Spurs vs. Raptors: Stats of the Game

by Fred Silva on Nov 10, 2009 12:20 PM CST in Game Previews

I left this game feeling confused. I was happy, but confused. What just happened out there? Did the Raptors really just drop 124 points on us in our gym? And almost more shockingly, did the Spurs just score 131 points without Tim or Tony playing? What?!?! I feel like I'm taking crazy pills. Well, follow me across the jump so we can investigate what exactly is going on with our Spurs.

First, for your listening enjoyment, I present The Blowing Trees. Everyone should support more local bands in general. What, your favorite band is from LA? You just told me you loved the Lakers. Now stop that and check these guys out. They are from SA and play here all the time.

And I feel it's somewhat appropriate in regards to what happened last night. I do hear a different tune coming from the Spurs. It's somewhat bizarre, and a little rough, but that tune is of a much improved offense. According to Basketball Reference, the Spurs are currently ranked 2nd in the NBA in terms of offensive efficiency. So, the Spurs score the second most amount of points in the NBA per 100 possessions.

Weird, right? Not if you take into consideration how deep the Spurs are this year. Twelve players have averaged 10 or more mpg. That is astounding. Ten have averaged 18 mpg or more. The Spurs are quite simply overflowing with talent. And given Pop's tendency to spend the first 20 games experimenting, it should not come as a shock to any of us that they have struggled early.

Unfortunately, while we are second in offensive efficiency, we are also ranked second to last in defensive efficiency. Now, tell me that's not a different tune. The pessimists out there will say that one results in the other. They will argue that because our defense is so bad we can't help but score more points in an up and down, crazy Stephen Jackson meets Ron Artest at a club and in walks Allen Iverson affair. However, our pace is still ridiculously slow; so same tune, different lyrics? We rank 4th to last in pace, which means we still slow the game down and greatly execute out of a half court offense; the Spurs are simply more efficient this season.

My conclusion is that while our defense is clearly lacking, our offense is incredible. I feel that the Spurs will figure things out on the defensive end with time; historically, this has always been the case. But one thing you cannot overlook is the offense. Now this is exciting. If we can play even a little defense, like if Bonner would jump half the time he challenges a shot instead of 1/4th of the time, the Spurs would be a very dangerous team. And if the Spurs can get their defense respectable? There would be no ceiling for this team. For the first time in a long time, the Spurs possess an offensive juggernaut.

Thanks to Jane Ann for these sweet photos.

Pace? I don't believe in pace.

Settle down, Junior. Be in a rush, but don't hurry.

Eureka! Maybe I should jump more often on the defensive end, too.

RJ: Think Pop will be mad? We are winning....

Manu: You have a lot to learn, man.

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Comments

Thumbs up from me on the musical selection.

Regarding our defense, I’d be happy if our guys would at least put a hand in front of someone’s face on a semi-regular basis. I’m not asking for much… am I?

Superman wears Manu Ginobili pajamas to bed. - CMoney

by bellasa on Nov 10, 2009 12:59 PM CST reply actions

I feel like our guys are going for the steal too often. Manu always does that, but normally he’s the only one. Now we have RJ and Blair playing the passing lanes. Whenever they miss, it’s a 5 on 4 advantage for the bad guys.

"GINOBILI!" -- Sir Charles

by Fred Silva on Nov 10, 2009 1:12 PM CST up reply actions

All that being said, it was a fun game to watch. However, now I’m a bit more worried about Dallas than I was previously. We’re definitely playing a lot looser than we usually do.

Superman wears Manu Ginobili pajamas to bed. - CMoney

by bellasa on Nov 10, 2009 1:18 PM CST up reply actions

Well, the Raptors hit a ton of outside shots on us. Generally, that’s what you want. You do not want what happened against Utah, where we got killed in the paint. I just can’t believe that other teams will shoot that well against us if all we give them are outside jumpers. We need to contest them better, but still. They shot 65% from three and 59% overall. That’s crazy.

"GINOBILI!" -- Sir Charles

by Fred Silva on Nov 10, 2009 1:27 PM CST up reply actions

Offense is good, D is better

I have no stats whatsoever to back this up, but I would think that the more efficient you are on the offensive end of the floor you would almost by definition be less efficient on the defensive side. I would think that’s a reason you rarely seen a 40 point win. Yes, you may play good defense for a quarter or two, but then when you’re up 20 you relax and just trade baskets.

That being said, I think it’s been proved that having good defense, whether it be consistent or situational (i.e. 08/09 Lakers), is really the key to winning the title. Therefore, as good as the offense is, D will be need in the playoffs. Unless of course we’re winning by 20 every game, and I have no problem with that.

by Big50 on Nov 10, 2009 1:50 PM CST reply actions

In ‘07 we ranked 5th in offense and 2nd in defense, in ’05 8th in offense, 1st in defense, in ’03 7th in offense and 3rd in defense, and in ’99 11th in offense and 1st in defense. They are not mutually exclusive. You can be good at both; we’ve done it before.

I agree, though. Clearly, our defense needs to show up. But that does not mean our offense will struggle. Again, we are second in offense but still fourth to last in pace. So we are scoring out of our normal, half court offense. If we add defense, it should not affect our half court offense at all. It would be different if we were running like crazy.

"GINOBILI!" -- Sir Charles

by Fred Silva on Nov 10, 2009 1:58 PM CST reply actions

Well, there you have it. I understand how good defense leads to good offense, but I would think that it doesn’t always work in reverse.

Anyway, stats win again. Nice job with the stat of the game, btw.

by Big50 on Nov 10, 2009 2:13 PM CST up reply actions

The rotation in the D just isn’t crisp yet, especially with the baseline help.

Neither he nor Gob were prepared for the challenges of using cats to catch a seal.

by Cedarpark on Nov 10, 2009 2:54 PM CST reply actions

yeah, it’ll get better. Nice sig, I just noticed it.

When the tooth fairy's own tooth falls out, it is taken during the night by Princess Peanut.

by the little o on Nov 10, 2009 3:04 PM CST up reply actions

thanks, I agree with you and just noticed your sig as well. Dig it.

Neither he nor Gob were prepared for the challenges of using cats to catch a seal.

by Cedarpark on Nov 10, 2009 3:21 PM CST up reply actions

Well, when we go small, you can throw defense out the window. We started the game with Theo underneath and 4 guards. How are they supposed to defend a team whose starting lineup consists of 6’10, 6’10, and 7’? I don’t care how crisp the rotations are, two of those three will get whatever shot they want.

"GINOBILI!" -- Sir Charles

by Fred Silva on Nov 10, 2009 3:28 PM CST reply actions

And yet another fail for me in trying to reply. I clicked the button, damn it.

"GINOBILI!" -- Sir Charles

by Fred Silva on Nov 10, 2009 3:28 PM CST up reply actions

Maybe there is some logic to the fact that our ability to score comes with poor defense. This is all hypothetical but a 4 guards + Duncan lineup would allow the big guys on the other team to do whatever they want but at the same time it is likely that our guards will do whatever they want on the offensive end. This state of affairs would lead to what Big50 was describing in which our defense is crapola because we are playing small ball and at the same time our most efficient offense. The mismatch works both ways.

In reality however, I think the team as a whole is extremely efficient offensively and they do not need to play the 4 guards lineup to put a bunch of points on the board. Pop will find a balance eventually.

"If an expert says it can't be done, get another expert"
- DBG

by LasEspuelas on Nov 10, 2009 4:04 PM CST up reply actions

he has, with the red rocket. =]

When the tooth fairy's own tooth falls out, it is taken during the night by Princess Peanut.

by the little o on Nov 10, 2009 4:28 PM CST up reply actions

Our offense will only get better as our defense get better, we’ll generate more turnovers and stops and start earning transition baskets (something we really haven’t been winning) so consciously focusing on defense shouldn’t hurt us too much offensively.

by RamblingSpur on Nov 10, 2009 4:00 PM CST reply actions

One thing I do like with going small is it has forced us into more of a motion offense. We do well when everyone is looking to penetrate and kicking the ball around the horn. We get in scoring slumps when we try to force feed a guy on the block and everyone stands behind the three point line watching. If nothing else, I hope the staff notices this and continues with the motion offense, even when we have a traditional lineup playing.

"GINOBILI!" -- Sir Charles

by Fred Silva on Nov 10, 2009 4:36 PM CST up reply actions