PtR QuickCap: So That Went Well... Wizards 84, Spurs 106
Feels good to win, doesn't it? Let's make no mistake, Washington is a team that seems to be in total disarray right now. But it's hard not to feel good about this win. It was the most complete effort the Spurs have put together this season.
Oh, and some French guy played point guard for the Spurs tonight. He seems to be a decent player, so we might just have to keep him around after all.
BOX SCORE
Obligatory Parker Praise
Yes, Tony Parker was back in action, and not a moment too soon. For all the crap we give him, he comes back every time and shows us how important he is to this team. When Frenchie is on his game, the Spurs turn into one hell of an offensive team. And he was back to his normal brilliant self on that end of the floor, leading the team in points and assists. But that's not where he impressed me.
Tonight, I saw Tony doing something I haven't seen him do in a long while: playing tough defense. Apparently, he's decided to take a hint from his backup(who is earning a living as a better defender) and actually give a bit more of an effort on the defensive end. It payed dividends, big time. He was guarding Gilbert Arenas most of the time, and the Wiz went to Gil early and often in an attempt to exploit Parker's normal weakness. Nice try, Wiz. Tony was a force of nature tonight on the offensive end, but he was also giving a ton of effort on defense. He didn't give up on chasing his man around screens, he kept good positioning(funneling Gil numerous times towards Timmy and/or Ratliff), and he was just very active. I don't know what else to really say about it - it didn't look like the token defensive "effort" we've come to expect in the last couple of seasons from Tony. If he keeps that up, this team is in great shape.
Like A Different Team
Anyway, now that's out of the way, how did everyone else look?
For the first time all year, Pop went with a starting lineup that is one my personal favorites: Parker, Keith Bogans, Richard Jefferson, Duncan, and Antonio McDyess. This is the second-best lineup available to the Spurs while Manu is out, and has a good balance of offense and defense. Dice's incredibly accurate midrange jumper creates enough space for Duncan to do his thing down low, but he's not starting from as far away when trying for rebounds, plus he has the athletic ability to get said rebounds. Bogans hounded the hell out of Caron Butler and Randy Foye, who shot a combined 5-19 for the game. And between Duncan, Jefferson and Parker, the Spurs had more than enough firepower to get out to an early lead.
In the first half, the Spurs' offense was being run by none other than Tim Duncan, who nearly had a triple-double by halftime. The defensive duties were being performed admirable by the entire crew, but Theo Ratliff really stood out today, attacking the boards and challenging any Wizard who dared to come near the rim. Even Michael Finley was observed to be playing decent defense, but the fear of Pop's wrath got the better of him on the offensive end when he missed a dunk.
In the second half, the Spurs' bench really turned up the heat. George Hill was effective at both guard postions, despite a poor shooting night. Also, Roger Mason found his shot, and even dished out 6 assists. Matt Bonner had a hot hand in the second half as well, helping to bury any hope of a Wiz comeback during the second half, when he, Mason and even Richard Jefferson put on an incredible shooting display from beyond the arc. By the time Mason buried his final shot of the night, the Spurs had built up a 30-point lead. Truly a sight to behold for Spurs fans who have been tired of losing.
Your Three Stars
Tony Parker - see above.
Tim Duncan - The man does everything so well. It's good to see that Timmy still looks like Timmeh! despite the knee problems and the fact that he was logging a lot of minutes in the last 2 games.
Theo Ratliff - Theo brought his "A" game tonight. To the tune of 11 rebounds, 5 points, 3 blocks, and even 2 assists in just under 22 minutes. And Theo's contributions go beyond the box score, to the intimidation of any Wiz player who found himself within Theo's reach. Who knew Theo still had that in him?
Honorable Mentions: Richard Jefferson, Roger Mason, and Matt Bonner all gave great contributions to the team tonight.
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I like Theo getting more min now too. It looks like in the last 2 games Pop has been going with Theo more often than Blair. Blair well still get his min but I would have Ratliff get more than him if he can stay healty and help this team out on the defensive end like he has been doing.
GO SPURS GO
SPURS 2010 NBA Champions (if team is healty LoL)
Special Citation
Even Michael Finley was observed to be playing decent defense, but the fear of Pop’s wrath got the better of him on the offensive end when he missed a dunk.
Classic PTR witticism.
Also I would like to give special commendation to Fab-O for not erupting with 2 points & 4 boards. Fabby, you are a true Spur! We sure miss the flop.
There are no sacred cows for DSL except for holy cow Blair.
I guess I shouldn’t be joining game threads or even watching from a boxscore distance. Unless Wayne was in the game, which means he always has to be in games for us to win.
My Not-Behind-The-Boxscore take:
I love Tim and Tony’s stats—except for the latter’s FG% (RJ’s too). Our rebounding numbers look great. I like how Fab’s only one of two players who had a positive +/- for the Wiz. I sure as 2012 being true don’t know who that other guy is. And, no one saw Tony’s +/-? Not bad for someone “expendable” and could “easily be traded.”
I hope Pop gives Blair his minutes again though. What’s up with that?
"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
What in Sam Hill are you and SRF doing up at 3 and 4 am on a Sunday morning ….?
I just got to work myself….
...Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is forty five.
we’re both in the +8 timezone…so it was around 8pm sunday night for us.
free george hill!
by sleep research facility on Nov 22, 2009 8:54 AM CST up reply actions
Cool. Where are you guys ?
Im in Tucson, Arizona
...Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is forty five.
perth, western australia for myself, while tOR is in the philipines (if my memory serves me correctly)…
free george hill!
by sleep research facility on Nov 22, 2009 9:22 AM CST up reply actions
You’re right. Philippines. +8. Looks good for a +/- score.
"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
by theonlyromeo on Nov 22, 2009 7:21 PM CST up reply actions
Funny how Tony don’t get a pass on anything. But that’s true that since the start of the season, Tony has been shooting much less efficiently than usual.
I don’t like tony’s attitude (rather individualist, over confident in his own ability… ) but he has been getting too much flak during the past month. Sure, he will get a respite now but be prepared for another period of Tony bashing.
I see that you keep a balanced point of view but no need to be negative even if it was only against the WIzards.
This team will be good if it can show more hustle when facing difficult situations.
And clearly, none of our players is good enough to win a game by himself on a regular basis ala LeBron, Wade.
So if we win, it will be as a team. That’s why I don’t like promoting individual performances too much.
i’m watching a replay on league pass right now…was any explanation given for why it sounds like bill and sean are not courtside, but in some studio?
wait…2:30 left in the first, and its like they’ve just arrived courtside. what the fsck was going on with the sound mix?
free george hill!
by sleep research facility on Nov 22, 2009 5:59 AM CST reply actions
The audio/video was even stranger on NBATV. It’s like the network used their own video feed and just had the local My35 audio over it.
"...and programmed to save the day!"
by transgojobot on Nov 22, 2009 3:03 PM CST up reply actions
I think the one key to the game was that our guards rebound the ball. The were going after long rebounds. We limited the Wiz to mostly one shot, and we got opportunities to run.
Tony had 6 rebounds
The only problem i saw last night was that RJ shot too many jumpers. He needs to be more aggressive.
Did anybody else have a cartoon wolf eyes-bulging-out-of-head reaction to Tony’s Plus/Minus of thirty fricking one?
That’s what I said. (see above) Well, not quite, but sort of.
"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
by theonlyromeo on Nov 22, 2009 7:24 PM CST up reply actions
OKC playing the Lakers in LA — first play of the game is a monster block on Fisher by Westbrook.
Heh heh heh.
Try the new PtR--now entirely BAT-FREE!
Makes me wonder why there isn’t a loser thread.
We specialize in misinformation around here. Facts and stats just get in the way.
by Wayne Vore (ATS) on Nov 22, 2009 8:58 PM CST up reply actions
Well, that was the first and last good play of the game for OKC, I fear. It’s ugly.
Try the new PtR--now entirely BAT-FREE!
Yeah, it’s not looking good.
We specialize in misinformation around here. Facts and stats just get in the way.
by Wayne Vore (ATS) on Nov 22, 2009 9:00 PM CST up reply actions
And your boy is playing terrible.
We specialize in misinformation around here. Facts and stats just get in the way.
by Wayne Vore (ATS) on Nov 22, 2009 9:01 PM CST up reply actions
and these stupid announcers can’t get enough of kobe’s circus shots.
When the tooth fairy's own tooth falls out, it is taken during the night by Princess Peanut.
by the little o on Nov 22, 2009 9:16 PM CST up reply actions
Some love for PtR and Tim at Hardwood Paroxysm. Matt Moore quotes you and says:
I can’t stress enough how great the PtR recaps have gotten. They’re essential reading these days.
Nice work!
Try the new PtR--now entirely BAT-FREE!
by Lauri on Nov 22, 2009 9:44 PM CST reply actions 2 recs
That lazy good-for-nothing just used your work for more than half of his entire post! =]
That means jk Moore. Oh, that means just kidding Moore… please don’t have me killed.
Very nice Tim, you’ve brought the fear of lurker Moore into my mind.
All joking aside, very nice work tim, and ptr recap/quick-cap writers.
After missing a game, and getting home, the first place I check after the boxscore is this place for the recaps. They’re always top notch. Thanks.
I liked and agreed with what Moore wrote in his post:
I’m not worried about the Spurs. I’m just not. It’s going to be a process, and it’s going to take some time. But mark my words, this team will OWN the month of March.
When the tooth fairy's own tooth falls out, it is taken during the night by Princess Peanut.
by the little o on Nov 22, 2009 11:18 PM CST up reply actions
Yay, my birth month.
"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
by theonlyromeo on Nov 23, 2009 1:48 AM CST up reply actions

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