timvp
11-14-2010, 07:09 PM
Game Thoughts: Spurs vs. 76ers (http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/san-antonio-spurs/spurs-game-thoughts/game-thoughts-spurs-vs-76ers/)
By LJ Ellis (http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/author/ljellis/)
San Antonio Dispatch (http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/)
With a back-to-back affair less than 24 hours before the game’s opening tip, the San Antonio Spurs really wanted to put away the Philadelphia 76ers early. With a dominating third quarter, the Spurs did just that.
The Spurs outscored the Sixers 18-5 in the first five minutes of the third to take a 22-point lead. In total, the third period was 35-12 in favor of San Antonio. As a result, the fourth was almost entirely garbage time — just as hoped. When all was said and done, the Spurs had a sweat-free 116-93 victory.
Overall, the outcome couldn’t have been more perfect. Hopefully it pays off with fresher legs against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday.
Tim Duncan
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/tim-duncan.jpg
24 mins (+28), 7 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 turnovers
2-for-9 from the field, 3-for-3 at the line
Tim Duncan wasn’t need much against the Sixers. That turned out to be a good thing because Duncan didn’t provide much. The best part of his game was his passing — his five assists were a season-high. After beginning the season with a sizzling field goal percentage, Duncan is just 10-for-28 (35.7%) in his last three games.
Manu Ginobili
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/manu-ginobili.jpg
25 mins (+29), 18 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 block, 3 turnovers
6-for-10 from the field, 3-for-5 on three-pointers, 3-for-3 at the lin
Just as Duncan is cooling off, Manu Ginobili is heating up. Over his last three contests, Ginobili is 21-for-36 (58.3%) from the floor, 11-for-21 (52.4%) from beyond the three-point arc and 13-for-13 at the charity stripe. Against the Sixers, he did a lot of damage without utilizing too many touches. Defensively, he was off and on. The one lingering issue with Ginobili is turnovers. He has at least two turnover in each game this season and at least three turnovers in each of the November’s six games.
Tony Parker
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/tony-parker.jpg
28 mins (+26), 24 points, 7 assists, 3 rebounds, 3 steals, 1 turnover
10-for-13 from the field, 4-for-5 at the line
Pop said this was probably Tony Parker’s best game of the season and I have to agree with him. Defensively, he was very good. He relentlessly pressured Jrue Holiday and practically shut him down completely. When Parker looked to score, he did so with ease. His playmaking remains at a very impressive level. Over his last four games, Parker has 38 assists and only eight turnovers. If Parker keeps playing like this, the Spurs could pile up a lot of wins in the regular season.
Richard Jefferson
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/richard-jefferson.jpg
27 mins (+25), 10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 turnover
3-for-6 from the field, 1-for-4 on three-pointers, 3-for-4 at the line
Richard Jefferson impacted the game in a number of areas. He had the proper level of aggression on the offensive end. The scoring was good to see but his overall awareness on that end was even more impressive. Defensively, he did really good work. He had a few one-on-one breakdowns but his team defense was above average. Jefferson’s all around energetic play was contagious.
DeJuan Blair
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/dejuan-blair.jpg
24 mins (+20), 13 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 block, 1 turnover
5-for-8 from the field, 3-for-4 at the line
Now this is the DeJuan Blair we all expected. He rebounded the ball very well. He scored when given the opportunities. He did the little things expected of him. Blair’s defense wasn’t very good to begin the contest but he improved as the game progressed. A few more outings like this and the memories of Blair’s slow start could begin to fade.
Gary Neal
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/gary-neal.jpg
15 mins (-9), 5 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover
2-for-9 from the field, 1-for-3 on three-pointers
When the game was still somewhat close, Gary Neal played well. He knocked down a few shots, competed defensive and crashed the boards. In garbage time, it wasn’t a pretty sight when Neal attempted to create for himself off the dribble.
George Hill
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/george-hill.jpg
21 mins (+9), 16 points, 2 rebounds, 1 block
5-for-8 from the field, 1-for-1 on three-pointers, 5-for-6 at the line
A lot better. George Hill’s funk is hopefully coming to an end. He’s still hesitant but it’s not nearly as bad as it was a few games ago. Hill relies on confidence to fuel his game and the good news is his confidence is on the incline.
Tiago Splitter
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/tiago-splitter.jpg
19 mins (-2), 6 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover
2-for-6 from the field, 2-for-2 at the line
Tiago Splitter was brazen for the first time. He attempted a number of offensive moves and was actively trying to make plays on the defensive ends. It’s important for Splitter to use this part of the season to expand his game. He has a lot to learn before the games really begin to become competitive.
Matt Bonner
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/matt-bonner.jpg
15 mins (-1), 6 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal
1-for-5 from the field, 1-for-3 on three-pointers, 3-for-4 at the line
In Matt Bonner’s return from an ankle injury, I thought he looked in better shape than expected. He moved relatively well, jumped well and didn’t have much trouble running the court. His shot was off — but that has usually been the case for Bonner when coming off of a layoff. It’ll take him a while to find his rhythm.
Alonzo Gee
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/alonzo-gee.jpg
15 mins (-9), 2 points, 2 rebounds, 1 block, 3 turnovers
1-for-3 from the field
Alonzo Gee got his first extended playing time for the Spurs. Honestly, he wasn’t too impressive. While he’s a good athlete, he plays small. Gee was out of control too often and it appears as if his basketball IQ is a major work in progress. If he can hit perimeter shots and get out on the break and finish, Gee could help the Spurs. On Saturday, we didn’t see much of that.
Chris Quinn
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/chris-quinn.jpg
12 mins (-9), 5 points, 2 assists, 1 rebound
2-for-4 from the field, 1-for-2 on three-pointers
Also getting his first extended time with the Spurs, Chris Quinn played as expected. He ran the show, he didn’t turn it over and he hit a pair of shots from the perimeter. Quinn isn’t much of a playmaker off the dribble and he’s not going to be much more than a scrappy defender at best — but that was known long before this outing. As a safe option, Quinn is a solid choice as a third string point guard. That said, he has virtually no potential to be more than that.
Gregg Popovich
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/gregg-popovich.jpg
Whatever Pop said to the team at halftime was golden. Late in the game, he did a good job of trusting the reserves and didn’t panic when the Sixers made small runs. How Pop coaches against the Thunder will be interesting. Does he plan to coach differently in back-to-backs this season? We’ll find out.
Offense
The offense was solid in all areas. San Antonio shot 48.2% from the field, knocked down 8-of-18 three-pointers and the team got to the free throw line 31 times. The Spurs also grabbed ten offensive rebounds. To nitpick, the 21-to-14 assist-to-turnover ratio wasn’t too hot.
Defense
San Antonio’s defense wasn’t that good in the first half. In the third quarter, it was outstanding. All in all, the D was a lot better than we have come to expect this season. The Sixers shot 41.5% from the field and attempted only nine three-pointers. Forcing Philadelphia into 15 turnovers was good, while holding them to only 13 assists was even better. The eight offensive rebounds allowed was a plus, however the free throw attempts (24) were a bit high.
Drive for 5
The Thunder in Oklahoma City on the second night of a back-to-back with limited rest will be a very good litmus test. How good are these Spurs? We’ll know more Sunday night.
Related Articles:
Quick Grades: Spurs vs. 76ers (http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/san-antonio-spurs/spurs-grades/quick-grades-spurs-vs-76ers/)
Spurs vs. 76ers – Post-Game Roundup (http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/san-antonio-spurs/san-antonio-spurs-news/spurs-vs-76ers-post-game-roundup/)
Game Day Roundup: Spurs Aim for 7th Straight (http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/san-antonio-spurs/san-antonio-spurs-news/game-day-roundup-spurs-aim-for-7th-straight/)
By LJ Ellis (http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/author/ljellis/)
San Antonio Dispatch (http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/)
With a back-to-back affair less than 24 hours before the game’s opening tip, the San Antonio Spurs really wanted to put away the Philadelphia 76ers early. With a dominating third quarter, the Spurs did just that.
The Spurs outscored the Sixers 18-5 in the first five minutes of the third to take a 22-point lead. In total, the third period was 35-12 in favor of San Antonio. As a result, the fourth was almost entirely garbage time — just as hoped. When all was said and done, the Spurs had a sweat-free 116-93 victory.
Overall, the outcome couldn’t have been more perfect. Hopefully it pays off with fresher legs against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday.
Tim Duncan
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/tim-duncan.jpg
24 mins (+28), 7 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 turnovers
2-for-9 from the field, 3-for-3 at the line
Tim Duncan wasn’t need much against the Sixers. That turned out to be a good thing because Duncan didn’t provide much. The best part of his game was his passing — his five assists were a season-high. After beginning the season with a sizzling field goal percentage, Duncan is just 10-for-28 (35.7%) in his last three games.
Manu Ginobili
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/manu-ginobili.jpg
25 mins (+29), 18 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 block, 3 turnovers
6-for-10 from the field, 3-for-5 on three-pointers, 3-for-3 at the lin
Just as Duncan is cooling off, Manu Ginobili is heating up. Over his last three contests, Ginobili is 21-for-36 (58.3%) from the floor, 11-for-21 (52.4%) from beyond the three-point arc and 13-for-13 at the charity stripe. Against the Sixers, he did a lot of damage without utilizing too many touches. Defensively, he was off and on. The one lingering issue with Ginobili is turnovers. He has at least two turnover in each game this season and at least three turnovers in each of the November’s six games.
Tony Parker
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/tony-parker.jpg
28 mins (+26), 24 points, 7 assists, 3 rebounds, 3 steals, 1 turnover
10-for-13 from the field, 4-for-5 at the line
Pop said this was probably Tony Parker’s best game of the season and I have to agree with him. Defensively, he was very good. He relentlessly pressured Jrue Holiday and practically shut him down completely. When Parker looked to score, he did so with ease. His playmaking remains at a very impressive level. Over his last four games, Parker has 38 assists and only eight turnovers. If Parker keeps playing like this, the Spurs could pile up a lot of wins in the regular season.
Richard Jefferson
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/richard-jefferson.jpg
27 mins (+25), 10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 turnover
3-for-6 from the field, 1-for-4 on three-pointers, 3-for-4 at the line
Richard Jefferson impacted the game in a number of areas. He had the proper level of aggression on the offensive end. The scoring was good to see but his overall awareness on that end was even more impressive. Defensively, he did really good work. He had a few one-on-one breakdowns but his team defense was above average. Jefferson’s all around energetic play was contagious.
DeJuan Blair
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/dejuan-blair.jpg
24 mins (+20), 13 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 block, 1 turnover
5-for-8 from the field, 3-for-4 at the line
Now this is the DeJuan Blair we all expected. He rebounded the ball very well. He scored when given the opportunities. He did the little things expected of him. Blair’s defense wasn’t very good to begin the contest but he improved as the game progressed. A few more outings like this and the memories of Blair’s slow start could begin to fade.
Gary Neal
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/gary-neal.jpg
15 mins (-9), 5 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover
2-for-9 from the field, 1-for-3 on three-pointers
When the game was still somewhat close, Gary Neal played well. He knocked down a few shots, competed defensive and crashed the boards. In garbage time, it wasn’t a pretty sight when Neal attempted to create for himself off the dribble.
George Hill
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/george-hill.jpg
21 mins (+9), 16 points, 2 rebounds, 1 block
5-for-8 from the field, 1-for-1 on three-pointers, 5-for-6 at the line
A lot better. George Hill’s funk is hopefully coming to an end. He’s still hesitant but it’s not nearly as bad as it was a few games ago. Hill relies on confidence to fuel his game and the good news is his confidence is on the incline.
Tiago Splitter
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/tiago-splitter.jpg
19 mins (-2), 6 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover
2-for-6 from the field, 2-for-2 at the line
Tiago Splitter was brazen for the first time. He attempted a number of offensive moves and was actively trying to make plays on the defensive ends. It’s important for Splitter to use this part of the season to expand his game. He has a lot to learn before the games really begin to become competitive.
Matt Bonner
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/matt-bonner.jpg
15 mins (-1), 6 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal
1-for-5 from the field, 1-for-3 on three-pointers, 3-for-4 at the line
In Matt Bonner’s return from an ankle injury, I thought he looked in better shape than expected. He moved relatively well, jumped well and didn’t have much trouble running the court. His shot was off — but that has usually been the case for Bonner when coming off of a layoff. It’ll take him a while to find his rhythm.
Alonzo Gee
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/alonzo-gee.jpg
15 mins (-9), 2 points, 2 rebounds, 1 block, 3 turnovers
1-for-3 from the field
Alonzo Gee got his first extended playing time for the Spurs. Honestly, he wasn’t too impressive. While he’s a good athlete, he plays small. Gee was out of control too often and it appears as if his basketball IQ is a major work in progress. If he can hit perimeter shots and get out on the break and finish, Gee could help the Spurs. On Saturday, we didn’t see much of that.
Chris Quinn
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/chris-quinn.jpg
12 mins (-9), 5 points, 2 assists, 1 rebound
2-for-4 from the field, 1-for-2 on three-pointers
Also getting his first extended time with the Spurs, Chris Quinn played as expected. He ran the show, he didn’t turn it over and he hit a pair of shots from the perimeter. Quinn isn’t much of a playmaker off the dribble and he’s not going to be much more than a scrappy defender at best — but that was known long before this outing. As a safe option, Quinn is a solid choice as a third string point guard. That said, he has virtually no potential to be more than that.
Gregg Popovich
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/gregg-popovich.jpg
Whatever Pop said to the team at halftime was golden. Late in the game, he did a good job of trusting the reserves and didn’t panic when the Sixers made small runs. How Pop coaches against the Thunder will be interesting. Does he plan to coach differently in back-to-backs this season? We’ll find out.
Offense
The offense was solid in all areas. San Antonio shot 48.2% from the field, knocked down 8-of-18 three-pointers and the team got to the free throw line 31 times. The Spurs also grabbed ten offensive rebounds. To nitpick, the 21-to-14 assist-to-turnover ratio wasn’t too hot.
Defense
San Antonio’s defense wasn’t that good in the first half. In the third quarter, it was outstanding. All in all, the D was a lot better than we have come to expect this season. The Sixers shot 41.5% from the field and attempted only nine three-pointers. Forcing Philadelphia into 15 turnovers was good, while holding them to only 13 assists was even better. The eight offensive rebounds allowed was a plus, however the free throw attempts (24) were a bit high.
Drive for 5
The Thunder in Oklahoma City on the second night of a back-to-back with limited rest will be a very good litmus test. How good are these Spurs? We’ll know more Sunday night.
Related Articles:
Quick Grades: Spurs vs. 76ers (http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/san-antonio-spurs/spurs-grades/quick-grades-spurs-vs-76ers/)
Spurs vs. 76ers – Post-Game Roundup (http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/san-antonio-spurs/san-antonio-spurs-news/spurs-vs-76ers-post-game-roundup/)
Game Day Roundup: Spurs Aim for 7th Straight (http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/san-antonio-spurs/san-antonio-spurs-news/game-day-roundup-spurs-aim-for-7th-straight/)