El Conclusión: San Antonio Spurs 104, New Orleans Hornets 102

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San Antonio Spurs 104 Final
Recap | Box Score		 102 New Orleans Hornets
Tim Duncan, C 34 MIN | 11-19 FG | 6-8 FT | 7 REB | 2 AST | 28 PTS | -2

A night of rest put some life, if not lift, into his legs and jump shot. Had more access to his previously great offensive repertoire tonight. Only defense and rebounding prevent the + and a truly vintage Duncan game.

Richard Jefferson, SF 37 MIN | 5-10 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 1 AST | 14 PTS | -11

It was a good night for Richard Jefferson to find his shot again. Offensively, did everything the Spurs expect of him.

DeJuan Blair, F 22 MIN | 2-4 FG | 0-0 FT | 4 REB | 1 AST | 4 PTS | -15

Too undersized to guard even undersized power forwards.

Tony Parker, PG 38 MIN | 8-14 FG | 4-5 FT | 2 REB | 17 AST | 20 PTS | -3

Coach Popovich - “When he scores, I want him to assist, when he assists I want him to score.” Tonight he did both.

Kawhi Leonard, SF 7 MIN | 0-1 FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 0 AST | 0 PTS | -7

Forgot the Spurs had a rookie named Kawhi Leonard until I saw him check in to guard the last play, and even then it was merely a passing observation.

Matt Bonner, PF 16 MIN | 1-2 FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 1 AST | 3 PTS | +13

An impressive quadruple-single (1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 three-pointer).
Daniel Green, G 24 MIN | 3-5 FG | 1-1 FT | 1 REB | 3 AST | 7 PTS | +14

Most promising for Danny Green going forward is he continues to find multiple ways to contribute outside of Spurs stereotypical spot up shooters.

Gary Neal, PG 21 MIN | 4-7 FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 0 AST | 10 PTS | -3

Started in the third quarter to help generate some offense, had the most Gary Neal like game since last season.

Tiago Splitter, C 23 MIN | 5-8 FG | 2-4 FT | 6 REB | 0 AST | 12 PTS | +8

With each game growing more confidence and making the case for more minutes. Good footwork, hitting that ugly hook shot more and more.

James Anderson, SG 10 MIN | 1-4 FG | 2-2 FT | 1 REB | 1 AST | 4 PTS | +13

Got a few minutes, wasn’t a train wreck.

Cory Joseph, G 6 MIN | 1-1 FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 2 AST | 2 PTS | +3

Did enough to warrant Danny Green operating as the backup point guard.

Five Things We Saw

  1. A game after Popovich had to sit a gassed Tiago Splitter in the fourth quarter during a crucial stretch against the Rockets, the Spurs coach switched up the rotation. Splitter sat the entirety of the third so that he and Duncan could finish the game together. I expect this to happen more and more as the season moves along.
  2. Another important development regarding Splitter is his ability to overwhelm smaller front courts. If he can punish teams for going small it can stop teams from dictating match-ups and carve out more playing time for him alongside Tim Duncan.
  3. Richard Jefferson did not hesitate tonight, nor was he chased of the three-point line as easy as he had the previous couple of games. Results were obviously much better.
  4. Tony Parker has posted All-Star numbers over the past five games (22 points, 9.6 assists) and in particular has been doing a much better job finding teammates as obvious by his 17 assists tonight. His ability to carry the offense in Manu’s absence is crucial as the Spurs defense continues to implode.
  5. The Spurs gave up the first 100-point game to the Hornets this season, allowing them to shoot 50 percent. Without Eric Gordon.
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  • Anonymous

    That weak ass dunk that got rejected sent him to the line.

  • Anonymous

    Your really stretching it now. “I’m a TD/Manu fan and want them to not end up like Steve Nash” Neither do I but your not realistic here. Memo to you: It’s over with the Championships with these guys just enjoy the games for what they are. Your name. He was the best but as far as I’m concerned he’s not now. My name. Titletown99030507d…. the d is for defense that brought them those ships and as long they don’t address the lack of defense your Timmy and Manu days for Championships are over and the way Timmy is having to sit so he can get geriatric clearance to play and the lack of defense Blair exhibits is proof that you might as well ride off into the sunset with Timmy while you can. Try to let you down easy but you keep shoveling more nonsense in your mouth.

  • Anonymous

    Splitting hairs. Nice.

  • Anonymous

    Resorting to my lines. Get your own or you not creative enough?

  • Anonymous

    It’s not that I don’t understand your pov…it’s that the Spurs probably don’t get what your wanting in a TP trade. I’ll concede that I’ve thought about the same thing. With a dominant front court and a couple of serviceable PG’s, the Spurs would be like the Spurs of 5 years ago. But really…Okafor as your dominant big for Tony Parker and an average PG. The deal would have to be better than that to obtain what your wanting.

  • DorieStreet

    +10 I have to agree with you. I see a little more savvy on PNR with Tony now that Manu’s out but Blair still blows 3-4 baskets a game easily. His rebounding is inconsistent game to game.
    I don’t see or “feel” incremental improvents as the season moves along with him.

  • DorieStreet

    We’ve been getting the brushoff since 1999, save for Robert Horry and Brent Barry.
    The franchise is partly to blame: overeaching to Europe, acquiring has-beens, teasers (Drew Gooden comes to mind) and never was-ers (Asst. Coach Vaughan when he was a player).
    The sluggish development of Splitter and Anderson last year not only dragged us down in the first round last year, but it forces the team to still be offense-first.

  • DorieStreet

    Nima K.-“The worst thing that I fear is qualifying for the playoffs only to face a first round exit.”

    You sound as if this team was missing the winning shot during game 7 of the conference semifinals the last few postseasons- in OT.
    ’09 - #3 seed bounced out in 1st round 1-4, losing 2 of 3 home games
    ’10 - #7 seed swept out in 2nd round 0-4, losing by 9, 8, 14, and 6.
    ’11 - #1 seed stunned in 1st round 2-4, never beating opponent on the road in 3 tries.

    First or second-round exit just a continuation of downward spiral from ‘ship and conference final loss half a decade ago.

  • TD BestEVER

    Another commenter who can’t read or is just too damn LAZY to do so. Andrew addressed that issues 2 hours before you posted. You are so lame

  • DorieStreet

    It is an imperfect world. Friday the 13th (April): Spurs at 30 wins, 25 losses. Tim gets 5 out of his last 9 games on national TV; maybe the broadcasts give him a decent epilogue.

  • DorieStreet

    I just want Duncan to gets enough very good stagt games when he plays to keep his career averages above - 20 points, 10 rebounds (11 if possible but I doubt it)
    I keep remembering his 35th birthday performance- game 4, round 1:
    3-7 FGs= 6 pts; 7 rebs (0 offensive).
    You looking forward to age 37 and 38?
    Silver & Black Fans, the Era has come to an end.

  • http://radsci.uthscsa.edu/index.php/User:Nima Nima K.

    See TD BestEVER’s post 8 or so posts below. The lakers did win a title in fact, and so did Dallas, without relying on all-star offensive PGs.

  • Justin-ray

    Dumb***s if the dude has time to post a pointless piece like this after every game, then he has time to write something more meanngful and insightfull. Pay attention clown. TRADE TRADE TRADE TRADE TRADE LMAO

  • TD BestEVER

    LMAO…….. You must be as smart as a 5th grader. No really, how old/smart are you? Did you really just post that w/o proof reading it at all to check if it made any sense.

    “And I thought I was funny.” said the clown to the court jester.

    Don’t you think MORE MEANINGFUL & MORE INSIGHTFUL pieces would take MORE TIME to write?!?!?!?!

    Justin-ray = PURE GENIUS!!!!!

  • Thomasholdren

    Take out the “predictions” in the stats. Meaning their 36 mpg. Its a guess. The mistakes are listed. Drating, Dwinshares, TOS, etc….

    His gambles and over-zealous attempts at making plays are what we need. Take for instance Manu… if he didnt gamble or take chances he wouldnt be the player he is today.

    Dejuan’s ambition, and aggression, is EXACTLY what we dont have. Tony is a pretty boy, Tiago isnt athletic, RJ wimp, Bonner blah, Tim too old, Leonard too nice, etc. Blair is, with the exception of Manu, the only player on our team with an edge. We wont win playing nice, or laid back, there are too many hungry teams out there….

    I am on the side of the better player. The better player makes the unit (as a whole) better. I am against chiming in with no statistical facts to back up an argument or simply being a “yes-man” to everything the FO or POP does.

    Its always good to have an argument.

  • Thomasholdren

    so you just proved my point, bringing up Tony 5 years ago, against what a 50 year old eric snow? Then you just admitted RUNNING OUT OF GAS IN PLAYOFFS = FAIL WHEN IT MATTERS.

    Thanks, I could not said it better myself.

  • Thomasholdren

    Wait, so you think that since someone is finishing a game that’s coached by POP it has everything to do with a better basketball player.??? Wasnt Matt Bonner finishing (and starting) games for us at one point?

    Wasnt a washed up Finley finishing for us at one point?

    Didnt a worthless McDyess get ABUSED by memphis last year every game?? He finished that too?

    Again, get off the ties to the “favorite players.” The goal is to win a ring, not have your man-crush perform well.

  • Thomasholdren

    So you are telling me if Tony scores 20 and His man scores 22 he should get an A?

    What about Bonner? When he scores 6 and his man scores 8 should he get an A?

    If Tony were getting a grade FOR ONLY OFFENSE, yes, he should get an A+. If he was graded as an ALL AROUND PERFORMANCE, then I would have to say no…

  • Justin-ray

    TRADE TEADE TRADE TRADE TRADE ….. for someone that claims to know so much about basketball, you fail to see that tony parker is involved in about 85%of the spurs offense. Scoring, dishing assists, running the offense, system knowledge. TDBESTEVER= PURE GENIUS
    TRADE TRADE TRADE TRADE TRADE TRADE TRADE LMAO damn idiot

  • TD BestEVER

    Just keep talking and posting. You are making the rest of us here seem like Geniuses by comparison.

  • Cheyenneharty

    Andrew and 48 Crew,

    I know my last comment sounded like I was griping, and I feel like a real jerk now that I know you folks aren’t paid. The truth is, your stuff generally outshines most of the sports reporting out there. So I guess what I’m saying is: Thanks.

  • Anonymous

    At this stage Blair or Splitter are not better than the other. They both bring what you say as “a better player” that makes the unit whole. Just in different categories.

    I agree with some of your assessments. If only both Blair and Splitter could incorporate both our perspectives as fans and onlookers into their individual game…we’d really have something wouldn’t we.

    I think both will improve upon time. Who knows… perhaps some day (both together) on the court will present opposing teams too much to handle.

  • http://48minutesofhell.com Andrew A. McNeill

    No worries, we had been talking about the issue internally and I felt like we needed to address it to everybody. But it looks like things are picking up already.

  • Anonymous

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