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No grade for the beat writer???
On an honor roll: Spurs’ midseason report card
Jeff McDonald
The Spurs hit the halfway mark of their season by beating Indiana 99-81 in Game No. 41 on Tuesday night. They are sporting a 28-13 record, good for first place in the Southwest Division and second in the Western Conference.
Express-News Spurs beat writer Jeff McDonald takes a look by subject at the team's midterm report card:
Health
The Spurs began the season with Manu Ginobili on the injured list. Five games in, Tony Parker followed him. That the Spurs survived eight games in November down two All-Stars is a big reason they are where they are today. Ginobili’s well-being will be vital going forward. The good news for the Spurs is that he has begun to look more and more Ginobili-esque of late.
Grade: B-
Chemistry
For the first time in a long time, the Spurs had to integrate a few significant new faces around the Parker, Ginobili and Tim Duncan triumvirate. Newcomer Roger Mason Jr. has exceeded expectations at guard, making a team-high 89 of 193 3-pointers, while rookie George Hill has blossomed as a key figure backing up Parker. Add in the emergence of Matt Bonner, who is not new to the team but is new to the rotation, and the Spurs have got quite a chemistry project going. So far, so good.
Grade: A-
Drama
The Spurs have been both lucky and good late in games this season, going 8-2 in contests decided by three points or less. Mason has won three games with baskets in the final 10 seconds, while Parker also has a buzzer-beater to splice into his highlight tape. The law of averages says the Spurs begin to lose these kind of games in the second half. For now, however, they are acing drama with flying colors.
Grade: A+
Mathematics
The numbers don’t lie. The Spurs are 16-3 when opponents shoot less than 45 percent. That’s why Gregg Popovich will continue to harp on his team’s field-goal percentage defense, which at 45.5 percent ranks 18th in the league. The Spurs have not finished out of the top five in that category in any of Popovich’s 11 full seasons on the bench. They will need to get back to that vicinity in order to challenge the Lakers in the West.
Grade: C-
Applied sciences
What goes up must come down. For the Spurs, what goes up from 3-point range typically comes down in the basket. Until a recent shooting swoon, the Spurs were the top 3-point team in the NBA. They are still shooting 39.7 percent from long range, which will make them dangerous in the second half if they can keep it up.
Grade: B+
No grade for the beat writer???
No grade for the beat writer???
D-
Its always raining 3's in the AT&T.
Mc Donald's half season Score...
F
His Mid season report card? D's
up his ass
LJ for Spurs beat reporter!
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