timvp
11-22-2004, 03:58 AM
Spurs Collapse, Lose To Raptors
By LJ Ellis
FullSportPress.com
Tim Duncan
In the first half of the game against the Toronto Raptors, Duncan was unstoppable. He scored 21 points as he demolished the Raptors’ defense. The second half was a whole new story. Scoring only five points after halftime, Duncan failed to connect on a field goal in the fourth quarter and missed three crucial free throws. Defensively, he played poorly against Chris Bosh. On numerous occasions, the second-year player drove past Duncan to the basket or was left wide open for shots. The good news for Duncan is the Spurs play the Memphis Grizzlies next, a team he’s always dominated.
GRADE: 73
SEASON: 85.8
Bruce Bowen
While he wasn’t hampered with fouls, Bowen was on the court playing effective ball. In 21 minutes of play, he totaled ten points on 3-6 shooting from the field. Though he failed to record a rebound, assist, steal or block, his defense against Vince Carter and Jalen Rose was dazzling. But after picking up his fourth foul with 9:41 to go in the game, Bowen was sent to the bench. While he was sitting there, Lamond Murray went on to score 11 of his 13 fourth quarter points. If Popovich had to do it over again, he probably would have kept his defensive ace out there.
GRADE: 87
SEASON: 83.8
Rasho Nesterovic
For the 26 minutes he was on the floor, Nesterovic produced at a good clip. He scored eight points on 4-8 shooting, while pulling down 11 rebounds (six of them offensive) and blocking a shot. However, when the Raptors went small in the fourth quarter, the Spurs needed a more mobile bigman on the court. After a lowly effort against the Celtics, it was nice to see Nesterovic rebound with a good performance.
GRADE: 87
SEASON: 85.6
Manu Ginobili
Ginobili played a season-high 37 minutes, but never really was able to find his rhythm. He scored ten points, dished out three assists and corralled two rebounds, yet his fourth quarter play was less than spectacular. He was beat on defense a couple of times and seemed to lack the energy to create much off the dribble. Most likely he was exhausted from playing a season-high in minutes in his third game in four nights, which is why the Spurs’ coaching staff tries to limit him to around 30 minutes an outing.
GRADE: 76
SEASON: 91
Tony Parker
Earlier this season, Parker had back-to-back great defensive games versus Stephon Marbury and Allen Iverson. Against Toronto, Parker didn’t come to play on the defensive end as Rafer Alston torched the Spurs with 20 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds. On the offensive end, Parker wasn’t much better. He hit only 5-15 from the field and missed all four of his three-point attempts. He did tally six rebounds and six assists and was also the only Spur being aggressive in the fourth quarter, but the Spurs need him to start playing well for them to reach a championship caliber level.
GRADE: 72
SEASON: 79.1
Brent Barry
Barry played 27 minutes off the bench with varying results. While he did score eight points, grab six rebounds and rack up three assists, he missed a variety of shots that would have helped seal the game. All nine of his field goal attempts were three-pointers and he only connected on two of those. After shooting over 40% from beyond the arc for the last five seasons, Barry is only hitting 35.2% so far as a Spur. The team needs him to hit more to spread the floor and make it easier for everyone else to operate. Also, Barry’s defense is still a work in progress that the Spurs need him to patch up if he’s going to be playing in fourth quarters.
GRADE: 72
SEASON: 85.3
Robert Horry
The Spurs went to Horry in critical points of the game to help stunt Toronto’s run but it wasn’t enough. Horry played decent, totaling two points, three rebounds and two assists in 17 minutes of playing time. He too had a couple chances to put the Raptors away but missed three of his four shots for the game. Much like last season, it seems as if Popovich is going to employ Horry in fourth quarters against teams who are utilizing a small lineup.
GRADE: 80
SEASON: 83.1
Malik Rose
In 13 minutes of action, Rose didn’t do much to disappoint. He contributed five points, two rebounds and an assist, and was a spark off the bench particularly in the third quarter. In spite of that play, with the Raptors going small and the coaching staff choosing to go with Horry, that left no fourth quarter time for Rose.
GRADE: 86
SEASON: 84.8
Beno Udrih
Udrih had a moderately successful outing, but the Spurs need a bigger spark off the bench while Parker rests. In the last eight games, Udrih has only two assists and has had trouble handling the ball in traffic. He obviously has the potential, but the team needs him to grow into that potential faster.
GRADE: 79
SEASON: 77.9
Devin Brown
While Brown’s defense wasn’t up to his usual standard, the offensive jolt he gave the Spurs was key during the time the Spurs were making their first half comeback. With the Spurs down by ten points, Brown hit a three-pointer to ignite an 11-0 run.
GRADE: 85
SEASON: 83
By LJ Ellis
FullSportPress.com
Tim Duncan
In the first half of the game against the Toronto Raptors, Duncan was unstoppable. He scored 21 points as he demolished the Raptors’ defense. The second half was a whole new story. Scoring only five points after halftime, Duncan failed to connect on a field goal in the fourth quarter and missed three crucial free throws. Defensively, he played poorly against Chris Bosh. On numerous occasions, the second-year player drove past Duncan to the basket or was left wide open for shots. The good news for Duncan is the Spurs play the Memphis Grizzlies next, a team he’s always dominated.
GRADE: 73
SEASON: 85.8
Bruce Bowen
While he wasn’t hampered with fouls, Bowen was on the court playing effective ball. In 21 minutes of play, he totaled ten points on 3-6 shooting from the field. Though he failed to record a rebound, assist, steal or block, his defense against Vince Carter and Jalen Rose was dazzling. But after picking up his fourth foul with 9:41 to go in the game, Bowen was sent to the bench. While he was sitting there, Lamond Murray went on to score 11 of his 13 fourth quarter points. If Popovich had to do it over again, he probably would have kept his defensive ace out there.
GRADE: 87
SEASON: 83.8
Rasho Nesterovic
For the 26 minutes he was on the floor, Nesterovic produced at a good clip. He scored eight points on 4-8 shooting, while pulling down 11 rebounds (six of them offensive) and blocking a shot. However, when the Raptors went small in the fourth quarter, the Spurs needed a more mobile bigman on the court. After a lowly effort against the Celtics, it was nice to see Nesterovic rebound with a good performance.
GRADE: 87
SEASON: 85.6
Manu Ginobili
Ginobili played a season-high 37 minutes, but never really was able to find his rhythm. He scored ten points, dished out three assists and corralled two rebounds, yet his fourth quarter play was less than spectacular. He was beat on defense a couple of times and seemed to lack the energy to create much off the dribble. Most likely he was exhausted from playing a season-high in minutes in his third game in four nights, which is why the Spurs’ coaching staff tries to limit him to around 30 minutes an outing.
GRADE: 76
SEASON: 91
Tony Parker
Earlier this season, Parker had back-to-back great defensive games versus Stephon Marbury and Allen Iverson. Against Toronto, Parker didn’t come to play on the defensive end as Rafer Alston torched the Spurs with 20 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds. On the offensive end, Parker wasn’t much better. He hit only 5-15 from the field and missed all four of his three-point attempts. He did tally six rebounds and six assists and was also the only Spur being aggressive in the fourth quarter, but the Spurs need him to start playing well for them to reach a championship caliber level.
GRADE: 72
SEASON: 79.1
Brent Barry
Barry played 27 minutes off the bench with varying results. While he did score eight points, grab six rebounds and rack up three assists, he missed a variety of shots that would have helped seal the game. All nine of his field goal attempts were three-pointers and he only connected on two of those. After shooting over 40% from beyond the arc for the last five seasons, Barry is only hitting 35.2% so far as a Spur. The team needs him to hit more to spread the floor and make it easier for everyone else to operate. Also, Barry’s defense is still a work in progress that the Spurs need him to patch up if he’s going to be playing in fourth quarters.
GRADE: 72
SEASON: 85.3
Robert Horry
The Spurs went to Horry in critical points of the game to help stunt Toronto’s run but it wasn’t enough. Horry played decent, totaling two points, three rebounds and two assists in 17 minutes of playing time. He too had a couple chances to put the Raptors away but missed three of his four shots for the game. Much like last season, it seems as if Popovich is going to employ Horry in fourth quarters against teams who are utilizing a small lineup.
GRADE: 80
SEASON: 83.1
Malik Rose
In 13 minutes of action, Rose didn’t do much to disappoint. He contributed five points, two rebounds and an assist, and was a spark off the bench particularly in the third quarter. In spite of that play, with the Raptors going small and the coaching staff choosing to go with Horry, that left no fourth quarter time for Rose.
GRADE: 86
SEASON: 84.8
Beno Udrih
Udrih had a moderately successful outing, but the Spurs need a bigger spark off the bench while Parker rests. In the last eight games, Udrih has only two assists and has had trouble handling the ball in traffic. He obviously has the potential, but the team needs him to grow into that potential faster.
GRADE: 79
SEASON: 77.9
Devin Brown
While Brown’s defense wasn’t up to his usual standard, the offensive jolt he gave the Spurs was key during the time the Spurs were making their first half comeback. With the Spurs down by ten points, Brown hit a three-pointer to ignite an 11-0 run.
GRADE: 85
SEASON: 83