El Conclusion: Spurs fall at home to Rockets

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Houston Rockets 112 Final

Recap | Box Score

 106 San Antonio Spurs
Tim Duncan, PF 33 MIN | 8-13 FG | 4-5 FT | 8 REB | 3 AST | 1 STL | 3 BLK | 2 TO | 20 PTS | -4
He seems to be rounding in to form and he’s catching alley-oops. He had no fear going right at Dwight Howard, who I think we can still call a top five post defender in the league. This all happened playing 30 plus minutes on the second night of a back to back. I think it’s safe to say Duncan’s body feels fine.
Boris Diaw, PF 11 MIN | 2-3 FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 5 PTS | +3
Only played 11 minutes due to a dislocated left middle finger. Not sure how long he’ll be out. He did get the start since Houston’s starting line up is more agile than most.
Kawhi Leonard, SF 29 MIN | 3-8 FG | 0-0 FT | 4 REB | 1 AST | 2 STL | 3 BLK | 1 TO | 6 PTS | -6
Did a fine job on Harden, did a terrible job with his offense. It’s tough saying Kawhi should stop shooting mid-range jumpers because he’s been very good at them, but you’d like to see him try to get to the rack more. It’s early and it’s not something he’s used to doing, some we won’t be too harsh.
Tony Parker, PG 38 MIN | 13-27 FG | 1-2 FT | 6 REB | 8 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 27 PTS | -1
You know why it’s an A-? Because it took Parker the better part of the game to stop leaving his man wide open on the perimeter to hit a three. Otherwise, he was brilliant. Is it possible the degree of difficulty on his layups have gone up? Maybe it was because he was driving on Howard a lot, but Tony’s play around the rim was wizardly.
Danny Green, SG 25 MIN | 3-8 FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 1 AST | 3 STL | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 7 PTS | -8
He started out fine and faded. I’m not entirely sure what to make of Green. The defense is still there, but so is the poor shooting at the rim and not awesome ball handling. Unfortunately he’s really living up to the Icy Hot nickname these days.
Matt Bonner, PF 23 MIN | 2-5 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 2 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 6 PTS | -6
Made a few big shots, fouled Dwight Howard on purpose, played unspectacular but fine defense. Pretty much exactly what you expect from him. Oh, and the sleeve is still there. Matt Bonner is trill.
Tiago Splitter, C 17 MIN | 2-3 FG | 2-4 FT | 3 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 3 TO | 6 PTS | 0
He was limited because of the matchup stuff, but Tiago’s been really good lately. He played solid defense on Howard and Omer Asik, had a timely block. Tiago has subtley turned himself in to one of the best defensive bigs in the league.
Patty Mills, PG 10 MIN | 0-2 FG | 2-2 FT | 1 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 2 PTS | -5
He didn’t play much, but wasn’t great when he got in either. In fact, I dont remember one thing he did. He definitely didn’t get an inbounds steal, which made my night less fun.
Marco Belinelli, SG 27 MIN | 7-13 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 18 PTS | -9
This guy just keeps getting better. And right now he is not missing from 3. In fact, he currently leads the league in 3-point shooting. He’s not the deefeder Green is, but his offense is more than making up for Green’s up and down season so far.
Manu Ginobili, SG 27 MIN | 4-9 FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 11 AST | 2 STL | 0 BLK | 4 TO | 9 PTS | +6
He took a really stupid three late in the game and then didn’t get back on defense, which allowed Chandler Parsons to get a dunk to make the game two possesions. However, he is once again playing defeacto point guard for the second unit and is just so good at it right now. I think we’ll all be fine with this Manu Ginobili for the rest of the season.
Aron Baynes, PF DNP COACH’S DECISION MIN | FG | FT | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PTS |
Once again to playing time for Baynes. This could change if Diaw is out an extended amount of time with the finger injury.
Jeff Ayres, PF DNP COACH’S DECISION MIN | FG | FT | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PTS |
See above.
Cory Joseph, PG DNP COACH’S DECISION MIN | FG | FT | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PTS |
I thought we might see some Joseph tonight after his great performance against Orlando. But with Parker playing 38 minutes, his services weren’t really needed.
Gregg Popovich
He yelled at everyone tonight. He yelled at his players for leaving guys open around the 3-point line. He yelled at the officials for missing a couple of calls. He even yelled at Kevin McHale for getting in Tim Duncan’s way on an inbounds pass right before halftime. But most importantly he inspired his team to make a run in the second half when they looked dead in the water.

One Thing We Saw

  1. If you play undiscipled defense, Houston will murder you with their spacing and fast break ability. Both of those things happened to the Spurs tonight. As Mike Monroe pointed out, this is only the second time the Spurs have allowed an opponent to score 100 points on them. The defense is fine.
  • Daniel

    Meh…this team isn’t athletic enough to deal with teams like Houston, OKC and Portland. Won’t be able to dodge them all and it’s ridiculous to think something like what happened last year will happen again. SAS are second round fodder at best.

  • David R.

    Daniel talking like a real Bitch right now.

  • Spurholic Mumbai

    0-3 against teams with winning record and in the Western Conference, gives a Spurs fan something to ponder. The intensity of coaching will always ensure that sub -.500 teams are dealt with ease. The test remains handling the best, which remains a work in progress. The doubters can easily “can” this team right now, yet 66 odd games still remain in the regular season. One certainty, Shaquille O’ Neal will surely be dropping Spurs as the “Clear” favourites to win the Western Conference over the next few days. Whew, what a relief for the Spurs, to get back “away” from the spotlight and keep doing what Spurholics want them to - winning

  • lvmainman

    Splitter gets a B? Splitter once a game get a pass for a layup and misses. And once a game Splitter gets a pass for a layup and a guard takes it from his hands like taking candy from a baby. Rockets shot layup, after floater, after layup over him. Talk about a waste of $10 million a year. Splitter deserves the Green grade of C-.

    The most depressing point of the game was score tied at 106, Harden misses a layup and Patrick Beverly a 6’2″ point guard jumps over Tim Duncan’s back for the go ahead winning basket. That rebound was a repeat of Miami in the playoffs, unable to get a crucial defensive rebound.

    Why resign Splitter when the teams that beat the Spurs are athletic teams that Splitter’s presence isn’t needed? The Spurs could’ve beat the Fakers and could’ve beaten Memphis with Baynes just as easily.
    Spurs should’ve let Splitter sign with the Trailblazers and pursued a Paul Millsap or Andre Iguodala that could help the Spurs win against good teams.

  • Melbourne Spur

    In Manu’s defence on that not getting back bit, he was assuming (and rightly so) that someone would foul automatically with the clock under 24 ticks left. Brain fade by the guys around the ball made Manu look silly.
    How can anyone panic when we have a record like we do? If you’re the Knicks or the Nets you panic. If you are the Spurs, you fine tune over the next 65-odd games. Nothing to worry about here people.

  • Titletown99030507d

    Are you stupid again. Timmy missed a few bunnies just as well and got scored on as well. Spurs lost because they got off slaming 3 after 3 and our defense did nothing about it and we got clobbered in the paint and the last time I checked Tiago played 17 scant minutes.
    Bonner stayed in the game way too long after going cold in the fourth. One thing Tiago does that neither Bonner nor Diaw can do is go to the line. That would have slowed their tempo and given us a better chance.
    A little something for you here, Baynes cant stay on the floor long enough to compete you goof ball let alone perform. He doesnt suit up every game for a reason its because hes trash time fodder whos foul prone. Damn do you watch any of the games? And I bet you were one of those geniuses who wanted to trade for Asik. Bwahahaha what a joke just goes to show you your not too bright. Yeah Portland would have been great for him and I can just imagine what he would have done to the Spurs if Ginger or Bobo were guarding him. And dont even bring Arron “I hope I stay on the team” Baynes up because he would be fouling the shit out of Splitter all night long. Splitters tricky moves under the rim are foul bait for Baynes. Look dude Pop always cuts Splitter short when hes enroute to his doudle double. I said he needs 30 plus minutes and its a done deal. And 15 of those minutes with the second team. Timmy can spend the other 15 minutes shooting from the top of the key and missing bunnies. Im telling you and everybody right know if Pop keeps playing Timmy those minutes (28-30) hes going to blow his wad and have nothing for when it counts. Worse than last year. Man you are so wrong and uninformed when it comes to Splitter. He desrves better from that old bitter man that runs this team. Look at the games when Splitter plays huge minutes. Hell he even played 10 minutes in a recent game and was more efficient than any Spurs big on the floor that night. Man you sound like TDBE in drag.

  • Daniel

    Actually…no you’re right. What was I thinking?! 16 game playoff sweep is on the way in April. Tonight has put Miami on notice ; be afraid of teams with multiple positions that can’t create their own offense.

  • lvmainman

    So, basically Pop is holding the greatness of Splitter back? Splitter is the 3rd highest player on the team, but he’s probably the 7th most important component on the team. Baynes started vs Howard and the Fakers in the PLAYOFFS and the Spurs won easily. Splitter can’t post up on centers and score, or hit face jumpers and score, or deter players that drive to the basket by blocking shots.

    You’re assumption that I’d want the Spurs to trade for Asik is of course Wrong. The Spurs need a mobile 4 man like Paul Millsap or an athletic wingman like Iguodala.

  • I need more cowbell

    Great game.
    I think houston was just the better team that night.
    If it was a 7 game series id take pop over any team.
    Also idk what to think about james harden. Is he a point guard? a forward?
    he was way to passive and i didnt see him taking on Leonard one on one?
    That should worry the hell out of Houston.

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