timvp
01-18-2010, 07:26 AM
The San Antonio Spurs collapsed in the second half against the Charlotte Bobcats on Friday. On Saturday, the Spurs were back at work -- this time in Memphis against the up-and-coming Grizzlies. San Antonio once again collapsed in the second half, however this time they fought back and made a game of it.
Trailing 81-68 with eight minutes remaining in the game, the Spurs went on a 16-4 run to cut the deficit to one point with two minutes remaining. On the next possession, Tim Duncan blocked a Zach Randolph layup but then missed an easy shot on the other end that could have given the Spurs the lead. Later, the Spurs had a chance to tie the game with about 15 seconds remaining but Roger Mason, Jr. missed a three-pointer. The Grizzlies hit their free throws down the stretch and were able to win 92-86.
The Grizzlies are actually a good team right now. They've won eight games in a row at home and they are one of the best offensive teams in the league. They have five legit starters and a bench filled with lively youngsters. They likely won't make the playoffs but their future looks brighter than it has in a long while.
As for the Spurs, this two-game losing streak is disappointing coming off of the two big wins against the Lakers and Thunder. It appeared as if the Spurs were making progress in the right direction. Guess not.
Tim Duncan
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3173.jpg
32:51 minutes, 23 points, 8 rebounds, 5 blocks, 2 assists, 3 turnovers
11-for-17 from the field, 1-for-2 at the line
Against the Bobcats, Tim Duncan didn't look right. Against the Grizzlies, he looked fine -- which might have been the best news of the night. He scored well and his help defense was very good. He had a few poor plays late but overall Spurs fans should be pleased with his performance. Even on a back-to-back with knees that have seen a ton of miles, Duncan is the Spur that appears most ready to play.
-------------------------------
Manu Ginobili
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3380.jpg
26:48 minutes, 9 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals
3-for-10 from the field, 3-for-5 on three-pointers, 0-for-2 at the line
Manu Ginobili was inconsistent on the night but he made plays in a number of areas. His passing remains top notch and his help defense was good. However, stamina once again was an issue. Ginobili didn't score in the fourth quarter and his quickness seemed to fade as the game progressed. Going 0-for-5 on two-pointers also points to Ginobili not having his legs.
-------------------------------
Tony Parker
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3527.jpg
29:43 minutes, 4 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 turnovers
2-for-8 from the field
Tony Parker was a ghost. I'm not sure if he's hurting, tired or both but he can't play much worse than he did on Saturday night. He wasn't doing much of anything on either end. He tried to get himself rolling at different points in the game but he just didn't have the necessary gas in the tank. Pop may have to consider sitting him to rest up and recharge if this type of play continues.
-------------------------------
Richard Jefferson
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3523.jpg
20:46 minutes, 3 points
0-for-6 from the field, 0-for-4 on three-pointers, 3-for-4 at the line
After the game, Pop called the Spurs soft. If Pop wanted to be more specific, he could have just pointed to Richard Jefferson. Jefferson was soft in his post defense, soft closing out to shooting and soft on the offensive end. In the first half, the Spurs lost their momentum when Jefferson let Randolph abuse him. It didn't get better in the second half and he watched the final nine minutes from the bench. If this type of soft play continues, the trade for Jefferson will go down as a huge bust.
-------------------------------
Keith Bogans
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3746.jpg
32:23 minutes, 13 points, 3 rebounds, 5 turnovers
5-for-9 from the field, 1-for-3 on three-pointers, 2-for-2 at the line
Keith Bogans came into the game in a 3-for-21 slump. He reacted by forcing his way into the paint to try to get easier shots. While his field goal percentage was aided by that tactic, it also had a hand in Bogans finishing with five turnovers. The Spurs simply can't afford for their fifth option to rack up that many turnovers. On the defense, Bogans really gave good effort against Randolph, but his small size made it very difficult for the Spurs to get the rebound even when Memphis missed shots.
-------------------------------
DeJuan Blair
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/4642.jpg
23:38 minutes, 8 points, 8 rebounds
4-for-7 from the field
DeJuan Blair had an average game. He scored and rebounded well but his energy wasn't up to his normal standards. Considering that he's mostly an energy player at this point in his career, that's not good. Defensively, I actually liked the work he did against Randolph. His help defense wasn't very good, though.
-------------------------------
Roger Mason, Jr.
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3628.jpg
19:22 minutes, 17 points
7-for-14 from the field, 3-for-6 on three-pointers
Roger Mason, Jr. hit his first two shots of the game. He had a dry spell but woke up late to give the Spurs a shot to win. Mason had eight points in the last three and a half minutes, including a pair of three-pointers. With the offense struggling to score, it was Mason who stepped up and gave the Spurs hope. Good effort even though it turned out to be too little, too late.
-------------------------------
George Hill
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/4488.jpg
28:26 minutes, 4 points, 4 rebounds
2-for-8 from the field, 0-for-2 on three-pointers
It was another tough outing for George Hill. After a stretch in which he was one of the better bench players in the NBA, Hill is now heading in the other direction. Not only could he not connect from the field, his defense wasn't very impressive and his playmaking was missing in action. In the last three games, Hill has a total of one assist in 95 minutes. Part of the reason why the Spurs aren't scoring efficiently as of late is their backup point guard isn't making any plays.
-------------------------------
Ian Mahinmi
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3954.jpg
13:59 minutes, 1 points, 5 rebound
0-for-3 from the field
Ian Mahinmi got his second legitimate shot to show what he can do on the NBA level. The results this time were mixed. Offensively, he looked a bit uncoordinated on top of not being sure where he belonged in the sets. His defense wasn't bad but his excessive fouling was certainly a negative once again. The bright spot was Mahinmi's rebounding, plus I was impressed with his speed up and down the court. We'll see if Pop keeps giving him chances.
-------------------------------
Theo Ratliff
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3020.jpg
7:38 minutes, 5 rebounds
Theo Ratliff played decently well in his seven and a half minutes. He did good work on the boards in addition to his standard solid defense. If the interior defense doesn't pick up, Ratliff may have to start playing more often.
-------------------------------
Marcus Haislip
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3611.jpg
4:26 minutes, 4 points, 3 rebounds
2-for-4 from the field
Marcus Haislip had easily the best game of his Spurs career. He scored his four points and pulled down his three rebounds in the fourth quarter. Haislip's production prompted Pop to put back in horses and make a run at the win.
-------------------------------
Gregg Popovich
http://dailyelements.com/pop-stoic.jpg
Energy has been a problem the last two outings. While fatigue can be an excuse, Pop also deserves the blame for not putting lineups on the court that have the necessary juice. I don't understand why Pop played Parker 30 minutes with as bad as Parker was playing. Going small against Randolph turned out to be a poor move, especially in the first quarter. All in all, Pop's coaching was definitely poor.
-------------------------------
Offense
The offense once again suffered -- and this time the Spurs didn't have the excuse of playing against an elite defensive team. The Spurs shot 41.4% from the floor, hit just 7-of-21 three-pointers and got to the line only 12 times (hitting seven). Turning the ball over 16 times is too much, especially when the team only has 14 assists.
Defense
The defense was pretty good at times. When the Spurs were making their run in the fourth quarter, the activity on the defensive end was actually really impressive. But overall they needed to play better defense for more of the 48 minutes. The Grizzlies shot 43.4% from the field and were 3-for-9 on three-pointers, which are both acceptable numbers for the Spurs. But the Grizzlies got to the line 27 times and outrebounded the Spurs 51-44 thanks to 17 offensive rebounds. Those two numbers are obviously unacceptable.
Drive to Five
The Spurs now have to play their fifth game in six and a half days when they take on the New Orleans Hornets on Monday afternoon. Getting a win here would avoid having to classify this road trip as a disaster.
Believe.
Trailing 81-68 with eight minutes remaining in the game, the Spurs went on a 16-4 run to cut the deficit to one point with two minutes remaining. On the next possession, Tim Duncan blocked a Zach Randolph layup but then missed an easy shot on the other end that could have given the Spurs the lead. Later, the Spurs had a chance to tie the game with about 15 seconds remaining but Roger Mason, Jr. missed a three-pointer. The Grizzlies hit their free throws down the stretch and were able to win 92-86.
The Grizzlies are actually a good team right now. They've won eight games in a row at home and they are one of the best offensive teams in the league. They have five legit starters and a bench filled with lively youngsters. They likely won't make the playoffs but their future looks brighter than it has in a long while.
As for the Spurs, this two-game losing streak is disappointing coming off of the two big wins against the Lakers and Thunder. It appeared as if the Spurs were making progress in the right direction. Guess not.
Tim Duncan
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3173.jpg
32:51 minutes, 23 points, 8 rebounds, 5 blocks, 2 assists, 3 turnovers
11-for-17 from the field, 1-for-2 at the line
Against the Bobcats, Tim Duncan didn't look right. Against the Grizzlies, he looked fine -- which might have been the best news of the night. He scored well and his help defense was very good. He had a few poor plays late but overall Spurs fans should be pleased with his performance. Even on a back-to-back with knees that have seen a ton of miles, Duncan is the Spur that appears most ready to play.
-------------------------------
Manu Ginobili
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3380.jpg
26:48 minutes, 9 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals
3-for-10 from the field, 3-for-5 on three-pointers, 0-for-2 at the line
Manu Ginobili was inconsistent on the night but he made plays in a number of areas. His passing remains top notch and his help defense was good. However, stamina once again was an issue. Ginobili didn't score in the fourth quarter and his quickness seemed to fade as the game progressed. Going 0-for-5 on two-pointers also points to Ginobili not having his legs.
-------------------------------
Tony Parker
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3527.jpg
29:43 minutes, 4 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 turnovers
2-for-8 from the field
Tony Parker was a ghost. I'm not sure if he's hurting, tired or both but he can't play much worse than he did on Saturday night. He wasn't doing much of anything on either end. He tried to get himself rolling at different points in the game but he just didn't have the necessary gas in the tank. Pop may have to consider sitting him to rest up and recharge if this type of play continues.
-------------------------------
Richard Jefferson
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3523.jpg
20:46 minutes, 3 points
0-for-6 from the field, 0-for-4 on three-pointers, 3-for-4 at the line
After the game, Pop called the Spurs soft. If Pop wanted to be more specific, he could have just pointed to Richard Jefferson. Jefferson was soft in his post defense, soft closing out to shooting and soft on the offensive end. In the first half, the Spurs lost their momentum when Jefferson let Randolph abuse him. It didn't get better in the second half and he watched the final nine minutes from the bench. If this type of soft play continues, the trade for Jefferson will go down as a huge bust.
-------------------------------
Keith Bogans
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3746.jpg
32:23 minutes, 13 points, 3 rebounds, 5 turnovers
5-for-9 from the field, 1-for-3 on three-pointers, 2-for-2 at the line
Keith Bogans came into the game in a 3-for-21 slump. He reacted by forcing his way into the paint to try to get easier shots. While his field goal percentage was aided by that tactic, it also had a hand in Bogans finishing with five turnovers. The Spurs simply can't afford for their fifth option to rack up that many turnovers. On the defense, Bogans really gave good effort against Randolph, but his small size made it very difficult for the Spurs to get the rebound even when Memphis missed shots.
-------------------------------
DeJuan Blair
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/4642.jpg
23:38 minutes, 8 points, 8 rebounds
4-for-7 from the field
DeJuan Blair had an average game. He scored and rebounded well but his energy wasn't up to his normal standards. Considering that he's mostly an energy player at this point in his career, that's not good. Defensively, I actually liked the work he did against Randolph. His help defense wasn't very good, though.
-------------------------------
Roger Mason, Jr.
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3628.jpg
19:22 minutes, 17 points
7-for-14 from the field, 3-for-6 on three-pointers
Roger Mason, Jr. hit his first two shots of the game. He had a dry spell but woke up late to give the Spurs a shot to win. Mason had eight points in the last three and a half minutes, including a pair of three-pointers. With the offense struggling to score, it was Mason who stepped up and gave the Spurs hope. Good effort even though it turned out to be too little, too late.
-------------------------------
George Hill
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/4488.jpg
28:26 minutes, 4 points, 4 rebounds
2-for-8 from the field, 0-for-2 on three-pointers
It was another tough outing for George Hill. After a stretch in which he was one of the better bench players in the NBA, Hill is now heading in the other direction. Not only could he not connect from the field, his defense wasn't very impressive and his playmaking was missing in action. In the last three games, Hill has a total of one assist in 95 minutes. Part of the reason why the Spurs aren't scoring efficiently as of late is their backup point guard isn't making any plays.
-------------------------------
Ian Mahinmi
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3954.jpg
13:59 minutes, 1 points, 5 rebound
0-for-3 from the field
Ian Mahinmi got his second legitimate shot to show what he can do on the NBA level. The results this time were mixed. Offensively, he looked a bit uncoordinated on top of not being sure where he belonged in the sets. His defense wasn't bad but his excessive fouling was certainly a negative once again. The bright spot was Mahinmi's rebounding, plus I was impressed with his speed up and down the court. We'll see if Pop keeps giving him chances.
-------------------------------
Theo Ratliff
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3020.jpg
7:38 minutes, 5 rebounds
Theo Ratliff played decently well in his seven and a half minutes. He did good work on the boards in addition to his standard solid defense. If the interior defense doesn't pick up, Ratliff may have to start playing more often.
-------------------------------
Marcus Haislip
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3611.jpg
4:26 minutes, 4 points, 3 rebounds
2-for-4 from the field
Marcus Haislip had easily the best game of his Spurs career. He scored his four points and pulled down his three rebounds in the fourth quarter. Haislip's production prompted Pop to put back in horses and make a run at the win.
-------------------------------
Gregg Popovich
http://dailyelements.com/pop-stoic.jpg
Energy has been a problem the last two outings. While fatigue can be an excuse, Pop also deserves the blame for not putting lineups on the court that have the necessary juice. I don't understand why Pop played Parker 30 minutes with as bad as Parker was playing. Going small against Randolph turned out to be a poor move, especially in the first quarter. All in all, Pop's coaching was definitely poor.
-------------------------------
Offense
The offense once again suffered -- and this time the Spurs didn't have the excuse of playing against an elite defensive team. The Spurs shot 41.4% from the floor, hit just 7-of-21 three-pointers and got to the line only 12 times (hitting seven). Turning the ball over 16 times is too much, especially when the team only has 14 assists.
Defense
The defense was pretty good at times. When the Spurs were making their run in the fourth quarter, the activity on the defensive end was actually really impressive. But overall they needed to play better defense for more of the 48 minutes. The Grizzlies shot 43.4% from the field and were 3-for-9 on three-pointers, which are both acceptable numbers for the Spurs. But the Grizzlies got to the line 27 times and outrebounded the Spurs 51-44 thanks to 17 offensive rebounds. Those two numbers are obviously unacceptable.
Drive to Five
The Spurs now have to play their fifth game in six and a half days when they take on the New Orleans Hornets on Monday afternoon. Getting a win here would avoid having to classify this road trip as a disaster.
Believe.