timvp
01-20-2010, 03:19 PM
Things didn't look too bright heading into Monday afternoon's game against the New Orleans Hornets. Not only had the San Antonio Spurs lost two straight contests, they were playing their third game in three and a half days against a Hornets team that was 15-3 at home. However, the Spurs didn't just win the contest, they won it with relative ease.
Though the Spurs allowed numerous runs, they never trailed in the game and led by as many as 21 points. When the lead was trimmed to eight points halfway through the fourth, Tony Parker stepped up and scored eight of the next ten points to put New Orleans to bed on the way to the 97-90 W.
As for the Hornets, they continue to look like their chemistry needs a lot of work. That 2008 New Orleans team was a well-oiled machine. This squad? They are disjointed, lack consistent energy and just don't look like a true contender.
After two lackluster efforts, this was a great win for the Spurs. They bounced back and showed a lot of heart and determination by getting a victory in the last game of a brutal stretch.
Tim Duncan
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3173.jpg
37:25 minutes, 21 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks
7-for-15 from the field, 7-for-12 at the line
Tim Duncan came out of the gates playing at an extremely high level. His work on both ends of the court basically removed Emeka Okafor from the equation for New Orleans. Duncan was quick and strong with his decisions offensively, which allowed him to get to the line while finishing with only one turnover. Duncan's 12 free throw attempts were a season-high. On defense, he protected the rim well, although his quickness when defending David West was sub par. Overall, it was another quality effort from the franchise's foundation.
-------------------------------
Manu Ginobili
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3380.jpg
34:37 minutes, 11 points, 6 assists, 6 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 turnovers
3-for-9 from the field, 1-for-3 on three-pointers, 4-for-7 at the line
Manu Ginobili is making a habit of this type of outing. He played very well in his early minutes and authored an all-around game that featured fantastic passing, effort on the boards, energy on defense and a few hoops on offense. However, as has been the case lately, his effectiveness lessened as the game went on and by the fourth quarter he didn't seem to have his legs anymore. Ginobili hit just one-fourth of his shots in the road trip (10-for-40) but helped in a lot of other ways. That said, the Spurs obviously need him to remember how to put the ball in the basket with better accuracy.
-------------------------------
Tony Parker
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3527.jpg
38:14 minutes, 25 points, 4 rebounds, 3, assists
10-for-21 from the field, 5-for-6 at the line
Coming off one of his worst two-game stretches in years, a hellish matchup versus Chris Paul appeared to be exactly what the doctor warned against. But somehow Parker summoned energy and shook off his struggles with an impressive performance. He carved up New Orleans' defense in the first half -- going 8-for-14 from the field. Parker was silent in the second half until the previously mentioned one-man run ensured victory. It wasn't a great game by Parker but it was much, much better than what we saw in the last two outings.
-------------------------------
Keith Bogans
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3746.jpg
23:34 minutes, 9 points, 3 turnovers
3-for-5 from the field, 3-for-5 on three-pointers
After hitting only three of his previous 18 three-pointers, Keith Bogans found the range against the Hornets. His 3-for-5 shooting from beyond the arc helped spread the defense and opened the lane for his teammates. His three turnovers gives him eight in his last two games. In his previous 11 outings, Bogans had only three turnovers total. Defensively, he did decent work against Peja Stojakovic -- but it was nothing to write home about.
-------------------------------
DeJuan Blair
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/4642.jpg
33:18 minutes, 8 points, 13 rebounds, 2 turnovers
3-for-7 from the field, 2-for-6 at the line
I though DeJuan Blair quietly took another step forward on Monday against the Hornets. His defense against West was very good. Blair used his quickness to cut off West's drives and his length to challenge the jumpers. When the Hornets went small, Blair played good enough defense on the perimeter to stay in the game. In addition to being his usual beastly self on the boards, Blair's tenacity with the ball on offense served him well.
-------------------------------
George Hill
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/4488.jpg
37:10 minutes, 16 points, 6 rebounds
5-for-12 from the field, 2-for-6 on three-pointers
With Richard Jefferson sidelined, George Hill got the start alongside Parker in the backcourt. On offense, Parker ran the show while Hill moved to shooting guard. Though Hill started out slow on the offensive end, he eventually became more aggressive and his efficiency increased. When called to play point guard, Hill didn't do a very good job. In fact, he now has only one assist in his last 132 minutes of action. Defensively, Hill had a hand in limiting Chris Paul to 18 points and nine assists -- though honestly I thought Paul's relatively quiet game was due just as much (if not more) to passive play by the Hornets superstar.
-------------------------------
Roger Mason, Jr.
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3628.jpg
14:04 minutes, 5 points, 4 rebounds
2-for-6 from the field, 1-for-3 on three-pointers
Roger Mason, Jr. didn't have a very good outing. He missed open shots and then got benched for losing sight of his man on the defensive end. As a result, Mason only played one minute in the second half. He has performed better as of late but it'd be nice if the second-year Spur could string together a few above average games.
-------------------------------
Antonio McDyess
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3004.jpg
15:37 minutes, 2 points, 2 rebounds
0-for-2 from the field, 2-for-2 at the line
In is return from a one-game absence due to a pinched nerve in his neck, Antonio McDyess was quiet. He didn't hurt the Spurs on either end but he wasn't exactly giving the Spurs much production. Spurs fans continue to wait for the real Antonio McDyess to stand up.
-------------------------------
Matt Bonner
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3748.jpg
6:01 minutes
0-for-1 from the field
Matt Bonner missed 15 games due a broken bone in his hand. He was back on the court for the Spurs with a large contraption on his hand that is meant to supply padding. That thing on his hand was the only interesting aspect about Bonner's return. On offense, he was painfully tentative and looked woefully out of rhythm, which isn't too surprising. Defensively, Bonner was equally as weak. Since he's a player that relies on consistent minutes in a consistent role, it'll likely take him a week or two before he's firing on all cylinders again.
-------------------------------
Gregg Popovich
http://dailyelements.com/pop-stoic.jpg
Pop made a few very good decision on Monday. Starting Hill to guard Paul worked out well. I also like how he stuck with Blair -- even when the Hornets tried to dictate the matchups to get him out of the game. On the other hand, I'm somewhat worried with how many minutes he played the Big 3. I also thought it would have been better for Pop to wait for the homestand to unveil Bonner.
-------------------------------
Offense
The Spurs put 97 points on the board but did it in an unconventional way. They shot just 42.3% from the field while hitting 7-of-18 three-pointers and amassing only 13 assists. But San Antonio got to the line 38 times, pulled down 16 offensive rebounds and finished with just ten turnovers. Although their offense got less and less fluid as the game went along, the Spurs kept scratching and clawing to put points on the board.
Defense
The defense had its strengths and weaknesses against the Hornets. New Orleans shot 45.8% from the floor and had 25 assists to just nine turnovers. Where the Spurs thrived was limiting three-pointers (4-for-13) and free throws (10-for-12) while outrebounding the Hornets (50-38).
Drive to Five
To end the month of January, the Spurs have a six-game homestand. The Rodeo Roap Trip begins afterward so it's imperative that the Spurs do well over the next dozen days. The homestand kicks off with a game against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday.
Believe.
Though the Spurs allowed numerous runs, they never trailed in the game and led by as many as 21 points. When the lead was trimmed to eight points halfway through the fourth, Tony Parker stepped up and scored eight of the next ten points to put New Orleans to bed on the way to the 97-90 W.
As for the Hornets, they continue to look like their chemistry needs a lot of work. That 2008 New Orleans team was a well-oiled machine. This squad? They are disjointed, lack consistent energy and just don't look like a true contender.
After two lackluster efforts, this was a great win for the Spurs. They bounced back and showed a lot of heart and determination by getting a victory in the last game of a brutal stretch.
Tim Duncan
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3173.jpg
37:25 minutes, 21 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks
7-for-15 from the field, 7-for-12 at the line
Tim Duncan came out of the gates playing at an extremely high level. His work on both ends of the court basically removed Emeka Okafor from the equation for New Orleans. Duncan was quick and strong with his decisions offensively, which allowed him to get to the line while finishing with only one turnover. Duncan's 12 free throw attempts were a season-high. On defense, he protected the rim well, although his quickness when defending David West was sub par. Overall, it was another quality effort from the franchise's foundation.
-------------------------------
Manu Ginobili
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3380.jpg
34:37 minutes, 11 points, 6 assists, 6 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 turnovers
3-for-9 from the field, 1-for-3 on three-pointers, 4-for-7 at the line
Manu Ginobili is making a habit of this type of outing. He played very well in his early minutes and authored an all-around game that featured fantastic passing, effort on the boards, energy on defense and a few hoops on offense. However, as has been the case lately, his effectiveness lessened as the game went on and by the fourth quarter he didn't seem to have his legs anymore. Ginobili hit just one-fourth of his shots in the road trip (10-for-40) but helped in a lot of other ways. That said, the Spurs obviously need him to remember how to put the ball in the basket with better accuracy.
-------------------------------
Tony Parker
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3527.jpg
38:14 minutes, 25 points, 4 rebounds, 3, assists
10-for-21 from the field, 5-for-6 at the line
Coming off one of his worst two-game stretches in years, a hellish matchup versus Chris Paul appeared to be exactly what the doctor warned against. But somehow Parker summoned energy and shook off his struggles with an impressive performance. He carved up New Orleans' defense in the first half -- going 8-for-14 from the field. Parker was silent in the second half until the previously mentioned one-man run ensured victory. It wasn't a great game by Parker but it was much, much better than what we saw in the last two outings.
-------------------------------
Keith Bogans
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3746.jpg
23:34 minutes, 9 points, 3 turnovers
3-for-5 from the field, 3-for-5 on three-pointers
After hitting only three of his previous 18 three-pointers, Keith Bogans found the range against the Hornets. His 3-for-5 shooting from beyond the arc helped spread the defense and opened the lane for his teammates. His three turnovers gives him eight in his last two games. In his previous 11 outings, Bogans had only three turnovers total. Defensively, he did decent work against Peja Stojakovic -- but it was nothing to write home about.
-------------------------------
DeJuan Blair
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/4642.jpg
33:18 minutes, 8 points, 13 rebounds, 2 turnovers
3-for-7 from the field, 2-for-6 at the line
I though DeJuan Blair quietly took another step forward on Monday against the Hornets. His defense against West was very good. Blair used his quickness to cut off West's drives and his length to challenge the jumpers. When the Hornets went small, Blair played good enough defense on the perimeter to stay in the game. In addition to being his usual beastly self on the boards, Blair's tenacity with the ball on offense served him well.
-------------------------------
George Hill
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/4488.jpg
37:10 minutes, 16 points, 6 rebounds
5-for-12 from the field, 2-for-6 on three-pointers
With Richard Jefferson sidelined, George Hill got the start alongside Parker in the backcourt. On offense, Parker ran the show while Hill moved to shooting guard. Though Hill started out slow on the offensive end, he eventually became more aggressive and his efficiency increased. When called to play point guard, Hill didn't do a very good job. In fact, he now has only one assist in his last 132 minutes of action. Defensively, Hill had a hand in limiting Chris Paul to 18 points and nine assists -- though honestly I thought Paul's relatively quiet game was due just as much (if not more) to passive play by the Hornets superstar.
-------------------------------
Roger Mason, Jr.
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3628.jpg
14:04 minutes, 5 points, 4 rebounds
2-for-6 from the field, 1-for-3 on three-pointers
Roger Mason, Jr. didn't have a very good outing. He missed open shots and then got benched for losing sight of his man on the defensive end. As a result, Mason only played one minute in the second half. He has performed better as of late but it'd be nice if the second-year Spur could string together a few above average games.
-------------------------------
Antonio McDyess
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3004.jpg
15:37 minutes, 2 points, 2 rebounds
0-for-2 from the field, 2-for-2 at the line
In is return from a one-game absence due to a pinched nerve in his neck, Antonio McDyess was quiet. He didn't hurt the Spurs on either end but he wasn't exactly giving the Spurs much production. Spurs fans continue to wait for the real Antonio McDyess to stand up.
-------------------------------
Matt Bonner
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3748.jpg
6:01 minutes
0-for-1 from the field
Matt Bonner missed 15 games due a broken bone in his hand. He was back on the court for the Spurs with a large contraption on his hand that is meant to supply padding. That thing on his hand was the only interesting aspect about Bonner's return. On offense, he was painfully tentative and looked woefully out of rhythm, which isn't too surprising. Defensively, Bonner was equally as weak. Since he's a player that relies on consistent minutes in a consistent role, it'll likely take him a week or two before he's firing on all cylinders again.
-------------------------------
Gregg Popovich
http://dailyelements.com/pop-stoic.jpg
Pop made a few very good decision on Monday. Starting Hill to guard Paul worked out well. I also like how he stuck with Blair -- even when the Hornets tried to dictate the matchups to get him out of the game. On the other hand, I'm somewhat worried with how many minutes he played the Big 3. I also thought it would have been better for Pop to wait for the homestand to unveil Bonner.
-------------------------------
Offense
The Spurs put 97 points on the board but did it in an unconventional way. They shot just 42.3% from the field while hitting 7-of-18 three-pointers and amassing only 13 assists. But San Antonio got to the line 38 times, pulled down 16 offensive rebounds and finished with just ten turnovers. Although their offense got less and less fluid as the game went along, the Spurs kept scratching and clawing to put points on the board.
Defense
The defense had its strengths and weaknesses against the Hornets. New Orleans shot 45.8% from the floor and had 25 assists to just nine turnovers. Where the Spurs thrived was limiting three-pointers (4-for-13) and free throws (10-for-12) while outrebounding the Hornets (50-38).
Drive to Five
To end the month of January, the Spurs have a six-game homestand. The Rodeo Roap Trip begins afterward so it's imperative that the Spurs do well over the next dozen days. The homestand kicks off with a game against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday.
Believe.