Everyone needed to be better. We know the Spurs have a ty roster. They always make scrubs look better than they are by running them through the filter of a system, however when that system isn't fully functional, the scrub in them shines through. This is where the stars come out, when the system breaks down and they have to create. Manu was a master of this. Even yesterday, Manu in street clothes would have scored at least 8 points in the 1st quarter.
I had the thought that Manu was the missing piece. Thought about making a thread on it; but I've seen that tired debate on here.