timvp
02-07-2010, 04:22 AM
After a very disappointing loss against the Portland Trail Blazers, the Spurs found much more accommodating hosts in Los Angeles on the third game of the Rodeo Road Trip. Against a listless Clippers squad, the Spurs easily cruised to a 98-81 victory.
The Clippers scored the first four points of the game. That was the end of the road for the home team. The Spurs scored the next 18 points and the contest was never again in doubt.
This was the first game for new Clippers head coach Kim Hughes, who took over when Mike Dunleavy decided to concentrate on his front office duties. Usually, teams react well to a new coach. Not the Clippers, apparently. They were just awful. The Spurs played a part in their undoing but most of the damage was self-inflicted.
Overall, it was good that the stars got to rest. It was also nice to have a reminder of what it looks like when teams aren't repeatedly shredding San Antonio's defense. However, we'll have to wait until better competition to properly gauge any progress. The tape of this game can't be burned fast enough.
Tim Duncan
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3173.jpg
18:36 minutes, 11 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers
5-for-9 from the field, 1-for-2 at the line
Tim Duncan didn't have to break a sweat in this one. His defense was very solid and he hustled to loose balls. Offensively, Duncan did most of his damage on the perimeter, which was good to see since he's been struggling with his jumper as of late. But far and away the most important stat for Duncan on the night was minutes played. The more games he can get to rest like this, the better.
-------------------------------
Manu Ginobili
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3380.jpg
19:42 minutes, 9 points, 2 rebounds, 2 turnovers
2-for-6 from the field, 1-for-2 on three-pointers, 4-for-6 at the line
Entering the game, Manu Ginobili had hit at least half of his shots in two straight games -- a feat he accomplished only one other time this season. Against the Clippers, Ginobili could be found either at the line or missing jumpers out on the perimeter. A lot has been made about Ginobili's wayward three-point shot, however his midrange game has actually taken a harder hit. He's now just 27-for-104 (25.9%) on two-pointers that are at least ten feet from the basket. To compare, he shot 40.4% last year from that distance and 40.8% in 2007-2008. The good news is that Ginobili is starting to finish again when he drives to the basket. In the last four games, he's 13-for-14 on shots at the rim.
-------------------------------
Tony Parker
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3527.jpg
27:15 minutes, 14 points, 14 assists, 4 steals, 2 rebounds
6-for-12 from the field, 1-for-1 on three-pointers, 1-for-2 at the line
Tony Parker has looked like a different player since his return from injury. The first thing that impresses me is his defense. He has played outstanding defense in the last two games. On Saturday night, he destroyed Baron Davis. Davis tried to bully him but Parker fought back and played a big role in forcing L.A.'s point guard into turning it over eight times. On offense, Parker's playmaking was impressive. He finished with a season-high in assists by repeatedly getting into the lane. Two other aspects that have improved since his return: his jumpshot and the fact that he actually is now looking for DeJuan Blair when he runs a pick-and-roll with the rookie.
-------------------------------
Richard Jefferson
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3523.jpg
22:30 minutes, 5 points
2-for-9 from the field, 1-for-4 on three-pointers
While most of the Spurs were having fun against the Clippers, Richard Jefferson remained in his funk. He was 0-for-5 in the first half and finished the game with only one rebound and one assist. To his credit, he wasn't getting many touches yet continued to compete on the defensive end throughout his struggles. However, with George Hill beginning to shine in basically the exact role Jefferson was brought in to play, it is becoming more and more obvious that Jefferson simply doesn't fit into the system.
-------------------------------
George Hill
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/4488.jpg
29:27 minutes, 22 points, 2 rebounds, 2 turnovers
8-for-11 from the field, 4-for-6 on three-pointers, 2-for-2 at the line
Speaking of George Hill, it's difficult not to be excited about his play. Hill scored 17 points in the first quarter while looking as comfortable as I've ever seen him on the NBA level. He came out firing and helped knockout the Clippers in the opening minutes. In his last six games, Hill is averaging 18.7 points on 55.1% shooting from the field. Defensively, he played well early on but his effectiveness on that end waned as the game progressed. Going forward, Hill's role as the team's starting shooting guard should be safe.
-------------------------------
Antonio McDyess
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3004.jpg
24:16 minutes, 8 points, 10 rebounds, 3 steals
4-for-8 from the field
Antonio McDyess continues to defrost. For the first time this season, he had back-to-back double-digit rebounding nights. I've also been impressed with his post defense and his speed up and down the court in recent games. McDyess obviously has room to improve but at least we are seeing steady progress (unlike another offseason acquisition).
-------------------------------
Matt Bonner
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3748.jpg
23:44 minutes, 11 points, 2 rebounds, 2 turnovers
3-for-8 from the field, 3-for-8 on three-pointers, 2-for-2 at the line
Is Matt Bonner finding his range? In his first nine games back from injury, he was 2-for-17 on three-pointers. Against the Clippers, he was 3-for-8. That said, it must be noted that his threes against the Clippers were wide, wide open looks, so there should be at least a small asterisk placed on this performance. Perhaps even more worrisome than his shooting is the fact that Bonner has only ten rebounds in 97 minutes since his return.
-------------------------------
DeJuan Blair
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/4642.jpg
21:16 minutes, 5 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals
2-for-7 from the field, 1-for-1 at the line
DeJuan Blair looked like a rookie against the Clippers. He was sub par in just about every aspect of the game. His defense was untamed, his shot selection was suspect and he was trying to do too much just about every time he touched the ball. Against the tall lineups the Clippers put on the court, Blair had severe trouble finishing at the rim. However, the fact that we don't see these type of performances from a 20-year-old rookie more often speaks to how well he's played this season.
-------------------------------
Roger Mason, Jr.
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3628.jpg
20:56 minutes, 4 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds
1-for-7 from the field, 0-for-3 on three-pointers, 2-for-2 at the line
Roger Mason, Jr. is in Pop's doghouse. His play against the Clippers didn't change anything. No matter if he played shooting guard or point guard, Mason couldn't get out of his own way. He had trouble handling the ball, shooting the ball, passing the ball, defending the ball and just about everything else that involved the basketball. Since his brickfest against the Nuggets, Mason seems to have experienced a huge dip in confidence.
-------------------------------
Keith Bogans
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3746.jpg
16:02 minutes, 2 points, 2 rebounds
1-for-2 from the field
I remained unimpressed with Bogans' defense. He was a good defender earlier in the year but it's as if he tired himself out. Rarely do we see those bulldog moments that were often back in November and December. Add in the fact that he's barely rebounding anymore and it's almost impossible for Bogans to be an asset on the court right now.
-------------------------------
Michael Finley
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3023.jpg
8:08 minutes, 5 points, 2 rebounds
2-for-4 from the field, 1-for-3 on three-pointers
It was good to see Michael Finley hit a couple of shots. Those were his first makes in more than two months. Last game, Finley was ahead of Mason in the rotation. This time, Mason was ahead of Finley. Pop is likely waiting for one to start playing well to make a selection between the two.
-------------------------------
Theo Ratliff
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3020.jpg
8:08 minutes, 2 points, 2 rebounds, 2 blocks
1-for-3 from the field
Theo Ratliff hadn't played since Jan. 16 -- but he actually looked pretty darn spry. He was running and jumping well while playing with an impressive amount of energy. When the Spurs are lacking aggressiveness -- as has often been the case this season -- inserting Ratliff into the game might be a good idea.
-------------------------------
Gregg Popovich
http://dailyelements.com/pop-stoic.jpg
Pop didn't exactly have to dust off his dry-erase board for this game. Although, he did do a good job of limiting Duncan's minutes and not chickening out when he came to playing the subs the final eight minutes of the game. Pop's move of putting Hill at the starting shooting guard spot has worked out very well. Now if it's not asking too much, hopefully Pop can decide on some type of consistent rotation before the Spurs are looking up at the Western Conference playoff bracket.
-------------------------------
Offense
Even though the Spurs were easily victorious, their offense never really got into gear. They shot 43% from the floor and only got to the line 17 times. Thankfully for the Spurs, they shot well on three-pointers (11-for-28), passed well (26 assists) and kept the turnovers in check (12).
Defense
The defense was good at times, especially in the first quarter. Other times, the Clippers were simply stopping themselves. On the night, L.A.'s junior varsity squad hit 41.3% from the floor, connected on 1-of-9 three-pointers and turned the ball over 21 times.
Drive to Five
On Monday, the Spurs will once again play in the Staples Center. This time, the opponent will be the Lakers. I'll take any type of win over the Lakers at this point.
Believe.
The Clippers scored the first four points of the game. That was the end of the road for the home team. The Spurs scored the next 18 points and the contest was never again in doubt.
This was the first game for new Clippers head coach Kim Hughes, who took over when Mike Dunleavy decided to concentrate on his front office duties. Usually, teams react well to a new coach. Not the Clippers, apparently. They were just awful. The Spurs played a part in their undoing but most of the damage was self-inflicted.
Overall, it was good that the stars got to rest. It was also nice to have a reminder of what it looks like when teams aren't repeatedly shredding San Antonio's defense. However, we'll have to wait until better competition to properly gauge any progress. The tape of this game can't be burned fast enough.
Tim Duncan
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3173.jpg
18:36 minutes, 11 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers
5-for-9 from the field, 1-for-2 at the line
Tim Duncan didn't have to break a sweat in this one. His defense was very solid and he hustled to loose balls. Offensively, Duncan did most of his damage on the perimeter, which was good to see since he's been struggling with his jumper as of late. But far and away the most important stat for Duncan on the night was minutes played. The more games he can get to rest like this, the better.
-------------------------------
Manu Ginobili
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3380.jpg
19:42 minutes, 9 points, 2 rebounds, 2 turnovers
2-for-6 from the field, 1-for-2 on three-pointers, 4-for-6 at the line
Entering the game, Manu Ginobili had hit at least half of his shots in two straight games -- a feat he accomplished only one other time this season. Against the Clippers, Ginobili could be found either at the line or missing jumpers out on the perimeter. A lot has been made about Ginobili's wayward three-point shot, however his midrange game has actually taken a harder hit. He's now just 27-for-104 (25.9%) on two-pointers that are at least ten feet from the basket. To compare, he shot 40.4% last year from that distance and 40.8% in 2007-2008. The good news is that Ginobili is starting to finish again when he drives to the basket. In the last four games, he's 13-for-14 on shots at the rim.
-------------------------------
Tony Parker
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3527.jpg
27:15 minutes, 14 points, 14 assists, 4 steals, 2 rebounds
6-for-12 from the field, 1-for-1 on three-pointers, 1-for-2 at the line
Tony Parker has looked like a different player since his return from injury. The first thing that impresses me is his defense. He has played outstanding defense in the last two games. On Saturday night, he destroyed Baron Davis. Davis tried to bully him but Parker fought back and played a big role in forcing L.A.'s point guard into turning it over eight times. On offense, Parker's playmaking was impressive. He finished with a season-high in assists by repeatedly getting into the lane. Two other aspects that have improved since his return: his jumpshot and the fact that he actually is now looking for DeJuan Blair when he runs a pick-and-roll with the rookie.
-------------------------------
Richard Jefferson
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3523.jpg
22:30 minutes, 5 points
2-for-9 from the field, 1-for-4 on three-pointers
While most of the Spurs were having fun against the Clippers, Richard Jefferson remained in his funk. He was 0-for-5 in the first half and finished the game with only one rebound and one assist. To his credit, he wasn't getting many touches yet continued to compete on the defensive end throughout his struggles. However, with George Hill beginning to shine in basically the exact role Jefferson was brought in to play, it is becoming more and more obvious that Jefferson simply doesn't fit into the system.
-------------------------------
George Hill
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/4488.jpg
29:27 minutes, 22 points, 2 rebounds, 2 turnovers
8-for-11 from the field, 4-for-6 on three-pointers, 2-for-2 at the line
Speaking of George Hill, it's difficult not to be excited about his play. Hill scored 17 points in the first quarter while looking as comfortable as I've ever seen him on the NBA level. He came out firing and helped knockout the Clippers in the opening minutes. In his last six games, Hill is averaging 18.7 points on 55.1% shooting from the field. Defensively, he played well early on but his effectiveness on that end waned as the game progressed. Going forward, Hill's role as the team's starting shooting guard should be safe.
-------------------------------
Antonio McDyess
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3004.jpg
24:16 minutes, 8 points, 10 rebounds, 3 steals
4-for-8 from the field
Antonio McDyess continues to defrost. For the first time this season, he had back-to-back double-digit rebounding nights. I've also been impressed with his post defense and his speed up and down the court in recent games. McDyess obviously has room to improve but at least we are seeing steady progress (unlike another offseason acquisition).
-------------------------------
Matt Bonner
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3748.jpg
23:44 minutes, 11 points, 2 rebounds, 2 turnovers
3-for-8 from the field, 3-for-8 on three-pointers, 2-for-2 at the line
Is Matt Bonner finding his range? In his first nine games back from injury, he was 2-for-17 on three-pointers. Against the Clippers, he was 3-for-8. That said, it must be noted that his threes against the Clippers were wide, wide open looks, so there should be at least a small asterisk placed on this performance. Perhaps even more worrisome than his shooting is the fact that Bonner has only ten rebounds in 97 minutes since his return.
-------------------------------
DeJuan Blair
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/4642.jpg
21:16 minutes, 5 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals
2-for-7 from the field, 1-for-1 at the line
DeJuan Blair looked like a rookie against the Clippers. He was sub par in just about every aspect of the game. His defense was untamed, his shot selection was suspect and he was trying to do too much just about every time he touched the ball. Against the tall lineups the Clippers put on the court, Blair had severe trouble finishing at the rim. However, the fact that we don't see these type of performances from a 20-year-old rookie more often speaks to how well he's played this season.
-------------------------------
Roger Mason, Jr.
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3628.jpg
20:56 minutes, 4 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds
1-for-7 from the field, 0-for-3 on three-pointers, 2-for-2 at the line
Roger Mason, Jr. is in Pop's doghouse. His play against the Clippers didn't change anything. No matter if he played shooting guard or point guard, Mason couldn't get out of his own way. He had trouble handling the ball, shooting the ball, passing the ball, defending the ball and just about everything else that involved the basketball. Since his brickfest against the Nuggets, Mason seems to have experienced a huge dip in confidence.
-------------------------------
Keith Bogans
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3746.jpg
16:02 minutes, 2 points, 2 rebounds
1-for-2 from the field
I remained unimpressed with Bogans' defense. He was a good defender earlier in the year but it's as if he tired himself out. Rarely do we see those bulldog moments that were often back in November and December. Add in the fact that he's barely rebounding anymore and it's almost impossible for Bogans to be an asset on the court right now.
-------------------------------
Michael Finley
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3023.jpg
8:08 minutes, 5 points, 2 rebounds
2-for-4 from the field, 1-for-3 on three-pointers
It was good to see Michael Finley hit a couple of shots. Those were his first makes in more than two months. Last game, Finley was ahead of Mason in the rotation. This time, Mason was ahead of Finley. Pop is likely waiting for one to start playing well to make a selection between the two.
-------------------------------
Theo Ratliff
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3020.jpg
8:08 minutes, 2 points, 2 rebounds, 2 blocks
1-for-3 from the field
Theo Ratliff hadn't played since Jan. 16 -- but he actually looked pretty darn spry. He was running and jumping well while playing with an impressive amount of energy. When the Spurs are lacking aggressiveness -- as has often been the case this season -- inserting Ratliff into the game might be a good idea.
-------------------------------
Gregg Popovich
http://dailyelements.com/pop-stoic.jpg
Pop didn't exactly have to dust off his dry-erase board for this game. Although, he did do a good job of limiting Duncan's minutes and not chickening out when he came to playing the subs the final eight minutes of the game. Pop's move of putting Hill at the starting shooting guard spot has worked out very well. Now if it's not asking too much, hopefully Pop can decide on some type of consistent rotation before the Spurs are looking up at the Western Conference playoff bracket.
-------------------------------
Offense
Even though the Spurs were easily victorious, their offense never really got into gear. They shot 43% from the floor and only got to the line 17 times. Thankfully for the Spurs, they shot well on three-pointers (11-for-28), passed well (26 assists) and kept the turnovers in check (12).
Defense
The defense was good at times, especially in the first quarter. Other times, the Clippers were simply stopping themselves. On the night, L.A.'s junior varsity squad hit 41.3% from the floor, connected on 1-of-9 three-pointers and turned the ball over 21 times.
Drive to Five
On Monday, the Spurs will once again play in the Staples Center. This time, the opponent will be the Lakers. I'll take any type of win over the Lakers at this point.
Believe.