Quick Grades: Spurs vs. Rockets - Dec. 28

[timvp]

Tim Duncan A
Turned back the clock offensively; post moves great, outside shooting smooth. Interior D was strong.

Manu Ginobili A-
Sloppy early but recovered very well once he realized Rockets weren’t respecting his shot.

Tony Parker A
Commendable energy throughout. Effort on D was there. A ton of production on the offensive end.

Kawhi Leonard C
Invisible on the offensive end. Team-defense was good but individual D was lacking.

Danny Green B+
Came out red hot to spark the squad. Had a lot of positive possessions on D but also numerous mistakes.

Tiago Splitter B+
Didn’t make a lot of waves but produced in all areas. Doing well knowing when to take a backseat.

Boris Diaw B
Passed up shots. Weak on the glass. Fortunately, his passing and perimeter D somewhat deodorized.

Stephen Jackson B-
Look really bad early but eventually defrosted and played well late. Made plays with quick hands on D.

Nando De Colo D+
Looks like a fish out of water playing PG next to Ginobili. Doesn’t really do anything on either end.

Patrick Mills A
Entered the game like he was shot out of a cannon. Played undoubtedly the best defense of his life.

Pop B+
Rotation was reasonable. Inserting Mills was huge. Confidence in Jackson eventually paid off.

[spurs1990]

I sense a long winning streak approaching

[PingPong]

Really quick grades.

:lol

[BillMc]

Thanks! Always good to get these after the game.:toast

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

The flexibility in this team reminds me of the 2005 playoffs when we won the trophy playing a variety of styles - tough (eg. Sonics series), defensive (eg. Finals), or free-flowing and high-scoring (eg. Suns).

It seems that this team can win playing D and keeping it half-court, or we can win by outscoring the opponent. Good signs.

[Boomersgold]

Thanks!

[silverblackfan]

Thanks for the quick grades.
It seemed like the team held Patti out until the 4th quarter when everyone was gassed. His energy and speed was clearly irritating the Rockets when they were tired. Provided a great spark for the Spurs to feed on.

[99 Problems]

Thank you. I'd like just one defensive monster added. However staying fit is the key and if fit later on no team is gunna want to play us over 7 games.

[HI-FI]

damn....happy we won. I caught the first half then went to Rudys for dinner. I really figured we would lose, it just seemed their youth was getting to us and some of our guys were getting sloppy. Great to hear Patty once again went into Tasmanian Devil mode when we needed it. Sucks that Kawhi wasn't better, but I'll take a win regardless.

[SpursIndonesia]

Don't understand why the Rox spent so much energy in this game, while tomorrow they're gonna play against OKC at HOME, a much more winnable game than this game away @SA. This is their Miami's game, and tomorrow's their Grizz game, but because of wrong strategy, 0-2 loss streak is in the making out of this 4 games in 5 nights sequence for them.

[ElNono]

Manu made every timely shot out there when it looked like the Rockets were gonna go on a run of their own (or did, including taking the lead), then led the charge to take control of the game. By the time he sat down, the Spurs had a 13 pt cushion and were well on their way to another win.

He was the best Spurs tonight, and it wasn't close, IMO

[Spurs7794]

Don't understand why the Rox spent so much energy in this game, while tomorrow they're gonna play against OKC at HOME, a much more winnable game than this game away @SA. This is their Miami's game, and tomorrow's their Grizz game, but because of wrong strategy, 0-2 loss streak is in the making out of this 4 games in 5 nights sequence for them.


Uhhh, because this was basically a 1 possession game with a minute left in the third? Its one thing for Pop to sit the players out strategically but its another for players to not expend energy in a close game because there is another game the next night. You play to win.

[racm]

The Big 3 were big in this game.

TD also did a great job on Asik, fwiw.

[JRHernandez88]

Great game by the big 3! Manu off the bench was ballin and seems to be on a good pace right now getting into form. Harden tho! Dam if it wasn't for that foul trouble man, this dude is a beast, dude gets buckets wherever and whenever. When he attacks that paint...

[Dr. Robert Lee]

Nando is disappointing as of late. He showed so much promise, but seems to be regressing now. A lot of that may be due to increasing scouting reports on him or perhaps he is just in a slump.

[racm]

Nando is disappointing as of late. He showed so much promise, but seems to be regressing now. A lot of that may be due to increasing scouting reports on him or perhaps he is just in a slump.

He can't guard quick guards like Lin. He's better against SGs. I seem to recall him doing a nice job on Wade.

[scanry]

Manu made every timely shot out there when it looked like the Rockets were gonna go on a run of their own (or did, including taking the lead), then led the charge to take control of the game. By the time he sat down, the Spurs had a 13 pt cushion and were well on their way to another win.

He was the best Spurs tonight, and it wasn't close, IMO

Tim & Tony played a better game.

[racm]

Tim & Tony played a better game.
scanry, I do hope you know ElNono's shtick is to butter up Manu at every other Spur's expense, particularly Tony, tbh ;)

[therealtruth]

It seems like Duncan's numbers have gone up since Splitter's been starting.

[racm]

It seems like Duncan's numbers have gone up since Splitter's been starting.

With the exception of his rebounds and FG%. His assists are up though.

[quentin_compson]

That was a fun game to watch. The Spurs' perimeter D was pretty atrocious, especially in the first half, but then again, give the Rockets credit for moving the ball well and knocking down shots. Harden is having a fanatastic season so far, no doubt about it. And they have nice role players like Asik (who certainly didn't shine yesterday, though) and Parsons as well.
That being said, a lot of Spur players were playing very well on their own, especially the big 3. Manu, Tim and Tony all had stretches where they were just huge, and others - Green, Tiago, Mills - were stepping up as well.

[team-work]

timvp, would you start a thread on the pros vs cons of Tiago starting or coming off the bench? On first impression, it seems he doesn't disappoint after being inserted into the starting lineup, but games in which he puts down "monster" stats are lacking. Would it be difficult to steal the spotlight from Duncan?

[Raven]

He can't guard quick guards like Lin. He's better against SGs. I seem to recall him doing a nice job on Wade.

i hear ya.. he's a really nice player to have and i'm excited about him, but making him defend quick PGs is just not fair. He's a shooting guard with playmaking abilities, simply that.

[smaka]

Besides big 3 (of course), I loved Patty's effort in D. I think a couple of his plays were the turning point in this game.

[Pauleta14]

scanry (http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/member.php?u=14692), I do hope you know ElNono (http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/member.php?u=8054) IS A TROLL tbh ;)

FYP

[DapDaGenius]

FYP

:lol

[ElNono]

Tim & Tony played a better game.

No

[silverblackfan]

Besides big 3 (of course), I loved Patty's effort in D. I think a couple of his plays were the turning point in this game.

Patty was playing at another energy level than both teams. The Rockets weren't ready for that effort and he surprised them a few times with quick feet. His effort produced at least two turnovers, a charge and an offensive foul. They were key plays to snuff any momentum from Houston.