Game Grades - Spurs @ Kings - February 4th

[roycrikside]

I think if some people could grade Spurs games, Manu could go 0-13 and get an A simply because "he's Manu and always brings the effort."

If Manu doesn't get a poor grade for what I saw Friday night, he never will. IN fact, he reminded me of Kobe in the late 3rd, trying to take the game over by himself. It was scary to see Manu try to be the only one on the court with the ball with no thought to passing.

Again, this is crazy. He took 8 shots in 26 minutes, and only three at half. He had six assists to two turnovers, which is better than his actual season ratio. He led the team with a +20. I'm not sure it's possible for him to play much better considering he was clearly at 2nd gear, at most.

[jestersmash]

Your last paragraph was the only part of this opinion that was even remotely close to being intelligent. In the past three games Manu has led the team in +/- all three times (unless you want to count the garbage min guys playing 1 min in the Portland game.

Against the Blazers he didn't play well, but nobody did, and at least Manu led the team in scoring and had four steals. At LA he had eight assists and had a lot to do with the team opening up a lead in the fourth quarter with his playmaking.

Finally, against Sacto, he didn't force too many bad shots. He had 8 in 26 minutes for the game and only three attempts at half. He still had six assists to turnovers. The 3:1 ratio is better than his season average, so I don't understand where that complaint is coming from.

I think too many people judge Manu (and Tony) solely on his scoring and shooting percentages and don't look at the overall game.

You imply that my take is unintelligent, and yet you're cherry picking statistics "8 assists in L.A." "+/- leader in all of them" to make your case. That's patently absurd.

Why do you cherry pick 8 assists when making your case? How is that any different from me going "Manu had a bad game because he had 3 turnovers and fouled 4 times in the L.A. game"? I don't cherry pick statistics, and that's precisely the point. When assessing how well somebody is playing, you should assess everything. You should take the entire game into consideration, and if you had to cherry pick a single statistic, +/- isn't the best one to use.

I will say your take on his Sacramento game is perhaps fair. You're right, he didn't take that many shots to begin with, but that doesn't necessarily imply that the shots he did take were good, high percentage shots.

He's had a few games where he attacked the rim numerous times and missed point blank layups. I take things like that into consideration when looking at his field goal/true shooting percentage. I don't "grade him" harshly in that regard if he's getting to or near the rim and missing high percentage layups, so it goes both ways.

[trollt]

I like Beast Mode, nice little alternate nickname.

I named it Ifrit.

You are nothing if not consistent

I do think if the spurs really needed Manu A game he would go for it, so I'm not too concerned.

I share your lack of concern, I don't know if it's possible for manu to go through March without flipping the uncanny switch - he doesn't have a choice it's in the genes.

[Cry Havoc]

Again, this is crazy. He took 8 shots in 26 minutes, and only three at half. He had six assists to two turnovers, which is better than his actual season ratio. He led the team with a +20. I'm not sure it's possible for him to play much better considering he was clearly at 2nd gear, at most.

For someone insulting the opinions of other people, you seem to be only listing stats instead of making a qualitative argument for Manu's play. Did you actually watch the game? Manu was THE reason we didn't blow them out by 20+. He actually kept the Kings in the game with his shoddy 3rd/4th quarter antics.

Furthermore, +/- is simply one of the worst metrics to judge a single game performance by. Most of Manu's +20 came from the fact that he was on the court at the same time that Tony was going off on the Kings.

It's funny -- you admit that Manu was playing in 2nd gear, but think he deserves an A+ for his effort? Should I just give him an A+ for every game for the rest of the season, then?

Face it: Manu played a bad game. Not bad perhaps by Steve Blake's standards, but by the incredibly high water mark Manu sets for himself. He was out of control and took bad shots. Real fans can accept that their favorite player had a bad game. I bet Manu would be the first to step up and say he played really poorly.

You are nothing if not consistent

Eh? Why do you say this?

[cutewizard]

Tiago is the player of the game!!!!

i like it!!!!!!

kudos Cry Havok

excellent analysis, as always

more power man.....


Tiago rules!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[carina_gino20]

This was a meh game for Manu, tbh. He pretty much admitted during practice that he was just taking it easy, until the inadvertent elbow from Neal.

[Cessation]

Manu was fine, the game was over after midway through 2nd anyway, pretty much extended garbage time, the kings are that bad. If the game got close he would have taken over and you all would be on his sack. Similar to last season 1-10 outing against thunder, but making the game winning hustle play. This is what manu does, you must be new if you judge his play by his shooting only, lol.

[Cry Havoc]

Manu was fine, the game was over after midway through 2nd anyway, pretty much extended garbage time, the kings are that bad. If the game got close he would have taken over and you all would be on his sack. Similar to last season 1-10 outing against thunder, but making the game winning hustle play. This is what manu does, you must be new if you judge his play by his shooting only, lol.

You should probably read my analysis before you judge me based on the grade alone. You guys make it sound like it's impossible for Manu to have a bad game.


Notice to everyone: Manu shall henceforth be given an A+ every game simply because he's Manu and that's what he does and if he shot 3-47 he still had 5 assists and only one turnover and because he wasn't trying and would have DEFINITELY stepped up and hit the game winner to go 4-48 if we needed it.

Seriously, if Parker ever goes 3-8 with a couple of bad turnovers, people would be demanding nothing less than an F- for him for the game. I don't get the blind eye so many Spurs fans turn toward Manu simply because he is a playmaker. That's all well and good, but he made a lot of good plays for the Kings last game, and that's what I'm going to base his score on.

[Tigole Bitties]

What? No grade for James Anderson's 5 minutes of play?

j/k... nice write-up and analysis as always.

[Cry Havoc]

What? No grade for James Anderson's 5 minutes of play?

j/k... nice write-up and analysis as always.

I've been time crunched lately, hence getting this out 3 days after the game.

[Manu-of-steel]

Thanks for the great write ups, Cry Havoc.. You're doing an awesome job for all of us spurs fans.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Seriously, what's happened to timvp? He has time to post as lakaluva, but hasn't done anything in the Spurs forum in quite a while.

[Horse]

Nice work! Can you imagine how many TP would score if got call he should get I mean it's ing ridiculous the guy gets pounded night after night and does'nt get the calls much lesser players get, he's been around alot longer than chrissy paul and you can't even look at that without a whistle blowing or paul doing a tornado spin or summersault for a foul call.

[slayermin]

Enjoyable read!

I loved the "Big Funda" and the "War Machine" references.

[jestersmash]

Pop supposedly called Tiago's defense "fantastic" from the Kings game, as per FSSSW. That game might have been the push Tiago needed to get consistent rotation minutes. His playing time has been so sporadic up until now, I can't help but feel for him a little bit. He usually makes the most of his minutes.

[patos]

Tony Parker - F- Everything he did was negative, no need to elaborate.

[Kori Ellis]

Seriously, what's happened to timvp? He has time to post as lakaluva, but hasn't done anything in the Spurs forum in quite a while.

He's not lakaluva - that joke is pretty old.

[DMC]

I think if some people could grade Spurs games, Manu could go 0-13 and get an A simply because "he's Manu and always brings the effort."

If Manu doesn't get a poor grade for what I saw Friday night, he never will. IN fact, he reminded me of Kobe in the late 3rd, trying to take the game over by himself. It was scary to see Manu try to be the only one on the court with the ball with no thought to passing.

I kinda drew the comparison myself. Did it tonight against the Pistons as well. He hit some shots, but he was always looking to score (it seemed) and forced himself into trouble causing turnovers a few times.

Fair enough I suppose.

[Cry Havoc]

I kinda drew the comparison myself. Did it tonight against the Pistons as well. He hit some shots, but he was always looking to score (it seemed) and forced himself into trouble causing turnovers a few times.

Fair enough I suppose.

Manu played poorly again tonight until late in the 2nd half. People are going to crucify me, but he's going to get a lower grade yet again, because I expect more out of him. Had he brought it all 4 quarters, this game is a blowout by halftime and we can rest guys and get Tiago some minutes.

[TMTTRIO]

The problem with Manu is he's way too inconsistant and has always been.

[mathbzh]

The problem with Manu is he's way too inconsistant and has always been.

This is why he is perfect to play with Tim "consistant" Duncan and Parker.