Spurs of the Moment

Amidst team controversy and player injury, Tiago Splitter has stood tall and played at a high level. At 6 foot 11, Splitter is probably the most valuable big man outside of Tim Duncan. Height is something the Spurs lack in the frontline; Matt Bonner is not your typical imposing 6-10 power forward , he is 3pt specialist although he has improved in his rebounding. Boris Diaw is skilled in many areas but is not a strong rebounder or shot-blocker. And last Dejaun Blair who came out of college as a monster on the glass has not been able to maintain his rebounding prowess in the Pros.

All that said, from a statistical standpoint Splitter is not a great rebounder but has offensive/defensive skills and height that allows him to make an impact that doesn’t show up in boxscores most of the time. However, during a six game road-trip out in the east Splitter stood out and stood tall.

With The subtractions of Kawhi Leonard and Stephen Jackson due to injury, the Spurs lost a lot on both ends of the floor. Danny Green, Manu Ginobili and at times even Matt Bonner and Boris Diaw played the Small Forward position. With the unusual changes in the lineup, Splitter stepped up his game offensively. During the road trip Splitter averaged 12.5pts and 6rbs while shooting 58% from the field and 77% from the free throw line (including 18pts 9rbs in a big game against the Heat).

The road trip has seemed to bolster Splitter’s confidence  because he is still playing at a very consistent level  averaging 11pts and nearly 6rbs a game in around 20 minutes off the bench. Splitter has shown the same defensive awareness and dedication to setting screens as he did the last two seasons. One area where he has made a major improvement is his free throw shooting.

Free Throws

2010-11 - 54% (76 of 140)

2011-12 – 69% (125 of 181)

2012-13 – 73% (50 of 68) through 22 games

His free throw shooting is vital to his being able to contribute during the playoffs. Last season he shot a decent 69% but in the playoffs his playing time was limited due to a Dwight Howard-like free throw performance (37% FT). A performance which the OKC Thunder took full advantage of enroute to their 6 game series victory over the Spurs.

Just around the corner lies the beginning of another Spurs season. While the Spurs season was ended unexpectedly and abruptly, many Spurs fans have reasons to believe in a possible  fifth trophy this season. Reason 1) The growth of Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green 2) Boris Diaw will have a full training camp 3) OKC 6th man and Spur killer James Harden was traded to the Houston Rockets. While those pre-season developments seem small it may have a larger impact than many think.

BIG MEN – Looking at the Spurs preseason roster had many excited. The addition of Eddy Curry at Center and Josh Powell at Power Forward made fans feel like the Spurs were headed in a certain direction. Curry who was a legit Center standing at 7’0 and weighing 295lbs was a sight to see. He had a solid post game and the size Spurs fans have been waiting for. Sadly he wasn’t much of a rebounding or defensive force and soon thereafter was waived. Many thought that the final roster spot would then go to Josh Powell. Having a power forward that is over 6’8 and athletic was something the Spurs fans would welcome as well. Suprisingly the Spurs waived him a few days later.

The Spurs staff obviously feels that the variety of big men they have is sufficient to get them to a fifth ring. Splitter is the tall legit big man the Spurs have that they can use to back Duncan and play next to him when they wanna go big. Bonner is their big that can stretch the floor and Blair is the rebounding big. Boris Diaw although short has now had significant time to learn the Spurs defensive schemes. Add to that he already has a high basketball IQ which may help push the Spurs over the edge. Having 3pt range also will allow the Spurs to have a shorter leash on Bonner when he isnt hitting his shots.  Hopefully the right combination at the right times will help the Spurs.

Leonard and Green - Kawhi Leonard showed much improvement during summer league, especially in his ball handling. Having a full training camp will hopefully help him become a legit defensive stopper for the Spurs. Danny Green melted down in the Western Finals. His slump on offense affected his defense for the worse. This year during the preseason Green was on fire from beyond the Arc. The question will be can he keep up his defensive focus even when his shots aren’t falling.

On the move - Not being able to offer James Harden a satisfactory extension because of paying top dollar for leading shotblocker Serge Ibaka put the Oklahoma City Thunder in a situation. The Thunder traded away fan favorite and 6th man James Harden in principle for draft picks and Kevin Martin. Martin is a good scorer, but is what some would call a “chucker”. For  most of his career he has shot barely above 40% from the field and isnt a great passer and he is prone to injury. Harden shot well from the field and was arguably their best playmaker and a solid playoff performer. This move should give the Spurs a significant advantage.

THE DEFENSE - The Spurs perimeter defense improved somewhat last season. The emergence of Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard plus the addition of Stephen Jackson helped in that area. The Spurs however don’t have a legit secondary post defender. The Thunder have Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins playing together to protect from layups. The Lakers have Pau Gasol and 3 time defensive player of the year Dwight Howard as their post defenders.  The Spurs will always have Duncan as their main shotblocker, but that second big defender that is needed to rotate over is Tiago Splitter. Coach Popovich has been reluctant using the two big guys simultaneously, perhaps feeling this will hinder their effecient floor spacing offense. The Spurs ranked 10th last year defensively. While that doesnt seem bad, the fact is the Spurs can’t play a full 48minutes of stifling defense and more importantly they can’t always get stops on demand. This year, Greg Popovich seems to be expecting growth in that area simply thru a full training camp (benefiting Diaw and Jackson) and player experience (from Leonard, Green and Splitter). Important to the Spurs defense is TRUST.  Having a second Big guy to rotate over and either block shots or take charges allows the defense not to crumble when Tim Duncan gets pulled out trying to defend pick n rolls. Look for TRUST resulting in better rotations from all five players on the court this season.

THE OFFENSE - The Spurs offense was a cause for concern (frankly an enigma), especially after the realization that Richard Jefferson was not the offensive weapon they thought he would be. After ridding themselves of a bad contract/unproductive player the Spurs offense continued to blossom. The days of Tony Parker dribbling around Jameer Nelson style seem to be over. For a while the Spurs offense was effecient but nevertheless predictable and at times stagnant. Pick n rolls mostly involving Parker would lead to a layup for him or a 3point shot from someone else. Stop Parker and you could expose the defenciences of the other players. Now, however the Spurs in a addition to the Parker pick n rolls employ alot of zipper cuts and at times make use of the triangle offense. Motion offense has allowed the Spurs to be a high scoring yet effecient team. Similar to the Flex Offense that was run to perfection in Utah by Jerry Sloan, the Spurs offense Takes roll players and gets them good shots without Parker always burning alot of energy to create. The play and scoring from the role Players is important especially with Ginobili ( their second playmaker) being injury prone.

KEEP ON THE WATCH - Spurs fans can expect another 50win season. The thing to keep an eye on this season is how well the Spurs play as a unit on defense against tall frontlines or teams with super quick point guards. Another cause for concern is when it comes to their rebounding, since they dont have a dominant rebounder outside of Duncan. Their offense will continue to improve, now with Diaw having the starting job and all the offensive skills to compliment the team. Look to an exciting but challenging 82 game Spurs season ahead.

While the Spurs season ended in dissapointment, I thought it would be good to take a look back at some of the awesome moments there were and to also look to the future. For the last 13 yrs the Spurs have won at least 50 games a season, surpassing a streak held by that of the showtime Los Angeles Lakers of the 1980s (12 straight seasons). Add to that, the Spurs accomplished this feat in a fast paced 66-game season (which included many back to backs and two back to back to backs).

The Young Guys

The Spurs got to see the exciting development of a few young players. Kawhi Leonard ( 7.9 pts 5 rbs ) emerged at the Small forward spot with a dedication to rebounding and defense. He also added the 3 pt shot ( 37%) to what was said to be a limited offensive arsenal. Danny Green ( 9 pts 43% 3 pt fg) had his best season as a pro. Last season Green was a bench warmer and played what I call the Malik Hairston role. Come in for one play and put forth a Bowen-like defensive effort. As a dark horse this year, Green snuck in and grabbed the starting spot at shooting guard for the injured Ginobili and gave the Spurs some shooting and intense defense with Leonard. Tiago Splitter (9.3 pts 5 rbs) gave the Spurs a solid back up to Duncan. At 6-11 he gave the Spurs some length and some ability to score in the low-block. Although not a shotblocker, he did a great job of protecting the rim. His free throw shooting for the season was an amazing improvement. Last year Splitter was at 54%, this past season Splitter raised his average to 69%. Dejuan Blair (9.5 pts 5.5 rbs) again started most of the season for the Spurs. He didnt rebound as well he did last year, but did manage to add to his offensive game with the “floater”. What most impressed me was how mature and professional Blair was when he lost his starting spot to the newly acquired Boris Diaw. He didn’t complain but came in and gave the Spurs good minutes when called on in the Western Conference Finals.

The Vets

Stephen Jackson ( 8.9 pts ) claimed he started tearing up when Pop talked to him about coming back to SA. What Jackson did for the Spurs was no crying matter. The grit, patience and heart that Jackson brought to the Spurs was a big reason why they got so far in the Playoffs. His timely plays in the fourth quarters on both ends reminded Spurs fans why they loved him. Boris Diaw ( 4.7 pts 4.3 rbs) while not the tall, shotblocking presence that Spurs fans hoped for, Diaw could be compared to a Fabricio Oberto with handles and a 3 pt shot. Physically, Diaw was not the ideal starter for many teams (including the Bobcats), but from an IQ standpoint he was just what the doctor ordered. He was obviously able to handle opposing players in the post with his “girth”, but he also was able to move his feet and stay in front of quicker power forwards. Add to that his ability to make plays off the dribble like a guard and you had the perfect compliment to the Spurs offense and defense.

The Shooters

Gary Neal ( 9.9 pts) as usual lit it up from 3 pt range (41%) along with his bigger counterpart Matt Bonner (6.6pts) who shot 42% from downtown. With Bonner there never is too much to say, during the regular season he knocks down 3 after 3. And after playing for years and getting lots of playing time off the bench it’s safe to say he is vital to what the Spurs do offensively despite his occasional troubles on the other end. Gary Neal had a rough start. His health wasn’t all to great, but once he got back in the swing of things he did what he usually does, score and hit timely baskets late in the game. All was well until Spurs backup TJ Ford went down for the season. The Spurs moved Neal to the backup point guard spot. Lets just say it was an adjustment for both sides, but judging from their 50-16 record it worked out somehow.

THE BIG 3

Tim Duncan (15.4 pts/9 rbs) Manu Ginobili (12.9 pts/4.4 ast) and Tony Parker (18.3 pts/7.7 ast) have played the last ten seasons together. Tim Duncan was finishing around the rim with authority and wasn’t constantly dragging that leg around. He managed to stay heathly all season. Manu Ginobili was at 100% went it mattered, the Playoffs. Tony Parker took his game to the next level and finished in the top 10 for MVP voting. The season did end in dissapointment but all 3 players got to make history in some way, and we all got a chance to witness it.

Accomplishments

May 31, 2012 – Tim Duncan becomes the alltime playoff blocks leader passing Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Hakeem Olajuwon.

April 12, 2012 – Manu Ginobili becomes the fifth Spur to reach 10,000 points.

February 4, 2012 – Tony Parker passes Avery Johnson as the Spurs alltime assist leader.

April 17 an April 20, 2012 – Bringing back the Twin Towers. Gregg Popovich starts Tiago Splitter and Tim Duncan together  against the rival Lakers enroute to a 112-91 win on april 17th in LA and a 121-97 win back home on April 20th.

February 18, 2012 – Gary Neal steals the ball from Chris Paul and knocks down a 3 to tie and send the game into overtime and eventually give the Spurs an overtime win.

April 26, 2012 – The Spurs had 12 straight seasons of 50 wins or more, and that streak looked to be in trouble. At a 49-16 record with the Big 3 resting and playing on the road, the Spurs get their 50th win against the Warriors and extend their streak to 13 seasons. Patty Mills put in a game high 27 pts with 12 ast along with Blair who gave the Spurs 22 pts and 13 rbs.

May 19, 2012 – Being down 24 to the Clippers in game 3, it seemed as if the Spurs win streak would come to an end. But with a collective calm and a surgical run the Spurs worked their way back and took a commanding 3-0 series lead behind a 96-86 victory in Los Angeles.

Their were several memorable moments this season and hopefully their will continue to be some in the near future. As we did last season, we will next take a look at the Spurs roster situation and look at what moves they can make to win the West and get that elusive 5th ring.

After Going 8-0 in the playoffs, the Spurs faced the up and coming OKC team. This team was obviously young, lacked a true lowpost presence, and was beatable ( Spurs won season series 2-1). The Spurs jumped out to a 2-0 series lead, but this time it was slightly different. In the first 2 games of the last few series the Spurs manhandled their opponent. In game one verses the Thunder, the Spurs were knocked back in the first 3 quarters, until the offense of Ginobili and the defense of Stephen Jackson bailed them out for a late victory. In game two, the Spurs returned the favor and got out to a convincing lead. The Thunder never gave up and fought back only to lose by 9. The end of game 2 spelled possible trouble for the rest of the series. After defensive adjustments by the Thunder and poorly timed meltdowns from Spur role players the Thunder won four games straight and ended the Spurs season and advanced to the NBA Finals.

All in all a very succesfull season for the Spurs. The young guns contributed much more than expected and gave the Spurs a reason to believe in the future. With Tim Duncan’s hefty contract coming off the books and a good chance he’ll resign for significantly cheaper, the Spurs have an opportunity to pick up better, mentally tougher role players to replace some of the ones that didnt fair well.

Tim Duncan -  17 pts  9.8 rbs  2.3 blks

The numbers look good, but the reality is that Duncan got those numbers by playing more minutes than he usually does. The lowpost defense of Kendrick Perkins and shotblocking ability of Serge Ibaka had Duncan playing indecisive and at times soft. Kevin Garnett of the Celtics shoots jumpers without hesitation, for a while Duncan did just that. In the WCF, Duncan hesitated and was unsure of what he wanted to do. Eventually Duncan ran out of gas (most notably in the second half of game 6).

Kawhi Leonard – 8.8 pts 7.3 rbs

Leonard did pretty much everything you can ask from a rookie, especially in this series. He did his best to defend Kevin Durant. He played a lot of power forward next to Duncan at center but still held his own on the boards. More amazing is the circumstances he did it in. During this series, lineup changes were made because most of the role players couldn’t handle the pressure that OKC was throwing at them, which lead to DNP-CD’s and limited minutes for them. Because of this, Leonards minutes were increased (41 minutes in game 6 / 30 min avg for series) and he performed well.

Boris Diaw – 5.8 pts 4.8 rbs

Diaw didnt really do anything negative in the series, he also didnt do much positive as well. Basically he didnt do much of anything. His basketball IQ and passing really didnt lead to much production; some games he rebounded well, others he didn’t. He wasn’t running around making poor plays, but he wasn’t a difference maker and simply ate up minutes this series.

Tony Parker – 21.5 pts 6.3 ast

Parker against Westbrook was a key to the Spurs winning this series. Westbrook at times forces the issue and forgets about his teammates (Durant in particular). If Parker simply ran the show and didnt make it a one on one game I figured the Spurs would be poised to win. In games 1-2 and 6 Parker went after Westbrook, the problem was that more than half the role players that Parker had at his disposal during the regular season went missing in action. Parker had to work a lot harder in the latter part of the series and although he had a sensational first half in game 6 (21 pts 10 ast/ finished with 29 pts/12 ast) he along with the remaining Spurs got tired and worn down by the athletic Thunder.

Manu Ginobili 18.5 pts  3.3 ast 3.8 rbs

After coming off the bench for most of the season and playoffs, Ginobili – being one of the few Spurs that had heart – started game 5 of the series. Manu immediately had an impact and poured in 34 pts, but it wasn’t enough for the Spurs to win the pivotal game 5. In game 6 Ginobili played more minutes than he was used to and didnt have alot to give en route to a 107-99 loss to the Thunder. While his scoring in the series was up and down, Ginobili did what he could in other areas of the game as usual. However, like many of the Spurs ballhandlers/playmakers the length and athleticism of the Thunder forced him into  ill-advised turnovers.

The Bench

Stephen Jackson – 11.8 pts 61% 3pt fg

It had been a decent run in the playoffs for Jack, but when the chips were down he rose to the occasion. In game 1 Kevin Durant needed to be held in check and thats exactly what Jackson did. On the defensive end he got “Nasty” with Durant and hit a momentum shifting three pointer and helped the Spurs win game 1. In game 6 he showed true grit. With the Spurs bench cut in half due too poor play, Jackson logged big minutes and produced 5/6 from behind the arc and refused to go down without a fight. He jawed with TNT analyst and Thunder assistant coach Mo Cheeks, and gave it his all. It’s no secret why the Spurs traded for him.

Gary Neal – 6.5 pts 48% 3pt fg

Neal, battling illness for the latter part of the series, did what he could. He shot well, but the athletic Westbrook and the veteran Derek Fisher got the best of him. Going forward, hopefully his ballhandling and defense will improve next season.

The Spurs bench had been so dominant in the regular season and playoffs, which helped to keep the big 3′s minutes down.  Tiago Splitter struggled with his free throws and overall play. Dejuan Blair could barely get playing time, and all this left too much on Duncan’s plate. Most notable however, was the decline of Danny Green and Matt Bonner. Green is a streaky shooter, but he was also hesitant and unsure of himself. His minutes were starting to dwindle after game 2 and by game 5 he was out of the starting lineup seeing spot minutes off the bench. His defense wasn’t bad, but his indecisive play on offense cost him. As for Matt Bonner who was key in this series because of his ability to draw out the Thunder’s big men once again came up short in pressure situations. For Matt Bonner its been four straight years of solid regular season play and in those same four seasons, terrible outings in the playoffs. Pop usually allows Bonner to work himself out of funks, but this time he pulled the string. Bonner played 2 minutes in game 4, 50 seconds in game 5 and was benched in game 6. The Spurs may try to part ways with the red rocket for a more reliable playoff shooter.

It was a succesful season, but the Spurs have many big decisions to make. It starts with who to keep and who to get rid of. Duncan will most likely resign for cheaper allowing the Spurs to get a quality playoff performer. Is there another draft day trade in the works for San Antonio? Will Danny Green be resigned? Will Matt Bonner be dealt? Time will tell.

Sweeping the Jazz is one thing, but playing the Clippers who have big guys that are more athletic and a point guard who is arguably the best in the league is a different story altogether. The combination of Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan had the Los Angeles Clippers dubbed “LOB CITY”. The Spurs with their own combination of fundamentals, experience and execution had them dubbed “unbeatable” by many in the national media. It was simply a matter of Skills over Hops in the Spurs 4-game sweep of the Clippers.

Tim Duncan -  21 pts / 9.2 rbs

Step through, upfake, reverse pivot, turnaround jumper and last but not least the bank shot. Tim Duncan told Blake Griffin to take a seat, because class was in session. Duncan did good work on the boards and made sure to take away the easy buckets that Griffin and Jordan get off of Cp3′s penetration. But offensively was where Duncan did most of his damage. All the athleticism of Griffin and Jordan had no chance to match the Fundamentals and skill of the greatest power forward ever.

Kawhi Leonard 10 pts 6.6 rbs 2 stls

Leonard shined in this series more so than the last. Given the assignment to guard an ailing Caron Butler worked to his advantage. He did a decent job there, but defending Chris Paul was where Leonard showed promise of being an outstanding defensive player. Cp3 and all his dribbles couldn’t shake the 6-7 Leonard. In addition to his defense his shooting from 3-pt range continues to be vital to the Spurs success.

Boris Diaw 7.5 pts 6.2 rbs

In the very first game of the series, Diaw outmuscled the big men of the Clippers to a game high 12 rbs. For the rest of the series Diaw played smart and grounded “Air Griffin”.

Tony Parker 17.3 pts 7.8 ast

Playing against Chris Paul has always inspired Parker to raise his game. In his second series against Chris Paul, Parker went after him from the tip and either outscored or handed out more assists than Paul. In game 1 he  struggled scoring but still handed out 11 ast. In the pivotal game 3 with it being nip tuck in the first 2 quarters(Spurs down by 24) Parker helped the Spurs win with a 23 pt/10 ast effort .

Danny Green 12.2pts 4rbs

Being 1 of 3 players that had the assignment of guarding the elusive Chris Paul, Green along with Leonard and Parker, shut down the penetration of Paul and contested every shot. Like Leonard, Green lit it up from 3-pt range shooting over 40%.

The Bench

Manu Ginobili 14.2 pts 4.5 ast

After going through a slump in the first round, Ginobili appeared to be closer to his normal self. With a 22 pt outburst in the first game Ginobili was able to get back on track offensively leading to him scoring in double figures in all 4 games. Not to be ignored was his playmaking (4.5 ast). With the Clippers quick guards hounding backup point guard Gary Neal  at times,  Ginobili quarterbacked the Spurs 2nd unit.

Tiago Splitter  7.2 pts  84% fg

After having solid outings in games 3 and 4 of the first round, Splitter took on a new challenge of banging with physical LA. Splitter held his own. While his shooting percentage from the free throw line has to improve for him to be a valuable asset in the fourth quarter of games, Splitter’s field goal percentage was an incredible 84%; This showed his basketball IQ. Being able to shoot such a high percentage against some of the most physical and athletic big men in the business is a credit to his craftiness around the basket.

Gary Neal 8.2 pts  47% 3pt fg

Neal was harrassed at times by the quick backcourt of the Clippers, but managed to put up points. Neal shot a good percent from deep and made timely baskets. He’s having trouble on the defensive end, but hopefully being matched up with Derek Fisher in then next round will be a reasonable defensive assignment for him.

Stephen Jackson and Matt Bonner found themselves riding the pine for a nice portion of the series. Both had their moments; Jackson did well in game 4 by making plays for others off the dribble and Bonner has sprinkled in a few buckets. The increased production of both Kawhi Leonard and Boris Diaw took the majority of minutes available next to Duncan in the frontcourt. The Thunder team is deep and has shotblockers, so expect to see Bonner play more of a role in drawing out the bigs (especially Ibaka). As for Jackson, his length along Leonard’s will be very important in containing Durant.

AT&T Center

Spurs vs Thunder

Tim Duncan F Serge Ibaka

Kawhi Leonard F Kevin Durant

Boris Diaw C Kendrick Perkins

The Thunder and the Spurs are pretty evenly matched, however the Spurs have a lowpost presence and multiple scorers and shotmakers. The experience factor and the their ability to “easily” score in the halfcourt will give them the winning edge.

Around this time a year ago the Spurs were swallowing an embarrasing first round exit at the hands of the Memphis Grizzlies. Getting beat in the first round is definitely demoralizing when you factor having the best record in the Western Conference and obvious championship aspirations to go with it. Many were wondering if this was the last run for the Big 3. Would Parker be traded? Was Duncan too old? Was Ginobili too fragile? Would the Spurs as a whole survive a fast-paced 66 game season?

Those questions were quickly answered, especially after the All Star break. Tony Parker was not traded and he masterfully ran the show for the Spurs en route to a league leading offense (2nd in points and among top 5 in offensive effeciency). Tim Duncan took a few sips from the fountain of youth and played solid in the second half of the season. Manu Ginobili, although hurt during the regular season, went into the playoffs rested and got through the first round healthy for the first time since the Spurs’ 2007 playoff run. And the team as whole. with key additions and youth, once again obtained the best record in the West.

The STARTERS

Tim Duncan – 14.3 pts 8.8 rbs 1.7 blks in 30 mins a game

Remember that song by Cher, “If I could turn back time”? It seems Tim Duncan looked in the closet and pulled out the 2005 version of himself. The jumper, the drive and the moves on the block have been pretty consistent. But the defense is what’s been outstanding; holding Al Jefferson (in some ways a younger version of himself) has been impressive. Contesting shots, bodying him up on the block and not biting on fakes has made Tim Duncan a monster on defense.

Kawhi Leonard 7 pts 3.3 rbs 40% from 3 pt range in 20 mins a game

I expected Leonard to get a few starts in the regular season but getting minutes in the playoffs would be hard to come by. I was wrong and Kawhi started the second half of the season on into the playoffs. Offensively, game two was his best outing when he scored 17 points. Defensively he has been matched up against Josh Howard most of the time. How did he fair? He held the one time All Star to under 4 points and 29% shooting from the field for the series.

Boris Diaw 5.5 pts 4.8 rbs 60% fg in 24 mins a game

Diaw was definitely a “forgotten man” as the great Marv Albert would say. Cast away in Charlotte and not getting along with the coach, his contract was bought out. With a little coaxing from his best bud Tony Parker he signed with the Spurs and worked his way into the starting lineup. Diaw although not very tall has the “girth” to defend post players and has Lamar Odom like skills on offense. He layed low in this series by simply playing solid and effecient. He shot well, defended well, and currently for the playoffs is the Spurs 2nd best rebounder after 4 games.

Tony Parker 21.3 pts 6.5 ast 50% fg in 33 mins a game

Parker was by far the driving force in the first two games. After being outplayed by Mike Conley last season, Parker took on a bigger challenge in Devin harris. Harris, although having trouble adjusting to the flex offense in Utah, is still as quick (maybe slightly quicker) than Parker and has at times gotten the best of parker on the court. Parker torched Harris and also held him to 13 pts and under 4 ast a game. Harris also shot a poor 40% from the field. Stopping Parker’s penetration was impossible in the first two games and as for the games in Utah, Parker made jumpshots and key plays when needed.

Danny Green 8.5 pts 4 rbs 1 blk in 25 mins a game

Danny Green was another surprise starter going into the playoffs. Offensively, Green did a decent job of scoring by hitting a few open 3s and making plays off the dribble. Defensively, Green did his best Bowen impression and was a pest to Utah’s 3rd leading scorer Gordon Hayward. He held Hayward to 7 points shooting only 18% from the field. The Bowen effect was definitely in play; Hayward is probably still having nightmares about being defended by Green.

The BENCH

Stephen Jackson 10 pts 3.8 rbs 53% from 3 pt range in 25 mins a game

The Prodigal son returned. Whenever you trade a guy who goes into hiding during crunchtime (Jefferson) for a guy who says “I still make love to pressure” and is familiar with Spurs basketball, your in pretty good shape. During the playoffs Jackson stepped up his game defensively by defending Paul Millsap when the Jazz went with their big frontline, and offensively by going 31% from the 3 pt range in the regular season to 53% in the playoffs.

Tiago Splitter 8 pts 3.7 rbs in 15 mins game

The injury bug bit Tiago Splitter a bit and he had to miss game two because of a bruised hand. However, Splitter came back strong in games 3 & 4 scoring ten points in each game. Splitter’s length gives Coach Popovich a reliable back up to Duncan and the option of running the twin tower lineup that fans have been begging for.

Manu Ginobili 8.5 pts 3.5 rbs 4.5 ast in 25 mins a game

Ginobili for a while couldnt throw a beach ball in the ocean, but it really didn’t matter because games 1 & 2 were blowouts. In game 4 Ginobili got on track by pouring in a series high 17 points and hitting a couple of 3s in the process. But game 3 was really where Ginobili showed his value. His shot still wasn’t falling but Ginobili stayed relevant and active by handing out ten assists with only one turnover off the bench.

Gary Neal / Matt Bonner / Dejuan Blair

All three helped the cause, Neal and Bonner by shooting over 50% from 3 pt range and Blair by filling in for the injured Tiago Splitter in game 2 where he recorded 10 pts & 7 rbs. Bonner really battled defending the physical frontline of  the Jazz while still hitting a solid percent (50%) from 3. Neal being thrust into the backup point guard role has done a decent job of running the team and has contributed offensively like expected (8.3 pts 56% 3 pt fg). Blair is the surprise, after lossing his starting job and place in the rotation Blair came in with a mature, professional attitude and took care of business whenever his number was called. The Spurs bench as a whole dominated the Jazz. Lets hope the that continues on to the next round.

As ESPN’s Skip Bayless put it during the 2005 NBA Finals, “No Manu No Win.” He said this after Manu got a bruised thigh during a collision with a Piston player in game 3 of the 2005 finals . ‘No Manu No Win’ would seem the popular opinion in the media and amongst Spurs faithful. You know the history, ankle surgery 2009/Broken nose 2010 playoffs/broken arm 2011 playoffs and now broken hand 2012. Nagging here, a tweak there, a snap here and eventually a loss of games for the Spurs.

However, it seems the Spurs have managed to survive without him and backup playmaker TJ Ford. The Spurs have gone 8-6 without the Services of Ginobili and Ford, while that’s not great, what’s impressive is the play of some other Spurs.

To start, what do the Spurs lose without two of their playmakers? 21.6pts / 6.8ast / 5.2rbs. That’s kinda hard to replace. What have the Spurs done to survive? Well besides run Tony Parker into the ground, three other young Spurs have answered the bell. Lets look at them.

Tiago Splitter – 9.6 pts / 5 rbs in 20 mins a game since Manu injury.

The numbers don’t look like much but they’re impressive considering how he is doing it. Outside of Tim Duncan, the Spurs have made it a point to acquire “floor spacing” bigs. Bonner, McDyess, and Kurt Thomas come to mind. What they haven’t had is a back to the basket big. Splitter in limited minutes (20) and attempts (5.6 fga) per game has become the Spurs second lowpost player. Points like that from a big man is very important because it takes pressure off the guards, and works the opposing defense in ways that a guard can’t. His stamina seems low, but hopefully the Spurs training staff can work on that. It is essential that the Spurs go to him early and often which means he will need more minutes and definitely more attempts. Having two lowpost players can do some real interior damage to the opposing team. Just look at the Lakers, and most recently the 2011 Grizzlies that beat the Spurs in the first round last year.

Danny Green – 8.7pts / 1 blk / 1 stl in 24 mins since Manu injury.

Danny Green has scored pretty well, but as the stats show above, defense is where he really helps the Spurs. He did a good job on prolific scorers Monta Ellis and Joe Johnson just to name two. He isn’t afraid to stick his nose in for a key rebound and plays tight perimeter D in addition to making plays for his teammates on offense. Since the loss of Bowen, the Spurs perimeter D has been like the turnstiles in the old hemisfair arena. If a player wants to get somewhere on the court, he does easily. With Danny Green the effort has been there and the results as well. He fights over screens and will come up with key steals and blocks. Looking forward the Spurs will need that effort from him come playoff time if Jefferson goes into hiding.

Kawhi Leonard – 8pts / 5rbs in 26 mins game.

Who knew what to expect from Kawhi, he was simply a rookie that did well in college. So was Sam Bowie, Greg Oden and a few other busts. Well, Kawhi earned Pop’s trust and eventually worked his way into the starting lineup at shooting guard for some out of all positions. Kawhi plays good defense and uses his athleticism and freakishly long arms to also grab a ton of contested rebounds. He’s not a great shooter or post player, but does have a knack for cutting to the basket and getting points in unusual fashion (ala former Spur Walter Berry). His versatility to play positions 2-4 will give the Spurs an edge defensively.

Last, let’s look at an unsung hero – a polarizing figure – Tony Parker. You either love him or hate him. And when I say you, I mean Spurs fans oddly enough. Parker is kinda like Tim Tebow (without the sideline hymns and the funky throwing motion). Their are things he does well and things he doesn’t. Tebow is known for running instead of throwing the ball at the QB position. Parker is known for scoring well and being an average playmaker compared to his fellow upper-class point guards.

Tony Parker – 19 pts / 8 ast in alot of minutes since Manu injury.

We’ve seen Parker have games where he racks up assists, but he does it running around with the ball looking for three point shooters. This year there has been more motion offense and Parker has simply made good decisions without doing alot of dribbling. Add to that Parker and Splitter have made each other’s life a lot easier with the pick and roll, its almost like Ginobili/Blair part 2. Parker has also looked to establish Splitter on the low-block making things easier for him, since he doesn’t have to run around and burn energy. He also is averaging only 2 turnovers for his 8 assists a game. Parker’s increased court awareness has really helped the Spurs to survive without Manu.

In a few Weeks we’ll see what the Spurs have in them as they continue to try and win on the road without their big gun in a rapid, shortened season.

It’s certainly great to have Basketball back in SA. After the billionaires and millionaires finished dividing the spoils (Or lack thereof they claim) we get to see the big three in action again. Let’s take a look see at this first week where the Spurs went 3-1, and let me tell you there are some bizarre numbers that pop out.

Starting Unit

DeJuan Blair (16 pts/7 rbs) is having a very good start to the season. Although the jumpshot isn’t there and the free throw shooting is a work in progress, he has played solid. Blair on offense is finishing better around the rim and is figuring out how to use his body in the post more. He also has added the “floater” to his offensive arsenal. On defense he is doing a little better job of moving his feet and taking charges, but there is still work to be done in that area. Rebounding has steadily gone up as well.
Richard Jefferson (11 pts/47% 3pt fg) is hitting his jumper like he did last season, but if there is something I really like about Jefferson it’s that he is taking shots with guys in his face. Confidence has always been an issue since RJ has been wearing the silver and black, but so far this season he has been more aggressive taking jumpshots and has had less mental lapses during games.

Tim Duncan (9 pts/6 rbs) has gotten his butt kicked by father time it seems. He is kind of slow on defense and is not the leading shot-blocker for the Spurs thus far (a role he’s had since ……………?????? yeah, that long). In all seriousness though, Duncan has played more of a supporting role, allowing Blair and Splitter to do the heavy lifting for now, which is probably fine with him since the Spurs are winning by comfortable margins. He’ll definitely come around when he is needed.

Tony Parker (13 pts/6 ast) has been solid. His assist numbers are the same as always, but how he is getting them is what impresses me. In years past, the floor would be spread and he would do a lot of dribbling in an effort to get to the paint for a score or an assist for a spot up 3. This year he has been allowing the motion of the offense to develop while he waits for the perfect opportunity to pass to an open player all while he is standing at the top of arc. With Parker this opening week it has been to play smarter not harder.
Manu Ginobili (19 pts/54% 3pt fg) has come out firing and putting teams in the torture chamber (as Sean Elliott likes to say). His shot is on, he’s driving well and his play making is still great, just ask Dejuan Blair. As Manu goes so do the Spurs. His inspiring play fuels the team, as we have seen in game 1 and early in game 2 as he lead the charge in delivering a stunning blow to the heavily favored Clippers. Unlike Duncan, who will pick up the slack as the season goes on, Ginobili will eventually get tired and will need someone from the likes of Anderson or Neal to step up during this fast paced season. That way he’ll have legs left for the playoffs.

THE BENCH: The good, the bad and the ugly

Center, Tiago Splitter is undoubtedly the good (7 pts/6 rbs) finally getting meaningful minutes. Impressive about Splitter is his footwork on defense and his ability to stay in front of his man. Last season Splitter showed his ability to take charges, and that trend has continued this season. What nobody expected was for Tiago to be the teams leading shot-blocker at any point in a season where Tim Duncan is on the team. Splitter has averaged almost 2 blocks a game. Let’s see how long this continues.
Forward, Kawhi Leonard has been a good acquisition for the Spurs. For two seasons the Spurs haven’t had a backup for the sometimes lackluster Richard Jefferson. Kawhi has averaged 6 pts/6 rbs playing behind RJ. The great thing about Leonard is that he is athletic and a good rebounder, which at times allows Coach Pop to play him at PF and not get burned.

Guards, TJ Ford and James Anderson we can say are the bad (or fair). Ford has shown that he has a much easier time being a setup point guard than Parker. However, while he does a good job passing the ball, he also tends to pass up shots and turn the ball over by jumping in the air to pass. James Anderson has played with confidence, but his shot hasn’t fallen as much as he’d like and at times it seems that defense isn’t a priority to him.

Forward, Matt Bonner is obviously the ugly. We know he is a poor rebounder, but averaging 20 minutes a game, being third tallest player on the team, and being next to last in average rebounds at a whopping 1 per game is beyond bad. Bonner’s three point shooting, his and Pop’s usual alibi for his poor rebounding and defense, is fading so far. He has shot only 38% from deep. While that may seem high, it doesn’t look very impressive when you factor in last season where he led the Spurs and the league in 3 Pt FG% and grabbed a few more rebounds (3 per game). This year he already has 2 guys on his team ahead of him.

With this lock-out I have had little motivation to talk basketball, but today I managed to dig deep and finish what I started and write for the people. I am excited because it now seems we’ll have a season afterall.

While we have taken a look at the Spurs defense and how it has declined over the years, we’ll now take a look at their offense which is very interesting. But before we take a look forward at some possible changes the Spurs may need to make, let’s take a look back, WAY BACK, to see how the offense has developed to where it is now.

To start this history lesson, we’ll look at the Spurs 1988-89 season – one of the worst seasons the Spurs have ever had (21-61 record). Whats interesting about that season is that two members of the Spurs current team were present and active for the Spurs then as well. Who, you might ask? That would be Gregg Popovich and RC Buford both serving as assistant coaches to Larry Brown back then.

The next season the Spurs made moves, plus got David Robinson, and were successful. However, there was one thing that always hindered the Spurs – their shooting. While Robinson and Sean Elliott both had range, Terry Cummings, Willie Anderson and Rod Strickland had iffy jumpshots. So although Robinson could torch anyone who was guarding him, the opposing team learned to cheat off players by double and triple teaming Robinson with Elliott being the only one that could make them pay on the perimeter.

Popovich saw this for three straight years, so when he finally got another gifted big man in Tim Duncan, he made sure that every season the Spurs had a plethora of shooters to space the floor for Duncan and to a lesser extent Robinson. Since the 2000-01 season, the Spurs have been one of the better 3-point shooting teams in the league.

There is a shocking similiarity to the Spurs 2000-01 season and that of last season. In both those seasons the Spurs led the league in 3-point FG%. Ironically enough, they did this using the same system. In 2000-01 Tim Duncan was unstoppable offensively, and David Robinson still had a solid game. What the Spurs would do is lineup high percentage 3-point shooters in the other three positions (SF – Danny Ferry, SG – Antonio Daniels, PG – Terry Porter).

In the 2001 playoffs the Spurs met up with a Los Angeles Lakers team that suprisingly beat them in four straight games. The Lakers exposed holes the Spurs had on both ends of the floor, especially offensively. With Robinson not having a great series and Duncan now being doubled aggressively,  the Spurs offense came to a screeching halt with Antonio Daniels being the only perimeter player to make plays and using a lot of energy to guard a young Kobe Bryant on the other end.

In the 2011 playoffs the Spurs had a similiar system, except slighty backwards. Instead of throwing it in the post, the Spurs relied on perimeter players to supply their offense. Tony Parker, and to a lesser extent Manu Ginobili, would drive the lanes and either score or kick out to high percentage 3-point shooters. With Tony Parker’s jumpshot being non-existent and Manu Ginobili playing with a bad arm, the Grizzlies halted what seemed to be an offensive juggernaut, and beat the Spurs in six games during the playoffs. Just like Antonio Daniels, Tim Duncan in a reverse situation was the only frontcourt player that was significantly productive on the offensive end and had to guard a prime Zach Randolph and a young Marc Gasol on the other end. Lack of movement on the perimeter was a big reason why the Spurs lost to the Lakers in ’01 and lack of post play was an additional reason the Spurs lost to the Grizzlies last season.

When he was in Utah, Jerry Sloan used a system called the Flex-Offense. Its a motion offense mixed with variables. Players would make certain cuts during the first run of a play, and if that didn’t produce a score they would repeat, but with the same players making different cuts. They had a nice mixture of low post up opportunities, elbow jumpshots, and 3-point shots. Sloan, with the way he ran his offense, was able to get the maximum offensive production out of players who really didnt seem all that capable (Matt Harpring, Ronnie Brewer). Everyone looked at the pick-n-roll between Stockton and Malone or Williams and Boozer. But the cutting, back picking, and pin downs that the Jazz regularly used is what gave the role players quality shots.

For everyone to thrive in the Spurs offense, a balanced offensive structure is needed. The flex-offense is exactly that, an offense which allows you to employ players with different/unique skill sets. In the Spurs system, 3-point shooting is vital to their success. Every high scoring role player outside the Big Three are high percentage three point shooters (Jefferson 44% / Neal 42% / Bonner 46%) except for Dejuan Blair, who may I add lost major minutes when the playoffs came around.

The 2009-10 Utah Jazz (I used the 09-10 Jazz simply because trades and loss of coaches kinda changed their entire scheme in the 10-11 season) were a well oiled machined offensively and only had one player that shot over 40% from behind the arc (Kyle Korver 53.6%).

If Coach Pop can employ the use of a motion offense then the Spurs can be a high scoring team that is difficult to defend all around, as opposed to other teams keying in on their main weapon and iniatator of the offense – Tony Parker. Using this offense will allow them to use a big man that has post skills or is a solid defensive player next to Duncan.

The Season is just around the corner and many questions are still waiting to be answered. Will this be Tim’s last year? Are the Spurs going to make a major trade? Will it involve Tony Parker? Will their defense improve? Stay tuned as this season gives way to a Spurs team that is full of question marks. Whether they win or lose, however, let’s always keep in the mind the four championships that have been brought to the city and go down with the ship if this is it. But no matter what happens – GO SPURS GO – and I’ll talk to y’all again in late December… Maybe sooner if the Spurs make a major move.

Thus far, we have looked at the Spurs personnel and what they may or may not need to get to that fifth title. Now we’ll look at their defense overall.

DEFENSE – Since the 1989-90 season the Spurs have always received a high defensive rating (per 100 possesions). There have only been three seasons the Spurs ranked 10th or worse defensively since David Robinson’s rookie debut. The first was in 1992-93 (ranked 10th), a season in which they went through three coaches. 1996-97(ranked 29th), a season full of injuries and a significant coaching change which enabled the Spurs to get “Timmy” the following season. And finally, last season 2010-11 (ranked 11th), although despite the low rank in defense per 100 possesions, they had the 2nd best record in the league, but then were beaten significantly in the first round.

Since the drafting of Tim Duncan the Spurs philosophy on defense was pretty simple, run perimeter players baseline to Duncan or the second big (Robinson/Mohammed/Oberto) and force them into a difficult pass or shot attempt or best-case scenario, block the attempt and start the break. That philosophy got even better as the Spurs upgraded perimeter defenders like Mario Elie and Sean Elliott for quicker, younger players like Bowen and Ginobili.

Today things have changed drastically. Bowen is retired, Ginobili is older and carries a heavy load on the offensive end. As for Duncan, he is still effective on the court. However, he must do much more on the defensive end than ever. Why? Because the Spurs have done away with that 2nd big that would help Duncan defend the paint and get the boards. That’s really where the Spurs have declined. In years past, Robinson or Mohammed would have grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked  two shots all while Duncan got his usual 20 and 10. Even Oberto would grab his share of rebounds, and while he didn’t block shots he drew just as many offensive fouls.

Players at both the 4/5 positions are shorter, quicker and more athletic  these days. The Spurs have  changed with the times to try to match and still keep their defensive identity, and that hasn’t worked well at all. However, take a look at the Lakers who haven’t changed their sizable frontcourt tandem in 3 years. Whats the result? Two finals appearances and 2 championships. Note that the team that knocked them off had two 7-footers of their own.

Quick trivia…we all remember the twin towers, but does anybody remember the triple towers? In the 1997-98 season the Spurs had many injuries at the small forward position so Coach Pop enlisted the Triple Towers: Will Perdue at Center, David Robinson at Power Forward, and a mobile rookie named Tim Duncan at Small Forward. The result? Spurs went 17-5 when they played that lineup and held most of their opponents to under 40% fg and outrebounded them significantly.

The point? Yes, size matters, but more importantly size and mobility matter. Andrew Bynum, like Duncan, has no chance of guarding many of today’s power forwards, while Gasol (his defensive partner) does. Granted, he is tall and will get burned sometimes by some of the smaller, quicker forwards, but on those occasions that’s where help defense comes into play. They also have the luxury of bringing Lamar Odom (a hybrid 3/4 player himself) off the bench.

For the Spurs, Duncan has the mobility of a Center, PERIOD. Finding a tall or decent sized Power forward ( at least 6’9″) that can play 30 minutes a game and grab his share of rebounds (say 7 or 8), keep his man in front of him, and give them something significant on offense will do the trick. While Tiago Splitter might be that guy for good portions of a game (when they wanna role out the twin tower look), some of his weaknesses on offense might hurt the Spurs overall if he plays too many minutes with Duncan.

On the Perimeter the Spurs could use a defensive stopper. Kawhi Leonard has been said to be a promising defensive player and a solid rebounder, but the Spurs could use someone that is a little smaller and a little more mobile out on the floor.

For the Spurs defense to return to where it was a few years ago, they’re going to need two players. 1 – a mobile 4 that can rebound, defend, and and hold his own on offense. 2 – a perimeter defender who is young and athletic and has the lateral quickness (something Leonard may not have) needed to defend the 2′s and 3′s in the leauge. Next week we’ll look at their offense.