The Margin: Spurs take down Nuggets 109-99

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The Spurs have a winning streak, 10 is a nice round number so it seemed like a good time for The Margin, which, in case you were unaware, is just a rip-off of The Difference (a Rob Mahoney staple) with a different name.

  • This was not a good basketball game for three quarters. If I ever was asked to give someone an example of what a close but not good basketball game looks like, I’d show someone the first three quarter of Nuggets-Spurs from January 20, 2015. The Spurs spent a large part of the first three quarters missing open 3-pointers, which means Denver spent the better part of three quarters giving up open 3-point looks.
  • While things didn’t look awesome for most of the game, the Spurs looked great in the fourth quarter. Guys hit open looks and every Denver run was met with a response.
  • Kawhi Leonard’s impact was felt everywhere. He struggled with his shot in the first half before getting things going in the second half. He even hit half his six 3-point attempts, which thanks to the eye and hand injuries have been a bugaboo for Leonard this season. He’s only shooting 33% from distance this season, down five percent from last season’s average. Now that the eye stuff is done with and the hand is fine, at least so far, it’s reasonable to assume his numbers will trend north. His 15 rebounds was one shy of tying his career high. The three assists is something I’m still getting used to, but it’s obvious his tunnel vision is gone.
  • Speaking of making an impact, Tony Parker was the hammer closing the door on Denver in the fourth quarter. Late in the fourth, the Spurs stopped making shots and the Nuggets went on a 6-0 run. Enter Parker who sank a three and followed that up with a 19 footer to put the game away. He’s barely been playing in crunch time since he returned from injury. The 18 points he scored was his highest output since December 22 against the Clippers, seven tied for the highest since his return and it was the first time he shot 50% from the field last month. In short, we saw Tony Parker for the first time in about a month.
  • Tim Duncan’s 16 second half points shows he’s still more than capable of leading an offense in spurts. It wasn’t just the scoring. He took advantage of mismatches and over eager defenders to set up his teammates. A perfect example is this beauty of a pass to Danny Green who swings it to an open Kawhi Leonard. Seriously, never retire Timmy. At least, not after this season.
  • The Spurs have struggled mightily this season containing point guards, but did a masterful job on Ty Lawson. I don’t think it’s any coincidence this happened because of Leonard’s return. Leonard’s presence makes the defense more versatile because it allows Danny Green to cover point guards instead of sticking the other team’s best wing. Or Leonard can hop over to said point guard while Green takes the wing. Keep an eye on how opposing point guards do with both Leonard and Green healthy.
  • Darrell Arthur played just 16 minutes in this game. Someone rescue this guy from Denver and put him on a contender. He’s an ideal 4th big guy on a playoff team. Miami, L.A. Clippers and Atlanta are all teams that come to mind on who could use him. And really, he’s not needed on the Spurs but it’d be awesome to get him.
  • Next big test comes Thursday on TNT when the Spurs travel to Chicago to take on the Bulls. The Bulls are banged up, but we get to see Jimmy Butler and Kawhi Leonard check each other and Chicago’s bigs could give the Spurs bigs fits even if Joakim Noah doesn’t play.
  • In case you missed it, there are random rumblings about the Spurs and LaMarcus Aldridge this summer in free agency (H/T to the wonderful Zach Lowe for that nugget). This isn’t maybe the Marc Gasol no-brainer for the Spurs post Duncan plans, but it’s pretty damn close. Tony Parker, Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard and Tiago Splitter very closely match what Aldridge plays with now in Portland. He played college ball an hour from the AT&T Center and he’s from Dallas. Portland can offer him more money and years but the Spurs would be dumb not to kick the tires on this. You don’t pass up an opportunity to roll out a Aldridge, Kawhi, Parker trio… and yes, Parker would be the third amigo in that trio (all due respect).
  • Something dumb I was thinking about: What number would LMA wear? He wears 12 now, but that’s Bruce Bowen’s retired number. He can’t flip the numbers and wear 21. 22 also taken. 13 is unlucky. Just don’t do it. 1 & 2 also taken. Maybe he goes back to number 23, which he wore at UT. That is, if Devin Brown gives LMA his blessing. Again, I’m dumb for even thinking of something like this.
  • Phoolish

    Great to see the margin. Another feature which used to follow almost every game like Whats the story and El Conclusion. Can we get all 3 for every game going forward? Yes I am going to post this comment on every thread until it starts happening again. It is what made this the best basketball blog around.

  • brunostrange

    Good to see Tony play aggressively last night. I’d started to wonder if, more than just the injuries, we were starting to see Father Time nip at Tony’s heels. I suppose one shouldn’t base conclusions on one game, but it was good to see Parker penetrating, dishing and scoring.

  • Andrew

    LaMarcus is my favorite non-Spurs player. So even hinting at him joining the Spurs gets me giddy.

  • merkin

    Why is 13 unlucky? Doesn’t Harden wear 13 and he seems to do just fine.

    Some of the defensive credit for containing Lawson should go to Parker. When he’s healthy, he’s aggressive in his defense and does a good job staying attached.

  • Suave Groove

    LaMarcus couldn’t use 13 either. Is retired. James Silas. Depending on what happens with Ayres (11), Bonner (15) and Joseph (5), he can grab one of those. Or Danny’s last number (4).

  • Tyler

    Tony finally looked confident in his ability to hit the extra gear and did it ever make a difference - he had a hesitation move the first half that made Nurkic’s head spin. Defensively, I thought he was really active as well.

    Don’t look now, but they’ve won 8/10. I get the sense we’re about to see them rip off wins by the fistful the 2nd half of the season.

  • thedrwolff5

    no doubt. people go where the money is though. The boys are probably not making anything here and breaking into other venues. public service gets old when you have other, more lucrative offers elsewhere.

  • thedrwolff5

    Time for Patty mills and Splitter to get their due. IT bothered me when the national media would say “spurs missing parker and leonard for tonights game” and not mention splitter or especially mills. First off, Tiago and patty being back means our bench stops getting their butt kicked and turns into the 30 to 40 point a night monster they were last year. Diaw, Manu, Cory, Patty, and Baynes is the 27th best team in the NBA for 20 min a night. Patty is a defense stretcher and its against the b team defense much of the time. The spurs missed that 12 points a nite severely. Cory stepped up and Manu is Manu every other game. Who else is dumping in 15 points of the bench.