Game #8 Recap. Vs. Houston Rockets

by Justin Biehle on Nov 14, 2008 10:54 PM CST

For a minute there, I was thinking "Yao Ming better hope the Rockets win, so he won't have to answer why he couldn't stop George Hill to save his life." Well, looks like it's answering time. The Spurs rookie scored 17 points in the win, with several of them coming in the form of lay ups ranging from "difficult" to "circus" over the Rockets' 7'6" center. Hill also chipped in with 5 assists, and 6 rebounds. One of Hill's rebounds was a crucial recovery of his own miss that allowed the Spurs to keep possesion with a minute left. Tim Duncan hit what ended up being the game winner seconds later.

The Spurs, once again playing without the injured Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, struggled most of the game with an anemic offense. The Houston defense was able to key in on Spurs shooters and continuously force them into difficult shots. The problem ended up being that the Spurs hit enough of them down the stretch to escape with a win.

Jumping out to a quick lead, the Spurs began a trend of allowing Houston players to sneak into the paint to collect their own misses. Offensive rebounds were almost the key stat of the night for the Rockets, as the Spurs were unable to grow or protect a lead in the early going. The offensive boards came most often as a result of late defensive slides by the Spurs which allowed for either wide open looks from behind the arc causing long rebounds,or deep penetration into the paint. In the end though, it simply wasn't enough.

In what was largely a defensive struggle, the Spurs managed to get just enough points from their role players to get the job done. None of these points were bigger than Matt Bonner's three pointer to bring the Spurs within one. Maligned early in the season by the Spur's "official" "fan club", PtR, Bonner hit several key baskets to keep the Spurs within striking distance, though to be fair, Houston might have given this game away.

Ron Artest broke out of a shooting slump with an 18 pt night, hitting 8-16 from the field, despite missing what would have been the game winner. Unfortunately, the trade off came in the form of a Tracy McGrady shooting slump. The Rockets star went just 2-12, with many of his jumpers falling short of their target. McGrady's poor shooting however, was just one of several stats that contributed to the Rocket's loss.

Duncan once again paced the Spurs in the scoring column with a 22 point outing. He didn't put up his usual rebounding stats, but Roger Mason proved to be a serviceable stop gap, chipping in with 9 rebounds, himself. Duncan also had a key block in the game, sending back Aaron Brook's potential game winning lay up with one second remaining. Mason recovered the loose ball and made one of two foul shots to cushion the lead to an astounding two points. Ron Artest managed to break free for a potential game winning three point attempt, but he might have broken a little too hard, as he was off balance as the ball left his hands.

For the Spurs, the win can be marked as satisfactory, simply because it was a win. In the absence of two of their big three, they will be forced to take whatever they can get. Tonight, it was just barely enough.

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Comments

I went for a legitimate, beat writer approach to the recap. I guess I’m trying to expand my repertoire of writing skillz.

"I like to use my pump fake to make them come hard, that's when I use my penetration." -Manu Ginobili

by Justin Biehle on Nov 14, 2008 10:57 PM CST reply actions

Sounds very professional.

www.sportzchat.com

by Linix129 on Nov 14, 2008 11:27 PM CST reply actions

NOT FUNNY GET OUT!

just kidding. good recap bro.

by r21x on Nov 15, 2008 12:07 AM CST reply actions

aaron brooks had a great game for them. but he got hill-ed. george was the schizznit last evening and bonner’s 3-ball when the spurs were down 75-71 made us all believe. almost like the rocks just left him alone a couple of times for sure.

riddle me this PtR: how is it that little steve nash gets one game for getting thrown to the ground and fat shaq only gets a 35K fine when he blatantly pushed two guys in the back? i mean, at least nash went in face up. dont get me wrong, nash deserved the suspension, but fat boy should have gotten at least one game – maybe two.

its not bad enough that he cant get up and down the floor, has little actual hoop talent, continually opens his mouth and shows his lack of class/stupidity. he also continually gets preferrential treatment from just about everyone he encounters.

by bones on Nov 15, 2008 8:05 AM CST reply actions

Yeah, that was badly handled all around. Stern is the suck.

by LatinD on Nov 15, 2008 10:12 AM CST up reply actions

Good Game, Good Recap

Nice job, good recap. That last minute or so was filled with “O Mama!”s – the Duncan block (even if it was on Brooks), the Bonner 3, the Artest miss, and a ton of “O mama!”s for George Hill.

The only thing is you said “In what was largely a defensive struggle…” I would have to disagree with that, I thought we played great defense. We held them to 75 points, and Scola and McGrady were almost nonexistent.

However, you were dead on with our “anemic offense” – that late 3rd and most of the 4th quarter were painful!

by Spurs20 on Nov 15, 2008 8:23 AM CST reply actions

That’s what “largely a defensive struggle” means. That both teams played good defense and had to struggle to score. (Also, we had to struggle to enjoy watching it.)

I'm comfortable winning -- Emmanuel Ginobili

by pollackj on Nov 15, 2008 10:03 AM CST up reply actions

O ok, I thought he meant we struggled defensively. My bad, my bad.

Sorry man

by Spurs20 on Nov 15, 2008 1:10 PM CST up reply actions

Something you don't always hear from Pop about his guys

"What’s impressive about George is he’s starting to figure out how to be aggressive on a consistent basis and he’s learning a new position," Popovich said. "For a rookie to be doing that under these circumstances is pretty impressive. He’s got a great demeanor about him and a fine mental toughness."

by Wayne Vore (ATS) on Nov 15, 2008 10:34 AM CST reply actions

Good recap, man. Thanks. It only needed:

a) more dunking cheerleaders.
b) your 3 stars. That’s kind of a tradition we’re losing this season.

How Sweet Was It That:

- McGrady basically lost the game for them, with his cold shooting.
- Scola failed to burn us for once, like he’d done in previous visits to SA.
- Barry got a DNP, especially after he went away for basically the same money we were offering him (after he got 2 rings with us, too) and also called Bowen a dirty player.

This Boxscore Can’t Be Right I Mean WTF:

- Tolliver played only 6 minutes? Eh? Why? Was Kurt Thomas’ 1-7 that impressive that Pop just couldn’t keep him out?
- Udoka was 0-2 FG with 3 TOs for 0 points in 10 minutes. Is that even possible? What’s the suck differential of that one? Way to take advantage of those 3 starts, Fatality.
- Bowen got 0 pts and didn’t shoot the ball. Don’t get me wrong, any stats that reflects Bowen not taking anything but corner 3s makes me happy, but he always seemed to find an opportunity to let one of those fly in past games. I imagine Hill doesn’t know that play from heart like Tony does.
- We won? Really?

I put Bonner in. I’m so boss.

For the record, watching the Spurs’ slowass defensive-minded system isn’t really an struggle for me. Maybe it was at some point, but nowadays when we achieve that tempo I just feel that everything’s going as it should, and it relaxes me.

by LatinD on Nov 15, 2008 10:37 AM CST reply actions

Good point on the 3 stars. I’ve already added a reminder for it to the game thread template.

by Wayne Vore (ATS) on Nov 15, 2008 10:59 AM CST up reply actions

I’ve actually gotten to that point as well. That comment was mostly in reference to the supposed “average” NBA fan who have hated the Spurs since the twin tower days due to their boring style of play. At least that’s what the media tells me.

I'm comfortable winning -- Emmanuel Ginobili

by pollackj on Nov 15, 2008 1:37 PM CST up reply actions

Wait….. Bones called Bruce “dirty???!!” When was this?! How did I miss that? Is there a link somewhere?

by SgtinManusArmy on Nov 15, 2008 2:14 PM CST up reply actions

The Rockets Commentators said he did. I don’t buy it.

by r21x on Nov 15, 2008 4:16 PM CST up reply actions

Bones is hurt. Sprained thumb.

by Wayne Vore (ATS) on Nov 15, 2008 3:06 PM CST up reply actions

Actually it’s a bad case of vaginitis.

Superman wears Manu Ginobili pajamas to bed.

by CMoney on Nov 16, 2008 10:36 AM CST up reply actions

Facinating word

Does that mean that his is ill? Or does it mean that he’s developed one — and since he used to be a Spur (and a man) that the name of the condition with which he’s afflicted is vaginitis.

Clarification is requested.

I am calm, filling myself with patience - Manu Ginobili

by J.R. Wilco on Nov 16, 2008 6:59 PM CST up reply actions

The Artest gamble will not pay off. The Rockets are desperate though, so anything goes. He did what he does best, miss in the clutch, Timbo did what he does best, make in the clutch. Every time I think Yao is very soft, he out softs himself and takes it to a new marshmellowy level. Nice try Houston, now get back to the drawing board.

by Clintons Cigar on Nov 15, 2008 5:48 PM CST reply actions