timvp
12-26-2004, 06:15 AM
Tim Duncan
For the third straight game, Duncan had a difficult time getting into the flow. The Minnesota Timberwolves played him well defensively, but Duncan missed a lot of shots he usually makes. Only 8-for-23 from the field, Duncan is shooting just 42.1% over his last three games. For the contest, he managed to finish with 19 points, ten rebounds and two assists in 38 minutes. His defense was solid, but oddly enough he finished without a blocked shot for the first time in over a month.
GRADE: 78
DECEMBER: 86.5
SEASON: 87.3
Bruce Bowen
Bowen had one of his better all-around offensive games of his career. He hit 4-of-5 shots from the field and was 1-for-1 from three-point land, while handing out a career-high eight assists. He did a great job of finding the open man and was constantly swinging the ball around the perimeter. Defensively, he wasn’t so hot. He was put on Wally Szczerbiak early and often, but Szczerbiak had a solid game, finishing with 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field. Bowen is in a slump defensively, but don’t look for that to last long.
GRADE: 89
DECEMBER: 84.4
SEASON: 84.2
Rasho Nesterovic
It was a tale of two halves for Nesterovic. In the first half, he was horrible. He couldn’t hit a shot and was asleep on the defensive end. In what has been a season of passive play for Nesterovic, it was the ultimate display of passiveness. Luckily for the Spurs, their Slovenian center decided to awaken for the second half. He came through with an assortment of highlight reel plays on both sides of the court. Once he decides to show up on a daily basis, he should be fine. If he continues this sporadic play, the Spurs might have to consider changing their starting lineup.
GRADE: 83
DECEMBER: 77.8
SEASON: 82.1
Manu Ginobili
Ginobili was a model of efficiency against Minnesota. He scored 22 points, pulled down five rebounds, recorded three steals and blocked a shot in 35 minutes. From the field, he hit 7-of-9 shots, including 4-for-6 from beyond the arc. When he’s shooting like that, the Spurs are impossible to beat. Ginobili had a couple games where he was having difficulties scoring, but he’s bounced back and is now playing as he was early in the season. Despite his impressive play, Ginobili finished without an assist for the first time this year.
GRADE: 97
DECEMBER: 86.8
SEASON: 88.1
Tony Parker
Parker is making a late push for an All-Star berth. He’s played lights out over the last few weeks, and it was more of the same versus the T’Wolves. In 38 minutes, he had 19 points, eight assists and three rebounds, while shooting 8-for-18 from the floor and 3-for-3 from the line. Over his last ten games, he’s averaging 15.0 points, 6.8 assists and 3.7 rebounds. The Spurs need him to stay aggressive on the offensive end, especially when it comes to penetrating. When he attacks the basket, he can score on his own or find his teammates wide open.
GRADE: 95
DECEMBER: 88.2
SEASON: 84.9
Robert Horry
Horry played inspired basketball against Minnesota. After a DNP-CD versus the Orlando Magic, Horry came out ready to rumble. He played great defense, chased loose balls and stayed active on the offensive end. Though his statistics weren’t overly impressive (eight points and four rebounds), his impact on the game was great. With Nesterovic missing in action in the first half, Popovich decided to start Horry after halftime. That decision turned genius, as Big Shot Rob helped the Spurs complete the comeback.
GRADE: 97
DECEMBER: 87.3
SEASON: 83.5
Malik Rose
Rose did a nice job of bringing energy and hustle to the game early on. Although he wasn’t as effective as Horry, Rose played well. He finished with five points and two rebounds, while hitting 2-of-4 shots from the field and 1-of-2 from the free throw line. Rose is shooting well recently, hitting for 49.2% over his last ten games. His jumper is going down and he’s been taking the ball to the basket with authority.
GRADE: 84
DECEMBER: 84.2
SEASON: 85.3
Brent Barry
When Barry was called upon, he produced and helped the Spurs cut into the T’Wolves lead. He also hit a huge momentum changing three-pointer, his only made field goal of the game in 13 minutes of action. Barry also chipped in four rebounds and two assists without committing a turnover. In fact, Barry has only one turnover in his last five games (52 minutes).
GRADE: 85
DECEMBER: 75.3
SEASON: 81.8
Devin Brown
Popovich went to Brown early, but Brown didn’t produce. He played 13 minutes but failed to score a point – missing his only two shots. Recently, it seems like Brown is forcing the issue more than he should. When he was at his best, he was taking the open shots and scoring on fast breaks. Since hitting three three-pointers versus the Bulls on December 6th, he’s 1-for-8 from beyond the arc since then.
GRADE: 72
DECEMBER: 84.8
SEASON: 84.5
Beno Udrih
In nine minutes of playing time, Udrih hit 2-of-3 shots from the field and got two steals. He’s now hitting 49.6% from the field and 50.0% from downtown (2nd in the league). On the other end of the court, it was a different story. Udrih had a tough time defending, getting beat off the dribble at times and giving up three-pointers at other times. But for a rookie playing against NBA players for the first time, it’s understandable that Udrih will struggle this early in the season on the defensive end as he adjusts to the league.
GRADE: 78
DECEMBER: 86.7
SEASON: 83.8
For the third straight game, Duncan had a difficult time getting into the flow. The Minnesota Timberwolves played him well defensively, but Duncan missed a lot of shots he usually makes. Only 8-for-23 from the field, Duncan is shooting just 42.1% over his last three games. For the contest, he managed to finish with 19 points, ten rebounds and two assists in 38 minutes. His defense was solid, but oddly enough he finished without a blocked shot for the first time in over a month.
GRADE: 78
DECEMBER: 86.5
SEASON: 87.3
Bruce Bowen
Bowen had one of his better all-around offensive games of his career. He hit 4-of-5 shots from the field and was 1-for-1 from three-point land, while handing out a career-high eight assists. He did a great job of finding the open man and was constantly swinging the ball around the perimeter. Defensively, he wasn’t so hot. He was put on Wally Szczerbiak early and often, but Szczerbiak had a solid game, finishing with 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field. Bowen is in a slump defensively, but don’t look for that to last long.
GRADE: 89
DECEMBER: 84.4
SEASON: 84.2
Rasho Nesterovic
It was a tale of two halves for Nesterovic. In the first half, he was horrible. He couldn’t hit a shot and was asleep on the defensive end. In what has been a season of passive play for Nesterovic, it was the ultimate display of passiveness. Luckily for the Spurs, their Slovenian center decided to awaken for the second half. He came through with an assortment of highlight reel plays on both sides of the court. Once he decides to show up on a daily basis, he should be fine. If he continues this sporadic play, the Spurs might have to consider changing their starting lineup.
GRADE: 83
DECEMBER: 77.8
SEASON: 82.1
Manu Ginobili
Ginobili was a model of efficiency against Minnesota. He scored 22 points, pulled down five rebounds, recorded three steals and blocked a shot in 35 minutes. From the field, he hit 7-of-9 shots, including 4-for-6 from beyond the arc. When he’s shooting like that, the Spurs are impossible to beat. Ginobili had a couple games where he was having difficulties scoring, but he’s bounced back and is now playing as he was early in the season. Despite his impressive play, Ginobili finished without an assist for the first time this year.
GRADE: 97
DECEMBER: 86.8
SEASON: 88.1
Tony Parker
Parker is making a late push for an All-Star berth. He’s played lights out over the last few weeks, and it was more of the same versus the T’Wolves. In 38 minutes, he had 19 points, eight assists and three rebounds, while shooting 8-for-18 from the floor and 3-for-3 from the line. Over his last ten games, he’s averaging 15.0 points, 6.8 assists and 3.7 rebounds. The Spurs need him to stay aggressive on the offensive end, especially when it comes to penetrating. When he attacks the basket, he can score on his own or find his teammates wide open.
GRADE: 95
DECEMBER: 88.2
SEASON: 84.9
Robert Horry
Horry played inspired basketball against Minnesota. After a DNP-CD versus the Orlando Magic, Horry came out ready to rumble. He played great defense, chased loose balls and stayed active on the offensive end. Though his statistics weren’t overly impressive (eight points and four rebounds), his impact on the game was great. With Nesterovic missing in action in the first half, Popovich decided to start Horry after halftime. That decision turned genius, as Big Shot Rob helped the Spurs complete the comeback.
GRADE: 97
DECEMBER: 87.3
SEASON: 83.5
Malik Rose
Rose did a nice job of bringing energy and hustle to the game early on. Although he wasn’t as effective as Horry, Rose played well. He finished with five points and two rebounds, while hitting 2-of-4 shots from the field and 1-of-2 from the free throw line. Rose is shooting well recently, hitting for 49.2% over his last ten games. His jumper is going down and he’s been taking the ball to the basket with authority.
GRADE: 84
DECEMBER: 84.2
SEASON: 85.3
Brent Barry
When Barry was called upon, he produced and helped the Spurs cut into the T’Wolves lead. He also hit a huge momentum changing three-pointer, his only made field goal of the game in 13 minutes of action. Barry also chipped in four rebounds and two assists without committing a turnover. In fact, Barry has only one turnover in his last five games (52 minutes).
GRADE: 85
DECEMBER: 75.3
SEASON: 81.8
Devin Brown
Popovich went to Brown early, but Brown didn’t produce. He played 13 minutes but failed to score a point – missing his only two shots. Recently, it seems like Brown is forcing the issue more than he should. When he was at his best, he was taking the open shots and scoring on fast breaks. Since hitting three three-pointers versus the Bulls on December 6th, he’s 1-for-8 from beyond the arc since then.
GRADE: 72
DECEMBER: 84.8
SEASON: 84.5
Beno Udrih
In nine minutes of playing time, Udrih hit 2-of-3 shots from the field and got two steals. He’s now hitting 49.6% from the field and 50.0% from downtown (2nd in the league). On the other end of the court, it was a different story. Udrih had a tough time defending, getting beat off the dribble at times and giving up three-pointers at other times. But for a rookie playing against NBA players for the first time, it’s understandable that Udrih will struggle this early in the season on the defensive end as he adjusts to the league.
GRADE: 78
DECEMBER: 86.7
SEASON: 83.8