El Conclusion: Duncan, Diaw lead way to big road win

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San Antonio Spurs 92 FinalRecap | Box Score 90 Cleveland Cavaliers
Tim Duncan, PF 35 MIN | 7-17 FG | 5-7 FT | 10 REB | 3 AST | 2 STL | 2 BLK | 6 TO | 19 PTS | +2

Awesome game. Set the tone early with 10 first quarter points. The only knock on Duncan’s early season performance is his shooting percentage is a little low, but six double-doubles in eight games is a great start.

Boris Diaw, PF 39 MIN | 8-14 FG | 2-2 FT | 6 REB | 7 AST | 3 STL | 1 BLK | 2 TO | 19 PTS | +8

Spurs don’t win if he doesn’t have this kind of all-around game. He was really active on offense and did another really good job keeping Kevin Love in check.

Kawhi Leonard, SF 37 MIN | 4-11 FG | 4-6 FT | 10 REB | 4 AST | 4 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 12 PTS | +3

You know, the shot isn’t falling again, which is fine, he’s shooting a little more and still knocking the rust off from the swollen eye infection of death. Also, he’s probably a little distracted while trying to figure out why you’d put a burger on a barbie.

Tony Parker, PG 34 MIN | 2-7 FG | 4-6 FT | 1 REB | 3 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 8 PTS | -1

Clutch free throws aside, he didn’t do a lot of good this game. But the free throws at the end were big.

Danny Green, SG 25 MIN | 3-6 FG | 0-0 FT | 4 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 8 PTS | -1

To quote the Starters’ Leigh Ellis, Green had some very solid plays tonight. Looks like he’s found his three-point shot and he did a good job chasing around Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters.

Aron Baynes, PF 13 MIN | 3-4 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 6 PTS | 0

Solid when he was out there but foul trouble kept him mostly on the bench.

Austin Daye, SF 9 MIN | 1-3 FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 3 PTS | -6

Keep looking for those buckets, Austin!

Cory Joseph, PG 18 MIN | 4-5 FG | 1-2 FT | 3 REB | 3 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 10 PTS | +4

The solid play continues, the shooting was good tonight, as was the hounding defense. The 48 Minutes of Hell crew is digging Contract Year Cory.

Manu Ginobili, SG 31 MIN | 3-7 FG | 1-2 FT | 3 REB | 5 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 7 PTS | +1

Also still not shooting the ball great, but I thought his ball handling and facilitating was excellent.

Gregg Popovich

A fantastic job finding a blend between trying to win the game and not overextending anyone minutes wise.

Two Things We Saw

  1. The Spurs need their guys back. Obviously they’re not getting Patty Mills back soon, but even getting Belinelli back will help the offense, which is really struggling right now. Having said that, the defense looks great even without Tiago Splitter.
  2. That’s three big road wins already for this depleted team. It’s not a stretch to think they’ll start rolling once everyone gets back. I think that Warriors game was probably a bigger win given the fact that it was a back-to-back. Still, this one was big.
  • DorieStreet

    I didn’t see the game—but…..Tim gave up nearly half of the team’s turnovers—you got to take the plus off of his letter grade.
    Very good win, though—on the road, on national tv, against Vegas’ choice.

  • WSSNW

    Agreed. Also Varejao did whatever he wanted against him, just like Cousins. Look, as he get older and loses weight to take the pressure off his knees he’s going to get pushed around like he did tonight. There’s nothing they can really do about that. When Splitter gets back the post defense will get better but yes Timmy was not really a A+ tonight. A, A-.

  • Spurs fan in Australia

    Duncan’s only contribution to a game could be throwing a burger on the barbie and he would still deserve an A+.

  • Rafael

    If Bobo wants, he can easily get triple doubles every game…
    (But of course if he does, he wont be staying with the spurs)
    Well played!

  • Tim in Surrey

    And how on earth do you not give Kawhi an A+, considering the way he shut down LeBron James (3-14 FG, 7 Pts while Kawhi was guarding him)? Anytime you can neutralize the best player in the world, you should get an A+.

  • Manu Ginobili Jr.

    Cavs played the same dumb defense that Miami played in the finals, trapping the pick and roll ball handler with a big man. They got away with it because the Spurs aren’t playing that great yet and Baynes and Daye are getting lots of minutes instead of Splitter but come playoff time, the Spurs will demolish any team that plays this kind of idiotic defense.

  • merkin

    It’s time to demote Manu as the designated late-game ft shooter.

  • Tyler

    I don’t think you can put Varajao’s performance on TD. Most of Varajao’s buckets came off PnR’s - which is on the entire team, not one guy - and offensive rebounds. You have to scramble and rotate against any Lebron PnR and that forces guys into tough spots. All-in-all, it was a really solid defensive performance.

    Truthfully, I look at Varajao’s box score as good one for SA - if someone’s going to beat you, make it be the 4th or 5th option. They strangled off every other option and all they were left with was Varajao. You live with that.

    As for Cousins, is there anyone else on the planet stopping that guy right now?

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  • DorieStreet

    It does seem like over the last three seasons, there have been several down-to-the-wire games when Manu could have iced the victory, but misses an ‘and 1′, or go 1-2/ 0-2 at the line, and the opponent comes back with a basket to win or get to overtime.

  • merkin

    You’ve noticed it too.

  • Carlo Duroni

    Defense? What defense? In their half-court, the Cavs looked like five randomly chosen passersby put there at the last minute.
    Well, let’s say FOUR passersby. Plus a non-partecipating LBJ. Seen him several times waitin for things to happen, his hands resting on hips. On both sides of the court.

    I’m almost seeing the writing on the wall. LBJ is unsatisfied with losses, Love is asking for more shots (and media underline it. How could you get the same shots of being the only Min player in the LBJ+others team?). Blatt is a great coach but he’ll be charged with all the sins.
    Obviously, a new coach cannot put his seal on a team before several dozens games – if ever he could – but also obviously you cannot blame LBJ+Irving+extras for losses, can you?

    P.S. Waiters: what a disruptive player. Hope to never see him in a team I support.