timvp
11-07-2004, 11:52 PM
Tim Duncan
As good as he played in the Spurs’ first two games, that was how off he was in the third game. Offensively, Duncan never found his rhythm. He missed a lot of jumpers to start the game and then was collapsed upon whenever he’d try to operate inside. His defense and rebounding was even worse. He was consistently scored on down low and was ineffective on the glass. The good news? Duncan hit 9-10 from the line.
GRADE: 60
SEASON: 84.3
Bruce Bowen
Ray Allen proved that he still has game. He torched Bowen for 24 points, scoring off a variety of quick-hit isolation sets. Bowen was unable to stay in front of Allen and was often picked off when chasing him around screens. On offense, Bowen wasn’t effective. He was 1-5 from the field and passed up a number of easy looks. So far this season, Bowen has been out of sync when the Spurs have the ball.
GRADE: 55
SEASON: 75.7
Rasho Nesterovic
Playing only 23 minutes due to match up problems with the smaller Sonics, Nesterovic played well when he was in there. While he could have grabbed more rebounds, his six rebounds placed him second on the team. The Spurs need him to be more physical inside, as he’s only gone to the line once in three games so far this season.
GRADE: 80
SEASON: 85.7
Manu Ginobili
Ginobili played a nice overall game. He continued his aggressive play, taking it to the Sonics and forcing them to react. He hit 7-12 from the field to finish with 21 points. On the downside, he was breaking the offense and his ball movement wasn't as crisp as the Spurs need it to be. While he’s put up impressive numbers through the team’s first three games, he’s also averaging four turnovers a game.
GRADE: 82
SEASON: 93.3
Tony Parker
Parker continued to fight and led the Spurs in runs when they were trying to cut into the lead. He attacked the basket well and was doing a nice job of finishing around the rim. His defense was also a plus. On the other hand, he didn’t do a good job creating for his teammates and often misjudged when he should shoot or pass.
GRADE: 81
SEASON: 78.3
Brent Barry
His return to Seattle didn’t go as planned. After being shutout in the first half, he did come back to life in the second half. All four of his shots were from beyond the arc, as he connected on two of them. His defense still needs work and for the first time since early in the preseason, Barry looked unsure of his role in the offensive sets.
GRADE: 80
SEASON: 88.3
Devin Brown
Brown missed an opportunity to earn more minutes with a so-so performance in 24 minutes. His defense wasn’t as good as he’s capable of playing and he hit only two of his seven shots from the floor. Brown also had three costly turnovers when the Spurs were trying to cut the Sonic’s lead. He’ll have to play better to break into Pop’s nightly rotation.
GRADE: 70
SEASON: 75
Malik Rose
Rose played well offensively, scoring ten points in 17 minutes of play. He seemed comfortable in the Spurs’ halfcourt offensive sets. Rebounding-wise, he wasn’t doing as good a job. Usually he can come in and provide tenacious rebounding effort, but that was lacking versus the Sonics. Rose also had a couple of frustration fouls and got his head out of the game.
GRADE: 78
SEASON: 83
Tony Massenburg
As the rest of the team let the Sonics be the aggressors, Massenburg was the only Spur holding his space on the court. He played physical defense and didn’t let Seattle push him around. He also had two huge blocks and a big bucket for the Spurs.
GRADE: 95
SEASON: 88.5
Robert Horry
Big Shot Rob didn’t do much of anything on the floor in his nine minutes. His zero rebounds were a telling stat.
GRADE: 75
SEASON: 79.3
Beno Udrih
After showing the world what he could do against the Lakers, he didn’t do much right in his third game of his career. He had no points and no assists in eight minutes of playing time. He was also benched in the first half for missing a rotation on the defensive end. This was a night of growing pains for the young rookie out of Slovenia.
GRADE: 65
SEASON: 78.3
As good as he played in the Spurs’ first two games, that was how off he was in the third game. Offensively, Duncan never found his rhythm. He missed a lot of jumpers to start the game and then was collapsed upon whenever he’d try to operate inside. His defense and rebounding was even worse. He was consistently scored on down low and was ineffective on the glass. The good news? Duncan hit 9-10 from the line.
GRADE: 60
SEASON: 84.3
Bruce Bowen
Ray Allen proved that he still has game. He torched Bowen for 24 points, scoring off a variety of quick-hit isolation sets. Bowen was unable to stay in front of Allen and was often picked off when chasing him around screens. On offense, Bowen wasn’t effective. He was 1-5 from the field and passed up a number of easy looks. So far this season, Bowen has been out of sync when the Spurs have the ball.
GRADE: 55
SEASON: 75.7
Rasho Nesterovic
Playing only 23 minutes due to match up problems with the smaller Sonics, Nesterovic played well when he was in there. While he could have grabbed more rebounds, his six rebounds placed him second on the team. The Spurs need him to be more physical inside, as he’s only gone to the line once in three games so far this season.
GRADE: 80
SEASON: 85.7
Manu Ginobili
Ginobili played a nice overall game. He continued his aggressive play, taking it to the Sonics and forcing them to react. He hit 7-12 from the field to finish with 21 points. On the downside, he was breaking the offense and his ball movement wasn't as crisp as the Spurs need it to be. While he’s put up impressive numbers through the team’s first three games, he’s also averaging four turnovers a game.
GRADE: 82
SEASON: 93.3
Tony Parker
Parker continued to fight and led the Spurs in runs when they were trying to cut into the lead. He attacked the basket well and was doing a nice job of finishing around the rim. His defense was also a plus. On the other hand, he didn’t do a good job creating for his teammates and often misjudged when he should shoot or pass.
GRADE: 81
SEASON: 78.3
Brent Barry
His return to Seattle didn’t go as planned. After being shutout in the first half, he did come back to life in the second half. All four of his shots were from beyond the arc, as he connected on two of them. His defense still needs work and for the first time since early in the preseason, Barry looked unsure of his role in the offensive sets.
GRADE: 80
SEASON: 88.3
Devin Brown
Brown missed an opportunity to earn more minutes with a so-so performance in 24 minutes. His defense wasn’t as good as he’s capable of playing and he hit only two of his seven shots from the floor. Brown also had three costly turnovers when the Spurs were trying to cut the Sonic’s lead. He’ll have to play better to break into Pop’s nightly rotation.
GRADE: 70
SEASON: 75
Malik Rose
Rose played well offensively, scoring ten points in 17 minutes of play. He seemed comfortable in the Spurs’ halfcourt offensive sets. Rebounding-wise, he wasn’t doing as good a job. Usually he can come in and provide tenacious rebounding effort, but that was lacking versus the Sonics. Rose also had a couple of frustration fouls and got his head out of the game.
GRADE: 78
SEASON: 83
Tony Massenburg
As the rest of the team let the Sonics be the aggressors, Massenburg was the only Spur holding his space on the court. He played physical defense and didn’t let Seattle push him around. He also had two huge blocks and a big bucket for the Spurs.
GRADE: 95
SEASON: 88.5
Robert Horry
Big Shot Rob didn’t do much of anything on the floor in his nine minutes. His zero rebounds were a telling stat.
GRADE: 75
SEASON: 79.3
Beno Udrih
After showing the world what he could do against the Lakers, he didn’t do much right in his third game of his career. He had no points and no assists in eight minutes of playing time. He was also benched in the first half for missing a rotation on the defensive end. This was a night of growing pains for the young rookie out of Slovenia.
GRADE: 65
SEASON: 78.3