timvp
01-16-2010, 02:03 PM
Coming off two of their most impressive victories of the 2009-10 NBA season, the San Antonio Spurs took a step backwards against the Charlotte Bobcats on Friday night. After a solid first half, the Bobcats turned up the pressure and the Spurs cracked.
Halfway through the third quarter, the Spurs led 55-51. At that point, Charlotte illustrated why they're one of the best defensive teams in the league by holding the Spurs to only a pair of free throws over the next nine minutes of play. By the time San Antonio ended the offensive drought, the Bobcats held a 70-57 advantage and the game was all but over. When the final horn mercifully sounded, the scoreboard read 92-76.
I don't think there's any question whether the Bobcats will make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. They play fantastic defense and there are enough quality offensive players on the team to score a sufficient amount. Our old friend Stephen Jackson has been a perfect fit and Gerald Wallace is playing at an All-Star level. Although their road record is pathetic (3-15), their 15-4 home record indicates how good of a team this can be and I think it's only a matter of time until they figure out how to win on the road. I'd predict 43 or 44 wins for this squad.
As for the Spurs, they were snapped back to reality. There is still a lot of work to be done. Disappointingly, it appeared as if a lack energy and effort were two main reasons why the Spurs lost at Charlotte.
Tim Duncan
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3173.jpg
33:16 minutes, 10 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists
4-for-12 from the field, 2-for-3 at the line
Tim Duncan had perhaps his worst game of the season. Even though he didn't play last game, Duncan looked slow and listless. He seemed to have trouble running up and down the court and his quickness was non-existent. I'm really hoping it was a bad game and not that Duncan is in pain. To Duncan's credit, a lot of his problems were exacerbated by Charlotte's defense. The Spurs had trouble getting the ball into Duncan, and even when he got it, they send help from every angle.
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Manu Ginobili
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3380.jpg
28:05 minutes, 11 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds
4-for-11 from the field, 1-for-5 on three-pointers, 2-for-2 at the line
To begin the game, Manu Ginobili played very well. He was 3-for-3 from the field in the first quarter and racked up three of his assists in his first nine minutes of action. In the second half, the story changed. Ginobili played a leading role in the disastrous stretch that cost the Spur the game. He was 1-for-6 in the final two quarters and seemed to be running on fumes.
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Tony Parker
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3527.jpg
29:53 minutes, 11 points, 2 assists, 3 rebounds, 4 turnovers
4-for-7 from the field, 3-for-3 at the line
Tony Parker, with help from Charlotte's defense, had a poor outing. He began the game well enough but his effectiveness waned as the game progressed. By the second half, he only attempted one field goal. The Bobcats deserve credit for pressuring him and making him give up the ball early, though Parker deserves equal blame for not pushing the action. To make matters worse, Parker's passing was often soft and a beat slow.
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Richard Jefferson
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3523.jpg
24:12 minutes, 8 points, 4 rebounds, 2 rebounds
3-for-7 from the field, 1-for-3 on three-pointers
In the first half, Richard Jefferson played some of his best all-around basketball as a Spur. He was using his size on the defensive end, hustling to loose balls and gave the Spurs the energy they used to take a four-point lead into halftime. Like everyone else, he struggled in the second half -- especially in his second stint. By the fourth quarter, he was riding pine.
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Keith Bogans
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3746.jpg
22:06 minutes, 2 points, 2 assists
1-for-7 from the field, 0-for-5 on three-pointers
The shooting woes for Keith Bogans continue. In the last three games, he's now 3-for-21 from the field and 1-for-12 on three-pointers. Bogans shooting blanks was especially damning against the Bobcats because their gameplan was to give up the three-point shot -- and Bogans couldn't make Charlotte pay. He did much better work on the defensive end, especially against Jackson, but his offense more than negated his defense.
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DeJuan Blair
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/4642.jpg
31:24 minutes, 11 points, 16 rebounds, 2 turnovers
5-for-10 from the field, 1-for-2 at the line
DeJuan Blair might have been the only player for the Spurs who showed consistent tenacity. He followed up his huge game against the Oklahoma City Thunder with another very good outing. He was dominant on the offensive boards -- grabbing seven of the team's total of ten. Blair's defense out on the perimeter left a lot to be desired at times, especially when he was called to rotate. All in all, though, it was another step in the right direction for the rookie.
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Roger Mason, Jr.
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3628.jpg
20:13 minutes, 8 points, 3 rebounds
3-for-10 from the field, 2-for-7 on three-pointers
Roger Mason, Jr. had a chance to be the hero for the Spurs on Friday but he was unable to live up to the challenge. The Bobcats gave him a number of open looks and he didn't shoot well enough to force the Bobcats to slow their swarming ways. With Michael Finley and Matt Bonner likely returning before the end of the month, Mason better keep shooting straight if he wants to keep his current role when the roster is whole.
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George Hill
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/4488.jpg
27:14 minutes, 11 points, 2 turnovers
5-for-11 from the field, 1-for-3 on three-pointers
George Hill has played very well of late. Against the Bobcats? Not so much. Hill is usually all over the court but was one dimensional on Friday night. No rebounds, no assists and no free throw attempts? Not good. Hopefully he can forget about this game and get back to the way he was playing in the previous handful of contests.
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Antonio McDyess
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3004.jpg
3:25 minutes
Antonio McDyess played the final three and a half minutes of the first quarter. He never re-entered the game. I'm not sure if it was simply for matchup reasons or for injury reasons. He was seen holding his shoulder for a few seconds but there have been no reports that he got hurt.
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Marcus Haislip
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3611.jpg
9:16 minutes, 2 points
1-for-4 from the field, 0-for-2 on three-pointers
Marcus Haislip played his first meaningful minutes of the season. When he came into the game in the fourth quarter, he played about three minutes with Duncan and Parker as the Spurs tried to make a run. Haislip's stint started off well when he hit a layup. After that, however, he quickly went south. His inability to dribble the ball on the perimeter was painfully glaring and Haislip continues to look uncomfortable on the court in his return to the NBA game.
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Ian Mahinmi
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3954.jpg
5:28 minutes, 2 points, 1 rebound, 1 block
1-for-1 from the field
The legend of Ian Mahinmi grows. Even though he only played the final five and a half minutes of a blowout, Mahinmi once again looked good. He just moves on the court like an NBA player. Mahinmi had a nice bucket, an impressive block and was overall very active. I'm not convinced one way or the other concerning whether or not he can help, but I do think Mahinmi should get a few legit shots to show what he can do.
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Gregg Popovich
http://dailyelements.com/pop-stoic.jpg
I blame some of the San Antonio's lackadaisical play on Pop. When he really ripped the team in the fourth quarter, the Spurs responded with energetic play. Where was that earlier? I also don't like how Duncan played 33 minutes (the most on the team) in what was basically a blowout -- especially being in the first game of a back-to-back. Playing McDyess or Mahinmi more wouldn't have hurt anything. Pop also needs a quicker hook on Bogans when he's bricking.
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Offense
We haven't seen the offense this bad in a long while. The Spurs shot just 38.8% from the floor and hit only 5-of-25 three-pointers. To make matters worse, they got to the line just 13 times -- hitting nine. Finishing with 18 assists and 14 turnovers is a bad ratio. After scoring 24 points in the first quarter, the Spurs finished with 18, 15 and 19 points, respectively, in the final three stanzas.
Defense
The defense for the first two and a half quarters was very solid. After that, however, the Bobcats got hot and the Spurs were defenseless -- literally. Charlotte shot 46.1% from the floor, hit 6-of-14 three-pointers and got to the line 21 times. The Spurs allowed the Bobcats to total 24 assists and only forced 11 turnovers. Rebounding was also a negative (44-42 Bobcats). In the second half, the usually inept Bobcats offense put 54 points on the board.
Drive to Five
The Spurs have to bounce back quickly. On Saturday, they face a very underrated Memphis Grizzlies team that has won seven straight at home and ten of their last 13 games overall. If they are lethargic again, the Spurs will have a losing streak on their hands. That said, the Spurs historically respond well to poor outings.
Believe.
Halfway through the third quarter, the Spurs led 55-51. At that point, Charlotte illustrated why they're one of the best defensive teams in the league by holding the Spurs to only a pair of free throws over the next nine minutes of play. By the time San Antonio ended the offensive drought, the Bobcats held a 70-57 advantage and the game was all but over. When the final horn mercifully sounded, the scoreboard read 92-76.
I don't think there's any question whether the Bobcats will make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. They play fantastic defense and there are enough quality offensive players on the team to score a sufficient amount. Our old friend Stephen Jackson has been a perfect fit and Gerald Wallace is playing at an All-Star level. Although their road record is pathetic (3-15), their 15-4 home record indicates how good of a team this can be and I think it's only a matter of time until they figure out how to win on the road. I'd predict 43 or 44 wins for this squad.
As for the Spurs, they were snapped back to reality. There is still a lot of work to be done. Disappointingly, it appeared as if a lack energy and effort were two main reasons why the Spurs lost at Charlotte.
Tim Duncan
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3173.jpg
33:16 minutes, 10 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists
4-for-12 from the field, 2-for-3 at the line
Tim Duncan had perhaps his worst game of the season. Even though he didn't play last game, Duncan looked slow and listless. He seemed to have trouble running up and down the court and his quickness was non-existent. I'm really hoping it was a bad game and not that Duncan is in pain. To Duncan's credit, a lot of his problems were exacerbated by Charlotte's defense. The Spurs had trouble getting the ball into Duncan, and even when he got it, they send help from every angle.
-------------------------------
Manu Ginobili
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3380.jpg
28:05 minutes, 11 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds
4-for-11 from the field, 1-for-5 on three-pointers, 2-for-2 at the line
To begin the game, Manu Ginobili played very well. He was 3-for-3 from the field in the first quarter and racked up three of his assists in his first nine minutes of action. In the second half, the story changed. Ginobili played a leading role in the disastrous stretch that cost the Spur the game. He was 1-for-6 in the final two quarters and seemed to be running on fumes.
-------------------------------
Tony Parker
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3527.jpg
29:53 minutes, 11 points, 2 assists, 3 rebounds, 4 turnovers
4-for-7 from the field, 3-for-3 at the line
Tony Parker, with help from Charlotte's defense, had a poor outing. He began the game well enough but his effectiveness waned as the game progressed. By the second half, he only attempted one field goal. The Bobcats deserve credit for pressuring him and making him give up the ball early, though Parker deserves equal blame for not pushing the action. To make matters worse, Parker's passing was often soft and a beat slow.
-------------------------------
Richard Jefferson
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3523.jpg
24:12 minutes, 8 points, 4 rebounds, 2 rebounds
3-for-7 from the field, 1-for-3 on three-pointers
In the first half, Richard Jefferson played some of his best all-around basketball as a Spur. He was using his size on the defensive end, hustling to loose balls and gave the Spurs the energy they used to take a four-point lead into halftime. Like everyone else, he struggled in the second half -- especially in his second stint. By the fourth quarter, he was riding pine.
-------------------------------
Keith Bogans
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3746.jpg
22:06 minutes, 2 points, 2 assists
1-for-7 from the field, 0-for-5 on three-pointers
The shooting woes for Keith Bogans continue. In the last three games, he's now 3-for-21 from the field and 1-for-12 on three-pointers. Bogans shooting blanks was especially damning against the Bobcats because their gameplan was to give up the three-point shot -- and Bogans couldn't make Charlotte pay. He did much better work on the defensive end, especially against Jackson, but his offense more than negated his defense.
-------------------------------
DeJuan Blair
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/4642.jpg
31:24 minutes, 11 points, 16 rebounds, 2 turnovers
5-for-10 from the field, 1-for-2 at the line
DeJuan Blair might have been the only player for the Spurs who showed consistent tenacity. He followed up his huge game against the Oklahoma City Thunder with another very good outing. He was dominant on the offensive boards -- grabbing seven of the team's total of ten. Blair's defense out on the perimeter left a lot to be desired at times, especially when he was called to rotate. All in all, though, it was another step in the right direction for the rookie.
-------------------------------
Roger Mason, Jr.
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3628.jpg
20:13 minutes, 8 points, 3 rebounds
3-for-10 from the field, 2-for-7 on three-pointers
Roger Mason, Jr. had a chance to be the hero for the Spurs on Friday but he was unable to live up to the challenge. The Bobcats gave him a number of open looks and he didn't shoot well enough to force the Bobcats to slow their swarming ways. With Michael Finley and Matt Bonner likely returning before the end of the month, Mason better keep shooting straight if he wants to keep his current role when the roster is whole.
-------------------------------
George Hill
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/4488.jpg
27:14 minutes, 11 points, 2 turnovers
5-for-11 from the field, 1-for-3 on three-pointers
George Hill has played very well of late. Against the Bobcats? Not so much. Hill is usually all over the court but was one dimensional on Friday night. No rebounds, no assists and no free throw attempts? Not good. Hopefully he can forget about this game and get back to the way he was playing in the previous handful of contests.
-------------------------------
Antonio McDyess
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3004.jpg
3:25 minutes
Antonio McDyess played the final three and a half minutes of the first quarter. He never re-entered the game. I'm not sure if it was simply for matchup reasons or for injury reasons. He was seen holding his shoulder for a few seconds but there have been no reports that he got hurt.
-------------------------------
Marcus Haislip
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3611.jpg
9:16 minutes, 2 points
1-for-4 from the field, 0-for-2 on three-pointers
Marcus Haislip played his first meaningful minutes of the season. When he came into the game in the fourth quarter, he played about three minutes with Duncan and Parker as the Spurs tried to make a run. Haislip's stint started off well when he hit a layup. After that, however, he quickly went south. His inability to dribble the ball on the perimeter was painfully glaring and Haislip continues to look uncomfortable on the court in his return to the NBA game.
-------------------------------
Ian Mahinmi
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3954.jpg
5:28 minutes, 2 points, 1 rebound, 1 block
1-for-1 from the field
The legend of Ian Mahinmi grows. Even though he only played the final five and a half minutes of a blowout, Mahinmi once again looked good. He just moves on the court like an NBA player. Mahinmi had a nice bucket, an impressive block and was overall very active. I'm not convinced one way or the other concerning whether or not he can help, but I do think Mahinmi should get a few legit shots to show what he can do.
-------------------------------
Gregg Popovich
http://dailyelements.com/pop-stoic.jpg
I blame some of the San Antonio's lackadaisical play on Pop. When he really ripped the team in the fourth quarter, the Spurs responded with energetic play. Where was that earlier? I also don't like how Duncan played 33 minutes (the most on the team) in what was basically a blowout -- especially being in the first game of a back-to-back. Playing McDyess or Mahinmi more wouldn't have hurt anything. Pop also needs a quicker hook on Bogans when he's bricking.
-------------------------------
Offense
We haven't seen the offense this bad in a long while. The Spurs shot just 38.8% from the floor and hit only 5-of-25 three-pointers. To make matters worse, they got to the line just 13 times -- hitting nine. Finishing with 18 assists and 14 turnovers is a bad ratio. After scoring 24 points in the first quarter, the Spurs finished with 18, 15 and 19 points, respectively, in the final three stanzas.
Defense
The defense for the first two and a half quarters was very solid. After that, however, the Bobcats got hot and the Spurs were defenseless -- literally. Charlotte shot 46.1% from the floor, hit 6-of-14 three-pointers and got to the line 21 times. The Spurs allowed the Bobcats to total 24 assists and only forced 11 turnovers. Rebounding was also a negative (44-42 Bobcats). In the second half, the usually inept Bobcats offense put 54 points on the board.
Drive to Five
The Spurs have to bounce back quickly. On Saturday, they face a very underrated Memphis Grizzlies team that has won seven straight at home and ten of their last 13 games overall. If they are lethargic again, the Spurs will have a losing streak on their hands. That said, the Spurs historically respond well to poor outings.
Believe.