El Conclusion: Duncan, Manu, Parker guide Spurs to win

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Los Angeles Clippers 118 FinalRecap | Box Score 125 San Antonio Spurs
Tim Duncan, PF 35 MIN | 9-16 FG | 3-4 FT | 12 REB | 1 AST | 2 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 21 PTS | +10 Running out of superlatives. Hit some huge shots late and has just been brilliant all season. He’s an All-Star. It’s not a legacy thing, Tim Duncan has been one of the five best bigs in the Western Conference this year.

Tiago Splitter, PF 18 MIN | 3-4 FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 4 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 6 PTS | +2 Great passing from him tonight and great defense. Blake Griffin had as quiet a 22 points as anyone can have and that’s in part because Splitter (and Boris Diaw) kept him off the free throw line. Slowly but surely you can see he’s rounding in to form.

Kyle Anderson, SF 10 MIN | 2-4 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 5 PTS | -7 Overall I thought he looked fine in limited minutes, but you could see he got lost on a couple of rotations that contributed to J.J. Reddick’s hot start. He’s still taking open shots, getting board, moving the ball, etc. I hope his play now means he gets some regular minutes (even if it’s 10 mpg) when Kawhi returns.

Tony Parker, PG 34 MIN | 11-18 FG | 3-4 FT | 0 REB | 4 AST | 2 STL | 0 BLK | 3 TO | 26 PTS | -13 Welcome back. He looked sharp as ever offensively and got carved up defensively by Chris Paul. It happens and TP may have been winded or still not trusting that hamstring. But man did the offense look good. Amazing what happens when you have your All-Star point guard relatively healthy.

Danny Green, SG 29 MIN | 3-5 FG | 2-2 FT | 1 REB | 5 AST | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 11 PTS | 0 Really nice defense after letting J.J. Reddick get loose early. Then he started hitting shots in the second half. He’s been great after a slow couple of first weeks. Only thing greater than #ContractYearCory is #ContractYearDanny.

Jeff Ayres, PF 3 MIN | 0-0 FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 0 PTS | -3 Didn’t see much here, only three minutes of action, but (goes into Hubie Brown mode) the thing you like about him is you gotta a guy who is ready to bring the energy as soon as he gets in. Doesn’t matter if he’s starting or in mop up duty.

Aron Baynes, PF 9 MIN | 0-1 FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 0 PTS | -1 Got yanked for Jeff Ayres after a few minutes, so that should tell you how his night went.

Matt Bonner, PF 3 MIN | 1-2 FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 2 PTS | -3 #FreeTheMamba

Boris Diaw, PF 25 MIN | 9-11 FG | 3-8 FT | 6 REB | 3 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 23 PTS | +8 I will always contend aggressive Boris is the best Boris. I’m fine with him moving the ball, finding open guys, but when he mixes a little more volume shooting he seems to be the most effective. In this case, he barely missed and had some awesome drives to either set up others or making some nifty lay ups.

Cory Joseph, PG 18 MIN | 1-1 FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 3 AST | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 0 TO | 3 PTS | +23 Solid defense, played within the offense. That +/- is easiest the quirkiest stat of the night. He looked good though and continues to be a pest on defense.

Manu Ginobili, SG 27 MIN | 7-11 FG | 3-4 FT | 2 REB | 10 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 3 TO | 19 PTS | +15 He had a couple of just awful step back 3’s, BUT otherwise he had it going. The shooting wasn’t even the impressive part. Fourth quarter, three straight assists in an 80 second span to stretch the Spurs lead from one to eight.

Marco Belinelli, SG 28 MIN | 3-4 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 5 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 9 PTS | +4 Did the things you hire Marco Belinelli for. Mainly hit open shots and if the open shot isn’t there, drive the basketball and find an open shooter or cutter.

Gregg Popovich
It was good to see he didn’t put anyone on much of a minutes restriction on anyone despite the crazy games the Spurs have played lately.

Three Things We Saw

  1. Tynan’s been on this one, but the defense without Kawhi Leonard is just tough (in a bad way). Getting Tiago back to regular minutes will definitely help things, but right now Danny Green’s the only above average wing defender the Spurs have right now. Cory Joseph’s solid as well, but he struggles with big two guards and small forwards.
  2. Let’s talk Josh Smith real quick: It’d be fun, he’s a smart/willing passer and excellent defender so in that aspect it seems like he’d fit right in. However, he’s um… been known from time to time to chuck long 2’s and 3’s. Not ideal for a power forward who shoots less than 30% from distance. In theory, he could play next to Duncan, Splitter or Boris and even cover small forwards in certain circumstances. Yes, the Spurs still have their full mid-level exception, but we’ve heard zero rumblings they’re interested. This concludes our Josh Smith conversation.
  3. Tim Duncan #NBABallot
  • Spurs fan in Australia

    Great win for the Spurs. Hopefully Leonard is back soon and then not too long until Mills is back and we have the full Foreign Legion back together. Also I am liking what I see from Anderson, and lastly, can we resign Duncan for another 5 yrs?

  • Spurs fan in South America

    Very much needed win after a very tough schedule, nevertheless its positive to see the Spurs have been hanging with pretty much every team they have lost to and missing some key players during these games. At the same time, some of the role players are getting more minutes which will pay off during the playoffs. Duncan continues to amaze me.

  • Chok.

    At what point do we roll out the designation “Contract Year Timmy”?

    What more can be said about 21? Dude just won another title. Literally has nothing to play for, and yet he’s playing harder than kids half his age trying to make a roster.

  • DorieStreet

    Can someone instill in Boris’s mind that it’s ok to do what he did last night once or twice a week (instead of once or twice a month).

  • fkj74

    Man can we get aggressive Boris more often. Good to have Tony back he can get a 10 point run on his own and we missed that juice. Still it is Kawahi that makes the Spurs elite. We need that guy back, and then the naysayers, Golden State bandwagon jumpers, (sports media), and OKC fan club, will eat our dust. Go Spurs! By the way Tony A+ big time.

  • fkj74

    Ditto man.

  • spursfantn

    Aggressive Boris is the best Boris. When he grabs the ball and immediately shoots, or puts his back to his man and quickly backs him into the post, I like that. Plus, his post ups happen so fast the other team isn’t sure what to do about double teaming and occasionally get caught watching this phenomenon, and he whips a pass for a layup or open 3. When he is catching and immediately looking to shoot, it opens up the show and go for him too, and he can beat guys off the dribble and finish with finesse. Contrary to Clips announcers, who apparently think that jumping high is the only form of athleticism, yes, he is athletic.

  • Chang Jyh-Chian

    The Spurs should go for Josh Smith. He could be a backup sf after Kawhi Leonard. Go Spurs Go!

  • thedrwolff5

    And now, straight from winning the Olympic Beltathalon, Boris Diaw starring in the Bolshoi Ballet’s presentation of Ostrich lake.