DieMrBond
12-08-2006, 01:35 AM
Spurs at their best when ball is moving
Web Posted: 12/07/2006 10:01 PM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
Brent Barry could have dunked or even settled for a layup. Taking the easy shot would have benefited all parties involved. If nothing else, it would have saved a little wear on Gregg Popovich's vocal cords.
But Barry had already thrown down a nifty reverse slam a minute earlier and had Francisco Elson trailing on the break and, well, sometimes there are just moments that call for an on-the-run, no-look, over-the-head pass.
Unfortunately for Barry, Elson wasn't aware the second quarter of Wednesday's game in Charlotte was such a moment. The pass glanced off his hands and by the time he had gathered the ball and gone back up to try to score, Gerald Wallace was there to block his shot.
Barry didn't need to look at Popovich to know what punishment awaited him. He simply turned and walked toward the bench as the Spurs' coach unleashed a torrent of four-lettered frustration in his direction.
"I don't know what was so wrong," Barry deadpanned after the game. "I had my fill. I was just trying to get another one for my friend here." :lol
Give Barry and the rest of the Spurs credit for this much: They've been awfully generous of late. During their three-game winning streak, they have assisted on 83 of 120 baskets (69.2 percent).
"It's key for us," said Bruce Bowen, who benefited from his teammates' unselfishness Saturday against Sacramento, making six 3-pointers and scoring a season-high 23 points. "If you're moving the ball, people can't sag in and protect the paint so to speak. They can't move as fast as the ball moves.
"If we can get the ball from one side of the floor to the other, that means they have to play more defense. And the longer they have to play defense, the better it is for us."
The Spurs have been unusually prolific this season, averaging 99.7 points, an increase of more than four per game from last season. The 129 they scored against Golden State on Monday matched their largest total in a regulation game in more than 13 years.
Popovich doesn't read much into the jump, calling it an early season anomaly.
"As the season goes on," Popovich said, "we'll be the same old boring team we've always been."
The Spurs can live with boring provided they continue to share the ball. Against the Warriors, they assisted on 13 of their first 15 baskets and 37 of 49 for the game.
Golden State clearly won't win any defensive awards, but the Spurs also don't think it was a coincidence their outburst came on the night of Manu Ginobili's return. Ginobili distributed nine assists in just 14 minutes against the Warriors and handed out five more Wednesday.
"It's a huge difference," Tim Duncan said. "It gives us another guy that (teams) just can't key on. With Tony (Parker) and myself, they basically know what we're going to do. But Manu is the one thing that's unpredictable about us."
Ginobili said he purposely looked to pass against Golden State because he lacked confidence in his shot after missing nine days with a bruised back. He was more aggressive Wednesday at taking the ball to the rim, but still found time to set up his teammates, once slinging a pass through two defenders to give Barry an easy layup.
The Spurs' offense stagnated at times during Ginobili's absence. His role as a playmaker is all the more important considering Parker has developed into more of a scoring guard. Both have tendencies to over-penetrate at times, but the team relies heavily on their ability to collapse the defense and create scoring opportunities.
"Sometimes we can get in trouble when we get caught up in just trying to beat a guy off the dribble and the defense is set," Bowen said. "When you get guys moving, that's when you have guys out of position and you can penetrate a little more. Tony can get his floater or Manu can get to the basket.
"But when we do it off the first initial pass of the offense, it usually ends up in a turnover or something."
A team, however, can still move the ball effectively and not make shots. Just ask Barry. He playfully admonished Elson after Wednesday's game for botching his highlight-worthy pass.
Ginobili also pointed out that Popovich took both he and Barry out of the game after the play while keeping Elson on the floor.
"And all I was trying to do," Barry said, "was give the guy a little bit of confidence."
Notable: When asked whether he planned to start Ginobili as soon as he returns to full health, Popovich said he didn't know. Said Ginobili: "In every season, for a little bit of time, I was on the bench. I don't know if that's this time or not. We'll see. I would like to play a little bit more because I'm feeling good. But I understand his position and I'm just coming from an injury, so it's not a big deal."
Web Posted: 12/07/2006 10:01 PM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
Brent Barry could have dunked or even settled for a layup. Taking the easy shot would have benefited all parties involved. If nothing else, it would have saved a little wear on Gregg Popovich's vocal cords.
But Barry had already thrown down a nifty reverse slam a minute earlier and had Francisco Elson trailing on the break and, well, sometimes there are just moments that call for an on-the-run, no-look, over-the-head pass.
Unfortunately for Barry, Elson wasn't aware the second quarter of Wednesday's game in Charlotte was such a moment. The pass glanced off his hands and by the time he had gathered the ball and gone back up to try to score, Gerald Wallace was there to block his shot.
Barry didn't need to look at Popovich to know what punishment awaited him. He simply turned and walked toward the bench as the Spurs' coach unleashed a torrent of four-lettered frustration in his direction.
"I don't know what was so wrong," Barry deadpanned after the game. "I had my fill. I was just trying to get another one for my friend here." :lol
Give Barry and the rest of the Spurs credit for this much: They've been awfully generous of late. During their three-game winning streak, they have assisted on 83 of 120 baskets (69.2 percent).
"It's key for us," said Bruce Bowen, who benefited from his teammates' unselfishness Saturday against Sacramento, making six 3-pointers and scoring a season-high 23 points. "If you're moving the ball, people can't sag in and protect the paint so to speak. They can't move as fast as the ball moves.
"If we can get the ball from one side of the floor to the other, that means they have to play more defense. And the longer they have to play defense, the better it is for us."
The Spurs have been unusually prolific this season, averaging 99.7 points, an increase of more than four per game from last season. The 129 they scored against Golden State on Monday matched their largest total in a regulation game in more than 13 years.
Popovich doesn't read much into the jump, calling it an early season anomaly.
"As the season goes on," Popovich said, "we'll be the same old boring team we've always been."
The Spurs can live with boring provided they continue to share the ball. Against the Warriors, they assisted on 13 of their first 15 baskets and 37 of 49 for the game.
Golden State clearly won't win any defensive awards, but the Spurs also don't think it was a coincidence their outburst came on the night of Manu Ginobili's return. Ginobili distributed nine assists in just 14 minutes against the Warriors and handed out five more Wednesday.
"It's a huge difference," Tim Duncan said. "It gives us another guy that (teams) just can't key on. With Tony (Parker) and myself, they basically know what we're going to do. But Manu is the one thing that's unpredictable about us."
Ginobili said he purposely looked to pass against Golden State because he lacked confidence in his shot after missing nine days with a bruised back. He was more aggressive Wednesday at taking the ball to the rim, but still found time to set up his teammates, once slinging a pass through two defenders to give Barry an easy layup.
The Spurs' offense stagnated at times during Ginobili's absence. His role as a playmaker is all the more important considering Parker has developed into more of a scoring guard. Both have tendencies to over-penetrate at times, but the team relies heavily on their ability to collapse the defense and create scoring opportunities.
"Sometimes we can get in trouble when we get caught up in just trying to beat a guy off the dribble and the defense is set," Bowen said. "When you get guys moving, that's when you have guys out of position and you can penetrate a little more. Tony can get his floater or Manu can get to the basket.
"But when we do it off the first initial pass of the offense, it usually ends up in a turnover or something."
A team, however, can still move the ball effectively and not make shots. Just ask Barry. He playfully admonished Elson after Wednesday's game for botching his highlight-worthy pass.
Ginobili also pointed out that Popovich took both he and Barry out of the game after the play while keeping Elson on the floor.
"And all I was trying to do," Barry said, "was give the guy a little bit of confidence."
Notable: When asked whether he planned to start Ginobili as soon as he returns to full health, Popovich said he didn't know. Said Ginobili: "In every season, for a little bit of time, I was on the bench. I don't know if that's this time or not. We'll see. I would like to play a little bit more because I'm feeling good. But I understand his position and I'm just coming from an injury, so it's not a big deal."