OD: Spurs - Limping in?

So Fresh, So Clean

I've had a lot of Spurs fans bemoan the teams sluggish efforts the last few weeks; it's funny how the oldest team in the league in the Lakers, who do not have the top seed in the west like the Spurs, are promoted as have an "on and off" switch that they can flip at will. Hell, they equaled the Spurs worst loss streak, yet the Spurs have been nationally written off as a "pretender" to the crown.

I could go on all day about the bias, but it's something that Spurs fans should be use to by now. So when I hear some of those diehards already start to shrug the Spurs off as one of those teams that have already "peaked," I try and point out how futile it is to try and treat the last 10 games as any sort of evidence of a decline, or that it is even truly representative of the current state of the team.

To recap, the Spurs were up six games on the Lakers with 10 games to go. Pop had already begun the conservative approach to managing Tim, Manu, and Tony's minutes, and George Hill saw an increased role. 

Did Pop envision Timmy going down for a week? Probably not. 

Did Pop envision Matt Bonner and Gary Neal would shoot just 27% from the arc in Timmy's absense? Probably not. 

Timmy was a reliable force in that he gave you 10 solid points, and 7-10 rebounds a game. With him out, that kind of slack is not as easy to make up when your other key contributors go cold. We can just look to the law of averages and be thankful that the shooting percentages will even back out, and be glad that Red Rocket's  flaccidity was just in the regular season. 

The Spurs see the Grizzlies in the first round and - wouldn't you know it - the number 1 seed in the west is again getting no respect. Many believe that this number 8 has a legitimate shot at knocking out the Spurs; I admit "athletic" front lines did give our pick and roll game some trouble in the regular season, especially going through the low post. But now that Rudy Gay is out for the year, I really can't envision who could make up his scoring differential on the Grizzlies, not to mention how inferior their bench is to the Spurs'. 

Even if Manu's injury to his less dominate right-elbow hinders him or removes him from a couple of games, there are still so many on the Spurs roster (see: George Hill, Gary Neal) who could easily make up for the loss of Ginobili in the short term. Yes, I know Hill or Neal might not have the majestic schnoz or yamaka shaped bald spot to give him extra "clutch" powers, but they have the ability as long as he stays aggressive.

Here is my power ranking list of the top 10 Spurs at the end of the season (previous ranking in parenthesis):

DeJaun Blair: Mutant w/o ACLs

1. Tony Parker + (2): After a healthy diet of escargot, the fast French man has seemingly been better than ever. Parker is the most consistent scoring threat on the team, and if he is able to find driving lanes, the game is pretty much over. 
2. Manu Ginobili - (1) The extent of Ginobili's injury is still in doubt, but luckily for the lefty he hyper-extended his right arm. Manu has seen his playing time significantly reduced as the season waned, with George Hill coming in to give him a rest. Even though there have been some games in the last few months that have come down to a last possession that Ginobili has mucked up, he still gives the Spurs the most clutch final shot opportunities in a close game. 
3. George Hill + (5) Hill was tasked by Pop to fill some of the scoring voids left when Timmy went down for a stretch, and then when stars took a couple games off. He responded nicely, recording season highs in scoring during that stretch. The way the Spurs are built now as a run-and-gun shooting team, Hill's ascension is essential to maintain a penetrating force (snicker) through opposing team's interior when the starters go out; only by staying aggressive can Hill keep the Spurs momentum going.
4. Tim Duncan - (3) Duncan's playing time has been extremely coddled by management, so here is hoping he can play with abandon and get back to his championship form. Even though the majority of the offense no longer runs through him, Timmy's defense, rebounding, basketball IQ, and court-vision make him an important cog in the pick and roll game. 
5. Gary Neal - (4) Neal was the diamond in the rough during the regular season. Though he went a little cold from the arc, he (unlike Bonner) is still adaptable and a threat even when his long-shot goes cold because of his clutch short game; also, have you seen this kid turn and shoot on a dime? Gary Neal, by himself, can be the difference between a close game and a blow out.
6. Antonio McDyess + (8) "McNasty," as we call the crafty vet, has been dependable - when he can stay on the floor. He has had a tendency as of late to rack up some early fouls as a starter, especially when he is matched up against a big and athletic opposing center. Lets face it, most people in the league are faster than McNasty, but he has a money short-shot and some of that veteran experience that can be invaluable in close game situations. He sort of fills that role that Robert Horry once filled - not the manwhore role - but the spry sage. 
7. DeJuan Blair - (6) No one is quite sure how it happened, but DeJuan Blair found himself deep in Pop's doghouse at the end of the season, and found himself stripped of his starting role, cutting his playing time in half. He has come back stronger as of late, and is a genuine physical force under the rim even though his finishing can at times be as elegant as Helen Keller trying to find a bathroom. 
8. Richard Jefferson - (7) Let me just say, if I see this guy fail to complete a dunk or a layup again, I will hack into his computer and release his collection of  Grizzly-Men in Banana Hammocks . I implore you Richard,  just stay behind the 3 point line. You're less annoying there. 
9. Matt Bonner -- (9) The Red Rocket has been in a bit of a slump, but he still earns his keep on the defensive side of the ball and his rebounding ability. Like Gary Neal, if he manages to get hot, he can be the barometer on whether or not the game will be a blowout. 
10. Tiago Splitter + (12) With his increased playing time at the end of the season, Splitter impressed the hell out of me. There were times when he looked light years beyond DeJuan Blair in his ability to finish, and he is no where near the liability on defense he once was when he was failing to recognize assignments and rotations. Chalk it up to being a foreign rookie who has to not only learn the non-native lingo, but the system of the team in that same language. Splitter could be on the cusp of having a breakout postseason, especially if we fall behind those teams with athletic interiors. Fun fact: when Splitter was guarding those athletic big men, the Spurs were actually in the positive in terms of scoring differential and field goal percentage. What does this mean? Splitter might be the best defensive presence on the team. The problem: there just is not enough data or playing time to truly call it a trend, and there still might not be that trust from Pop to gain him quality minutes in the playoffs. 

Rumor has it, Memphis has hired Eva Longoria to sit behind the Spurs bench and hawk-stare Tony Parker down in an effort to help steal one game on the road when the playoffs start on Sunday. The Spurs are set to counter by having coach Pop get his unsightly visage as close as possible to her face in order to scare the beauty off it. 

No, Coach Pop, she will NOT love you!

Series VS Grizzlies: Spurs in 5 

Spurs: Midseason Report Card

At 47-10, the Spurs are still hold the best record in the league; by anyone's standard, that alone should earn the Spurs top marks in the way they have handled the the transition to a faster-paced, inside-out pick-and-roll game.

Regardless, I think it is a good exercise to go through the roster individually and analyze some strengths and weaknesses, and what the Spurs might do to assure a title shot.

The Big 3

Tim Duncan:

Timmy's stats have significantly lowered with the conservative amount of minutes he is playing, but his game is still making those around him better. He truly has been a force on the defensive end, blocking shots and pounding the boards harder than I think I have seen him in a couple of years (also probably attributed to his limited use).

Though his offensive production has contracted, his high ball-IQ in the pick and roll game and passing ability have confounded defenses and built up the numbers and confidence of his teammates, like DeJuan Blaire. He still commands a ton of respect from defenses, and still has the ability to take over games when he is feeling it. Timmy hasn't been as accurate around the rim as in years past, but he is making up for it by grabbing offensive boards or drawing fouls. Consequently, he is also doing better at the foul-line than he has in four years.

Wait, that's not Tim Duncan.

Grade: A-

Manu Ginobili

People often like to think that the Spurs go as Manu does, and the numbers so far do not lie. Of the Spurs 10 losses this season,  7 of those came when Manu scored under 11 points. Conversely, the Spurs have proven almost unbeatable when he scores more than 20.

When Manu is clicking, he not only hits his own daggers and crazy lay-ups, but he is also dishing it out wide for some open 3 point looks. Unlike Tony Parker, Ginobili is such an asset because he really can thrive in almost any line-up that Pop throws out there. Be it an orchestrater of the pick-and-roll, or a sniper from the arc, Ginobili is the most fluid, and thus most important player on the team. He is not only the Spurs leading scorer, but has supplanted Duncan as the "go-to" guy for the final shot. Yes, Ginobili ocassionaly gets a little too flippant with the ball with inexplicable turnovers, but he wouldn't be the improviser and highlight maker he is without a little bit of that gun-slinging attitude.

Thankfully, he isn't flopping  as much (which he had been decried for league wide), but he does rely on contact and expects whistles to bail him out on occasion. Keeping him healthy is a top priority, so I could see his minutes decrease as the playoff's approach and the Spurs close in on that number one seed; his reduced presence will probably  yield more losses down the stretch, but Pop and the Spurs' staff are historically unconcerned with appearances in terms of the final tally of W's - especially if they have already cemented the top spot in the West.

Cool off, you are doing a great job down there. 

Grade: A+

Tony Parker

It appears the Spurs have benefited from Tony's off-season turmoil. The "French Philanderer" has had to shift his priorities away from the Hollywood spotlight and back to working on his game, which has notably improved from his injury-laden 2009 campaign. His offensive numbers are virtually identical to Ginobili's - he sits at 975 to Manu's 1001 points scored this year (obviously Manu's efficiency has benefited from his 115 3-pointers made, to Tony's only 15 ). Simply, his scoring is essential (pun intended).

Awkward

Parker's speed is back to form, and his finishing around the rim has been remarkable at times (his stop-and-pop floater is the best in the league). If Parker is penetrating consistently (pun intended?) then it's virtually over for the opposition. Teams that fair the best against Parker fair better against the Spurs; those ball clubs with highly athletic interior players (Portland, 76ers, New Orleans, Bulls) are best suited to removing the lanes from Parker and Ginobili. Thankfully, only New Orleans really threatens the Spurs come the playoffs.

In relation to Ginobili, Parker's only real knock on his game this season is that he isn't nearly as good of a defender (even backup George Hill has cemented playing time because he is so much better than Parker for on the ball defending). Parker also suffers from an inconsistent 3 point shot, so he is much more liable to become one-dimensional if teams can successfully cut off his driving lanes. If Parker's speed doesn't fail him this year, he'll be a tough cover for some of the older point guards out West.

Grade: A


X-Factors


DeJuan Blair


Let's face facts, DeJuan Blair is being groomed to one day competely take over for Timmy D. I know it's  hard to think about the post-Duncan era, but it is only a few years away (maybe closer if he wins one more title); Pop and Spurs management know this, so they have been slowly working in DeJuan Blair. Essentially, the production that Duncan use to have is now being split amongst himself and Blair, and it is impressive for a sophomore in the league to already be that dependable.

It seems counterintuitive to say, but a no-ACL Blair has some surprising agility and finesse around the rim.  Most kids would quit if they already had two ACL-removing surgeries in HS, so it really speaks to the kind of player Blair is for persevereing and getting better at his craft despite his perceived limitations. He has has changed my preconceptions on the necessity of knee ligaments, and I am now convinced they are vestigial. If anyone needs some, contact me - I think we can work out a fair price.

Wait, he doens't have those things?

The biggest problem to DeJuan's game is staying in it; he has wracked up fouls faster than Richard Jefferson, and it's mostly off ticky-tack reach in's. Look for him to get better, and play a bigger role in the playoffs.

Grade: B+

George Hill

If only there was a cross through that real basketball...

With the emergence of Gary Neal, George Hill has become less of a factor on the offensive side of the ball; yet, his value has been immeasurable when Pop uses him as the sub who facilitates the transition to the more defensive minded, three point chunking second unit. I was starting to think that they were trying to turn him into the next Tony Parker, but his game more resembles Rajon Rondo's; Hill is just more ball-movement and defensive minded. He doesn't look for his shot first, but he has the potential to get hot from behind the arc and really give the second unit a boost.

What Hill really needs to improve on is calling his own plays once and awhile. He can be a bit too selfless, and he really needs to assert himself more in the offense when the rest of the second unit isn't clicking; the Spurs second unit has been known to stagnate and give teams a sliver of hope.

Also, George Hill might be part Alien.

Score: B+


Gary Neal

Gary Neal sort of reminds me of the old "Ninja," Sean Elliot, in that he is a total assassin from the three point line. How many times this season has he brought the ball up the court and, on a dime, laser a 3-pointer home. Neal has a more automatic and faster looking shot than Ray Allen at times.

He is one of those "old" rookies that have spent their time honing their craft overseas for 3 or 4 years. (Stefon voice) It's not like that kind of thing when really old people start taking college classes and ask an obnoxious amount of questions because they are terrified by their ability to learn new things.

The best part about his game is that it's completely unexpected from a rookie. Do you think that at the start of the year, Spurs management though that Gary Neal would be averaging 10.6 points in 21 minutes?  His presence alone has vaulted S.A. to being a 100+ point, league-leading offense.

Like DeJuan Blair, Gary Neal has a tendency to foul himself out of playing time; he has a ways to go as a man-to-man defender, but if he stays on the floor he can really be dangerous. His best lineup appears to be any where Manu Ginobili is drawing defenders and creating.

Score: A-

Ridin' the Pine 

Matt Bonner

Yep, looks like a penis. 

Where DeJuan Blair has risen above his bum knees, I don't think Matt Bonner will ever live down his nick-names. He was probably tormented as a kid for being a ginger with a last name that looks and sounds eerily like "boner." Matt broke through those barriers, finally making it to the big stage - the NBA;  hey, he even landed on championship caliber team with a city that matched his unassuming nature.

Only to be called the "Red Rocket."

I am appreciative that the Spurs acquired the 3 point percentage leading in the league. Now, I can giggle to myself whenever I am driving home from work at night and listening to a game on the radio, only to hear "Splash-down for the Red Rocket" every time he nails a three. Poor boner.

Grade: B

Tiago Splitter


He was much hyped when word came of his signing last summer. The giant kid with a Rocky bad-guy name (and voice) and big time Europe experience was coming to the Spurs - another drafting coupe.

Tiago, in his rookie year, is much like Gary Neal in age and experience. Unlike Neal, however, the transition hasn't been as fluid. A language barrier might be a problem (it took Pop a whole year of racial slurs in French to break Parker), but they still aren't comfortable running sets with him. Do not get me wrong, Splitter has an upside similar and maybe greater to Pau Gasol's, but it's going to take time.

Right now, he looks a little caught up in the moment and almost like he is so excited to be out there he doesn't know what to do with the ball.

Exhibit A - welcome to the danger zone:




Grade (based on video): B-  


Richard Jefferson: 


I really don't know what it is about "R.J" but I just can't stand him. He fails at dunking at least 20 times a year, and then has the audacity to exclaim "aiiiiyand one" in a high-pitched squeal every time that he goes to the rim. 


I still might be bitter about last year. Then again, he did opt-out of his contract and took less money to become the good "Bruce Bowen" clone they wanted him to be. It took a lot of beating a square peg into a round hole, but Jefferson finally fits "comfortably" in the system. 


But dammit, that tattoo is attrocious:

Aiiiiiyand ugly

Grade: B

Final Thoughts 

At this point in the season, what we can take away from the Spurs is that they are a deep and capable mixture of established and seasoned veterans, and confident young-guns. If they can stay healthy and secure the home court advantage, it'll be smooth sailing until meeting Dallas in the conference finals. 

Aiiiiiiyand done. 

Metro-owned

Well Brett Favre, even the gods want to you to stop.





In other words: The Day After Tomorrow is real.