Wednesday, April 7th, 2010...6:43 am
San Antonio Spurs 95, Sacramento King 86: Tony Parker returns as Garrett Temple steals the show
Tony Parker, speeding up his recovery timetable, returned to action for a San Antonio Spurs team that was not as bereft of point guards as originally thought following the loss of George Hill.
While Parker was brought off the bench in limited minutes to get his feet wet, so to speak, rookie guard Garrett Temple was thrown into the fire-making his first start for the Spurs staring down probably Rookie of the Year and matchup nightmare Tyreke Evans.
For an undrafted rookie who arrived in San Antonio on a 10-day contract looking to make headway for next season, Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich was quite pleased with how Temple acclimated himself.
“Garrett was fantastic tonight. It’s really impressive to see a young guy go out there and be that aggressive and not worry about making mistakes,” Popovich said. “Just going out and competing. I thought he was really important in our win tonight.”
It may have been enough just to get the Spurs into their offensive sets and play solid defense on Evans (who scored 22 points but on 10-24 shooting), but Temple also asserted himself on offense, scoring 15 points on 5-8 shooting and four assists in 27 minutes.
More importantly, the rookie guard only seemed out of control once the entire night-ending in a traveling violation while trying to force the tempo.
This is a big step up for a player who, as Draft Express explains, could not put the ball in the basket coming out of his collegiate career at LSU:
The bulk of Temple’s scoring comes via transition, largely in part because he is so unassertive in half-court sets. He runs the pick and roll awfully well for a big guard, making good decisions and coming off of screens close in order to exert maximum effort out of the defense. Passing is an area that he certainly excels in, producing a nice assist to turnover ratio and assist numbers fairly uncommon for someone standing 6′6.
While there are many traits that may draw you to Temple, there are equally as many traits that he could use work on. Most glaring is the fact that he is an incredibly limited offensive player, producing the second worst scoring rate of any player in our NCAA database.
It’s extremely rare to see a player average 34 minutes per game and score just 6 points in that span, shooting under 40% from the field, 30% from beyond the arc, and barely getting to the free throw line in the process. Most teams at any level of basketball just cannot afford to have a player on the court that simply is not a threat to score, and until Temple shows otherwise, that’s the only way he can currently be labeled.
So while his collegiate statistics might have screamed Bruce Bowen, Temple pulled off his best impression of the two point guards he’s helped replace in the starting lineup, attacking the pick and roll defense aggressively, pushing the ball up the floor for layups and even hitting the ever-important corner three.
The performance earned Tony Parker’s seal of approval.
“He played well, he was aggressive,” Parker said. “He played good basketball and definitely helped us tonight.”
Parker had less of an impact in his 17 minutes of play, scoring eight points and two assists, showing at worst, the Spurs have a new pick and roll buddy for DeJuan Blair and at best, another offensive weapon who can get to the basket (even if he did have trouble finishing in his first game back) or hit the pull-up jumper when defenses sag too far.
Running the screen an roll with Blair in his first stint of action, Parker correctly read the defense but sailed a pass beyond Blair’s reach for perhaps the only misconnection anyone had with the Spurs rookie all night (Blair had 13 points on 6-6 shooting). Parker quickly adjusted and was able to find Blair the next time by wrapping a pass around Kings forward Sean May’s back.
Still, as needed as Parker is for a playoff run, teammates understand it will be somewhat of an adjustment incorporating their All-Star point guard.
“Today was different because he didn’t play much. It’s like having a new guy on the team. We’re going to bring him in slowly so we can adjust better,” Manu Ginobili said. “but I’ve played eight years with him so it’s not like it’s something new to play with Tony.”
Ginobili has been carrying the team for much of Parker’s absence, even on nights like last night when he seemed unremarkably human.
Struggling for much of the night from the field, despite providing yet another vintage Ginobili wrap-the-ball-around-the-back-while-squeezing-between-two-defenders-for-a-reverse-layup-at-an-impossible-angle highlight, Ginobili came alive in the fourth quarter scoring 11 0f his 16 points while hitting all three of his three-pointers, showing the opposing team once again they’re at his mercy.
“(Manu) Ginobili is good. It’s like he decided to let us hang around until we weren’t going to be able to hang around anymore,” Sacramento Kings head coach Paul Westphal said. “(It’s like) he said ‘I think I’m going to make three threes in the fourth quarter and open this thing up’.”
26 Comments
April 7th, 2010 at 7:15 am
Westphal’s comments are great…
I loved the production we got from Temple tonight even though we know there won’t be playoff minutes for him. He looked like a guy with a lot of upside (particularly defensively). He even looked like he can hit an open jumper which the scouting report wouldn’t suggest.
Does anybody else think that bringing TP off the bench is the most natural move? I know he is proven but the starting line up is working so well I hate to break it up. It is also painfully obvious that our second unit needs a playmaker since Manu move into the starting lineup. Parker seemed to finally grasp how to utilize Dejuan last night so they could end up being a solid P&R combo with one of our bench shooters (Bonner/ Mason) sitting in the corner for the kickout off the rotation.
The Spurs play of late reminds me of that line from Dumb and Dumber: “Just when I thought you couldn’t possibly be any dumber (substitute play any worse), you go and do something like this… and totally redeem yourself!”
April 7th, 2010 at 7:17 am
If Temple, as a back-up, could run the offence for 15 minutes, we could play him with either Hill or Tony and not not suffer on defence against the opposing 2-guards….
Tall point guards / playmakers have great value.
Has anyone seen Shaun Livingstone resurgence in Washington?
Very happy for him.
With all the talent he has, even if he’s half the athlet he once was, we should consider signing him during the off season.
April 7th, 2010 at 7:20 am
Lets get this win tonight guys!
April 7th, 2010 at 7:27 am
Tony looked good, albeit rusty. And Temple showed his versatility. He can play multiple positions for us. He could be a great insurance policy (and maybe more) at the PG, SG and even SF spots. He also allows you to cross match on defense depending on matchups. And at his price, that’s a great value.
April 7th, 2010 at 7:56 am
Nice win, nice to get Tony back…I’m thinking that if Temple sticks around next year he sees a lot of time with the Toros, ala Marcus Williams…in fact given his size and passing abilities he kind of reminds me of Williams
April 7th, 2010 at 8:29 am
Really liking that Temple kid. What I liked most about him is that he plays the game and doesn’t seem to be scared. Which is rare especially for a kid coming to the Spurs. I think that Pop is liking this kid a whole lot more than he ever thought he would. I think that the spurs know they have him as someone they can trust in an emergency the rest of the season. Next season I think that he could be developed to get good minutes off the bench.
April 7th, 2010 at 8:39 am
Why can’t he get playoff minutes? If we were to implant tp back into the starting lineup, I would like to see Hill and Temple run the gaurds for the second string. I think that would be a very salty defensive lineup. I am just so excited about this team and its bringing back all the old memories of how dangerous our Spurs are when they are healthy
April 7th, 2010 at 8:46 am
So anyway, our 3-point “specialists” came up with another masterpiece yesterday: 0-7.
We can win 1 game against anyone, but winning a whole series with this kind of performances from the arc…
April 7th, 2010 at 8:55 am
Francesco,
I thought everyone looked a little tired last night, which considering the recent schedule is understandable. Dead legs = poor 3 point shooting. I hope tonight they can get their legs back.
April 7th, 2010 at 9:07 am
I think we still have a chance though Francesco, in years past we had the big three and the role players who’s job was to play team defense and spot up for open shots. But now we have RJ playing better and of course GHill showing he’s got game as well. Rotations always tighten up in the playoffs so if Mason doesn’t start hitting his shots, he’s riding pine. Bonner will get his minutes because he’s proven to at the very least catch fire and make every shot he takes pretty much. Not to mention his improvement this year on the defensive side of the ball. We can score the ball with our “big five” but what we’re lacking is the front court area. Not unless McDyess turns it up come playoffs, any big man we face in the playoffs will be a match up problem.
April 7th, 2010 at 9:11 am
Go Spurs Go!!
April 7th, 2010 at 9:25 am
Temple can take RMJ minutes, because that guy is providing nothing productive to this team. He did the same thing last year. He was hot in the begining and at the mid to end of the season he stunk it up.
April 7th, 2010 at 9:26 am
If this team is planning on spending a great deal of money on Manu (PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DO!!!) and bringing over Splitter, we will need talent like Temple who we can pay D-league peanuts.
I also believe this may be another reason for lack of playing time Mahinmi gets. If he gets good, he will leave for more money. Keep him on this leash, we can re-sign for nothing, then develop him.
This team just needs to find ways to get youth into the system to allow for the changing of the Spurs guard (Duncan-Manu-Parker to Hill-Blair-?).
April 7th, 2010 at 9:26 am
Spurs got a nice little win last night. Duncan, Gino, and Parker (which is understandable) didn’t have particularly great games, but the role players and RJ came up big unlike the loss at the Nets a week ago. Blair and McDyess had nice games and that Temple kid needs a roster spot next year. A PG who is that big definitely has value.
With that said, tonights game is HUGE!!! Don’t look now, but if the Spurs win out and the Mavs lose one more game, the Spurs can win the conference. 4 weeks ago we weren’t sure this team would make the playoffs! This last 10 days of regular season ball should be unreal exciting. Only one game seperates us from 8 place and two games seperate us from 3rd place. LET’S GO SPURS AND GET THIS THINGS DONE!!!!!!
April 7th, 2010 at 9:39 am
A nice article on Temple, Pop & Buford:
http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/04/garrett-temple-shines-more-proof-that-spurs-know-how-to-pick-em.php
April 7th, 2010 at 9:56 am
THis was a basic win. But that’s a good thing.
THey didn’t have to play as hard as the last time they played the KINGS. They shot poorly but the D kept them in it. MANU didn’t have a great game. But to me it looked like he wasn’t trying too hard. He wasn’t going to burn himself out trying to beat the KINGS. But in the fourth he still made sure they didn’t let this one get away. 11 points and shut down Tyreke during a crucial stretch. TEMPLE was solid. TP looked sluggish but still looked pretty damn good.
THe most important thing is that RJ keeps playing good. 18 points last night. 14 against the LAKERS.
He is the key. THey can’t win if he is going to put up 5 points.
TOnight’s game is a toss up. It is a back-to-back so they could get blown out or it could be competitive.
FRANCESCO, I was thinking the same thing about Livingston.
April 7th, 2010 at 10:11 am
Although, if Washington can’t part ways with Arenas, a backcourt duo of Agent Zero and Livingstone is a good starting point for their own rebuilding
April 7th, 2010 at 10:23 am
Boston (Nate Robinson)
Nets (Courtney Lee)
Miami (Wade)
Wizards (Arenas)
Memphis (Mayo)
Portland (Bayless)
Thunder (Harden)
Warriors (Monta Ellis)
Clippers (Gordon)
Lakers (Brown)
Phoenix (Barbosa)
These are all teams which; to complement a talented but short 2-guard, could use Livingstone’s lenght at the point… or Temple’s, for that matter.
Really intrigued by our Garrett guy, let’s hope he turns into a regular contibutor.
April 7th, 2010 at 10:27 am
From Woj:
Manu and spurs nearing a 3 year $40 M extension
April 7th, 2010 at 10:29 am
Link here: http://tinyurl.com/yek8mnv
April 7th, 2010 at 10:36 am
That kind of money + the comfort factor would be hard to refuse for him I think…
Then of course, even assuming the # is correct, you’d have to know if it’s all guaranteed, about bonuses and so on…
Regardless, happy we’re being proactive.
April 7th, 2010 at 10:39 am
Last night was the first time in a while where I knew that no matter how bad the Spurs were playing and letting the Kings stay in the game, I knew they weren’t going to lose. It’s been a while since I’ve had that feeling, nice to have it back.
April 7th, 2010 at 10:41 am
lobster face again
April 7th, 2010 at 10:44 am
thank God he’s gonna come back!
April 7th, 2010 at 10:45 am
spurs are resigning ginobili!!!
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ys-ginobilispurs040710
April 7th, 2010 at 12:54 pm
I have to say, Temple looked VERY good. I’m quite surprised, and delighted.
Dice & RJ’s improved play and CONSISTENCY of late gives us hope of getting out of the first round (must avoid LA). And that is GREAT!
Blair also looks to be getting a second wind of late. That would be nice. We could use whatever help we can get in the front court.
Perfect use of TP in his first night back. No surprises there: a little rust, and a few flashes of what we’ve been missing.
Poor RMJ. I really feel sorry for him, in a contract year no less. Ugh!!!
Bogans, Bonner, & Mason - 0-9 from the field, 0-6 from three. Ugly!
Tough game on the road tonight against a hot Suns team. It’s going to take a stout defensive effort to win, and we’ll need to shoot much better than 28% from three to win (which was our % against the Kings).
A win in conjunction with a Mavs loss against the Grizzlies would put us a game back of a tie for the division lead, as well as potentially one game back from the 3rd seed! Home court in round one would be nice, and believe it or not, we still have a shot. Hopefully Hill recovers soon. We need him!
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