The Notebook: Lakers-Spurs, 3-12-09

by Timothy Varner

The Spurs had no business winning last night’s game. The loss was deserved. The Lakers buried the Spurs in the first quarter, outscoring the home team 35 -17 and crushing them on the glass. In the opening quarter alone, the Lakers grabbed 4 offensive rebounds.  Of those 4, 3 boards led to immediate baskets. And the one that didn’t?  It was followed by a missed shot that found its way into the basket off a Lamar Odom tip.  The opening 12 minutes were a disaster.

The Spurs played well-enough for the final 3 quarters, winning each one by margins of 3, 7, and 1 respectively. But after the Lakers pounded the Spurs in the 1st, one got the sense that the teams were going through the motions.  Neither team wanted to lay it all out there unless the effort actually counted for something. But the Lakers are too far ahead in the standings and the possibility of battling for home court advantage is too far gone for that to be true.   Neither team is naive enough to believe that this game was anything more than a meaningless little flicker. But I can’t help but draw on a few observations which might portend bigger things this postseason.

Last night’s contest marked the 5th consecutive game in which Coach Pop subbed for Parker by sliding Roger Mason from 2 to 1. Without Ginobili or Gooden, the rotation is far from set. But the Mason maneuver has proven effective. Ultimately, Mason provides Pop with scoring and floor leadership sans Parker. When Ginobili returns, the Mason-Manu tandem ought to strengthen the 2nd unit, providing insulation against San Antonio’s notorious scoring droughts. It’s a smart move, and one I expect to continue from here out.

With Mason’s promotion to back up point, fans might reasonably assume that George Hill is out of the rotation. But such assumptions are way off base. Hill, too, has received an unlikely promotion from Popovich. He’s quickly becoming the team’s defensive stopper. Pop is calling Hill’s number in the mid 2nd quarter and for most of the 4th. Sunday’s game against Phoenix saw Hill play the entire 4th quarter–he responded by playing lock down D on Steve Nash. Tuesday’s contest against the Bobcats saw more of the same long 4th quarter minutes. And last night? Pop opted to guard Bryant with Hill, not Bowen, during the games final minutes. Can you imagine that? Pop chose the rookie over the league’s best perimeter defender this decade.

Kobe Bryant still managed to crush the Spurs, but Hill played him as tightly as could be expected. Watch the game highlights in the video player to the right of this post–Bryant’s game clinching 3 had more to do with his offensive brilliance and far less with any defensive failures on the part of Hill.  In fact, I was impressed with Hill’s 4th quarter defense against Bryant, despite the forfeiture of 4 or 5 inches to the world’s best player.  Offensively, Hill is a work in progress. Defensively, he’s quietly emerging as an ace in the hole.

It’s not just me. Hill has won the confidence of his coaches and teammates. He’s an eager understudy to Bruce Bowen, who provides private tutelage and a library of game film as part of Hill’s ongoing education. George Hill is not far from becoming an All-League defender. That’s a big claim, I know. But the Spurs have found a new Bruce Bowen, albeit more of a Chris Paul-slowing combo guard than a Kobe Bryant-bothering swing. Size is size.

After Tuesday’s Bobcats game, Tony Parker made this remark: “George did a great job again on defense. He was physical and got some steals, rebounds, rotation, he did a little bit of everything covering for everybody. He’s a young Bruce Bowen.” After the same game, Popovich tipped his hat in the same direction: “He’s doing a great job. He’s playing fantastic defense. He hits the boards and is aggressive on the offensive end. The last two games he’s been on the floor at the end of the game, so that should tell you something.” Or, even more tellingly, Popovich made this statement after last night’s loss: “If you’ve watched him, then you should know (why he was on Kobe). He plays a heck of a defense and he does a good job.” In other words, Pop says, “Isn’t it obvious? The kid is a stopper.”

This is all to say, the Spurs are beginning to find their defensive identity. This development is far more important to me than any meaningless late season game against the Lakers. Hill, Bowen, and even recent vintage Udoka, are finding a way to co-exist. Setting aside the 1st quarter, the Spurs held the Lakers to 18, 25, and 24 in the final 3 quarters. I’ll take those numbers every night against the Lakers. The sluggish start and decimation on the boards were the problem, but those things are correctable. The Spurs are too disciplined to give up many 35 point quarters. In fact, I doubt we see that sort of let down in another game this season.  Any loss is tough, but the Spurs heart beats to the tune of defense. Over the last month, I’ve heard a low rumble thumping from just beneath their breast. Popovich is finding a way to get production from what was heretofore the most underwhelming defensive squad of his tenure. Hill is a big part of that recovery.

Turning to the other side of the ball. If the Manu Ginobili injury has any silver lining, it’s the emergence of Tony Parker as an elite NBA scorer. Yes, you read that correctly. Tony Parker is one of the league’s best scorers.  He only had 25 and 9 last night, but that’s par for the course over the Manu-less stretch. And even though Parker shot 10-18, the Lakers did a tremendous job defending him. The most noteworthy aspect of that 10-18 is that Parker was limited to too few shot attempts. The Spurs needed a big game from him–without Ginobili, the Spurs need Parker to put up 25 FGAs. For the most part, last night’s game did not teach us anything that we didn’t already know. The Spurs are the 2nd best team in the West, trailing the Lakers. The Lakers are a strong No. 1 seed. But it did serve as a reminder that the Lakers ability to pack the lane and guard Parker with an army of long arms is an incredibly problematic proposition for the Western Conference Finals.  When Phil Jackson opts to put Trevor Ariza on Tony Parker (a trump card he held back last night), I get a little queasy. His on the ball defense of Parker might be the best in the league. For that reason alone, I’d favor the Spurs consideration of Ariza as an MLE candidate this offseason. But I’ll save that for another time.

On a side note, Drew Gooden played all of 4 minutes against the Lakers. It was only a quick little glimpse, but he looked good. In a game wherein the Spurs were murdered on the glass, his rebound per minute effort gave Spurs fans reason to hope. Increasingly, I see Gooden as a home run addition.  In fact, the Spurs will never run a single play for him and he’ll still tally near double-double production every game.

Finally, this game taught me something about the Spurs accustomed late season ascension: it’s not going to happen this year. Gooden needs time to work into the rotation. Ginobili may not return for another couple weeks. Duncan is playing at less than 100%. As cocky as this sounds, I suspect Pop will use the first two rounds of the playoffs to work his team into shape. The playoffs provide focus and an opportunity to practice. It will provide Duncan’s weary legs rest during the oft-repeating 3 and 4 day lay offs. The second season is built for an old, smart team like San Antonio.  Last night’s game left me with a renewed sense of fear of the Lakers. They’re the most talented team in the league; they’re the Spurs toughest position-by-position match up. But the game also left me with a certain knowledge that the Spurs will not lose a 7 game series to anyone other than the Lakers, Celtics, and Cavs.  If the team can return to good health, I’ll give them a puncher’s chance against the 3 lead dogs.

Update: The San Antonio Express News’ Mike Monroe took the same tact as myself for this game: George Hill. He’s written a nice column that gauges the reaction of Hill on Bryant from multiple perspectives. On a side note, the Lakers-Spurs respect-fest is in full swing this year. Every pre and post game media session is all hugs and kisses from these guys. See Popovich exhibiting an anti-Artestian Kobe Bryant man-crush in this article.

Another Update: Johnny Ludden adds more color to the Spurs’ appreciation of Kobe Bryant. During the waning moments of last night’s game the fans in the AT&T Center cheered Bryant with a little M-V-P chant. What’s this all about? My theory is two-pronged. 1) Kobe Bryant has always shown respect to the Spurs, including a complimentary orientation toward Bruce Bowen. Bryant and Bowen get along. This alone endures Bryant to the San Antonio faithful. 2) Spurs fans deeply respect professionalism and excellence. Bryant is both those things in spades. This is even more remarkable when one considers that the Lakers are hated in South Texas. I can safely say there isn’t another non-Spur to whom Spurs fans would show this kind of love. Only Bryant. He’s a unique nemesis in that way. Fans who were at last night’s game question the veracity of Ludden’s suggestion that the M-V-P chants originated with the home crowd.  I’ve been reading Ludden for as long as I can remember, so when he writes something I tend to accept it at face value. But in this case, I want to withdraw comment. He was likely mistaken.