Spurs @ Blazers: Stat of the Game: 17

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Spurs @ Blazers: Stat of the Game: 17

by BlaseE on Nov 7, 2009 3:12 PM CST in Game Previews & Recaps Comment 6 comments

My first Stat of the Game post was 17, but that was margin of victor. This time it is FGA differential in the second half. More on that with an awesome song after the jump....

So here is your very awesome song.

Doves - Kingdom Of Rust (via dovesofficial)

We got dominated in the first quarter (by 15 points), won the second and third (by a combined 5), and then would have won the 4th (by 2) without the free throw gimmes for Portland at the end (which put it by 2 the other way).

At half, we were down 43 to 31 in FGA's (-12 Spurs). We were allowing them to shoot 44.2% and were only able to shoot 38.7% ourselves. When you're shooting that cold, the only way to get back into the game is to limit their opportunities and to take as many as you can get. We finished the game 79 to 74 FGA's (+5 Spurs). We increased our own second chance opportunities with 7 second half offensive boards compared to only 2 in the first half. The main thing was on defense though. We were limiting their opportunities with shot clock violations, reducing their offensive boards from 7 in the first half to 4 in the second half, and forcing the Blazers to create their own shots. Portland only had 11 assists for the entire game on 32 shots. The assists were pretty balanced with 5 in the first half and 6 in the second for them though. If a few more of our shots, especially 3's, had gone in or the Blazers didn't have a lucky string of events to end the game ending with Blake's clutch 3, we could have had a successful comeback.

Manu and Tony both said it was important to start strong with our home heavy schedule so I'm curious if they meant "at home" with our 0-3 road start.

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To me the stat of the game was the minutes played by our front court. Mcdyess 12 minutes, Blair 10 minutes, heck even bonner 12 minutes. No more small ball. You cant win a championship playing small ball.

by spursfan87 on Nov 7, 2009 3:48 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Portland won

But did not play well in the last three quarters. Too many jumpers.

"Goals are good. Plans are better." -Ben.

by Sabonis4Ever on Nov 7, 2009 5:01 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Awesome post. Just so you know, I love that song, but the embed code doesn’t work. :)

The Spurs - not playing defense anymore, since 2008.

by Tim C. on Nov 7, 2009 9:52 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

The song is good, but the album was so disappointing. Lost Souls and Last Broadcast are just so much better than the newer music.

Some other Doves songs I like:
There Goes the Fear
Far from Grace
Rise
Catch the Sun
Snowden

by BlaseE on Nov 8, 2009 12:04 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I was quiet impressed with various aspects

McDyess appeared to play well with Romaju on that pick and pop at the top of the key, and there was some really solid defensive effort put forth in the 3rd.

We got to within 3 in a game we had no business being close in after that first quarter.

The guys who are on teh floor are too good to shoot that poorly over the course of an entire season. If this is the basement than the penthouse for this team looks awfully good.

"When you go in for a job interview, I think a good thing to ask is if they ever press charges."

by Bushka on Nov 8, 2009 10:58 PM CST reply actions 0 recs