San Antonio Spurs

89

Final Recap | Box Score

84

Memphis Grizzlies

	Tim Duncan, C 32 MIN | 9-14 FG | 1-1 FT | 17 REB | 3 AST | 19 PTS | +6 The 17-rebound, five-block performance is just as encouraging as his outburst against Houston. The back-to-back blocks culminating in a jump ball after swatting Gasol were spectacular.
	Richard Jefferson, SF 19 MIN | 2-4 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 0 AST | 5 PTS | +4 I don’t have to criticize him for being invisible as a spot-up shooter in this system. But I don’t have to praise him either. Invisible.
	DeJuan Blair, F 16 MIN | 2-4 FG | 1-2 FT | 5 REB | 0 AST | 5 PTS | +7 Need to rewatch the video to figure out the +7. Five rebounds in 16 minutes is okay.
	Tony Parker, PG 37 MIN | 8-18 FG | 5-9 FT | 1 REB | 7 AST | 21 PTS | +4 I would like to take a moment to spotlight a fourth quarter play in which Parker fought over a Marc Gasol screen on OJ Mayo, rendering the pick useless and taking Marc Gasol out of the play. All too often we are content focusing on the scoring binges and improved passing to notice these little things.
	Kawhi Leonard, SF 28 MIN | 1-4 FG | 1-2 FT | 2 REB | 0 AST | 4 PTS | -4 Always impressed to see how Kawhi Leonard keeps contact with a player as he makes several cuts, and recovers off screens at just the right angles to avoid getting beaten on closeouts.
	Matt Bonner, PF 29 MIN | 3-5 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 0 AST | 8 PTS | -5 Played his role, dropped a Tony Parker teardrop. Did not have to deal with Zach Randolph or Darrell Arthur.
	Daniel Green, G 30 MIN | 0-8 FG | 2-2 FT | 4 REB | 4 AST | 2 PTS | 0 Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News tweeted Danny Green might have had the best 0-7 shooting game of the season. I remain impressed by his ability to contribute outside of hitting shots. Two of those assists were huge, and a thing of beauty.
	Gary Neal, PG 22 MIN | 2-6 FG | 2-2 FT | 5 REB | 0 AST | 8 PTS | +2 Hit his three-pointers. Still struggles heavily as a backup point guard. It’s hard to evaluate Neal considering he’s playing so woefully out of position.
	Tiago Splitter, C 20 MIN | 6-7 FG | 2-3 FT | 6 REB | 1 AST | 14 PTS | +2 Tiago Splitter is starting to draw double teams and continues to hit shots at a very high percentage. But we saw tonight that he and Timmy need to work together a little more before the playoffs to work through the kinks on that high-low combination. Needs more playing time.
	James Anderson, SG 8 MIN | 1-3 FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 0 AST | 3 PTS | +9 James Anderson was active and hit a big shot.

Related posts:

1. El Conclusión: San Antonio Spurs 83, Memphis Grizzles 73
2. El Conclusión: San Antonio Spurs 105, Atlanta Hawks 83
3. El Conclusión: San Antonio Spurs 93, New Orleans Hornets 81

The San Antonio Spurs kicked off their latest Rodeo Road Trip with a win over the Memphis Grizzlies. This game could’ve been a blowout for the silver and black, but a big third quarter from the Grizzlies got Memphis back in the game. The Spurs eventually won 89-84 thanks to 21 points from Tony Parker and a big 19 point, 17 rebound and five block night from Tim Duncan.

On our 48MoH TV postgame show, Tim Varner and I broke down a few of the performances from the night including those of Parker, Duncan, Tiago Splitter and Danny Green. We took a few questions from the audience and talked about how well the Spurs’ defense has played over the last several games. We also discussed which player has been more important to the Spurs’ success the last few games, Duncan or Parker.

We closed out the night by looking at my posters hanging in the background of my office (FYI, Todd Slater is the poster artist who did the Wu-Tang Clan poster behind me) and played another round of Name That Narrative. Varner thinks the story will be about the Spurs’ current winning streak. I’m leaning towards something about the Spurs opening up another Rodeo Road Trip, in which San Antonio has never had a losing record, with a win. We’ll see who’s right.

Related posts:

1. 48MoH TV Postgame: Spurs vs. Grizzlies
2. 48MoH TV Postgame: Spurs vs. Mavs
3. Spurs-Timberwolves postgame show

Tony Parker entered the NBA a wide-eyed 19-year old rookie with a surrounding cast of grizzled veterans and MVP candidate Tim Duncan. As such, he was accustomed to following orders. Often in the form of San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich giving a profanity-laced tirade.

So when it came time for his big moment last night, passing Avery Johnson for the San Antonio Spurs all-time assists record, Parker was quick to provide some instruction of his own.

“I told Timmy every time I pass him the ball to shoot it,” Parker said. “I wanted that assist to be with him, it would be more special for me.”

It was fitting that Parker should reach this career milestone on an assist to Tim Duncan. After all, Parker and Duncan are the longest tenured point guard/power forward combination since John Stockton and Karl Malone ruled the pick-and-roll. Early on Popovich even tried to shoe horn Parker into Stockton’s game before realizing Parker, and the team, were better off when he let Parker simply play his.

Funny then that after years of pounding Parker on the values of facilitating the offense that Popovich would demand an Allen Iverson-esque performance from his point guard on the night Parker would claim the Spurs all-time assists mark.

“It was funny because I knew I had like seven assists [to go], so I thought I was going to come in and pass, but Pop comes in before the game and tells me that I need to shoot 25 times,” Parker said. “He said you need to take 25-30 shots or we’re not going to win. It’s funny because every time Pop says that I have a big night. He asked me to take more than 25 shots, so I was happy to accomplish both.”

With Parker passing Avery Johnson, it’s interesting to note that there could not have been more contrasting styles on how to play the position than the Spurs two greatest. Johnson worked to find the right mismatches and get the ball in the right spots to the right player while Parker was a one-man mismatch that could get the ball to any spot he wanted on the court.

It’s almost as if someone took Johnson’s game and turned it on his head, which coincidentally will work when they retire Parker’s jersey. Because what is a 9 if not an upside down 6? Having played with both point guards, the differences–and Parker’s evolution over the years–were not lost on Duncan.

“Yeah, knowing that [Parker's] a scoring point guard more than anything, but he’s evolved over the years and he knows how to do it all,” Duncan said. “Pop stayed on him about being a distributor and at the same time having a balance between scoring and passing the ball.

You saw that tonight as he ended up with nine or 10 assists and the forty points. It was a great effort by him and we needed him to do that. He was great for us.”

With Manu Ginobili and T.J. Ford out, lately Parker has been providing the Spurs with everything they need. He is playing at an All-Star level in keeping the team afloat.

“Tony has been a good leader, he’s a good scorer, he’s been an assist guy,” Popovich said. “Literally everything to try and keep the group above water while Manu and T.J. are out. So he’s done a really good job.”

Oklahoma City Thunder

96

Final Recap | Box Score

107

San Antonio Spurs

	Tim Duncan, C 30 MIN | 5-16 FG | 3-3 FT | 15 REB | 3 AST | 13 PTS | +24 Duncan never found his offense, but I love the pride he’s shown this season, especially in this game. After having a handful of shots blocked or altered by the Thunder’s interior defense in the first half, Duncan went hard at the hoop in the second half and was fouled on a couple strong plays at the rim. Defensively, he played well and controlled the glass the entire game. The old Tim Duncan has at least one thing in common with the young Tim Duncan. Neither player gets enough respect.
	Richard Jefferson, SF 33 MIN | 3-9 FG | 0-0 FT | 6 REB | 0 AST | 9 PTS | +15 Offensively, Jefferson quietly connected on three three point baskets. Defensively, he held his own against a team that typically gives the Spurs fits. Nothing spectacular, but a solid performance from RJ.
	DeJuan Blair, F 22 MIN | 1-3 FG | 3-4 FT | 3 REB | 0 AST | 5 PTS | +11 When DeJuan Blair was a rookie he had a monster game against the Thunder. That seems like such a long time ago. It was certainly before the emergence of Serge Ibaka and the arrival of Kendrick Perkins. Tonight, he stunk. Blair contributed almost nothing to the offense and was mistake prone and over-matched on defense.
	Tony Parker, PG 39 MIN | 16-29 FG | 10-12 FT | 3 REB | 9 AST | 42 PTS | +20 Let me add ++++++ to that A. This was Tony Parker playing like Tony Parker plays when Tony Parker is an All-Star. A special night for Parker, who coupled a huge scoring outburst with the historic accomplishment of becoming the Spurs’ all-time leader in assists. Lost in all that is Parker’s defense. He bothered Westbrook the entire game and came up with a pair of timely steals. Tonight Parker gave us the best individual performance by any Spur this season.
	Kawhi Leonard, SF 31 MIN | 5-7 FG | 2-2 FT | 6 REB | 5 AST | 15 PTS | +15 Leonard gave the Spurs a gigantic lift in the first half by knocking down a couple threes. But his fifteen points and six boards are not nearly as impressive as his five assists. Leonard is still rough around the edges, but his overall game could eventual challenge for an All Star appearance.
	Matt Bonner, PF 19 MIN | 3-5 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 1 AST | 9 PTS | +3 Poor Matt Bonner. He was fouled (obviously fouled, I should add) on a non-call dunk attempt in the first half. Had Bonner connected on that wicked, New Hampshire-style two-handed tomahawk, I might have been tempted to give him an A. As it stands, Matt Bonner made a trio of threes. That’s enough for a B-.
	Daniel Green, G 26 MIN | 2-6 FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 0 AST | 6 PTS | -3 Not one of Danny Green’s better performances. His game was undone tonight by a series of mental errors and questionable decisions. Despite all this, Pop stuck with him. This tells us more about Green’s place in the rotation than this game tells us about Green’s skill set.
	Gary Neal, PG 20 MIN | 1-8 FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 1 AST | 3 PTS | -13 His shooting numbers say it all.
	Tiago Splitter, C 17 MIN | 1-5 FG | 3-4 FT | 5 REB | 2 AST | 5 PTS | -9 Splitter never got going on offense. But his defense, rebounding, and screen setting were once again superb.

Related posts:

1. El Conclusión: San Antonio Spurs 105, Atlanta Hawks 83
2. El Conclusión: San Antonio Spurs 93, New Orleans Hornets 81
3. El Conclusión: San Antonio Spurs 99, Houston Rockets 91

New Orleans Hornets

81

Final Recap | Box Score

93

San Antonio Spurs

	Tim Duncan, C 22 MIN | 6-8 FG | 7-7 FT | 9 REB | 1 AST | 19 PTS | +11 That’s an awesomely efficient stat line. Look at it again. Print it out and put it under your pillow tonight. You’ll sleep like a baby.
	Richard Jefferson, SF 24 MIN | 3-7 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 0 AST | 7 PTS | +2 The quiet nights are starting to become disturbing. They’re not killing the Spurs yet, but it could be coming.
	DeJuan Blair, F 19 MIN | 1-6 FG | 1-2 FT | 6 REB | 1 AST | 3 PTS | +4 Played hard, but couldn’t buy a bucket.
	Tony Parker, PG 35 MIN | 8-15 FG | 2-3 FT | 5 REB | 7 AST | 18 PTS | +10 I thought Tony Parker was the catalyst in the late third quarter and early fourth for the run that put some separation between the Spurs and the Hornets.
	Gary Neal, PG 29 MIN | 3-9 FG | 0-0 FT | 4 REB | 2 AST | 7 PTS | +11 Coach Pop says Gary Neal isn’t 100% back to form following his return from appendicitis. “Not even close,” Pop says. This performance on the second night of a back-to-back proves it.
	Matt Bonner, PF 23 MIN | 2-10 FG | 1-1 FT | 2 REB | 0 AST | 6 PTS | +4 Didn’t shoot well. Helped open things up for penetration and looks down low in the second half, though.
	Daniel Green, G 32 MIN | 2-6 FG | 6-7 FT | 4 REB | 2 AST | 11 PTS | +11 A relatively quiet night for Green. Didn’t make any spectacular plays, didn’t have an elite player to harass. Seven free throw attempts is nice, though.
	Tiago Splitter, C 28 MIN | 7-9 FG | 2-3 FT | 7 REB | 1 AST | 16 PTS | +13 Do you think Manu Ginobili is secretly jealous of the chemistry Tiago is developing with Tony? I’ll bet he is.
	James Anderson, SG 2 MIN | 0-0 FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 0 AST | 0 PTS | -4 *Looks around awkwardly*
	Kawhi Leonard, SF 12 MIN | 1-1 FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 0 AST | 2 PTS | -4 I’m curious to see Kawhi’s lack of minutes the past couple of games is just a blip on the radar or disturbing trend.
	Cory Joseph, G 13 MIN | 1-3 FG | 2-4 FT | 0 REB | 2 AST | 4 PTS | +2 As Coach Pop reminded us media types pregame, he’s still basically a sophomore in college. Oh yeah. I like his future. Dude doesn’t get rattled or down on himself. Ever. Supreme confidence.

Related posts:

1. El Conclusión: San Antonio Spurs 105, Atlanta Hawks 83
2. El Conclusión: San Antonio Spurs 99, Houston Rockets 91
3. El Conclusión: San Antonio Spurs 83, Memphis Grizzles 73

“[The OT Spurs-Mavs game] will make our bench so much deeper when our injured guys come back.”

– Danny Green

On the strength of a quick flurry of three-pointers and an 11-point outburst from Kevin Martin in the first quarter, the Houston Rockets had the Spurs reeling early once again. With a little more than five minutes remaining in the quarter, and an 11-point deficit that would eventually swell to 19, San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich sent Tiago Splitter in for Tim Duncan.

Given the Spurs recent history, and Popovich’s penchant for pulling the plug early in similar games, it could have just as easily been the last time Duncan saw the court this night. Perhaps sensing this, or the upcoming mandatory vacation Popovich would like to place on Duncan during these four-games-in-five-nights stretches, Duncan left the court angrily—allowing for a rare moment of emotion to contort his face beyond his usual making his eyes bigger routine.

It has, in many ways, been a frustrating season for Duncan, as his two early season technical fouls can attest to. It has been one steeped in reminders of his basketball mortality, with questions about his numbered days at every turn going back to the first day of training camp.

“Wow, after the first practice? I feel good today, does that count for anything,” Duncan replied with a hint of annoyance when asked if he was prepared to retire just moments after his first workout back in training camp.

The season has been a day-to-day experience for Duncan, good some nights, old the next. But the Spurs captain believes there are enough contributions left in his knees to bristle at the thought of retirement.

“I haven’t even gotten to that bridge,” Duncan said. “I don’t even see that bridge yet. When I get there I’ll cross it and see what’s going on.”

Across from Duncan, on the opposing bench, was a former player who has long since seen that bridge and today has trouble crossing anything. Kevin McHale, coach of the Houston Rockets, knows a thing or two about aging post players and the toll it takes on a body. He now walks with a pronounced limp, a daily reminder of the grind of the NBA and his decision to push through a playoff run on a broken foot.

“Timmy’s still effective. He’s looking more to facilitate when he first gets the ball, whereas years ago he was looking to attack a little bit more and score,” McHale said. “But you know, you play different when you get older. If not, Bill Russell would still be winning championships.”

How did McHale change his game as he reached the end of his career?

“Everybody shoots more jumpers because you get tired of getting beaten up,” McHale said. “I see Timmy’s gravitated towards that too.”

Most nights McHale’s assessment of Duncan would be spot on. Duncan is averaging a career low 2.7 shots at the rim and converting on less than half of them according to Hoopdata.com. Instead he’s taking roughly half his shots from 16-23 feet, where he’s hitting 53 percent of them.

This was reflective of McHale’s pregame assessment of Duncan. And the white board in the visitor’s locker room was even more revealing. Listed as the third key to the game were the words “get Duncan into as many pick and rolls as possible.”

The San Antonio Spurs have taken many pains to mask this decline. Even Duncan’s throwback games this season, like his game-winning performance in New Orleans, has been more the result of a locked in jump shot than a rejuvenated Tim Duncan. 

When Duncan went to the bench early in the first quarter, there was little reason to believe he would have a similar night in him. When the Spurs struggled to slow Rockets shooters while failing to make anything themselves, there was little reason to believe they had a chance. But Popovich saw something he didn’t see in other games.

“I thought in the first half our defense was actually pretty solid,” Popovich said. “They made a lot of shots. We made a couple of mistakes, but the combination of them being on fire and us not being able to hit anything–that’s something you have to be able to assess: whether guys are playing poorly, or you’re playing well but things just aren’t going your way.”

But most importantly he saw a physically and emotionally invested Tim Duncan and a rare flashback of youth he dare not waste.

Because of his basketball IQ, Duncan will always be able to take advantage of what a defense gives him so long as he can get up and down the court. Last night, however, was more about what Duncan wanted to take.

For the first time all season the knee brace-clad leg looked less like a burden Duncan had to drag around and more like the foundation from which he leverages defenders and spins off of with. Instead of finding defenders in bad positions, he was putting them there.

To catch a glimpse of Duncan’s physical dominance, one need only look at the box score. Duncan’s 10 free throw attempts were the first time he’s reached double digits in that category since losing to the Phoenix Suns in the 2009-2010 playoffs.

“I was just trying to be aggressive. I was trying to get in the paint as they were staying locked up on our shooters,” Duncan said. “They weren’t double-teaming so I got a chance to attack a little more, get in the paint, and make some shots. I felt good that quarter and just kind of made it work.”

While Duncan has gravitated more towards the perimeter, as McHale suggested, he showed he still has some fight left in those knees. Getting beaten up in the post? Duncan isn’t as tired of this as he is the questions about rest and retirement.

He will do so when he damn well pleases.

Houston Rockets

91

Final Recap | Box Score

99

San Antonio Spurs

	Tim Duncan, C 31 MIN | 9-12 FG | 7-10 FT | 7 REB | 0 AST | 25 PTS | +6 A good game from Tim Duncan on both ends of the floor. It’s hard to know when games like this will come from TD, so it’s good the Spurs didn’t waste it.
	Richard Jefferson, SF 21 MIN | 3-7 FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 1 AST | 6 PTS | -15 Surprising game from RJ. Not that he only scored six points, but that all of them were 2s and he only attempted one 3-pointer.
	DeJuan Blair, F 20 MIN | 0-1 FG | 0-2 FT | 7 REB | 0 AST | 0 PTS | -14 Blair is hit or miss when he’s gambling for steals on defense. Tonight he was a hit, but he the offense was worse when he was on the floor.
	Tony Parker, PG 38 MIN | 8-16 FG | 7-8 FT | 0 REB | 4 AST | 24 PTS | +3 Like Duncan, Tony Parker led the way in the second half. He only racked up four assists, but I’d venture to guess he had twice as many hockey assists. I give him a bump over Duncan for the tough defensive assignment on Kyle Lowry.
	Kawhi Leonard, SF 8 MIN | 1-5 FG | 1-2 FT | 1 REB | 1 AST | 3 PTS | -15 Struggled at the beginning of the game both offensively and defensively. Didn’t appear much after that. Not his night, but he’ll be back.
	Matt Bonner, PF 28 MIN | 1-4 FG | 5-7 FT | 10 REB | 0 AST | 8 PTS | +20 Did I just see 10 boards and some solid one-on-one defense against Luis Scola. No, that can’t be right.
	Daniel Green, G 30 MIN | 3-8 FG | 0-0 FT | 4 REB | 4 AST | 7 PTS | +14 I thought he was pressing in the first half with his college coach Roy Williams sitting court side. He played much more under control in the second half and did his damnedest chasing Kevin Martin around.
	Gary Neal, PG 34 MIN | 6-14 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 2 AST | 15 PTS | +26 Gary Neal ended up starting the second half instead of Kawhi Leonard and did an admirable job. Made plays on both the offensive and defensive ends.
	Tiago Splitter, C 17 MIN | 3-4 FG | 0-0 FT | 4 REB | 3 AST | 6 PTS | +2 Didn’t play a lot, but produced in the time he was in there. Will probably see more minutes on Thursday night against NOLA.
	James Anderson, SG 13 MIN | 1-5 FG | 2-2 FT | 2 REB | 0 AST | 5 PTS | +13 A rare first half appearance for Mr. Anderson. James was actually a vital piece of the lineup that got the Spurs back into the game in the second half.
	Cory Joseph, G DNP COACH’S DECISION MIN | FG | FT | REB | AST | PTS | I hate giving and F for not playing, but there’s not an incomplete option. Just read that as an incomplete.

Related posts:

1. El Conclusión: San Antonio Spurs 93, New Orleans Hornets 81
2. El Conclusión: San Antonio Spurs 105, Atlanta Hawks 83
3. El Conclusión: Dallas Mavericks 101, San Antonio Spurs 100

• Watching shootaround, DeJuan Blair’s shooting form is improved, it’s just not consistent. It changes from shot attempt to shot attempt. Half the time it’s good, the other half not so much. He’ll get it down with more reps.
• Spurs assistant coach Chad Forcier has Danny Green practicing shots out of a variety of dribble moves. It’s one of the more fun warmups to watch. Forcier also has Green working out of a variety of holds and hand checks. I remember the days last year when Green was running sprints with the strength and conditioning coaches before games because he wasn’t even going to be in uniform for that night’s contest. Oh How far we have come.
• University of North Carolina head coach Roy Williams is at the game tonight. He was at the pregame shootaround talking to Danny Green, who he coached at North Carolina, and Spurs assistant Jacque Vaughn, who he coached at Kansas.

Related posts:

1. El Conclusión: San Antonio Spurs 99, Houston Rockets 91
2. The San Antonio Spurs and Meme Reversal
3. El Conclusión: Dallas Mavericks 101, San Antonio Spurs 100

Us fans are easily swayed by streaks. The winning kind make us salivate at the questionable algebra: (surprisingly excellent team) + (Manu Ginobili) = (Championship). Losing streaks –even the one-game sort that defy the “streak” misnomer– peel each and every one of the team’s virtues away, ruthlessly exposing its flaws and shortcomings. Somewhere in the middle, somewhere between LeBron James’ 30-foot pull-up jumpers and Green’s reverse lay-ups, between Tyreke Evan’s heroics and Kawhi’s ridiculous upside, lies the true measure of this Spurs team.

For years now, as the early playoffs exits piled up, I have heard people I respect say that we had finally reached the turning point. That an old team with aging stars would not be able to compete with the new superteams that emerged as a result of lopsided trades, decisions, strokes of luck: the Boston Hydra, the Miami Frankentrio, the Lakers one-eyed Zentaur. Blowing up a team has a certain unmistakable appeal that calls forth the gambler in all of us. Let us close our eyes, cast the dice, cross our fingers and hope for the future. Perennial relevance in the NBA is always just a magical ping pong ball bounce away, after all.

The Spurs organization has chosen a different path.

Our beloved core was preserved despite the injuries and unavoidable decay, with the notable exception of amnesty fodder Richard Jefferson. RC Buford and Popovich abandoned their penchant for veteran, savvy players, for drafting and stashing overseas, and started looking for young and ready potential amongst the dregs of unimpressive drafts. The infamous myth which claimed that Popovich always refused to play youngsters was first adjusted, then squashed by a slew of rookies playing important minutes, until line-ups featuring Leonard, Joseph, Blair, Splitter and Green took the court during the second quarter of a honest-to-goodness NBA game. Currently, as Ginobili recovers from his injury and Duncan sits to protect his body for bigger, better moments, the Spurs feature a team that would in other circumstances be described as “young, but with potential for greatness if they find a leader”, or maybe “talented enough to reach the playoffs but without the experience needed to win difficult seven-game series” — or even, perhaps, “the future”. The Spurs have rebuilt on the fly, looking at a post-Duncan era that prolongs a decade of excellence and preserves the institutional memory that made the Spurs what they are. We blinked, and then we were young.

Growing pains are to be expected. DeJuan Blair remains an imperfect weapon whose value rises or falls depending on the matchup, and whose approach to shooting a basketball is as lackadaisical as his attempts to grab defensive rebounds. However, with the right teammate to feed him down low, and the right partenaire guarding him, his presence can change the momentum of an entire game on its own. As a situational bench player, he is perfect. Cory Joseph, a once-promising second string point guard, is proving that his place at the moment is with the Toros. His attempts to man the ship have been amateurish, and forced Popovich to use line ups with no true point guard, featuring a three-headed point-guard-by-committee comprised by Anderson or Richard Jefferson, Green and Neal. After a cold start, Bonner seems to be finding his range – but whenever his shot errs, he serves only as a stark, punishing reminder of our need for a true center. You do not need to be an ESPN Insider to realize that we are still flawed.

However, I am cursed with seemingly irrational optimism. After every win like last night’s, in which the push for a victory seems to surge from what was once the deep end of our bench, my mind adjusts the mental model I have formed of this newest incarnation of the Little-Spurs-That-Could, tweaking the parameters and recalculating our chances. Kawhi Leonard continues to be a rookie that stubbornly refuses to make mistakes: just about every shot is an open one, every pass is effective and logical, every rotation is remembered. Many pages have been written about his defensive prowess and deceptive athleticism, but in my view his most impressive quality is his beyond-his-age self-awareness: he is a rookie that never plays beyond his limits – limits that he can recognize with remarkable acuity. His shot mechanics are fluid and his confidence unwavering. The arch his jumper needs will come in time.

Danny Green represents another unexpected surprise for me (for us?), with a game elevated by an unconscious willingness to fill holes created by injuries, inflated salaries and aging bodies. Green is at his best a mirage of Ginobili, a player capable of grasping moments, of offensive wizardry and exquisite defensive timing, but mired by oversights that scale him back to a more mundane size. He is an inexplicable gift as the second team’s shooting guard, and his newfound confidence can only be explained by what I imagine were countless triple doubles at the expense of lanky, faceless European foils. Green is a good, solid player.

Tiago Splitter, now, is a game changer. Or he can be. Or I want him to be. I cannot explain the jump in quality that some rookies experience when after a few months of sunny Summer they escape their cocoons transformed into beautiful sophomores, not any more than I can explain Splitter’s current minutes-per-game average. All I know is that the Spurs currently have only one player fully comfortable with receiving the ball in the post with his backs to the basket and being asked to create two points out of a fake, another fake, a twist and a hook shot – and that player is not Tim Duncan. Our quest for one of the rare true centers left in this league of feisty guards and athletic shooting forwards is understandable, but at least part of the answer might be sitting at the bench every night, waiting for the nod to lead from deep within the arc while Tim Duncan -the fleet-footed sharpshooter, Tim Duncan- rests. I scratch my head every night as Splitter’s league-leading 61.5% field goal percentage goes largely ignored by non-Brazilian media. What else is needed for the coaches to trust a player who can score seemingly at will even as one of the team’s only two true facilitators looks in from behind the bench on a suit?

An incomplete Spurs team is struggling to find its identity while on the run from an impossible schedule, injuries and worst of all, mediocrity. No metamorphosis is smooth, no transition is easy. But every season that passes, every roster change that shaves off years and experience, every fourth quarter in which Duncan cheers from the bench, the Spurs become something that is not quite what they were before.

Something… more?

DeJuan Blair is becoming a polarizing figure for Spurs fans. (Photo credit: The Brit_2)

After a podcast hiatus during the holidays, and pretty much the entire month of January, we return with a fresh new episode of the 4-Down Podcast. Our pal Beckley Mason of HoopSpeak.com joins us to talk about some Spurs-related subject matter. We recorded shortly after the Spurs’ return-from-the-dead loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday night, so we talked some about that game. We discussed how as boring as the Spurs are, the team’s games rarely go according to plan.

We also asked Beckley about DeJuan Blair. With the ascension of Tiago Splitter, Blair’s starting role and minutes are becoming a polarizing topic for some Spurs fans. Beckley gave us his opinion on Blair as an NBA player and where he stands.

Then, we talked a lot about pickup basketball. Most NBA bloggers are avid pickup aficionados, and we are no exception. We break down some pickup ball etiquette and share some stories. It’s not necessarily Spurs-related, but whatever, it’s where the conversation went.

Subscribe to the 4-Down Podcast via iTunes. Or you can keep up using the RSS feed. You can also right click (or control click on a Mac) to download the audio file (55:12, 13.4 mb) or listen below. Whatever you do, please go to iTunes and leave us good ratings and reviews, it will help spread the word about the show. Email 4downpodcast@gmail.com if you have any questions or comments for the 4-Down Podcast.

San Antonio Spurs

83

Final Recap | Box Score

73

Memphis Grizzlies

	Tim Duncan, C 32 MIN | 5-12 FG | 4-4 FT | 6 REB | 4 AST | 14 PTS | +1 Duncan did a solid job defending the post, and he seemed to frustrate Marc Gasol on multiple occasions. Otherwise, it was a relatively ineffective night for the Spurs great.
	Richard Jefferson, SF 37 MIN | 5-13 FG | 0-0 FT | 6 REB | 2 AST | 13 PTS | +1 37 minutes for Richard Jefferson is too many. But Jefferson keeps defenses honest by shooting whenever he has an open look. He had plenty of those tonight. Jefferson remains a competent, but not fantastic defender. But when he’s shooting without hesitation, competent defense is more than enough. That was the story tonight.
	DeJuan Blair, F 15 MIN | 4-7 FG | 1-2 FT | 2 REB | 0 AST | 9 PTS | +1 Blair didn’t board well and struggled early against Speights and Gasol. His ability to score around the hoop is a constant, but his playing time is tied more closely to his defense. Tonight was a bit of a let down for Blair who gave the Spurs a good defensive showing last night against Dirk Nowitzki.
	Tony Parker, PG 39 MIN | 2-9 FG | 1-1 FT | 5 REB | 12 AST | 5 PTS | +12 Tony Parker struggled from the floor, but his 12 assists more than made up for his shooting miscues. Throw in 5 rebounds and a pair of steals and Parker gets an A.
	Kawhi Leonard, SF 32 MIN | 6-11 FG | 0-1 FT | 10 REB | 1 AST | 12 PTS | +4 Leonard got his swagger back after a series of mediocre games. His energy and ability to disrupt the game gave the Spurs an offensive and defensive edge. Leonard’s 4 offensive boards were huge momentum builders for San Antonio and his defense on Rudy Gay nearly caused the Memphis swing to whine his way out of the game.
	Matt Bonner, PF 24 MIN | 5-10 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 0 AST | 15 PTS | +21 Matt Bonner did what Matt Bonner does when Matt Bonner is playing well—he knocked down one three pointer after another. My favorite moment of the game came when Matt Bonner protested a loose ball foul on what would have been a tough rebound. Bonner doesn’t get many tough rebounds. It’s nice to know he cares.
	Daniel Green, G 31 MIN | 3-10 FG | 3-5 FT | 4 REB | 1 AST | 11 PTS | +9 Danny Green receives strong marks on the strength of effort, hustle, and making a handful of good defensive plays.
	Gary Neal, PG 15 MIN | 0-3 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 1 AST | 0 PTS | -4 Gary Neal made me hope for Cory Joseph. One night after putting together his best game of the season, Neal turned in another game to forget.
	Tiago Splitter, C 15 MIN | 2-4 FG | 0-2 FT | 7 REB | 1 AST | 4 PTS | +11 I can’t figure out why Splitter doesn’t play more minutes. IT. DOES. NOT. MAKE. SENSE. What are you doing Gregg Popovich? Even with his three turnovers, dude was +11. IT. DOES. NOT. MAKE. SENSE. This was not a great outing for Splitter, but, really, 15 minutes? Really?

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1. El Conclusión: San Antonio Spurs 89, Memphis Grizzlies 84
2. El Conclusión: San Antonio Spurs 93, New Orleans Hornets 81
3. El Conclusión: San Antonio Spurs 105, Atlanta Hawks 83

We got live following the Spurs’ big road win over the Memphis Grizzlies. Aaron McGuire joined me to talk about Memphis playing some disjointed basketball — similar to how the Spurs looked on Sunday evening against the Mavericks. The Spurs had control of this game in the third quarter when the Grizzlies started to melt down.

We then answered a couple of questions from the audience about the Tiago Splitter / DeJuan Blair dynamic in the rotation. Finally, we played another round of “Name That Narrative,” in which I already won.

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3. Spurs-Timberwolves postgame show

San Antonio Spurs

100

Final Recap | Box Score

101

Dallas Mavericks

	Tim Duncan, C 23 MIN | 5-10 FG | 2-4 FT | 6 REB | 2 AST | 12 PTS | -6 His per minute numbers are solid, but it’s hard to give Duncan a too high a grade because of how badly the Mavericks were beating the Spurs while TD was on the floor. But of the starters, Duncan wasn’t the low light. He helped the Spurs more than he hurt them, but Dallas was/is the better team.
	Richard Jefferson, SF 28 MIN | 5-9 FG | 0-3 FT | 7 REB | 2 AST | 12 PTS | -9 Jefferson shot the ball fairly well and helped on the boards, but, like Duncan, Jefferson was part of the unit that dug a hole that proved too deep. With that in mind, the C+ might be generous.
	DeJuan Blair, F 23 MIN | 3-8 FG | 0-0 FT | 9 REB | 3 AST | 6 PTS | -8 Same qualifiers for Blair as Jefferson and Duncan. But give Blair credit for playing Dirk Nowitzki with a smart, physical brand of defense. Dirk still made shots over Blair, but they were difficult shots. In this game, Blair’s defense was better than his offense.
	Tony Parker, PG 28 MIN | 2-11 FG | 4-6 FT | 1 REB | 4 AST | 9 PTS | -10 Ugh. Parker seemed to make things more difficult on himself than need be, especially when he got into the paint. He’s a clever scorer, but tonight he was too clever by half. Simple takeaway: Parker did not play well.
	Kawhi Leonard, SF 24 MIN | 3-9 FG | 0-0 FT | 6 REB | 1 AST | 6 PTS | -10 Leonard made a couple shots early and grabbed six rebounds, but otherwise continues his recent stint of mediocre basketball.
	Matt Bonner, PF 30 MIN | 3-6 FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 1 AST | 8 PTS | +4 Matt Bonner played 30 minutes, which gives us plenty to talk about. He only grabbed two boards in 30 minutes, and that too is an important talking point. But his three point shooting helped fuel the Spurs’ heroic near comeback. For that, he avoids a ‘D’.
	Daniel Green, G 29 MIN | 5-10 FG | 0-0 FT | 5 REB | 0 AST | 12 PTS | +8 Danny Green’s stat sheet doesn’t tell the story. Green’s energy and grit were crucial to the Spurs’ near comeback. Defensively, he was disruptive for 29 minutes. Offensively, Green was fearless.
	Gary Neal, PG 29 MIN | 7-16 FG | 2-3 FT | 4 REB | 7 AST | 19 PTS | +9 Garl Neal is also a player who isn’t afraid to shoot the basketball. Tonight, he connected on a handful of important shots and led the Spurs in scoring. And he distributed 7 assists, which was even more important.
	Tiago Splitter, C 27 MIN | 3-9 FG | 2-3 FT | 7 REB | 0 AST | 8 PTS | +8 Tiago Splitter has, arguably, been the best Spur over the last 5 games or so. He didn’t show that tonight, but he did man the middle during San Antonio’s amazing second half run. Respect.
	James Anderson, SG 20 MIN | 3-4 FG | 0-0 FT | 5 REB | 3 AST | 8 PTS | +17 James Anderson played within the offense tonight. The results were good. Anderson didn’t force shots, and his three assists were probably more important than his pair of threes. Under normal circumstances, I’m not sure there is room for Anderson in the rotation, but he made a strong case for more minutes tonight.
	Cory Joseph, G 5 MIN | 0-2 FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 0 AST | 0 PTS | -8 Doughnuts.

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1. El Conclusión: San Antonio Spurs 105, Atlanta Hawks 83
2. El Conclusión: San Antonio Spurs 93, New Orleans Hornets 81
3. El Conclusión: San Antonio Spurs 99, Houston Rockets 91

We got live following the San Antonio Spurs’ Sunday evening road loss to the Dallas Mavericks.

If it’s your first time checking out 48MoH TV and you’re unfamiliar with VOKLE, it’s an online video-streaming program that allows you the viewer to interact with the conversation via text or video questions. Just hit the red “Join Event” button to interact with other viewers in the chat window and ask the 48MoH staffers a question. We may answer your question live on air.

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