El Conclusión: San Antonio Spurs 107, Phoenix Suns 91

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Phoenix Suns 91 FinalRecap | Box Score 107 San Antonio Spurs
Tim Duncan, PF 26 MIN | 7-11 FG | 8-9 FT | 10 REB | 4 AST | 2 STL | 2 BLK | 1 TO | 22 PTS | +19 +/-

Duncan’s production has taken off as the postseason approaches. He looks focused, smooth, and ready to take over. Considering he hasn’t spent nearly as many games resting this season as in years past, that’s a great sign. The guy is going to be 39. Insane.

Kawhi Leonard, SF 34 MIN | 6-12 FG | 5-5 FT | 9 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 18 PTS | +21 +/-

Another game where Kawhi started out somewhat quietly but dominated as the game went along. He even continued his steals streak and tossed in half of his three-point attempts. The highlight of the game, though, was when he dropped a Eurostep late in the game that seemed to cover like a third of the court.

Boris Diaw, C 24 MIN | 2-5 FG | 2-2 FT | 5 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 3 TO | 6 PTS | +17 +/-

Boris got the start but had a relatively quiet stint on the court. Like most of the team, he seemed a bit unengaged at the beginning, but his production was decent.

Tony Parker, PG 26 MIN | 5-10 FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 5 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 10 PTS | +11 +/-

Parker looked ready to have a monster bounce-back game after his quiet night in Houston, but outside of a big first quarter Sunday night, he looked ready to just get the game over with. Can’t say I blame him. He’s probably not used to having to play this late in the season.

Danny Green, SG 31 MIN | 3-7 FG | 3-3 FT | 2 REB | 3 AST | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 2 TO | 12 PTS | +25 +/-

Danny Green is your new franchise record holder for most threes in a season. Pretty amazing that the record, previously held by Chuck Person, has stood for so long. It’s quite a testament to Danny’s perseverance, but it’s also a testament to the franchise’s ability to develop talent and maximize its opportunity for success. Congratulations, Danny.

Marco Belinelli, SF 24 MIN | 4-8 FG | 3-3 FT | 4 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 13 PTS | +8 +/-

Marco was sizzling for most of Sunday night, hitting some big shots and handing out a bee-you-ti-full pass to Danny for a three as the Spurs built a massive lead. Nice all around game from Lil’ Stallone. (Or would it be Big Stallone? Sly is like four feet tall, right?)

Aron Baynes, C 17 MIN | 2-2 FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 0 TO | 4 PTS | +2 +/-

Quiet night from Baynes, but his size wasn’t as necessary against a depleted Suns frontcourt.

Cory Joseph, PG 19 MIN | 5-7 FG | 2-2 FT | 4 REB | 4 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 13 PTS | +8 +/-

Cojo got the backup minutes tonight, and as has been the case all season, brought a ton of energy to help the Spurs take the lead. He also shot really well and – gasp – hit a three-pointer. With only a game left to play, it looks like he’ll be taking the backup spot. Patty had a great game in Houston, but he only played six quiet minutes Sunday night. At this point, a great game from Mills against New Orleans might be too late to change things.

Manu Ginobili, SG 18 MIN | 1-3 FG | 6-10 FT | 3 REB | 4 AST | 1 STL | 2 BLK | 1 TO | 9 PTS | -9 +/-

PRO: He went to the line a ton in less than twenty minutes. CON: He missed four of his ten attempts. He’s had a good season, all things considered, and the Spurs will absolutely need him in the playoffs. But still, I’d say enjoy his wizardry while you can. The Pelicans game could be his last ever regular season game. The very thought just sent shivers up my spine.

Gregg Popovich

He only played people listed on the roster he gave to the officials.

Three Things We Saw

  1. The Spurs are currently the two seed in the West. With just a few days left, a lot of things could change. I understand almost none of these things, and I’d venture to say that’s the case for many of the players. There’s one game left, and taking care of that is all they can do. Worrying about seeding is probably a needless distraction when the team is rolling like it is.
  2. On that note, Russell Westbrook will be suspended, so if the Thunder lose and the Pelicans win their next game to lock up the 8th seed, the game against the Spurs might not matter enough for them to try. After a season of madness, things are looking up for San Antonio. They’re playing their best ball of the season and have a great shot at avoiding the Golden State part of the bracket until a run to the Conference Finals.
  3. Right now, the opening round could feature a lot of sad Mark Cuban and a lot of happy Caleb Saenz.
  • wannabe_fake_tough_guy

    No “A” for Bonner? Well, that sucks.

  • Chok

    Has Timmy had a single “DNP-Old” this year? Pretty amazing.

  • jamberg

    last one was in december-the first Dallas/Rondo game I think.

  • brunostrange

    Count me in team CoJo. It’d be nice for Patty to get his touch back (and it seems many would prefer that the Patty of old would re-emerge to take back his spot as the second PG), but Joseph has been playing excellent ball, and I also think that, going forward, he’s going to be increasingly important to the Spurs. Parker has clearly come a long way from his low point in February, but it’s also clear his game isn’t what it used to be. Joseph has the ability to get to the paint that Mills lacks, and he adds a defensive dimension that Parker doesn’t have. I’m not at all suggesting that Joseph be given the starting role, but his importance in the pecking order is clearly ascendant. Here’s hoping his good play continues in the post-season, and that SA finds a way to keep him next season.

  • Kristian Holvoet

    Besides the accursed Thunder, has any team had more top players miss significant (say 10+ games) than the Spurs? Tiago, Kawhi, TP, Patty, Marco, Baynes, Manu (subs/tradees/d-league/10-dayers not ignored, but not top players, either).

    Seriously, only TD, Matt B., Cojo and Danny and Boris (!) have played in more than 90% of the games. That the Spurs are here, in striking distance of 3rd best record in the league is a fabulous accomplishment. It may be Pop’s best coaching job yet, getting this team through the struggles and well prepared for the playoffs. If Tiago is ready, this would be the first time the Spurs are basically 100%, and it happens as they enter the playoffs. Stunning.

    Not sure where this is going, but it has been a great title defense already.

  • TD BestEVER

    I agree I think CJ shooting is far better than most of us realize. it’s just so hard to really see it if he only get spot minutes here and there. As long as he is playing with confidence I can really see him hitting that corner 3 at a nice 40% clip etc. Just look at his assist numbers, we always score well when he is in the game because he keeps the ball moving far better than Mills/TP because he isn’t looking for his own shot so much. And The rest of his game speaks for it self.

  • TD BestEVER

    I think the improvement of CJ/Green etc make this the deepest team we have ever had. We now have a BIG 4 and a little 4 as well. SO on any given night if 2 of the big 4 can be off and we can still easily get to 105-110 ppg. Combine that with the all ways on point Defense we have been playing and CJ getting these past few weeks you can really see how and why we are still blowing people out with out TP really doing much. All we need is the Defense to keep making it hard on people and to keep the ball moving on offense. We have too many capable scores to not have a few people hot every night.

  • thedrwolff

    That’s a good point Kristian. It leads to what I’ve been saying about the “TRANSCENDANT GOLDEN STATE” accomplishments this season.

    Chicago - Rose…Butler
    Indiana - Paul George, George Hill
    Detroit - Jennings
    Toronto - Lowry, Derozen
    Miami - Bosh, Wade, Deng
    Washington - Beal, Nene, Pierce
    OKC - Durant, Westbrook, Ibaka, Collison
    Houston - Howard, Montejunas
    Spurs - (listed above)
    New Orleans - Holiday, Davis
    Grizzlies - Tony Allen
    Sacramento - Cousins, Gay
    Portland - Mathews
    La Lakers- Bryant
    Clippers - Griffin

    Most of these guys are the “TOP DOG” or at least share that status on their team. We know how golden state plays when Curry suffers from his papier mache’ ankles.

    This is the league Golden state “TEARS” through? They win the west devoid of last years two DOMINANT teams? Now GS suffered plenty of injuries themselves over the past 3 seasons so they were due for a healthy year and I’m not saying they wouldn’t have won the west if everyone was as healthy as they are…but they certainly aren’t doing a 10.2 victory margin with the efficiencies everyone is drooling over and OKC/San Antonio would’ve been breathing right down their neck for the 1 seed. Golden State is good, very good, but ascending them to “HISTORICALLY GREAT” is a media construct that is tired of the same old “San Antonio is here…again…Lebron is MVP…again” story line. They were fresh and sexy so the media made love to them all season…and will do so for the remainder. They will get the “MIAMI” treatment. “Miami hasn’t lost back to back games in the playoffs”…of course, they hadn’t WON back to back games in the playoffs in over 14 games either…but we won’t mention that. SHHHHHH, it makes our sexy babe look tarnished. Golden state has NOBODY that has even won a conf semi final in their entire career. I’m PRAYING, somehow, the clippers end up in the 5 seed. Not likely, but it would be the final miracle. The Clippers are playing well and CP3 has never won a conf semi final either.

  • Kristian Holvoet

    Chicago: Only Gasol, Mirotic and Aaron Brooks have played in more than 70 games. Gibson, Noah, Butler, Rose, Henrich, Dunleavy are all 67 or below (or missed at least 14% of the season). Wow.
    Cleveland: LeBron has played in 68. Love, Irving and Thompson have all played 73 or more (a bit of noise: the mid season trades, JR Smith, Mozgov, et al have all played 70+ games, Shupert is ~60 total but has played in 36 post trade games vs. 24 pre trade) but they have been basically healthy (okay, so I am willing to believe Love is playing with a hurt back, and has been 100% for most of the season)
    Miami is too depressing (I really like Bosh and hope he has a full recovery, and I’ll stop there)
    OKC is just a blood bath, but I kinda hope they make the playoffs just so they can’t get a bolt of lightning lottery pick (the Kentucky center on OKC? Shudders…)

    Injuries happen every year. Teams are derailed every year due to injuries. What makes this Spurs team special is that they weathered the injury storm. Now they are ready to venture out into the playoffs with a lot of veterans healthy, and youngsters well used to carrying part of the load

    CoJo, Baynes in particular have really moved forward from last season, to the point where a 25 minutes 10-12pt, 6 or so assist/reb [as appropriate] game or two in multiple rounds wouldn’t surprise me from either or both of them. And maybe a Baynes / Blake chest bumping contest (the closest thing to a fight we are liable to see…lol).

  • thedrwolff

    Patty mills not being right hurts a lot. He was on FIRE last year and our bench was the best in the league often posting 40+points a night and blowing the other teams bench off the court. That is NOT this years bench. However, Emporer Popovitch has always had a master plan that goes something like THIS……….
    Media; “Your faith in your aging stars is your weakness”
    Emporer Pop “and your faith in your warriors is yours. Now witness the FIREPOWA of this FULLY OPERATIONAL KAWHI LEONARD!!!” ZZZZZZZZZPFFFFFDZZZZAAAAPPP BOOOOOOOOM

  • Pibe Mayor

    It seems to me that Tim will retire after this season. The Spurs have covered this up to avoid the media distraction, and Pop was even quoted as speculating that Tim will play at least another season, which came off as odd because Pop never speculates about what other people are going to do, which makes me think he was trying to quiet any rumors. The fact that Timmy has suited up for every game also makes me think he’s trying to cherish the end of his career.

  • Ernie

    Mark my words, Danny Green will be the greatest player of all time when all is said and done.

  • DorieStreet

    His final 2014-15 season grade will be A+ (or better). Book it.

  • DorieStreet

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997_NBA_draft: check it out. Two things stand out.
    (1) wiki posts photos of a few players from that draft on the page—-but leave out the No. 1 Pick!
    (2) Of the 57 players selected, ONLY THREE went on to achieve All-Star & All-NBA status: Tim, Mr. Big Shot, and T-Mac. Not one of the 54 other players even achieved either recognition.

  • DorieStreet

    He’s had only FIVE. All were back-to-back games, four of them being on the road. One in November (@HOU), four in December (@ PHL, NYK, @ POR, @ DAL).
    No games missed due to injury. 53 straight over the span of almost 4 months (Dec. 20th).

  • DorieStreet

    You could have a point. Tim has not missed any games since December 20th.
    53 games straight—and there were 10 back-to-back pairings in that span.
    But-then again-he’s playing so well, I could see him coming back one more time—
    unless they get the title again. Then I think he and Manu are gone.

  • DorieStreet

    Been following the NBA since the late 60’s. I can’t recall so many stars, starters, key role/rotation players, and bench support personnel suffering major injuries in one season. And I believe no team went unscathed.

  • Matt Binger

    Regaurding the old timmy conversation, kevin mchale once said that big men can still play the same as they get older, they just cant do it as long. Parrish played into his 40s. Timmy looks great
    He could just be responding to everyone calling him old this season in his own quiet way…

  • Matt Binger

    Say whuh?

  • Dapimp Ofdayear

    They go back-to-back, he and Manu ride off into the sunset.

  • Dapimp Ofdayear

    The decline of Manu and Patty offsets the overall improvements a bit. Remember, Patty was a killer against Miami in that gentleman’s sweep. If only CoJo could hit the open 3 at, say, 35% consistently.

  • thedrwolff

    DUDE, Read stats first. Cory shoots it at 36.4% this year.

    If only the fans knew what they were saying they might offer some insightful views —-Cory Joseph

  • Dapimp Ofdayear

    stfu. His exact percentage is not the point. He’s not a reliable shooter that can bend the defense like Patty and the rest and you know that.