Game Thoughts: Spurs @ Celtics - Feb. 8

[whottt]

Roger Mason, Jr.

31 minutes, 11 points, three rebounds
3-for-9 from the field, 2-for-6 on three-pointers

For the first 47 minutes and 40 seconds of the game, Roger Mason, Jr. wasn’t doing much right. If he wasn’t missing shots, he was fumbling balls out of bounds or getting burnt on the defensive end. Then, out of nowhere, he authored his next chapter of game-winning heroics. It’s good to see that even if he’s struggling, Mason has no problem taking and making big shots. On defense, even though he had a lot of points scored on his watch, I thought he showed signs of improvement. His recovery when going around screens is improved and his off the ball awareness is getting more consistent.
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I didn't get to see this @#$# game due to @#$@#$ work...nonetheless, from what I am reading it is now an inescapable conclusion that Mason is clutch. He makes the game altering shots against our biggest opponents...

Yes he hasn't done it in the playoffs for us yet, but at the same time, these are huge regular season games where he's hitting these big shots.

The Mario Elie comparison is a good one for this guy...and his knack for knocking down big shots is the primary reason this team appears it migbht be capaple of making some serious noise in the post season.


I said I'd withold judgement on Mason till he does it against the Celts and the Lakers...which he promptly did.

He's clutch IMHO

Matt Bonner

36 minutes, 23 points, eight rebounds, two assists, two steals
10-for-17 from the field, 3-for-6 on three-pointers

With six possible Hall of Famers on the court, who woulda thunk that the first half was going to be the Matt Bonner Show? The New Hampshire native scored 16 points in the first two quarters in what amounted to a home game. Scoring from both the perimeter and drives to the bucket, Bonner looked as confident as ever. In the third quarter, Bonner appeared to fatigue – although that didn’t stop him from banking in a three-pointer. After regrouping, Bonner scored a rare clutch basket with under a minute to go in the game. And when I say rare, I mean rare. When was the last time Bonner hit a shot with fewer than five minutes remaining in a game and the score separated by five or less points? You have to go all the way back to Nov. 11 against the Rockets when Bonner hit a three-pointer in the outing that helped catapult him back into the rotation.
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Bonner is unfortunately not clutch at all...


That said, every player seems to have that team they just kill for whatever reason...and Bonner's just might be the Celtics, which is almost like being clutch given the fact that the Celts are the defending champions.

A New England boy slaying the New England team isn't that mystifying when you think about it...it kinda makes sense then.

I'm just glad that the team far and away which Bonner seems to have no fear of, is the Celts. That bodes well for us should we make the finals.


That said...Bonner does appear to have Laker-itis as do our other bench players...so that team is going to be a problem, Mason won't be enough.

I was actually excited about having Crosher on the roster for this reason...now?

We need someone else to put out there...

It would be so awesome if we could land Stephen Jackson.

Unfortunatley we won't and I didn't like the way our shooters puckered in LA...

[ClingingMars]

Props to the Spurs. Mason is money in the clutch as it has been proven over the year.

celtics fans >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> faker fans

[ClingingMars]

I didn't get to see this @#$# game due to @#$@#$ work...nonetheless, from what I am reading it is now an inescapable conclusion that Mason is clutch. He makes the game altering shots against our biggest opponents...

Yes he hasn't done it in the playoffs for us yet, but at the same time, these are huge regular season games where he's hitting these big shots.

The Mario Elie comparison is a good one for this guy...and his knack for knocking down big shots is the primary reason this team appears it migbht be capaple of making some serious noise in the post season.


I said I'd withold judgement on Mason till he does it against the Celts and the Lakers...which he promptly did.

He's clutch IMHO

Matt Bonner

36 minutes, 23 points, eight rebounds, two assists, two steals
10-for-17 from the field, 3-for-6 on three-pointers

With six possible Hall of Famers on the court, who woulda thunk that the first half was going to be the Matt Bonner Show? The New Hampshire native scored 16 points in the first two quarters in what amounted to a home game. Scoring from both the perimeter and drives to the bucket, Bonner looked as confident as ever. In the third quarter, Bonner appeared to fatigue – although that didn’t stop him from banking in a three-pointer. After regrouping, Bonner scored a rare clutch basket with under a minute to go in the game. And when I say rare, I mean rare. When was the last time Bonner hit a shot with fewer than five minutes remaining in a game and the score separated by five or less points? You have to go all the way back to Nov. 11 against the Rockets when Bonner hit a three-pointer in the outing that helped catapult him back into the rotation.
-------------------------------

Bonner is unfortunately not clutch at all...


That said, every player seems to have that team they just kill for whatever reason...and Bonner's just might be the Celtics, which is almost like being clutch given the fact that the Celts are the defending champions.

A New England boy slaying the New England team isn't that mystifying when you think about it...it kinda makes sense then.

I'm just glad that the team far and away which Bonner seems to have no fear of, is the Celts. That bodes well for us should we make the finals.


That said...Bonner does appear to have Laker-itis as do our other bench players...so that team is going to be a problem, Mason won't be enough.

I was actually excited about having Crosher on the roster for this reason...now?

We need someone else to put out there...

It would be so awesome if we could land Stephen Jackson.

Unfortunatley we won't and I didn't like the way our shooters puckered in LA...

I think you need to give Bonner more chances against LA (which won't happen in the regular season, unfortunately). I believe he can come up big.

[Avitus1]

It was a great game. I am glad to see Hill out on the floor working his game against the defending champs. He's going to just keep getting better and better. Shame he's not in the rookie challenge.

[raspsa]

I am happy and now we can all say it was a great shot, but... was it a wise shot to take with lots of time in the clock (If I am not mistaken was 8 seconds into the shot clock, so 16 seconds remaining) and the Spurs down by 2 with 20 seconds left?

Mason immediately recognized the pick Duncan set for him and capitalized with an open 3.. any hesitation to take more time off the clock and the defense has a chance to recover.. great instinctive shot by Mason in rhythm..

[Blackjack]

Mason immediately recognized the pick Duncan set for him and capitalized with an open 3.. any hesitation to take more time off the clock and the defense has a chance to recover.. great instinctive shot by Mason in rhythm..

Pop called the play from the bench.

Roger just executed the play, and the Celtics for that matter.

[timvp]

I said I'd withold judgement on Mason till he does it against the Celts and the Lakers...which he promptly did.

He's clutch IMHO

Hope you're right. When is the last time the Spurs had a role player who sought out clutch shots? Most clutch role players on the Spurs have been clutch in the sense that they'll hit an open shot. Mason, on the other hand, actively goes out and tries to make clutch baskets.

If he can keep it up, that will be useful in the playoffs . . .

We need someone else to put out there...

It would be so awesome if we could land Stephen Jackson.

Unfortunatley we won't and I didn't like the way our shooters puckered in LA...

As scary as it may sound, I think that clutch role player against the Lakers has to be George Hill. Think about 2003. It wasn't SJax who disrupted PJax's defense, it was Manu's athletic playmaking off the bench. Hill may have to do similar.

PJax can game plan shooters with the best of 'em. As the Suns, Pistons and Celtics showed, athleticism and youthful exuberance is something he can't simply take away.

[Manufan909]

I thought that Hill strip of Rondo at the end of the first quarter was crucial as well.

IIRC, it only showed up a a block in the stats(maybe nba.com ed up). I thought it should've been a block AND a steal.

[whottt]

As scary as it may sound, I think that clutch role player against the Lakers has to be George Hill. Think about 2003. It wasn't SJax who disrupted PJax's defense, it was Manu's athletic playmaking off the bench. Hill may have to do similar.

PJax can game plan shooters with the best of 'em. As the Suns, Pistons and Celtics showed, athleticism and youthful exuberance is something he can't simply take away.

True...Hill might be able to pull it off and he had his moments in that Laker game in SA...unfortunately Pop seems to lose faith in Hill pretty easily so that's the reason he kind of fell out of my options. I like Hill a great deal, he's definitely not a choker so hopefully Pop'll give him a chance to show he's got something against LA(something he's already shown he can do once though).

[EricB]

I believe Bonner proved he could be clutch against LA in the first home game this year, and TAKING and MAKING that shot down 3 in the lane showed clutchness.

[timvp]

I believe Bonner proved he could be clutch against LA in the first home game this year

Did Bonner even score in the second half of that game?

[EricB]

Did Bonner even score in the second half of that game?

Was he able to even get a shot off?

I believe Phil was so pissed off about him making shots in the first half he denied him the ball every time.

Also I believe in SA Bonner killed the Hornets as well after having a bad game in New Orleans.

I'm not saying Matt Bonner is Robert Horry. But hes not Hedo Turkoglu either.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

I was actually waiting for the floodgates to open. Looking at recent history the Spurs are blown out when they do that in the third.

I thought the same. However, to their credit this team is gelling and growing some character. they are on the right track to go deep in the playoffs.

Yeah they both have those wide shoulders.

Yeah, they could be body doubles of each other!

The Spurs were actually only down one point. I don't think that is a shot you want, especially considering no one was in position for an offensive board. It seemed to surprise everyone.

Except for Mason

Mo Money's MO.

I thought Manu's D was terrible - he was in El Matador mode for most of the game.
His legs of stone made Allen and Pierce look like speed demons on several occasions.

Manu did look like he had slow feet on defense, especially when he was trying to chase around Allen. I liked him much better on Pierce, especially when he could body him up.

Celts set great picks (a highly underrated fundamental skill), and he was having trouble keeping up with Ray Ray, but he did a good job against Pierce, as you and others have said. Pierce made some ridiculous shots too, as always.

I think it's interesting that Manu and Pierce are both herky-jerky driving types who regularly make incredible circus shots, but PP does it with strength while Manu does it with guile.

I'm not saying Matt Bonner is Robert Horry. But hes not Hedo Turkoglu either.

You mean "Turkoglu as a Spur in the 2004 playoffs". He seems to hit big shots a lot outside of those conditions!

[EricB]

You mean "Turkoglu as a Spur in the 2004 playoffs". He seems to hit big shots a lot outside of those conditions

Eh, in the regular season sure.

In the playoffs against Detroit and Toronto last year though, he was his usual gag self.

[Manufan909]

Damn, watching GSW over the past week, I really would like Turiaf on the Spurs. I'm assuming he's another out of reach big, but he would fill the hole on D completely, imo.

[jmard5]

I am happy and now we can all say it was a great shot, but... was it a wise shot to take with lots of time in the clock (If I am not mistaken was 8 seconds into the shot clock, so 16 seconds remaining) and the Spurs down by 2 with 20 seconds left?

Probably because they don't want the Celtics' defense to be properly set up?

That was a hard, solid screen Duncan set against Mason's defender (Allen?), like it was really designed. Makes me wonder if they do really have that play lined-up the moment it is needed.

[Manufan909]

Hey timvp, why do you think Pop is set on a 3-man big rotation, when he ed about it to start the season? I think KT and Fab could both get 15 min a game without taking too much away from Matt. And the small ball doesn't help either.

[timvp]

Hey timvp, why do you think Pop is set on a 3-man big rotation

Oberto has basically played his way out of the rotation at this point -- mainly by being unable to rebound. His overall rebounding is down more than 20%, while his defensive rebounding is down more than 35%.

If Oberto doesn't start rebounding better, he can't play. Right now, George Hill and Michael Finley are grabbing more defensive rebounds than Oberto.

[Manufan909]

But he looked promising with quality minutes against Denver, no? Or was his rebounding still subpar? If so, why do you think he's regressed so much? It's not like he just lost all of his spectacular athleticism or something.

[wildbill2u]

He did look gassed but I think he was also hurting. A few trips prior to his bank-shot three, Matt had gotten kneed in the right thigh by Pierce and then at the other end, Matt was kneed in the "lower region" by Ray Allen. Matt didn't even run back to the other end after it...he was bent over.

I don't get to see too many Celtics games but I was surprised at how physical their defense is. It's clear they want to intimidate and beat up the other team.

I mean they are kneeing, grabbing, elbowing, setting hard moving picks, etc. I remember early in the game when Perkins set a moving pick on Manu when he was chasing Allen around a low double screen and it damn near knocked him off his feet. And there were several times when Spurs were knocked to the floor.

[Manufan909]

, in a 2 minute span in the 2nd half, dudes were falling on both sides. I remember Bonner falling when Hill had the ball.

[spurster]

I am happy and now we can all say it was a great shot, but... was it a wise shot to take with lots of time in the clock (If I am not mistaken was 8 seconds into the shot clock, so 16 seconds remaining) and the Spurs down by 2 with 20 seconds left?

If you are down at that point in the game, you need to take your first good shot so that if you miss, you have plenty of time to foul to try to catch up.

[m33p0]

He did look gassed but I think he was also hurting. A few trips prior to his bank-shot three, Matt had gotten kneed in the right thigh by Pierce and then at the other end, Matt was kneed in the "lower region" by Ray Allen. Matt didn't even run back to the other end after it...he was bent over.

ouch... didn't catch that one. i had to watch the game over the internets which always suck.

i'd like to take this opportunity to send a big to my cable provider for not showing this game but instead chose to air the toronto-memphis rerun.

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

I wouldn't mind changing the pic but that pic is SFIE's sig.

You do realize that you run this site, right? If you want the picture it's all yours. Between the team defense coming around, the general indifference towards the regular season, and cracks he's made about Tim, Tony, and at George Hill in the huddle yesterday I am almost ready to believe that this is the real Gregg Popovich and not Bizarro Pop.

[anakha]

Probably because they don't want the Celtics' defense to be properly set up?

That was a hard, solid screen Duncan set against Mason's defender (Allen?), like it was really designed. Makes me wonder if they do really have that play lined-up the moment it is needed.

Wasn't Mason's game winner against the Clippers early in the season taken off the same Duncan screen play?