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Boxscore

Highlights

The winning streak, short lived as it may be, is now over. Four games, the last three against D-League teams (Washington, Indiana, and New York), and that’s all she wrote.

The Celtics, sans Kevin Garnett, had the lead for the large part of the second half, dropping the Spurs, sans Tony Parker, in Beantown Sunday afternoon.

Both teams were obviously without their superstar, so complaints can’t be filed with regards to Parker’s absence, though I will say, Parker’s DNP might hurt the Spurs more than KG’s. Stay with me for a minute. Not to take an ounce from what Garnett does and will continue to do for the C’s, but, it’s not so much that Parker’s not on the floor, but who it is that replaces him: Jacque Vaughn.

Memo to TP: Get Back ASAP.

Teams basically sag off of Vaughn and double Duncan, Finley, or Ginobili. Sure, they can pass off double teams and Vaughn does make a few baskets, a few layups, but he’s nothing to worry about. And that, ultimately, is the problem. Not to mention, when Garnett is out, the Celtics still can rebound, and Pierce/Allen can shoulder more of the load. Without Parker, not only do the Spurs have to play 4 on 5, but a significant element of their offense is taken away when TP’s speed is out of the lineup. It frees Ginobili, it allows Duncan to operate without the constant annoyance of double team.

Alas, bitterness aside, the thing you have to love about the Celtics is that they play pedal to the medal, constantly. Winning is new for them. These guys haven’t been on winners for years. Garnett in four years, Allen not significantly since the turn of the century, and Pierce in half a decade. The rest is your assorted cast of hobos and rookies, but they’ve bought into the pressure defense that Doc Rivers has them playing, and every game is Game 7. The Spurs on the other hand, not so much. Effort seems to come in waves, more often recessing than flowing. But, that’s what championship teams do, right? Or is that just in San Antonio.

• Brian Scalabrine is not only a thief, but a clown as well. How he’s in the NBA is not only confounding to me, but has to absolutely rankle guys like Rod Benson every second of the day. He had a shot in the 1st half, as the shot clock was winding down, where he basically fell to the floor, and tossed up an air ball. Mike Breen’s call said it all: “Scalabrine…wild shot.”
• Rajon Rondo can play ball, and he really does bring it from the PG spot. What I mean by that is that he’s as good a rebounder thats on that team not named Pierce or Garnett. Further, he always seems to have his head up when he’s looking for a guy to get the ball too. He knows where to be on offense, and usually doesn’t force his own offense. Finally, on D, he’s a pest, and he can really stymie opposing point guards that aren’t significantly stronger than he is (Chauncy Billups).
• It was evidenced again today, as I’ve said all season, this team has trouble rebounding. Oberto doesn’t play, but isn’t a good rebounder to begin with. Elson has no role on the team. So, that being said, at all times, when Duncan’s on the floor, the next tallest guy is 6 inches shorter than he is. Two big misses (one Boston FT and another Boston FG at the end of the game) that didn’t go to the Spurs changed the outcome. They need to acquire someone, either before the deadline or after they’re eliminated early this year, someone that can get down there and rebound to take some pressure off of Duncan.
• Ime Udoka plays defense very similarly to how Bruce Bowen does. He’s inside your shorts, right there with every fake, trying to take every single physical advantage possible. Late in the game, he denied Pierce the opportunity to post up, and even earlier, was there contesting jump shots. As soon as referees start calling his D like they do Bowen’s, he could be a real force.

Despite an 8 point loss, I wouldn’t be too overly concerned. The Spurs play Toronto tomorrow, then finish with Cleveland, but as far as matching up with the Celtics is concerned, the next game will be a whole different ball game. Obviously, Parker and Garnett in their lineups changes things. That aside, in San Antonio, and considering the fact that the traditionally dormant Spurs will have hopefully turned it to full throttle by that point (next game March 17th) should make for another competitive game, that one possibly in the Spurs’ favor.

What is it about the Knicks? Despite the fact that there are only two teams with a lower winning percentage, despite the fact that their roster is possibly the worst assembled in the league, despite the fact that they’ve had two 8 game losing streaks already this season, despite the fact that they’ve only won 4 games on the road all season, the Spurs seem incapable of dominating the New York Knicks.

Zeke’s squad came down to the San Antonio early in January and were within 1 with just over 3 to play. Last night in the Garden, the Spurs needed an enormous comeback (plus a shot of reality for the Knicks) to wipe away an 18 point deficit. Explain, if you can.

Almost exactly as it has gone against bad teams all season, the Spurs started off slow, and put the clamps down in the second half. The beginning of the 4th quarter was being played in the late 50’s and low 60’s, just where the Spurs wanted it. Dust off Big Shot Bob and Fin Dog for a couple of big ones, and you’ve got yourself a W. Maybe not as easy as you’d like to see, but, nothing ever is.

• Looking towards the future, the Spurs next opponent, the vaunted Boston Celtics, won with a little help from the 5-0 in Minnesota. Leon Powe’s game-winning layup sealed the NBA leading 38th win of the season for Boston. KG hasn’t played in 6 contests, out with an abdominal strain. His availability for the game on Sunday afternoon appears to be questionable.
• Damon Stoudamire, only a few games in, has shot the ball quite well already from beyond the arc. Despite starting all but one game for the Grizz in December, Mighty Mouse only had two games in which he made more than one 3. Already, he’s done that twice in black and white.
• Gregg Popovich has left the door open for trades this year. As opposed to last season’s mandate that nothing would go down, there is a slight window this season. Obviously, the Spurs could use help inside on offense or defense (Oberto and Elson together aren’t averaging 10/10). But, Pop has maintained the Spurs would welcome any kind of athleticism and scoring ability, preferably if it came in the form of one player.
• Congratulations, from the SAspurscast, to Ian Mahinmi for making the D-League All-Star team. The Frenchman is in the top 10 in blocks, double-doubles and rebounds. Not to mention he’s dropping in a cool 18 points per contest.

Though it was announced at the end of last week, it became official over the weekend–Damon Stoudamire will play the rest of the season for the Spurs.

The man who once averaged over 10 points per game (hasn’t done it since he got to Memphis 3 years ago), who won the ROY in 1996, and who has played in serious playoff basketball will be donning the silver and gray in all likelihood the next time the Spurs play. Whether or not he gets significant minutes remains to be seen, though, despite previous historical references (see Charlie Ward, Melvin Ely, Francisco Elson in the beginning), I feel its almost a certainty that Mighty Mouse bucks the trend and gets some serious minutes in the next few minutes.

With the next game on Tuesday against the Pacers, maybe 15-20 minutes is in order. By the time the Celtics roll around on the 10th, with 3 games and a week under his belt, Damon should see some extended time. Truth is, he’s being brought in to play, not to learn and ultimately flourish in the system. Stoudamire has been around the block (3 teams) and played for 13 years. That’s not to say adjusting to a new team is simple, but it’s not brain surgery. Will he be as smooth in 2 games as he might be after a full pre-season, of course not. But, that’s why team’s acquire veterans.

With Parker out for at least the remainder of the road trip and Brent Barry sidelined for likely another 3 weeks, the need for competent point guard play is imminent. Though they should be able to get by with Jacque Vaughn against Indy, Washington and the Knicks, when good teams come-a-knockin’, they’ll continue to leave Jack Vaughn wide open. And, as was evidenced in that Suns game last week, that’s a major problem. For that reason alone, it stands to reason that we should hope Stoudamire doesn’t take too long to get acclimated.

Maybe it was my threat, maybe not, but once again, Tim Duncan will be representing the Western Conference as a starter in the All-Star Game. This year’s contest will mark the 11th time the newly denoted “forward” will be heading to the mid-year showcase.

Though there was some concern about whether or not TD’s decision to be moved from the center to forward spot, it apparently didn’t make much of a difference.

Joining him in the West are Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, and Yao Ming. For the Eastern squad, Jason Kidd makes his first trip to the All-Star game as a starter since being in NJ. He’s joined by a first time starter in Dwight Howard, and then some old hats: Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Kevin Garnett.

More to come on my thoughts on the All-Star game, once reserves are announced, because that’s when the real debate begins.

There were actually three left. Timeouts, that is.

Now, I know, if Manu hits that jumper, and the Spurs go onto to win in OT, no one is questioning Pop’s decision to forgo calling a timeout. That being said, he didn’t call the timeout and that seems quite different from what we’ve come to expect. Popovich is no Mike D’Antonio, no Don Nelson. The rules have been strict, the discipline harsh (ask Beno Udrih about it). He’s not a control freak (though he does control nearly every aspect of this team, on and off the court), but he isn’t one to let the players tool around at the end of game. At least, not up until last night.

It seems to be fitting for the way things have gone over the last month. Granted, coming into last night’s action, the Spurs were at the same place they were last season (25-11). Still, they haven’t beaten a team with a winning record in over a month (Denver on the 15th of December), and they have some legitimate issues that came to light last night.

Problem number one…they can’t consistently score. The last two games scoring (more importantly, 3 point baskets) have come only in drips and drops until the 4th quarter, which, has been OK against the Minnesota’s and Philly’s of the world. Not against a team like Cleveland. Having Brent Barry back should help, but let’s not confuse ourselves about who Brent Barry is.

Problem number two…in an effort to get more scoring on the floor, they weaken their rebounding. Last night, at the end of the game, the Spurs were running four guards around Duncan (Manu, Tony, Finley and Barry). Only one man in five can grab a rebound, and beyond that, if the other team has any semblance of a rebounding forward (which the Cavs do in Big Z, Varajeo, and Gooden), the Spurs will get manhandled.

Problem number three…the previous problem leaves them to put either Elson or Oberto in, which basically brings you back to problem one.

It’s not to say things are desperate, but don’t forget how good the West has become this year. They sit currently in the 6th seed, only 4.5 games ahead of the 9 seed. That 9 seed, by the way, the Utah Jazz, who they beat in the Western Conference Finals last year.

Of course, on the flip side, as close as they are to missing the playoffs entirely, they’re only a game out of the 2 spot.

Not that it should be too much of a surprise, but last night’s effort was just another in a string of lackluster, poor performances from the San Antonio Spurs. First of all, you pretty much knew that Detroit wasn’t going to lose 3 games in a row. The showdown came on the heels of the Pistons losing in Big D, after coach Flip Saunders had accused his team of not giving a full effort. Think they were up for last night?

How about 60% FG in the first half? Jason Maxiell hitting 20 foot jumpers…30 first quarter points…The list goes on, and, for my own sanity, I’ll stop.

What had to bother you most from the game was an obvious lack of effort in the first half, compounded by an obvious lack of quality play from Tony Parker. He missed 9 of the 13 shots attempted, while turning the ball over more than he assisted it. I don’t have the exact totals, but from my memory he missed at least 5 layups. Easy, bunny layups. I’m not a brain surgeon, but I do know that a better effort is required to beat a team like the Pistons.

The real concern is, when will this team wake up from the fog they’ve been under for the past month. Since December 11th, they’re 6-8. Over that stretch, the Blazers are 14-1, the Mavs 10-3, and the Lakers 11-3. And (big shock here), they’ve since dropped off the top spot in the Southwest, and subsequently all the way to the 5th spot in the Western Conference. Don’t look now, but the number 9 seed is only 4.5 games back of them. And, who, might you ask, holds that spot? The Western Conference finalists of last year, the Utah Jazz.

Nothing is drastic yet, but don’t fool yourself, this team isn’t playing well at all lately. This isn’t just a bad run. When they lost 4 of 6 earlier in December without Duncan/Parker, that was a bad stretch. Now, everyone’s back. Ginobili’s cast is a hindrance, but isn’t an excuse. If it’s that bad, he shouldn’t be playing.

Sure, the Spurs hold a one game lead in the Southwest division, but that doesn’t mean they are necessarily the best team in the division. Well, maybe they are, but, that doesn’t mean the other teams aren’t worth noting. In fact, as far as I’m concerned, it’s the best division in the association.

Hornets

I’ve noted, several times in this very blog, my true affinity (some might call it a love affair) with Chris Paul. He’s the team’s best playmaker, best passer, best on-ball defender. He’s their everything. Here’s a crazy stat, in the last 9 games, dude has 111 assists, and just 13 TOs. Almost 10:1 assist to turnover. But, that’s not it for this team. David West is a ballplayer. He’s not elite, but he’s a forward that can shoot from 15 to 20 feet. He won’t take Duncan down low, but waiting for him will be a guy named Tyson, and he’s no chicken. Sorry for the awful pun, but Chandler’s really developed into a nice player. Never will he be the 2nd overall talent he was expected to be when the LA Clippers took him there in 2001. Still, he’s turned into exactly what the Bulls were looking for when they acquired the aging Ben Wallace, the kind of player that rebounds and blocks shots like a fiend, and gives back-to-the-basket big men like Tim Duncan a hard time.

Mavericks

Here’s the bottom line: This team is way, way better than they’re playing. Already this season they’ve lost to Atlanta, Indiana, Milwauke, Washington, and Portland. They’ve got a new starting lineup from last year. Jason Terry is out of the starting lineup in favor of the near ancient Eddie Jones, who does near nothing statistically or realisitically. That being said, they’ve played lethargically and recently, they’ve won 4 in a row, largely due to the improved play of Dirk Nowitzki (over 27 points per in the last 3).

Rockets

They’re never healthy, plain and simple. Tracy McGrady forever will have knee problems, and Yao hasn’t played nearly a full season in 3 years. Even when Yao does play, he won’t develop as they envisioned he would, simply because he has to try to win alongside Bonzi Wells and Rafer Alston. Not bad players, but not good enough. They’ll always play good defense, if only because of Yao and Shane Battier, despite Rick Adelman’s best efforts.

Grizzlies

Marc Iavaroni’s Phoenix-east-style offense just isn’t going to work. Sorry, but it’s true. This team only has 10 wins, granted, but they are a far better team. They’re within 2 wins of the following teams: Knicks, Bucks, Bobcats, Heat, Kings, Clippers, Sonics. My word says, they’re better than all of them, and have no reason to blow things up. Gasol’s been an all-star, Gay is a budding all-star, and Mike Miller is the most impressive of the whole bunch. The reason being, simply, Miller was only a jump shooter coming uot of Florida, and now he has changed his game, for the better. He does a little bit of everything, and can create his shot, if only a bit more than before. With Mike Conley a few games back from injury, they should be better in the second half of the season.

Let’s be perfectly honest, what are you doing? Most likely, nothing. If you have the time to read this, you almost certainly have the time to take a few minutes to head over to NBA.com and vote for your favorite ol’ Boot Clips to play in that little February Showdown the league’s having in N’Orleans this year.

You know, that highly contested game where defense is almost always featured at a maximum, over/under lines near 350, and forced voting gets a guy like big Z from Cleveland into the stadium but barely into the game.

As it stands now, Duncan would be one of the 2 starting forwards. That’s right, he’s listed as a forward. They actually petitioned the league for it. Don’t ask.

The true question though, is, where is Manu Ginobili? Or, Tony Parker? I had better see both of these men in the game, not necessarily starting, or I’m blaming all of you. That’s right, each and every one of you.

Before I go, I must say, there is something that doesn’t feel right about rooting for (and voting for) Tim Duncan to make the All-Star team, let alone as a starter. His numbers are pedestrian at best, and off the top of my head I can think of 4 players at his position that are more equally or more deserving (Boozer, Nowitzki, Al Jefferson, and David West). You want to say that West isn’t that great, I’ll take that, but the point is, Duncan’s no shoe-in. Still, I’m sure we can all agree, it’s nice to see him there.

So, get out and vote. Or else.

I’m not one to say that I watch NBDL basketball. I certainly don’t. Though that may be due to a lack of available options more than a straight aversion to the product, that’s another issue.

Still, while surfing the world wide web just a little while ago, I came across some interesting information. The Spurs development team, the Austin Toros, are stacked. Plain and simple.

First of all, if you have time, check them out…here’s their schedule.

I find this whole NBDL to be refreshing. I’ve always enjoyed the concept of the minor leagues in baseball, both in that it gives players a chance to develop and that it’s another opportunity for people to play for the love of the game and make a dream come true. Corny? Yes, definitively. But, what else could drive many of these men to spend large portions of their years in third and fourth rate cities like Sioux Falls or Bakersfield?

The best part of the NBDL is that it almost single-handedly replaces the yearly “Where Have They Gone” issue in every magazine. Your favorite college basketball stars of the past few years are all there. The 6′9” centers, 5′11” guards, 195 lb. power forwards. They’re all there.

Take a look at the leader boards. Brandon Bowman from G-Town, JamesOn Curry from OK State, Steve Novak from Marquette, Demetrius Nichols from Syracuse, Alando Tucker from Wisconsin, Gabe Pruitt from USC, Nick Fazekas from Nevada, Stephane Lasme from UMASS (Dude’s had 14 blocks in his last 2 games, btw)….The list goes on, for quite a while.

And where do the Spurs guys fit in? Well, first of all, there are some names to know on this team. For any Big East B-Ball junkies, Kevin Pittsnoggle, the tatted-up, really tall white dude that loved to shoot 3’s, is on this team. Keith Langford (Kansas) is only averaging 25 ppg while shooting over 50%. Ian Mahinimi, while still struggling with foul trouble at times, is dropping in 15 a game. Remember DeMarr Johnson? The dude from Cincy that got into the car crash while with Atlanta, bounced around from Denver and NY. He’s with the Toros now, and he’s putting in over 17 per contest. The rookie from Arizona that never made the team? What was his name? Oh, Marcus Williams. Yeah, he’s playing there too. Last game he bombed for 29 points, not too surprising considering he’s averaging 19 ppg.

And, last but certainly not least, there’s Darius Washington. Now, it’s known to anyone that reads this or listens to the podcast that I think he should be backing up Tony Parker. He is back on the big club, but only because TP is hurt. While down in the D-League, all he did was put up averages of 28.3/8.5/6.2, with a triple-double effort sprinkled in there. Amongst anyone that’s played more than one game in the D-League, Washington leads the league in the statistic of combined points/rebounds/assists at 43 per game. Not too bad.

They aren’t as glamorous, their logos look like they ripped them off from the real team, and they aren’t in any major cities. That being said, they could be playing for your team sometime soon. So, keep an eye on them.

Well, he certainly looks it. And, don’t be fooled by that seemingly over-time forcing dunk he had last night.

There’s really no way around it…Manu Ginobili has hit a wall.

And, I can’t really get mad at it. The numbers don’t particularly bear it out.

For the season, he’s averaging just under 30 minutes per game. Since Duncan went down, he’s only played more than 35 minutes twice. Shots per game? Not much different. But, this is not so much an issue of the amount of minutes, the amount of shots. Rather, an issue of the type of minutes and shots. Though TD has been back for the past 3 contests, its been solely Ginobili for the past four games. Any time the ball isn’t going directly into Duncan, it’s been Ginobili who has had to handle the responsiblity of running the offense, of scoring.

Apparently, it’s been a bit taxing. Since he dropped 37 for the second straight game against Utah, Manu’s shot just under 32%, and has only scored 20 or more once in 5 games. Oh, and there’s the petty matter of having one turnover for each of his 21 assists over that stretch.

What’s the solution? You can’t just rest him, not now, not during the middle of the season. Really, this is just one of those things, like a rash, or nervous tick, that won’t go away right away. When Parker comes back, which should be soon, hopefully Manu will get to rest at little bit. Then, hopefully, this whole “losing” 4 of 5 thing, can be put to bed for a while.

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