time for him to get up to speed before the playoffs begin.
-Kurt Thomas once again provided another solid night of work. He rebounded and defended like usual. On offense, he was able to find open spots off of pick-and-rolls. Currently, Thomas is literally playing as well as possible. There's not another level he could take his game - he's at the top of his capabilities.
-Jacque Vaughn got 19 minutes of action in this blowout. The talk about Vaughn's relentless work at staying in shape is obviously true. Despite not playing much this year, Vaughn played like he's been a part of the mix all season long. As far as third string point guards are concerned, Vaughn is top notch.
-Bruce Bowen was a defensive ace without a player to key on during the game against the Clippers. He didn't play particularly bad but he also didn't seem as energized as usual. With the Big Three back in working order, it'll be interesting to see the type of role Pop has planned for Bowen down the stretch of the season and into the playoffs.
-Pop pushed all the right buttons on Friday night. He was able to use the game as a confidence builder while at the same time limiting everyone's minutes. It didn't hurt that the Big Three combined for 45 points, 15 assists and zero turnovers in 48 minutes. Or that the Big Three hit 18-of-23 shots from the field. The coaching challenge will come on Sunday against the Hornets. Pop has a roster filled with players who could make a case for minutes. Instead of giving everyone time, it'd be nice if Pop would begin to form his rotation and give his team the best chance to win this important divisional contest.
Believe.
http://spurstalk.com/box2mar27.jpg
With Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker healthy and on the court for the first time since the All-Star break, the Spurs made quick work of the Clippers. After a run by San Antonio in the third quarter, the fourth was 12 minutes of garbage time before the 111-98 final score became official.
I know it was just the Clippers but watching the Big Three dominate the action was great to see. Also, the Spurs needed this type of dominant performance after a stretch of close game after close game. The Big Three playing nearly flawless basketball was a giant cherry on top.
Like is usually the case, the Clippers have talent but they just don't care about putting all the pieces together. They seem content playing as five individuals with absolutely no team concept. Writing any more about the Clippers would require more thought than Los Angeles exhibited on Friday night in the AT&T Center.
For the Spurs, this performance shows exactly what this team is capable of doing if they can remain healthy. Hopefully the team uses this outing as a springboard to catapult themselves to a strong finish.
-Tim Duncan was back after a one-game respite and played very well without breaking a sweat. His effort in terms of defending and running the court wasn't where it'll need to be in the playoffs but the only news that matters is that Duncan is looking healthier. He appears to be strong and isn't being pushed around as easily as just a week ago. Duncan performing very well in limited minutes was the best possible outcome to this game.
-Manu Ginobili had a difficult debut but his second game was spectacular. It's tough to isolate the best aspect of his performance. His passing was amazing, he shot the ball well from the perimeter and finished well at the rim. He even defended and hustled at near his usual levels. Watching the difference between how the second unit plays without him compared to how they play with him just goes to show how great of a basketball player Ginobili is and how he makes everyone else's job easier.
-Tony Parker couldn't have played much better. He finished with 18 points, six assists and no turnovers in 17 minutes, while knocking down 8-of-10 field goals including a three-pointer. Perhaps most impressively, Parker had a plus/minus of +24 in his limited time on the court. Right now, Parker is playing with as much confidence as he ever has in his career. Combine that with good health and the complete understanding of the offense and you have a point guard playing at a superstar level.
-If there was one player who benefited most from Ginobili's return it was Roger Mason, Jr. With the Clippers forced to keep an eye on Ginobili at all times, Mason was freed up to make plays. As a result, Mason had one of his best all-around games of the season - scoring eight points, pulling down eight rebounds and dishing out six assists while finishing without a turnover. Mason didn't shoot the ball well but if he can become the fourth playmaker on this team, it'd make the Spurs even more difficult to defend.
-Matt Bonner continued his physical play. He was throwing around his body and delivered a few hard hits. Offensively, Bonner's slump appears to be nearing an end. He's not hesitating at all on the offensive end and that should result in his three-point stroke returning. The bad news is that Bonner once again didn't help out on the boards. On the season, his rebounding is down approximately 10% from last year.
-I liked the way Michael Finley played against the Clippers. He took smart shots, didn't force the issue and constantly tried to move to the open spots. Defensively, Finley gave very good effort and was actually effective on that end. Now that Finley is back to being the fifth option, it's imperative that he continues to be aggressive and shoot his open attempts. He doesn't help out enough in other areas if he doesn't shoot it early and often.
-George Hill led the bench in minutes one game after registering his first DNP-CD of the season. Hill struggled a bit in the fourth quarter in garbage time but I thought he played well during his first couple of stints. He defended with a good amount of energy and offensively he obviously attempted to attack more than usual. He had mix results on offense but it was good to see that he recognizes where the coaching staff wants him to improve.
-Ime Udoka continues to play like he thinks he belongs. Gone is that version of Udoka of earlier in the season where he was second-guessing each step on the court. His play is still not very consistent but Pop is likely to reward him for his gritty play. An added bonus of playing Udoka is that he's a perimeter player who rebounds like a big. Over his last six games, Udoka is averaging 8.6 rebounds per 40 minutes. To compare, Bonner averages 8.2 rebounds per 40 minutes on the season.
-Drew Gooden got his first extended playing time with Ginobili and that combination looked promising. With Ginobili's passing and Gooden's finishing ability, there's a potential for a lot of connections between the two. Gooden also continues to show that he's capable of scoring in one-on-one situations. Defensively, Gooden took a step backwards against the Clippers. The Spurs just have to hope that there's enough time for him to get up to speed before the playoffs begin.
-Kurt Thomas once again provided another solid night of work. He rebounded and defended like usual. On offense, he was able to find open spots off of pick-and-rolls. Currently, Thomas is literally playing as well as possible. There's not another level he could take his game - he's at the top of his capabilities.
-Jacque Vaughn got 19 minutes of action in this blowout. The talk about Vaughn's relentless work at staying in shape is obviously true. Despite not playing much this year, Vaughn played like he's been a part of the mix all season long. As far as third string point guards are concerned, Vaughn is top notch.
-Bruce Bowen was a defensive ace without a player to key on during the game against the Clippers. He didn't play particularly bad but he also didn't seem as energized as usual. With the Big Three back in working order, it'll be interesting to see the type of role Pop has planned for Bowen down the stretch of the season and into the playoffs.
-Pop pushed all the right buttons on Friday night. He was able to use the game as a confidence builder while at the same time limiting everyone's minutes. It didn't hurt that the Big Three combined for 45 points, 15 assists and zero turnovers in 48 minutes. Or that the Big Three hit 18-of-23 shots from the field. The coaching challenge will come on Sunday against the Hornets. Pop has a roster filled with players who could make a case for minutes. Instead of giving everyone time, it'd be nice if Pop would begin to form his rotation and give his team the best chance to win this important divisional contest.
Believe.