duncan228
10-29-2009, 01:06 AM
Spurs get off to a great start (http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/10283202/Spurs-get-off-to-a-great-start)
by Charley Rosen
Game Time: Spurs 113, Hornets 96
One game does not a season make, but the ease with which San Antonio drubbed New Orleans raises an important question:
Is San Antonio this good?
At the very least, the Spurs proved that they're a big-time ball club.
* They made the extra pass on literally every possession. Indeed, their ball-reversals opened up uncontested shots for just about everybody.
* They set formidable screens all over the court but concentrated on elbow-high screens and weak-side screens. The resulting curls, pops and handoffs resulted in even more open shots.
* Tim Duncan studiously avoided setting up in the low post. Consequently, the middle was always open to accommodate drivers and cutters.
* Tony Parker had his way against Chris Paul, slashing deep into the paint and either converting tricky layups or kicking assist-passes out to unattended baseline shooters.
* Manu Ginobili was also up to his old tricks, filling the bucket with jumpers and/or crossing over to his left, and eventually winding up in the shadow of the hoop.
* Matt Bonner, Michael Finley and Roger Mason all had hot hands from the outlands. As ever, the key to the Spurs' fortunes will be their ability to consistently hit their outside shots. If they can accomplish this, they can beat any and all comers. If not, they'll struggle to compete with the league's elite ball clubs.
* Antonio McDyess knows where to go and how to get there.
* George Hill's adhesive defense, driving flippers and long-distance bombs demonstrated why he's Gregg Popovich's favorite player.
* DeJuan Blair can clean the offensive glass without using a ladder — and he even knocked down a 15-foot jumper.
* Richard Jefferson was aggressive with the ball, made several terrific passes on the move, executed flawless defensive rotations and didn't give Peja Sojakovic room to breathe.
* On defense, the Spurs challenged every pass and every passing lane while still providing excellent in-the-paint help.
* The firepower off the bench was overwhelming.
* At both ends of the court, the Spurs played with championship-caliber precision.
* In fact, it looks like the only way to beat San Antonio is to match their ball movement and to consistently drop long-distance shots.
What did they do wrong?
* Starting the fourth quarter with a humongous lead, the second unit played some unforgivable sloppy defense.
* David West went right at Matt Bonner for fun and profit.
* Blair made rookie mistakes on defense.
* McDyess had difficulty defending anybody who could turn, face and go.
* Worst of all, their transition defense was much too spotty.
So, the answer to the leading question is this: Yes, the Spurs are this good.
But there's one more question that's just as unavoidable: Are the Hornets this bad?
A detailed answer to this query will be addressed when it's New Orleans' turn to be investigated. But a preliminary response is, "Yes, they probably are."
by Charley Rosen
Game Time: Spurs 113, Hornets 96
One game does not a season make, but the ease with which San Antonio drubbed New Orleans raises an important question:
Is San Antonio this good?
At the very least, the Spurs proved that they're a big-time ball club.
* They made the extra pass on literally every possession. Indeed, their ball-reversals opened up uncontested shots for just about everybody.
* They set formidable screens all over the court but concentrated on elbow-high screens and weak-side screens. The resulting curls, pops and handoffs resulted in even more open shots.
* Tim Duncan studiously avoided setting up in the low post. Consequently, the middle was always open to accommodate drivers and cutters.
* Tony Parker had his way against Chris Paul, slashing deep into the paint and either converting tricky layups or kicking assist-passes out to unattended baseline shooters.
* Manu Ginobili was also up to his old tricks, filling the bucket with jumpers and/or crossing over to his left, and eventually winding up in the shadow of the hoop.
* Matt Bonner, Michael Finley and Roger Mason all had hot hands from the outlands. As ever, the key to the Spurs' fortunes will be their ability to consistently hit their outside shots. If they can accomplish this, they can beat any and all comers. If not, they'll struggle to compete with the league's elite ball clubs.
* Antonio McDyess knows where to go and how to get there.
* George Hill's adhesive defense, driving flippers and long-distance bombs demonstrated why he's Gregg Popovich's favorite player.
* DeJuan Blair can clean the offensive glass without using a ladder — and he even knocked down a 15-foot jumper.
* Richard Jefferson was aggressive with the ball, made several terrific passes on the move, executed flawless defensive rotations and didn't give Peja Sojakovic room to breathe.
* On defense, the Spurs challenged every pass and every passing lane while still providing excellent in-the-paint help.
* The firepower off the bench was overwhelming.
* At both ends of the court, the Spurs played with championship-caliber precision.
* In fact, it looks like the only way to beat San Antonio is to match their ball movement and to consistently drop long-distance shots.
What did they do wrong?
* Starting the fourth quarter with a humongous lead, the second unit played some unforgivable sloppy defense.
* David West went right at Matt Bonner for fun and profit.
* Blair made rookie mistakes on defense.
* McDyess had difficulty defending anybody who could turn, face and go.
* Worst of all, their transition defense was much too spotty.
So, the answer to the leading question is this: Yes, the Spurs are this good.
But there's one more question that's just as unavoidable: Are the Hornets this bad?
A detailed answer to this query will be addressed when it's New Orleans' turn to be investigated. But a preliminary response is, "Yes, they probably are."