Spurs vs Sixers: Stats of the Game

There was something very weird about this game.  I think ATS was pretty close about the game feeling in control even when it got close.  I was excited for the big plays, but I wasn't super excited for the gritty stuff like usual.  I think I've come up with a few culprits:

* A Sunday game

* During football season

* Against the Sixers (AI2, Dalembert, and who?  I've heard of Holiday but, yeah...sorry Ivey, but I didn't even know you were on the roster until I looked at the boxscore.  Shame on me.)

* Where the main event is actually post game.

Another list after the jump....

I don't listen to much Green Day anymore, but this is a great one for me.

STATS OF THE GAME

* We "live and die" by the 3 so anytime we shoot over 50% behind the arc is worth noting, 55.6% to be exact.  So without Mason; Bonner, Finley, Manu, and RJ combine for 9 of 13 for 69.2%.  Where were the other 5 attempts? K-Boges was 1 of 5....In his defense, I think most of them were fair attempts.  You can't make them all.

* The Spurs have been doing a good job of making opposing leaders into being poor leaders.  Jennings looked not so great against us.  The Wizards, a veteran team, looked completely leaderless. Ariza chucked away to get his points.  Iguodala 21 points and is an awesome athlete, but please don't tell him that.  He was 1 of 6 from 3.  If I was the Sixers coach, the first thing I would do is sit him down and say, "you are an average 3 point shooter at best, but you can rock the paint and get to line at will so if you don't drive the ball, I will bench you!"  Once again, an opponents best player finishes the game with the worst +/- on the team.  AI Jr.  was -15.

* Dejuan Blair had a disgusting line (11 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks).....in 16 minutes of play!  A note from watching the Spurs this season: Manu likes passing to Blair more than anyone else.  Watch for it.  Manu forced at least 3 crazy passes in this game alone at Blair.  The first I remember was a turnover because Blair wasn't ready.  The second was a turnover because Manu's pass went too crazy for any human or Beast.  The third was an easy score.  I'm not sure if Manu and him just have a a connection, Manu wants to see Blair dominate the opponent, or Manu trusts Blair's wingspan and low body center to the person guarding him to prevail, but watch when they are on the court together.  As the season goes along, expect Manu to Blair, points for Blair, assist for Manu to be a very common and efficient sight.

* Duncan and Parker were monsters of efficiency.  For the sake of this being a triumvirate of power, I'll include Manu who wasn't half bad either in his limited role and coming off an injury.  So your Cerberus of All the is Holy has a combined stat line of 84 minutes, 46 points on 17 of 30 shooting and 11 of 11 from the line, 15 assists, 9 rebounds (in spite of Blair's night and then Bonner, Finley, and Bogans combining for another 16 rebounds),  2 steals, and 5 blocks.  What turnovers?  I don't see that column.....

Finally, here is the man of the night!!!  Thank God every Spursday or those ones in between that we can claim this guy to our franchise so I leave you with this last stat of the night: +1 Spurs with their retired jersey saying "Hall of Fame".