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Timvp is in grumpy playoff mode
Tim Duncan
Overall, it was a decent game out of Duncan. It was still far from his best, but it was a nice improvement over his Game 1 showing. He did a better job being more forceful with his post moves and was more of a presence on defense. I wasn't impressed with his rebounding and he can still ratchet it up a few levels in terms of forcing the action offensively. He has an advantage down low and can still do a better job of capitalizing on it. Huge clutch shot at the end boosts his grade up.
Grade: B-
Manu Ginobili
Maybe I'm overrating Ginobili, but I wasn't overly satisfied with his output tonight. For long stretches, he wasn't aggressive at all. He was making a concerted effort to pass more than he did in the first game, but that came at the expense of being too passive. Denver has no one who can guard him and Manu versus anyone on their team is the biggest mismatch the Spurs have going for them. The turning point in the game for him was when he turned it over but then Robert Horry saved him with that block on Iverson. Ginobili then, instead of being down in the dumps for turning it over, got an easy layup and an open three in the next two possessions. That turn of events kept him from having a Game 1 type game. Overall, Ginobili did enough for the win. I just expect more out of him, especially considering this matchup.
Grade: C+
Tony Parker
Parker is having a tough time. I don't know whether it's the fact he has to spend time guarding Iverson or he's just in a funk, but whatever it is the Spurs need him to snap out of it. He's doing a poor job of running the team right now and that can't continue. He did a good job of getting to the line and guarded AI much better, but he has to help in terms of keeping the offense running efficiently. He had a pretty big shot there in the fourth but this type of performance isn't going to cut it in the playoffs.
Grade: D+
Bruce Bowen
Bowen was huge in this game. He played inspired defense and came up with three huge steals. I thought this was his best overall defensive performance of the season and probably his best since the 2005 playoffs. He also knocked down a couple of big shots. The one problem I have is that he's not boxing out and is instead flopping to try to draw fouls when the rebound is in the air. He needs to take that out of his repertoire and just concentrate on keeping his guy off the boards. Overall, it was a very nice performance.
Grade: A-
Francisco Elson
The good news is that Elson tripled his usual playoff output with two points. The bad news is that Elson is a bad basketball player and that becomes more obvious in the playoffs. He just isn't built for this time of year. He's a running center who is practically worthless in a halfcourt set versus strong interior players. Perhaps he'll be more valuable in other series if the Spurs advance, but it's time to cut bait and stop playing him against Denver.
Grade: F+
Michael Finley
Finley has been a huge key in the first two games. He's the only Spur who seems to have any type of playoff swagger. He's shooting confidently and isn't afraid to take the big shots. His defense was also very impressive on Carmelo Anthony. Bottomline is Finley is playing like he realizes that this is playoff basketball.
Grade: A-
Brent Barry
After Barry's Game 1 performance, it looks like he played himself out of the rotation against the Nuggets, at least. This game, he was pretty good in his five minutes of action. He hit a three and got an assist and helped the Spurs while he was out there. Although he played better, he's not a very good matchup for the Nuggets and should continue to see just spot minutes.
Grade: B
Fabricio Oberto
Oberto was perhaps the biggest key in the win for the Spurs. He came in for an ineffective Elson and was just huge. Eight points, ten rebounds, two assists and no turnovers is outstanding production. His help defense was perhaps his most impressive part of his game. He was a big factor in why AI and Carmelo didn't go off. Offensively, he was very nice until late in his time on the court when he was having trouble down low. If he could ever figure out a way to finish around the basket consistently in the NBA, it'd be hard for Pop not play him more and more.
Grade: A
Robert Horry
Horry had a huge block in the third quarter that turned what have been an eight point lead into a 15 point lead. If he doesn't block that shot, Manu loses more confidence after the turnover and Manu doesn't get the layup to get him rolling. That block might have actually been a season saver, considering how close the game ended. Overall, Horry was deceptively better than he was last game. In Game 1 he was hitting his shots, but this game he was playing better defense, rebounding better and was more active overall.
Grade: B+
Jacque Vaughn
Vaughn had a couple of big defensive possessions. Although he isn't quick enough to guard AI or big enough to guard pretty much anyone else the Nuggets put out there, he's willing to fight on defense. You can't take that away from him. What you can take away from him is his offense. He's not running the team well and he's shooting too much. Vaughn shouldn't shoot unless there are no other options open. He's not going to finish around the basket against this team either, so he just needs to concentrate on running the offense -- whether that's getting clear outs for Manu or getting it down low to Tim.
Grade: C
Pop
Even though the Spurs won, I wasn't very pleased with Pop tonight. There's no way that Duncan should only play 33 minutes in a must-win situation. Especially when Duncan was never in foul trouble. Sitting Duncan at the end of the first half cost the Spurs seven points in two minutes. And then Pop rested him way too long before putting him back in the fourth. I also think he needs to play Elson even less than he is playing him. Offensively, the Spurs aren't posting up Duncan enough and they aren't putting Parker or Manu in positions that they can succeed enough of the time. Either post up Duncan more or isolate Parker and Manu more. Running high post with Duncan or side pick-and-rolls hasn't been effective this series. The offense needs to be simplified to utilize the talent and the lack of defensive players on the Nuggets. Defensively, the Spurs need to be faster about rotating off of Blake or Kleiza. I'd rather see those guys knock down a few shots before I see Nene rolling to the basket or AI and Melo open for three.
Grade: D
Timvp is in grumpy playoff mode
Timvp, I see that you grade people other than players, most noticeabley Pop. Please try to include grades for the officiating crew too.
My Grades:
Defense = B
Oberto, Bowen, Fin = A
Rest of the team (except Elson) = C (crap for a lot of the game, good for other parts)
Elson = F
The Spurs definitely aren't playing great basketball, but the Nuggets are tough.
A win is a win in the postseason.
Go get one in Denver.
The two days off IMO between games is what hurts them a bit.
Should help on the trip to Denver.
If they can grab 3, by some miracle, they might be able to bounce back better for game 4.
They've just got to freakin improve though.
Especially the damn turnovers....
Good grades. I hope the Spurs watch tape of the Feb 20 Denver game between now and game 3. Completely different intensity. Glad they are still 1-1 after playing this badly. I'm starting to understand why D'Antoni was afraid to lose momentum.
lj, did you do grades for Pop back when you did game 1?
Elson's score is a bit generous.
Good scoring as usual. Pop sucked tonight. I'm not sure what he was saving Duncan for because if they lost the season was over. Also, how was Bowen even in the game when the Nuggets were in must foul mode. They caught it and threw in Finley at the last second, but still that's a pretty huge lapse. Bruce should have at least told Pop himself.
A win is a win is a win, especially in playoffs, but Spurs make this many mistakes (like taking out Duncan with 2 minutes to go in first half and having a 15 point lead trimmed to 8) and a better team is going to beat them.
Spurs were fortunate in a number of ways - Bowens 3 at the end of first quarter from a near Manu TO, Camby's missed dunk, Horry's pass block off the glass for a Manu 3, officials letting Bowen get physical with Carmelo - with as many mistakes as they made Spurs are lucky to be 1-1.
Hopefully, they not only improve, but get more precise and closer to perfect execution throughout the game.
I'm very happy with Bowen good game.
He's the key for us to stop AI
Is anyone else tired of Parker's horrible decision making? He needs to wake the up. And I agree that Duncan needs more minutes. It's one thing to keep the players fresh during the regular season for the playoffs, but we are already IN the playoffs.
What can I say about Finley? He wants the championship more than anyone else on the team. Oberto should be getting most of the minutes at C.
And as a team, they are making Nene look like a star.
Yes:
But GINO: B-
go Manu!
Duncan had 2 fouls at the end of the first half and I think Popovich took him out just to save him from getting a 3rd before the half. Other than that I think all the other criticisms of Popovich are correct...the guy is an idiot with his play-calling. And there's no excuse playing Duncan that little minutes.
if this was school. Elson would be sent back home in the short bus
I agree with all your grades except there's no way Vaughn gets a better grade than Tony. The only thing Vaughn did was clank three wide open 10 foot jumpers, turned the ball over, and had 1 foul. He DID have one good play where he doubled Carmelo and Carmelo fouled him. Other than that, I don't care to see Vaughn or Elson on the floor. Isn't there a way to have Barry or Manu run the point while Tony is resting? At least we wouldn't be giving up offensive power.
He doesnt grade guys like that
Yeah fire his ass.than that I think all the other criticisms of Popovich are correct...the guy is an idiot with his play-calling.
Vaughn missed two jumpers, both from about 18 feet. The grades are for what's expected from each individual player. Nobody expects Vaughn to hit long jumpers, and everybody expects Parker to play better than he did.
The only thing Tony did bad was turn the ball over (I think 6 times). Other than that, he matched Iverson in points. And he was perfect from the stripe.
TimVP, I think I have some mild disagreements with you about your grades. Pretty good analysis overall, but here's where we differ:
Duncan had some moments where he disappeared, but he had 5 blocks and 5 assists. 4-6 at the line isn't awful for him either. I'd give him a B and close to a B+. More aggressiveness is needed though.
Ginobili - I agree. He did barely what's expected of him tonight. Hitting those clutch shots isn't enough. He's got to be in the game at all times and playing hard.
Parker gets a C. Why? He hit all 8 of his free throws. That's huge for a team that has difficulties such as we do, and it means he's getting to the rim a bit more. He'll have off-nights from the field, we just have to accept that. I think he'll be big in Game 3.
Pop gets a C. He did fine at rotating our players in, and sat Elson early when he realized he was a non-factor. More Umberto!
Now the real question... does Barry get more playing time? We could put him on Blake on defense.
Look at the other things though. Getting the team in their offense and just alot of stuff like that.
A lot of times when Duncan sits it energizes the players on the court. The tempo changes on the opponent unexpectedly and we end up pushing the lead. That's probably why Pop did it other than to give Duncan rest. It just didn't work.
This is still a team sport. Pop stresses role play, in order to facilitate for each other. Timvp has no idea what that is all about. Based on that, here are my scores:
Spurs Team: A-
Nuggets Team: A
Timvp: C-
I can just see Spur players reading this Monday morning quarterbacking and rolling their eyes. What NBA tean did Timvp last coach?
WHen Tim sat at the end of the first half, the Nuggets went on a 7-0 run.
oh STFU.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is still a team sport. Pop stresses role play, in order to facilitate for each other. Timvp has no idea what that is all about. Based on that, here are my scores:
Spurs Team: A-
Nuggets Team: A
Timvp: C-
I can just see Spur players reading this Monday morning quarterbacking and rolling their eyes. What NBA tean did Timvp last coach?
So the Spurs were perfect yesterday?
Give me a ing break take that weak out of here.
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