Returning to Form?

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San Antonio’s defense has not been the same this season. But things are looking up, even without TD and Manu in the lineup. After last night’s victory against Portland, Jeff McDonald recorded this quote from Coach Popovich:

The last four games, we’ve been the defensive team we’ve been in the past…If we can continue that, I think we’ll be a pretty good team.

In those four games, the Spurs have held opponents to 76.5 points per game on 36% shooting. To my eyes, the Spurs have seemed more intensely focused on defense. And, of course, it’s noteworthy that two of the previous 4 games were played without the advantage of Duncan’s interior defense. Forgive me, though, if I restrain myself from gleeful excitement until the sample size stretches and the competition rises above the levels of the sinking Pistons, the hapless Wizards, the not-what-they-once-were Mavericks, and, well, I suppose Portland deserves their due respect.

Still, this is a trend to keep your eye on.

  • Krista

    Could it be that the defense begins to improve as soon as Bruce and Ice start to get playing time?

  • http://www.48minutesofhell.com Timothy Varner

    Krista,

    Great question, and you’re not the first to wonder. L.J. Ellis provided a game recap stat a couple weeks back-can’t find it now-that was suggestive of Bowen’s continuing dominance. I don’t remember the specific numbers, but the Spurs are a much better defensive team with Bowen on the floor. Surprise, surprise.

  • Juan

    I sure hope so. Like I said in previous posts, if the defense comes around, the Spurs are my personal favorites because this is our best offensive team we have had in a while.

  • ThatBigGuy

    Pop sat down with the team and said at the beginning of the season, “We’re not going to play great defense, so that everyone will write us off. Then, during out rodeo road trip, we will start playing D again, catch everyone by surprise, and roll to another title.”

    That’s the only thing that seems feasible right now. Man, it requires a masters in psychology just to understand our own team.

  • ThatBigGuy

    Spelling error: “…during our rodeo…”

    I’m an English major, I have to correct myself.

  • Latin_D

    Maybe the increased playing time for Bowen has something to do with our sudden defensive might, but I for one have noticed some pretty effective one-on-one D from Bonner, Thomas and Hill. That new-found intensity is particularly surprising in Bonner, because he’s usually the one other teams abuse down below the hoop.

    Hill’s the one that continues to give me hope for the future. If you squinted for a bit there in the Mavs game, you could almost guess the silhouette of a young Bowen chasing his newest victim. With all this talk about Gist, Pops and Mahinmi, it’s Hill that almost makes me look forward to a Big Three-less Spurs.

    But not quite.

  • Mason

    Spurs’ defense has been amazing the past couple of games. I swear I thought Roy would explode for 30 but they stepped it up. Kudos to Bonner and Thomas. Let’s see if we put the same pressure on LeBron James.

  • ruth bader ginobili

    I’d like to see alot of Bruce and Ime on LeBron. Even if they are rusty, they are better defenders than Finley or Mason. Unless Pop just lets LeBron get his, and goes with an offensive lineup.

    It’ll be interesting to see Hill on Mo Williams, too. The Cavs have a smallish backcourt-maybe Parker and Hill can play at the same time?

  • TDzilla

    @ ThatBigGuywell, TD has a degree in Psychology, so maybe he understands it completely

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