PtR Quick Cap: Spurs Win Ugly Over Pacers, 90-87 - From The Boxscore Watcher's View

by silverandblack_davis on Feb 17, 2010 10:13 PM CST in Game Previews

Does anyone still win games shooting 35% from the field? Wait... we just did.

That and a few boxscore observations, before someone else posts a real recap, after the jump.

Both teams' shooting sucked - 35% for the Spurs and 42% for the Pacers. The three-point shooting was worse: 7-24 for 29% for SA and 5-19 for 26% for Indy. There goes your reason why both teams were held below 100 points. Or maybe... the Spurs defense did just enough to eke out a win despite the team itself struggling often to find the hoop, and with Mr. Fundamental shooting a horrible 4-23 (17%!!! My finals in calculus back in college was something like 36/200 or 18%, just a shade better than that! Just to clarify, I'm not that dumb... just a bad day at school all-around. And it was advanced calculus, by the way. Hmph).

But, like the true superstar that he is, Tim Duncan does more than just score. Yup. He showed Blair how to grab 20+ rebounds in the games that mattter by grabbing 26 rebounds, 11 of them offensive and were responsible for giving the Spurs 16 more shots than the Pacers. In all, the offensive rebounding edge was 17-8 in our favor. The 5 assists were good, too. Bill Simmons can now suck it. (Troy Murphy tried his best off-night TD impression with 16 rebounds and 9 points)

Tony Parker has been awesome after getting games off this season. He carried the offense for the most part and wound up with 28 points. Not much by way of other stats, but that's the Tony we know and love (to hate).

Matt Bonner played 12 minutes. Somewhere out there, I can name at least two PtRers who are smiling.

Your BAM tonight was Manu, RJ and Mase. The Sickness nearly triple-doubled (18-6-7) but continued shooting poorly from three with a 1-6 clip. He did take over late in the game, as he usually does, with some timely buckets and the customary and-1. RJ was aggressive in the first half, but like runaway grooms, disappeared later on when the going got tough. Wait... he did come back and buried a three to break a tie game deep in the 4th quarter. Kudos. Roger Mason kept on stepping on the 3-point line so his 7 points could've easily been more, but he's Money Mase that way. He played 22 minutes, so we'll see about that trade request again.

DeJuan Blair, pseudo-rookie/sophomore game MVP, had a stinker, committing four fouls in a matter of minutes during the 3rd quarter. Hibbert pwnage, and the kid was gone after that.

I wanted to find out how many minutes Pop played small ball because a lot of the PtRers were complaining about that when Indiana erased our 14-point lead and even led by 6, but I got nothing. We did build that lead with a small ball lineup of TD, TP, Manu, RJ and Mason. Blair came in, fouled a lot, and in went Duncan again. We win going away. The end.

Your Three Stars

3 - Tim Duncan

2 - Manu Ginobili

1 - Tony Parker

That's a familiar sight.

Trade Rumor Mill

Y!Sports reported that Memphis was interested in acquiring Mason. For whom, it was not disclosed yet.

Also, Antawn Jamison is now a Cavalier. Buh-bye, Z (for now, until he gets bought out and resigns).

John Salmons is going to the Bucks for ex-Spurs bigs Kurt Thomas and Francisco Elson.

Krypto-Nate will turn really, REALLY green by going to the Boston Celtics for Eddie House.

Nobody-Cares-'Bout-Me Darko goes to the T'Wolves for Brian Cardinal and a bag of chips.

And there are reports that the Kings may be joining in the Knee-Mac sweepstakes.

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Comments

Well this has nothing to do with the quick cap but Phx has just cut it to 5pts after being down 17 pts to the Mavs.

Superman wears Manu Ginobili pajamas to bed.

by CMoney on Feb 17, 2010 10:22 PM CST reply actions

Correction: it was a 19 pt deficit

Superman wears Manu Ginobili pajamas to bed.

by CMoney on Feb 17, 2010 10:24 PM CST up reply actions

Suns down 8 now 4 mins left. Not looking so good for a Mavs loss tonight.

by M3D1T8R on Feb 17, 2010 10:29 PM CST up reply actions

Shhhh. Have faith.

Superman wears Manu Ginobili pajamas to bed.

by CMoney on Feb 17, 2010 10:30 PM CST up reply actions

You watching the game too?

Superman wears Manu Ginobili pajamas to bed.

by CMoney on Feb 17, 2010 10:30 PM CST up reply actions

Yeah vaguely..

by M3D1T8R on Feb 17, 2010 10:32 PM CST up reply actions

4:43 Left Mavs 96 Phx 89

Superman wears Manu Ginobili pajamas to bed.

by CMoney on Feb 17, 2010 10:28 PM CST reply actions

I see we are currently at the number 5 seed with Dallas in 4th.

If the Spurs are not to win jack this year, beating the overhyped new-look Mavs in the first round would indeed be a nice consolation prize.

...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.

by alamobro on Feb 17, 2010 10:31 PM CST reply actions

On the other hand, losing to the Mavericks in the first round….wouldnt be cool in the least.

...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.

by alamobro on Feb 17, 2010 11:00 PM CST up reply actions

yeah what kind of crap team would lose to the Mavs in the first round.

by M3D1T8R on Feb 17, 2010 11:01 PM CST up reply actions

Ah sarcasm, I love it

"I've got Tim (Duncan) and you don't. That's the difference." -Gregg Popovich

by bj1der on Feb 17, 2010 11:10 PM CST up reply actions

calculus exams

at the end of my second year, second semester calculus exam (most undergraduate degrees in australia only run for 3 years), i calculated that if i got every question right that i had answered, the best i could score in the exam was…48%. the only upside was once the exam was over, everyone said they had struggled with it. and i didn’t fail the unit, so i guess it was hard. but that was bloody demoralising, walking out of an exam literally knowing you had failed.

that story has nothing to do with the game (which i didn’t see, and won’t tonight either due to attending my home town team’s first game of their playoff series), but i felt like sharing.

free george hill!

by sleep research facility on Feb 17, 2010 10:32 PM CST reply actions

I freakin know what you’re feeling srf. Had 2 exams tonight and, oh joy, got another one tomorrow. Senior year blues :P. Hang in there my friend!

"You may all go to hell, and I will go to Texas." -Davy Crockett
"Give me an army of West Point graduates, and I'll win a battle. Give me a handful of Texas Aggies, and I'll win a war." -Gen. George S. Patton

by spursfan4ever on Feb 17, 2010 10:46 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

Calculus causes traumatic experiences to people. High five.

The Roleplayer's Realm

by silverandblack_davis on Feb 17, 2010 10:57 PM CST up reply actions

Sometimes, it’s ok to hate the world and its damn “rules”

by Manu ex Machina on Feb 17, 2010 11:56 PM CST up reply actions

Well shit. Mavs by 10 with 2 min to go. Amare played like a man possessed tonight. 30 pts and he was bowling over people.

Superman wears Manu Ginobili pajamas to bed.

by CMoney on Feb 17, 2010 10:36 PM CST reply actions

What a force. He’s still on the market so….

The Roleplayer's Realm

by silverandblack_davis on Feb 17, 2010 10:58 PM CST up reply actions

I can name at least two PtRers who are smiling.

::Singing::

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Did anyone see that up and under move itty bitty Watson put on Bonner in the paint in the 1st Quarter. Embarrassing.

Now you know you gets no respect from anyone when 6’ guards take you into the paint and put moves on you at the rim. This guy is terrible. Check this stat line;

13min 3pts 2rebs 0blks 0stl

He started and still only managed 1 defensive rebound. WOW!

I don’t think the Pacers even noticed his presence.

Please let this dude be traded by noon tomorrow, I can’t take watching TP freeze him out of the offense anymore. I really think TP hates playing with this dude. I can’t blame him, I would too.

by GhosTown on Feb 17, 2010 10:57 PM CST reply actions

Anxious about tomorrow

"I've got Tim (Duncan) and you don't. That's the difference." -Gregg Popovich

by bj1der on Feb 17, 2010 11:12 PM CST reply actions

I’m watching the game again, and I notice that the lineup changes to small-ball (Hill/Mason/Jefferson/Blair) at 4:52 left in the 3rd. This is when the Pacers go on a 6-0 run. Spurs insert Parker for Hill at the 2:20 mark. 17-3 run for the Pacers to end the 3rd quarter.

Can anyone spot where we go wrong?

"We'll see how our character is," guard Tony Parker said. "We don't have time to be sad. Nobody cares. It's just us. We're the only ones who can help each other."

by Josh Guyer (completely deck) on Feb 17, 2010 11:16 PM CST reply actions

The lineup changes to Parker/Mason/Ginobili/Jefferson/McDyess to start the 4th and the Pacers continue the run, 25-3 since the 4:52 mark in the 3rd quarter.

9:01 mark, Parker makes a layup, 25-5 run, Pacers favor. I didn’t even consider to count the amount of turnovers and fouls because I probably would have cried. It’s at this point that McDyess is substituted for Duncan and the Spurs bring it back to within 1 pt, and somehow end up with the win.

"We'll see how our character is," guard Tony Parker said. "We don't have time to be sad. Nobody cares. It's just us. We're the only ones who can help each other."

by Josh Guyer (completely deck) on Feb 17, 2010 11:27 PM CST up reply actions

A TWENTY FIVE to THREE run…….??? sigh. = /

...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.

by alamobro on Feb 18, 2010 12:07 AM CST up reply actions

So a small lineup with Duncan/Jefferson/Ginobili/Mason/Parker seemed to do ok?

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

by LasEspuelas on Feb 18, 2010 7:08 AM CST up reply actions

Yes

"We'll see how our character is," guard Tony Parker said. "We don't have time to be sad. Nobody cares. It's just us. We're the only ones who can help each other."

by Josh Guyer (completely deck) on Feb 18, 2010 8:46 AM CST up reply actions

The lineup did not “change to small ball” with 4:52 left in the 3rd. They’d been small for almost 2 minutes already at that point for a 6-0 Spurs run.

Small Ball by half
1st Half
Duncan +7 (9:45)
Blair +5 (3:31)
Total +12 (13:16) (small is great! we luv small ball!!!)

2nd Half
Duncan +13 (10:19)
Blair -12 (4:52)
McDyess -6 (3:15)
Total -5 (18:26) (small ball sux! unless Tim is in)

Small Ball Game Total +7 (31:42)
Big Ball Game Total -4 (16:18)

If you want to blame small ball for the abysmal 23-3 collapse in the 2nd half you must also give it credit for being +27 otherwise.

by doggydogworld on Feb 18, 2010 10:21 AM CST up reply actions

BTW, Pop only went small went Indiana went small. Otherwise a big would have had to guard Danny Grainger. I want the small-ball haters to explain how that matchup would favor the Spurs.

by doggydogworld on Feb 18, 2010 10:26 AM CST up reply actions

I like your evidence.

You gotta bring ass to get ass.

by SpurredOn on Feb 18, 2010 4:06 PM CST up reply actions

Dice played for 7 minutes.

just having fun...

by day_late_friend on Feb 17, 2010 11:22 PM CST reply actions

Manu's facebook update

We didn’t play good, but we won. I take it. Now Philadelphia, we have to play better to be able to win. We’ll see.

Superman wears Manu Ginobili pajamas to bed.

by CMoney on Feb 17, 2010 11:23 PM CST reply actions

My thoughts exactly. MANU LOVE

by Manu ex Machina on Feb 17, 2010 11:57 PM CST up reply actions

<3

by Manu ex Machina on Feb 18, 2010 12:00 AM CST up reply actions

Wojnarowski said that the trade might include Warrick and not Thomas.

just having fun...

by day_late_friend on Feb 17, 2010 11:23 PM CST reply actions

This game would’ve been a three point loss instead of three point win earlier in the season. Why? Jefferson would’ve been 2-6 from the FT line instead of 6-6. We’d then be hoping for the tie at the end instead of holding a lead.

Why does Manu continue to miss at least one FT per game? Tonight it was 2.

You gotta bring ass to get ass.

by SpurredOn on Feb 18, 2010 3:07 AM CST reply actions

Agree on all points.

by M3D1T8R on Feb 18, 2010 4:26 AM CST up reply actions

Spurs Future

If the Spurs make the playoffs, I doubt if they’ll get out of the first round. As the standings now stand SA would play at Dallas in the first round and I can’t see a win there. The matchups favor Dallas which is now looking past the Spurs and aiming directly at the Lakers. With the addition of Haywood and Dallas can now match the Lakers bigs while completely dominating the boards against SA. Parker will be facing too many big Maverick shot blockers to effectively use his penetration skills and Duncan’s post up moves will be very difficult just like they are against the Lakers. We should be glad that we didn’t trade Roger Mason, because we’ll need his hot shooting hand, if he still has one, in order to compete against Dallas or the Lakers. The game is all about match-ups and San Antonio just doesn’t match up well against either of these two opponents. The Spurs should have gone all out for a trade to bolster their front line. By the way the small ball lineup Pop has been going with featuring the 6’5’ Blair as the center is really stupid.

by jimjule on Feb 18, 2010 7:58 AM CST reply actions

Im not buying that Dallas has transformed into this superteam whom only the Lakers can hope to beat. ( Although they might be able to beat the Spurs in a series )

...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.

by alamobro on Feb 18, 2010 10:17 AM CST up reply actions

we didnt play very well, but showed stretches of brilliance…..like most games. this would have been a sure loss agaimst a better team, however.

on the bright side, i think we might have found something with RJ coming off the bench. would be wierd to think he could provide a spark off thebench – but he did play better and did have an effective 4th quarter. i’ll take it.

by bones on Feb 18, 2010 8:36 AM CST reply actions

Finley = DNP-CD. I think that might be the first time Pop hasn’t played him when healthy.

Don't compare RJ to Sean unless he's coming up clutch while playing with a failing kidney.

by Tim C. on Feb 18, 2010 10:26 AM CST reply actions

This game seems to be a microcosm of the season. Stretches of horrible offense and defense followed by stretches of good defense and offense and then followed by stretches of mediocre offense and defense. I think if Timmy was playing better offensively this would have been a bigger win. I liked what Parker did tonight, we need more of that from him.

by Big50 on Feb 18, 2010 10:49 AM CST reply actions

Last thing I want to do is cheer up Spurs fans but a February game in Indy doesn’t have to be pretty. You just got to slog it out, bank the win and get to the next town. That applies to the rest of the trip too. Just find a way to win and stay healthy. The games don’t need to be artistic masterpieces.

The Lakers "Too big, too strong, too long, too good."

by olf on Feb 18, 2010 10:59 AM CST reply actions

The ‘last thing’ you want to do is cheer us up?

Got a funny way of showing it.

The intanglibles are with us tonite…its just those dang tangibles lke making shots and playing defense - bones

by J.R. Wilco on Feb 18, 2010 11:13 AM CST up reply actions

Olf, making us all feel better? Is this the real Olf? You’re right though. Gotta win the games you’re supposed to win and not worry about how you did it…for the most part.

by Big50 on Feb 18, 2010 4:16 PM CST up reply actions