timvp
12-30-2004, 04:01 AM
Tim Duncan
After a string of sub par games, Duncan snapped out of his funk against the Phoenix Suns. Since the Suns were trapping him and trying to force other players to beat them, Duncan did the smart thing and became a distributor. He drew the attention of the defense and then diced up the Suns with a number of nifty passes as he finished with six assists. With a size advantage over virtually the entire Phoenix roster, he did a great job of only taking easy shots. He finished 7-for-9 from the field on his way to 16 points. Duncan also did a good job defensively and on the boards, blocking five shots and corralling 12 rebounds in his 29 minutes of play.
GRADE: 92
DECEMBER: 86.3
SEASON: 87.1
Bruce Bowen
Bowen’s defense has been a little suspect as of late, but his shutdown style was in full effect Tuesday night. He held Quentin Richardson to two points on 0-for-7 shooting from the field. He also spent some time on Joe Johnson, who struggled with only nine points on 3-for-8 shooting. With everyone wondering how the Spurs would stop the multifaceted scorers of the Suns, Bowen provided the answer. He beat his man to spots on the court and used his veteran savvy to disrupt their flow. Offensively, he was active. In 25 minutes Bowen finished 3-for-10 from the field for ten points.
GRADE: 90
DECEMBER: 84.9
SEASON: 84.5
Rasho Nesterovic
Though he only played 22 minutes as match ups didn’t favor him defensively, Nesterovic did a good job utilizing his height advantage on the offensive end. He was 3-for-3 from the field and 2-for-2 from the line. He was aggressive from the tip and set the tone early for the Spurs. With Shawn Marion trying to guard him, Nesterovic utilized his size to get easy shots off. He also contributed with four rebounds and two blocks. If he brings this type of determination to games more often, the Spurs will be much better off.
GRADE: 86
DECEMBER: 78.5
SEASON: 82.1
Manu Ginobili
Though he struggled more than his statistics suggest, Ginobili was a big part of the victory. Totaling 13 points, six rebounds, six assists and three steals in 30 minutes, Ginobili’s aggression was through the roof. However, that also got him in trouble. After a number of ill-advised shots and passes, Popovich benched him for stretches. As always, the key for Ginobili is to toe the line between aggressive and careless. Although he had some careless moments against the Suns, overall the Spurs have to be happy with how he competed.
GRADE: 87
DECEMBER: 86.8
SEASON: 88.1
Tony Parker
Parker is really starting to reach his potential. Everyone knows he has the potential to be one of the better point guards in the league, but he’s always struggled with consistency and keeping his focus. With a bunch of good games in a row, it’s starting to look like Parker may have turned that corner. Against Phoenix, he was amazing. He finished with 29 points, five rebounds and two assists in 30 minutes as he obliterated the defense of the Suns. Steve Nash looked lost and outmatched when trying to guard Parker. The Spurs’ point guard also shutdown Nash after the first quarter.
GRADE: 98
DECEMBER: 89.6
SEASON: 85.8
Devin Brown
Brown did a good job of coming into the game and playing solid defense against the athletic players on the Suns. When Ginobili was getting too wild, Brown was a calming influence on both ends of the court. Though his shot was falling (only 3-for-9 from the field), he did a good job putting pressure on the Phoenix defense in his 22 minutes of playing time.
GRADE: 84
DECEMBER: 85.1
SEASON: 84.6
Malik Rose
Rose had one of his best performances of the year against the Suns. He scored 15 points and grabbed six rebounds in 18 minutes of action. His point total was one off his season-high. Rose shot 6-for-10 from the field, battering the slimmer Suns on the inside. When Rose has this type of production off the bench, the Spurs frontcourt can overpower teams with their inside strength.
GRADE: 89
DECEMBER: 84.5
SEASON: 85.3
Beno Udrih
In 17 minutes, Udrih did a great job running the show. He orchestrated the offense and delivered precision passes, finishing with six assists and no turnovers. Though his shot wasn’t falling, he recorded two rebounds, two steals and a block in an all-around solid outing. With as well as this rookie point guard has been shooting this year, a 1-for-7 shooting night is most likely an anomaly.
GRADE: 83
DECEMBER: 86.1
SEASON: 83.8
After a string of sub par games, Duncan snapped out of his funk against the Phoenix Suns. Since the Suns were trapping him and trying to force other players to beat them, Duncan did the smart thing and became a distributor. He drew the attention of the defense and then diced up the Suns with a number of nifty passes as he finished with six assists. With a size advantage over virtually the entire Phoenix roster, he did a great job of only taking easy shots. He finished 7-for-9 from the field on his way to 16 points. Duncan also did a good job defensively and on the boards, blocking five shots and corralling 12 rebounds in his 29 minutes of play.
GRADE: 92
DECEMBER: 86.3
SEASON: 87.1
Bruce Bowen
Bowen’s defense has been a little suspect as of late, but his shutdown style was in full effect Tuesday night. He held Quentin Richardson to two points on 0-for-7 shooting from the field. He also spent some time on Joe Johnson, who struggled with only nine points on 3-for-8 shooting. With everyone wondering how the Spurs would stop the multifaceted scorers of the Suns, Bowen provided the answer. He beat his man to spots on the court and used his veteran savvy to disrupt their flow. Offensively, he was active. In 25 minutes Bowen finished 3-for-10 from the field for ten points.
GRADE: 90
DECEMBER: 84.9
SEASON: 84.5
Rasho Nesterovic
Though he only played 22 minutes as match ups didn’t favor him defensively, Nesterovic did a good job utilizing his height advantage on the offensive end. He was 3-for-3 from the field and 2-for-2 from the line. He was aggressive from the tip and set the tone early for the Spurs. With Shawn Marion trying to guard him, Nesterovic utilized his size to get easy shots off. He also contributed with four rebounds and two blocks. If he brings this type of determination to games more often, the Spurs will be much better off.
GRADE: 86
DECEMBER: 78.5
SEASON: 82.1
Manu Ginobili
Though he struggled more than his statistics suggest, Ginobili was a big part of the victory. Totaling 13 points, six rebounds, six assists and three steals in 30 minutes, Ginobili’s aggression was through the roof. However, that also got him in trouble. After a number of ill-advised shots and passes, Popovich benched him for stretches. As always, the key for Ginobili is to toe the line between aggressive and careless. Although he had some careless moments against the Suns, overall the Spurs have to be happy with how he competed.
GRADE: 87
DECEMBER: 86.8
SEASON: 88.1
Tony Parker
Parker is really starting to reach his potential. Everyone knows he has the potential to be one of the better point guards in the league, but he’s always struggled with consistency and keeping his focus. With a bunch of good games in a row, it’s starting to look like Parker may have turned that corner. Against Phoenix, he was amazing. He finished with 29 points, five rebounds and two assists in 30 minutes as he obliterated the defense of the Suns. Steve Nash looked lost and outmatched when trying to guard Parker. The Spurs’ point guard also shutdown Nash after the first quarter.
GRADE: 98
DECEMBER: 89.6
SEASON: 85.8
Devin Brown
Brown did a good job of coming into the game and playing solid defense against the athletic players on the Suns. When Ginobili was getting too wild, Brown was a calming influence on both ends of the court. Though his shot was falling (only 3-for-9 from the field), he did a good job putting pressure on the Phoenix defense in his 22 minutes of playing time.
GRADE: 84
DECEMBER: 85.1
SEASON: 84.6
Malik Rose
Rose had one of his best performances of the year against the Suns. He scored 15 points and grabbed six rebounds in 18 minutes of action. His point total was one off his season-high. Rose shot 6-for-10 from the field, battering the slimmer Suns on the inside. When Rose has this type of production off the bench, the Spurs frontcourt can overpower teams with their inside strength.
GRADE: 89
DECEMBER: 84.5
SEASON: 85.3
Beno Udrih
In 17 minutes, Udrih did a great job running the show. He orchestrated the offense and delivered precision passes, finishing with six assists and no turnovers. Though his shot wasn’t falling, he recorded two rebounds, two steals and a block in an all-around solid outing. With as well as this rookie point guard has been shooting this year, a 1-for-7 shooting night is most likely an anomaly.
GRADE: 83
DECEMBER: 86.1
SEASON: 83.8