El Conclusión: Dallas Mavericks 106, San Antonio Spurs 99

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San Antonio Spurs 99 FinalRecap | Box Score 106 Dallas Mavericks
Tim Duncan, C 29 MIN | 7-12 FG | 3-5 FT | 4 REB | 1 AST | 17 PTS | -8
Duncan was a monster on the boards against the Thunder on Friday night. Against the Mavericks…not so much. Duncan had a few nice moves on the block, but this was a forgettable, flat second game of a back-to-back.

Kawhi Leonard, SF 30 MIN | 2-6 FG | 0-0 FT | 5 REB | 2 AST | 5 PTS | -10Kawhi Leonard needs to work on his handle over the summer. Whenever he smells a drive opportunity he snuffs it out by pulling up his dribble at the first sign of a defender. He did this a handful of times tonight and was largely a non-factor against the Mavericks.
DeJuan Blair, F 15 MIN | 3-6 FG | 0-0 FT | 5 REB | 1 AST | 6 PTS | -19
DeJuan Blair can’t guard Dirk Nowitzki, as Dirk reminded him on a couple early baskets. But defensive mismatches aside, I was surprised Popovich didn’t find a little more time for Blair tonight. The Spurs’ offense was sputtering and Blair usually produces baskets on the pick and roll.
Tony Parker, PG 35 MIN | 5-12 FG | 3-7 FT | 2 REB | 11 AST | 13 PTS | -4
Parker was due for a scoring let down. The Mavericks do a great job of keeping Parker out of the paint. And tonight Parker obliged Dallas by settling for too many jump shots. Having said this, credit Parker for distribution. His 11 assists helped prevent a lopsided 20 point Dallas victory.
Daniel Green, G 21 MIN | 6-8 FG | 2-2 FT | 2 REB | 0 AST | 17 PTS | -10
Green was effective late after being limited by foul trouble in the first half. Unfortunately, by the time he got his game going, the Mavs had control of the game.
Stephen Jackson, SG 17 MIN | 2-4 FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 1 AST | 5 PTS | +11
Jackson was lost on offense. Nothing shocking there. But despite just having hopped off a plane to meet his new teammates in Dallas, Jackson did have an impact on the game. His defensive activity, especially against Nowitzki, helped the Spurs.
Matt Bonner, PF 22 MIN | 1-2 FG | 0-0 FT | 4 REB | 0 AST | 3 PTS | +2
Bonner grabbed a big offensive board at one point, which always earns bonus points from me. Credit Dallas’ defense from taking away Bonner’s looks. Also credit the Spurs’ lackluster offensive execution for poor spacing. Whatever the case, Bonner couldn’t get it going tonight.
Manu Ginobili, SG 24 MIN | 3-11 FG | 1-2 FT | 3 REB | 6 AST | 9 PTS | +4
Ginobili is still searching for his rhythm. His shot selection, especially late, was unfortunate. An ill-advised missed three pointer late in the fourth quarter gave Dallas a long rebound that turned into a triple for the Mavericks. That basket gave the Mavericks a 9 point lead and secured the game.
Gary Neal, PG 28 MIN | 3-7 FG | 0-0 FT | 4 REB | 2 AST | 9 PTS | -2
Neal’s three point shooting kept the game semi-competitive.
Tiago Splitter, C 19 MIN | 7-11 FG | 1-2 FT | 6 REB | 0 AST | 15 PTS | +1
Tiago is crafty. He may have been San Antonio’s best player tonight.
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  • Miggy

    That’s “threw” him down :)

  • Bankshot21

    We need to get Turiaf.

  • theghostofjh

    I’m good with that.

  • STIJL

    “Stats can be used selectively in an effort to “prove” one’s opinion.”

    …or to convince one’s pride.

    The stats I provided are not tarnished by “opinionism” or “pride” they’re real without prejudice to which all can see.

    Personal deduction from those stats?…that’s up to the individual.

  • STIJL

    Current options available at the time…I agree.

  • Bry

    Good point, but if Bonner played 12 MPG instead of 21 there would prob not even be any discussion of him. In fact, if he was never on the floor down the stretch (unless he had the hot hand or the Spurs were trailing badly) we prob wouldn’t be discussing it either. In hindsight you’re right that Dice stunk it up down the stretch and in playoffs (hence the retirement), but that was hardly predictable at the time.

  • Titletown99030507d

    Actually for the Dallas game if Splitter was paired with Duncan in the 4th qtr there would have been ample opportunity to get high efficient shots in the paint than rather to chunk up bricks and hope for the best. Pop is depending too much in the quick fix at the arc rather than to methodically grind at the low post with 2 capable players in TAT. I don’t see any reason why they couldn’t go with Duncan , Splitter, Green, Neal, and Tony. Add some perimeter defense at the arc. Lazy coverage in that game in regards to defending the perimeter especially at the arc.

  • Titletown99030507d

    Okay TDBE, gojh, if any minutes are going to be taken away from Bonner they should be given to Splitter. That’s where the difference is going to be peroid..

  • Titletown99030507d

    Blair wasn’t even near DHoward in that Magic game recently. Splitter was holding him at bay late in the third and early in the 4th until they brought you know who in. you make it sound that Blair defends only the best players in the league. PLEEEEASE!!!!!

  • Titletown99030507d

    Not all the time TDBE. There are minutes that parts of the opponents starters are playing against our bench like in the Dallas game that our starters sucked at and the bench came back took the lead and should have won that game.. one shot to late. So your theory that the bench doesnt play starters is hog wash.

  • Titletown99030507d

    Playoffs is a different beast. Everybody gets the same amount of time to rest, no back to backs, everybody gets the same amount of preparedness and the level of play gets kicked up a notch. Blair looked good in the regular season and when he played in the first two games of the Grizz series he didn’t play nothing like he did in the regular season. Pop wanted someone taller, can shoot, and with more experience. Bonner has a ring Blair doesn’t.

  • Titletown99030507d

    He wouldn’t have done any better than Dyess.

  • Titletown99030507d

    Okay everybody what if Bonner becomes the microwave in the playoffs who sits longer Blair or Splitter? Naw on that for a while.

  • Titletown99030507d

    Here’s a little something for those kicking Bonner to the curb.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4W36VOEKq8

  • TD BestEVER

    They should be given to who ever is playing better that game…….Because All 3 are playing between 20-22 minutes now. But since Bonner is the 1st Sub, Splitter should definitely take that role over from him!

  • theghostofjh

    If he had the ability to get hot for a playoff series he would have done it already. He’s a 31 year old, eight year NBA veteran with 5 years experience in the playoffs where he’s averaged 32% shooting from three. Perhaps more importantly, he’s only been able to get off one 3 point attempt for every SEVEN minutes of playing time. That means we’ve got to suffer through the rest of his weaknesses over 21 minutes for him to on average make ONE three pointer.

    BONER DOES NOT HAVE THE SKILL LEVEL NECESSARY TO BE A NET POSITIVE FOR US IN MOST PLAYOFF MINUTES!

    That has already been proven over the past FIVE years.

  • theghostofjh

    NO, the extra minutes should be given to BOTH Blair AND Splitter. BOTH players provide us different things that we need in playoff competition.

  • TD BestEVER

    Title you must be smoking again…………..
    1st Splitter was getting ate alive by Howard as most players do.
    2nd I said blair was trying to outscore as in score more while in the game than Howard. So if Howard has 12 quick points as he did and the Spurs start off slow and only have 8. then DJB is -4 at that point. But Bonner has to try and keep up with the backups who don’t score nearly as well. So Bonner has the easier challange.

  • theghostofjh

    What we do know is that BONNER should not be in the game in the 4th most of the time. It should be either Splitter or Blair depending on a number of circumstances.

  • TD BestEVER

    I never said NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Again, reading shouldn’t be this hard. OI said they play tougher competition LONGER, as in a HIGHER % of minutes on the floor are against starters.

  • TD BestEVER

    Bonner’s ring was a total joke, much like any player who plays ZERO Minutes or near zero anyway in the playoffs and gets a ring contribution is a joke.

  • theghostofjh

    I didn’t say that YOU used the stats you provided selectively. I said that stats “can” be used selectively, and that this is something that all of us need to be aware of. I also suggested that one should be very careful to not over-interpret what the stats are actually telling us.

  • theghostofjh

    Bull. That’s total speculation on your part.

  • theghostofjh

    The point is, you have to have a VERY good reason to switch the starting line-up of a 50-11 team with 20 games left before the playoffs. I think it was obvious that the reason/justification to switch to Dice was not anywhere near strong enough.

  • theghostofjh

    Blair has a few bad minutes against a hot, all-star Randolph and he gets a quick hook. Total bull. Bonner has a ring because of playing with the big three in their prime. Bonner played 3 mpg. in the playoffs that year, and shot 25% from three.

  • theghostofjh

    Agree.

  • Titletown99030507d

    I bet your butt would pucker if you had to make a decision with 3 seconds left in game 7 of the finals and you were driving the bus. Maybe you should have the keys to the team instead. Coach.

  • Titletown99030507d

    The Bonner ring worked. Just messin wit you man. But what if he goes apeshit and hits every thing from the arc in playoffs. Wouldnt we all look stupid?

  • Titletown99030507d

    I think we care more about stats than our Spurs care about wins. Do you really think Manu or Matty care about stats when the game is on the line? Trick question for 2 baketball gurus. ( not )

  • Titletown99030507d

    More Splitter time! Kentucky Fried Chicken bucket diagram dont lie.

  • TD BestEVER

    OK time to switch Off the Bonner rants for a while and take up a point that I have heard many mention here in the past.

    That Splitter/Duncan can’t coexist together.

    While we have seen a VERY SMALL sample that may back this up i think Splitter can play just fine next to Duncan if he had the time to figure out how to be most effective. Problem here is POP is gonna have to give him that time and live with the struggles until they get a hang for each others spacing. If Pop would do this I think that the Spurs can go to a 3 man big rotation that would effectively limit Bonner to spot/spark minutes where he would be called upon to do ONLY what he does best. 10mpg or so and he will have more of an incentive to shoot and not just pass all the time.

    This would increase our PATHETIC rebound totals and give us more possessions while taking away possessions from the other team. Thus even w/o getting anymore stops than we get now, we would improve our defense.

  • Deeds130

    Memo to Greg Popovich: PLEASE make this happen!!! Please, please, please.

  • theghostofjh

    Pop’s a great coach, but he’s not perfect, as none of us are. IMO he made a mistake taking Blair out of the starting line-up for Dice last season. But I obviously could not be as successful as Pop as an NBA coach, and the issue is not really relevant to the discussion at hand.

  • theghostofjh

    I do believe Splitter should take about half of Bonner’s current minutes with Duncan. And Blair should take a few of Bonner’s minutes with Duncan, and a couple of Bonner’s minutes with Splitter.

  • STIJL

    Easy Ponchatrain…I never argued your point and didn’t in any way insinuate YOU said I was using the stats selectively.

    Again…they are there for all to see.

  • STIJL

    Easy Ponchatrain…I never argued your point and didn’t in any way insinuate YOU said I was using the stats selectively.

    Again…they are there for all to see.

  • STIJL

    A coach should ride who is hot in any given game.

  • STIJL

    A coach should ride who is hot in any given game.

  • STIJL

    Your hypothesis may have been correct in this game. It didn’t happen.

    What Pop was doing is winning or losing by the perimeter game against teams that seem to have superior post talent over the Spurs. Been his m/o for some years now. Live by/Die by.

    As you and others have mentioned…perhaps there is another alternative that could be explored…but it is not.

    What can you do?

  • theghostofjh

    Okay.

  • Bob

    I agree. It’s not championship ball. You have to work inside outside. When you draw the double teams inside then you kick out to the open shooters. It’s a tried and true formula. The problem is TD no longer has the ablity to dominate single coverage or force double teams.

    As a result we rely on a perimeter attack that is much easier to defend because the ball moves a shorter distance. So many times against the Grizzlies TP/Manu would drive and kick out but the defender would have already covered the distance.

  • LPspursFan

    but at 29-14, No. 2 in the West, etc., mostly without Manu, are they really sacrificing anything with the minutes (21 mpg) Bonner’s getting?
    And, nothing I said about Bonner and the stretch 4 was any kind of slight toward Blair…I’m one of those that likes what DB brings to the team…

    although now i feel obligated to say i don’t think they should EVER be on the floor together…

  • LPspursFan

    i would like to see where either Tim or Tiago are on the floor at all times, and with them each playing 36 minutes, ending up with about 18 minutes of crossover time when both are on the floor…and work it so they’re both on the floor in crunch time.

  • Bob

    Good point. Pop comlained so much last year about not having the right rhythm going into the playoffs and he basically hurt the team’s rhythm when he made that move.

  • STIJL

    Agree with giving a Splitter/Duncan unit more time to exist and “work out the kinks”. But that is something that has to start now prior to the nearing of the end of regular season. AND…as long as losses don’t accumulate to the point that severely effect the Spurs seating come playoffs while “working out the kinks” of a Duncan/Splitter tandem.

    I think more than anything…possible opponent matchups going into the playoffs will dictate roster maneuvers.

    Side note: Does anybody else find it strange that Splitter is treated almost as a “fragile” type of player? Name any other quality big man on any other team in the league that averages less MPG than Splitter on a team that is as depleted in the front court as the Spurs. It’s almost as the Spurs think that if he plays more…he is more than likely to become injured or have endurance issues.

  • http://twitter.com/jimmy_frich James Frichner

    Keep preachin’ TD … I know that there are a lot of haters for your viewpoint here, but you know that you’re right. I was one of those haters last season… then the playoffs came around… s***… f***ing playoffs. The postseason is everything, and no matter what Bonner’s stats are in the regular season, he crumples come playoffs. Keep preachin’ brotha.

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