duncan228
12-22-2009, 01:54 AM
Clobbering the Clips, take 2 (http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/courtside/2009/12/clobbering-the.html#more)
By Jeff McDonald
Some odds and ends and random thoughts from the Spurs' 103-87 shellacking of the L.A. Clippers ...
* The Spurs had been talking of playing a complete, 48-minute game. This is as close as they have come. It was a game devoid of a letdown. The Spurs took a 33-19 lead in the first quarter, and never let the Clippers closer than eight. When they had a chance to really blow the game apart in the third, they did, turning in a 17-4 spurt to close the third quarter.
Worth noting: The Clippers largest run of the night was 8-0. It was the only time they made more than two consecutive baskets.The Spurs shot 50.6 percent from the field. L.A. shot 43.9.
* The big question going in was how Matt Bonner's fractured hand would affect the Spurs' big man rotation. Coach Gregg Popovich answered it by shaking up the starting lineup, moving Antonio McDyess to the bench and DeJuan Blair to the first five. Coming off the bench, McDyess filled the Bonner role of stretching the floor -- not to the 3-point line, but at least out to 17 feet. He got Bonner's shots. Theo Ratliff, meanwhile, got Bonner's minutes. Both big men played well, combining for 20 points and 13 rebounds.
* Best sign of the night for the Spurs: Tony Parker finally looked like Tony Parker again. Parker led the Spurs with 19 points, despite not setting foot on the floor in the fourth quarter. It was his most prolific performance since Dec. 7 at Utah, and he did it in typical Parker fashion -- using a handful of makes from mid-range to set up his breakneck drives.
There have been rumors that perhaps Parker's ankles, one of which he sprained in October and one of which he sprained during the summer, aren't quite healed. Publicly, Parker says he's healthy. Popovich, meanwhile, says he doesn't know.
"You'll have to ask him, and he's not going to tell you the truth," Popovich said. "I don't think his body is totally whole right now. I think he's got some bumps and bruises, but other than that, I think he's OK."
After Monday's performance, questions about Parker's health can hit the backburner -- at least for 48 hours.
By Jeff McDonald
Some odds and ends and random thoughts from the Spurs' 103-87 shellacking of the L.A. Clippers ...
* The Spurs had been talking of playing a complete, 48-minute game. This is as close as they have come. It was a game devoid of a letdown. The Spurs took a 33-19 lead in the first quarter, and never let the Clippers closer than eight. When they had a chance to really blow the game apart in the third, they did, turning in a 17-4 spurt to close the third quarter.
Worth noting: The Clippers largest run of the night was 8-0. It was the only time they made more than two consecutive baskets.The Spurs shot 50.6 percent from the field. L.A. shot 43.9.
* The big question going in was how Matt Bonner's fractured hand would affect the Spurs' big man rotation. Coach Gregg Popovich answered it by shaking up the starting lineup, moving Antonio McDyess to the bench and DeJuan Blair to the first five. Coming off the bench, McDyess filled the Bonner role of stretching the floor -- not to the 3-point line, but at least out to 17 feet. He got Bonner's shots. Theo Ratliff, meanwhile, got Bonner's minutes. Both big men played well, combining for 20 points and 13 rebounds.
* Best sign of the night for the Spurs: Tony Parker finally looked like Tony Parker again. Parker led the Spurs with 19 points, despite not setting foot on the floor in the fourth quarter. It was his most prolific performance since Dec. 7 at Utah, and he did it in typical Parker fashion -- using a handful of makes from mid-range to set up his breakneck drives.
There have been rumors that perhaps Parker's ankles, one of which he sprained in October and one of which he sprained during the summer, aren't quite healed. Publicly, Parker says he's healthy. Popovich, meanwhile, says he doesn't know.
"You'll have to ask him, and he's not going to tell you the truth," Popovich said. "I don't think his body is totally whole right now. I think he's got some bumps and bruises, but other than that, I think he's OK."
After Monday's performance, questions about Parker's health can hit the backburner -- at least for 48 hours.