timvp
01-29-2010, 01:28 AM
Following a demoralizing three-game losing streak in which all three contests were at home, the San Antonio Spurs finally got back in the win column with a 105-90 victory over the Atlanta Hawks. It was a much needed win and one that can hopefully serve as a stepping stone.
The Spurs played very good basketball in the first half, growing their lead to as large as 28 points. The Hawks chipped away in the second half and made it a single-digit deficit in the fourth quarter, however the Spurs were able to respond to all the runs to win in relatively easy fashion.
Atlanta is undoubtedly one of the top four teams in the Eastern Conference. Joe Johnson is a stud and the list of young, talented ballers on their squad is long. That said, I'm not a big fan of their gimmick switch-on-everything defense. Playing like that is only asking to be picked apart by the better teams in the league that have guards who can drive to the rim.
As for the Spurs, it was great to get a feel-good victory in this time of need. Unfortunately, the victory came with a price: a Tony Parker sprained ankle. If Parker misses extended time, this win won't mean much in the grand scheme of things.
Tim Duncan
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3173.jpg
35:00 minutes, 21 points, 27 rebounds, 6 assists
5-for-20 from the field, 11-for-11 at the line
Tim Duncan had a night to remember. His 27 rebounds set a new career-high and were the biggest factor in the Spurs getting the win. He also dished out six assists without turning the ball over. However, when it came to scoring the ball, Duncan wasn't very good. He shot poorly from the field and had trouble taking advantage of shorter defenders. Over the last four games, Duncan is shooting just 33.9% (21-for-62) from the floor. Considering that he began to physically breakdown last year in February, Duncan's offensive struggles are somewhat worrisome. That said, since Duncan was so dominant on the glass against the Hawks, those worries are likely unfounded.
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Manu Ginobili
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3380.jpg
27:42 minutes, 14 points, 6 assists, 2 rebounds
5-for-16 from the field, 1-for-4 on three-pointers, 3-for-3 at the line
Manu Ginobili continues to do his best work in the first half. After looking very lively in the first two quarters, Ginobili was just 1-for-5 in the second half. The sad truth is that the Argentine star just doesn't seem to be able to beat his man off the dribble very often anymore. Add in his lack of explosion when he gets to the rim and that's a recipe for a low shooting percentage. In his last eight games, Ginobili is connecting on only 32.7% (32-for-98) of his attempts from the floor and 27% (10-for-37) of his three-pointers. Thankfully, his passing and hustle has been off the charts lately, allowing Ginobili to retain a high amount of value. But the Spurs won't be a true contender if their star shooting guard continues to struggle so much to score.
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Tony Parker
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3527.jpg
26:59 minutes, 10 points, 8 assists, 2 rebounds, 3 turnovers
4-for-10 from the field, 2-for-3 at the line
To make this homestand go from bad to worse, Tony Parker twisted his left ankle on a drive to the basket in the third quarter. He couldn't put any weight on it and needed to be carried off the court. It didn't look good, though the injury is now said to be minor. As for his performance, Parker was very solid. I liked his effort on defense and he ran the offense well. This was the third straight game Parker racked up at least eight assists. Hopefully we see him on the court again before too much longer.
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Richard Jefferson
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3523.jpg
32:17 minutes, 11 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists
5-for-9 from the field, 0-for-2 on three-pointers, 1-for-2 at the line
The stats don't look special but this was one of Richard Jefferson's best efforts of the season. He looked competent on defense; Jefferson even had a few good possessions against Joe Johnson. His aggression on the offensive end was at a good level and he authored a few nice assists. Rebounding was also a plus. Jefferson still has a long ways to go to live up to his potential but this was a step in the right direction.
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George Hill
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/4488.jpg
25:30 minutes, 16 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists
6-for-9 from the field, 1-for-1 on three-pointers, 3-for-4 at the line
George Hill once again looked the part of a starting shooting guard. He came out of the gates in attack mode and that energy served him well on the offensive end. When he's using his combination of speed, athleticism and length, he's a real asset. On the defensive end, things didn't go as smoothly. Hill had real trouble against Johnson and compounded issues by getting in foul trouble. Now that he has to once again fill in for Parker as the starting point guard, Hill needs to remain confident offensively while avoid fouling on the other end.
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Antonio McDyess
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3004.jpg
28:20 minutes, 17 points, 4 rebounds
8-for-9 from the field, 1-for-3 at the line
Okay, now this is Antonio McDyess. Back in the starting lineup, McDyess played perhaps his best game of the season. He ran the court with authority, mixed it up down low and found space to shoot his jumper. McDyess looked more mobile than usual and played with more of an edge than we've seen at any point this year. When he plays this way, he's worth the money the Spurs gave him in the summer.
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DeJuan Blair
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/4642.jpg
16:08 minutes, 4 points, 9 rebounds, 2 turnovers
2-for-4 from the field
Back on the bench, DeJuan Blair continued to rebound the ball. It didn't matter if the Hawks put a bruiser or a jumping bean on him, Blair was owning the glass. The rest of his game, however, wasn't as polished. He made a few mistakes on the offensive end, mostly due to forcing the issue. On defense, Blair had trouble out on the perimeter and defending the pick-and-roll. It'll be interesting to see if Blair continues to get consistent minutes now that he's coming off the bench again.
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Keith Bogans
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3746.jpg
18:44 minutes, 6 points, 4 rebounds
2-for-3 from the field, 2-for-3 on three-pointers
With Hill in foul trouble and Johnson going off, Pop inserted Keith Bogans. The results weren't too impressive. Bogans' defense had virtually no affect on Johnson -- Atlanta's star just shot over him. Bogans did good work on the boards and shot well ... but without quality defense, he isn't worth much.
-------------------------------
Matt Bonner
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3748.jpg
14:06 minutes, 2 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists
1-for-6 from the field, 0-for-4 on three-pointers
Matt Bonner is now 0-for-8 on three-pointers since his return. The good news is reports indicate that he's ready to remove the glove from his injured shooting hand. Bonner played pretty good defense against the Hawks and he was active on both ends. He'll need to start hitting shots from the outside to regain his value, however.
-------------------------------
Roger Mason, Jr.
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3628.jpg
13:20 minutes, 4 points
2-for-6 from the field, 0-for-2 on three-pointers
From night to night, it must be difficult for Roger Mason, Jr. to know what to expect. Pop sometimes uses Mason as a hired gun off the bench. Other games Mason is an afterthought in the rotation. In Wednesday's contest, Mason had an average to above average outing. He was aggressive on the offensive end, had an impressive blocked shot on a dunk and played with a good amount of energy.
-------------------------------
Gregg Popovich
http://dailyelements.com/pop-stoic.jpg
Pop's tinkering continues. Placing McDyess in the starting lineup was a logical move. As well as Blair has played, he's more suited for a bench role at this point in his career. Besides, if the Spurs are going to win a championship, they'll need McDyess to play well. I liked the rotation for the most part, especially the lack of small ball, but I thought he played Bogans a bit too much. When Bogans can't get the job done defensively, what's the use of having him on the court? Going forward without Parker, Pop is going to have to smartly rotate the guards since he really doesn't have a second point guard on the roster.
-------------------------------
Offense
The Spurs were able to score 105 points due to two reasons: crisp ball movement and rabid rebounding. The Spurs had 29 assists and only nine turnovers, while grabbing 19 offensive boards. Taking good care of the ball and getting second chances allowed the Spurs to easily survive their sub par shooting -- 43.5% from the field and 4-for-16 on three-pointers. Getting to the line (28 attempts) also helped.
Defense
While the Hawks did miss a handful of easy shots, the defense for San Antonio was solid. They held the Hawks to only 39.8% shooting and 5-for-20 on three-pointers. The Spurs only forced seven turnovers but they only gave up 15 assists, so that balanced out. Atlanta did well getting to the line (24 attempts) and on the offensive glass (12) but otherwise San Antonio has to been be proud of their effort.
Drive to Five
With Parker missing at least the next two games, the Spurs really need to fight their way to a few victories -- starting with the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday.
Believe.
The Spurs played very good basketball in the first half, growing their lead to as large as 28 points. The Hawks chipped away in the second half and made it a single-digit deficit in the fourth quarter, however the Spurs were able to respond to all the runs to win in relatively easy fashion.
Atlanta is undoubtedly one of the top four teams in the Eastern Conference. Joe Johnson is a stud and the list of young, talented ballers on their squad is long. That said, I'm not a big fan of their gimmick switch-on-everything defense. Playing like that is only asking to be picked apart by the better teams in the league that have guards who can drive to the rim.
As for the Spurs, it was great to get a feel-good victory in this time of need. Unfortunately, the victory came with a price: a Tony Parker sprained ankle. If Parker misses extended time, this win won't mean much in the grand scheme of things.
Tim Duncan
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3173.jpg
35:00 minutes, 21 points, 27 rebounds, 6 assists
5-for-20 from the field, 11-for-11 at the line
Tim Duncan had a night to remember. His 27 rebounds set a new career-high and were the biggest factor in the Spurs getting the win. He also dished out six assists without turning the ball over. However, when it came to scoring the ball, Duncan wasn't very good. He shot poorly from the field and had trouble taking advantage of shorter defenders. Over the last four games, Duncan is shooting just 33.9% (21-for-62) from the floor. Considering that he began to physically breakdown last year in February, Duncan's offensive struggles are somewhat worrisome. That said, since Duncan was so dominant on the glass against the Hawks, those worries are likely unfounded.
-------------------------------
Manu Ginobili
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3380.jpg
27:42 minutes, 14 points, 6 assists, 2 rebounds
5-for-16 from the field, 1-for-4 on three-pointers, 3-for-3 at the line
Manu Ginobili continues to do his best work in the first half. After looking very lively in the first two quarters, Ginobili was just 1-for-5 in the second half. The sad truth is that the Argentine star just doesn't seem to be able to beat his man off the dribble very often anymore. Add in his lack of explosion when he gets to the rim and that's a recipe for a low shooting percentage. In his last eight games, Ginobili is connecting on only 32.7% (32-for-98) of his attempts from the floor and 27% (10-for-37) of his three-pointers. Thankfully, his passing and hustle has been off the charts lately, allowing Ginobili to retain a high amount of value. But the Spurs won't be a true contender if their star shooting guard continues to struggle so much to score.
-------------------------------
Tony Parker
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3527.jpg
26:59 minutes, 10 points, 8 assists, 2 rebounds, 3 turnovers
4-for-10 from the field, 2-for-3 at the line
To make this homestand go from bad to worse, Tony Parker twisted his left ankle on a drive to the basket in the third quarter. He couldn't put any weight on it and needed to be carried off the court. It didn't look good, though the injury is now said to be minor. As for his performance, Parker was very solid. I liked his effort on defense and he ran the offense well. This was the third straight game Parker racked up at least eight assists. Hopefully we see him on the court again before too much longer.
-------------------------------
Richard Jefferson
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3523.jpg
32:17 minutes, 11 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists
5-for-9 from the field, 0-for-2 on three-pointers, 1-for-2 at the line
The stats don't look special but this was one of Richard Jefferson's best efforts of the season. He looked competent on defense; Jefferson even had a few good possessions against Joe Johnson. His aggression on the offensive end was at a good level and he authored a few nice assists. Rebounding was also a plus. Jefferson still has a long ways to go to live up to his potential but this was a step in the right direction.
-------------------------------
George Hill
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/4488.jpg
25:30 minutes, 16 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists
6-for-9 from the field, 1-for-1 on three-pointers, 3-for-4 at the line
George Hill once again looked the part of a starting shooting guard. He came out of the gates in attack mode and that energy served him well on the offensive end. When he's using his combination of speed, athleticism and length, he's a real asset. On the defensive end, things didn't go as smoothly. Hill had real trouble against Johnson and compounded issues by getting in foul trouble. Now that he has to once again fill in for Parker as the starting point guard, Hill needs to remain confident offensively while avoid fouling on the other end.
-------------------------------
Antonio McDyess
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3004.jpg
28:20 minutes, 17 points, 4 rebounds
8-for-9 from the field, 1-for-3 at the line
Okay, now this is Antonio McDyess. Back in the starting lineup, McDyess played perhaps his best game of the season. He ran the court with authority, mixed it up down low and found space to shoot his jumper. McDyess looked more mobile than usual and played with more of an edge than we've seen at any point this year. When he plays this way, he's worth the money the Spurs gave him in the summer.
-------------------------------
DeJuan Blair
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/4642.jpg
16:08 minutes, 4 points, 9 rebounds, 2 turnovers
2-for-4 from the field
Back on the bench, DeJuan Blair continued to rebound the ball. It didn't matter if the Hawks put a bruiser or a jumping bean on him, Blair was owning the glass. The rest of his game, however, wasn't as polished. He made a few mistakes on the offensive end, mostly due to forcing the issue. On defense, Blair had trouble out on the perimeter and defending the pick-and-roll. It'll be interesting to see if Blair continues to get consistent minutes now that he's coming off the bench again.
-------------------------------
Keith Bogans
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3746.jpg
18:44 minutes, 6 points, 4 rebounds
2-for-3 from the field, 2-for-3 on three-pointers
With Hill in foul trouble and Johnson going off, Pop inserted Keith Bogans. The results weren't too impressive. Bogans' defense had virtually no affect on Johnson -- Atlanta's star just shot over him. Bogans did good work on the boards and shot well ... but without quality defense, he isn't worth much.
-------------------------------
Matt Bonner
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3748.jpg
14:06 minutes, 2 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists
1-for-6 from the field, 0-for-4 on three-pointers
Matt Bonner is now 0-for-8 on three-pointers since his return. The good news is reports indicate that he's ready to remove the glove from his injured shooting hand. Bonner played pretty good defense against the Hawks and he was active on both ends. He'll need to start hitting shots from the outside to regain his value, however.
-------------------------------
Roger Mason, Jr.
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3628.jpg
13:20 minutes, 4 points
2-for-6 from the field, 0-for-2 on three-pointers
From night to night, it must be difficult for Roger Mason, Jr. to know what to expect. Pop sometimes uses Mason as a hired gun off the bench. Other games Mason is an afterthought in the rotation. In Wednesday's contest, Mason had an average to above average outing. He was aggressive on the offensive end, had an impressive blocked shot on a dunk and played with a good amount of energy.
-------------------------------
Gregg Popovich
http://dailyelements.com/pop-stoic.jpg
Pop's tinkering continues. Placing McDyess in the starting lineup was a logical move. As well as Blair has played, he's more suited for a bench role at this point in his career. Besides, if the Spurs are going to win a championship, they'll need McDyess to play well. I liked the rotation for the most part, especially the lack of small ball, but I thought he played Bogans a bit too much. When Bogans can't get the job done defensively, what's the use of having him on the court? Going forward without Parker, Pop is going to have to smartly rotate the guards since he really doesn't have a second point guard on the roster.
-------------------------------
Offense
The Spurs were able to score 105 points due to two reasons: crisp ball movement and rabid rebounding. The Spurs had 29 assists and only nine turnovers, while grabbing 19 offensive boards. Taking good care of the ball and getting second chances allowed the Spurs to easily survive their sub par shooting -- 43.5% from the field and 4-for-16 on three-pointers. Getting to the line (28 attempts) also helped.
Defense
While the Hawks did miss a handful of easy shots, the defense for San Antonio was solid. They held the Hawks to only 39.8% shooting and 5-for-20 on three-pointers. The Spurs only forced seven turnovers but they only gave up 15 assists, so that balanced out. Atlanta did well getting to the line (24 attempts) and on the offensive glass (12) but otherwise San Antonio has to been be proud of their effort.
Drive to Five
With Parker missing at least the next two games, the Spurs really need to fight their way to a few victories -- starting with the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday.
Believe.