Grades: Spurs vs. Jazz - Apr. 8

[TheTruth]

Please let this be a more than one game thing. Boris brings so much more to the table than Blair. Blair would be a great energy guy off the bench if he didn't turn into such a pussy when he's not starting.

[TJastal]

Agreed, that was no lack of chemistry, he was just throwing some wild passes that were too hard for him. People in here are seriously in love with him, I heard that he had the purest shot on the team the other day (when it was falling lol) and I've yet to hear anyone talk about his passing despite sending Tiago in the cameras the other day and passing badly enough that it got him benched today.

I like him as a project, don't get me wrong but let's not go crazy about the kid just yet.

Well if Mills fails the litmus test as a point guard there's always the Neal/Ginobili ballhandling duo which hopefully can "get by" enough for the spurs to win playoff games.

Assuming for a second that Pop addresses the problems of the frontcourt (which are self-imposed for the most part) this would be great if this is the only weakness heading into the playoffs.

[TJastal]

Please let this be a more than one game thing. Boris brings so much more to the table than Blair. Blair would be a great energy guy off the bench if he didn't turn into such a pussy when he's not starting.

+1

I'm not going to hold my breath however. Seems like every time I get my hopes up as a spurs fan they come crashing down the next week.

[ajh18]

Manu Ginobili A-
Talk about an unexpected stat line, Manu Ginobili had more free throw attempts tonight than he had in his previous 12 games combined. On the season, his free throw rate is by far a career low -- so this was definitely a good sign. Ginobili attacked Utah's physical defense over and over again. While I thought his passing wasn't nearly as crisp as it has usually been this season, Ginobili made up for it with his aggression. Defensively, he did reasonably good work. His individual defense was really active, though he did tend to stray far from his man when defending off the ball.

If you read the ESPN recap of the game, they mention that Manu said he is essentially training his body to absorb contact again in preparation for the playoffs:

Ginobili was 14 of 15 from the foul line, saying he made the conscious decision to attack the basket, in part, because he's essentially trying to get used to absorbing physical contact again.

""It's time for me to join in...I'm trying to start to be more aggressive going to the rim. I haven't been fouled much,"

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=320408024

[Cant_Be_Faded]

If Bonner ever figures out when to keep his hands straight up and when to actually try to get a block, his defensive effectiveness will go up about a thousand percent.

Same could be said for splitter when challenging a man who is stepping a little outside for a mid range jumper

[lefty]

Tony gave major headaches to Harris

[Horse]

Everytime I watch Splitter he scores at will, makes the right passes, defends well, and rebounds. What am I missing that this guy is not playing more?

[jason1301]

lies

[DBMethos]

Everytime I watch Splitter he scores at will, makes the right passes, defends well, and rebounds. What am I missing that this guy is not playing more?

He's only allowed to play when Timmy's not in the game. Expect him to get about 8 mpg in the playoffs.

[TheSkeptic]

Same could be said for splitter when challenging a man who is stepping a little outside for a mid range jumper

Yeah. That drives me crazy.

He's only allowed to play when Timmy's not in the game. Expect him to get about 8 mpg in the playoffs.

This is kind of what I'm thinking too. Horrific mismanagement though.

[maverick1948]

How come Diaw got a B- when he did something no other Spurs had done all year. He should lose a full letter grade for FOULING out. If it had been Bonner, Blair, Neal or Green, they would be humiliated on here.

[Paranoid Pop]

How come Diaw got a B- when he did something no other Spurs had done all year.

Play good defense ?

When your Bonbon got a T earlier in the season, people didn't humiliate him, they were actually quite happy that he showed character for a change.