Spurs poised for strong finish
Mike Monroe
When the season began 11 weeks ago, the most pessimistic of Spurs fans just hoped to get through the first half of the season with a winning record.
During the summer, Robert Horry retired; Brent Barry jumped ship; Tiago Splitter re-signed with the Spanish League's Tau Ceramica; Manu Ginobili's left ankle required surgery; Corey Maggette told the Spurs they didn't have enough money available; Ian Mahinmi's ascension as the athletic big man capable of giving Tim Duncan some help in the post was sidetracked by a severe ankle sprain; and George Hill's summer-league shooting had Gregg Popovich thinking about sending him to South Ossetia.
And this was before Tony Parker sprained his left ankle so badly in the fourth game of the season that the initial diagnosis predicted he would miss at least one month.
Somehow, by Tuesday night, the Spurs will be at the midpoint of their season with no fewer than 25 victories and at, or near, the top spot in the Southwest Division.
They also will have a lineup that figures to improve significantly in the second half of the season for easily discernable reasons:
- Ginobili's incremental return to being the All-Star caliber player who led the Spurs in scoring just one season ago.
Only recently have we seen the explosion returning to Ginobili's game, and not yet on a sustained basis. As his conditioning returns, it is reasonable to expect him to be the real Ginobili by the final month of the season.
- Roger Mason Jr.'s continuing education in the Spurs' way of doing things at both ends of the court.
The team's key free-agent acquisition has been much better than most anticipated, in part because he has learned the Spurs' complicated defensive scheme more quickly than most newcomers. He admits he has a long way to go before he understands everything.
By the stretch run, he should be much closer to complete knowledge. Plus, he already understands Popovich's dictum that good shooters must take good shots any time they have them.
- The ongoing development of Matt Bonner's comfort level as a member of the starting lineup.
Bonner's self-effacing nature is endearing, but the NBA is all about swagger. The sooner he manifests some bravado, the better off the Spurs will be.
- Hill's understanding of the difference between the college game and NBA play.
Popovich swore on draft night that Hill would immediately make the Spurs better at both ends of the court. He was not wrong. But Hill occasionally seems overmatched, not by individual opponents, but by the cir stances of the game. This is a nitpick, of course, and something the rookie seems equipped to overcome.
That the Spurs' schedule has been less taxing than that of other elites is undeniable. Their victory over the Lakers on Wednesday was their first over a team considered a true le contender.
Their seven home losses are a worry. They have just embarked on the most daunting portion of their schedule, with 17 of 23 on the road.
That's plenty for the pessimists to chew on between now and April. But after half a season, the Spurs' glass, while not exactly brimming, is still way more than half full.
i agree. at this point, barring any injuries, spurs can only get better as the new additions develop and chemistry strengthens. not to mention the veterans will soon get better because they've been taking half the season off, robert horry style. it's hard for the spurs take a step backwards.
Did he watch these past 2 games?
Yup, the usual slow build.
Add a big, or have some other team knock out the Lakers ala Mavs v Warriors in 2007 and we have a real shot.
You mean the letdown game against Phili, then the game where we toyed with the Bulls until it mattered, then turned up the D a notch and put them away? yes, he probably did.
Wrong.
The most pessimistic fans were hoping for a complete meltdown in order to get a top ten lottery pick, realizing that's the way the Spurs got great in the first place.
Even Pop is out when Duncan retires.
WTF does that tell you?
Why do people discount the East and act as if only the Lakers matter?
Have they not watched Orlando- who most considered the third best team in the East- in the past week beat the Spurs in SA; the Lakers in LA; and on the very next night the Nuggets in Denver? How is it an acceptable excuse that the Spurs after beating LA get blown out by Philly but Orlando the very next night after beating the Lakers IN LA can beat Denver in Denver by double digits? All while the Spurs are struggling to beat bad Eastern conference teams?
Agreed, ploto. The top Western teams have taken a step back, while the top Eastern teams have taken a step forward for the most part.
More to the point, who on the Spurs can guard Garnett, D. Howard or Lebron?
Answer: nobody well.
It's only January. The Spurs never play their best in January. I can promise you 90% of the people outside this board never thought the Spurs would make it to the WCF last year, but they did.
If anything I'm glad the Spurs were even able to beat the Lakers the way they are playing.
You have a fair point. I think alot of it may have to do with the veteran team the Spurs have, its not always easy to get motivated for a mid season road game against a 9th seed from the Eastern Conference - especially after a energy sapping win against LA. These guys have won multiple championships and played nearly 1000 career games, so it doesnt surprise me when they turn up and simply go through the motions even on game night.
There are definately alot of talented teams in the East, even with bad records, and like Philly showed, on any given they can blow you out if your not fully prepared or up for the challenge mentally.
The Magic on the other hand, feel like they have something to prove every night. They're young and hungry, and i think that makes a difference. Not to say the Spurs arent hungry, but certaintly not as motivated for a regular season game in January against a borderline playoff team.
first, D. Howard is hardly someone worth worrying about in terms of offensive abilities. dude doesn't have the skill to create his own shot yet. spurs played into the magic's hands by double teaming the guy. the magic's shooters are much more of a worry than dwight-i can't score off of anything other than a dunk-howard.
second, what team in the league has players that can guard duncan, tony, and manu well? none.
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