timvp
11-22-2010, 05:42 AM
Player by Player Analysis – Last 7 Games (http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/san-antonio-spurs/san-antonio-spurs-news/inside-the-spurs-player-by-player-analysis-last-7-games/)
By LJ Ellis (http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/author/ljellis/) | San Antonio Dispatch
Tim Duncan
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/tim-duncan.jpg
26:48 mins, 10.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.0 blocks, 1.9 turnovers
38.0% from the field, 69.6% at the line
The Spurs have been able to win their last seven games despite Tim Duncan’s scoring dipping to an alarmingly low rate. His slump began after suffering flu-like symptoms prior to the game against the Clippers. Fortunately, Duncan’s slump consists of one main issue: missing easy shots. Otherwise, Duncan has actually produced at a quality clip. He’s moving his feet on defense out on the perimeter in addition to doing very good work protecting the rim. On offense, Duncan is passing well, making good decisions and putting himself in good positions to score the rock. For reasons unknown, Duncan has simply blown chip shots he can usually sinks in his sleep. I don’t see any signs of injury or more than the usual amount of fatigue, so I believe it’s safe to assume Duncan is just going through a dry spell with the putter.
Manu Ginobili
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/manu-ginobili.jpg
31:40 mins, 19.3 points, 3.9 assists, 3.3 rebounds, 1.9 steals, 2.1 turnovers
48.8% from the field, 43.9% on three-pointers, 92.1% at the line
Manu Ginobili has been a scoring machine as of late, thanks in large part to his shot being as automatic as ever. When he’s hitting threes, the Argentine star becomes just about impossible to defend. With the threat of the step-back three-pointer, defenders are forced to guard him a foot or two closer. The result is clearer lanes to the basket when Ginobili decides to drive. When comparing his stats from last year to this year, the numbers are very similar. He’s shooting almost exactly the same amount of field goals and free throws per minute. The main difference is his shot selection. Ginobili is shooting three-pointers 23.7% more often than last season, which (combined with higher shooting percentages) has allowed him to score 6.8% more points per minute. His rates of assists, steals, blocks and turnovers are all right around his career rates. The only noticeable drop in production has been rebounding — a 31.1% drop from last season and 45% drop from two seasons ago. Defensively, Ginobili has been about average overall. His mistakes are usually negated with hustle plays only he can make.
Tony Parker
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/tony-parker.jpg
33:03 mins, 20.7 points, 7.1 assists, 3.9 rebounds, 1.9 steals, 2.1 turnovers
59.4% from the field, 1-for-1 on three-pointers, 75.0% at the line
Judging Tony Parker only by his play, no one would ever know he’s going through personal issues away from the court. Parker has been outstanding in all phases over the last seven games. He’s scoring efficiently without dominating the ball. He’s creating plays for others on a consistent basis without excessive turnovers. He’s defending better than he ever has in the regular season and he’s not getting in foul trouble or losing energy on the offensive end. For years, the coaching staff has urged Parker to use his speed as an asset on the defensive end just like he does on the other end. This season, we are finally seeing Parker do just that consistently. All in all, there’s not much to nitpick. More of the same would be appreciated by all.
Richard Jefferson
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/richard-jefferson.jpg
32:24 mins, 13.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.9 blocks, 1.0 turnover
44.4% from the field, 35.7% on three-pointers, 84.4% at the line
Richard Jefferson isn’t as hot as he was to begin the season, however the good news is he’s not letting missed shots negatively affect his style of play. Jefferson isn’t hesitating on three-pointers, which is a vital trait for a small forward in San Antonio’s offense. He’s also getting out on the break at nearly every opportunity — a key reason why the Spurs are playing at such a fast pace. Jefferson’s most notable improvement on offense has been his aggressiveness taking the ball to the rim. When he has a rotating defender coming out to honor his jumper, Jefferson is taking it extremely hard to the hoop. Looking at his stats, it’s simple to see how his altered offensive gameplan has changed his production for the better. Jefferson is actually shooting less often than he did last season but he’s shooting three-pointers 66.7% more often and he’s getting to the line 39% more often. With his scoring per minute up 28.7%, Jefferson’s adjustments are paying off in a big way. Defensively, he has also shown improvement — most notably in transition defense. Jefferson is picking up his man early and looks much more aware of his surroundings on that end. An area of possible improvement on D is grabbing defensive rebounds. Compared to last season, he’s been poor in that category.
DeJuan Blair
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/dejuan-blair.jpg
21:49 mins, 7.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 1.6 steals, 1.1 turnovers
47.2% from the field, 5-for-7 at the line
DeJuan Blair’s early season struggles have been well chronicled. The good news is Blair seems to have recovered from that putrid level of play and is beginning to play much better. In his last five games, he’s averaging more than 20 rebounds per 48 minutes and has connected on half of his shots from the field. That said, Blair continues to have massive problems on the defensive end. His lack of height makes it very difficult for him to defend the rim. To make matters worse, he isn’t moving his feet well out on the perimeter, which makes him a liability both against pick-and-rolls and versus perimeter-oriented players. The only times he is comfortable on defense is when he’s going against a bruiser with a similar skillset. Since Blair isn’t getting any taller, it’s a must that he gets more mobile and learns the defense to the point that he’s always a step early to his position. Add elite rebounding and smart offensive play … and then Blair has a chance to keep his starting gig on a long-term basis. Until then, his flaws will make it virtually impossible to justify Blair being a starter for the Spurs for the duration of the season.
George Hill
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/george-hill.jpg
27:06 mins, 8.6 points, 2.3 assists, 2.7 rebounds, 0.9 steals, 1.4 turnovers
40.4% from the field, 37.5% on three-pointers, 80.0% at the line
At times last season, George Hill appeared to be knocking on the door of stardom. This season, Hill has often been frustrating to watch. A lack of aggression has been the primary culprit. With the ball, Hill has been hesitating way too much. His trust in his three-point shot is tenuous at best. Even when confronted with open lanes to the basket, Hill isn’t consistently taking advantage. However, there is one thing Hill can’t control that causes Spurs fans (me included) to unfairly criticize: George Hill is not Manu Ginobili. When Ginobili comes off the bench, he enters the game with both guns ablazin’. If anything, Ginobili is even more aggressive off the bench than when he starts. Hill isn’t built that way — he’s like most every basketball player in the world in that coming off the bench hurts his rhythm and can cause him to be passive if he isn’t involved early. Looking at the big picture, there are reasons to be happy with Hill. Despite getting less touches, Hill is getting the line much more often, he’s handing out more assists and he rarely takes a bad shot. Defensively, he’s getting better and better as the season progresses. He’s rebounding much better than last year, he’s swiping more steals and he’s no longer nearly as foul-prone as he was earlier in his career. That’s not even mentioning how Hill plays three positions on both ends of the court and never backs down from a challenge. Overall, focusing on the big picture, Hill has done well this season and is an important cog to the winning ways.
Antonio McDyess
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/antonio-mcdyess.jpg
17:59 mins, 5.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 0.8 blocks, 1.2 turnovers
42.9% from the field, 8-for-9 at the line
There isn’t a Spurs player who has given as much effort as consistently as Antonio McDyess this season. On defense, he’s an asset both out on the perimeter and defending in the paint. McDyess’ physical play, toughness on the boards and ability to defend the paint has made him a defensive force in the early season. On offense, McDyess has utilized his athleticism much more than he did last year — as evident by the fact that he’s getting to the free throw line twice as often. Heading into the season, McDyess appeared as a luxury who might find himself on the outside of the rotation. Now? McDyess continuing to play well is likely a must if the Spurs have true championship aspirations
Gary Neal
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/gary-neal.jpg
15:40 mins, 6.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.9 turnovers
40.0% from the field, 47.4% on three-pointers, 1-for-2 at the line
Outside of the Big 3, it’s Gary Neal who leads the team in field goal attempts per minute. He was billed as a scorer coming into the NBA and the 26-year-old has not been bashful in proving that scouting report correct. Neal rarely hesitates to shoot when he’s open. Even when he’s covered, he’s apt to probe with a few dribbles in search of an opening. Neal shows some playmaking ability and has done a good job of tiptoeing the line between aggressiveness and too aggressive. Offensively, Neal appears to be well-rounded enough to help the team — as long as he continues to shoot well from three-point land. On defense, Neal is raw. He fouls too much, he tends to overplay the ball and he’s still learning how to defend the quick players in the NBA. However, he plays with a lot of physicality and moxie, which should allow him to overcome his lack of height, lack of athleticism and lack of corporate knowledge in San Antonio’s defensive schemes.
Matt Bonner
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/matt-bonner.jpg
20:55 mins, 9.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 0.4 assists, 0.4 steals
42.9% from the field, 63.6% on three-pointers, 3-for-4 at the line
Matt Bonner returned from an ankle injury five games ago and has wasted no time in earning a spot in the rotation. His three-point marksmanship has been incredible. Equally as incredible has been his ineptness inside the arc. Since his return from injury, Bonner is 1-for-13 on two-pointers and 14-for-22 on three-pointers. Defensively, Bonner remains solid. He knows where he needs to be and is almost never out of position. The main issue I have with Bonner (outside of his lack of intestinal fortitude for playoff basketball) is his declining rebounding rate. Each season, his rebounding rate has dropped precipitously — and now it’s to the point that Bonner is a worse rebounding than Neal. There has to be a point where Bonner’s three-point shooting ability is negated by his inability to rebound and his poor postseason track record. Then again, guess who leads the Spurs in plus/minus per minute once more?
Tiago Splitter
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/tiago-splitter.jpg
15:01 mins, 7.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.0 block, 0.8 steals, 1.2 turnovers
59.1% from the field, 73.3% at the line
Tiago Splitter has had an interesting start to his NBA career. In his first few outings, Splitter found it difficult to catch his breath. Fighting obvious fatigue, the Brazilian bigman actually did a lot of good. However, after Bonner returned from injury, Splitter dropped out of the rotation. Over a three-game stretch, Splitter played a total of three minutes and tallied two DNP-CDs. On the second night of a back-to-back, Popovich wanted a spark and turned to Splitter, who responded with 18 points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks against the Cavs in 26 minutes of action. With that type of production, it’ll be difficult for Popovich to ignore him in forthcoming games. Splitter impacts the game in a positive way all over the court. On offense, he’s good at setting screens and even better at rolling to the basket. He has good hands, understands spacing and hasn’t had too much of an issue finishing at the rim at the NBA level. Defensively, Splitter is even better. He’s long, strong and mobile — a trio of attributes that give him an extremely high ceiling on the defensive end. Add in his smarts and an apparent ability to quickly grasp his role and it’s not much of a reach to say Splitter could become the team’s best defender by the end of the season. Right now, there’s no reason not to be happy with Splitter … other than the fact that he hasn’t yet carved out a spot for himself in the rotation, of course.
Next Up: Analyzing the coaching, offense and defense in the last seven games
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/san-antonio-spurs/san-antonio-spurs-news/inside-the-spurs-player-by-player-analysis-last-7-games/
By LJ Ellis (http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/author/ljellis/) | San Antonio Dispatch
Tim Duncan
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/tim-duncan.jpg
26:48 mins, 10.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.0 blocks, 1.9 turnovers
38.0% from the field, 69.6% at the line
The Spurs have been able to win their last seven games despite Tim Duncan’s scoring dipping to an alarmingly low rate. His slump began after suffering flu-like symptoms prior to the game against the Clippers. Fortunately, Duncan’s slump consists of one main issue: missing easy shots. Otherwise, Duncan has actually produced at a quality clip. He’s moving his feet on defense out on the perimeter in addition to doing very good work protecting the rim. On offense, Duncan is passing well, making good decisions and putting himself in good positions to score the rock. For reasons unknown, Duncan has simply blown chip shots he can usually sinks in his sleep. I don’t see any signs of injury or more than the usual amount of fatigue, so I believe it’s safe to assume Duncan is just going through a dry spell with the putter.
Manu Ginobili
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/manu-ginobili.jpg
31:40 mins, 19.3 points, 3.9 assists, 3.3 rebounds, 1.9 steals, 2.1 turnovers
48.8% from the field, 43.9% on three-pointers, 92.1% at the line
Manu Ginobili has been a scoring machine as of late, thanks in large part to his shot being as automatic as ever. When he’s hitting threes, the Argentine star becomes just about impossible to defend. With the threat of the step-back three-pointer, defenders are forced to guard him a foot or two closer. The result is clearer lanes to the basket when Ginobili decides to drive. When comparing his stats from last year to this year, the numbers are very similar. He’s shooting almost exactly the same amount of field goals and free throws per minute. The main difference is his shot selection. Ginobili is shooting three-pointers 23.7% more often than last season, which (combined with higher shooting percentages) has allowed him to score 6.8% more points per minute. His rates of assists, steals, blocks and turnovers are all right around his career rates. The only noticeable drop in production has been rebounding — a 31.1% drop from last season and 45% drop from two seasons ago. Defensively, Ginobili has been about average overall. His mistakes are usually negated with hustle plays only he can make.
Tony Parker
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/tony-parker.jpg
33:03 mins, 20.7 points, 7.1 assists, 3.9 rebounds, 1.9 steals, 2.1 turnovers
59.4% from the field, 1-for-1 on three-pointers, 75.0% at the line
Judging Tony Parker only by his play, no one would ever know he’s going through personal issues away from the court. Parker has been outstanding in all phases over the last seven games. He’s scoring efficiently without dominating the ball. He’s creating plays for others on a consistent basis without excessive turnovers. He’s defending better than he ever has in the regular season and he’s not getting in foul trouble or losing energy on the offensive end. For years, the coaching staff has urged Parker to use his speed as an asset on the defensive end just like he does on the other end. This season, we are finally seeing Parker do just that consistently. All in all, there’s not much to nitpick. More of the same would be appreciated by all.
Richard Jefferson
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/richard-jefferson.jpg
32:24 mins, 13.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.9 blocks, 1.0 turnover
44.4% from the field, 35.7% on three-pointers, 84.4% at the line
Richard Jefferson isn’t as hot as he was to begin the season, however the good news is he’s not letting missed shots negatively affect his style of play. Jefferson isn’t hesitating on three-pointers, which is a vital trait for a small forward in San Antonio’s offense. He’s also getting out on the break at nearly every opportunity — a key reason why the Spurs are playing at such a fast pace. Jefferson’s most notable improvement on offense has been his aggressiveness taking the ball to the rim. When he has a rotating defender coming out to honor his jumper, Jefferson is taking it extremely hard to the hoop. Looking at his stats, it’s simple to see how his altered offensive gameplan has changed his production for the better. Jefferson is actually shooting less often than he did last season but he’s shooting three-pointers 66.7% more often and he’s getting to the line 39% more often. With his scoring per minute up 28.7%, Jefferson’s adjustments are paying off in a big way. Defensively, he has also shown improvement — most notably in transition defense. Jefferson is picking up his man early and looks much more aware of his surroundings on that end. An area of possible improvement on D is grabbing defensive rebounds. Compared to last season, he’s been poor in that category.
DeJuan Blair
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/dejuan-blair.jpg
21:49 mins, 7.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 1.6 steals, 1.1 turnovers
47.2% from the field, 5-for-7 at the line
DeJuan Blair’s early season struggles have been well chronicled. The good news is Blair seems to have recovered from that putrid level of play and is beginning to play much better. In his last five games, he’s averaging more than 20 rebounds per 48 minutes and has connected on half of his shots from the field. That said, Blair continues to have massive problems on the defensive end. His lack of height makes it very difficult for him to defend the rim. To make matters worse, he isn’t moving his feet well out on the perimeter, which makes him a liability both against pick-and-rolls and versus perimeter-oriented players. The only times he is comfortable on defense is when he’s going against a bruiser with a similar skillset. Since Blair isn’t getting any taller, it’s a must that he gets more mobile and learns the defense to the point that he’s always a step early to his position. Add elite rebounding and smart offensive play … and then Blair has a chance to keep his starting gig on a long-term basis. Until then, his flaws will make it virtually impossible to justify Blair being a starter for the Spurs for the duration of the season.
George Hill
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/george-hill.jpg
27:06 mins, 8.6 points, 2.3 assists, 2.7 rebounds, 0.9 steals, 1.4 turnovers
40.4% from the field, 37.5% on three-pointers, 80.0% at the line
At times last season, George Hill appeared to be knocking on the door of stardom. This season, Hill has often been frustrating to watch. A lack of aggression has been the primary culprit. With the ball, Hill has been hesitating way too much. His trust in his three-point shot is tenuous at best. Even when confronted with open lanes to the basket, Hill isn’t consistently taking advantage. However, there is one thing Hill can’t control that causes Spurs fans (me included) to unfairly criticize: George Hill is not Manu Ginobili. When Ginobili comes off the bench, he enters the game with both guns ablazin’. If anything, Ginobili is even more aggressive off the bench than when he starts. Hill isn’t built that way — he’s like most every basketball player in the world in that coming off the bench hurts his rhythm and can cause him to be passive if he isn’t involved early. Looking at the big picture, there are reasons to be happy with Hill. Despite getting less touches, Hill is getting the line much more often, he’s handing out more assists and he rarely takes a bad shot. Defensively, he’s getting better and better as the season progresses. He’s rebounding much better than last year, he’s swiping more steals and he’s no longer nearly as foul-prone as he was earlier in his career. That’s not even mentioning how Hill plays three positions on both ends of the court and never backs down from a challenge. Overall, focusing on the big picture, Hill has done well this season and is an important cog to the winning ways.
Antonio McDyess
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/antonio-mcdyess.jpg
17:59 mins, 5.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 0.8 blocks, 1.2 turnovers
42.9% from the field, 8-for-9 at the line
There isn’t a Spurs player who has given as much effort as consistently as Antonio McDyess this season. On defense, he’s an asset both out on the perimeter and defending in the paint. McDyess’ physical play, toughness on the boards and ability to defend the paint has made him a defensive force in the early season. On offense, McDyess has utilized his athleticism much more than he did last year — as evident by the fact that he’s getting to the free throw line twice as often. Heading into the season, McDyess appeared as a luxury who might find himself on the outside of the rotation. Now? McDyess continuing to play well is likely a must if the Spurs have true championship aspirations
Gary Neal
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/gary-neal.jpg
15:40 mins, 6.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.9 turnovers
40.0% from the field, 47.4% on three-pointers, 1-for-2 at the line
Outside of the Big 3, it’s Gary Neal who leads the team in field goal attempts per minute. He was billed as a scorer coming into the NBA and the 26-year-old has not been bashful in proving that scouting report correct. Neal rarely hesitates to shoot when he’s open. Even when he’s covered, he’s apt to probe with a few dribbles in search of an opening. Neal shows some playmaking ability and has done a good job of tiptoeing the line between aggressiveness and too aggressive. Offensively, Neal appears to be well-rounded enough to help the team — as long as he continues to shoot well from three-point land. On defense, Neal is raw. He fouls too much, he tends to overplay the ball and he’s still learning how to defend the quick players in the NBA. However, he plays with a lot of physicality and moxie, which should allow him to overcome his lack of height, lack of athleticism and lack of corporate knowledge in San Antonio’s defensive schemes.
Matt Bonner
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/matt-bonner.jpg
20:55 mins, 9.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 0.4 assists, 0.4 steals
42.9% from the field, 63.6% on three-pointers, 3-for-4 at the line
Matt Bonner returned from an ankle injury five games ago and has wasted no time in earning a spot in the rotation. His three-point marksmanship has been incredible. Equally as incredible has been his ineptness inside the arc. Since his return from injury, Bonner is 1-for-13 on two-pointers and 14-for-22 on three-pointers. Defensively, Bonner remains solid. He knows where he needs to be and is almost never out of position. The main issue I have with Bonner (outside of his lack of intestinal fortitude for playoff basketball) is his declining rebounding rate. Each season, his rebounding rate has dropped precipitously — and now it’s to the point that Bonner is a worse rebounding than Neal. There has to be a point where Bonner’s three-point shooting ability is negated by his inability to rebound and his poor postseason track record. Then again, guess who leads the Spurs in plus/minus per minute once more?
Tiago Splitter
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/tiago-splitter.jpg
15:01 mins, 7.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.0 block, 0.8 steals, 1.2 turnovers
59.1% from the field, 73.3% at the line
Tiago Splitter has had an interesting start to his NBA career. In his first few outings, Splitter found it difficult to catch his breath. Fighting obvious fatigue, the Brazilian bigman actually did a lot of good. However, after Bonner returned from injury, Splitter dropped out of the rotation. Over a three-game stretch, Splitter played a total of three minutes and tallied two DNP-CDs. On the second night of a back-to-back, Popovich wanted a spark and turned to Splitter, who responded with 18 points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks against the Cavs in 26 minutes of action. With that type of production, it’ll be difficult for Popovich to ignore him in forthcoming games. Splitter impacts the game in a positive way all over the court. On offense, he’s good at setting screens and even better at rolling to the basket. He has good hands, understands spacing and hasn’t had too much of an issue finishing at the rim at the NBA level. Defensively, Splitter is even better. He’s long, strong and mobile — a trio of attributes that give him an extremely high ceiling on the defensive end. Add in his smarts and an apparent ability to quickly grasp his role and it’s not much of a reach to say Splitter could become the team’s best defender by the end of the season. Right now, there’s no reason not to be happy with Splitter … other than the fact that he hasn’t yet carved out a spot for himself in the rotation, of course.
Next Up: Analyzing the coaching, offense and defense in the last seven games
http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/san-antonio-spurs/san-antonio-spurs-news/inside-the-spurs-player-by-player-analysis-last-7-games/