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Thanks for your thought, timvp.
I don't think Mavs will be a threat in this year's playoffs. This was a dagger.
I really have started worrying about Finley.
The game was ugly. The win probably deserved an injury asterisk. But nonetheless, the Spurs won and that’s the most important thing right now. They certainly didn’t take any steps towards proving they are a championship team in their victory over the Dallas Mavericks, however a W is a W at this point.
The Mavs are in a world of hurt right now, literally and figuratively. Dirk Nowitzki injured his leg in an awkward fall and preliminary reports have him missing at least two weeks. Jason Kidd looks old and is playing with no confidence. Avery Johnson is suddenly on the coaching hot seat. The role players seem to have all lost the confidence that has been their trademark over the last few years. That said, the Mavs still gave the Spurs all they could handle. It’s not a stretch to say the Mavs would have won the game if Nowitzki wouldn’t have gotten hurt. The Spurs had made their run before he went down, but Nowitzki has a funny way of taking a game over from the free throw line in the fourth quarter against the Spurs.
Besides the win, there weren’t many positives to take away from this game. In fact, it might have been a step backwards in the grand scheme of things. The Spurs got fortunate on free throws (23-for-24) and turnovers (5), not to mention Nowitzki’s injury, and still barely snuck away with a win. Basically, it was just a lucky win. The Spurs play as poorly as they did on Sunday in a game that matters during the playoffs and they lose 99 out of a 100 times.
Overall, there’s wasn’t much to be happy about – other than the win, of course.
-Tim Duncan was really bad in the first half. He ended up starting 1-for-11 from the field. His outside shot wasn’t falling and he was compounding issues by not taking it up strong around the basket. His defense all game was only about average. I’ll give him a little bit of credit defensively from guarding everyone from Kidd to Nowitzki but he also had a number of blown assignments. Late in the game, Duncan finally woke up and found his touch. He finished with 19 points and 13 rebounds, while shooting 7-for-21 from the field. Obviously, going forward the Spurs need Duncan to play much better than he did against the Mavs.
-Manu Ginobili was the brightest spot for the Spurs. In the second half, Ginobili played near flawless basketball. He was scoring, creating, defending and fearlessly leading the Spurs to victory. His second half was great. His first half? Not so much. But that one half of quality basketball was a godsend for the Spurs. Without Ginobili’s second half performance, the Spurs likely lose in embarrassing fashion. All told, Ginobili finished with 26 points, eight rebounds, six assists, one steal, one blocked shot and no turnovers. He went 6-for-15 from the field, including 3-for-8 from beyond the arc. Even though his shooting wasn’t great, his concentration and focus were very good. It was only his second game all season without a turnover, which was an amazing feat since he had the ball in his hand so much of the game.
-Tony Parker’s first half was sub par. He was only 4-for-12 from the field in the first two quarters, but to his credit his 13 points were helping the Spurs stay in the game. Parker’s second half was horrendous. In every phase of the game he was just pitiful. He was out of rhythm, hesitating with his shot and making a mass amount of mental mistakes. It was probably his worst half of basketball all season. For the game, Parker finished with 13 points, four rebounds and three steals, while shooting 4-for-21 from the field, including 0-for-9 in the second half. The only good thing I can say about him is he finished the game without a turnover. Other than that, this is a game to forget – instantly.
-Bruce Bowen did a good job of adjusting to whoever the Spurs needed him to guard. At different points in the game, he found himself defending Nowitzki, Josh Howard, Jason Terry and Jerry Stackhouse. It wasn’t a dominating defensive performance but he deserves some credit for all of Dallas’ perimeter players being held relatively in check. In a team-high 41 minutes, Bowen finished with five points and nine rebounds, while shooting 2-for-8 from the field. His shooting was poor but he did knock down a big three-pointer late in the game. Bowen’s nine rebounds were a season-high.
-Michael Finley started and was horrible. Mark Cuban’s money was well spent in this game. After two games in which Finley’s shot appeared to be on the way back, he laid an enormous egg against the Mavs. Hopefully Finley was just in the Easter spirit because otherwise Pop might have to start tinkering with the starting lineup again. The Spurs can’t win a championship with a starter who is prone to celebrating Easter on a semi-nightly basis. Finley finished with two points and five rebounds on 0-for-7 shooting from the field. Not only is he missing shots, he’s just not moving well at all.
-Fabricio Oberto didn’t play well. The Mavs were giving him room offensively and he didn’t take advantage of the situation. Defensively, Oberto was below average and only grabbed one defensive rebound in his 14 minutes of playing time. For the game, Oberto finished with four points and five rebounds, while shooting 2-for-6 from the floor. He played hard and with good energy in his first couple games after he was re-named the starters, but since then Oberto has fallen back into zombie mode.
-Ime Udoka played 30 minutes and I thought he played really well. I’ve been hard on him for looking for his shot too much but this game he did a good job of only shooting good shots. He was really active defensively and just did a solid job all the way around. Udoka’s pull up jumper late in the game when the Spurs needed a basket was also nice to see. Overall, Udoka finished with seven points, four rebounds, one steal and one block.
-Kurt Thomas continues to supply quality bigman minutes from off the bench. He already looks almost completely comfortable in the Spurs system, which would be the fastest bigman acclimation period in recent Spurs history. He’s not going to put up big stats with the Spurs but his workmanlike approach is a good addition to this team. Against the Mavs, Thomas finished with six points, five rebounds, one steal and one block.
-Jacque Vaughn once again played very well. In his stint in the second half, Vaughn was virtually flawless. With the way Parker struggled, the Spurs really needed a lift from Vaughn and he provided just that. In 11 minutes, Vaughn had six points, two assists and hit 3-of-4 shots from the field. Vaughn is currently playing the best basketball of his Spurs career.
-Damon Stoudamire, Matt Bonner and Robert Horry didn’t play. The good news regarding Horry is the MRI on his knee injury didn’t reveal any further damage, however he was non-committal about when he’d play again.
-Brent Barry re-signed with the Spurs on Sunday, which in itself deserves special mention. With the way Finley is playing, Barry can’t come back soon enough. Hopefully he’s healthy and ready to knock down some three-pointers to space the court.
-Pop did a good job. It was a crafty coaching move to put Duncan on Kidd and it worked out nicely. Kidd doesn’t want to shoot and can’t really finish anymore when he drives to the basket so Pop treated him like a total non-offensive threat. The Mavs were never able to exploit that matchup.
I was skeptical when Pop went to small ball so early in the game but it turned out to be the right call. No matter how much Spurs fans complain, it’s impossible for the Spurs to defend the Mavs when Nowitzki is moved to center without going to small ball. It’s just a fact of life that Spurs fans are going to have to deal with. Luckily, Udoka is proving to be a nice option as a small ball power forward.
Pop really can’t be too happy or sleep too soundly after watching the Spurs play on Sunday. The team played unbelievably bad for long stretches of the game. Forget championship, the Spurs wouldn’t be able to get out of the first round with the way they played against the Mavs.
The bottomline is the Spurs got the win. They can definitely improve their play and I think and trust that they’ll do just that. Against the Orlando Magic on Tuesday, the Spurs are going to have to go Orlando and play much better to get a victory.
Believe.
Thanks for your thought, timvp.
I don't think Mavs will be a threat in this year's playoffs. This was a dagger.
I really have started worrying about Finley.
Another tough game on Sunday noon time.
These games were never easy for the spurs, they always seem like they are sleeping most of the game..
Chump Dumper said in one thread that the spurs are having a good timing. I don't know if the spurs be max ready for the first round, but they have to.
All in all I'm more happy about that win then lj is, and btw where is his wife?
We have some nice tests ahead of us. Housto, Golden and Utah twice yeah nice
I agree on most accounts. The Spurs played pretty darn bad. I don't think we're in that horrible a state that we won't make it past the first round though... I mean, considering Tony's not going to play like this every game of a 7 game series. Still, ugly win to be certain... nothing pretty about it.
By the way, props for not mentioning the incident with Stackhouse and Manu. It was blown the out of proportion to begin with. Considering what had just happened to their star player, and the way the Spur had just caught up with them, this sort of thing isn't unheard of. A hard foul, but not significant in the grand scheme of things.
I think you're being way too hard on them. The offense was bad for large stretches, but especially in the first half, the problem was guys missing open shots more than anything else. In the second half they put up 52 points, and that's with Tony and Fin's struggles. Not bad.
Also, just five turnovers. Can't complain about that. We basically took Dallas and Kidd out of their transition game, which is huge. And the free throw shooting was key. We don't win this game if we have a crappy 70% day at the stripe.
The defense meanwhile, I thought was quite good. They rotated well, communicated well, and Dallas had to settle for jumpers all day. Also, this might have been the best we rebounded all season. We just crushed them on the boards, at both ends. I was amazed at the job we did against Bass, Howard, and Dampier in this department. Bass has killed us before, but not today. All the smalls deserve credit for their board work, especially Bowen. Even Fin contributed here.
Really, I thought this was one of our better games, a trademark defensive Spurs game.
I was even impressed by Tony, because he was matched up against Dirk a couple times on a switch in the 3rd and he made him settle for fadeaway jumpers.
The shooting was ugly but we defended, rebounded, and got it done as a team. It reminds me a lot of the win at LA last year, when we played like crap on offense all day but somehow made it to OT and won on a buzzer beating Finley three. This was a huge win and I don't understand at all why you can't understand that.
Last I checked, playing defense, rebounding and not turning it over were signs of a good team.
I don't understand TimVP at all. It's like whenever I think he'll zig, he zags. I thought he'd be thrilled with the win and upset with the folks who go ape about Tony's shooting, ignoring the good things he did out there, and instead he's the one that's ing about everything and downplaying the win, going so far as to call it an asterisk win.
Good grief.
Yes, we played poorly for 36-38 minutes of the game, but I think a little recognition should be given to the 14-0 run before Dirk went out, which eventually became 19-0. That was some really great ball, admittedly Ginobili-inspired, but there's nothing wrong with that because that's our team now. We saw a flash of what this team can do when they lock down on D and let the offense flow. There was also a short burst in the 4th quarter that was impressive.
All in all, a fortunate win, but also a window into what the team can do when they stop thinking too much and worrying about things and just play Spurs basketball.
Can they make that window into a game-long vista? We shall see during the next 12 games.
The playoffs is near.. it doesn't pay to be 'just good enough;
these boys can play better
Exactly. If the Spurs didn't have a fluke night from the free throw line, the Spurs lose and Spurs Nation is having a simultaneous breakdown. Sneaking away with a win due largely to a perfect showing at the line against a short-handed team that is struggling massively is not my idea of a win to celebrate about.
And I can't really claim a defensive victory in a game where Nowitzki goes down in the third quarter. The Spurs should be able to shut down the Mavs if Nowitzki isn't in the game.
I agree it was a big win if only for standings sake at this point. But really, with the way the Mavs have been sucking against quality compe ion and Nowitzki playing less than three-quarters of the contest, I can't honestly say it was anything more than just a W in the record books.
But they were playing great defense even before Nowitzki went down.
I'm happy with the win but the team only looked good in stretches, not during the whole game. We had a lot of defensive lapses and if we didn't go near-perfect at the line, we would all be wondering why Terry got so many easy shots. Thankfully he went one-on-one a few times instead of letting the team get his shot and he bricked them. Josh Howard has been in a funk for a while, you can't say it was our defense.
Dirk really was the catalyst in this game. If Dirk is 4 for 13 you would hope you would have had that lead earlier and larger. Had he remained in the game he could of easily turned it up a notch just as Duncan does. A few shots here and there and we lose to a free-falling Mavs team. Not the best sign.
The good news is that we won despite shooting horrendously, although it can be argued that our FT shooting made up for that fact.
Yeah, its nice to see a victory under any cir stances. Most of us are still probably a little stunned by that recent downturn which culminated in the Spurs blowing that huge lead at home against the Celtics. At this point, I just want the Spurs to find a way to win a tough road game in Orlando, and I'm thinking we'll see some better offensive rhythm throughout most of the game. The Spurs just cannot play like they did against Dallas most of the game Sunday and end up getting slapped by the Magic. That would be worrisome and humiliating.
The Mavs were shooting around 44% when Dirk went down. I don't consider that great defense. Good defense? Better than average defense? Sure.
The broadcast team was hyping it up as if the Spurs were playing suffocating defense. I saw more of the Mavs being unsure of themselves than I saw of the Spurs really dominating defensively.
On the bright side, Spurs are doing a great job this year at rebounding against Mavs. It's noteworthy given Spurs past struggles in this area against Mavs.
They have allowed only 3 offensive rebounds yesterday and 25 over the 4 games this year against Mavs.
Pretty sure that's either a career high for Bruce or it ties his career high.
As for the way the Spurs played...
As mentioned after the last Mav game...the worm has turned since the Kidd trade. Pre Kidd the Spurs could play great and still not beat the Mavs...now 2 games in a row the Spurs have played like crap and beaten them. The Spur killing Mavs are finito.
As for how the Spurs played part 2...
I just think they aren't that motiviated...I wasn't even motivated to watch this game. I knew they were going to win it. Plus, it's not like they've gotten 3 or 4 days off yet since that brutal stretch...they are still in it.
Wake me when the playoffs start...I don't care what their seed is, and I don't care what they are doing in the regular season. IMO, they've earned a free pass for substandard play in the regular season...it's just not that easy to get motivated for these regular season "big" games when you've played in as many big games as the Spurs have.
This is a side effect of retuning most of your championship core. Spurfan hasn't seen it before, because the Spurs haven't returned this much of their championship core before.
The less energy wasted on the regular season the better...
Mind you we made the run and took the lead before Dirk went down. Game don't deserve an injury asterisk that's just nonsense. We took the game back before injury and the drama happened and after the injury and drama Dallas looked fueled with anger and a will to win and that's when Dallas finally started scoring again.
Duncan is pissing me the off. How many times is he going to do this? If it's was a opinion before, it's now fact. Duncan is slower, timid, worse shot selection, and is soft. Not every single game, but it seems more often than not lately Duncan is playing like a teddy bear. I don't know if it's just cause he lost some quickness or what but I hope he turns it on for the playoffs.
I sorta agree with this. I mean, when have the Spurs made 23 of 24 FT's? Calling it "fortunate" a "fluke"...is almost ESPN stuff. Duncan has been improving his FT's a lot lately. This isn't fortunate or a fluke...he's worked hard on his FT's, and worked harder to get to the line. No need to disparage the effort.
JV having one of his best games ever as a Spur...just when we needed it! Thomas looked like a man out there, Ginobli looking strong. Timmy making all but 1 of his FT's.
Yeah, TP and Fin looked terrible, yet we still have a 19-0 run while Dirks still in the game, TP's defense on Dirk always surprises me...and how the does he get caught defending him so much?
This was almost a trademark Spurs Defensive game...and a lot of good things to take from it.
I mean...even the Assistant coaches should get props for the way they handled the bench during the Manu/Stack hoedown.
Oh well. Great players, as well as great analysts...can ocassionally have a bad day
And one more thing...not to our great analyst, but to some others in here. LAY THE OFF OF DUNCAN!
There is no bigger compe or in the league than Tim Duncan. If he's a little slower, not moving as well on rotations and defense...you bet there's a damn good reason.
Yeah, you can note he's not playing the best at times, but you ing know it ain't because he's not trying. If you think so...you don't know about this team.
I've been saying he's looked a little banged up all year, seen him trying to hide a limp at times. He's giving us everything he has to give...and he always HAS. Night in and night out. Remember, Timmy was ALL we had in the middle for the majority of this season with Elson and Fab doing precious little to help him. He was basically alone, until we got KT (one of the best trades the Spurs have ever done, imho.)
You know Timmy will be there... 100% or no.
You can not ask for anything more. He'll not settle for anything less.
Last edited by SouthernFried; 03-24-2008 at 07:16 AM.
I thought they played pretty good defense and saying it was all lack of confidence on the Mavs part is a little on the myopic side.
Pop has more options for the perimeter with Brent this week. He can play immediatly or needs days to heal from his injury?
.
timvp have a look at play by play.
I watched the game and in 14 minutes Nowitzki finished with 0 points against Oberto.
12-7:27 first quarter=Dirk 0 points against Oberto.
12-5:39 second quarter=Dirk 0 points.
12-7:27 third quarter=Dirk 0 points.
It's true his offensive sucked yesterday, but defensively he did a perfect job.
Last edited by wildchild; 03-24-2008 at 11:07 AM.
Besides Manu's game, I'd like to point out the KT, JVG, IME, Bruce contribution, they were there when we need them!
Leave it to Timvp 's game thoughts to be dark and dreary about a win against the Mavs. They were much more up lifting when we lost to Phoenix and Boston.
I guess it helps to keep the balance. So we don't go jumping off any ledges when we loose and we don't pop champangne when we win.
I am just happy that Spurs won. Otherwise, who knows, we would have given confidence to another team just like we did to Dallas.
Leave it to Timvp 's game thoughts to be dark and dreary about a win against the Mavs. They were much more up lifting when we lost to Phoenix and Boston.
I guess it helps to keep the balance. So we don't go jumping off any ledges when we loose and we don't pop champangne when we win.
timvp is our leader?
whottt what you said is the most strange thing I can't understand from spurs fans. wake me up when the playoffs begin ???
To me it's like saying: I don't care if they will be in the playoffs or not, if they will have an injury or not. I do care when they win a trophy then I am a fan.
uhhhh yea
Manu said that hey ghave still a long way to go to play the way they want to.
One thing is sure - they are recognizing where they are and what they want to do.
btw. I hate this all step in right direction, step in wrong direction. Every game they are going into wrong or right direction.
PS. I know what is all about Kori.
His career high is 11.
I'm just glad to see the Spurs win a Sunday afternoon game. I expect the worst whenever we have an ABC Sunday game, and we got it yesterday. Fortunately, the Mavs were even worse.
I don't have a huge problem with small ball against the Mavs but we have to play Udoka at the 4 instead of Finley. I can't say I've paid a lot of attention to Udoka's rebounding technique, but Finley never boxes out. Udoka is a better rebounder and defender, and while they're both listed at the same height, Udoka just plays bigger.
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