The Notebook: Spurs-Celtics, 2/8/09
For the purposes of full disclosure, I didn’t have an opportunity to turn on the game until halftime so our very potent first half performance is about to go unaddressed. If anyone would like to discuss it in the comment section below, feel free.
Although our January 14th victory over the Lakers is a close second, I think this is our signature win so far this season. The Celtics are the defending champs and, although they’ve struggled against the legitimate contenders in the league this season (so far they are 1-4 against LA, Cleveland, and SA), they remain the team to beat. Not to mention few squads protect their house the way the Celts do.
When I flipped on the game the second half was about to begin and the Spurs possessed an 8 point lead. Don’t worry, they would lose the lead almost immediately by going 0 for 5 to begin the 3rd and allowing the Celtics to score 12 unanswered points. Although the Spurs would eventually muster enough focus to keep the game tight, we spent most of the quarter teetering on the edge of collapse. Luckily the Spurs snuck their way into the 4th down only two points.
The fourth quarter saw significant production from some unlikely heroes. Many people have focused on Matt Bonner’s stellar day (23 points on 10-17 shooting, 3-6 from 3-point range) but the more notable performance, in my humble opinion, came from George Hill. Hill’s stat line ( 7 points, 3 boards, 1 block, 1 turnover) doesn’t do him justice. As many of our starters took a rest Hill single-handedly kept the game close. He blew past Kevin Garnett for a layup, absorbed a tough foul from Glen Davis and just generally took it Boston.
When Hill is playing instinctively he is playing best. His long-range jumper seems to arise out of nowhere. His drives to the lane occur without warning. His most impressive defensive plays seem entirely unexpected. And part of the reason is because he seems so calm and natural while doing it. You might say he doesn’t have a “tell.” The Spurs are oftentimes characterized as cerebral or crafty; their talent is supplemented by their wit. But in the case of Hill, the man just seems to have a quiet gift for the game.
But Hill’s performance only paved the way for the two spectacular plays with which we would ensure victory: Roger Mason’s 3-pointer with 20 seconds left and Manu Ginobili’s steal.
After Garnett missed a mid-range jumper off a pick and roll (which our coverage of is my only major criticism of the last 5 minutes of basketball we played) Mason collected the rebound and, rather than call a timeout, immediately forwarded the ball up the court. Popovich had been asking the team to pick up the pace all evening, probably because the Celtics are one of the few teams who cannot be consistently outmaneuvered in methodically planned half-court sets for a full 48 minutes. You have to be prepared to take advantage of the holes they leave open while in transition. Mason did just that.
He forwarded the ball along the sideline, cut to the top of the arc, turned and nailed a three. I erupted from my chair, unable to control myself. (My girlfriend had her feet draped across my lap and moved them the play before saying, “you are obviously going to be standing and screaming by the time this is over.”) I’ll never understand why Roger Mason’s indomitable swagger still catches me off-guard; by now I really should expect nothing less. But every time Mace goes in for the kill, I briefly forget that, although I’m a nervous wreck, he doesn’t have a doubt in his mind where that ball is going to end up. Late-game Mason is a thing of beauty.
But Mason’s dagger could have been just another great shot in a close loss were it not for the legerdemain of Manu Ginobili. On the ensuing possession, Manu darted out in front of Ray Allen’s inbounds pass and took off for the opposite end of the floor when he was grabbed by Paul Pierce from behind. Pierce’s foul was ruled a clear path foul, giving the Spurs two shots (Manu made both) and the ball. Manu would also make both free throws after being fouled on the following possession. In under 2 seconds of game time, the Spurs went from being down by 1 to ahead by 6. Because of some startling 3-pointers by Eddie House and Kevin Garnett, the Spurs would have to keep making their free throws in order to maintain a lead, but they did so, going 4 of 5 over the next 19 seconds and walking away with a 105-99 win.
Looks like Pop knew what he was doing after all.
The next stop on the Rodeo Road Trip is New Jersey, where the Spurs will take on the 24-28 Nets Tomorrow night.
