PtR Preseason Quick Cap: San Antonio Spurs 95, Miami Heat 93
by silverandblack_davis on Oct 11, 2009 8:30 PM CDT
in Game Previews
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PrintActually, the above should be silverandblack_davis AND LatinD. Because you know, two heads are more hackish than one. Our thoughts, and hopefully yours, too, after Blair's ACL-less jump.
What kind of preseason is this? How can we be so excited about a team's second unit that we waste hours listening to a game on the radio and then decide to write about it even when we were only able to experience the bare bones of the game? I think it's obvious by now: the answer lies in players like Ian, DeJuan and Malik, and the limitless potential that we see in their games, in their eyes, their future.
We can try to put Blair's game in perspective, like Tim Varner did over at 48 Minutes of Hell a few days ago. But I have to disagree with him for once: his ceiling is not Okafor, Biedrinks, and definitely not Lee, no. He's proven he can rebound well beyond their pace in his first game as a Spur - he proved that he can also score and carry a team on his beastly shoulders on his (true) second game. Now he just needs to combine both, and I might just have to hop onto a plane and move to San Antonio.
Umm... wait. That's not DeJuan rebounding.
How often have we enthroned players for being clutch? In this worthless preseason game against the shadow of a limited Miami team, Blair was as clutch as anyone can be. 28 points in 25 minutes, 15 of them in the final quarter to cement the comeback that led us to victory. He even had the victory basket, a layup off Hairston's pass. The 4 assists, the 2 steals, 4 rebounds, no TOs, team-high +20 +/-, his winner smile and confident tone, they're the cherry on top of our championship dreams. What is this kid's ceiling? So far, all I see above his head is clear, bright sky.
Blair-merica? (via Spurs Talk)
Of course, Blair didn't do this on his own...
Ian Mahinmi is also starting to get his groove on. He did much better in his last outing against Olympiacos, and improved on that performance in this game against the Heat. Yawn was still prone to some silly fouls, and the boxscore might not jump out to anyone just looking at it, but really, he was also a vital cog to the comeback and eventual win. It's also important to note that Mahinmi played major minutes - 26, to be specific, which was tops in the team for this game. His three blocked shots were also welcome, but just his presence - being there with his size and athleticism and scaring the shit out of the opponents, made enough of a difference.
Yawn showing off his offensive skillz.
Lastly, Malik Hairston doesn't need to score points to be a factor in the game. Sure, he just had 6 points but his 4 rebounds and 5 assists more than made up for the absence in scoring punch. Add a steal and a blocked shot to that and he was pretty much the do-it-all guy for the Spurs in the 2nd half.
Hairstondog had another good audition day.
Also, there might not be the requisite star power that we so desire in these preseason games, but it's refreshing to watch the Spurs' young guns. You might want to take in some more of them for the remaining preseason games, as this could be the future flag bearers of this wonderful franchise.
"Man, these young 'uns are good."
Next up, we have the Clippers on Wednesday. Blair vs. Griffin for all the preaseason marbles (plus free Big Macs for the rest of the month) would be epic.
If anyone who was at the game can do a full recap, then you are the man (or the woman).
Highlights and a sick DeJuan Blair lay-up to finish this one off:
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Everything I wanted to say….
Hairston might push Finley for minutes, don’t you think?
48MoH
http://www.48minutesofhell.com/
He can beat Finely for min but no matter what Finely is going to get his min. I would say we should give Fin 8-13 min a game. Then Hairston can take about 10-15 min a game. It will be very intersting to see how Pop manges min if Hiarston does make the team.
GO SPURS GO
SPURS 2010 NBA Champions (if team is healty LoL)
Thanks, Tim. Given Pop’s tendency to rely on veterans, I’d downplay Malik’s chances. But at least he should give Hairston a really good, long look. He’s earned it.
by silverandblack_davis on Oct 11, 2009 9:17 PM CDT up reply actions
I sure hope so. But if Finley shoots as well as he did tonight, it might be a good idea to keep giving the man some reps.
9.20.21.24.34
ACLs are like crutches. They’re only for the weaklings who can’t get along without them. -jollyrogerwilco
What Tim said. Having Finley in once a game to see whether he’s hot that night is my idea scenario.
Straight from the No-Stat Zone to your computer!
Dunkin' Cheerleaders
Highlights anyone?
9.20.21.24.34
ACLs are like crutches. They’re only for the weaklings who can’t get along without them. -jollyrogerwilco
Thanks, TIm. Updated the post with ’em.
by silverandblack_davis on Oct 11, 2009 10:04 PM CDT up reply actions
I noticed the guy narrating the highlights pronounced DeJuan Blair in a way that almost sounds like “The One, Blair”. Coincidence? I think not.
If you haven't lived with a squirrel, you haven't lived. - Bob Ross
… but I thought only king james was allowed to be called “The One”.
From under the radar to hanging in the rafters - Big50
5 in 10
More like, “The Chosen One”. He’s so full of himself that way.
by silverandblack_davis on Oct 12, 2009 6:58 PM CDT up reply actions
I wonder what DJB would look like standing next to LBJ..
From under the radar to hanging in the rafters - Big50
5 in 10
I remember they were together once, and someone took a picture of both of them posing like this…. Lebron then confiscated the camera.
"He's Manu Ginobili"
"moonshine is dangerous stuff."- HIpuks
by the little o on Oct 12, 2009 11:09 PM CDT up reply actions
Interesting that everyone thought the Spurs would pick Chalmers but we went for a heralded guard from a very famous school in George Hill from IUPUI. In this game, the Heat guard sort of outplays our backup PG. Sort of, because he played more minutes too.
"Yes, it's important that I have good numbers, and I'm well-respected as a player. But I think it's more important that I'm respected as a man." - Some Tall Guy Who Wore #50
So… the guy in the highlights called DeJuan “Heavy D”. Where did that come from? I saw it here too, somewhere.
Straight from the No-Stat Zone to your computer!
Dunkin' Cheerleaders
That same guy called him that name first during the Rockets-Spurs highlights.
by silverandblack_davis on Oct 11, 2009 10:37 PM CDT up reply actions
The last sequence in DeJuan’s layup, the one where it looks like he kind of lands on his right hand while doing a semi-split? That blew me away. Is he a ninja or what?
by silverandblack_davis on Oct 11, 2009 10:39 PM CDT reply actions
OMG are you stupid?!?! I can’t believe anyone who writes on a Spurs Blog doesn’t know who ninja is!! I don’t usually post, but your ignorance made me!
I'm comfortable winning -- Emmanuel Ginobili
It’s so great how this could be construed a couple of different ways:
“Come on, idiot” or “common idiot”. Always making us guess what he truly meant.
9.20.21.24.34
ACLs are like crutches. They’re only for the weaklings who can’t get along without them. -jollyrogerwilco
Great Game!
Blair is for real!
http://myspurslink.blogspot.com
Robby posts all his stuff here. -- ATS
Why can I pay to watch Summer League online, but preseason which is 100 times more important and better basketball is impossible to see!?!?! I hate the NBA sometimes.
Its kind of scary that Blair is only 20 years old.
Does anybody know why Haislip didn’t play tonight?
3 of his 4 boards were offensive.
We specialize in misinformation around here. Facts and stats just get in the way.
by Wayne Vore (ATS) on Oct 12, 2009 12:17 AM CDT up reply actions
the limbs of the opposition
"He's Manu Ginobili"
"moonshine is dangerous stuff."- HIpuks
by the little o on Oct 12, 2009 12:56 AM CDT up reply actions
DeJuan gets 3 offensive rebounds while donning his jersey in the locker room.
Straight from the No-Stat Zone to your computer!
Dunkin' Cheerleaders
my response should have gone here (well actually i’m not really sure). =]
"He's Manu Ginobili"
"moonshine is dangerous stuff."- HIpuks
by the little o on Oct 12, 2009 12:57 AM CDT up reply actions
BTW, in anyone else here weirded out by the position of Ian’s left arm/hand in the photo above? If his arms flail around that wildly, I think we’ve found the reason for his foul troubles.
9.20.21.24.34
ACLs are like crutches. They’re only for the weaklings who can’t get along without them. -jollyrogerwilco
excellent observation. Now that we know the problem, we should find a solution. I propose that Pop should tie some strings to his hands and control him like a puppet from above. How do we get Pop above? with another series of strings, or a jet pack. Yes, definitely jet pack. The benefits are many.
- This will allow Pop to have a better view of the game and the plays that the other team is trying to run.
- It will be more entertaining to the audience as they see Pop flying a jet pack around all over, quite literally, the court.
- It will make Pop seem really cool and even more intimidating to the team to see him land a jet pack when he calls a time out for a missed defensive assignment.
- It will be even more cool and intimidating if Pop doesn’t land the jet pack at all during time-outs. As he flies over his squad and screams at the team.
The only downside that I can see of this is if Pop doesn’t care too much about a particular game (that’s pretty much the whole regular season) and decides to have a little too much wine during the game. Watch out AT&T center audience!
Of course, it’s doubtful that the league will let this happen, so onto plan B. We train a small animal to control all of Yawn’s hand movements, a la Ratatouille!
I really wish I had good photoshop skills and could put Yawns face pic in there.
The next challenge will just have to be to find let Yawn grow his hair, and convince the league that he needs to wear a hat to protect his head, by saying something like, he’s french or whatever.
"He's Manu Ginobili"
"moonshine is dangerous stuff."- HIpuks
by the little o on Oct 12, 2009 1:50 AM CDT up reply actions
Hmm, well, his fouls usually came on the defensive end. Unless you meant that photo implies a general lack of grace and coordination.
Straight from the No-Stat Zone to your computer!
Dunkin' Cheerleaders
Exactly what I meant, actually. Especially given the fact that he was injured and not playing for almost 2 years.
9.20.21.24.34
ACLs are like crutches. They’re only for the weaklings who can’t get along without them. -jollyrogerwilco
hmm hairston
so i expect hariston to be the last man standoing…jerrels is good m.williams in this past few games hairston just tops him….malik shows defense which is more important than scoring…second is thathe can score at ;east 4-6 pts off the bench plus a block and a steal if his with us?wow….blair…his greatness will continue i guess his taking revenge off those teams that didnt pick him…second i hope,blair,as being underrated will prove everyone that he can be the rookie of the yr…hmmm…22 minutes he can get 19 reb(it depends if shots,opp,doesnt fall)but hey why not 22 minutes 10 pts,10reb,1 blk,0.5 stls 3 ast?he proved it that he can do those things in limited minutes.
Man I was at the game last night and let me tell you…Blair = legen…wait for it….DARY. And clearly Pop doesn’t care about winning preseason games, as we were down 13 in the fourth and Parker and Fin were still sitting. It’s a good test to see what the young squad can do and they definitely didn’t disappoint. Jerells looked pretty good as well. He hit his FT’s (let’s not even mention Blair at the line :-\. I rolled my eyes a number of times, he was 6 for 10) and looked pretty comfortable on the court. Total opposite of that…? Marcus Williams. Williams looked especially uncomfortable on the defensive end, and looked lost a couple times like he was playing a cross between zone defense and man defense.
I don’t think Blair will really eat up into Finley’s minutes, as was mentioned above, Pop will likely insert him as a spot up shooter when we need some quick points. He knocked down some solid shots.
Speaking of minutes, it’s also clear that Hill has secured his minutes, no questions asked. He shot 5 of 7 for 12 points in 17 minutes and he was another one that was not inserted when the Spurs were down 13 in the fourth.
Jones picked up 3 fouls with only 2 points and did not prove his worth defensively. He played lacklusterly and I was pretty disappointed.
Miami didn’t have the greatest squad, but Daequon Cook did knock down a couple of wiiiiide open 3’s, and Chalmers was great.
In general I think our defense kind of lacked. The numbers might say one thing, but there was a real lack of energy on the court with our backup squad, until we were in deep doodoo. Some Heat players got wide open looks and took a bunch of uncontested shots. Other than that, I’m freaking excited for these guys, Blair especially.
I don’t think Blair will really eat up into Finley’s minutes, as was mentioned above, Pop will likely insert him as a spot up shooter when we need some quick points.
You meant Hairston instead of Blair, right? Anyway, thanks a lot for the mini-recap, joe20.
by silverandblack_davis on Oct 12, 2009 7:01 PM CDT up reply actions
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