timvp
02-28-2010, 02:10 AM
After one of their more impressive victories of the season, the San Antonio Spurs traveled to Houston in hopes of taking another step in the right direction. Instead, the Spurs were tripped up early and suffered another momentum stifling loss.
The first quarter was difficult to watch. The Rockets were playing with tons of energy, while the Spurs were passive and listless. When the period mercifully ended, the Spurs trailed 31-14. Utilizing their deep bench, the Spurs eventually made a run late in the fourth -- but it turned out to be too little, too late.
The Rockets came into the game struggling but they looked good against the Spurs. Kevin Martin showed off his scoring potential, while Aaron Brooks illustrated his explosiveness. And let us not speak of the salt Luis Scola applied to the open wound that is current state of the Spurs.
Overall, it was another case of taking a couple steps back after seemingly taking a step forward.
Tim Duncan
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3173.jpg
24:21 minutes, 17 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists
8-for-17 from the field, 1-for-3 at the line
Tim Duncan entered the game trying to punish the Rockets. Houston rarely sends double-teams his way and Duncan tried to take advantage. While the intentions were good, the execution wasn't. Duncan ended up being too aggressive and the team's offensive rhythm suffered. Defensively, he did a poor job defending the rim. All in all, it's not a surprise that Duncan had a team worst plus/minus of -25.
-------------------------------
Manu Ginobili
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3380.jpg
24:06 minutes, 8 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 turnovers
1-for-8 from the field, 0-for-2 on three-pointers, 6-for-6 at the line
Versus the Thunder, Manu Ginobili willed the Spurs to victory in one of the most memorable outings of his career. In this game, Ginobili's effort was still very good but he couldn't get it going on the offensive end. Without Ginobili putting the ball in the hole or creating offense on a consistent basis, the Spurs didn't have much of a chance -- especially with Tony Parker sidelined. His individual D wasn't too great but his nine defensive rebounds were really helpful on that end.
-------------------------------
George Hill
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/4488.jpg
37:37 minutes, 26 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 turnovers
8-for-14 from the field, 3-for-5 on three-pointers, 7-for-8 at the line
It was a tale of two halves for Hill. In the first half, he was really bad. His extremely weak play in the first quarter doomed the Spurs. His play in the second quarter wasn't much better. In the second half, Hill turned up the intensity. He scored 23 points in the final two quarters to finish with a career-high despite scoring only three points in the first half. Defensively, Hill was disappointing throughout. Brooks' speed and craftiness really gave Hill fits.
-------------------------------
Antonio McDyess
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3004.jpg
15:24 minutes, 2 assists
0-for-3 from the field
Just when it looked like Antonio McDyess may be turning the corner, he just had two horrendous games in consecutive contests. Going 0-for-9 with three rebounds is not the way to solidify a starting gig. Playing sub par defense on top of that is a ticket to the bottom of the rotation.
-------------------------------
Keith Bogans
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3746.jpg
14:24 minutes, 3 turnovers
0-for-3 from the field, 0-for-3 on three-pointers
Keith Bogans did some good work against Kevin Durant last game. Against the Rockets, he was a disaster. If he wasn't missing shots offensively, he was turning it over. Defensively, he wasn't helping at all. How this guy is a starter in the NBA is a question I cannot answer.
-------------------------------
Michael Finley
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3023.jpg
9:41 minutes
0-for-2 from the field
Michael Finley's NBA career is over. It's now just a matter of getting Pop to figure it out. That said, I have to give Finley credit for his effort on defense. He knows where to be and fights as hard as he can to stop his opponent. Unfortunately, he just doesn't have it anymore.
-------------------------------
Richard Jefferson
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3523.jpg
30:10 minutes, 15 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, 2 turnovers
6-for-12 from the field, 0-for-2 on three-pointers, 3-for-5 at the line
It's a little late but Richard Jefferson is finally starting to play with some aggressiveness. We've seen more contested rebounds in the last few games than we saw all season. Jefferson is also attacking the rim smarter and defending a bit better. However, he still has a long ways to go to even become an average NBA player at this point.
-------------------------------
Roger Mason, Jr.
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3628.jpg
30:57 minutes, 12 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 assists
4-for-13 from the field, 3-for-9 on three-pointers
Since subtly asking for a trade, Roger Mason, Jr. has spent most of his time missing shots. He added nine more missed field goal attempts in the game against the Rockets. Mason made a few quality plays with the basketball but his defense was very poor and his shot selection was iffy.
-------------------------------
DeJuan Blair
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/4642.jpg
17:43 minutes, 10 points, 6 rebounds
4-for-4 from the field, 2-for-2 at the line
DeJuan Blair was one of the few players on the Spurs who brought the needed aggression and toughness. Blair's physicality ultimately led to him fouling out of the game. Offensively, he showed very good touch around the basket. His defense wasn't very good -- then again, that could said about most every player in this game.
-------------------------------
Malik Hairston
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/8769/malikhairstongt.jpg
17:54 minutes, 10 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 blocked shot
4-for-6 from the field, 0-for-2 at the line
Malik Hairston played like someone who absolutely refuses to be ignored any longer. He has spent most of his season either sitting on the bench or starring in the D-League. Now, there's almost no way Pop can't give Hairston more minutes. His ability to take the rim off the dribble was very impressive. Hairston defended with tenacity, rebounded the ball with authority and he hustled relentlessly. Overall, it was a very encouraging outing from Hairston.
-------------------------------
Ian Mahinmi
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3954.jpg
10:08 minutes, 8 points, 5 rebounds
3-for-3 from the field, 2-for-3 at the line
I'm not sure what was more of a miracle on Friday night: Mahinmi getting first quarter minutes or my tiny yet unbelievably beautiful daughter coming home for the first time. After a rocky start, Mahinmi played better and better. By the fourth quarter, he was one of the main reasons why the Spurs were able to make a run. Like Hairston, Mahinmi should have earned more minutes with this effort -- at least in theory.
-------------------------------
Matt Bonner
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3748.jpg
7:35 minutes
Matt Bonner just hasn't been able to recover from his injury. His timing is shot, his confidence is non-existent and he also doesn't seem to be in very good shape. It has gotten to the point that there's no reason for him to play. Bonner has been given chances; Pop needs to move on.
-------------------------------
Gregg Popovich
http://dailyelements.com/pop-stoic.jpg
We'll get a good idea on how stubborn Pop really is now. Anyone who watched the Rockets game saw that Hairston deserves a lot more minutes going forward. His athleticism and energy alone would be a huge assets to this team. Mahinmi playing more is also likely to help. On the other hand, a few players are begging for DNP-CDs (See: Bonner, Matt; Finley, Michael; Bogans, Keith). Will Pop see the light? Let's hope so.
-------------------------------
Offense
Putting 104 points on the board against the Rockets is notable, especially after the Spurs scored just 14 points in the first quarter. The second half saw San Antonio put 63 points on the board. For the game, the Spurs shot 44.7% from the field, got to the line 30 times and grabbed 15 offensive rebounds. San Antonio struggled from deep (6-for-21) and didn't do a very good job handling the ball (21 assists, 16 turnovers).
Defense
The Rockets scored easily in the first half. In the second half, their field goal accuracy faltered. However, the Rockets thrived by getting to the line. They shot 45.6% from the floor and hit 34-of-38 attempts from the charity stripe. The Spurs actually did a good job defending the three-point line (3-for-16) and limiting the Rockets to 18 assists.
Staying Alive
The Spurs are currently tied for seventh in the Western Conference. At noon on Sunday, San Antonio hosts the Phoenix Suns in a game the Spurs really need to win for playoff positioning.
The first quarter was difficult to watch. The Rockets were playing with tons of energy, while the Spurs were passive and listless. When the period mercifully ended, the Spurs trailed 31-14. Utilizing their deep bench, the Spurs eventually made a run late in the fourth -- but it turned out to be too little, too late.
The Rockets came into the game struggling but they looked good against the Spurs. Kevin Martin showed off his scoring potential, while Aaron Brooks illustrated his explosiveness. And let us not speak of the salt Luis Scola applied to the open wound that is current state of the Spurs.
Overall, it was another case of taking a couple steps back after seemingly taking a step forward.
Tim Duncan
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3173.jpg
24:21 minutes, 17 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists
8-for-17 from the field, 1-for-3 at the line
Tim Duncan entered the game trying to punish the Rockets. Houston rarely sends double-teams his way and Duncan tried to take advantage. While the intentions were good, the execution wasn't. Duncan ended up being too aggressive and the team's offensive rhythm suffered. Defensively, he did a poor job defending the rim. All in all, it's not a surprise that Duncan had a team worst plus/minus of -25.
-------------------------------
Manu Ginobili
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3380.jpg
24:06 minutes, 8 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 turnovers
1-for-8 from the field, 0-for-2 on three-pointers, 6-for-6 at the line
Versus the Thunder, Manu Ginobili willed the Spurs to victory in one of the most memorable outings of his career. In this game, Ginobili's effort was still very good but he couldn't get it going on the offensive end. Without Ginobili putting the ball in the hole or creating offense on a consistent basis, the Spurs didn't have much of a chance -- especially with Tony Parker sidelined. His individual D wasn't too great but his nine defensive rebounds were really helpful on that end.
-------------------------------
George Hill
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/4488.jpg
37:37 minutes, 26 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 turnovers
8-for-14 from the field, 3-for-5 on three-pointers, 7-for-8 at the line
It was a tale of two halves for Hill. In the first half, he was really bad. His extremely weak play in the first quarter doomed the Spurs. His play in the second quarter wasn't much better. In the second half, Hill turned up the intensity. He scored 23 points in the final two quarters to finish with a career-high despite scoring only three points in the first half. Defensively, Hill was disappointing throughout. Brooks' speed and craftiness really gave Hill fits.
-------------------------------
Antonio McDyess
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3004.jpg
15:24 minutes, 2 assists
0-for-3 from the field
Just when it looked like Antonio McDyess may be turning the corner, he just had two horrendous games in consecutive contests. Going 0-for-9 with three rebounds is not the way to solidify a starting gig. Playing sub par defense on top of that is a ticket to the bottom of the rotation.
-------------------------------
Keith Bogans
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3746.jpg
14:24 minutes, 3 turnovers
0-for-3 from the field, 0-for-3 on three-pointers
Keith Bogans did some good work against Kevin Durant last game. Against the Rockets, he was a disaster. If he wasn't missing shots offensively, he was turning it over. Defensively, he wasn't helping at all. How this guy is a starter in the NBA is a question I cannot answer.
-------------------------------
Michael Finley
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3023.jpg
9:41 minutes
0-for-2 from the field
Michael Finley's NBA career is over. It's now just a matter of getting Pop to figure it out. That said, I have to give Finley credit for his effort on defense. He knows where to be and fights as hard as he can to stop his opponent. Unfortunately, he just doesn't have it anymore.
-------------------------------
Richard Jefferson
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3523.jpg
30:10 minutes, 15 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, 2 turnovers
6-for-12 from the field, 0-for-2 on three-pointers, 3-for-5 at the line
It's a little late but Richard Jefferson is finally starting to play with some aggressiveness. We've seen more contested rebounds in the last few games than we saw all season. Jefferson is also attacking the rim smarter and defending a bit better. However, he still has a long ways to go to even become an average NBA player at this point.
-------------------------------
Roger Mason, Jr.
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/basketball/nba/players/3628.jpg
30:57 minutes, 12 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 assists
4-for-13 from the field, 3-for-9 on three-pointers
Since subtly asking for a trade, Roger Mason, Jr. has spent most of his time missing shots. He added nine more missed field goal attempts in the game against the Rockets. Mason made a few quality plays with the basketball but his defense was very poor and his shot selection was iffy.
-------------------------------
DeJuan Blair
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/4642.jpg
17:43 minutes, 10 points, 6 rebounds
4-for-4 from the field, 2-for-2 at the line
DeJuan Blair was one of the few players on the Spurs who brought the needed aggression and toughness. Blair's physicality ultimately led to him fouling out of the game. Offensively, he showed very good touch around the basket. His defense wasn't very good -- then again, that could said about most every player in this game.
-------------------------------
Malik Hairston
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/8769/malikhairstongt.jpg
17:54 minutes, 10 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 blocked shot
4-for-6 from the field, 0-for-2 at the line
Malik Hairston played like someone who absolutely refuses to be ignored any longer. He has spent most of his season either sitting on the bench or starring in the D-League. Now, there's almost no way Pop can't give Hairston more minutes. His ability to take the rim off the dribble was very impressive. Hairston defended with tenacity, rebounded the ball with authority and he hustled relentlessly. Overall, it was a very encouraging outing from Hairston.
-------------------------------
Ian Mahinmi
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3954.jpg
10:08 minutes, 8 points, 5 rebounds
3-for-3 from the field, 2-for-3 at the line
I'm not sure what was more of a miracle on Friday night: Mahinmi getting first quarter minutes or my tiny yet unbelievably beautiful daughter coming home for the first time. After a rocky start, Mahinmi played better and better. By the fourth quarter, he was one of the main reasons why the Spurs were able to make a run. Like Hairston, Mahinmi should have earned more minutes with this effort -- at least in theory.
-------------------------------
Matt Bonner
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3748.jpg
7:35 minutes
Matt Bonner just hasn't been able to recover from his injury. His timing is shot, his confidence is non-existent and he also doesn't seem to be in very good shape. It has gotten to the point that there's no reason for him to play. Bonner has been given chances; Pop needs to move on.
-------------------------------
Gregg Popovich
http://dailyelements.com/pop-stoic.jpg
We'll get a good idea on how stubborn Pop really is now. Anyone who watched the Rockets game saw that Hairston deserves a lot more minutes going forward. His athleticism and energy alone would be a huge assets to this team. Mahinmi playing more is also likely to help. On the other hand, a few players are begging for DNP-CDs (See: Bonner, Matt; Finley, Michael; Bogans, Keith). Will Pop see the light? Let's hope so.
-------------------------------
Offense
Putting 104 points on the board against the Rockets is notable, especially after the Spurs scored just 14 points in the first quarter. The second half saw San Antonio put 63 points on the board. For the game, the Spurs shot 44.7% from the field, got to the line 30 times and grabbed 15 offensive rebounds. San Antonio struggled from deep (6-for-21) and didn't do a very good job handling the ball (21 assists, 16 turnovers).
Defense
The Rockets scored easily in the first half. In the second half, their field goal accuracy faltered. However, the Rockets thrived by getting to the line. They shot 45.6% from the floor and hit 34-of-38 attempts from the charity stripe. The Spurs actually did a good job defending the three-point line (3-for-16) and limiting the Rockets to 18 assists.
Staying Alive
The Spurs are currently tied for seventh in the Western Conference. At noon on Sunday, San Antonio hosts the Phoenix Suns in a game the Spurs really need to win for playoff positioning.