timvp
01-07-2010, 06:34 AM
In the last ten games, the Spurs had an opportunity to fatten up their win column -- and they did just that. Victorious in eight of the contests, the Spurs won by an average of 14.8 points per game. In the ten games, the average score was 102-91.
The two losses came against the Blazers and the Raptors. While the Raptors game was somewhat understandable since it was the sixth game in nine days, the Blazers game was very disappointing. Against a short-handed team, the Spurs laid an egg in front of the AT&T Center crowd.
Overall, it's difficult to be too excited or too disappointed by this stretch. None of the games were against premium opponents and the Spurs were able to come out on top in eight. Ho hum.
Tim Duncan
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3173.jpg
30:53 minutes, 19.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.20 blocks, 2.0 turnovers
54.3% from the field, 75.9% at the line
Tim Duncan's impressive campaign continues. Despite playing less minutes, Duncan has been able to put up his standard 20 points and 10 boards. His field goal percentage is at a career best mark, he's shooting well from the line and he's scoring as well as he ever has at any point in his career.
Perhaps just as important as the way he's playing, Duncan is starting to regain respect from coaches around the league. In the last ten games or so, we've seen many more squads send double-teams as a part of their gameplan. To begin the season, most teams were playing him one-on-one.
My only gripe with Duncan right now is his passing isn't as crisp as we've seen in the past. He has a tendency to hold the ball in the post too long and isn't responding swiftly to double teams. That said, he'll assuredly remember how to make those passes if teams keep sending help his way. Duncan's rebounding is also down a bit recently, though that likely is due to playing more minutes with DeJuan Blair.
-------------------------------
Manu Ginobili
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3380.jpg
28:02 minutes, 12.2 points, 4.7 assists, 4.0 rebounds, 1.7 steals, 1.3 turnovers
44.1% field, 32.4% (12-for-37) on three-pointers, 96.6% (28-for-29) at the line
His stats don't jump off the screen but there's one thing to really be excited about: Manu Ginobili is finishing at the basket again. He began the season just 23-for-54 on shots at the rim. In the last ten games, he's 21-for-34. That's a huge increase in both accuracy and quantity, which is a fantastic sign that Ginobili is gaining confidence and explosiveness in his legs.
Ginobili's passing has been amazing in the past ten games. He is once again the quarterback of the second unit and he's playing that role to perfection. The fact that he's running the court and driving to the basket more often has opened up more passing opportunities and Ginobili has consistently delivered. Spurs fans should also be excited about his rebounding, his high number of steals and his relatively low number of turnovers.
Ginobili being at top form is simply life or death when it comes to San Antonio's championship hopes. When he's playing at his best, the Spurs are a championship contender. When he's hobbled or not playing well, they aren't. In other words, Ginobili remains the team's ultimate X-factor. At times, he still seems to holding back and not completely healthy ... but all that can be done is hope that he can survive the season and still have juice for the playoffs.
-------------------------------
Tony Parker
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3527.jpg
32:11 minutes, 17.3 points, 5.8 assists, 2.0 rebounds, 2.1 turnovers
49.6% from the field, 25% (1-for-4) on three-pointers, 68.9% (42-for-61) at the line
Compared to last season, Tony Parker is still underwhelming. His stats are down and his energy level has been inconsistent. Sometimes he'll play like the it's May; sometimes he'll play like he's in a summer league game. The good news is that he seems to be progressing in the right direction. His energy lapses are becoming more infrequent and it appears he is figuring out how to use the weapons around him.
The biggest improvement in the last ten games has been his turnovers. In the previous ten games, he averaged 4.2 turnovers per game. Cutting his turnovers in half has helped the offense regain Spurs-like consistency. When Parker isn't turning the ball over, his teammates usually also take care of the ball -- and vice versa.
While Parker is finishing at the rim at a high level, his jumpshot hasn't yet arrived for the 2009-2010 season. His jets are also at less than 100%. Thankfully, Parker has a history of improving both of those aspects as the season goes along. I remain confident that his best play of the season is forthcoming.
-------------------------------
Richard Jefferson
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3523.jpg
28:55 minutes, 12.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.9 turnovers
53.3% from the field, 38.1% (8-for-21) on three-pointers, 81.5% (22-for-27) at the line
Is it time to start changing Richard Jefferson's expectations? Coming into the season, Jefferson was supposed to pick up the slack the Big 3 could no longer carry due to age, wear and tear. But with Duncan playing so well, in addition to Parker and Ginobili not exactly shying away from creating, Jefferson isn't really getting the opportunities to produce on a consistent basis. Plus, with a deep set of role players who can put points on the board, Jefferson's offense isn't needed every night.
In the last ten games, Jefferson has taken advantage of his touches on offense. He's shooting well from the field, from beyond the arc and even at the free throw line. Jefferson is making plays for others while rarely turning the ball over. He could score more but who do you want to take shots from? Using Jefferson to the maximum of his capabilities isn't as easy as it appears on paper.
Even if you want to look at Jefferson's production as a glass half full, his lack of rebounding jumps off the page as a negative. For being as big as he is, there's no excuse for him to average such a low number of boards. His defense has also been shaky at times -- specifically his transition defense. Once the schedule gets more difficult, it'll be easier to figure out what exactly the Spurs need from Jefferson to be an elite team.
-------------------------------
Keith Bogans
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3746.jpg
21:40 minutes, 5.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists
51.3% from the field, 54.2% (13-for-24) on three-pointers, 100.0% (6-for-6) at the line
Defensively, I've been pretty happy with Keith Bogans over the last ten games. Although he tends to foul at inopportune times and lacks the length and quickness we came to expect from Bruce Bowen, Bogans' bulldog mentality makes the Spurs a much better defensive team when he's on the court.
Offensively, I don't know what to think. I'm surprised by how well he's shooting -- especially lately. This is a guy who entered the season as a sub-40% shooter from the field. Some shooters have shot better with the Spurs due to playing with a dominating inside force for the first time in their career but that's not the case with Bogans -- he's played with Dwight Howard, Yao Ming and Emeka Okafor for most of his career. Chances are high that he'll hit another slump and his shooting numbers will retreat to his career averages. If he keeps shooting how he is now? There's no way you take him out of the starting lineup for the rest of the year.
-------------------------------
DeJuan Blair
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/4642.jpg
22:14 minutes, 7.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.9 turnovers
52.5% from the field, 53.6% (15-for-28) at the line
DeJuan Blair has started eight of the last ten games and he's performed admirably. Heading into the season, I though Blair's ceiling was a high energy seventh or eighth man. As it stands, he looks like a long-term starter at center. Although playing him with the starters sometimes results in Blair getting in early foul trouble, there really isn't any other negative about the current starting alignment.
Defensively, Blair has gone from major liability to solid in record time. He plays good post defense, quality perimeter defense and even has been a pretty darn good help defender. On offense, he sets tough screens and knows how to roll to the basket like a ten-year vet. There's really not much to nitpick with Blair anymore.
It'll be interesting to see how long Blair remains the starter. Since he lacks an outside jumper, Pop may eventually opt for a player who can spread the defense more to open up driving lines. But personally, I'm on the bandwagon to start Blair the rest of the year. Coming out of the gates with toughness, rebounding and energy is a nice (and needed) jolt for this team.
-------------------------------
Antonio McDyess
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3004.jpg
19:06 minutes, 5.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.2 turnovers
54.7% from the field, 0.0% (0-for-3) at the line
Antonio McDyess is the rare NBA player who is on record as saying he prefers to come off the bench. His play with the Spurs this year backs up that claim. He started only two of the last ten games -- and his two worst games in that stretch were the two games he started.
Another reason to bring McDyess off the bench is how well he plays with Ginobili. McDyess likes to shoot from certain spots on the floor and Ginobili has been the best player on the team at finding him in those spots.
Overall, McDyess still has improving to do before he lives up to his contract. His numbers over the last ten games have been acceptable but his impact from night to night has largely been disappointing. Hopefully we'll see McDyess' play pick up as the Spurs head to the midpoint of the season.
-------------------------------
Roger Mason, Jr.
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3628.jpg
24:59 minutes, 11.0 point, 3.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists
51.8% from the field, 46.2% (18-for-39) on three-pointers, 100.0% (6-for-6) at the line
Quietly, Roger Mason, Jr. has played really well over the last ten games. Not only is he shooting well again, Mason is showing growth in other areas. He's rebounding much better, he has been able to drive the ball to the basket to keep the defense honest, he's creating for others, he's playing passable defense and he's limiting his turnovers. With Michael Finley out of the lineup, Mason has stepped into his role and is playing it at a high level.
I know Spurs fans are in a wait-and-see mode with Mason since he faltered at the end of last season and stunk it up to begin this season but his last ten games showed a lot of promise. This team needs Mason's ability to shoot and make plays from the bench. Let's hope he can find a groove and become a consistent weapon.
-------------------------------
George Hill
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/4488.jpg
20:53 minutes, 6.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists
39.7% from the field, 33.3% (6-for-18) on three-pointers, 73.7% (14-for-19) at the line
George Hill has been up and down in the last ten games but there are some good signs if you look closely. He's fouling less, he's playing more consistent defense, he's making more plays and he's starting to rebound the ball once again. When Hill plays solid D and rebounds, he's a major asset on the defensive end of the court.
Scoring-wise, Hill has changed his focus a few times this year. He began the year shooting a lot of threes, then he started looking to draw as many fouls as possible, then he tried to score via his midrange jumper and now he's driving the ball to the bucket looking to finish. The bad part about the recent version of Hill is his scoring efficiency is down since he's not making many threes and he's not getting to the line very often.
All in all, Hill just needs to keep playing hard on the defensive end and transfer his aggressiveness from that end to the other end. Hesitancy is almost always his biggest enemy on the offensive end. When he operates like he knows what he's doing, he becomes a quality player who can help out in nearly every area of the game.
-------------------------------
The two losses came against the Blazers and the Raptors. While the Raptors game was somewhat understandable since it was the sixth game in nine days, the Blazers game was very disappointing. Against a short-handed team, the Spurs laid an egg in front of the AT&T Center crowd.
Overall, it's difficult to be too excited or too disappointed by this stretch. None of the games were against premium opponents and the Spurs were able to come out on top in eight. Ho hum.
Tim Duncan
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3173.jpg
30:53 minutes, 19.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.20 blocks, 2.0 turnovers
54.3% from the field, 75.9% at the line
Tim Duncan's impressive campaign continues. Despite playing less minutes, Duncan has been able to put up his standard 20 points and 10 boards. His field goal percentage is at a career best mark, he's shooting well from the line and he's scoring as well as he ever has at any point in his career.
Perhaps just as important as the way he's playing, Duncan is starting to regain respect from coaches around the league. In the last ten games or so, we've seen many more squads send double-teams as a part of their gameplan. To begin the season, most teams were playing him one-on-one.
My only gripe with Duncan right now is his passing isn't as crisp as we've seen in the past. He has a tendency to hold the ball in the post too long and isn't responding swiftly to double teams. That said, he'll assuredly remember how to make those passes if teams keep sending help his way. Duncan's rebounding is also down a bit recently, though that likely is due to playing more minutes with DeJuan Blair.
-------------------------------
Manu Ginobili
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3380.jpg
28:02 minutes, 12.2 points, 4.7 assists, 4.0 rebounds, 1.7 steals, 1.3 turnovers
44.1% field, 32.4% (12-for-37) on three-pointers, 96.6% (28-for-29) at the line
His stats don't jump off the screen but there's one thing to really be excited about: Manu Ginobili is finishing at the basket again. He began the season just 23-for-54 on shots at the rim. In the last ten games, he's 21-for-34. That's a huge increase in both accuracy and quantity, which is a fantastic sign that Ginobili is gaining confidence and explosiveness in his legs.
Ginobili's passing has been amazing in the past ten games. He is once again the quarterback of the second unit and he's playing that role to perfection. The fact that he's running the court and driving to the basket more often has opened up more passing opportunities and Ginobili has consistently delivered. Spurs fans should also be excited about his rebounding, his high number of steals and his relatively low number of turnovers.
Ginobili being at top form is simply life or death when it comes to San Antonio's championship hopes. When he's playing at his best, the Spurs are a championship contender. When he's hobbled or not playing well, they aren't. In other words, Ginobili remains the team's ultimate X-factor. At times, he still seems to holding back and not completely healthy ... but all that can be done is hope that he can survive the season and still have juice for the playoffs.
-------------------------------
Tony Parker
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3527.jpg
32:11 minutes, 17.3 points, 5.8 assists, 2.0 rebounds, 2.1 turnovers
49.6% from the field, 25% (1-for-4) on three-pointers, 68.9% (42-for-61) at the line
Compared to last season, Tony Parker is still underwhelming. His stats are down and his energy level has been inconsistent. Sometimes he'll play like the it's May; sometimes he'll play like he's in a summer league game. The good news is that he seems to be progressing in the right direction. His energy lapses are becoming more infrequent and it appears he is figuring out how to use the weapons around him.
The biggest improvement in the last ten games has been his turnovers. In the previous ten games, he averaged 4.2 turnovers per game. Cutting his turnovers in half has helped the offense regain Spurs-like consistency. When Parker isn't turning the ball over, his teammates usually also take care of the ball -- and vice versa.
While Parker is finishing at the rim at a high level, his jumpshot hasn't yet arrived for the 2009-2010 season. His jets are also at less than 100%. Thankfully, Parker has a history of improving both of those aspects as the season goes along. I remain confident that his best play of the season is forthcoming.
-------------------------------
Richard Jefferson
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3523.jpg
28:55 minutes, 12.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.9 turnovers
53.3% from the field, 38.1% (8-for-21) on three-pointers, 81.5% (22-for-27) at the line
Is it time to start changing Richard Jefferson's expectations? Coming into the season, Jefferson was supposed to pick up the slack the Big 3 could no longer carry due to age, wear and tear. But with Duncan playing so well, in addition to Parker and Ginobili not exactly shying away from creating, Jefferson isn't really getting the opportunities to produce on a consistent basis. Plus, with a deep set of role players who can put points on the board, Jefferson's offense isn't needed every night.
In the last ten games, Jefferson has taken advantage of his touches on offense. He's shooting well from the field, from beyond the arc and even at the free throw line. Jefferson is making plays for others while rarely turning the ball over. He could score more but who do you want to take shots from? Using Jefferson to the maximum of his capabilities isn't as easy as it appears on paper.
Even if you want to look at Jefferson's production as a glass half full, his lack of rebounding jumps off the page as a negative. For being as big as he is, there's no excuse for him to average such a low number of boards. His defense has also been shaky at times -- specifically his transition defense. Once the schedule gets more difficult, it'll be easier to figure out what exactly the Spurs need from Jefferson to be an elite team.
-------------------------------
Keith Bogans
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3746.jpg
21:40 minutes, 5.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists
51.3% from the field, 54.2% (13-for-24) on three-pointers, 100.0% (6-for-6) at the line
Defensively, I've been pretty happy with Keith Bogans over the last ten games. Although he tends to foul at inopportune times and lacks the length and quickness we came to expect from Bruce Bowen, Bogans' bulldog mentality makes the Spurs a much better defensive team when he's on the court.
Offensively, I don't know what to think. I'm surprised by how well he's shooting -- especially lately. This is a guy who entered the season as a sub-40% shooter from the field. Some shooters have shot better with the Spurs due to playing with a dominating inside force for the first time in their career but that's not the case with Bogans -- he's played with Dwight Howard, Yao Ming and Emeka Okafor for most of his career. Chances are high that he'll hit another slump and his shooting numbers will retreat to his career averages. If he keeps shooting how he is now? There's no way you take him out of the starting lineup for the rest of the year.
-------------------------------
DeJuan Blair
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/4642.jpg
22:14 minutes, 7.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.9 turnovers
52.5% from the field, 53.6% (15-for-28) at the line
DeJuan Blair has started eight of the last ten games and he's performed admirably. Heading into the season, I though Blair's ceiling was a high energy seventh or eighth man. As it stands, he looks like a long-term starter at center. Although playing him with the starters sometimes results in Blair getting in early foul trouble, there really isn't any other negative about the current starting alignment.
Defensively, Blair has gone from major liability to solid in record time. He plays good post defense, quality perimeter defense and even has been a pretty darn good help defender. On offense, he sets tough screens and knows how to roll to the basket like a ten-year vet. There's really not much to nitpick with Blair anymore.
It'll be interesting to see how long Blair remains the starter. Since he lacks an outside jumper, Pop may eventually opt for a player who can spread the defense more to open up driving lines. But personally, I'm on the bandwagon to start Blair the rest of the year. Coming out of the gates with toughness, rebounding and energy is a nice (and needed) jolt for this team.
-------------------------------
Antonio McDyess
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3004.jpg
19:06 minutes, 5.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.2 turnovers
54.7% from the field, 0.0% (0-for-3) at the line
Antonio McDyess is the rare NBA player who is on record as saying he prefers to come off the bench. His play with the Spurs this year backs up that claim. He started only two of the last ten games -- and his two worst games in that stretch were the two games he started.
Another reason to bring McDyess off the bench is how well he plays with Ginobili. McDyess likes to shoot from certain spots on the floor and Ginobili has been the best player on the team at finding him in those spots.
Overall, McDyess still has improving to do before he lives up to his contract. His numbers over the last ten games have been acceptable but his impact from night to night has largely been disappointing. Hopefully we'll see McDyess' play pick up as the Spurs head to the midpoint of the season.
-------------------------------
Roger Mason, Jr.
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3628.jpg
24:59 minutes, 11.0 point, 3.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists
51.8% from the field, 46.2% (18-for-39) on three-pointers, 100.0% (6-for-6) at the line
Quietly, Roger Mason, Jr. has played really well over the last ten games. Not only is he shooting well again, Mason is showing growth in other areas. He's rebounding much better, he has been able to drive the ball to the basket to keep the defense honest, he's creating for others, he's playing passable defense and he's limiting his turnovers. With Michael Finley out of the lineup, Mason has stepped into his role and is playing it at a high level.
I know Spurs fans are in a wait-and-see mode with Mason since he faltered at the end of last season and stunk it up to begin this season but his last ten games showed a lot of promise. This team needs Mason's ability to shoot and make plays from the bench. Let's hope he can find a groove and become a consistent weapon.
-------------------------------
George Hill
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/4488.jpg
20:53 minutes, 6.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists
39.7% from the field, 33.3% (6-for-18) on three-pointers, 73.7% (14-for-19) at the line
George Hill has been up and down in the last ten games but there are some good signs if you look closely. He's fouling less, he's playing more consistent defense, he's making more plays and he's starting to rebound the ball once again. When Hill plays solid D and rebounds, he's a major asset on the defensive end of the court.
Scoring-wise, Hill has changed his focus a few times this year. He began the year shooting a lot of threes, then he started looking to draw as many fouls as possible, then he tried to score via his midrange jumper and now he's driving the ball to the bucket looking to finish. The bad part about the recent version of Hill is his scoring efficiency is down since he's not making many threes and he's not getting to the line very often.
All in all, Hill just needs to keep playing hard on the defensive end and transfer his aggressiveness from that end to the other end. Hesitancy is almost always his biggest enemy on the offensive end. When he operates like he knows what he's doing, he becomes a quality player who can help out in nearly every area of the game.
-------------------------------