Quick Grades: Spurs vs. Raptors - Dec. 26

[timvp]

Tim Duncan B+
Perimeter D lacking and turned it over but very solid in all other aspects. Shooting touch was deft.

Manu Ginobili A
Very efficient on the offensive end; 14 points on only 6 shots. Boarded and defended. Smart all-around.

Tony Parker A-
Attentive on D. Passed the ball well and had smart shot selection. Not much style but a lot of substance.

Kawhi Leonard A-
A beast on the boards and swiped three more steals. Made some mistakes but effort undeniably great.

Danny Green A-
Outstanding perimeter D, particularly against DeRozan. Rebounded well played mistake-free ball.

Tiago Splitter B-
Wasn’t impressed with his physicality (though he did get to the line). Didn’t rebound but passed well.

Boris Diaw B-
Started slowly but hit his final four shots. Perimeter D was solid but didn’t board well. A bit sloppy.

Stephen Jackson C
Shot selection was lacking. Decisions were iffy. To his credit, made a couple good passes and active on D.

Nando De Colo C
Passing was largely ineffective; length of Raptors a hindrance. Pretty good D but overall impact minimal.

Matt Bonner C+
A bit too aggressive with his shooting. D was average at the absolute best.

DeJuan Blair Inc.
Stayed within himself and did okay. Still can’t run or jump.

Patrick Mills Inc.
Hit a three in garbage time. Active on D but not especially effective.

Pop B-
Odd rotations in the first half. Coached more sensibly in the second half and the team responded well.

[Paranoid Pop]

Thanks, I think Splitter and De Colo kinda suffered from Pop's rotations.

[playblair]

........@ cant run or jump

[DAF86]

........@ cant run or jump

Dude don't get mad. He's making excuses for your man.

[TD 21]

Stephen Jackson C
Shot selection was lacking. Decisions were iffy. To his credit, made a couple good passes and active on D.

I like Jackson as much as the next Spurs fan and I'm aware that he's the type who needs a while to shake off the rust, that his value goes beyond the box score and that they could use more of the things he exudes: toughness and swagger. But at what point do we stop giving him a free pass for his atrocious shooting, bevy of turnovers and slow footed defense (not that he can really help that, but still)? If Green were doing this, he'd be getting destroyed.


Pop B-
Odd rotations in the first half. Coached more sensibly in the second half and the team responded well.

The mad scientist routine has to end. Blame the schedule/injuries all you want, the reality is, he's played a part in this team being more than a third of the way through the season yet not having one extended stretch of rhythmic, symbiotic play (at least not to the extent that they're capable of).

Why start Splitter if the backup bigs are going to be Diaw-Jackson? Might as well just start Diaw, ensure that Splitter doesn't get into early foul trouble and have at least one of Duncan or him in at all meaningful times. Randomly playing Bonner, Blair, De Colo and Mills, has to stop too. It's obvious that they should be playing a nine man rotation. Splitter, Jackson and Leonard, can play backup four by committee, depending on match-ups/performance.

[Brunodf]

Why start Splitter if the backup bigs are going to be Diaw-Jackson? Might as well just start Diaw, ensure that Splitter doesn't get into early foul trouble and have at least one of Duncan or him in at all meaningful times. Randomly playing Bonner, Blair, De Colo and Mills, has to stop too. It's obvious that they should be playing a nine man rotation. Splitter, Jackson and Leonard, can play backup four by committee, depending on match-ups/performance.

Or just start Splitter and play him big minutes, not just 20.

He is young and should be able to play the first 6 and the last 2 of the 1st quarter, play the first 6 minutes of the 2nd and the last 2, repeat in the 2nd half, the Spurs would have at least one of Splitter/Duncan on the floor all the time.

[RodNIc91]

The mad scientist routine has to end. Blame the schedule/injuries all you want, the reality is, he's played a part in this team being more than a third of the way through the season yet not having one extended stretch of rhythmic, symbiotic play (at least not to the extent that they're capable of).

Why start Splitter if the backup bigs are going to be Diaw-Jackson? Might as well just start Diaw, ensure that Splitter doesn't get into early foul trouble and have at least one of Duncan or him in at all meaningful times. Randomly playing Bonner, Blair, De Colo and Mills, has to stop too. It's obvious that they should be playing a nine man rotation. Splitter, Jackson and Leonard, can play backup four by committee, depending on match-ups/performance.

It's still December, let's get back to this in mid-January. The team must peak around the RRT and not before so that they enter the PO in a roll. Also don't forget they might be showcasing some players (IMO Mills); we're not sure if they intend to make a trade.

[Manufan909]

Was this a game where Tiago played under 25 min because it was a blowout?

[Dr. Robert Lee]

Was this a game where Tiago played under 25 min because it was a blowout?
Yes.

[Dr. Robert Lee]

It was so great not to see Hero Ball out on the court tonight jacking up prayers, tbh.

[FkLA]

Manu deserved an A+ imo.

[KaiRMD1]

I like Jackson as much as the next Spurs fan and I'm aware that he's the type who needs a while to shake off the rust, that his value goes beyond the box score and that they could use more of the things he exudes: toughness and swagger. But at what point do we stop giving him a free pass for his atrocious shooting, bevy of turnovers and slow footed defense (not that he can really help that, but still)? If Green were doing this, he'd be getting destroyed.


At this point, he no longer deserves a free pass. The celebration of Jackson's arrival is over, he needs to start bringing in the production. Hopefully, he can improve but I'm not giving him a free pass anymore even though I love the guy

[Strategic]

The Spurs were playing one of the worst teams in the league. The Raptors didn't have two of their top players. If you would have been my high school teacher my dumb ass might have received an A- in trig(instead of getting passed with C's only because I could catch a football).

[Bruno]

2nd game in a row with nobody playing 30+ minutes and Spurs got 2 full days off between these games. Spurs were obviously tired at the end of the last road trip but they are fully enjoying this home-stand to refill their tank.

[Darkwaters]

The Spurs were playing one of the worst teams in the league. The Raptors didn't have two of their top players. If you would have been my high school teacher my dumb ass might have received an A- in trig(instead of getting passed with C's only because I could catch a football).

If you think that having Andrea Bargnani on the floor would have been beneficial to the Raptors and not the Spurs, then you haven't seen the Raptors play before. Guy is worthless. Earlier this season when the Spurs played them he was personally 2-19 from the floor.

[Darkwaters]

Best stat of this whole game:

Dermar DeRozan: 3-9, 8 pts

That guy has torched us repeatedly. It was nice to finally put a bottle on him.

[rmt]

I like Jackson as much as the next Spurs fan and I'm aware that he's the type who needs a while to shake off the rust, that his value goes beyond the box score and that they could use more of the things he exudes: toughness and swagger. But at what point do we stop giving him a free pass for his atrocious shooting, bevy of turnovers and slow footed defense (not that he can really help that, but still)? If Green were doing this, he'd be getting destroyed.

Why shouldn't he be allowed more time (after his injury)? Manu gets it all the time - takes forever to recover from his contusions. What year was it - it took him all year until ASB to get into rhythm (of course, he then went on a tear until the playoffs).

[racm]

If you think that having Andrea Bargnani on the floor would have been beneficial to the Raptors and not the Spurs, then you haven't seen the Raptors play before. Guy is worthless. Earlier this season when the Spurs played them he was personally 2-19 from the floor.

I think he meant Lowry and Valanciunas, tbh.


Best stat of this whole game:

Dermar DeRozan: 3-9, 8 pts

That guy has torched us repeatedly. It was nice to finally put a bottle on him.

There's a correlation between DeRozan scoring 20+ in the past and not having a defensive wing with size before Kawhi/Jax, tbh.

[elemento]

Tiago is very good drawing fouls. Now that he is more consistent with his FT shooting, he can be a real threat. Putting opponent bigs in foul trouble and having no problem to score even when he struggles from the field.

I am very happy with him starting with Timmy. Thank god that the Blair's experiment is over.

[Slippy]

The 2nd quarter line-up and rotations were strange to say the least. Looked like Pop was trying to out-match coach Casey on smallball-chess, going away from what we've become accustomed to of late.

To his credit he went back to the conventional way of winning in the second half.

[Ice009]

I like Jackson as much as the next Spurs fan and I'm aware that he's the type who needs a while to shake off the rust, that his value goes beyond the box score and that they could use more of the things he exudes: toughness and swagger. But at what point do we stop giving him a free pass for his atrocious shooting, bevy of turnovers and slow footed defense (not that he can really help that, but still)? If Green were doing this, he'd be getting destroyed.

His injury isn't even healed yet. At the very least you give him some time for his injury to heal before jumping on him. He's also still not in rhythm yet because of the time that he sat out.

[dunkman]

I got to see a lot of Raptors games (they showed 5 games for Xmas, so no Spurs - Raptors). The Raptors won 5 in a row before this game. They are good on defense and they play the offense the right way, definitely not one of the worst teams in the NBA.

[Strategic]

I am very happy with him starting with Timmy. Thank god that the Blair's experiment is over.


Let's not under estimate Pops' stubborness. Between his last three top draft picks(Blair, Anderson, Leonard), there is only one keeper. Any time Blair gets some minutes I see all kinds of rationalizations as to his belonging. I'm sorry, but a 6'7" post player without a strong move to the hole or a mid range shot is just a fuzzy warm body. With the big three aging out, there is only so many role player minutes available. I didn't start this as a rant on Blair. I know he's the fifth big that comes on the cheap. I still look for Pop to squeeze some starts from him.

[therealtruth]

Tiago is very good drawing fouls. Now that he is more consistent with his FT shooting, he can be a real threat. Putting opponent bigs in foul trouble and having no problem to score even when he struggles from the field.

I am very happy with him starting with Timmy. Thank god that the Blair's experiment is over.

Good point. Tiago actually forces the other teams bigs to play defense or draw fouls.

[Darkwaters]

There's a correlation between DeRozan scoring 20+ in the past and not having a defensive wing with size before Kawhi/Jax, tbh.

He torched us last year too for nearly 30 points. With Kawhi on this team (15 February).

[playblair]

blair haters take at hard look at faried ....... that is what blair was going to be ...... :nope @ trying to turn blair into a diaw type of player .......

[TD 21]

His injury isn't even healed yet. At the very least you give him some time for his injury to heal before jumping on him. He's also still not in rhythm yet because of the time that he sat out.

That would make sense . . . if this were new. Unfortunately, it's not. The truth is, he hasn't been all that good for the most part since he was re-acquired and him shooting out of his mind in the WCF (and being well liked to begin with) has obscured that fact.

I realize he's never been efficient, but he's gone beyond that at this point. He's shooting 37.5/27.5/66.7 (on a team that probably generates the most open looks in the league, no less), with a turnover % of 17.2, which is astronomically high for a guy who handles/creates as little as he does. His PER is 9.1.


rmt, it was 09-10. The difference is, even with Ginobili looking terrible at times, he's still had a 17-18 PER for much of the season and despite all his injuries over the years, hasn't finished a season below 21.7 since his 2nd season. In other words, he's never actually bad; just bad by his lofty standards.

[BackHome]

I got to see a lot of Raptors games (they showed 5 games for Xmas, so no Spurs - Raptors). The Raptors won 5 in a row before this game. They are good on defense and they play the offense the right way, definitely not one of the worst teams in the NBA.

I like a lot of there players if they had a decent center they would and will be a handful for any team. But their center reminded me of when we had Bonner player center..slow.slow..slow..non factor.

[Dr. Robert Lee]

blair haters take at hard look at faried ....... that is what blair was going to be ...... :nope @ trying to turn blair into a diaw type of player .......
Blair is short and fat. Faried is a bit taller and very athletic and nimble.

[dunkman]

I like a lot of there players if they had a decent center they would and will be a handful for any team. But their center reminded me of when we had Bonner player center..slow.slow..slow..non factor.

While the Raptors aren't a match for the Spurs, they improved a lot without Andrea and Lowry. They could probably make a trade or two.

[Ice009]

That would make sense . . . if this were new. Unfortunately, it's not. The truth is, he hasn't been all that good for the most part since he was re-acquired and him shooting out of his mind in the WCF (and being well liked to begin with) has obscured that fact.

I realize he's never been efficient, but he's gone beyond that at this point. He's shooting 37.5/27.5/66.7 (on a team that probably generates the most open looks in the league, no less), with a turnover % of 17.2, which is astronomically high for a guy who handles/creates as little as he does. His PER is 9.1.


rmt, it was 09-10. The difference is, even with Ginobili looking terrible at times, he's still had a 17-18 PER for much of the season and despite all his injuries over the years, hasn't finished a season below 21.7 since his 2nd season. In other words, he's never actually bad; just bad by his lofty standards.


Fair points, but like I said, give it some more time to let his injury heal. Last season he only just got into form halfway through the playoffs. Pop even said that all those regular season games at the end of last season were basically preseason games for Jack.


http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2012/12/26/spurs-appreciate-gift-of-home-court-at-christmas/

“It’s still swollen and still sore,” Jackson said after missing 6 of 8 shots in 24-plus minutes against the Raptors. “It got hit pretty bad in pregame warmups.”

“I never know how the ball is going to come off my fingers when I release it,” he said. “It gets hit at least two or three times a game where it’s a sharp pain.”

[polandprzem]

timvp

LJ would you ever consider picking Bill Russell ahead of Wilt in your team?

[wildbill2u]

[QUOTE=TD 21;6265506]That would make sense . . . if this were new. Unfortunately, it's not. The truth is, he hasn't been all that good for the most part since he was re-acquired and him shooting out of his mind in the WCF (and being well liked to begin with) has obscured that fact.

I realize he's never been efficient, but he's gone beyond that at this point. He's shooting 37.5/27.5/66.7 (on a team that probably generates the most open looks in the league, no less), with a turnover % of 17.2, which is astronomically high for a guy who handles/creates as little as he does. His PER is 9.1. ...]

I personally counted 3 TOs on drives to the basket where he simply lost the ball dribbling although he only got 2 in the stat sheets. On a night where he shot 2-8, some of his shots were so far off line that they bounced off the backboard without coming close to the basket. I question whether there isn't someone on the Toros or somewhere that is bigger, younger, more athletic and with more skills than an over-the-hill Jax.