One thing about this game that made me feel really comfortable... it had the feel of the old Spurs games. Opponent starts shooting hot, so we keep our cool, just make some easy buckets, try to keep it close, wait for them to make a mistake, then stick the dagger in their back and walk away.
Other than a couple of rough patches, we played well tonight, our defensive rotations were pretty solid, and we were frustrating the out of the Magic players. It just had the feel of a team that knew it was going to win, was completely confident in our ability to beat the Magic at any time during the game, and great offensive execution.
Parker's shot wasn't there tonight, but he did a lot of good things. He was aggressive on the boards for a PG and controlled the tempo. Really, 4 of our 5 starters controlled the tone of the game, and Manu from off the bench helped too. Duncan, Finley, Parker, Bowen all did their job and did it well, though Parker still doesn't look consistent with his J. We executed like a Spurs team tonight and shut down the Magic when we needed to.
Not that it mattered tonight since Finley was playing well tonight but I like the thought of Manu starting in the second half. We always seem to come into the third quarter with no energy and letting the other team go on a very nice run in the third. Besides it doesn't matter with Manu. Manu would play even harder trying to play catch up coming off the bench as he would starting the third quarter and getting some nice space and then maybe having the opportunity to sit later on.
Manu has been carrying this team for months and months. Remember when Manu haters used to say Manu can't carry a team for an entire season?
idiots!
Where is the recap of the Blazers win over the Wizards last night???
He has said that he was saving himself for the playoffs that's why he's taking so many jumpers this season. when the time comes he'll get to the rim like we're used to see.
i don't agre with the "pop overplaying manu" part. ginobili played only 33 minutes yesterday. everytime you play manu less than 35 minutes in a tight game you are underplaying him. i like manu coming off the bench but pop needs to find the way to have him in there for at least 35 minutes.
Great to see JV playing well.
I hope Finley can keep the good play. If we remember last season he started playing better this time of the year, when Brent got injured and Finley went to the starting lineup.
How is that Pop's job when it is Manu who plays at 110% regardless, and gets gassed if he is in the court for extended periods of time?
Manu has been carrying this team for months and months. Remember when Manu haters used to say Manu can't carry a team for an entire season?
idiots!
Did you miss the few games were manu was horrible due to being at the point of physical exhaustion?
I know ducks did not miss those games . . .
One thing that Parker was able to do early in the season was to get more assists and keep his turnovers down. The team had a lot of success during that time. It's looking like he's finally getting back into that form, and the wins are coming with it. Funny how aggressive JV gets during those same times.
Spurs are gay.
Me thinks your team is gay-er
he is still carrying the team right? Any superstar that carries teams (TMAC for example) has bad stretches.
TD was a little upset with Manu? I watched the whole game, and I didn't see anything to indicate that...No heated discussions or anything like that...
I thought TD/Manu/Finley all had a solid game.
I was really happy to see Finley finally find his groove, at least in this game. He's the type of person that gets down on himself when he isn't playing well...Some of his shots were really difficult and he still made them!
I also liked how Bruce hit some timely 3 pointers. His defense was also there.
I thought TP had a decent game. Yes, his shooting percentage was not high...but he still managed to get 9 assists...that's important.
I think the highlight for me was when TD blocked Howard's shot...TD also had a really high shooting percentage in 7-10. And 4 blocks! 15 rebounds. I don't want to jinx his FT shooting right now...so I won't comment on it...
Manu was really good in this game. 28 pts and 5 assists is a good stat line. I don't think he forced his shots too much...he had 10-19. That's a good percentage. I really liked his energy especially.
I'd say Duncan has allowed Ginobili to dominate.
Offensively speaking Manu has been carrying the team. no question about it.
Defensively is another story, without Duncan we'd be out of the playoffs.
That would be a foul on Amare if he were Monta Ellis.
True. For the first time it doesn't seem like the clock moves slower when Vaughn is in the game. He's playing about as well as any backup point guard the Spurs have had in a long, long time. I hope he can play like this in the playoffs.
Fair assessment but in the Magic game, Ginobili started the second half and the Spurs were still outscored 13-3 to start the third quarter. The problem to start the third quarter is more due to a lack of energy or concentration than personnel, IMO.
I saw twice in the second half when TD snapped at Manu for not passing it to him when he had Howard pinned. TD usually doesn't get mad at his teammates but this was understandable because he was working his azz off against Howard and then wasn't given the ball once he gained his advantage.
When a team is fronting Duncan with no other shotblockers on the court, the ball should go to Duncan 95% of the time. In Manu's defense, Pop had Manu playing where Horry usually plays when the Spurs put in their front-busting lineup but Manu really does need to make that pass.
Nothing about Duncan bustin out the off-hand moves?
Thanks again, timvp.... great stuff.
Regardless of which players actually played the whole game, I think it was a good win for the Spurs as they continue to move in a positive direction. I was really happy to see Duncan's aggressiveness defensively in the second half.
Manu and Fin were gangbusters in this game. Fin needed a game like this to help his confidence. I think he just forces the issue at times and should try to just play in the flow of the game. But when he is on... he is on.
The players all seemed to be having fun in this game. I saw a lot more smiles than I have seen in a while. And with those third quarter runs, the Spurs have shown their determination. I hope to see that continue.
BELIEVE!
Oh, ok. Thanks for the info. Usually, Manu never has a problem passing the ball...he's a very unselfish player. I mean, he recently set a career high at 14 assists...and especially during the NO game, he was giving Timmy all the passes.... And his court vision is one of the best.
So I don't know what happened during the game...You're saying Pop put that kind of line up? That he wanted Manu to shoot the ball more? That those were the set plays? Or something else? I don't know too much about "front-busting line up" or the position that Horry usually plays...
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