timvp
11-13-2004, 03:57 PM
Tim Duncan
Despite shooting only 6-14 from the floor and 5-14 from the line, Duncan did his part in taking down the Miami Heat. He held his position well in the low blocks and did a great job finding the open man – finishing with six assists and only one turnover. While he wasn’t matched up against Shaquille O’Neal very much defensively, his help defense was key in limiting O’Neal’s production.
GRADE: 87
SEASON: 86.4
Bruce Bowen
Bowen opened the game on Eddie Jones and did his part in shutting him down. Jones finished 1-5 from the field before fouling out in only 18 minutes of action. Bowen was very active, totaling seven points, three rebounds, three assists, two blocked shots and one steal, while finishing with no turnovers for the game. His offense is still a work in progress, but his defense and overall aggressiveness against his former team was impressive.
GRADE: 88
SEASON: 80
Rasho Nesterovic
Dealing with O’Neal downlow is a dangerous proposition, however Nesterovic did a commendable job. He fronted him for most of the game and made O’Neal work for his position. Of course O’Neal is going to get his points and rebounds, as he finished with 23 points and 21 rebounds. But Nesterovic did a good job limiting him, especially in the first half. Offensively, the seven-foot Slovenian has seen better nights.
GRADE: 84
SEASON: 85.2
Manu Ginobili
The stats speak for themselves. 29 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, six steals and a block, while shooting 8-12 from the field, 5-6 from beyond the arc and 8-10 from the line. Manu Ginobili is becoming a superstar before our very eyes. He’s not only first in the league in points per 48 minutes (35.5 points), he has also passed Duncan for leading scorer on the team (22.8 versus 22.6). While it’s unlikely that Ginobili can keep these type of numbers going, this early season recognition should make him a lock for being named to the All-Star team.
GRADE: 100
SEASON: 95.6
Tony Parker
Parker’s game has been off in this early season, but he took a step in the right direction Friday night. He scored 16 points on 8-16 shooting from the field. Parker also created well and got the team running as he finished with four assists and only one turnover. It wasn’t the breakout game that Spurs fans have been waiting for, but it was a markedly improved effort. He still needs to settle down and concentrate on feeding teammates and attacking the basket.
GRADE: 88
SEASON: 77.6
Brent Barry
Although his shooting wasn’t what he’d like, Barry came through in other aspects of the game. On the defensive side of the court, Barry was very active and did a commendable job in his double-teams of O’Neal. On offense, he made smart decisions and found teammates for open shots. For the game he finished 3-8 from the field and 2-6 on threes, while pulling down two rebounds and handing out three assists in 21 minutes.
GRADE: 86
SEASON: 87.2
Tony Massenburg
To help cope with The Big Shaq Attack, the Spurs employed a healthy dosage of Tony Massenburg. The 6-foot-9, 250 pound bruiser did his job against O’Neal. He didn’t provide much scoring or rebounding help (finishing with two in each category), the 17 minutes he put in against O’Neal was invaluable.
GRADE: 85
SEASON: 87.3
Beno Udrih
In ten minutes, Udrih didn’t drastically hurt or help the Spurs’ cause. He was solid with the ball, but was flustered when pressured full court. The highlights of his night were two impressive steals. The Spurs will need more out of their point guard than zero points and zero assists, however.
GRADE: 77
SEASON: 76
Robert Horry
When the Heat took out O’Neal or went small, Horry came in to match up defensively and spread the floor. He responded by hitting two of his four shots and dishing out an assist in ten minutes of action.
GRADE: 84
SEASON: 80.5
Malik Rose
Since Massenburg was matched up against O’Neal and Horry was used against the smaller power players, Rose’s time was limited. He hit 1-2 from the floor and grabbed one rebound in eight minutes.
GRADE: 83
SEASON: 84.3
Devin Brown
San Antonio’s own found limited minutes against the Heat, while scoring one point and snaring one rebound in five minutes.
GRADE: 82
SEASON: 80.3
Despite shooting only 6-14 from the floor and 5-14 from the line, Duncan did his part in taking down the Miami Heat. He held his position well in the low blocks and did a great job finding the open man – finishing with six assists and only one turnover. While he wasn’t matched up against Shaquille O’Neal very much defensively, his help defense was key in limiting O’Neal’s production.
GRADE: 87
SEASON: 86.4
Bruce Bowen
Bowen opened the game on Eddie Jones and did his part in shutting him down. Jones finished 1-5 from the field before fouling out in only 18 minutes of action. Bowen was very active, totaling seven points, three rebounds, three assists, two blocked shots and one steal, while finishing with no turnovers for the game. His offense is still a work in progress, but his defense and overall aggressiveness against his former team was impressive.
GRADE: 88
SEASON: 80
Rasho Nesterovic
Dealing with O’Neal downlow is a dangerous proposition, however Nesterovic did a commendable job. He fronted him for most of the game and made O’Neal work for his position. Of course O’Neal is going to get his points and rebounds, as he finished with 23 points and 21 rebounds. But Nesterovic did a good job limiting him, especially in the first half. Offensively, the seven-foot Slovenian has seen better nights.
GRADE: 84
SEASON: 85.2
Manu Ginobili
The stats speak for themselves. 29 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, six steals and a block, while shooting 8-12 from the field, 5-6 from beyond the arc and 8-10 from the line. Manu Ginobili is becoming a superstar before our very eyes. He’s not only first in the league in points per 48 minutes (35.5 points), he has also passed Duncan for leading scorer on the team (22.8 versus 22.6). While it’s unlikely that Ginobili can keep these type of numbers going, this early season recognition should make him a lock for being named to the All-Star team.
GRADE: 100
SEASON: 95.6
Tony Parker
Parker’s game has been off in this early season, but he took a step in the right direction Friday night. He scored 16 points on 8-16 shooting from the field. Parker also created well and got the team running as he finished with four assists and only one turnover. It wasn’t the breakout game that Spurs fans have been waiting for, but it was a markedly improved effort. He still needs to settle down and concentrate on feeding teammates and attacking the basket.
GRADE: 88
SEASON: 77.6
Brent Barry
Although his shooting wasn’t what he’d like, Barry came through in other aspects of the game. On the defensive side of the court, Barry was very active and did a commendable job in his double-teams of O’Neal. On offense, he made smart decisions and found teammates for open shots. For the game he finished 3-8 from the field and 2-6 on threes, while pulling down two rebounds and handing out three assists in 21 minutes.
GRADE: 86
SEASON: 87.2
Tony Massenburg
To help cope with The Big Shaq Attack, the Spurs employed a healthy dosage of Tony Massenburg. The 6-foot-9, 250 pound bruiser did his job against O’Neal. He didn’t provide much scoring or rebounding help (finishing with two in each category), the 17 minutes he put in against O’Neal was invaluable.
GRADE: 85
SEASON: 87.3
Beno Udrih
In ten minutes, Udrih didn’t drastically hurt or help the Spurs’ cause. He was solid with the ball, but was flustered when pressured full court. The highlights of his night were two impressive steals. The Spurs will need more out of their point guard than zero points and zero assists, however.
GRADE: 77
SEASON: 76
Robert Horry
When the Heat took out O’Neal or went small, Horry came in to match up defensively and spread the floor. He responded by hitting two of his four shots and dishing out an assist in ten minutes of action.
GRADE: 84
SEASON: 80.5
Malik Rose
Since Massenburg was matched up against O’Neal and Horry was used against the smaller power players, Rose’s time was limited. He hit 1-2 from the floor and grabbed one rebound in eight minutes.
GRADE: 83
SEASON: 84.3
Devin Brown
San Antonio’s own found limited minutes against the Heat, while scoring one point and snaring one rebound in five minutes.
GRADE: 82
SEASON: 80.3