timvp
11-10-2010, 03:35 PM
Game Thoughts: Spurs at Bobcats - Nov. 8 (http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/san-antonio-spurs/spurs-game-thoughts/game-thoughts-spurs-at-bobcats/)
By LJ Ellis (http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/author/ljellis/) | San Antonio Dispatch (http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/)
Another game, another heroic shot by Manu Ginobili. Up by two points over the Charlotte Bobcats with 26.8 seconds remaining, Ginobili drained the clock and then hit a running banker to clinch the win for San Antonio. The 95-91 Spurs victory improved their record to 5-1.
In the first half, the Spurs played their ugliest basketball of the season on the offensive end. The decision-making was poor, the turnovers were plenty and the flow was stagnant. Thankfully, the Big 3 was able to jumpstart the offense before it was too late. Over a span of 11 minutes, the Big 3 turned an 8-point deficit into a 5-point lead.
The fourth quarter was memorable for two reasons: Gary Neal draining three three-pointers within a span of three minutes and a near collapse by the Spurs. After Richard Jefferson hit a jumper with 2:51 remaining to put the Spurs up by nine points, San Antonio’s offense stagnated once again and the Bobcats were able to pull within two points. That’s when Ginobili delivered his latest heroic shot to allow the Spurs to escape with a win.
Overall, it surely wasn’t a pretty win but the Spurs showed a lot of toughness, both physically and mentally, to grind out the victory.
Tim Duncan
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/tim-duncan.jpg
34 mins (+0), 14 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, 1 steal, 4 turnovers
5-for-12 from the field, 4-for-6 at the line
The Bobcats weren’t going to let Tim Duncan beat them. They sent aggressive double-teams his way most of the night, which is the prime reason why Duncan turned it over four times. Despite the turnovers and the not-so-hot shooting, Duncan continued to give very good effort. On the defensive end, Duncan’s effort was even more evident. He rotated very well, protected the rim and did good work against pick-and-rolls. All in all, Duncan’s stats weren’t much to see but he played an important part in the win.
Manu Ginobili
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/manu-ginobili.jpg
34 mins (+2), 26 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 3 turnovers
9-for-17 from the field, 5-for-11 on three-pointers, 3-for-3 at the line
Manu Ginobili’s sloppiness in the first half was a big reason why San Antonio’s play was so ugly to begin the contest. His shot selection wasn’t good, he was forcing passes and he gambled too much defensively. In the second half, Ginobili played a lot better. He was more under control and picked up his defensive intensity. Down the stretch, he scored five of the team’s final seven points, including the clinching banker.
Tony Parker
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/tony-parker.jpg
36 mins (+2), 12 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 turnovers
6-for-15 from the field, 0-for-1 at the line
Tony Parker played well on the offensive end for most of the night. Specifically, his chemistry with Ginobili appears to be better than ever. He’s doing a great job of finding Ginobili in spots where the Argentine star can punish the defense. In fact, all four of Ginobili’s three-pointers were assisted by Parker. Defensively, Parker was very good. He applied constant pressure and scooped up a number of loose balls. Parker had some negatives, most notably his own scoring. He had trouble against the athleticism and length of the Bobcats. Parker also played poorly on the offensive end down the stretch. He was tentative and that got the Spurs into a lot of trouble.
Richard Jefferson
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/richard-jefferson.jpg
33 mins (+6), 6 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal
3-for-9 from the field, 0-for-3 on three-pointers, 0-for-2 at the line
For the first time this season, Richard Jefferson struggled to score. The Bobcats weren’t giving him much space and he never found a rhythm. To Jefferson’s credit, he found ways to help in other areas. His totals in rebounding and assists were season-highs and he was one of the few Spurs players valuing the basketball. Defensively, Jefferson also delivered. He guarded Gerald Wallace well and was physical when playing power forward when Pop went small. If Jefferson can take this type of all around game and add his scoring success from the first five games, he’d really be on to something.
DeJuan Blair
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/dejuan-blair.jpg
21 mins (+0), 4 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks
2-for-6 from the field
It’s gotten to the point where not much is expected out of DeJuan Blair. Though he was sub par once again, there were a few bright spots. His passing was really good — and he earns extra credit for not turning the ball over. Defensively, he made a handful of mistakes but also made some plays. For the first time this season, Blair did a good job of defending the rim. It also appears as if he’s starting to become a dominant rebounder once again. Over the last three games, he’s averaging 14.4 rebounds per 40 minutes — a rate better than his rookie season output.
Antonio McDyess
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/antonio-mcdyess.jpg
22 mins (+4), 7 points, 5 rebounds, 4 blocks, 1 turnover
2-for-3 from the field, 3-for-3 at the line
Antonio McDyess continues to play as consistently as anyone on the team. His defensive work was especially impressive against the Bobcats; his four blocked shots were the most in his Spurs career. McDyess also moved his feet well when rotating and fought for rebounds. I’m not sure how it’s possible but the 36-year-old is quicker and more athletic this season, which is allowing him to impact the game more of defense and be more than just a jump shooter on offense. Let’s hope it continues.
George Hill
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/george-hill.jpg
21 mins (-3), 2 assists, 1 rebound, 1 block, 1 turnover
0-for-4 from the field, 0-for-1 on three-pointers
George Hill didn’t do much right against the Bobcats. Offensively, he was painfully tentative. Hill has no confidence in his jumper and isn’t attacking the basket very well — even when he has wide open lanes. When playing point guard, he rarely ever creates. His latest missed three-pointer has him 1-for-10 from deep on the season. Defensively, Hill wasn’t that good. It appears as if the lack of confidence in himself is affecting every aspect of his game.
Gary Neal
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/gary-neal.jpg
14 mins (+5), 15 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal, 2 turnovers
5-for-8 from the field, 5-for-7 on three-pointers
Gary Neal is starting to make a name for himself. His five three-pointers punished the Bobcats for packing the paint. Without Neal’s sharpshooting, the Spurs would have been in a lot of trouble. Defensively, Neal continues to show a lot of toughness. Charlotte tried to attack him but he was able to defend well enough to negate that strategy. On the season, leads the entire NBA in three-pointers made per minute and is second on the Spurs in scoring per minute. Needless to say, Neal’s rookie season is off to a fantastic start.
James Anderson
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/james-anderson.jpg
14 mins (-1), 6 points, 2 rebounds, 2 turnovers
2-for-8 from the field, 2-for-4 on three-pointers
Though his stats make it appear as if James Anderson really struggled, that wasn’t actually the case. He was forced to create late in the shot clock a number of times, which led to difficult shots. His two three-pointers were key and his defense was mostly a plus. It was also good to see him go after rebounds for a change. In his first four games, Anderson had only three boards in 81 minutes.
Tiago Splitter
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/tiago-splitter.jpg
11 mins (+5), 5 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 turnover
2-for-3 from the field, 1-for-2 at the line
Tiago Splitter had an active 11 minutes of playing time. His four points came on a pair of follow dunks. Defensively, Splitter was impressive. He was nimble on the perimeter and rugged in the paint. Splitter has now played 48 minutes in his NBA career and has totaled 16 points, 11 rebounds and two steals. It’ll be interesting to see when Pop thinks Splitter is ready for more minutes.
Gregg Popovich
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/gregg-popovich.jpg
Pop did a decent job, though I think he played Duncan and Ginobili too many minutes. These early season wins won’t mean much if it comes at the expense of wearing out two-third of the Big 3. If Pop could figure out how to get Hill to play well, that would allow him to rely more on the bench. Calling more plays for Hill could help. Pop deserves credit for keeping Neal in the game in the fourth quarter, which was repaid via a threesome of triples. The play call at the end that put the ball in Ginobili’s hands was the correct move.
Offense
The Spurs had a lot of trouble scoring around the basket. They had ten of their shots blocked and shot only 40.7% on two-pointers. Thankfully, the three-pointers (12-for-26 for 46.2%) were dropping. Those three-pointers along with 15 offensive rebounds allowed the Spurs to overcome a low assist-to-turnover ratio (22-to-17) and a low number of free throw attempts (17).
Defense
This was easily the best defensive game of the season for the Spurs. The Bobcats shot 39.8% from the field and 31.6% (6-for-19) on three-pointers. Charlotte was able to stay in the game by grabbing 15 offensive rebounds, only turning the ball over 14 times and getting to the line 24 times. As well as the Spurs did on the defensive end, it should be noted that the Bobcats are one of the worst offensive teams in the league. We’ll have to see the Spurs defend well against a good offensive team before getting to excited about the D.
Drive for 5
The Spurs need to keep taking advantage of their easy early season schedule. Their next two games are at home against the Los Angeles Clippers and the Philadelphia 76ers. Taking both games is vital because their schedule soon becomes a lot more difficult. That task begins Wednesday night against the Clippers.
Related Articles:
Gary Neal Filling Needed Role for Spurs (http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/san-antonio-spurs/san-antonio-spurs-news/gary-neal-filling-needed-role-for-spurs/)
Spurs at Bobcats – Quick Grades (http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/san-antonio-spurs/spurs-grades/quick-grades-spurs-at-bobcats/)
Player by Player Breakdown – Five Games In (http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/san-antonio-spurs/san-antonio-spurs-news/player-by-player-breakdown-five-games-in/)
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/san-antonio-spurs/spurs-game-thoughts/game-thoughts-spurs-at-bobcats/
By LJ Ellis (http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/author/ljellis/) | San Antonio Dispatch (http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/)
Another game, another heroic shot by Manu Ginobili. Up by two points over the Charlotte Bobcats with 26.8 seconds remaining, Ginobili drained the clock and then hit a running banker to clinch the win for San Antonio. The 95-91 Spurs victory improved their record to 5-1.
In the first half, the Spurs played their ugliest basketball of the season on the offensive end. The decision-making was poor, the turnovers were plenty and the flow was stagnant. Thankfully, the Big 3 was able to jumpstart the offense before it was too late. Over a span of 11 minutes, the Big 3 turned an 8-point deficit into a 5-point lead.
The fourth quarter was memorable for two reasons: Gary Neal draining three three-pointers within a span of three minutes and a near collapse by the Spurs. After Richard Jefferson hit a jumper with 2:51 remaining to put the Spurs up by nine points, San Antonio’s offense stagnated once again and the Bobcats were able to pull within two points. That’s when Ginobili delivered his latest heroic shot to allow the Spurs to escape with a win.
Overall, it surely wasn’t a pretty win but the Spurs showed a lot of toughness, both physically and mentally, to grind out the victory.
Tim Duncan
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/tim-duncan.jpg
34 mins (+0), 14 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, 1 steal, 4 turnovers
5-for-12 from the field, 4-for-6 at the line
The Bobcats weren’t going to let Tim Duncan beat them. They sent aggressive double-teams his way most of the night, which is the prime reason why Duncan turned it over four times. Despite the turnovers and the not-so-hot shooting, Duncan continued to give very good effort. On the defensive end, Duncan’s effort was even more evident. He rotated very well, protected the rim and did good work against pick-and-rolls. All in all, Duncan’s stats weren’t much to see but he played an important part in the win.
Manu Ginobili
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/manu-ginobili.jpg
34 mins (+2), 26 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 3 turnovers
9-for-17 from the field, 5-for-11 on three-pointers, 3-for-3 at the line
Manu Ginobili’s sloppiness in the first half was a big reason why San Antonio’s play was so ugly to begin the contest. His shot selection wasn’t good, he was forcing passes and he gambled too much defensively. In the second half, Ginobili played a lot better. He was more under control and picked up his defensive intensity. Down the stretch, he scored five of the team’s final seven points, including the clinching banker.
Tony Parker
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/tony-parker.jpg
36 mins (+2), 12 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 turnovers
6-for-15 from the field, 0-for-1 at the line
Tony Parker played well on the offensive end for most of the night. Specifically, his chemistry with Ginobili appears to be better than ever. He’s doing a great job of finding Ginobili in spots where the Argentine star can punish the defense. In fact, all four of Ginobili’s three-pointers were assisted by Parker. Defensively, Parker was very good. He applied constant pressure and scooped up a number of loose balls. Parker had some negatives, most notably his own scoring. He had trouble against the athleticism and length of the Bobcats. Parker also played poorly on the offensive end down the stretch. He was tentative and that got the Spurs into a lot of trouble.
Richard Jefferson
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/richard-jefferson.jpg
33 mins (+6), 6 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal
3-for-9 from the field, 0-for-3 on three-pointers, 0-for-2 at the line
For the first time this season, Richard Jefferson struggled to score. The Bobcats weren’t giving him much space and he never found a rhythm. To Jefferson’s credit, he found ways to help in other areas. His totals in rebounding and assists were season-highs and he was one of the few Spurs players valuing the basketball. Defensively, Jefferson also delivered. He guarded Gerald Wallace well and was physical when playing power forward when Pop went small. If Jefferson can take this type of all around game and add his scoring success from the first five games, he’d really be on to something.
DeJuan Blair
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/dejuan-blair.jpg
21 mins (+0), 4 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks
2-for-6 from the field
It’s gotten to the point where not much is expected out of DeJuan Blair. Though he was sub par once again, there were a few bright spots. His passing was really good — and he earns extra credit for not turning the ball over. Defensively, he made a handful of mistakes but also made some plays. For the first time this season, Blair did a good job of defending the rim. It also appears as if he’s starting to become a dominant rebounder once again. Over the last three games, he’s averaging 14.4 rebounds per 40 minutes — a rate better than his rookie season output.
Antonio McDyess
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/antonio-mcdyess.jpg
22 mins (+4), 7 points, 5 rebounds, 4 blocks, 1 turnover
2-for-3 from the field, 3-for-3 at the line
Antonio McDyess continues to play as consistently as anyone on the team. His defensive work was especially impressive against the Bobcats; his four blocked shots were the most in his Spurs career. McDyess also moved his feet well when rotating and fought for rebounds. I’m not sure how it’s possible but the 36-year-old is quicker and more athletic this season, which is allowing him to impact the game more of defense and be more than just a jump shooter on offense. Let’s hope it continues.
George Hill
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/george-hill.jpg
21 mins (-3), 2 assists, 1 rebound, 1 block, 1 turnover
0-for-4 from the field, 0-for-1 on three-pointers
George Hill didn’t do much right against the Bobcats. Offensively, he was painfully tentative. Hill has no confidence in his jumper and isn’t attacking the basket very well — even when he has wide open lanes. When playing point guard, he rarely ever creates. His latest missed three-pointer has him 1-for-10 from deep on the season. Defensively, Hill wasn’t that good. It appears as if the lack of confidence in himself is affecting every aspect of his game.
Gary Neal
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/gary-neal.jpg
14 mins (+5), 15 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal, 2 turnovers
5-for-8 from the field, 5-for-7 on three-pointers
Gary Neal is starting to make a name for himself. His five three-pointers punished the Bobcats for packing the paint. Without Neal’s sharpshooting, the Spurs would have been in a lot of trouble. Defensively, Neal continues to show a lot of toughness. Charlotte tried to attack him but he was able to defend well enough to negate that strategy. On the season, leads the entire NBA in three-pointers made per minute and is second on the Spurs in scoring per minute. Needless to say, Neal’s rookie season is off to a fantastic start.
James Anderson
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/james-anderson.jpg
14 mins (-1), 6 points, 2 rebounds, 2 turnovers
2-for-8 from the field, 2-for-4 on three-pointers
Though his stats make it appear as if James Anderson really struggled, that wasn’t actually the case. He was forced to create late in the shot clock a number of times, which led to difficult shots. His two three-pointers were key and his defense was mostly a plus. It was also good to see him go after rebounds for a change. In his first four games, Anderson had only three boards in 81 minutes.
Tiago Splitter
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/tiago-splitter.jpg
11 mins (+5), 5 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 turnover
2-for-3 from the field, 1-for-2 at the line
Tiago Splitter had an active 11 minutes of playing time. His four points came on a pair of follow dunks. Defensively, Splitter was impressive. He was nimble on the perimeter and rugged in the paint. Splitter has now played 48 minutes in his NBA career and has totaled 16 points, 11 rebounds and two steals. It’ll be interesting to see when Pop thinks Splitter is ready for more minutes.
Gregg Popovich
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/gregg-popovich.jpg
Pop did a decent job, though I think he played Duncan and Ginobili too many minutes. These early season wins won’t mean much if it comes at the expense of wearing out two-third of the Big 3. If Pop could figure out how to get Hill to play well, that would allow him to rely more on the bench. Calling more plays for Hill could help. Pop deserves credit for keeping Neal in the game in the fourth quarter, which was repaid via a threesome of triples. The play call at the end that put the ball in Ginobili’s hands was the correct move.
Offense
The Spurs had a lot of trouble scoring around the basket. They had ten of their shots blocked and shot only 40.7% on two-pointers. Thankfully, the three-pointers (12-for-26 for 46.2%) were dropping. Those three-pointers along with 15 offensive rebounds allowed the Spurs to overcome a low assist-to-turnover ratio (22-to-17) and a low number of free throw attempts (17).
Defense
This was easily the best defensive game of the season for the Spurs. The Bobcats shot 39.8% from the field and 31.6% (6-for-19) on three-pointers. Charlotte was able to stay in the game by grabbing 15 offensive rebounds, only turning the ball over 14 times and getting to the line 24 times. As well as the Spurs did on the defensive end, it should be noted that the Bobcats are one of the worst offensive teams in the league. We’ll have to see the Spurs defend well against a good offensive team before getting to excited about the D.
Drive for 5
The Spurs need to keep taking advantage of their easy early season schedule. Their next two games are at home against the Los Angeles Clippers and the Philadelphia 76ers. Taking both games is vital because their schedule soon becomes a lot more difficult. That task begins Wednesday night against the Clippers.
Related Articles:
Gary Neal Filling Needed Role for Spurs (http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/san-antonio-spurs/san-antonio-spurs-news/gary-neal-filling-needed-role-for-spurs/)
Spurs at Bobcats – Quick Grades (http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/san-antonio-spurs/spurs-grades/quick-grades-spurs-at-bobcats/)
Player by Player Breakdown – Five Games In (http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/san-antonio-spurs/san-antonio-spurs-news/player-by-player-breakdown-five-games-in/)
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/san-antonio-spurs/spurs-game-thoughts/game-thoughts-spurs-at-bobcats/