El Conclusion: Disgusting night in Chicago

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San Antonio Spurs 81 FinalRecap | Box Score 104 Chicago Bulls
Tim Duncan, PF 23 MIN | 2-7 FG | 2-2 FT | 7 REB | 2 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 6 PTS | -17 +/-

He was trying tonight, which is more than can be said for most of everyone else. Pau Gasol’s length and ability to hit an 18 footer has always bothered him so thank goodness he didn’t sign with a Western Conference contender this summer. I don’t think we read much into Duncan’s performance. Bulls interior defense is solid even when Noah isn’t there.

Kawhi Leonard, SF 27 MIN | 5-11 FG | 5-6 FT | 4 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 16 PTS | -27 +/-

Pretty much kept the Spurs in the game in the second quarter. At one point he scored 11 straight, a lot of that coming out of the mid-range. He also ha a couple of brilliant defensive sequences.

Tiago Splitter, C 21 MIN | 2-5 FG | 0-0 FT | 7 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 4 PTS | +2 +/-

The Spurs didn’t get clobbered on the boards, but it kind of felt that way. However, Splitter did a good job of cleaning the glass and had a really nifty pass to where he faked it to Tony Parker and found Kawhi all alone under the basket for a dunk.

Tony Parker, PG 21 MIN | 4-9 FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 3 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 9 PTS | -24 +/-

Here’s what was wrong with his game tonight. Derrick Rose came out extra aggressive, Parker didn’t. Here’s another problem: He couldn’t guard Derrick Rose, which is fine, that’s what Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard are for, but he also couldn’t stay in front of Jimmy Butler or even Tony Snell. The problem with both guys is the Bulls were bringing them off screens, which created some space for them to get shots off and Parker’s not big enough to affect those shots. Long story short, he needed to be way more aggressive on offense to counteract his defensive shortcomings against this particular Bulls line up.

Danny Green, SG 25 MIN | 3-6 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 2 BLK | 1 TO | 8 PTS | -12 +/-

I didn’t have a huge problem with how he played except he got lost defending off the ball a couple of times. It’s probably his one defensive weakness, sometimes he gets caught ball watching. He certainly was not the problem tonight though. Also, special shout out to DG for his Stuart Scott tribute on his shoes. Classy move.

JaMychal Green, PF 15 MIN | 4-7 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 2 BLK | 0 TO | 8 PTS | +2 +/-

That’s what I’m talking about. Sure, it was a blowout and Green came in during garbage time (which apparently still means 3 of 5 starters still play for the Bulls), but green was all over the place. It wasn’t just using his athleticism either. He showed good footwork and patience down low. Some of those blocks and rebounds were all athleticism though and that looked great too.

Jeff Ayres, PF 9 MIN | 0-1 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 0 PTS | -4 +/-

I would say I was properly whelmed by Ayres nine minutes of action.

Aron Baynes, C 9 MIN | 0-1 FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 0 AST | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 0 PTS | -2 +/-

He. Just. Kept. Fouling.

Matt Bonner, C 13 MIN | 1-1 FG | 1-1 FT | 0 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 3 PTS | 0 +/-

#LetBonnerDunk, Seriously though, he probably could’ve gotten a little more run just to space the floor, but when he did get in he got beat up by Taj Gibson down low.

Boris Diaw, C 23 MIN | 1-9 FG | 0-0 FT | 5 REB | 2 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 2 PTS | -25 +/-

I have zero patience for midseason/non-contract year Boris. He basicaly spent his night getting outhustled on one end by Taj Gibson, then trying to spin cycle him down low on the other. Only problem is it didn’t work. Maybe it’s just a midseason thing and he’s tired from the minutes played in December, but this is not the Boris Diaw from last season (more on that in a bit).

Patty Mills, PG 22 MIN | 3-11 FG | 4-4 FT | 2 REB | 4 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 12 PTS | +3 +/-

Really, really tried to shoot San Antonio back into the game… and I appreciate that.

Cory Joseph, PG 14 MIN | 4-7 FG | 3-5 FT | 2 REB | 2 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 11 PTS | +1 +/-

He did an awesome job getting to the basket once he got some run. It was great to see.

Manu Ginobili, SG 18 MIN | 1-6 FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 2 PTS | -12 +/-

Could’ve been somewhere in the D range, but did you see that behind the back bounce pass to Patty in the first quarter? Amazing.

Gregg Popovich
I just thought he should’ve gone to guys like CoJo and El Bonnero sooner. That’s all. This loss isn’t on him. It was an effort thing.

Two Things We Saw

  1. Boris Diaw in January: 8.1 ppg, 3 rpg and 2.9 apg. His PER is down below 13 and his 3-point shooting percentage is down to 33% and he’s taking one more attempt per game compared to last year. He’s been below average most nights this season. This is all I’m saying.
  2. Next up is the second night of a back-to-back against the Lakers without Kobe Bryant. Good thing or bad thing for the Lakers?
  • brunostrange

    The Spurs’ starting five have made it a trend this season to play large stretches of games in a timid and listless fashion. I understand that key injuries have plagued the team all season, but the flatness with which the starters have played in too many games is, I think, beginning to become a genuine worry.

    As is Tony Parker’s marked decrease in aggressive play this season. Tony is one of the NBA’s top three point guards when he plays aggressively - it creates offensive opportunities for everyone, and it generally results in about 16 PPG for Parker. We’ve not seen that much this year, even when taking injuries into account. Maybe he’s still injured, maybe he’s suffering from the same sort of malady that is causing the rest of the starters to play flatly so often, or maybe Father Time has finally caught up with him.

  • fkj74

    Was a buzz saw game. Bulls were tired of hearing how bad they are. Spurs, mostly were flat. When we do not play with intensity on D we look average. Too much ball holding from Leonard and TD. Too much dribbling by TP. Jaymichael looked good hope we keep him. I can see him on Durant, Blake, Parsons. etc. Let’s start a double digit win streak tonight. Go Spurs!

  • Suave Groove

    The game hurt. I was so pumped to see Kawhi and Jimmy going at it and… Blah. The Spurs got outhustled badly. Bulls intensity was over the roof. Awesome win for them. At least Pop got a chance to look closer at the Bulls system thanks to Thibs playing his starters (up 25 pts) deep into the 4th quarter. That was crazy. And tonight they play the Mavs.

  • DorieStreet

    Also Tony is a new father. I don’t delve into the personal lives of athletes, etc.; but that could be playing a factor in this pedestrian season he’s having.

  • thedrwolff5

    There is some considerable coasting to be done after 4 seasons of elite play. Everyone does not have the motor that Tim and Kobe have. Tony is a slight built guy and getting pounded to the floor going to the hole has taken its toll. He’s a 32 year old guard in his 14th season. He absolutely COULD do it night in and out but he’s beat up and doesnt want to do it till it matters for health concerns as well as “hey, Three consecutive WCF with two title…ok one, a euro championship, a 20 game win streak where they destroyed everyone, and the best regular season record in the NBA by far over a 4 year span 10 yr span, 14 year span.”
    The dude is last seasons D Wade picking his spots to conserve body.

  • thedrwolff5

    Just when you think they are ready to be “THAT TEAM”. A reality check in your face loss. Boris has looked brutal the last two games…really brutal. Manu is Manu every third game. Still capable of awesome in flashes but not 24 min a night. We can survive games when some people are cold in combinations, but when Boris AND Manu have a really weak game, we are toasted. Kawhi is getting there but not quite ready to be the 20+ a night scorer this team needs…he can’t just be the defensive stopper with 13-15 pts anymore. the starting lineup (over the last 4 seasons has changed noticeably. Tim is down to 13 to 14 points a night and its not due to unselfish play. The guy will be 39 in a few months and that’s what he can give you on O. His days of scoring 10 + freethrows off the block are done. Tony is a 15/5 guy till playoffs and Green is in a shooting slump. Everything is there now for Kawhi to “DO HIS THING”. This second half is where Kawhi the star turns into Kawhi the “holy shit he’s 22/10/4/2/1 a night. It’s going to be fun to watch.

  • thedrwolff5

    One last thing. Make no mistake. Kawhi is intimidatingly built. You see it a couple of times a game where he makes a play and guys right next to him “surrender” like dogs rolling on their back. The offensive rebound quick kick out to mills in traffic off the Diaw miss in the lakers game. When he comes down on the second bounce with the ball the two laker defenders are like “dude, whatever you need, just don’t hurt me”. The lilliard mathews split palm slam from last years playoffs. all three have the same shot at the ball and lillard and mathews make this half hearted reach while Kawhi explodes through their arms…. and they knew it was coming. The steal of nick young last night where he just made him look like a school boy. Notice the complete resignation by “swaggy P” he’s not chasing that down…no way. I love that part of watching Kawhi.

  • brunostrange

    I dunno. My intention is not to crap on Tony. Having said that, he intentionally took the summer off from playing international ball in order to conserve himself for the NBA season, so I’m not sure I buy that he’s picking his spots.

  • Danny West

    The Spurs need to get angry. Genuinely heated about the way they are playing. I know they are tired and just got back together. I think they need to get pissed about their game and realize they have the potential to blow anybody out any time. Their shooting is off. Looks like its a confidence thing to me. Anger when used right can restore your confidence lol Chicago showed it tonight