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An article outside of SA about the Spurs and there is no cliche mentioning of the Spurs' collective age and mileage??? This guy is going to get fired.
How The Spurs Keep On Going
by Brandon Hoffman
The San Antonio Spurs lost six of their first eleven games, but have won six out of their last eight to creep into the eighth spot in the West.
Forward Tim Duncan and guards Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker have suited up for only five games together. Ginobili missed San Antonio’s first 12 games after undergoing ankle surgery. Parker missed 9 games after spraining an ankle in San Antonio’s fifth game of the season. And yet the Spurs managed a 7-2 stretch without the services of their superstar backcourt.
San Antonio kept their heads afloat behind an MVP-caliber start of the season from Duncan and solid production from new rotation players Roger Mason Jr., George Hill, and Matt Bonner. Mason and Bonner have spaced the floor with their outside shooting, while Hill provided quality minutes filling in for Parker. Bonner has connected on 48% of his shot attempts (21-44) from beyond the arc. Mason is shooting 48% (48-100) from downtown. Both players rank among the top six in three-point shooting percentage.
The Spurs allowed three of their first five opponents to score more than 100 points, but have since returned to the principles that made them one of the league’s best defensive teams for better than a decade. Those principles were on full display in wins against the Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors.
After allowing 26 first quarter points on 55% shooting, the Spurs put the clamps on the Nuggets Thursday night. San Antonio kept Carmelo Anthony and company from penetrating the middle of their defense, forced ball-handlers baseline and dominated the defensive glass (35-23). The Spurs forced the Nuggets to miss 10 of their first 12 shot attempts to start the second quarter, outscored Denver 31-15 in that period, and never looked back as they handed the Nuggets their worst loss of the season.
The Spurs got off to a similar start against the Warriors. San Antonio held the Warriors to 31% shooting in the first quarter of Saturday’s night game in route to a 123-88 blowout at home.
With Popovich on the sidelines and Duncan patrolling the paint, the Spurs have never finished a season lower than 3rd in defensive efficiency. All-NBA defender Bruce Bowen has definitely lost a step or two, but the Spurs remain fundamentally sound on that end of the floor. And it begins and ends with Tim Duncan.
Duncan had 5 blocks against the Nuggets on Thursday night, including 3 swats in the fourth quarter when the Nuggets cut the Spurs lead to 14 with 9:56 remaining. But blocked shots have never defined Tim Duncan’s defense. Duncan’s rotations are flawless. His defensive presence goes beyond a boxscore.
After San Antonio’s win versus Denver, I asked Duncan if San Antonio’s defensive turnaround in the second quarter was the result of defensive adjustments or if it was a matter of effort.
“We changed our defense,” Duncan said. “But it’s always about effort with us. It’s always about focus and effort.”
Duncan has notoriously coasted through regular seasons. But perhaps awakened by the challenge to win without Parker and Ginobili early in the season, Duncan has played with renewed energy from the onset this year.
I arrived at the Pepsi Center two and a half hours before tipoff. Instead of getting myself situated in the media room, I decided to make my way to the floor to see who was warming up before the game. There were three players on the court: Chris Anderson, Roger Mason Jr., and Tim Duncan. A player working himself back from suspension, a journeyman role player, and the greatest power forward of all-time. Duncan shot free-throws, followed by mid-range jumpers, and then pick-and-pop simulations. He was intense, visibly agitated with misses, and there was a purpose to his routine.
Duncan has achieved all there is to achieve in his profession, but he’s not finished. Not by a long shot. That’s why it would be foolish to count out the Spurs this season, or any season as long as Duncan is donning the silver and black.
With last night’s win versus the Warriors, the Spurs jumped to 9th in defensive efficiency after falling as low as 29th. Simply put, San Antonio is back to playing “Spurs basketball.” That means defending the three-point line, controlling the defensive glass, forcing ball-handlers baseline, and sharing the basketball.
Parker and Ginobili’s injuries were unfortunate, but they may very well turn out to be a blessing in disguise. The Spurs know that Hill, Mason, and Bonner are the real deal. Those three, coupled with Bruce Bowen, Ime Udoka, Fabricio Oberto and San Antonio’s ‘Big 3’ make the Spurs a nine-deep team.
San Antonio may not capture a top-four seed, but seeding means nothing to the Spurs. They’re the one team in the league that is capable of winning four straight playoff series without the benefit of home-court advantage. Go ahead, count the Spurs out, but you’ll be singing a different tune come April, May, and possibly June.
An article outside of SA about the Spurs and there is no cliche mentioning of the Spurs' collective age and mileage??? This guy is going to get fired.
makes for a nice read this late at night
he also called duncan a forward.
I disagree with this statement. Probably half a step, but no more than one.
nice read
They’re the one team in the league that is capable of winning four straight playoff series without the benefit of home-court advantage.
This must be the same Denver journalist that wrote last year.
"All in all, you take Iverson, I take Ginobili, and we see whose team wins."
Everyone go inside, go home................Nothing to see here.
This is why Tim is one of the greats, and why we are all privileged to watch him and root for him.I arrived at the Pepsi Center two and a half hours before tipoff. Instead of getting myself situated in the media room, I decided to make my way to the floor to see who was warming up before the game. There were three players on the court: Chris Anderson, Roger Mason Jr., and Tim Duncan. A player working himself back from suspension, a journeyman role player, and the greatest power forward of all-time. Duncan shot free-throws, followed by mid-range jumpers, and then pick-and-pop simulations. He was intense, visibly agitated with misses, and there was a purpose to his routine.
Nice to hear RMJ is putting in the extra time, too.
Funny how Jacque Vaughn's fantastic play isn't mentioned in this article praising the Spurs.
its official ya'll, Matt Bonner is a balla
He also didn't use the "b" word.
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