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like daylight savings time!
http://www.boston.com/sports/basketb...ked_in/?page=2
Spurs dig in heels on defense
They're baaack! Not that they ever really left us, but with the Suns and Mavericks dominating the Western Conference, the Spurs tended to get overlooked in the championship discussion. But, true to their history in the Tim Duncan era, the Spurs have amped it up considerably since the All-Star Game and now are back in the picture.
They beat visiting New Jersey last night, 93-77, for their 12th straight win, including all 10 since the All-Star Game. What's getting it done? The Spurs' staple: defense. It had been an on-again, off-again enterprise for them for the first 45 games or so, but no longer. In their winning streak, the Spurs are holding teams to 82.3 points a game -- no one has scored more than 96.
After their win Thursday night in Sacramento, Duncan told reporters, "I don't know what it is, but we have turned the corner and been more consistent. We use the regular season to get into form and get ready for the playoffs. Maybe it's taken us that long to understand playing defense, but we're starting to do it."
Since Duncan arrived in 1997, the worst Spurs record after the All-Star break was 18-11 in 2005. (They won the le anyway.) San Antonio has won almost 74 percent of its post-All-Star break games since Duncan came on board. The best year was 2002-03 (another le year), when they won 27 of 33.
This latest run has coincided with coach Gregg Popovich's decision to bring Manu Ginobili off the bench; Ginobili is averaging almost 20 points a game during the streak while emerging as a possible Sixth Man Award winner.
The Celtics -- who, of course, never have beaten a Duncan team -- have one more shot at the Spurs this season when they play in San Antonio next Saturday night. The good news? It's St. Patrick's Day and the Celtics are 19-9 on March 17. The bad news? It doesn't matter what day it is because the Spurs finally are playing like the Spurs.
like daylight savings time!
Well, one things is true, the Spurs are back
I love this streak against the Celtics. I will honestly be semi heartbroken if/when the streak ends during Tim Duncan's tenure.
It's a nice streak, but we haven't beaten any really good teams during it unfortunately, so I think it's a bit misleading. Sure, we've been holding teams to 82pts, but look at the teams! Could we do that to Dallas/Phoenix/Utah? I'd sure like to know...
The real test will come in the playoffs.
mm...an easy win @ Detroit?
We've held Dallas to 91 and 88 (two last minute garbage time points made it 90)
We've held Utah to 83.
No one holds Phoenix to 82 points.
I'm less concerned about the streak than the style of play. It's back to being Spurs Basketball. I just hope Pop has the guts to stick with it in the playoffs.
"in easy win @ Detroit"
yes, easy. Pistons were way off their game, and it looked to me that the Spurs didn't do that much to cause it.
Last edited by boutons_; 03-11-2007 at 07:43 PM.
They're blaaack!
SILVER and black that is.....
It looks like Tim has been hanging out with Oscar DeLaAfter their win Thursday night in Sacramento, Duncan told reporters, "I don't know what it is, but we have turned the corner and been more consistent."
Great minds think alike, I guess. Sorry I missed your post.
St. Patrick's Day or not, we're gonna give the Celts a hard time playing D all 48 minutes.
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