timvp
01-25-2010, 02:08 PM
If you have a panic button handy, go ahead and give it a push. The San Antonio Spurs are officially in trouble. After a home loss against the Utah Jazz, the encore was another home loss -- this time the Houston Rockets came into the AT&T Center and left with a 116-109 victory.
Right now, the Spurs are 25-17. The scary thing is that the Spurs have an extremely tough schedule the rest of the way, due both to the number of road games remaining and the quality of opponent. San Antonio is in the midst of a six-game homestand that was really the last chance to fatten up their record, however it obviously isn't happening.
The Rockets deserve a lot of credit for the win. They played with energy the entire game and got many above average performances -- namely by Kyle Lowry, who played like the best player on the court. Houston's backup point guard finished with 23 points, nine assists, six rebounds and two steals in 34 action packed minutes.
I'm not sure what to think about the Spurs right now. They've lost four out of their last five games (it would be 5-of-6 if not for Manu Ginobili's save against the Thunder) and just look like a worn out team whose cohesion level is heading south. Over the next couple weeks, we'll see if they can regain their footing or if they will continue spiraling into mediocrity.
Tim Duncan
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3173.jpg
34:16 minutes, 25 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists
5-for-13 from the field, 15-for-21 at the line
You can't fault Tim Duncan's effort in this one. He was physical on the offensive end, finishing with 21 free throw attempts -- the most since he's had in a game since the 2000-01 season. However, when he wasn't getting fouled, Duncan had trouble putting the ball in the hole. He was just 2-for-7 from the field heading into the fourth quarter. Defensively, Duncan was average. He rebounded well and rotated adequately well, though his defense against speed was lacking.
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Manu Ginobili
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3380.jpg
32:22 minutes, 15 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 turnovers
6-for-15 from the field, 2-for-7 on three-pointers
Manu Ginobili had an unusual game against the Rockets. Recently, he has played the role of a playmaker. On Friday, Ginobili was looking more toward the rim. He finished with a season-high 15 field goal attempts and had less than three assists for the first time in 18 games. Considering he shot poorly, defended without much intensity and had twice as many turnovers as assists, this outing was definitely a poor one for Ginobili.
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Tony Parker
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3527.jpg
36:24 minutes, 22 points, 10 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers
8-for-17 from the field, 6-for-6 at the line
This time, the loss can't be blamed on Tony Parker. He was very good in the first half -- totaling six assists in his first ten minutes. In the final two quarters, he had 16 points on nine field goal attempts. Defensively, Parker wasn't very good. Aaron Brooks blew by him with his speed and Lowry bullied him. Overall, Parker played better but the wait continues for a complete game out of the three-time All-Star.
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Richard Jefferson
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3523.jpg
29:09 minutes, 14 points, 2 rebounds, 2 turnovers
6-for-13 from the field, 2-for-3 on three-pointers
Richard Jefferson was back in the starting lineup -- and continued to underwhelm. He began the game looking better offensively but was just 2-for-6 in the second half. On defense, Jefferson was soft, slow and seemingly unmotivated. He didn't offer help on the boards and didn't have a single assist. I'm not sure if Jefferson is still dealing with a back issue or if he's legitimately regressing.
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George Hill
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/4488.jpg
35:12 minutes, 15 points, 5 assists, 2 turnovers
5-for-15 from the field, 3-for-9 on three-pointers, 2-for-2 at the line
George Hill started at shooting guard for the third straight game and once again put points on the board. However, Hill missed a number of open shots as the Rockets paid little attention to him on the perimeter. If Hill doesn't hit wide open three-pointers, his days as a starter at shooting guard won't last long. His playmaking, particularly in the first half, was better than usual. Defensively, he just wasn't that good. He had trouble against players both bigger and smaller.
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DeJuan Blair
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/4642.jpg
22:11 minutes, 6 points, 7 rebounds
3-for-7 from the field
DeJuan Blair played well in his first stint -- racking up four points and four rebounds in six and a half minutes. The rest of the way, Blair was bad. He didn't play with much energy, which really hurt him on the defensive end. Blair's plus/minus tells the story for this game. In his first stint, he was a +10. The rest of the way, Blair was a -23.
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Antonio McDyess
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3004.jpg
18:39 minutes, 7 points, 6 rebounds
3-for-5 from the field
Antonio McDyess is another player whose effective worsened over the course of the contest. In the first half, he had seven points and five rebounds in 12 minutes. In his seven second half minutes, he was 0-for-1 from the field with one rebound. When McDyess was signed, the Spurs thought they were getting a consistent performer who comes to work with his hardhat each night. In reality, McDyess has been woefully inconsistent -- both in terms of production and effort.
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Keith Bogans
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3746.jpg
15:08 minutes, 3 points, 2 rebounds
1-for-2 from the field, 1-for-1 on three-pointers
Keith Bogans' recent poor play has apparently cost him his starting job. Coming off the bench for the first time since the middle of November, Bogans didn't do anything to win his job back. He played better defense than most of his counterparts but his play on that end didn't make up for his lack of offensive production. It'll be interesting to see if Pop goes back to Bogans or if this is a permanent switch.
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Matt Bonner
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3748.jpg
10:07 minutes, 2 points, 2 rebounds
1-for-3 from the field, 0-for-2 on three-pointers
The Matt Bonner Reincorporation Tour continues. Against the Rockets, Bonner looked better. He still hasn't hit a three-pointer since his return but he seems more confident playing with that glove on his hand and his defensive effectiveness was much improved. Pop appears committed to working Bonner back into the rotation.
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Roger Mason, Jr.
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3628.jpg
6:32 minutes, 2 assists
With Hill eating up more and more shooting guard minutes and Bonner's return allowing Pop additional options when wanting to space the court, Roger Mason, Jr. is the odd man out. In the last two games, Mason has only seen the court when Pop was desperate for offense. Considering how well he had been shooting, this is a somewhat surprising demotion for Mason.
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Gregg Popovich
http://dailyelements.com/pop-stoic.jpg
Once again, the coaching left a lot to be desired. The turning point of the game was when Pop went to small ball in the first half with the Spurs up 48-37. The Rockets promptly went on a 15-3 run and never looked back. I also think Pop is playing Ginobili and Parker too many minutes and emptying their gas tanks before the fourth quarter. As for positives, I wholeheartedly agree with starting Hill and Jefferson on the wings and I hope we continue to see this starting lineup.
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Offense
The offense wasn't the problem. While the Spurs only shot 41.8% from the field, they put up 109 points -- a number that should equate to a win. To overcome the low shooting percentage, the Spurs hit a respectable number of their three-point attempts (8-of-22), got to the free throw line (25-for-33) and pulled down 14 offensive rebounds. The Spurs also handled the ball well, finishing with 22 assists and only 11 turnovers.
Defense
The defense, on the other hand, was a disaster. The Rockets shot 55.1% from the floor and hit half of their 16 three-point attempts. They also went 22-for-27 from the line and racked up 27 assists. The Spurs aren't going anywhere -- much less the playoffs -- if their defense doesn't drastically improve from the embarrassment we witnessed on Friday.
Drive to Five
Yes, "must-win game" is a hyperbolic phrase right now but I really do think the Spurs must win Monday's game against the Chicago Bulls. If San Antonio doesn't get on track soon, this team's fragile cohesion could be shattered. Gotta get this one.
Believe.
Right now, the Spurs are 25-17. The scary thing is that the Spurs have an extremely tough schedule the rest of the way, due both to the number of road games remaining and the quality of opponent. San Antonio is in the midst of a six-game homestand that was really the last chance to fatten up their record, however it obviously isn't happening.
The Rockets deserve a lot of credit for the win. They played with energy the entire game and got many above average performances -- namely by Kyle Lowry, who played like the best player on the court. Houston's backup point guard finished with 23 points, nine assists, six rebounds and two steals in 34 action packed minutes.
I'm not sure what to think about the Spurs right now. They've lost four out of their last five games (it would be 5-of-6 if not for Manu Ginobili's save against the Thunder) and just look like a worn out team whose cohesion level is heading south. Over the next couple weeks, we'll see if they can regain their footing or if they will continue spiraling into mediocrity.
Tim Duncan
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3173.jpg
34:16 minutes, 25 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists
5-for-13 from the field, 15-for-21 at the line
You can't fault Tim Duncan's effort in this one. He was physical on the offensive end, finishing with 21 free throw attempts -- the most since he's had in a game since the 2000-01 season. However, when he wasn't getting fouled, Duncan had trouble putting the ball in the hole. He was just 2-for-7 from the field heading into the fourth quarter. Defensively, Duncan was average. He rebounded well and rotated adequately well, though his defense against speed was lacking.
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Manu Ginobili
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3380.jpg
32:22 minutes, 15 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 turnovers
6-for-15 from the field, 2-for-7 on three-pointers
Manu Ginobili had an unusual game against the Rockets. Recently, he has played the role of a playmaker. On Friday, Ginobili was looking more toward the rim. He finished with a season-high 15 field goal attempts and had less than three assists for the first time in 18 games. Considering he shot poorly, defended without much intensity and had twice as many turnovers as assists, this outing was definitely a poor one for Ginobili.
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Tony Parker
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3527.jpg
36:24 minutes, 22 points, 10 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers
8-for-17 from the field, 6-for-6 at the line
This time, the loss can't be blamed on Tony Parker. He was very good in the first half -- totaling six assists in his first ten minutes. In the final two quarters, he had 16 points on nine field goal attempts. Defensively, Parker wasn't very good. Aaron Brooks blew by him with his speed and Lowry bullied him. Overall, Parker played better but the wait continues for a complete game out of the three-time All-Star.
-------------------------------
Richard Jefferson
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3523.jpg
29:09 minutes, 14 points, 2 rebounds, 2 turnovers
6-for-13 from the field, 2-for-3 on three-pointers
Richard Jefferson was back in the starting lineup -- and continued to underwhelm. He began the game looking better offensively but was just 2-for-6 in the second half. On defense, Jefferson was soft, slow and seemingly unmotivated. He didn't offer help on the boards and didn't have a single assist. I'm not sure if Jefferson is still dealing with a back issue or if he's legitimately regressing.
-------------------------------
George Hill
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/4488.jpg
35:12 minutes, 15 points, 5 assists, 2 turnovers
5-for-15 from the field, 3-for-9 on three-pointers, 2-for-2 at the line
George Hill started at shooting guard for the third straight game and once again put points on the board. However, Hill missed a number of open shots as the Rockets paid little attention to him on the perimeter. If Hill doesn't hit wide open three-pointers, his days as a starter at shooting guard won't last long. His playmaking, particularly in the first half, was better than usual. Defensively, he just wasn't that good. He had trouble against players both bigger and smaller.
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DeJuan Blair
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/4642.jpg
22:11 minutes, 6 points, 7 rebounds
3-for-7 from the field
DeJuan Blair played well in his first stint -- racking up four points and four rebounds in six and a half minutes. The rest of the way, Blair was bad. He didn't play with much energy, which really hurt him on the defensive end. Blair's plus/minus tells the story for this game. In his first stint, he was a +10. The rest of the way, Blair was a -23.
-------------------------------
Antonio McDyess
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3004.jpg
18:39 minutes, 7 points, 6 rebounds
3-for-5 from the field
Antonio McDyess is another player whose effective worsened over the course of the contest. In the first half, he had seven points and five rebounds in 12 minutes. In his seven second half minutes, he was 0-for-1 from the field with one rebound. When McDyess was signed, the Spurs thought they were getting a consistent performer who comes to work with his hardhat each night. In reality, McDyess has been woefully inconsistent -- both in terms of production and effort.
-------------------------------
Keith Bogans
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3746.jpg
15:08 minutes, 3 points, 2 rebounds
1-for-2 from the field, 1-for-1 on three-pointers
Keith Bogans' recent poor play has apparently cost him his starting job. Coming off the bench for the first time since the middle of November, Bogans didn't do anything to win his job back. He played better defense than most of his counterparts but his play on that end didn't make up for his lack of offensive production. It'll be interesting to see if Pop goes back to Bogans or if this is a permanent switch.
-------------------------------
Matt Bonner
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3748.jpg
10:07 minutes, 2 points, 2 rebounds
1-for-3 from the field, 0-for-2 on three-pointers
The Matt Bonner Reincorporation Tour continues. Against the Rockets, Bonner looked better. He still hasn't hit a three-pointer since his return but he seems more confident playing with that glove on his hand and his defensive effectiveness was much improved. Pop appears committed to working Bonner back into the rotation.
-------------------------------
Roger Mason, Jr.
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3628.jpg
6:32 minutes, 2 assists
With Hill eating up more and more shooting guard minutes and Bonner's return allowing Pop additional options when wanting to space the court, Roger Mason, Jr. is the odd man out. In the last two games, Mason has only seen the court when Pop was desperate for offense. Considering how well he had been shooting, this is a somewhat surprising demotion for Mason.
-------------------------------
Gregg Popovich
http://dailyelements.com/pop-stoic.jpg
Once again, the coaching left a lot to be desired. The turning point of the game was when Pop went to small ball in the first half with the Spurs up 48-37. The Rockets promptly went on a 15-3 run and never looked back. I also think Pop is playing Ginobili and Parker too many minutes and emptying their gas tanks before the fourth quarter. As for positives, I wholeheartedly agree with starting Hill and Jefferson on the wings and I hope we continue to see this starting lineup.
-------------------------------
Offense
The offense wasn't the problem. While the Spurs only shot 41.8% from the field, they put up 109 points -- a number that should equate to a win. To overcome the low shooting percentage, the Spurs hit a respectable number of their three-point attempts (8-of-22), got to the free throw line (25-for-33) and pulled down 14 offensive rebounds. The Spurs also handled the ball well, finishing with 22 assists and only 11 turnovers.
Defense
The defense, on the other hand, was a disaster. The Rockets shot 55.1% from the floor and hit half of their 16 three-point attempts. They also went 22-for-27 from the line and racked up 27 assists. The Spurs aren't going anywhere -- much less the playoffs -- if their defense doesn't drastically improve from the embarrassment we witnessed on Friday.
Drive to Five
Yes, "must-win game" is a hyperbolic phrase right now but I really do think the Spurs must win Monday's game against the Chicago Bulls. If San Antonio doesn't get on track soon, this team's fragile cohesion could be shattered. Gotta get this one.
Believe.