A game that matters not... 12/23 Minnesota Recap

by spurchief on Dec 26, 2008 4:32 PM CST Comment 10 comments

...except that it adds 1 to the win column.

I did promise to do this recap. But I'm not going to spend a lot of time on it. Here's why:

1. I'm late - The holidays kept from having the time to sit down and do this until today, 3 days and another full game later.

2. I'm not as funny or as photo-inclined at recaps as SiMA or LatinD, both of whom have raised the recap bar over the last few weeks (kudos, gents).

3. Lastly, the Spurs weren't really interested in this game either, so why should we be?

Starters: Tony, Tim, Bonner, Mace, Fin. This is the segababa, so it could always go either way where the old tired legs are concerned.

1st Quarter:

The Spurs jumped out to a substantial lead in the first, buffeted by a good shooting performance and some astoundingly crappy defense by the T-Pups. In fact, we started the game with a Windu cut, feed from Tim, and a lay-up. Fish in a barrel. 13-4 five minutes in, 30-21 at the end of the 1st. BY the way, KT played well and hit some midrangers in this quarter.

2nd Quarter:

U-G-L-Y. This was the quarter where the good guys realized that only a minimum effort would be required to win this game, so that's what they gave. The highlight of the quarter (see the replays on NBA.com if you can find them): early in the quarter, Telfair shoots, misses. George Hill grabs the board, dribbles, and has it stolen by Telfair, who dribbles and passes to Kevin Love. Tolliver made Love pump fake, which gve Hill time to come over and pack his lunch on a layup attempt. It was beautiful. T-Wolves won the quarter 19-18, Spurs led 48-40 at the half.

3rd Quarter:

My DVR crapped out for the first five minutes of the half, but apparently, we didn't miss much. Tolliver got a fair amount of time. Tony played quite well. His 18-footer was on and NO ONE was around him most of the evening. Manu got a step-back three to end the quarter. SA won the quarter 35-27 and led 83-67.

4th Quarter:

We could have predicted this. You've heard of a trap game? Well, this was the trap quarter. Let's go though the list:

- Big lead? Check

- Crappy opponent? Check

- Segababa? Check

- Big game against Phoenix in less than 48 hours? Check

All of the elements were there. And we did not disappoint. A 16-point quarter and we still ended up winning by 6, but it was tense and they closed to within 3 with about 2 minutes left. SA did just enough to win this one in the 4th and not an ounce more.

Final: 99-93

Random Thoughts:

- Al Jefferson can score. From anywhere, on anyone, at any time. He had a bad game, with the eyeball test during the game, but a peek at the box score shows this: 11 of 17, 28 points, 6 boards. He's a bad defender and undersized for a 4, but he can fill it up. He and Foye (same mold, good scorer, bad defender) make Minny one of those dangerous bad teams (as opposed to the just plain bad teams). With a healthy Mike Miller, they will give a lot of good teams tough games. And still lose by 5.

- It was obvious that SA was already on the charter to Phoenix in their minds, especially in the 4th.

- Don't know how many of you heard Pop's comments (during the Suns game) about letting the team coach during a game last week. My wife asked me if it was this one (she watched it with me and even she - a non-sports person - noticed the loose nature of the game). I personally think it was the Kings game. There was a lot of laughing and cutting up during that game, as I recall.

3 stars:

3. Might be either Mason or Finley, both played OK. I'll go with my favorite line in the box score: The JV, DNP-CD.

2. Tony played a great game. 13 of 17, 10 of 12 FAs, 36-8-4 with 3 TOs. He owns these guys, for whatever reason.

1. Timmeh was his usual subdued dominance: 19 on 9-20, 12 rbs, 5 asts, 4 blks. I'm finding myself appreciating the little things he does more and more every season. It's clear he hates to lose, but he also understands that a regular season game against the Wolves is different that Game 6 against the Knicks or a Game 7 against Detroit.

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Pictures are for suckers, spurchief. Great recap, and thanks for chipping in.

Regarding Al, I honestly think he could be a good defender if he had Pop as a coach. He has everything I’d like in a Spurs big. Or at least he’s many times better than fan-favorite Bosh (I may be exaggerating).

by LatinD on Dec 26, 2008 10:55 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Agree about Big Al being a better scorer than Bosh, but I don’t think he – in any way – is or could be a better defender. Bosh is just longer and has better footwork on that end. But I agree that Al could improve with the right coaching. He’d be a great guy to complement Duncan in last few seasons, that’s for sure, with Duncan assuming the 15-point, 10-board David Robinson role.

Bosh’s lack of an offensive package of moves worries me for him. He’s too reliant on offensive boards to get his points. Not sure – at the end of a game – he has a shot he can get everytime (maybe not make, but at least get). I have not seen him that much, but he also appears to be a suspect passer in the 3-4 games I have watched. Again, maybe with better coaching……

"Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored." – Aldous Huxley

by spurchief on Dec 28, 2008 4:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t like using the cliche, but what I don’t like about Bosh is how soft he can be sometimes. When someone pushes him a bit and fights him beneath the hoop, he starts settling for jumpers. Those games usually don’t end well.

by LatinD on Dec 28, 2008 7:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You’ve just made the best case yet for him being a Spur.

"Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored." – Aldous Huxley

by spurchief on Dec 28, 2008 7:32 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You mean regarding the games in which Duncan acts like this? It’s far worse, and at least Duncan has a reliable bankshot.

by LatinD on Dec 28, 2008 7:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

this year, you mean

I don’t have those fancy charts, like ATS likes so much, but over the past couple of years his fg% on that bank seemed to dip

but he’s back to being money in the bank again (sorry, I just couldn’t resist)

I am calm, filling myself with patience - Manu Ginobili

by jollyrogerwilco on Dec 28, 2008 8:22 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Great recap, chief. You made good observations and good points.

Don’t worry about not posting pics or any of the bells-and-whistles that I rely on. If you take away the fluff, most of my posts are pure drivel and rambling homerism anyway. LatinD though, he’s money; I can’t take away from his stuff.

But yours was great, none-the-less. Thanks for doing the recap and I’ll be looking for your next one.

by SgtinManusArmy on Dec 28, 2008 10:15 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

First, did you just compliment LatinD? Other than saying something nice about ATS, that was the most surprising thing I have read in a while. I think that may be a sign of the apocalypse.

Second, there is no doubt a place for drivel and rampant homerism on this site. In fact, this may be the best place in the world for drivel and rampant homerism.

Finally, you are a lucky bastard. I would have given my left nut to have been at that Phoenix game when Mace hits the big one. On the other hand, if he misses, you would have been most miserable guy in the world, walking out of there with a Bowen jersey on. But, of course, it was never in question….

Thanks for the props.

"Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored." – Aldous Huxley

by spurchief on Dec 29, 2008 3:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It’s a Christmas miracle.

Sometimes you just have to be nice to others. If not for any other reason than to lure them into a false sense of comfort and stability, and then destroy them when they’re smiling and unprepared.

by SgtinManusArmy on Dec 29, 2008 5:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs