Final Horn Grades: Spurs 101, Warriors 95

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This is a new feature we have at 48MoH where we’ll have a quick reaction to the game, posted minutes after the buzzer. We had some technical difficulties tonight, so it’s up later than expected. Plan for it to be up right after the game on most nights, though.

Golden State Warriors 95 Final

Recap | Box Score

 101 San Antonio Spurs
Tim Duncan, C 6-9 FG | 3-4 FT | 11 REB | 1 AST | 15 PTS | +8

Was a new man when once he picked up that technical foul. A vintage Duncan game on the defensive end in the fourth quarter.
Richard Jefferson, SF 5-8 FG | 2-2 FT | 5 REB | 0 AST | 17 PTS | +21

Hit some open shots, though wasn’t as assertive as he’s been when playing with the second unit guys. Was slow to react defensively.
DeJuan Blair, F 4-9 FG | 4-4 FT | 9 REB | 0 AST | 12 PTS | +2

Atrocious start to the game, but recovered upon his reinsertion to the lineup. Pop felt the need to leave him out late to go with a small lineup, however.
Tony Parker, PG 7-16 FG | 7-9 FT | 2 REB | 8 AST | 21 PTS | 0

Struggled to find good driving lanes early. Eventually adjusted and pulled up for floaters instead of getting too deep inside. Hit some big shots late. Defensively, he’s putting aloe vera on those burns as we speak.
James Anderson, SG 2-6 FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 2 AST | 5 PTS | +3

Didn’t knock down open shots on the perimeter, but stayed aggressive regardless. Fairly anonymous on defense.
T.J. Ford, PG 4-5 FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 8 AST | 9 PTS | +16

Easily his best game as a Spur. Was the driving force on the second unit offensively, so much so that he finished out the game playing alongside Tony Parker.
Matt Bonner, PF 1-4 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 0 AST | 3 PTS | 0

Didn’t knock down too many shots, which is what he’s there for.
Daniel Green, G 3-4 FG | 1-2 FT | 2 REB | 2 AST | 8 PTS | +10

Wow. Defensively was assigned to Monta Ellis in the second half and did an admirable job. Was very active offensively as well. Big night for Mr. Green.
Gary Neal, PG 3-9 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 0 AST | 7 PTS | -21

Played well offensively. Got torched defensively, but that was going around. Good game considering his game shape. I’m grading him with a curve tonight.
Tiago Splitter, C 1-6 FG | 0-2 FT | 5 REB | 1 AST | 2 PTS | -8

Rebounded well early, and was aggressive offensively. Didn’t have much to show for it, though.
Kawhi Leonard, SF 1-2 FG | 0-1 FT | 2 REB | 1 AST | 2 PTS | -1

Didn’t play in the second half as Danny Green was favored, presumably because Kawhi can’t knock down an open jump shot.

Five Things We Saw

  1. A quiet 17 points for Richard Jefferson, who was quite effective from behind the line (5-5 3-pointers). and on the glass (five rebounds). Never had a flurry of buckets, just knocked down open shots as they came to him.
  2. An assertive Tim Duncan, especially after picking up a technical foul. It was almost vintage Duncan, recording a double-double and, more importantly, drawing double teams again leading to wide open looks from the corners for the Spurs three-point shooters. Also played brilliant defense in the fourth quarter (two blocks, six rebounds).
  3. Pop lit into Tony Parker late into the game, and I mean really lit into him-pressing his point guard to be more aggressive. Parker responded with several key baskets down the stretch.
  4. TJ Ford had a sense of the moment, providing the Spurs with everything they needed just when they needed it (offensively at least). Ford was almost the Ginobili-by-committee tonight, providing nine points and eight assists-all in key moments.
  5. Danny Green is a rotation quality player. The game never seemed too much for him. He neither rushed his offense or was frazzled on defense, sticking with Monta Ellis and making him work hard for his points, even as he was scoring them in bunches.
  • Anonymous

    Funny how the game of basketball in this organization seems to bring out the best in the least expected players and the worst in the most anticipated players.

  • Anonymous

    I hated seeing Green cut last year, didn’t understand it at all… glad he’s on the team again and getting minutes.

    This game indicates exactly why the “Spurs getting a top draft pick now that Manu is out for 8 weeks” talk that we’ve seen here is silly talk. A Duncan injury would change our outlook, but these guys (and this coach) are competitive, and pretty much every team will also sustain injuries this season. We won’t get these kind of open looks against better teams or in the playoffs, but it was satisfying to see Timmy and the PGs get it going tonight.

  • Anonymous

    Nothing to do with this post but have been wanting to ask this for a while. In Tim Duncan’s artistic rendering carousing the ball, why is the image reversed yet the signature correct?

  • Bankshot21

    Wasn’t exactly wowed by Green. Played basketball. For the salary these guys make he better be able to occasionally fill the void. His defense is horrible. I like his jumper of course. Makes pretty good decisions when forced with some form of pressure. TJ wowed me. For once I feel like Tony has a true back up. Speedy Claxton with better court vision. Timmy was way better than a B anything in my opinion. Was by far his best game of the early season. His stroke is back after those 1st two terrible shooting nights. Tony was also better than that grade reflects. Blair gets too many touches on the low block. TD playing @ the key while Blair operates is killing Duncan’s reb totals.

  • Hobson13

    You do understand that we won against the Warriors (at home I might add) and were behind for much of the game. We haven’t lost at home against them in almost 15 years. If the Spurs had lost this game, and came close to doing so, the “tank the season” crew would be shouting from the roof tops.

  • Anonymous

    You’re kidding right? His (Green) defense is horrible?

    Dude, Green above all the hyped new combers on this team played the most consistent game of all.

    I don’t see what you’re talking about.

  • attillcus

    It’s only been one game, but I definitely think Danny Green can be a solid rotation player. Tonight he played Tayshaun Prince-ish, and if he can be that type of player for the Spurs we might go .500+ until Manu gets back.

  • Anonymous

    Didn’t look a bit like tanking to me… against a team which, unlike other recent GSW teams, is not an early lottery team next summer either.

  • Anonymous

    If Green keeps outplaying Anderson throughout the season, the Spurs should consider flipping Anderson for a draft pick, even a second rounder.

  • jaws3

    Agreeing with you, STIJL, Danny Green has played very good defense in consecutive games. You can’t stop a scorer like Monte Ellis when he gets hot. His offense has also been a pleasant surprise.

  • Bob

    You know it might be good for the Spurs to actually fight more in the season than cruising like they did last year. The problem is when you’re cruising and you’re suddenly throw into a dogfight you might not respond with the necessary tenacity. That’s basically what happened when they ran into the Grizzlies in the playoffs.

  • Bob

    If Green can play consistently good defense it might make sense to start him. It’s much harder to stop a player that gets going early. You can only hope he runs out of steam.

  • NYC

    That just says you have the wrong expectations.

  • Pop-a-vich

    Was that Bruce Bowen defending Ellis in the second half?

  • Anonymous

    Golden state one the worst teams on defense manhandling every body on the team early on and thru the game. Fortunate for Blair he was freed up in the 2nd quarter and some there after when Biedrins went out for a quarter and then some. They didn’t say why he left to the locker room but he was gone for a good spell. That dude was rejecting everybody and even posterized Timmy then Curry goes out with the ankle late in the game while they are ahead. Don’t want to take away anything from Green because he stepped up but the Spurs were fortunate. Yes we’re a Championship team if we keep getting those kind of breaks. Maybe it’s our turn.

  • Anonymous

    Excuse me, he was rejecting everybody but Kwame was the one who posterized Timmy that’s even worse.

  • Dr. Disco

    I like this feature of your blog. It’s very interesting. The grade for Splitter is appropriate. He needs to get stronger. It seems like every game he’s getting the ball slapped out of his hands. They have to keep Bonner on the bench. The offense gets stagnant when he’s out there.

  • Anonymous

    This still didn’t impress me though. Biedrins out for a quarter and a half when he was playing great defense against us- (fortunate for Blair that’s when he got his stats or else different story then out he went when Biedrins came back not to return till the last 20 seconds of the game)
    As quite an effort they brought in the last 5 minutes of the game this still won’t be enough against teams with long PF/Centers that block shots. And we alos shot the crap out the 3’s and they went in. Thanks to RJ for all you RJ haters.

  • Anonymous

    False hope.

  • Anonymous

    Blair’s grade was deceiving he was a beneficiary of Biedrins not being there while he was in the locker room for that run while Blair took advantage of the free trips to the rim. Had Biedrins been there he wouldn’t have gotten what he got. Plain and simple. He would have got a D. It is what it is though. It’s all about the match ups and who’s on the court sometimes it favors us and sometimes not. Hope we can get some of those breaks throughout the season. Maybe were due.

  • Anonymous

    Pop likes defensive players. Anderson will prove to be a great scorer before it is all said and done but he needs to pick up his defense. Don’t think Pop will let him go unless its a special player. He did let GH go. Who knows.

  • Anonymous

    He looked good. This kid has always shown fortitude. His frame of mind and game since the time he started playing trash minutes last season and now in real minutes has been the same - playing balls out. I like that from. The sad thing is you see KL on the bench not getting those important minutes to prove himself. But you got to show up. Why is it that when the camera pans on him he looks like he wants to cry? Is that just his natural facial expression?

  • Anonymous

    Maybe the “tank the season crew” was delayed for 1 game.

  • Anonymous

    False hope is thinking the Spurs are gonna land an early pick in the draft.

  • http://twitter.com/brickowski Campbell LeFlore

    Green has that Bowenesque ability to guard many different guys well.

  • Tōn the Beat Counselor

    Final Horn Grades! Great idea! Please keep this!

  • http://radsci.uthscsa.edu/index.php/User:Nima Nima K.

    dude, if Popovich keeps yelling like that (like he did to Parker), he might have a stroke. Seriously man. I could feel his anger gushing out of the TV. lol!

  • grego

    Not many remember Green from his UNC days, but he was a big part of that championship, even if his name didn’t get the pub.

  • grego

    Twolves game makes it two solid games in a row. He also played good D last year in his 2 stints.

  • grego

    You don’t move Anderson. He’s still young. Green is awesome as the key things he does, but he does not have that type of game that Anderson had in college.

    The Spurs need both of them. Think post-Manu/Duncan generation, and the unit is as follows:

    Tiago/Parker/Anderson/Leonard/Green/Joseph/Blair

    You need some key players off the bench as well.

  • grego

    George Hill was redundant. He also reached his ceiling as a Spur and is too short in some degree. His defensive weakness came when Spurs put him up against tall 3’s. Not his fault, but with Leonard/Anderson/Green/Butler (when he was traded), all are 6’6 and bigger.

    Obviously, Leonard is only a Spur with the trade. They also got Bertrans and Lorbek in that deal.

  • Brandon Lamb

    The signature isn’t correct - it’s reversed too. When Jesse originally painted it, it was flipped (showing Duncan facing left), but I think it just looks better on the web page with Timmy facing “in”. I only know this because I just bought the original painting from Mr. Blanchard… and it’s bad-ass.

  • Hobson13

    You’re right, they weren’t tanking. However, they beat a bad team by 6 points while giving max effort. Not a good sign.

  • High5debra

    Amen. I love this new feature. This is a great read for those of us who don’t get to watch many of the games.

  • Bankshot21

    Kwame clearly hooked him on that play. Lets be serious.

  • Bankshot21

    What the heck is this obsession with Danny Green’s defense? You guys are really influenced by the statements of the dudes calling the game. Danny Green is a WEAK defender. He is quick so when he gets blown by he makes up ground pretty quick, but that doesn’t fool me. A good defender is a stopper and my opinion and he can not be put on an island with any of the premiere wing players in the league a la Bowen, Battier, Raja, etc. Please stop sipping the Kool Aid and raising the ceiling on this kids potential higher than it should be.

  • Bry

    Somebody put a cork in the ‘tank the season’ talk. It would be obnoxious even if it were a likely possibility, which is certainly isn’t. Find a way to support the Spurs without calling for them to lose. I do agree though, that this win is far from impressive against a team that hasn’t won in SA for like 100 years.

  • Anonymous

    Perhaps not as “Bowen-esque” as some are claiming. But definitely proving to be the best perimeter defender on the team thus far.

    That’s encouraging to say the least.

  • Pop-a-vich

    Agree. Green deserved those minutes than KL. But I think Kawhi has the athletic tools to become a better defender than Green. He’s a hardworking guy and he’ll improve his defense as we go through the season. I see him as a lock-down defender like Bowen 2-3 years from now.

    LOL on his facial expression. Those lazy eyes…

  • Anonymous

    Come back and see my post at the end of the their season empty handed. Yeeah false hope. Accept it.