El Conclusion: San Antonio Spurs 113, Los Angeles Clippers 103
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Tim Duncan, PF 38 MIN | 8-19 FG | 3-4 FT | 13 REB | 7 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 4 TO | 19 PTS | 0
A near triple-double for the Big Fundamental. He was solid offensively and anchored the D without Tiago Splitter. Despite DeAndre Jordan’s 18 rebounds, the Spurs grabbed 10 more boards than the Clippers. Several days off seemed to do Duncan some good, as he looked fairly fresh on the floor. |
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Boris Diaw, PF 32 MIN | 6-10 FG | 0-1 FT | 8 REB | 3 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 12 PTS | +14
To be quite honest, I enjoy the Blake Griffin-Boris Diaw matchup. They’re similar players in some respects, and complete opposites in others. Diaw hit some big shots down the stretch to keep San Antonio’s lead around 10 points and prevent any chance for a Clippers comeback. |
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Cory Joseph, PG 24 MIN | 3-6 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 7 PTS | -3
I don’t know any other way to describe Joseph other than solid. He didn’t do many things wrong and didn’t do many things spectacular. |
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Marco Belinelli, SG 28 MIN | 8-17 FG | 1-1 FT | 4 REB | 3 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 20 PTS | -8
With no Tony Parker and a limited Manu Ginobili, someone needs to take some shots. Marco Belinelli will gladly appease. |
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Danny Green, SG 39 MIN | 5-11 FG | 1-1 FT | 5 REB | 2 AST | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 3 TO | 14 PTS | +14
I would classify this as a pretty good night for Icy Hot. Knocked down some 3s, his usage was probably a little higher than it should’ve been and he played solid defense on Chris Paul (1-for-10 on the night) for stretches. |
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Aron Baynes, PF 6 MIN | 0-0 FG | 1-2 FT | 2 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 1 PTS | +3
I think Baynes fell over more on Tuesday night against the Clippers than he has in his entire Spurs tenure. Other than that, not much happened. |
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Matt Bonner, PF 7 MIN | 0-1 FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 0 PTS | +1
Still wearing a mask. |
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Jeff Ayres, C 15 MIN | 1-1 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 2 PTS | +2
Still dropping passes. |
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Patty Mills, PG 27 MIN | 9-15 FG | 5-6 FT | 5 REB | 5 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 25 PTS | +10
Still D.R.E. Patty is doing one of two things this season. He’s either A) playing himself into a nice little extension with the Spurs for the next three to four years, or he’s B) playing himself into some middle of the road wildly overpaying for him for the next three to four years. Frankly, I’m giddy to see what happens this summer. For now, though, I’m enjoying the ride. I love watching this guy play. |
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Shannon Brown, PG 11 MIN | 2-3 FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 4 PTS | -2
Jeff McDonald pointed this out on Twitter recently, but it kind of sucks for Brown that his second 10-day contract fell on All-Star Weekend. He doesn’t have a lot of time to impress in order to secure a deal for the rest of the season. That said, maybe this was exactly the Spurs’ plan and he got some honest-to-goodness practice time with the coaches last weekend. We shall see what unfolds next when his deal is up in a few days. |
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Manu Ginobili, SG 15 MIN | 2-5 FG | 5-6 FT | 1 REB | 3 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 3 TO | 9 PTS | +19
A solid, in unspectacular, return to the Spurs lineup. I don’t know if you really want to see anything spectacular from Ginobili for the next two months anyway. I think you really just want him to play 20 minutes a night, work himself into a rhythm and not get hurt. He can save everything above and beyond that for late April and May. |
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One Thing We Saw
- Well, the Spurs beat a good team, on the road, and without two of their three best players. Perhaps the narrative that the Spurs can’t beat the good teams can be put to rest for the rest of the season. It will be for good if they can steal a win in Portland on Wednesday night.
