Manu is rocking on guys.. i wish wish he stays healthy to keep this sweet run going...
Manu with 31 pts on 16 shots and only 2 free throws - that's damn efficient scoring. Remarkably efficient, video game style efficient. By comparison, Manu had 5 more fg attempts and 2 more ft attempts than Finley, but posted 29 more points.
The plus side to Finley was his defense and rebounding. 6 rebounds from Finley is pretty decent, but he has to start getting in a rhythm on his shooting from game to game. Not like he isn't getting choice looks.
I'm not sure whats more amazing, the fact that he scored 31 points on 16 shots, or the fact that he only made 11 of them. I'm no mathematician or anything like that, but that's like 3 points a bucket.Talk about efficient.
Also thought Barry deserved major props for this game. His stat line really doesn't reflect the impact he had on the game turning run. His threes also came at just the right time, one to tie the game after coming back from down 14, and another to help put the dagger in late. Game by game, Barry is slowly making a pitch for Finley's playing time.
I'm not sure whats more amazing, the fact that he scored 31 points on 16 shots, or the fact that he only made 11 of them. I'm no mathematician or anything like that, but that's like 3 points a bucket.
Also thought Barry deserved major props for this game. His stat line really doesn't reflect the impact he had on the game turning run. His threes also came at just the right time, one to tie the game after coming back from down 14, and another to help put the dagger in late. Game by game, Barry is slowly making a pitch for Finley's playing time.agreed on Barry.
Barry and Manu play with a great feeling for each other...
What was true in Dallas, is true in San Antonio. At this stage of his career, Finley is nothing more than a one-trick pony. He has been reduced to a perimeter jump-shooter only. It's so frustrating to see him out there clanging bricks off the rim. Even when he has a lane to go to the basket, he rarely does.
It's sad to watch because we all remember a time when Finley go take it to the basket and go "top-shelf".
I'm very happy Finley got his ring. But personally, I trust this is his last year in a Spurs uniform.
i actually dunno about that... he has fit so well in the organization that he may stick around in a job maybe not as a player but... assistant GM or something... his leadership contribution is priceless... i would want him on this team just as an example for new guys all the time
Here's the deal about Barry and PT....while he still moves pretty well, he's 35 or something. I'm not hugely in favor of him getting a buttload of minutes all of a sudden. I do favor a consistent spot in the rotation...but I don't want to burn his legs so he has dead legs once we hit the playoffs...then his shot won't fall and we'll be in trouble...seen it happen before to old players with the Spurs. Barry has a lot to offer beyond shooting...but he's kind of finally made the conversion to spot up shooter and he's doing it well, so that part of his game needs to be protected.
So I like the rotation and minute distribution, Barry is playing well in his spot and the Spurs bench is kicking butt.
A few years ago I thought Barry had more to offer in terms of minutes than he was getting, plus I thought it would help his game...but at 35 and comfortable in this role, I don't see the need for a huge change in the minutes Barry and Finley are getting...definitely a game by game thing. Finley's bricks aren't hurting us so....if it aint broke don't fix it I always say.
Minutes rationing and bench roles for older players is defintely one of Pop's philosophies I agree with 100%.
How can anyone call the Spurs boring when you have a player like Manu Ginobili on your team?
Dude was amazing tonight.
I see you already have that clip of that sweet behind-the-back to himself followed by a no lookie to TP from last night's game. I like how he faked TP out with that first move, when he goes behind-the-back TP flinches and his hands flash up expecting the pass.
That said, I do have to give him props for his passing. He’s done one of the most impossible things a basketball player can do – improve his court vision. No longer can someone say Parker can’t pass or doesn’t see the court well. Outside of Steve Nash and Jason Kidd, I’m not sure there are many other point guards who are passing the ball as well as Parker is right now. His chemistry with Ginobili and Brent Barry specifically is through the roof.<<
I don't think most intelligent people here who've had problems with Parker's point guard play in the past ever accused of him not being a good passer or having poor court vision. The criticism was most often that he wasn't a willing passer. Tony's always been able to pass the ball and see the court pretty well. He had 12 assists by half time in a game against the Clips last year, took only one shot the whole half, and the Spurs had 65 points in the first 24 minutes. If the case was simply that he was a horrible passer, people I don't think would criticize him for it so badly. You can't rip people for things they physically can't do. People don't rip Tim for not having three point range and they don't rip Vaughn for not blocking more shots.
This year Tony seems to have taken his game to yet another level, combining the passing to go along with his scoring. I'm very impressed by how he's playing right now and really at this point, the only things he could do to improve his game would be to be more consistent from the line and on defense night after night.
Then again, those two things can be said about almost every Spur so far this year.
Nawet mi sie spodobalo
I agree. The criticism it's just a means to an end? or it's an end in itself? in my opinion the criticism is unjustified.
I've noticed that too. I never did care for JV. Seems he just scares the out of me when he has the ball. Now he thinks he's another TP junior. That is even scarier.
Please get DW back here by all star break to be our backup PG.
BTW, I notice DW tore up the D league last night.
That play in your avatar was pretty sick. Ginobili has some street baller in him he lets out every once in a while.
I'm not sure how long you've read the forum but there's been hordes of people throughout the years who have knocked Parker for his court vision and passing ability. That's probably been the biggest criticism of him since he entered the NBA. If I had a nickel for every time a Spurs fan said Parker wasn't a true point guard or was a poor passer, I'd have quite the collection of nickels.
I do think Parker is seeing the court a bit better this season but I've always thought he was a good passer. And compared to other point guards around the league, he's been great at knowing when to shoot and knowing when to pass. If he wasn't good at that, his field goal percentage wouldn't always be so high. Put Parker on a team that runs the offense through him, let's him play big minutes and puts him in more pick-and-rolls, and I'd say Parker's career assist average would be at least two or three assists higher.
For the record, I don't really care about Parker's assists. He's most helpful to the Spurs when he's scoring. Going into a game, if someone let me pick whether Parker would have 18 points and 10 assists or 30 points and 3 assists, I'd pick the 30 points each time. If Parker is scoring well, the Spurs become almost unbeatable. For example, last game against the Mavs, Parker had eight assists and one turnover yet the Spurs' offense was stagnant because Parker's scoring was off. The Spurs would have been better off if Parker would have scored 25 points and only had a couple of assists.
I don't know how much you can imrove your court vision?
It depends on given talent. You have it or not.
But knowing the system and knowing the players you are playing with you can improve in the apect of understanding when the guy will be in which moment.
We all could see parkers progress and his work on the game. esp. great relations with Pop. Good that he is not only coach but he is a teacher. Plus as the years went by he gave him more freedome and Parker took advantage of this and Pop knew when to give him this freedome.
Umm all in all I wished that Parker was a better passer, but you take whats given. And I'm taking it as it is.
Tim Duncan's technical last night was the first technical foul for anyone on the entire roster all season long. That's pretty amazing.
The Spurs are on pace to have five technicals this season. In the last two seasons, the Spurs have had 24 and 23 technicals. I guess they are even more "all business" than they've been in past years.
didnt see this game, but what i've seen so far, parker almost looks like another player with the passes he is making. i dont really care about assists, i refer more to the type- and amount- of passes parker has been making. IMO before, it seemed parker's passes had a tendency to be a little off target, a little slow, but now i see he's making them harder and higher. and through traffic, before he was hesitant to make those kind of passes. i think he has more confidence and it really is a credit to tony the way he continues to improve year in year out.
timvp, I look forward to your game thoughts and love your analysis. Thanks!
I agree that Barry has started to find his niche in the rotation. He has good court vision himself and when he and Manu are on the court together they really bring that strength out of each other.
As for Tony, he has improved every year and this year he seems to have really focused on making better passes. I know people knock him for not getting more assists, but with his quickness, he needs to also look to drive the lane to get layups. He is a great finisher at the rim and he can't just look away from that to get more assists. I think this season, he has become more well-rounded and has gotten a grasp on how to use his strengths.
It was good to see Timmy's aggressiveness in the second half. Mark Madsen always seems to get under his skin and when Timmy gets mad... look out!
And, then Manu. What more can you say about the man? His aggressiveness is at a new level this year. What a luxury we have to have a player of his caliber to come off the bench and ignite our team. I love to watch him go after the ball like it belongs to him only!
We did sleepwalk through the first part of the game and it was good to see the team respond and kick it up to the next level at the end. I just hope we don't always depend on that.
Tony is playing at such a high level now, and it is in part because Pop is actually letting him run the offense. Every play doesn't have to start with a post up to Tim, and Tim seems to be OK with it.
At 25, Seattle was trying to peddle Gary Payton because he couldn't shoot. At 25, Parker is a multiple All Star pick (by the coaches) and NBA Finals MVP with 6 full NBA seasons under his belt. These are great days we're livin', bros. The Spurs have 3 major All Star caliber weapons to throw at the opponent every night.
A reason why Parker's assist number is higher than usual is that Spurs are shooting really well. There are 3 Spurs in the top15 3p% with Barry at 52%, Bowen at 48% and Manu at 46%.
Improving his decision making skills has been a priority for Parker for years. It's still a work in progress because it's not something easy to do but he is improving steadily.
Probably because Tony has done a better job setting up his teammates this year. He's done good to draw double teams and kick it out for the three.
I like the thoughts except I don't think sleepwalking 3 quarters is a good way to get ready for the playoffs. This game was more like an episode of "let's see if we can turn the switch on and win this game, too". It's a long season so settle in for reruns.
Something tells me he'll get an Oberto-style two-year contract after this one. Not that I support it, but I see it.
ESPN highlights don't have any of the Duncan-Madsen scuffle. I didn't get to watch the game tonight, so does anyone know where I can see some of it?
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