Game thoughts Bulls @Spurs Jan 29

[cd021]

Game Guide

Starters
PG-Tony Parker
SG-Nando De Colo
SF-Othyus Jeffers
PF-Tim Duncan
C-Jeff Ayers

Bench
PG-Cory Joseph
SG-Patty Mills
SF-Marco Belinelli
PF-Boris Diaw
C-Aron Baynes

1st Quarter-The Spurs opened up the game, predictably, rather flat. A combination of turnovers and being out rebounded hurt the spurs in the opening period. They attempted just 14 shots and scored just 15 points, while turning the ball over 5 times.


The Bulls used their size to their advantage grabbing 6 offensive rebounds and scoring 6 points off of them in route to a 21 point quarter.

The Spurs were put to the test with a slew of mismatches.

De Colo on Dunleavy Jr- A 4 inch advantage over De Colo

Mills on Buttler-A 5 inch advantage over Mills.
Spurs trail 16-21

Second Quarter

After Mils hit a 3 pointer at the end 1st, the Spurs opened up on a 16-3 run to start the second. The Bulls offense sputtered to start scoring 5 points in just 6:10. The spurt helped the Spurs take a 31-26 lead.

The Spurs closed the half out in ugly fashion, however scoring 1 basket in 6 minutes ( A De Colo 3pt) and missed their last 7 shots.

The Spurs scored just 36 points in the 1st half. Trailing the Bulls 36-40


3rd Quarter

The Bulls began to pull away by using a balanced attack. The Spurs certainly didn't help 9 turnovers cost the Spurs valuable possesions.

Boozer-6 pts
Butler-8 pts
Dunleavy Jr.- 4pts
Noah-4 pts

Spurs trail 68-61

4th Quarter

The Spurs opened the 4th with

Joseph
De Colo
Belinelli
Bonner
Ayers

After Gibson took advantage of a mismatched Bonner, Pop quicked ditched that poor unit for Parker, Joseph, Belinelli and Duncan and Diaw.

Gibson and Hinrick helped slam the door shut in the fourth. Armed with a 7 point lead and playing a injury ravanged team, those two combined for 16 of the teams 28 points. After trailing by 11 with 5:24 to play Hinrick drilled a 3 and counted Diaws layup with a floater over Duncan to effectively end the Spurs night.

Spurs lose 86-96

[cd021]

Game Thoughts


The Spurs rotation was in tatters due to 4 rotation players (including 3 starters) out. Gone with those 4 player, were the Spurs length. De Colo, at 6'5 was the Spurs biggest wing. Parker, Mills and Duncan carried the Spurs through out.

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Belinelli-Had another rough game. His value to the Spurs is his offense. His offense would have certainly come in handy both against the Bulls and against Rockets.

Simply put he needed to score more to help shoulder the load. His 11 points on 11 shots ,didn't particularly help.
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Diaw-A Jeckly/Hyde performance ,indeed. In his last 5 games, entering tonight averaged 15.5 ppg while shooting 58% FG and 90% of his 10 3's.

Tonight-29 minutes, 4 pts, 4 shots, 3 rebounds, -19

I honestly forgot he was on the floor. He tried to stop Boozer but had it going in the post. Grabbing 3 boards is unacceptable. Duncan grabbed more than 1/3 of our team boards. The Bulls were +8 on the glass and +8 on the offensive boards.

After playing great against the Rockets, anything more that he gave us would have been greatly appreciated.
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Duncan-As Doug Collins (btw enjoyed him as commentator) pointed out, how plodding Duncan was. Against Noah, Duncan predictable had a tough time.

He did connect on 7-14 from the field, including 3 of his jumpers. But 3 times he had his shot blocked in the post. That along 4 turnovers (credit that to the Bulls length) Duncan was a mixed bag. For what its worth he had a -21 but he was the best option of any of our bigs.

The Bulls defense, in some ways reminds me OKCs. Duncan isn't going to get much on offense via the post but has to make the most of the opportunities given. He did post 16 and 12 on the 2nd night of a back to back (while logging 65 minutes total)
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Ayers and Baynes- Both are just...I...when Splitter returns, the Spurs need to use a 3 man rotation. I don't trust either of them at all. Ayers had a +16 (I have no idea how) turnovers and fouls fronted Boozer to start the game and somehow gave up gave up a layup to him despite being taller than Boozer.

16 min, 0 pts, 4 PF, 2 T.O ( A Perkins stat line)

Baynes logged 9 minutes and was on the floor during one of the Spurs runs, he didn't impress. It would have been nice to see more boarding but just 2.

Never quite STs love affair but its apparently lust. He is never going to be a true backup center for the Spurs.

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Mills-He his job on offense, whatever happened defensively could be chalked up to genetics. He was mismatched on Hinrick and Butter at times but his offense was needed.

Pop thought so as well, he was on the floor late which showed some approval. Connected on 2 of the Spurs 5 3's and helped the Spurs shake off a rough start to stay compe ive (relatively) for most of the game.
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Parker-Parker over dribbled quite a bit and missed some make able passes. I noticed a couple of times where he missed Diaw (who has been red hot lately) stationed, wide open on the 3pt line.

He did carry the Spurs offensively. Managing 20 pts, and 6 assists on 45%.
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Bonner- Got burned in the post and didn't space the floor. To Pops credit he only played him 7 minutes.
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Joseph-If he learned how to shoot open jumpers, he could be rather useful. At least he doesn't take shots he knows he can't make, thats something.

8 points in 26 minutes. He did have nice assist that lead to a Bonner layup but thats about it in play-making.
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Jeffers-Active defense. Playing Dunleavy fairly well. Only logged 15 minutes. His one shot (a Derick Fisher looking 3) clanked.

If he was more useful on the offensive end Pop could have played him more but points were hard to come by.
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[cd021]

Long winded, I know. My apologies.

[Prime Time]

I find it humorous how this season ST users claimed Green/Splitter/Leonard were only relevant because of the Big 3/System, but as it appears - the Big 3 need them just as much.

[Prime Time]

Oh where are my manners, Great read man Always appreciate it when a user does stuff like this, especially for people who missed the game.

[freetiago]

the starters outside of Parker/Duncan were basically scoreless
Nando hit one 3 and the rest of his 5 points were in garbage time

pretty scary to think theyre gonna be using this lineup on the Rodeo trip
might be the first losing Rodeo trip ever
the only NBA caliber rotations players they will have

Backcourt:
Parker
Belenelli

Frontcourt:
Duncan
Diaw
Splitter (takes a long time to get rhythm back after an injury)

[Baam]

Good stuff, thanks for the thoughts as I didn't catch the game... Getting very worried about Tim, he gets his numbers on O but on D it's been so painful to watch lately...

Also Boris can't rebound he should play strictly SF if Kawhi is not there next to him... Also could be tired tbh...

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Ayers had a +2. Baynes had a +14.

Baynes was setting screens that actually got Parker and Mills open. He did not allow layup drills. It is not hard to figure out.

Yes he does look a bit frenetic but that is because he only knows one speed: balls to the wall. At one point Diaw and Tony are sitting there holding their s on the right wing. Baynes goes and sets a pick anyway which Parker uses to rub off his man and get an easy look. It worked even with awful spacing because Baynes refuses to stand around with his in his hand. He hits that with no hesitation.

And wtf kind of expectations do you have for rebounding? 2 boards in 9 min is 8 per 36. It's not great but by the same token it is better than decent especially after watching how hard we got torched on the boards. He hits shots and FT, grabs a couple of rebounds, doesn't foul at all --which you hear incessant winching about,-- gets an assist and doesn't turn the ball over. We succeed when he is on the court yet you ing winch about it.

You guys are so used to the pussy brand of basketball and it makes me sick. You deserve teams like The Blazers and the jump shooting PF. bleh!

[wildchild]

Thanks cd021!!!!

When a team open the 4th with Joseph-De Colo-Belinelli-Bonner-Ayers, that's never a good sign.
However, we haven't got any better, maybe I'd have preferred Mills -even if it wasn't his best night-in that lineup.

pretty scary to think theyre gonna be using this lineup on the Rodeo trip
might be the first losing Rodeo trip ever

[jeebus]

Ayers had a +2. Baynes had a +14.

Baynes was setting screens that actually got Parker and Mills open. He did not allow layup drills. It is not hard to figure out.

Pretty much. Banes was getting his guards open for good looks by setting hard picks. He also wasn't bullied around on the defensive end either, unlike a certain fairy boy. Pop was probably drunk in the 1st half though and though that it was Errors, not Baynes, leading to Ayres getting bulk 2nd half minutes.

[silverblackfan]

Thanks for the effort. It was a hard game to watch, especially at the 2/3 position. The team just cannot get a stop when required. The offense gets a bit more stagnant now that Manu is not around to mix it up. I honestly think the reason Marco is missing shots is due to the extra effort on defense. Not good defense, but extra effort to pressure his man by running more.
BTW, I believe Jeffers got the start. He would want you to have that right, I suspect.

[admiralsnackbar]

Unnecessary apology -- good write-up for those of us who missed the game. Thanks for taking the time, man!

[Brazil]

good reading cd

[ajballer4]

One correction: On your starters and bench... Jeffers started, and Bellinelli came off the bench (you forgot him)

[ManuTastic]

Impressed by this; you must have a cast iron stomach to watch this game, my man. Thanks for the writeup.

[DMC]

I find it humorous how this season ST users claimed Green/Splitter/Leonard were only relevant because of the Big 3/System, but as it appears - the Big 3 need them just as much.

It's still a valid point. The big 3 "system" is the big 3 + role players. Remove one side of that equation and you have a problem. I don't get the point of your objection.

[DMC]

Thanks for the effort. It was a hard game to watch, especially at the 2/3 position. The team just cannot get a stop when required. The offense gets a bit more stagnant now that Manu is not around to mix it up. I honestly think the reason Marco is missing shots is due to the extra effort on defense. Not good defense, but extra effort to pressure his man by running more.
BTW, I believe Jeffers got the start. He would want you to have that right, I suspect.

The reason Marco is missing shots is because we don't have any paint presence at the moment other than Tim, and he's basically not there at most time. Marco can get a shot off quicker than Bonner ( , so can a dead person), but he still needs an open look.

[EVAY]

Thank you for the write-up; I am always impressed that people are willing to put their thoughts in writing. I don't have the guts.

I would agree with most of your observations as well, although I do believe that Baynes is better than you do. He is such a huge body, that rebounding or not, he helps our guards get free much more than any other big with the possible exception of Diaw. Diaw stays with his pick long enough to help our guards, but Tim has become just terrible at it this season. Baynes also does a very good job 'blocking out' for our cutting guards…much more than any other big except Tiago.

[DMC]

I think Baynes is lacking physical conditioning. I think that's why he doesn't get the playing time we think he should.

[Chomag]

I think Baynes is lacking physical conditioning. I think that's why he doesn't get the playing time we think he should.

More consistent PT would fix that.

[DMC]

More consistent PT would fix that.

He cannot get his conditioning during games. He has to get it during practice. The duty of a role player is to be ready when his number is called. It's not the coach's responsibility to get the guy conditioning minutes. Surely the 2 or 3 days between games is ample time for him to get in shape.

[spurs10]

Great game thoughts, thanks! Very well stated. At least Tiago might return for the road trip.

[cd021]

One correction: On your starters and bench... Jeffers started, and Bellinelli came off the bench (you forgot him)

You're right. I forgot he started. Will change,thanks.

[cd021]

Ayers had a +2. Baynes had a +14.

Baynes was setting screens that actually got Parker and Mills open. He did not allow layup drills. It is not hard to figure out.

Yes he does look a bit frenetic but that is because he only knows one speed: balls to the wall. At one point Diaw and Tony are sitting there holding their s on the right wing. Baynes goes and sets a pick anyway which Parker uses to rub off his man and get an easy look. It worked even with awful spacing because Baynes refuses to stand around with his in his hand. He hits that with no hesitation.

And wtf kind of expectations do you have for rebounding? 2 boards in 9 min is 8 per 36. It's not great but by the same token it is better than decent especially after watching how hard we got torched on the boards. He hits shots and FT, grabs a couple of rebounds, doesn't foul at all --which you hear incessant winching about,-- gets an assist and doesn't turn the ball over. We succeed when he is on the court yet you ing winch about it.

You guys are so used to the pussy brand of basketball and it makes me sick. You deserve teams like The Blazers and the jump shooting PF. bleh!

I didn't love Baynes performance. I may have missed some of those screens but if you believe that he would have had 16pts and 8 boards then we are done here.

That plus 14 is highly misleading. As i stated, the Bulls went through a funk (as they usually do) they hit 1 basket in 6 minutes. The Spurs (mostly Mills) helped the Spurs get back into the game.

He doesn't show very much outside of garbage time. He is an foul machine and turnover prone as well. At the moment, he is a situation big and that situation is usually garbage time.

[cd021]

Aron Baynes (Per 36 minutes)

P.E.R-11.1
Blocks-.4
PF-5.3
Turnovers-2.5
Net Rating- -6 (only Spur to have a negative rating, Min. 250 minutes)

It isn't so much Pop not playing him as Baynes not playing very well in the minutes he does get. Ayers isn't great either but Baynes can't even seem to surpass him in the rotation.