El Conclusión: San Antonio Spurs 111, Los Angeles Clippers 107

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San Antonio Spurs 111 FinalRecap | Box Score 107 Los Angeles Clippers
Tim Duncan, PF 39 MIN | 8-13 FG | 5-6 FT | 11 REB | 4 AST | 3 STL | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 21 PTS | 0 +/-
I do not have the words. The block on Blake, finding the open shooters, scoring on DeAndre when he needed to, keeping his balance with Big Baby trailing him on the fast break. Incredible.

Kawhi Leonard, SF 36 MIN | 5-16 FG | 8-10 FT | 9 REB | 3 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 18 PTS | -10 +/-
Got to the line well enough, but really a bad shooting night. Otherwise top notch.

Tiago Splitter, C 9 MIN | 1-2 FG | 0-2 FT | 1 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 2 PTS | -13 +/-
How are we grading him? He hasn’t been very good, but man he’s obviously hobbled. We’re going with a C to give him the injured benefit of the doubt.

Tony Parker, PG 33 MIN | 5-15 FG | 3-5 FT | 5 REB | 3 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 13 PTS | +2 +/-
Another guy impossible to accurately grade, but he did have a really good second half and he was aggressive all night even if his production didn’t show it.

Danny Green, SG 34 MIN | 3-9 FG | 2-3 FT | 2 REB | 3 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 9 PTS | -4 +/-
Better, but not awesome on offense. Continues to make CP3 work which is critical late in games. Hope for better shooting Thursday night.

Marco Belinelli, SF 16 MIN | 2-3 FG | 2-2 FT | 1 REB | 2 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 8 PTS | +9 +/-
He didn’t play a ton because he can’t guard JJ Redick, Chris Paul or Jamal Crawford, though he did fine tonight. But he hit some huge shots and would’ve hit another had the bogus moving screen foul on Aron Baynes not been called.

Aron Baynes, C 12 MIN | 0-1 FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 0 PTS | +9 +/-
Baynger banged and used all of the fouls in the process.

Matt Bonner, C 4 MIN | 1-2 FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 3 PTS | +7 +/-
You guys know this one’s tongue and cheek, though the 3-pointer he hit was pretty big. If you didn’t see J.A. Adande’s tweet about Bonner being a goon, check out What’s The Story. Classic.

Boris Diaw, C 24 MIN | 4-7 FG | 1-2 FT | 7 REB | 0 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 10 PTS | +13 +/-
I was ready to be so critical of Diaw because he was so passive in the first half, but man did he turn it on when it mattered. I can’t be too critical of him defending Blake mostly because he can’t guard Blake. He tries, but he can’t.

Patty Mills, PG 15 MIN | 4-5 FG | 1-1 FT | 4 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 13 PTS | +2 +/-
His shot making changed the game at the end of the first quarter. He played so well then, it allowed Parker to get plenty of rest and look fresh in the second half.

Manu Ginobili, SG 18 MIN | 3-8 FG | 6-6 FT | 3 REB | 6 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 4 TO | 14 PTS | +5 +/-
Big shots, big free throws, couple of twisting lay ups, dumb turnovers. We got a full Manu game tonight.

Gregg PopovichThe 2-3 zone was such a random, amazing move that the Clippers didn’t know what to do with. The minute management was perfect.

One Thing We Saw

  1. SWEEP. THE. LEG.
  • CarpeDiemCras

    Seemed like the refs were “make-up” whistling all night.Bad night for the refs,but bad for both sides.To here Doc say,im not one to complain,then proceed to do so was annoying.Anyways super game for our Spurs,the earth can begin to spin again.

  • birdie

    Can’t see Manu as higher than a B. I think you underestimated the harm done by the bad Manu part of his game tonight.

  • Dan

    I must desagree. He played a very solid game. He made 14pts &6AST. Manu gave us a very big boost in the 1st half when we were down and needed him most and moved the ball very well. It’s true he had 4 TO (2 of them in a road and very bad), but also in the next play he was responsible for a +5pts play recovering the ball from LAC by stilling an offensive foul and assisting Green for a 3. Having in mind we have a very erratic Parker/Green I think he gave us the control of the game when we were loosing it.

  • Dapimp Ofdayear

    We know the grades are not only arbitrary but just for fun, but I definitely disagree with Manu and Tony’s grades. C for Tony, D for Manu. Why? First of all, Parker. He knows that his midrange jumper is off because he has no rhythm or lift, but he keeps chucking. For what? That part of his game is not nearly as important as him attacking the basket. Now, if he were attacking the basket with the same number of FG attempts that would be one thing, but to be taking and missing so many non-essential mid range jumpers when every possession is critical, and points are at a premium is just bad basketball. The offense doesn’t need his midrange game, it’s needs him attacking the basket, collapsing the defense and giving shooters breathing room. The fact that so many of his misses are iso mid range jumpers is simply unforgivable.

    As for Manu, WTF? I’d stake my life that Manu’s basketball IQ is much, much higher than anyone who reads this blog. Having said that, if he understands from personal experience that for every successful high risk pass he completes, there are 2-3 LIVE BALL turnovers committed that gives the Clippers easy transition buckets, then why does he continue to do it? Us schmucks watching at home can see it, so why can’t an experienced professional see it also? The few successful plays he makes with these risky passes are heavily outweighed by the boatload of easy transition points that occur as a direct result from the failed passes/turnovers. Why can’t he comprehend this? It’s not like this is rare occurence, either. This sorry episode plays out game after game after game.

  • brunostrange

    I disagree. I thought Parker had a pretty good game - with an excellent second half. Yes, his shot is not falling, but he was aggressive throughout, and it yielded positive results. He ran the offense well, he found his teammates, he got into the paint, he drew opportune fouls. He had a really gritty and effective game.

    In terms of Manu, I think we got a pretty good game too (he certainly made up for the awful game 4). We’re going to get turnovers with Manu every time he’s out there, I think that’s now an inevitable occurrence. But he also ran the offense very well - in the first half, when the bench was first subbed in, the Spurs for some reason chose to run the offense through Patty, which led to turnovers and stagnation. As soon as Manu took control of the ball-handling abilities, we went on our 12-0 run.

    Yes, both of these guys have lost a step or two, but in terms of knowing the floor, and running their team’s offense, they’ve still got it. It was an invaluable contribution last night.

    (My long-winded way of saying I agree with the made-up grades.)

  • TD BestEVER

    I agree, I give him a B+ and he is my 2nd fav player behind TD. He didn’t shoot well, but he scored well. He assisted well but turned it over. And the TO’s were live ball so you have to dock him for that almost like you do for 2 dead ball TO’s.

  • TD BestEVER

    I say Parker C+ because his Defense is always poor. See the 1st and only Matt Barnes 3 pointer in the 1st 2-3 min of game. Just poor D by Parker.He was sagging in the lane to provide help D but when’s the last time you have seen him dig down and get a steal helping or blocking Big Baby like Manu, he doesn’t EVER!!!!!! So there’s no reason to leave Barnes wide open even if he sucks. Then on offense, we need him to be aggressive attacking the basket and moving the ball. Not shooting a bunch of jumpers with no body in rebounding position. Plus it’s clear he wasn’t shooting well and we had plenty of people who were so pass the ball.

    Manu was great except the shooting % and LIVE BALL TO’s. If they were dead ball or if he shot it just a little bit better like 4-8 then I would say A-, but as it is I have to go B or B+.

  • Dan

    You are asking Manu not to be Manu and that is never gonna happen, even if he is still playing at 50 years old he will keep doing this and IMO, it´s not about his basketball IQ or because he doesn´t understand the risks, its because (and to me is for long his best quality) he allways plays to WIN. Its all or nothing, there is no place for especulation, play safe to avoid taking command, he will try to win no matter what. A long of all this years I think it is much more good than bad and it still being like this. He is a game changer and will always be a bit of a turnover risk but I am sure that if we want another championship we are gonna need Manu being Manu and pray.

  • Dapimp Ofdayear

    You said he plays to win. So you’re obviously saying that he feels that the constant live ball turnovers lead to wins? What did you not comprehend about my post? Yes, he does complete a few of those high risk passes (the one that fed TD under the basket for an easy dunk was a beauty) but when you add up the postgame ledger, the points given up from easy transition points resulting from live ball turnovers outweigh the occasional successful pass. He no doubt has a pretty high basketball IQ and can see this, but won’t stop.

  • Dapimp Ofdayear

    You missed my point also. My problem with him was not any of those things you mentioned, as you are correct that they all are essential. My point was that a hotly contested playoff game is no time to practice your broken mid range jumper when every possession is critical. Rather, do all those other things you mentioned, as his midrange is not really a necessity right now.

  • Jimbo

    He’s playing on one leg, so I’ll cut him some slack.

  • TD BestEVER

    But Patty is playing well so if you are on one leg, don’t play so many minutes. Also he doesn’t have to initiate the offense if he is limited also.

  • KawaiianIsland420

    take this to the bank, danny green will make at least 4 three pointers game 6, no way he has two off games in a row at home…..also thought patty should have gotten some 4th quarter minutes but i cant complain about the result

  • Tyler

    Re: Manu and turnovers

    I think you need to put his role in perspective a little. He’s normally the first player off the bench, and when he comes in, it’s normally been against the Clips starters, and in particular Jordan and Griffin.

    Manu’s role has always been to make plays out of the PnR when he’s inserted - he’s always been the creative force on the floor in these situations (late game is slightly different considering you also typically have Parker and TD, but even then, Manu is normally the closer).

    In this series, LA has been pretty aggressive with their big men against any Manu PnR, no matter who screens for Manu. They’ve typically been trapping the initial PnR while also flooding the strong side with help defenders. They’re goal is to suffocate all easy passing lanes and force a looping crosscourt pass, wagering their help defenders can scramble back in time to contest. IMO, Manu has by far and away the toughest job, and that’s only magnified when the big men who are typically trapping you is Jordan, probably one of the longest and most athletic players in the league, and Griffin, maybe the most athletic guy in the league. Both can slide with Manu to cut off the drive while also using their athleticism to deflect any potential pass. These situations are really tough to deal with.

    The flip side is that this is what the Spurs want LA to do! Borrowing from Zack Lowes’ piece a few days ago, this is the same strategy that the Heat and Thunder used against SA in the last few years - frenetic and aggressive. This is also the exact strategy SA is designed to beat. In many ways, SA invites the initial trap, wagering they can use their ball movement well enough to exploit a rotating defense.

    So while you never want to commit turnovers, especially the live-ball type against a team like LA, I think it needs to be recognized that this is probably the toughest thing to ask any player to do. And being the type of athletes he’s asked to do it against, there will no doubt be turnovers. But over the course of a series, I’d still put my money on Manu being a net positive in these situations.

  • Kenneth Tjeerdsma

    Is it just me, or were the sportscasters in this game particularly obnoxious?

  • Jimbo

    You’d have to tell Pop that, since he makes the call on minutes. Obviously he prefers a limping Parker to a healthy Mills.

  • thedrwolff

    When Rivers says “I’m not one to complain”. Was that tongue in cheek? He didn’t expect anyone to believe that, right? It’s gone beyond laughter to simple disinterest. Everyone says Doc Rivers is a great coach. I think he, like Rondo, had the benefit of amazing talent in Boston. I mean, don’t you expect that group to win AT LEAST one title playing out of the east? So what season was his “amazing job by Rivers” year. He made the mistake of moving to the western Conf, Has CP3 and Blake Griffin for FOUR years and wont make the conf finals (hopefully). Those are two MVP caliber candidates over those 4 seasons and a third he claims is DPOY. Vinny Del Negro was certainly every bit as capable of losing in the first and second rounds for 4 straight years. And you have the balls to blame the officials? You want to present great theater over results then you are coaching the wrong LA franchise. The story for the clippers is going to be the disappearance of Reddick and Crawford (kudos to Kawhi and Green). Blake and CP3 absolutely have to put up monster numbers or the clips fail. CP3 with the ARMBAR on Green he taps to leonard and its game over. With 4 seconds left there is PLENTY of time to get up a decent shot from 3 and are you betting they miss? Love hate love hate manu was in full effect, but he doesnt get enough credit for the small things he does that aren’t as obvious as his $$%&%&$ turnovers. It was Manu and Barnes dicking around before the inbounds with 6 ticks left. Barnes completely grabs manu’s jersey to stay with him up the lane leaving green the option to get fouled. Immediately Manu gets his goat…I love manu…hate manu…so for the SECOND time in this series we all feel good that we are going to win it. Up 3-2 playing in SA…why not.

  • John T.

    I think Green’s playoff foul on Griffin’s drive to the basket is worth some extra credit. Not sweeping the legs or anything, but just knock the wind out of him and prevent another momentum building dunk.

  • Dapimp Ofdayear

    I hear everything you’re saying, and I in fact did read Zack’s piece. But you have to admit, we’ve seen this movie before, particularly in that 2013 playoff against Miami. It just seems like he’s not patient enough to move the ball and move bodies to spring a open look. He wants to hit a home run on every pass, where sometimes a single or double might do. Yeah, he’ll hit one out the park every once in a while, but he strikes out (live ball turnovers) more than he homers by far.

  • Dapimp Ofdayear

    Reggie Miller is insufferable, and a horrible analyst to boot. These networks should make these jocks do a semester of broadcast cool before handing them a mic. Just because you can shoot a basketball does not mean you can fluidly, insightfully, and informatively describe a game of basketball while still demonstrating good timing and a knack for entertaining the casual viewer.

  • Dapimp Ofdayear

    Can’t imagine why, unless he just wants to keep Patty in the role he’s accustomed to.

  • http://www.nba.com/spurs/?tmd=1 TheRealDirtyP1

    re:Manu
    If I see another low pass to a big in the lane that gets stolen or fumbled away, I just don’t know what I’m going to do. These guys watch film, he should know he can’t get away with those passes. I would grade him with a B, just like other players, there’s a lot of stuff he does that doesn’t show up in a box score(drawing fouls, defense).

  • http://www.nba.com/spurs/?tmd=1 TheRealDirtyP1

    I like the way Pop is using Patty. Throwing him in there when CP3 is winded, it’s pretty funny to me seeing him try to keep up.
    One thing that I haven’t seen mentioned, Chris Paul gets away with a ton of fouls. Watch that last play how he’s pulling Green down, and what about that screen that freed up Griffin? He pushed into Green & Duncan. Doc can complain all he wants but his team gets away with plenty.

  • hoopsaf

    Manu’s TOs are very costly. This is not a dead ball TO, which only costs a possession for Spurs. Usually, his TOs are live ball TOs that lead to direct transition buckets for athletic teams like Clippers -> meaning a potential 4~6 point swing.

    It’s not a coincidence that when Manu plays horribly, the team seems to really struggle. He must limit his live ball TOs if Spurs are going to have some easy games.

  • http://www.nba.com/spurs/?tmd=1 TheRealDirtyP1

    Doc can complain all he wants. For every call he thinks should’ve been made, Chris Paul isn’t getting called for another foul. How has Chris Paul gotten away from being labeled as a dirty player? The guy grabs, pulls, and shoves more than anyone in the game right now.

  • hoopsaf

    Manu can see things, but he can’t necessarily get the timing down anymore. A sign of physical decline. Those live ball TOs are the passes he used to make with impeccable timing. Now you can see that he’s just a tad bit off or slow when making those passes, and that is death when playing a team like Clips/OKC.

    He needs to change his game a bit if he wants to play another season — no more risky passes that you can’t make. I think Duncan’s coming back, but Manu might not, seeing all his struggles.

  • Tyler

    I guess what I was trying to say is many of Manu’s turnovers can be viewed as the cost of doing business. Both teams are selling out - LA’s banking on the Spurs not being able to convert consistently enough against their aggressive scheme. On the other hand, the Spurs are banking on their ability move the ball in spite of the length and athleticism of Jordan, Griffin, etc. In this situation, both teams have to accept a certain rate of failure.

    If you invite and encourage Jordan to trap a ballhandler, you also have to accept there will be times when he gets deflections or causes errant passes.
    There’s a reason Pop doesn’t go crazy when Manu turns it over - he knows that’s going to happen at times.

    And to be honest, we only remember the turnovers. We rarely remember the initial pass that opens up the defense and starts the ping pong passing we’re all used to. I’d like to see our offensive rating when Manu is the ballhandler in the PnR. I’d wager it’s pretty solid.

  • Tyler

    Also, Manu in general has been a cases study in risk/reward his entire career.

    Sure, the reward isn’t quite as great as it was at his peak, but it’s still a net positive for the Spurs.

  • Ed Yates

    Pretty sure the phrase is “tongue in cheek”, Just sayin’.

  • Dan

    I understand what you are saying. My point is that he always has to make his first entrance into the game when we are loosing at least by 6pts, think about it. Every time we play against the best 4/5 west teams we are loosing by the time he gets in. So he has to make an impact and get us back, that is what he was doing since 2003 and that is what Pop ask from him. You can’t change the course of a game without take some risks and usually he has success, this is exactly why Pop use him as the 6th man from 2005. Every time the game is not in the place we need Pop can change the game by sending him in. The problem is that after doing that and once he get us back he continue to do this and taking unnecessary risks. It seems like he can’t stop or change his game and play in “safe mode” so in that point I think you are right. But in the end, he is for long more positive and contributes in so many things to the team than I just can’t be angry when he makes a silly TO.
    Actually I am very sure that in the first game after his retirement we will be ready to accept 1000000 Manu’s TO just to see one more crafty, crazy, impossible pass that only he can make to change the game one more time….

  • Emil E. Matula III

    I get that most Spurs fans are spoiled seeing Parker race around the court in another gear since he was a 19 year old Wunderkind, but enough is enough. The guy has what, 8 turnovers in 5 playoff games going up against Paul?

    The guy has 18 points and NO TURNOVERS and the Spurs still manage to lose Game 4. Why? Because the secret to the Spurs success is putting 7 guys in double figures, not just 3 (they just missed that last night on a Danny Green clanker from the foul line). He doesn’t have that extra gear right now, so going to the rim with Jordan waiting is NOT AN OPTION. But he’s using his BRAIN, and not trying to fight the injury or do too much. The shots that he IS taking are confident, balanced, and measured within the offense.

    BTW did anybody happen to see a highlight of Parker stripping Paul in transition in transition at the basket late in the game? It didn’t result in a turnover, but that was the beginning of the run. He gets an A from me for last night.

  • Jackson Hvizdos

    Is this the first time you’ve watched Manu play?

  • Dapimp Ofdayear

    LOL I keep saying that, but then everyone else keeps admonishing me about what a “winner” and “competitor” he is. As if multiple live ball TO’s that lead to super high percentage transition looks lead to wins, especially in such a close series.

  • Dapimp Ofdayear

    I’m really not try to belabor this argument, but there’s a couple points that needed to be acknowledged in your reply. First of all, the Manu from 2003-2005 is a dramatically different basketball player than the one who suits up today. Younger, healthier, more athletic, and his mind and body were on the same page: When his mind saw a play unfold, his body followed suit. So his success rate on risky, daring plays far outweighed the few failures he acrued. Unfortunately, that was years ago and the pendulum has swung far the other way. It’s not that he can’t change, or at least modify some of the risky stuff; he’s unwilling to.

    Look at Duncan. He has made so many concessions with his style of play, body composition, diet, training regimen, etc. so he could keep playing and be effective as he and that balky left knee aged. You don’t often see attempting stuff on the court that he knows he can’t do anymore. He evolved, modified, and tweaked things, and the result is he’s still a Top-10 big man in the NBA. Manu just doesn’t want to change, and it’s as simple as that.

  • Dapimp Ofdayear

    LOL no, this is the second time 😛

  • Dapimp Ofdayear

    My criticism of him is taking too many iso, forced mid range jumpers when his timing and rhythm are clearly off, with points at a premium (in this series). I don’t have a problem with the rest of what he’s trying to do out there, but right now these are low percentage shots that the offense simply does not need.