timvp
01-24-2005, 06:02 PM
Tim Duncan
Is Duncan back? It appears so. After struggling for a couple weeks, Duncan has put up back-to-back good games. He tore apart Phoenix in the fourth quarter and in overtime and Sunday night versus the Sacramento Kings, he put together a solid performance. He finished with 23 points, 13 rebounds, two assists and a blocked shot, while shooting 11-for-19 from the field. This is around the time of year that Duncan usually starts rounding into top form, so it’s good to see it happening again this year.
GRADE: 91
JANUARY: 84.1
SEASON: 86.4
Bruce Bowen
It was a game of revenge for Bowen. The last time the Spurs faced the Kings, Peja Stojakovic exploded for 28 points and eight rebounds, while shooting 10-for-20 from the field and 6-for-10 from beyond the arc. This time, Bowen locked him down. Stojakovic could only manage eight points on 3-for-12 shooting from the floor. Not only that, Bowen was able to outscore the Kings’ All-World player. Bowen finished with ten points, shooting 4-for-10 from the field.
GRADE: 90
JANUARY: 84.5
SEASON: 84.7
Tony Massenburg
It was also a revenge game for Massenburg. The Kings and the Sacramento media conspired to make him look like the bad guy after Massenburg said that the team needed to concentrate on defense instead of trying to outscore teams. Apparently, the truth isn’t valued in California’s capitol. Sunday night, Massenburg got to show the Kings what they were missing. He finished with 16 points, eight rebounds and two steals in 30 minutes, as the Spurs held the Kings to a season-low 73 points and a franchise-low eight assists.
GRADE: 98
JANUARY: 86.7
SEASON: 85
Manu Ginobili
With Dominique Wilkins retired, the current Human Highlight Film has to be Manu Ginobili. He had three unbelievable plays against the Kings. First he finished with a scoop shot with his back to the basket after it looked like he was stuck under the rim. Then he completed an impossible move on a fast break as Brad Miller was fouling him. To finish it off, Ginobili blocked and stole a shot by Kevin Martin. A move that Spurs’ announcer Sean Elliott termed a “Bleal”.
GRADE: 89
JANUARY: 87.9
SEASON: 88
Tony Parker
After struggling in the first half, Parker turned it around following halftime. He finished with 13 points, eight assists and only one turnover in 30 minutes, while shooting 6-for-12 from the field. He also did a good job defensively on Mike Bibby, holding him without an assist in 29 minutes. Though word is that Parker is suffering some from flu-like symptoms, the Spurs need him to come out of the gates quicker. If he’s struggling offensively, the Spurs aren’t as good a team.
GRADE: 87
JANUARY: 85.3
SEASON: 86.1
Brent Barry
Barry is playing his best ball of the season. Against the Kings, Barry finished with eight points and four assists, while shooting 3-for-6 from the field, 1-for-3 from beyond the arc and 1-for-1 from the line. For the month of January, Barry is averaging 8.5 points on 53.1% from the floor, 56.4% from downtown and 92.3% from the charity stripe. If he keeps shooting like that, the Spurs will be close to impossible to beat.
GRADE: 88
JANUARY: 86
SEASON: 83.2
Malik Rose
Rose had five points and six rebounds, but only hit 2-of-6 shots from the field. He’s done a good job rebounding the ball lately, pulling down 13 rebounds in his last 41 minutes. With Nesterovic out and Horry hobbled for the time being, Rose has to be ready to produce when called upon.
GRADE: 88
JANUARY: 81.5
SEASON: 84.3
Beno Udrih
It was another impressive outing for the Spurs’ rookie point guard. The Slovenian finished with nine points and an assist, while shooting 3-for-6 from the field, 1-for-2 from beyond the arc and 2-for-2 from the free throw line. He did a great job of running the team when he was in, as usual.
GRADE: 89
JANUARY: 85.5
SEASON: 84.7
Sean Marks
Marks finally made his debut with the Spurs. After spending all of last year and the first half of this season on the injured list, Marks has a chance now to show what he can do with Nesterovic out injured. In 13 minutes off the bench, Marks finished with eight points and three rebounds, while shooting 3-for-8 from the field. In his time on the court, he should that he has a very nice jumper to go with noticeable athletic ability.
GRADE: 86
JANUARY: 86
SEASON: 86
Is Duncan back? It appears so. After struggling for a couple weeks, Duncan has put up back-to-back good games. He tore apart Phoenix in the fourth quarter and in overtime and Sunday night versus the Sacramento Kings, he put together a solid performance. He finished with 23 points, 13 rebounds, two assists and a blocked shot, while shooting 11-for-19 from the field. This is around the time of year that Duncan usually starts rounding into top form, so it’s good to see it happening again this year.
GRADE: 91
JANUARY: 84.1
SEASON: 86.4
Bruce Bowen
It was a game of revenge for Bowen. The last time the Spurs faced the Kings, Peja Stojakovic exploded for 28 points and eight rebounds, while shooting 10-for-20 from the field and 6-for-10 from beyond the arc. This time, Bowen locked him down. Stojakovic could only manage eight points on 3-for-12 shooting from the floor. Not only that, Bowen was able to outscore the Kings’ All-World player. Bowen finished with ten points, shooting 4-for-10 from the field.
GRADE: 90
JANUARY: 84.5
SEASON: 84.7
Tony Massenburg
It was also a revenge game for Massenburg. The Kings and the Sacramento media conspired to make him look like the bad guy after Massenburg said that the team needed to concentrate on defense instead of trying to outscore teams. Apparently, the truth isn’t valued in California’s capitol. Sunday night, Massenburg got to show the Kings what they were missing. He finished with 16 points, eight rebounds and two steals in 30 minutes, as the Spurs held the Kings to a season-low 73 points and a franchise-low eight assists.
GRADE: 98
JANUARY: 86.7
SEASON: 85
Manu Ginobili
With Dominique Wilkins retired, the current Human Highlight Film has to be Manu Ginobili. He had three unbelievable plays against the Kings. First he finished with a scoop shot with his back to the basket after it looked like he was stuck under the rim. Then he completed an impossible move on a fast break as Brad Miller was fouling him. To finish it off, Ginobili blocked and stole a shot by Kevin Martin. A move that Spurs’ announcer Sean Elliott termed a “Bleal”.
GRADE: 89
JANUARY: 87.9
SEASON: 88
Tony Parker
After struggling in the first half, Parker turned it around following halftime. He finished with 13 points, eight assists and only one turnover in 30 minutes, while shooting 6-for-12 from the field. He also did a good job defensively on Mike Bibby, holding him without an assist in 29 minutes. Though word is that Parker is suffering some from flu-like symptoms, the Spurs need him to come out of the gates quicker. If he’s struggling offensively, the Spurs aren’t as good a team.
GRADE: 87
JANUARY: 85.3
SEASON: 86.1
Brent Barry
Barry is playing his best ball of the season. Against the Kings, Barry finished with eight points and four assists, while shooting 3-for-6 from the field, 1-for-3 from beyond the arc and 1-for-1 from the line. For the month of January, Barry is averaging 8.5 points on 53.1% from the floor, 56.4% from downtown and 92.3% from the charity stripe. If he keeps shooting like that, the Spurs will be close to impossible to beat.
GRADE: 88
JANUARY: 86
SEASON: 83.2
Malik Rose
Rose had five points and six rebounds, but only hit 2-of-6 shots from the field. He’s done a good job rebounding the ball lately, pulling down 13 rebounds in his last 41 minutes. With Nesterovic out and Horry hobbled for the time being, Rose has to be ready to produce when called upon.
GRADE: 88
JANUARY: 81.5
SEASON: 84.3
Beno Udrih
It was another impressive outing for the Spurs’ rookie point guard. The Slovenian finished with nine points and an assist, while shooting 3-for-6 from the field, 1-for-2 from beyond the arc and 2-for-2 from the free throw line. He did a great job of running the team when he was in, as usual.
GRADE: 89
JANUARY: 85.5
SEASON: 84.7
Sean Marks
Marks finally made his debut with the Spurs. After spending all of last year and the first half of this season on the injured list, Marks has a chance now to show what he can do with Nesterovic out injured. In 13 minutes off the bench, Marks finished with eight points and three rebounds, while shooting 3-for-8 from the field. In his time on the court, he should that he has a very nice jumper to go with noticeable athletic ability.
GRADE: 86
JANUARY: 86
SEASON: 86