Unofficial Spurs v. Magic Recap

by Big50 on Mar 18, 2010 10:15 AM CDT

Holy crap that was some ugliness. Outside of Manu Ginobili and Richard Jefferson the main rotation players of this team did NOT have a good game. The Magic where unconscious shooting 60+% in the first half and finishing the game shooting 52%. The Magic out scored the Spurs by only 2 points in the paint, but they made twice as many three-pointers. The bottom line is when your franchise player has his worst shooting night of his career (1-10) and no other players pick it up (3 of 5 starters combined for 9 points), you're in for a long night.

This is what your performance looked like Spurs...please don't ever do that to us again.

The Spurs had no answer for Vince Carter. He was able to get to the rim with ease for the most part of the game. Of course that is not what you want from Carter as a defender. When Malik Hairston got to defend Carter he did the best job, in my view. Dwight Howard was held in check with only 9 points. Our rotation is what killed us. Rashard Lewis had 20 points on 4-6 from downtown. I was surprised to see the Spurs doubling Howard and then running at 3-point shooters. As I said before the game I thought the Spurs would let Howard do what he could but then stay at home on the shooters. Either way, when a team shoots 52% from the field, you're doing something wrong on defense.

The good news from this game? Manu and Rage continue to look really good together. Rage scored 20 points, for the first time in a loss, and Manu was looking right on track with 18. Also, we got to see some bench players get significant minutes and the one who really stood out to me is Ian Mahinmi. He looked spry on offense and scored 10 points on 4-7 shooting. I'd love to see him teaming with Tim Duncan or Antonio McDyess in this rotation. He made mistakes, but I will say that I think the Spurs should re-sign him and get him in the lineup next year for cheap. I would hate to lose him and then see him start going for 20-10 every night for the Knicks or some team.

Got me on his bandwagon last night

I'd like to see more of Hairston on the offense. The handful of times he touched the ball he was aggressive and made smart plays, for the most part. If we can get another guy who can be aggressive and make the defense have to pay attention too that can only help this team. I loved his intensity on defense and thought he was our best perimeter defender last night. Perhaps when Parker gets back we'll see him in the lineup with Parker and get Manu and RJ playing together.

The Spurs really missed Tony Parker tonight. If you have him in there pushing the one-man break and putting some additional pressure on their defense this could have been a different game. It was clear with Timmeh, Dice and George Hill struggling that the Spurs needed Parker's offense on this evening.

Get all healed up Tony, we'll need you ready to dominate

I'm not sure I should give out stars for this game, but I'll go ahead and give props to the guys who played well. Here are your 3 stars:

3: Ian Mahinmi - 10 points, 2 rebs, 1 block in just 12 minutes

2: Manu Ginobili - 18 points, 3 rebs, 3 assists.

1: Richard Jefferson - 20 points, 6 rebs, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block

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“As I said before the game I thought the Spurs would let Howard do what he could but then stay at home on the shooters.”

Definitely. I didn’t get the double-team Dwight Howard strategy. If he goes for 30, but the Spurs stay at home on the 3-point shooters that would have to work better. Pop is so adamant about keeping one defender on a player like Amare Stoudemire so to double-team Howard, who is a great player but not as great an offensive threat, doesn’t make much sense.

Hairston’s been a pleasant surprise over the past few weeks. He’s got the tools to be a good defender and must read his scouting report. Offensively he’s still finding his way. I’m glad it seems he’s ahead of Mason in the pecking order.

Duncan is not going to play worst than that and Hill was not himself at all. I’ll just have to flush the game against Orlando.

by 0signal on Mar 18, 2010 11:40 AM CDT reply actions

Doubling Howard???

I don’t think the double teams Pop threw at Howard were as much to stop him from scoring as they were to protect TD from fouling out early. Howard is quicker and stronger than TD right now and presents problems. I would have brought Mahinmi in early on Howard. Mahinmi can’t outmuscle Howard, but his height and jumping ability would have presented problems. That way they could have stuck closer to the 3 point shooters. Note Orlando’s perimeter players also were able to drive to the paint almost at will. The Spurs just don’t match up well against the Magic, a team that will give Cleveland a real test in the East’s championship series. The Spurs need to win 10 more games to have a chance of finishing sixth ahead of OKC, otherwise its either Dallas or the Lakers in the first round. I like our chances against the Lakers over the Mavericks. Dallas may be the sleeper for the West crown. Finally, despite his look of being lost on the floor sometimes, Mahinmi has earned more playing time. If we loose him this summer we have no one to blame except Popovich.

by jimjule on Mar 18, 2010 11:55 AM CDT reply actions

I could be wrong about Mahinmi, but I think you’re right. The worst thing that can happen is he fouls Howard a lot. That’s about all Duncan and McDyess were doing. I think the double team leads to the ability to drive easier. Forcing a team to double is a key in breaking down any defense.

by Big50 on Mar 18, 2010 1:15 PM CDT up reply actions

I can not remember a game where the spurs doubled anyone as much as they did last night.

by Ohio Spurs Fan on Mar 18, 2010 10:40 PM CDT up reply actions

Agh. Luckily there will be no segababas in the postseason. OMG big50, where did you get the pic of that disfigured….person? Thats horrible. Looks like they were in a traumatic event or the victim of a very bad plastic surgeon ( or both )

Crappy teams fear us !

by alamobro on Mar 18, 2010 12:14 PM CDT reply actions

Oh, that picture…it’s…wow…

by JustinBK on Mar 18, 2010 1:09 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah, just google “ugly” and you’ll see things you never wished to see.

by Big50 on Mar 18, 2010 1:12 PM CDT up reply actions

That picture was worth 1000 words. Geez…..I wish the game wasn’t that ugly

by Heman on Mar 18, 2010 1:30 PM CDT reply actions

I really don’t know what Pop was thinking with those double teams, and yes, we sorely missed Parker.

"I like the fact that he’s a man." – Hubie Brown on Blair

by Manu ex Machina on Mar 18, 2010 2:48 PM CDT reply actions

Thanks for melting my eyes, 50… What the hell is that?

"We suck on 'D. Both individually and team-wise, we suck. We're pretty consistent that way. I don't know if I have an answer to that. If I did, we wouldn't suck quite so bad." - Popovich

by Aaron "Hirschof" Preine on Mar 18, 2010 4:02 PM CDT reply actions

That I do not know…but it’s ugly, no?

by Big50 on Mar 19, 2010 8:59 AM CDT up reply actions

In the Mahinmi picture, is that the infamous and short lived “new” basketball?

To serve man.
Gustatus similis pullus.

by Hipuks on Mar 18, 2010 5:02 PM CDT reply actions

I think Duncan’s offensive numbers are down since Parker got injured (of course like a true PTRocker I didn’t bother to check the stats) As much as Parker uses the pick n roll with Duncan to generate his offense I think Duncan got used to it as well and is struggling to find his rhythm alone and with other players.

by arnav on Mar 18, 2010 5:25 PM CDT reply actions

Well done, B50, but that picture is just wrong.

I smell death... everywhere.

by LatinD on Mar 18, 2010 5:30 PM CDT reply actions

"He was just a young skinny guy who looked like a winner. We didn’t know he was going to be as good as he is."
—Popovich on Manu Ginobili

by spursfan87 on Mar 18, 2010 6:28 PM CDT up reply actions

Who’s the hottie in the picture?

I'm not saying something is wrong, but something isn't right.

by SinCitySpur on Mar 18, 2010 8:09 PM CDT reply actions

The latest woman to come forward in the Tiger scandal.

by swgeek on Mar 18, 2010 8:38 PM CDT up reply actions

Oops, sorry, wrong box. I keep making stupid mistakes.

by swgeek on Mar 18, 2010 8:38 PM CDT up reply actions

Hey, stop acting like a Mavs fan.

The Roleplayer's Realm

by silverandblack_davis on Mar 18, 2010 8:38 PM CDT up reply actions

Go Dirk! Go ~~Jason Te~~ – Damn, just cannot bring myself to type that.

by swgeek on Mar 18, 2010 8:40 PM CDT up reply actions

Two words:

PRE

VIEW

Alfajores cause mojo! - janieannie

by J.R. Wilco on Mar 19, 2010 3:28 PM CDT up reply actions

The good news is they get to play the Magic again. We’ll see how they adjust their defense. At least it gives them a good loss against a team that can really kill you off the perimeter.

The young guys at least played hard and hopefully that won’t go unnoticed, especially in Mailk’s case. He seems to slowly be making his way into the rotation.

Was interesting that Jackson never saw any time though.

by grego21 on Mar 19, 2010 2:05 AM CDT reply actions

Cedric was inactive. They activated Temple so they could take a look at him.

by doggydogworld on Mar 19, 2010 11:11 AM CDT up reply actions

When Pop said that he’d like Hill to be like Avery, I think he’s telling him that he trusted him. This was a big time game and Hill should relish being in this position but instead, he dwindled. I hope Manu can teach him how to be tough. He should get some tips from Aaron Brooks. Jackson can play defense, Temple is taller with nothing much to offer, not even athleticism, I hope to see Jackson again playing with the Spurs (fingers crossed).

by 21td on Mar 19, 2010 2:24 AM CDT reply actions

George thought “being like Avery” just meant shooting 1-5.

Actually, George is plenty tough. He’s just not a point guard. To his credit he’s learned the position well enough to be a serviceable backup, but that’s a completely different thing than facing down an elite squad’s first team defense.

by doggydogworld on Mar 19, 2010 11:15 AM CDT up reply actions

BIG 50 -

I have always wanted to be a Mahinmi fan… since 07-08, but I havent had a chance! This year, when given burn, he has looked really promising. I dont care what anyone says; you cannot sit under Tim Duncan for 3 years and not learn a thing.

You have to look at this year as Ian’s Rookie year. He has had 22 minutes of playing time in his actual rookie year, and injured all last year. If we give this kid half of McDyess’s minutes, I believe he would surprise you. The way he moved with the running hook-shot left handed looked alot like Hakeem did early in his career. I would love to see him start next to Timmy just once. He could play off the ball, same as TImmy did his rookie year when David ran the offense. I by no means think he has the ceiling of Timmy, but I do believe he has the ability to be better than end of the bench!

More Minutes Mahinmi… good chant!

by DieHardS on Mar 19, 2010 11:23 AM CDT reply actions

Yeah, I think he can be good. Maybe not the 20-10 that I mentioned, but more of a 15-10 guy who can clog up the lane. I think his youth and inexperience shows up on defense more than anywhere and it’s his rotations that have kept him on the bench.

by Big50 on Mar 19, 2010 1:04 PM CDT up reply actions