Cry Havoc
04-21-2011, 11:15 PM
Well well, I have finally cleared my schedule enough to have some time to do game grades! For the sake of time conservation, I'm going to do the game grades together instead of making a separate post for each game. Without further ado, let's goooooooooooo.
MVP of the series so far:
http://www.timesunion.com/mediaManager/?controllerName=image&action=get&id=949121&width=628&height=471
Could there be any doubt? Manu might not have posted the greatest stats of his career, but he made ALL the difference in Game 2. After sitting on the sidelines in a suit for Game 1, Manu showed up to play in Game 2, as we all knew he would. Despite being injured, Manu showed more fire and determination than any other Spurs player on the court. He was everywhere, right from the start of the game, and gave the Spurs that extra bit of playmaking and intangibles that really swung the edge (and perhaps the series) in our favor. To even begin to attempt to dissect his performance, which included 4 steals, all of which seemed to shift the momentum, is difficult to do. But I'll say this: just the fact that the other team knows he's on the court makes a huge difference in the ballgame. That's how valuable he is to the Spurs. Manu only shot 5-13 and 7-13 from the charity stripe, yet he was a force on both ends of the court, and perhaps most importantly, frustrated Tony Allen to the point of the Memphis guard having a breakdown. Allen was so frustrated that it could warrant a tech or two down the road for the Spurs. On defense, Manu was tenacious and cut into passing lanes, played good help D, and was generally a pest on D. His passion and fire ignited several Spurs runs throughout the game, and if he can continue to play at this level, the Spurs should be set up well for game 3.
Game 1 Grade: B. Nice suit.
Game 2 Grade: A-. Great performance. Now hit your free throws.
Tony Parker
This series has been tough for TP so far. One of the most effective ways to contain Tony is to sag well off whoever you're guarding and be ready to pack the paint as soon as he backs up, which is usually his precursor to driving the lane. The Grizzlies have done this often, nearly all of their bigs are leaving their men by just a few feet when Parker looks to penetrate, and the Spurs forwards haven't capitalized very often. This effectively means that San Antonio needs to pass the ball better, or hit the mid-range J a lot more frequently to keep the Griz honest and force them to stay at home. In Game 1, Parker shot more free throws than any other player. In Game 2, Parker just didn't get the same kind of penetration, and didn't shoot a single free throw as a result, the first time that's happened in recent memory, if memory does serve. Defensively, Parker has been getting hurt by the pick and roll, causing problems matching up for the Spurs. If the Spurs are going to run plays for Parker to get deep into the lane, they need to open up the floor a bit more and give Tony some room, because as of now Memphis is perfectly comfortable sitting back on their haunches to disrupt driving lanes when Tony looks to get to the rim. Sadly, Tony's outside shot seems to have deteriorated as the year has gone forward: He has only hit one shot outside of 12 feet in the series.
Game 1 Grade: D+. Shot horribly, but can you argue with 16 FTs?
Game 2 Grade: D+. Better shooting, less FT, less TO, more assists. The Spurs need TP to be better moving forward.
Richard Jefferson
RJ's play at times has made me think that maybe we should try Novak at the SF position (hey, he'll stretch the floor!). In Game 1, RJ was fairly efficient on offense, and Game 2 he was very aggressive, attacking nearly every time he got the ball and shooting well at a high clip. Yet the real frustration with RJ is his incredibly lackluster defense. Especially visible in game 2, RJ decided to play a 1.5 man double team, staying precisely halfway between his man and the guy with the ball, effectively giving both players open shots, and the Grizzlies realized this early and went to it often, netting some of the easiest points in the series. Thank god RJ has been hitting his 3s, because if he hadn't, he would be the worst player on the court. That said, he made smart decisions with the ball, and has been a weapon for the Spurs, just one that has a presence on one half of the floor and does not exist on the other. RJ is +4 overall so far.
Game 1 Grade: C. His defense was better than in Game 2.
Game 2 Grade: C-. At this point, any production we get from RJ is bonus.
Tim Duncan
After an incredible first half of Game 1, Tim looked like he was set up for one of his classic playoff performances. But he disappeared in the 2nd half, and the Spurs went down in the series. Fortunately for San Antonio, Duncan didn't have the same kind of drop off in Game 2, and his jumper with 4:30 to play gave the Spurs an important 2 possession lead. Duncan has been once again the most consistent big on the defensive end of things, and despite fouling out on a highly questionable foul call, his play in Game 2 was solid. For the series, Duncan is averaging 16 points, 11.5 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2.5 blocks. More importantly, he appears to be willing to drive directly to the hoop and actually throw the ball through the hoop with some tenacity. The Spurs need Duncan to stay aggressive without fouling out, and the offense seems to work well when they feed him in the post and force Memphis to adjust to his post game.
Game 1 Grade: C. Great 1st half, dismal 2nd.
Game 2 Grade: B-. Very solid on both ends, but 5 TOs and 6 PFs are a problem.
Antonio McDyess
He has picked a poor series to play 7 of the worst quarters of his career, but Dice finally played a little better in the 2nd half of Game 2. While still not great, he at least helped a bit on the defensive end after giving the Spurs absolutely nothing on either end of the court prior to that. Dice seems to just be lost, overmatched, or out of position on the court and the Memphis bigs are all over him, forcing him down into the paint which results in quick points for the Griz. Hopefully Dice just had some bad games, and isn't wearing down this season, because his jumper has been off as well, maybe indicating that he's running on tired legs. Antonio needs to be extremely aggressive in Game 3 or he risks losing more playing time to DeJuan Blair, who has struggled as well this series for the Spurs.
Game 1 Grade: F. More TOs than rebounds, and only 3 points.
Game 2 Grade: D+. Better effort in the 2nd half from Dice but still disappointing in a series that he's needed in.
Bench
Matt Bonner
Don't look now, but Matt Bonner has played more minutes than any other player on the Spurs bench so far this series (though that is in part due to GHill starting in Game 1), which should be locked in a safe and dropped off a boat in the middle of a large body of water somewhere, save for the pair of late threes that Bonner hit to give the spurs a chance to win. Game 2 was a quiet night on the statsheet for Bonner, but he played aggressively enough to warrant credit for his work on the boards, good box outs, and overall physical defense. He hasn't looked intimidated in the series and will readily fire away from 3, but the Spurs need to do a better job of feeding him the ball when he's open if he's going to have any impact on offense. Overall, Bonner looked like he belonged on the court in Game 2, which is more than anyone has a right to expect given his past playoff performances. However, Bonner is simply overmatched on the defensive end of things this series, and the Memphis bigs are going to continue to go at him with impunity. It's going to be a long series for Red Rocket.
Game 1 Grade: D. 2 big threes weren't enough to save his performance.
Game 2 Grade: B. Anytime Bonner plays defense he's automatically elevated above a C. :lol
George Hill
Ready for a shock? Good. George Hill has shot more free throws than any other player in the series. It's a good thing too, because Hill is currently 5 of 16 shooting so far. But he's been attacking the rim every chance he gets, and many of his misses are from close to the hoop. When he goes to the line, he's been the only steady Spur player, shooting 19-22 thus far, while the rest of the team has combined to go 39 of 57. George Hill has been a solid player this series for the Spurs, but that seems to be his ceiling, unfortunately. I have also been disappointed in some defensive rotations (or lack thereof) from Hill. He, like Parker, struggles to get through screens, and he left Shane Battier wide open on the play that ended with a 3 for the Grizzlies and a Game 1 victory. Overall, Hill has played acceptably well, nothing more.
Game 1 Grade: D. Gave up a crucial bucket on the key play of the game.
Game 2 Grade: B. Better effort and intensity, especially in the 2nd half. Just hit your 3s and your FTs and keep attacking, George.
Gary Neal
Well, we found out that playoff Gary Neal is certainly not afraid to shoot. Neal fired away at will in Game 1. However, he tried to do far too much in the 4th, and ended up missing all three of his shots. Neal has to play calm and collected, and realize that he needs to be in control of his shot to really be a threat to do damage. Neal was -16 on the floor in game 1, indicative of the problems he presented for the Spurs when taking bad shots. This is a guy that I would really like to see get more minutes, but only if he's going to give the other Spurs players space and not clog up the offensive flow.
Game 1 Grade: D. Neal was horrible in the 4th and it cost the Spurs.
Game 2 Grade: C-. A quiet night from Neal, but he didn't hurt the Spurs either.
DeJuan Blair
Throughout the season, DeJuan has been one of my favorite Spurs. I love his engine and his vigor for making athletic plays near the hoop. He played acceptably well during stretches of Game 1, but was reduced in effectiveness by foul trouble. In Game 2, Blair was mostly invisible but for a few very nice plays he made, including a fantastic baseline feed to the Snowman for a trey. I would really like to see more Blair, because he always seems to find rebounds, but it's tough to justify having him on the floor for more than 15-18 minutes a game right now due to the fact that he simply makes a lot of bad decisions with the ball, and he's undersized to matchup with the Memphis bigs, who have been able to exploit his lack of size at times.
Game 1 Grade: B. Led all Spurs in +/- and had a very decent night.
Game 2 Grade: D. Poor showing overall somewhat countered by a few highlight reel plays.
Gregg Popovich
It's always tough to grade a coach who was without his best player for a game. However, I can't say I agree with Pop's defensive philosophy coming into the series. There are times when it seems like he's doubling 2-3 of the Grizzlies on the court, and it's forcing our defense to scramble, resulting in a lot of open looks for the Griz, who have been dropping shots from 15+ feet with alarming frequency until the 2nd half of Game 2. On the other hand, if Dice, Bonner, AND Blair all play poorly, Pop is going to be in a bind no matter what kind of defense he sets in place. It does seem like he's figuring out the Memphis defense as the series continues, and Spurs fans can only hope that he'll continue to make solid adjustments to give the Spurs an edge, and to allow Tony to get into the lane in Games 3 and 4 in FedExForum. The Spurs can't afford another half of flat ball, because the two road games are going to be brutal, physical affairs.
Game 1 Grade: C. No Manu makes Game 1 very tough to win.
Game 2 Grade: B+. Better adjustments gave the Spurs an edge in the 2nd half.
Tiago Splitter
RIP. :depressed
---
Just a quick note as I post these, I'm aware that the grades are very low considering we won game 2. But ask yourself if each one of our guys couldn't have played better, and if we should be satisfied by this team narrowly winning Game 2 to go back to Memphis with an even series. Yes, they're better than a typical 8 seed, but we simply haven't played Spurs basketball, and the grades reflect this.
MVP of the series so far:
http://www.timesunion.com/mediaManager/?controllerName=image&action=get&id=949121&width=628&height=471
Could there be any doubt? Manu might not have posted the greatest stats of his career, but he made ALL the difference in Game 2. After sitting on the sidelines in a suit for Game 1, Manu showed up to play in Game 2, as we all knew he would. Despite being injured, Manu showed more fire and determination than any other Spurs player on the court. He was everywhere, right from the start of the game, and gave the Spurs that extra bit of playmaking and intangibles that really swung the edge (and perhaps the series) in our favor. To even begin to attempt to dissect his performance, which included 4 steals, all of which seemed to shift the momentum, is difficult to do. But I'll say this: just the fact that the other team knows he's on the court makes a huge difference in the ballgame. That's how valuable he is to the Spurs. Manu only shot 5-13 and 7-13 from the charity stripe, yet he was a force on both ends of the court, and perhaps most importantly, frustrated Tony Allen to the point of the Memphis guard having a breakdown. Allen was so frustrated that it could warrant a tech or two down the road for the Spurs. On defense, Manu was tenacious and cut into passing lanes, played good help D, and was generally a pest on D. His passion and fire ignited several Spurs runs throughout the game, and if he can continue to play at this level, the Spurs should be set up well for game 3.
Game 1 Grade: B. Nice suit.
Game 2 Grade: A-. Great performance. Now hit your free throws.
Tony Parker
This series has been tough for TP so far. One of the most effective ways to contain Tony is to sag well off whoever you're guarding and be ready to pack the paint as soon as he backs up, which is usually his precursor to driving the lane. The Grizzlies have done this often, nearly all of their bigs are leaving their men by just a few feet when Parker looks to penetrate, and the Spurs forwards haven't capitalized very often. This effectively means that San Antonio needs to pass the ball better, or hit the mid-range J a lot more frequently to keep the Griz honest and force them to stay at home. In Game 1, Parker shot more free throws than any other player. In Game 2, Parker just didn't get the same kind of penetration, and didn't shoot a single free throw as a result, the first time that's happened in recent memory, if memory does serve. Defensively, Parker has been getting hurt by the pick and roll, causing problems matching up for the Spurs. If the Spurs are going to run plays for Parker to get deep into the lane, they need to open up the floor a bit more and give Tony some room, because as of now Memphis is perfectly comfortable sitting back on their haunches to disrupt driving lanes when Tony looks to get to the rim. Sadly, Tony's outside shot seems to have deteriorated as the year has gone forward: He has only hit one shot outside of 12 feet in the series.
Game 1 Grade: D+. Shot horribly, but can you argue with 16 FTs?
Game 2 Grade: D+. Better shooting, less FT, less TO, more assists. The Spurs need TP to be better moving forward.
Richard Jefferson
RJ's play at times has made me think that maybe we should try Novak at the SF position (hey, he'll stretch the floor!). In Game 1, RJ was fairly efficient on offense, and Game 2 he was very aggressive, attacking nearly every time he got the ball and shooting well at a high clip. Yet the real frustration with RJ is his incredibly lackluster defense. Especially visible in game 2, RJ decided to play a 1.5 man double team, staying precisely halfway between his man and the guy with the ball, effectively giving both players open shots, and the Grizzlies realized this early and went to it often, netting some of the easiest points in the series. Thank god RJ has been hitting his 3s, because if he hadn't, he would be the worst player on the court. That said, he made smart decisions with the ball, and has been a weapon for the Spurs, just one that has a presence on one half of the floor and does not exist on the other. RJ is +4 overall so far.
Game 1 Grade: C. His defense was better than in Game 2.
Game 2 Grade: C-. At this point, any production we get from RJ is bonus.
Tim Duncan
After an incredible first half of Game 1, Tim looked like he was set up for one of his classic playoff performances. But he disappeared in the 2nd half, and the Spurs went down in the series. Fortunately for San Antonio, Duncan didn't have the same kind of drop off in Game 2, and his jumper with 4:30 to play gave the Spurs an important 2 possession lead. Duncan has been once again the most consistent big on the defensive end of things, and despite fouling out on a highly questionable foul call, his play in Game 2 was solid. For the series, Duncan is averaging 16 points, 11.5 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2.5 blocks. More importantly, he appears to be willing to drive directly to the hoop and actually throw the ball through the hoop with some tenacity. The Spurs need Duncan to stay aggressive without fouling out, and the offense seems to work well when they feed him in the post and force Memphis to adjust to his post game.
Game 1 Grade: C. Great 1st half, dismal 2nd.
Game 2 Grade: B-. Very solid on both ends, but 5 TOs and 6 PFs are a problem.
Antonio McDyess
He has picked a poor series to play 7 of the worst quarters of his career, but Dice finally played a little better in the 2nd half of Game 2. While still not great, he at least helped a bit on the defensive end after giving the Spurs absolutely nothing on either end of the court prior to that. Dice seems to just be lost, overmatched, or out of position on the court and the Memphis bigs are all over him, forcing him down into the paint which results in quick points for the Griz. Hopefully Dice just had some bad games, and isn't wearing down this season, because his jumper has been off as well, maybe indicating that he's running on tired legs. Antonio needs to be extremely aggressive in Game 3 or he risks losing more playing time to DeJuan Blair, who has struggled as well this series for the Spurs.
Game 1 Grade: F. More TOs than rebounds, and only 3 points.
Game 2 Grade: D+. Better effort in the 2nd half from Dice but still disappointing in a series that he's needed in.
Bench
Matt Bonner
Don't look now, but Matt Bonner has played more minutes than any other player on the Spurs bench so far this series (though that is in part due to GHill starting in Game 1), which should be locked in a safe and dropped off a boat in the middle of a large body of water somewhere, save for the pair of late threes that Bonner hit to give the spurs a chance to win. Game 2 was a quiet night on the statsheet for Bonner, but he played aggressively enough to warrant credit for his work on the boards, good box outs, and overall physical defense. He hasn't looked intimidated in the series and will readily fire away from 3, but the Spurs need to do a better job of feeding him the ball when he's open if he's going to have any impact on offense. Overall, Bonner looked like he belonged on the court in Game 2, which is more than anyone has a right to expect given his past playoff performances. However, Bonner is simply overmatched on the defensive end of things this series, and the Memphis bigs are going to continue to go at him with impunity. It's going to be a long series for Red Rocket.
Game 1 Grade: D. 2 big threes weren't enough to save his performance.
Game 2 Grade: B. Anytime Bonner plays defense he's automatically elevated above a C. :lol
George Hill
Ready for a shock? Good. George Hill has shot more free throws than any other player in the series. It's a good thing too, because Hill is currently 5 of 16 shooting so far. But he's been attacking the rim every chance he gets, and many of his misses are from close to the hoop. When he goes to the line, he's been the only steady Spur player, shooting 19-22 thus far, while the rest of the team has combined to go 39 of 57. George Hill has been a solid player this series for the Spurs, but that seems to be his ceiling, unfortunately. I have also been disappointed in some defensive rotations (or lack thereof) from Hill. He, like Parker, struggles to get through screens, and he left Shane Battier wide open on the play that ended with a 3 for the Grizzlies and a Game 1 victory. Overall, Hill has played acceptably well, nothing more.
Game 1 Grade: D. Gave up a crucial bucket on the key play of the game.
Game 2 Grade: B. Better effort and intensity, especially in the 2nd half. Just hit your 3s and your FTs and keep attacking, George.
Gary Neal
Well, we found out that playoff Gary Neal is certainly not afraid to shoot. Neal fired away at will in Game 1. However, he tried to do far too much in the 4th, and ended up missing all three of his shots. Neal has to play calm and collected, and realize that he needs to be in control of his shot to really be a threat to do damage. Neal was -16 on the floor in game 1, indicative of the problems he presented for the Spurs when taking bad shots. This is a guy that I would really like to see get more minutes, but only if he's going to give the other Spurs players space and not clog up the offensive flow.
Game 1 Grade: D. Neal was horrible in the 4th and it cost the Spurs.
Game 2 Grade: C-. A quiet night from Neal, but he didn't hurt the Spurs either.
DeJuan Blair
Throughout the season, DeJuan has been one of my favorite Spurs. I love his engine and his vigor for making athletic plays near the hoop. He played acceptably well during stretches of Game 1, but was reduced in effectiveness by foul trouble. In Game 2, Blair was mostly invisible but for a few very nice plays he made, including a fantastic baseline feed to the Snowman for a trey. I would really like to see more Blair, because he always seems to find rebounds, but it's tough to justify having him on the floor for more than 15-18 minutes a game right now due to the fact that he simply makes a lot of bad decisions with the ball, and he's undersized to matchup with the Memphis bigs, who have been able to exploit his lack of size at times.
Game 1 Grade: B. Led all Spurs in +/- and had a very decent night.
Game 2 Grade: D. Poor showing overall somewhat countered by a few highlight reel plays.
Gregg Popovich
It's always tough to grade a coach who was without his best player for a game. However, I can't say I agree with Pop's defensive philosophy coming into the series. There are times when it seems like he's doubling 2-3 of the Grizzlies on the court, and it's forcing our defense to scramble, resulting in a lot of open looks for the Griz, who have been dropping shots from 15+ feet with alarming frequency until the 2nd half of Game 2. On the other hand, if Dice, Bonner, AND Blair all play poorly, Pop is going to be in a bind no matter what kind of defense he sets in place. It does seem like he's figuring out the Memphis defense as the series continues, and Spurs fans can only hope that he'll continue to make solid adjustments to give the Spurs an edge, and to allow Tony to get into the lane in Games 3 and 4 in FedExForum. The Spurs can't afford another half of flat ball, because the two road games are going to be brutal, physical affairs.
Game 1 Grade: C. No Manu makes Game 1 very tough to win.
Game 2 Grade: B+. Better adjustments gave the Spurs an edge in the 2nd half.
Tiago Splitter
RIP. :depressed
---
Just a quick note as I post these, I'm aware that the grades are very low considering we won game 2. But ask yourself if each one of our guys couldn't have played better, and if we should be satisfied by this team narrowly winning Game 2 to go back to Memphis with an even series. Yes, they're better than a typical 8 seed, but we simply haven't played Spurs basketball, and the grades reflect this.