El Conclusion: Spurs get the win, Boris air balls an alley-oop

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San Antonio Spurs 98 FinalRecap | Box Score 93 Charlotte Hornets
Tim Duncan, PF 31 MIN | 6-13 FG | 2-2 FT | 10 REB | 3 AST | 2 STL | 3 BLK | 2 TO | 14 PTS | -6 +/-

Just another solid all-around game. We’ll be beating the #DuncanDPOY drum soon. Consider this the start of the build up. That’d be an amazing feat for Timmy.

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

I mean, he didn’t get a ton of minutes despite the start. But one positive I will say about him is he attacks the glass, which is something the coaching staff has asked him to do. When you’re looking for minutes in the NBA, you have to find one or two things you do well that teams can utilize.

Matt Bonner, C 29 MIN | 3-5 FG | 0-0 FT | 8 REB | 3 AST | 0 STL | 4 BLK | 1 TO | 8 PTS | +2 +/-

Hit some 3-pointers, cleaned up the glass, distributed the ball and even had 4 blocks? Has anyone ever had that stat line with Bonner on NBA 2K?

Tony Parker, PG 23 MIN | 5-12 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 5 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 10 PTS | -9 +/-

Slowly working his way back and tonight we really started to see the rust get knocked off. There was a sequence in the fourth quarter where Parker hit two tear drops, found Bonner for a 3, then Duncan for lay up, then hit a mid-range jumper. We haven’t seen anything close to that since he returned. Sure, his minutes are still low, but he’s working his way back into playing shape. This was a really important night for him.

Danny Green, SG 36 MIN | 6-11 FG | 3-3 FT | 3 REB | 3 AST | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 2 TO | 18 PTS | 0 +/-

There was a dumb pass here and there, but mostly he had another really good night. One of the under appreciated things about Green’s season is he’s played a lot of it out of position. He’s guarding bigger wings, which is normally Kawhi Leonard’s job. So to be playing with that extra responsibility and still having his best offensive season of his career is a testament to his conditioning, will, all of that stuff.

Boris Diaw, C 18 MIN | 0-5 FG | 1-2 FT | 2 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 1 PTS | +6 +/-

Air balled an alley-oop attempt. Nothing more needs to be said.

Tiago Splitter, C 17 MIN | 3-4 FG | 3-4 FT | 4 REB | 2 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 0 TO | 9 PTS | +13 +/-

Just keep keeping on, Tiago.

Patty Mills, PG 25 MIN | 2-9 FG | 1-1 FT | 5 REB | 3 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 5 PTS | +7 +/-

My favorite part about Patty’s game is even when he’s not shooting well, he finds other ways to contribute. Tonight was the perfect example with the five rebounds and three assists. Plus he had a really nice lay up and got the foul in the second half when the Hornets were on a run.

Cory Joseph, PG 30 MIN | 1-9 FG | 2-2 FT | 2 REB | 5 AST | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 0 TO | 4 PTS | 0 +/-

Really struggled with his shot tonight, but the defense remains solid and he continues to grow as a distributor.

Manu Ginobili, SG 24 MIN | 10-14 FG | 4-6 FT | 3 REB | 2 AST | 3 STL | 0 BLK | 4 TO | 27 PTS | +15 +/-

Manu, oh Manu. Where to start? He was largely brilliant. His play allowed Parker to rest at the end. Every time the Hornets were in position to really make a push and either tie or take the lead, Ginobili was there to kill the Charlotte run. At the same time, holy crap did he have some bad turnovers. And at the end of the game he’s throwing cross court passes that quarterbacks make if they want to get their wide receivers killed. Such is life as a Manu Ginobili fan.

Gregg Popovich
Thought he did a really good job managing Tony, Manu and Tim’s minutes tonight. And he’s balancing the three point guards well so far.

Three Things We Saw

  1. We’re starting to see the plan with the 3 point guards. Patty and CoJo played a lot together tonight. Pop also doesn’t seem to mind playing TP and CoJo. Now this all could change when Marco Belinelli returns, but right now the minutes are there for everyone.
  2. Something else to look for: Whenever Kawhi does come back, does CoJo’s emergence mean we get more small ball with Kawhi at the 4?
  3. Tim Duncan #NBABallot #DuncanDPOY
  • Suave Groove

    W/ each game Tony is playing a little bit better. Still not start of the season Parker. He was getting blown by the Hornets guards a lot. On numerous occasions Danny/CoJo had to left his man to guard Tony’s.
    Once Parker regain his game condition, our 3 point guards deep lineup w/ managed minutes are gonna be a problem for other teams in the second part of the season (Rodeo Road Trip). Can’t wait to see how the team will respond to Kawhi’s return.
    Manu once again had a couple mental errors at the end of the game, but also Tony. In all both had a pretty good game. I don’t know if it’s the age or good scouting but Manu’s and TP’s passes are getting intercepted this season rather easy.

  • 3Chord

    it’s the same story as last year — the Spurs look so much better when Tiago and Tim aren’t on the court at the same time. Maybe that’ll change when Kawhi gets back, but til then hopefully Pop continues to roll out Bobo or Bonner in the starting lineup.