The Notebook: Celtics-Spurs, 3/20/09

by Graydon Gordian

Ugh.

OK, before we get down to the nitty gritty, let’s discuss the game’s closing minutes. With 2:31 left, the game tied 74-74, Michael Finley went to free throw line. Over an 80% free throw shooter on the season, he failed to connect on either attempt. With 49 seconds left, the Celtics now up by 2, Tony Parker would find his way to the charity stripe. He failed to connect on either attempt. After a missed Pierce 14-footer, Parker would again draw contact and earn two shots from the line. Again, neither would find the bottom of the net. After a failed defensive rotation, an open Glen Davis jumper and an improbable Michael Finley 3-pointer (his second make on 7 attempts), the Spurs stumbled to an 80-77 loss in San Antonio against the Boston Celtics.

There isn’t much to say about the closing minutes other than to state the facts. I’m sure the mob will be hungry for Parker’s blood but, before we commence with the wailing and the gnashing of the teeth, let’s recognize that if it weren’t for his 12 of 23 shooting, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists, the Spurs wouldn’t have been in this game at all. With the Spurs going a collective 4 of 17 from beyond the arc, it was his job to keep us competitive. And for 46 minutes he did an excellent job.

(Breathes Deeply)

Zero of six in the final 2 and a half minutes? Are you kidding me? If we hit our free throws, we would have won this game. I have no doubt in my mind. I felt confident. I felt relaxed. And you betrayed my confidence. All of you. Yes, Tony, my ire is pointed most directly at you. But Finley, you have not escaped my piercing stare. OK. I’ll say it. Manu Ginobili would have made those free throws. Alright, commenters. Do your worst.

Moving on.

Considering the absence of Manu Ginobili, the Spurs played an excellent game against a contender for this season’s title. Without our most dynamic scorer, no one should be shocked the Spurs were unable to take down one of the NBA’s elite. But aside from the closing minutes, this game went well and left me feeling confident about a potential Finals match-up against Boston. Both of these squads are hampered by injury (Garnett saw the floor for the first time in weeks but was only able to muster 15 minutes of court time, none of which came in the closing stretch of the fourth quarter) so treating this game as conclusive would be misguided. But we did some things well, and others very well, and despite the loss, it’s worth recognizing what went right.

The Spurs outrebounded the Celtics 47 to 44 (both teams had 6 offensive rebounds). At first, given Garnett’s limited minutes, the statistic seems somewhat irrelevant. But we held Kendrick Perkins to 3 rebounds in 34 minutes of play. So the seeds of more sustainable frontcourt dominance have been sown.

The Celtics went 50% from beyond the arc. But again, this statistic is misleading. The Celtics average almost 18 3-point attempts a game. This evening they went 3 of 6. A 3-point shot never allowed is practically as good as a 3-point shot missed. In particular, George Hill and Bruce Bowen did an excellent job denying shot opportunities on the perimeter.

Speaking of Bruce Bowen, during his 20 minutes of floor time, he did an excellent job harassing the 2008 NBA Finals MVP into a 3-16 night from the field. My favorite moment of the game was easily Bowen’s block of Pierce’s layup with 8:14 left in the fourth (closely followed by Bowen’s block of Pierce’s 18-footer with 9:51 left in the fourth). Unlike, say, Kobe Bryant, Pierce does not have the quickness or athleticism to escape Bowen. Actually, I would argue Bowen’s style is tailor made to negate Pierce’s game. For instance, Pierce’s release point is low and forward. Given the activeness of Bowen’s hands I’m not surprised Pierce was unable to get of a shot while remaining true to his natural shooting form (honestly, I’m surprised more defenders don’t take advantage of Pierce’s very non-traditional release point). If we meet in the Finals, a classic defense of Pierce by Bowen will be nothing short of essential.

A chink in the armor worth noting is our approach to defending the mid-range jumper. Between Garnett, Davis, and Allen, they have several players who are quite comfortable taking a 15 to 20-footer. We did a solid job closing out on perimeter shooters and protecting the rim but against a team like the Celtics it’s worth reconsidering the aggressiveness (or lack thereof) with which we defend mid-range jumpers. Normally I support the idea of allowing mid-range shots in the hopes of securing the defensive rebound a greater majority of the time and I’m not saying we should abandon that tactic. I’m just saying it deserves reconsideration.

I’ve spent all season arguing in favor of consistent penetration over perimeter shooting. The Spurs did a decent job getting to the rim this evening so I’m not going to parrot my usual talking points. I’ll let our 4-17 night from beyond the 3-point line speak for itself.

In a somewhat obligatory act of bipartisanship, I want to take a moment and praise the grace and symmetry of Ray Allen’s jumpshot. His shooting form is the closest thing to the actualization of a platonic ideal the NBA has. I’m hardly the first to say this but it deserves recognition nonetheless. And, let’s be honest, Allen is a class act. On a team full with an increasingly hot headed coach, a bully for a floor general and a bunch of ethically dubious big men, Allen emits an air of nobility that is genuinely calming. (Given the pot shots at Rivers, Garnett, Perkins and Davis, that ended up being less bipartisan than intended).

While on the subject, it’s worth mentioning the excellent job George Hill did defensively against Ray Allen. Allen is a difficult man to guard. He remains in nearly constant motion and has a shot that borders on the unblockable. His motion is so meticulously rehearsed that putting a hand in his face has minimal effect. Add to that the excellent coverage George Hill provided and Allen’s 7 of 16 night becomes all the more impressive. A lot of players would have been unable to find the bottom of the net given the way Hill was playing. Honestly, I am so excited about Hill’s potential. The Spurs have stumbled across a player who may be one of the more prolific defenders of the next generation.

Our next game is Sunday against the Rockets. After tonight’s loss Houston sits half a game back. Tim will be back later this weekend to expand upon the importance of Sunday’s game. And, when discussing Parker’s late game performance, let’s keep the foul language to a minimum.