timvp
11-29-2004, 05:29 AM
Tim Duncan
Duncan always seems to play with a chip on his shoulder against the Utah Jazz. Saturday night was no different, as the Spurs cruised to a 109-76 victory. In only 27 minutes of action, Duncan totaled 12 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and four blocks. He basically just took over the game upon its outset, especially on the defensive end. He wasn’t going to let the Spurs lose … or even let the Jazz have any hope.
GRADE: 94
SEASON: 87.8
Bruce Bowen
To help extinguish the Jazz, Bowen came out of the gates on fire. He hit 3-4 from the field, 1-2 from downtown and all four of his free throws. His defense was stellar, as usual. So far this season, it appears that Bowen has solved his career long free throw woes. Through the first 14 games, he’s shooting 77.8% from the line. Prior to this season, his career-high was 62.3% in 1997-98.
GRADE: 92
SEASON: 84.4
Rasho Nesterovic
With everyone else playing so well, it was odd that Nesterovic was so quiet. In 24 minutes of action, he hit his only shot and pulled down only one rebound. He also had four fouls and three turnovers. However, if there was ever a time to have an off night, this was the time. Because Nesterovic hit 47.4% of his free throws last year and has connected on only 28.6% this season, the Spurs are having him test out a new one-handed technique. It’ll be interesting to see him try it in upcoming games.
GRADE: 78
SEASON: 85.3
Manu Ginobili
In 22 minutes of action, Ginobili was pretty much flawless. He made 5-6 field goals and 5-5 free throws, scoring 15 points while pulling down three rebounds and handing out three assists. To round out his near perfect evening, he finished with two steals and no turnovers. Even though he went through a mini-slump, he’s still putting up numbers that are good enough to earn him a trip to the All-Star game.
GRADE: 97
SEASON: 89.4
Tony Parker
For the third game in a row, Parker has done a masterful job running the show. He’s gotten the Spurs into their offensive sets with ease and is having no problem finding the open man. To go along with the playmaking abilities he’s shown recently, he’s doing a nice job scoring the ball. In 22 minutes, he finished with 14 points on 6-9 shooting from the field and 2-3 shooting from the line. He also recorded four assists, three rebounds and four steals.
GRADE: 96
SEASON: 81.9
Beno Udrih
With the game out of hand, Udrih got a lot of playing time and didn’t disappoint. In perhaps his best game as an NBA player, Udrih had a season-high tying nine points to go along with two assists, two rebounds and a steal. He shot well as he connected on 3-6 from the floor, including 2-4 from beyond the arc. For the season, Udrih has proven to be quite the marksman from downtown. He’s currently sixth in the league at 47.6%.
GRADE: 91
SEASON: 80.3
Devin Brown
Brown has been struggling most of the season, but busted out in a big way against the Jazz. In 22 minutes, the UTSA product had 14 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals. He shot 5-7 from the field and nailed his only three-point attempt. Brown also gave the SBC audience the play of the night, when he took an alleyoop feed from Barry and skyed to finish with a one-handed power dunk.
GRADE: 95
SEASON: 83.2
Brent Barry
While his shooting wasn’t too prolific Saturday night, Barry again did a great job initiating ball movement in the Spurs’ offense. He finished the game 1-3 from the field and 0-2 from three-point land. He did, however, finish with four assists – marking the third time in the last four games that he’s reached that number.
GRADE: 86
SEASON: 85.9
Malik Rose
It’s been a long time since Rose has been this effective. In only 19 minutes of playing time, Rose poured in 16 points and four rebounds. He shot 4-6 from the field and hit all eight of his free throws. In double figures in scoring for the second consecutive game and the third game of the season, Rose has elevated his level of play and is more importantly playing within the parameters that Popovich has set for him.
GRADE: 96
SEASON: 86.5
Robert Horry
Horry didn’t have a particularly great game, but the Spurs really didn’t need it. He contributed five points and two rebounds in 16 minutes. This season, the main difficulty for Horry has been rebounding. He’s only averaging a shade over six rebounds per 48 minutes, which means that he’s losing a lot of rebounding battles down low. If the Spurs are looking to lean on him for important minutes this season, he’ll need to start boarding better.
GRADE: 85
SEASON: 83.2
Tony Massenburg
Massenburg kept his tough guy image intact versus Utah. In ten minutes of playing time, he delivered five fouls and picked up a technical foul. With the Jazz committing several hard fouls, the Spurs didn’t mind Massenburg going in there and mixing it up. He also scored five points and pulled down a pair of rebounds.
GRADE: 85
SEASON: 84.7
Mike Wilks
In nine minutes of playing time, Wilks continues to prove that he’s a steady hand. He can run the point and do so effectively. As Udrih proves whether he’s durable enough for the NBA, the Spurs will keep Wilks on the roster as insurance.
GRADE: 85
SEASON: 86
Duncan always seems to play with a chip on his shoulder against the Utah Jazz. Saturday night was no different, as the Spurs cruised to a 109-76 victory. In only 27 minutes of action, Duncan totaled 12 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and four blocks. He basically just took over the game upon its outset, especially on the defensive end. He wasn’t going to let the Spurs lose … or even let the Jazz have any hope.
GRADE: 94
SEASON: 87.8
Bruce Bowen
To help extinguish the Jazz, Bowen came out of the gates on fire. He hit 3-4 from the field, 1-2 from downtown and all four of his free throws. His defense was stellar, as usual. So far this season, it appears that Bowen has solved his career long free throw woes. Through the first 14 games, he’s shooting 77.8% from the line. Prior to this season, his career-high was 62.3% in 1997-98.
GRADE: 92
SEASON: 84.4
Rasho Nesterovic
With everyone else playing so well, it was odd that Nesterovic was so quiet. In 24 minutes of action, he hit his only shot and pulled down only one rebound. He also had four fouls and three turnovers. However, if there was ever a time to have an off night, this was the time. Because Nesterovic hit 47.4% of his free throws last year and has connected on only 28.6% this season, the Spurs are having him test out a new one-handed technique. It’ll be interesting to see him try it in upcoming games.
GRADE: 78
SEASON: 85.3
Manu Ginobili
In 22 minutes of action, Ginobili was pretty much flawless. He made 5-6 field goals and 5-5 free throws, scoring 15 points while pulling down three rebounds and handing out three assists. To round out his near perfect evening, he finished with two steals and no turnovers. Even though he went through a mini-slump, he’s still putting up numbers that are good enough to earn him a trip to the All-Star game.
GRADE: 97
SEASON: 89.4
Tony Parker
For the third game in a row, Parker has done a masterful job running the show. He’s gotten the Spurs into their offensive sets with ease and is having no problem finding the open man. To go along with the playmaking abilities he’s shown recently, he’s doing a nice job scoring the ball. In 22 minutes, he finished with 14 points on 6-9 shooting from the field and 2-3 shooting from the line. He also recorded four assists, three rebounds and four steals.
GRADE: 96
SEASON: 81.9
Beno Udrih
With the game out of hand, Udrih got a lot of playing time and didn’t disappoint. In perhaps his best game as an NBA player, Udrih had a season-high tying nine points to go along with two assists, two rebounds and a steal. He shot well as he connected on 3-6 from the floor, including 2-4 from beyond the arc. For the season, Udrih has proven to be quite the marksman from downtown. He’s currently sixth in the league at 47.6%.
GRADE: 91
SEASON: 80.3
Devin Brown
Brown has been struggling most of the season, but busted out in a big way against the Jazz. In 22 minutes, the UTSA product had 14 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals. He shot 5-7 from the field and nailed his only three-point attempt. Brown also gave the SBC audience the play of the night, when he took an alleyoop feed from Barry and skyed to finish with a one-handed power dunk.
GRADE: 95
SEASON: 83.2
Brent Barry
While his shooting wasn’t too prolific Saturday night, Barry again did a great job initiating ball movement in the Spurs’ offense. He finished the game 1-3 from the field and 0-2 from three-point land. He did, however, finish with four assists – marking the third time in the last four games that he’s reached that number.
GRADE: 86
SEASON: 85.9
Malik Rose
It’s been a long time since Rose has been this effective. In only 19 minutes of playing time, Rose poured in 16 points and four rebounds. He shot 4-6 from the field and hit all eight of his free throws. In double figures in scoring for the second consecutive game and the third game of the season, Rose has elevated his level of play and is more importantly playing within the parameters that Popovich has set for him.
GRADE: 96
SEASON: 86.5
Robert Horry
Horry didn’t have a particularly great game, but the Spurs really didn’t need it. He contributed five points and two rebounds in 16 minutes. This season, the main difficulty for Horry has been rebounding. He’s only averaging a shade over six rebounds per 48 minutes, which means that he’s losing a lot of rebounding battles down low. If the Spurs are looking to lean on him for important minutes this season, he’ll need to start boarding better.
GRADE: 85
SEASON: 83.2
Tony Massenburg
Massenburg kept his tough guy image intact versus Utah. In ten minutes of playing time, he delivered five fouls and picked up a technical foul. With the Jazz committing several hard fouls, the Spurs didn’t mind Massenburg going in there and mixing it up. He also scored five points and pulled down a pair of rebounds.
GRADE: 85
SEASON: 84.7
Mike Wilks
In nine minutes of playing time, Wilks continues to prove that he’s a steady hand. He can run the point and do so effectively. As Udrih proves whether he’s durable enough for the NBA, the Spurs will keep Wilks on the roster as insurance.
GRADE: 85
SEASON: 86