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Pop deserves an A+ for the hit he took.
Tim Duncan
Duncan had an all around powerful contest in Game 2 of the NBA Finals. He dominated early and finished with 23 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, while connecting on 9-of-16 from the field and committing only one turnover. While he didn't have a blocked shot in the game, he was a force on that end of the court as well. As with rest of the team, his play suffered a bit at the end but he did more than enough to help the Spurs go up 2-0 in this best of seven series.
Grade: A-
Manu Ginobili
Ginobili was incredibly efficient in Game 2. He scored 25 points on only 11 field goal attempts. To go along with his points, he added six rebounds, three steals and two assists in only 28 minutes of play. His offensive production given his playing time was phenomenal. The only downside to Ginobili's game was his defense. After a stellar defensive performance in Game 1, he let his play on that end of the court slip a bit in the second contest of the series.
Grade: A-
Tony Parker
Parker is continuing his breakout playoff run. In Game 2 of the Finals, Parker again led the Spurs in scoring with 30 points on 13-for-20 shooting from the floor. With LeBron James guarding him for much of the game, the Spurs decided to take Parker off the ball and let him run through a myriad of screens to try to wear James down. Parker flourished in that role and was consistently the Spurs most successful offensive weapon throughout the game.
Grade: A-
Bruce Bowen
Bowen's numbers weren't pretty but he had another quality showing defensively. While James did score 25 points and hand out 6 assists, Bowen made him work for everything he got. Rarely did James run free or get anything easy. Offensively, it was more of a struggle for Bowen. He hit only 1-of-9 shots from the field in his 41 minutes of playing time.
Grade: B-
Fabricio Oberto
Oberto played 20 solid minutes for the Spurs. He only finished with four points and four rebounds, but he was physical and played smart basketball. With the series switching over to Cleveland for Game 3, the Spurs will need more from Oberto than they got in the first two games of the Finals.
Grade: B-
Michael Finley
For the second consecutive game, Finley had a tough night and saw little action in the second half. He finished 1-for-4 from the field in scoring two points in 15 minutes. The worst aspect of Finley's game was a couple of missed box outs that led to second chance point for the Cavs. Finley needs to straighten out his shot and play a more all around game from here on out.
Grade: C-
Robert Horry
Horry has had some good games in the playoffs this year but this game topped them all. Even with Big Three playing well, Horry was perhaps the best player on the court for the Spurs. His defense was outstanding. Horry pulled down nine rebounds and blocked five shots in 26 minutes of action. Offensively, Horry buried a three-pointer and two free throws while also handing out four assists. Horry's production was apparent in the plus/minus stat, where he led the Spurs with a +27.
Grade: A+
Jacque Vaughn
Vaughn had his second straight solid outing for San Antonio. In 12 minutes, Vaughn scored two points, assisted on two baskets and pulled down three rebounds. He has proven to be a good matchup against the Cavaliers and can use his energy to cause havoc on the court.
Grade: B+
Francisco Elson
Elson had his moments in Game 2. He was 3-for-3 from the floor on his way to six points and three rebounds in 13 minutes. His defense was decent, although he was late on a couple rotations. The biggest negative against him was his far and away team worst plus/minus of -16.
Grade: B+
Brent Barry
Barry made a couple nice plays in the first half, including a slick pass to Elson for a dunk. However, the second half was a different story for Barry. He hurried a couple three-pointers that helped the Cavs find their way back into the game. His defense was also nothing to write home about in the second half.
Grade: C+
Pop
Pop's adjustment of taking Parker off the ball and forcing James to work defensively was a stroke of genius. Cleveland certainly doesn't want James chasing Parker around picks defensively, especially considering how much of the offensive load James has to carry. Pop also took advantage of the Cavs not doubling right away against Duncan in the first half. Pop does warrant some blame for his role in the near disastrous collapse in the fourth quarter. He seemed to step off the gas and the Cavs nearly made the Spurs pay dearly for that mistake.
Grade: B
Pop deserves an A+ for the hit he took.
Really good solid grades. I just don't see what Tony has to do to get a solid A or A+...lol. He was absolutely excellent today. With his points and aggression. This was just an off the charts game for him...
But yeah, it was an all around great game especially by Robert/Manu/Tim/Tony. I think all of them could have easily gotten A+...And Bruce's defense was also right there. While, I seriously think Brent was the worst out there, with him missing all those open 3s...and just not doing much of anything. Michael wasn't all that great either, but at least he didn't try to force as many shots as Brent.
brent barry D
pop C
barry took sum really dumb shots..ive lost count on how many airballs hes had in the playoffs....
pop shoulda rub it in ther face and left the starters in till about 5 min left in the game...took way to long to make a subs ution ...
overall i think ur on point...GO SPURS..
I agree with it 100%.
Bruce did allow James a lot more in scoring but he was on the bench when it happened. I noticed James was one time a little bit rattled when Bruce was around
ButHorry is the man on defense in game 2. He deserves an A+
Manu & TP should have deserved an A. They were excellent today!
What game were you watching out there? B+ for Vaughn, B+ for Elson? Their atrocious defense was a major reason the Cavs put that big run on us late. Vaughn lost Gibson repeatedly and Elson was soft as inside.
They (and Brent) were the main reason Cleveland got back into the game. Also, if you wanted to pick on Manu's defense, you could've mentioned that Tony was pretty lazy on a few close outs of his own, and didn't get his hands up or contest threes very well.
Graded on a curve.
Of course.
Sounds like someone is overreacting to the Cavs making a run when the Spurs had stopped trying. Man up. 2-0.
Just re-watched the second half. Barry takes a 3, misses, LeBronBron takes it the other way and lays it up. Other way 45 seconds later, Brent took an open 3, missed, Spurs got the offensive rebound, Brent took another open 3 missed and the Cavs took it the other way. LeBronBron took a 3, misses, Cavs got a rebound, Varejão makes a layup. Spurs take it the other way, Bowen misses a running jumper, Duncan misses the tip in, somewhere in there Barry misses another open 3, another offensive rebound and someone (Elson?) finally makes a layup. That's a swing of... 2. I'm going to have to call bull on Brent's shooting letting the Cavs back into the game. Much as it might pain the homers, if you want a reason why the Spurs offense ground to a screeching halt, why don't you look at the Spurs repeatedly running Four Down despite Duncan being crowded every time.
I don't see why everyone is ripping Barry for shooting...Finley does it and they think he's hard.
Pop finally has totally wrecked Barry to where all he does is chuck shots, because he gets yanked if he tries to actually play offense the way he knows how.
And of course...Spursfans still hate him....now it's because he takes bad shots or shoots the second he gets the ball...
The same thing he's been getting ripped for not doing since the day he signed with the team.
Double
Standard
Well first of all, Barry was a -9 in the fourth quarter. Second of all, those fast shots early in the shot clock gave the Cavs more possessions to cut into the lead.
... and he decides to show up
And by the way...I agree...if all Barry is going to do is chuck shots...I'd just as soon he not be on the court. WTG Pop.
at the end of each grading session you should name your MVP game of that game....and see if it comes out with who they pick....just so you have a paper trail in case theres a manu over timmy debate like in 05
... and he decides to show up
Well I thought about slamming TPark's "but he helped us close out Denver post"...
BFD, we were up 3-1 against an 8 seed.
That's not stepping up...that's capitalizing on the rest of the team relaxing with a big lead against an inferior opponent.
... and he decides to show up
Actually...I've been looking for your I'm sorry post from the first night of the season...
I want to plaigerize it when I apologize for picking the Cavs in 5. Was good stuff
Probably should wait until after the series. You wouldn't want to have to unapologize after you ended up being right like what happened to me.Actually...I've been looking for your I'm sorry post from the first night of the season...
I want to plaigerize it when I apologize for picking the Cavs in 5. Was good stuff
Probably should wait until after the series. You wouldn't want to have to unapologize after you ended up being right like what happened to me.
Point taken.
However, Cavs in 6 or 7 you would technically be right according to comments made prior to that prediction.
Point taken.
However, Cavs in 6 or 7 you would technically be right according to comments made prior to that prediction.
TY and I appreciate the support, but I'd just as soon be wrong on that one
I'm a little worried about Fin. He's been great the last few rounds, where has he gone.
His defense is still solid when he's in there, but we need him to step up offensively. And Pop seems worried, since he only played 15 min last night.
Elson looked worse out there because he was playing with the bench, and just like in Game 1, this team looks a lot worse without Parker running it. Vaughn has done a decent job this series so far, but as a team our second unit looks less sure of themselves, and is more prone to stupid turnovers.
Barry deserves an F. He isnt George Gervin...but he is certainly an "ice man"
as in ice cold...
B+ for Elson? I think timvp slacked off the 4th quarter, too.
I would've given Tony an A+. He was amazing at getting the team's offense going when we seemed to get stuck. Everytime you thought the Spurs couldn't buy a point to save their lives Tony comes in and roadrunned his way to the bucket for an easy 2. That or one of his patented tear drops. His defense was great as well I thought, he had a couple of steals there that really impacted the game.
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