Game Blog: Preseason Game 5: Spurs vs. Pacers

[ace3g]

ref blinded by Pop's white beard, which looks more white then usual

[duncan228]

Parker drives Spurs past Pacers

SAN ANTONIO — Tony Parker had 19 points and eight assists in 23 minutes, and the Spurs beat the Indiana Pacers 106-98 in a preseason game Saturday night.

Matt Bonner, starting in place of the resting Tim Duncan, scored 15 points and Michael Finley added 13 on 4-of-6 shooting from 3-point territory for the Spurs (3-2).

Marquis Daniels led Indiana (3-3) with 18 points, going 4 of 6 from behind the arc.

Daniels knocked down his first three tries from the 3-point line, including one during the Pacers' 7-0 start through the first 1:29.

But Parker showcased his quickness and shooting touch starting with the next trip down the floor. He immediately hit a jumper from 17 feet and followed with a short jumper on the fast break.

By the end of the quarter, he was driving around Pacers guard T.J. Ford and easily getting off shots over Indiana's interior defense. With the Spurs ahead 21-16, Parker was a part of the Spurs' next three baskets on consecutive trips down the floor.

He dribbled and swerved through the lane and shot past 7-foot-2 rookie Roy Hibbert for a layup. He drove in on Hibbert again and wrapped a pass around the big man to set up an easy layup for Fabricio Oberto. Hibbert was unable to get a hand on the next shot when Parker drove in and fell away from the basket to make it 27-16 with 3:33 to go in the first quarter.

[benefactor]

Good bounce back game for Finley after a disappointing showing. I still have yet to see him in new form but I am looking forward to it. Another good showing from Bonner...but will it stick? Jury's still out.

Thoughts from those who attended?

[Manufan909]

I went, and I have to say that Bonner and Mason really stood out for me. Salim just plain sucked, and Hairston got no time at all, as well as Watkins, which I think means they aren't making it, idk. I didn't get there til after Tolliver missed all those shots, I just saw the steals and dunks. The Spurs mostly played beautifully, they worked really well passing the ball to the open man. Didn't like how if Tony wasn't on the floor no one drove, and Ime, Mason, and someone else (Farmer I think) blew their one layup of the game. Overall it was a good showing, but it was painful to see Rasho stuffing Fab. The 3 times I saw Fab drive he either missed (1) or got stuffed (2). He really shouldn't try that.

[angelbelow]

I went, and I have to say that Bonner and Mason really stood out for me. Salim just plain sucked, and Hairston got no time at all, as well as Watkins, which I think means they aren't making it, idk. I didn't get there til after Tolliver missed all those shots, I just saw the steals and dunks. The Spurs mostly played beautifully, they worked really well passing the ball to the open man. Didn't like how if Tony wasn't on the floor no one drove, and Ime, Mason, and someone else (Farmer I think) blew their one layup of the game. Overall it was a good showing, but it was painful to see Rasho stuffing Fab. The 3 times I saw Fab drive he either missed (1) or got stuffed (2). He really shouldn't try that.

nice. what did you think of green?

[timvp]

nice. what did you think of green?

Green didn't play

[Manufan909]

I didn't get to see Green.

[ploto]

Poor Timmy was afraid of facing Rasho!

[Manufan909]

Candy corn!!!

[ChumpDumper]

Did anyone else hear Coach Brown say Tolliver might be a candidate to play the three?

[Ice009]

Is that for real? How is Tolliver's D against SF anyone care to comment on that? I asked in another thread - Does he have the potential to guard players like David West and Dirk?

[ChumpDumper]

I definitely heard him say it after citing Tolliver's intelligence.

[TDMVPDPOY]

i wonder if pop bleaches his beard? hahaha

[Spurs Brazil]

Defense woes return for Pacers
By Mike Wells
Posted: October 19, 2008Read Comments(1)Recommend E-mail Print Share Del.icio.us Digg Reddit Yahoo Google A A

SAN ANTONIO -- The Indiana Pacers relapsed into one of their bad habits in a 106-98 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night at AT&T Center.

The Pacers, who are putting an emphasis on defense this season, allowed the Spurs to shoot 43 percent (15-of-35) on 3-pointers.


The Spurs went into the game making just 34 percent of their 3-point attempts in the preseason.

"They really shot the lights out," Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said. "Fifteen 3's and we had 10, which is what we average. Their perimeters really shot the basketball exceptionally well. I thought they played very hard the entire game."

Allowing opponents to shoot well from behind the 3-point line isn't anything new for the Pacers. Last season they were tied with the Washington Wizards for last in defending against the 3-pointer, allowing teams to shoot 38.6 percent.

O'Brien said his players didn't contest enough of the Spurs' 3-point shots.

"We allowed too many middle penetrations off our pick-and-rolls and freed them up," O'Brien said. "We weren't as sharp on our rotations out to the 3-point line."

Murphy solid in debut
Power forward Troy Murphy became the second-to-last Pacer to play in a preseason game, delivering 12 points and five rebounds in 19 minutes.

Murphy, who started the game, had been bothered with a left Achilles injury most of the preseason.

As they did with Marquis Daniels and Mike Dunleavy the night before, the Pacers had Murphy on a schedule. He played nine minutes in the first quarter and 10 in the second.

"I thought Troy had a very nice first half," O'Brien said. "Our compliments to our conditioning people and our training staff."

Travis Diener (foot) is the only Pacer not to play in the preseason. He's expected to be out at least two more weeks.

Dunleavy out
Dunleavy sat out the game as a precaution as he works his way back from right knee tendinitis.

Dunleavy made his preseason debut Friday against Memphis, getting nine points and four rebounds in 12 minutes.

The biggest concern from Friday's game was the limp Dunleavy had while on the court. He said afterward he knew he would have to play through some discomfort.

"He's just a little tender; it's nothing major," O'Brien said. "He didn't take a step back; we're just sitting him out."

Granger still in slump
Pacers swingman Danny Granger failed to shoot at least 50 percent from the field in the preseason for the fifth game in a row.

Granger, the Pacers leading scorer last season, had 17 points against the Spurs, but he needed 17 shot attempts to reach that total.

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dl.../1088/SPORTS04

[wildchild]

It was painful to see Rasho stuffing Fab. The 3 times I saw Fab drive he either missed (1) or got stuffed (2). He really shouldn't try that.

I didn't see much of that, Oberto against Rasho. Rasho starting at center and Oberto caming off the bench. Most times, when Rasho out the court, Oberto in. Overall, I guess Oberto did a pretty good job with 9 rebounds in 21' and Rasho was a little weak with 4 points and 4 rebounds in 26'.

[Manufan909]

I didn't see much of that, Oberto against Rasho. Rasho starting at center and Oberto caming off the bench. Most times, when Rasho out the court, Oberto in. Overall, I guess Oberto did a pretty good job with 9 rebounds in 21' and Rasho was a little weak with 4 points and 4 rebounds in 26'.

I stand corrected. I wonder why Rasho was so weak on the boards, even Bonner got one less if I'm not mistaken.