Game Preview: San Antonio Spurs at Houston Rockets
by quincyscott on Dec 29, 2011 2:00 AM CST
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San Antonio Spurs @ Houston Rockets
Toyota CenterDecember 29, 2011 7:00 Spurs Time
TV: Fox SW - RADIO: 1200 WOAI
So here we are, the tail end of the first of many back-to-backs. And the opponent is pretty darn familiar already. Let's take a moment to remember what a very different opponent this almost was before Houston, along with the Lakers and NOLA, got Sterned. I still think that that original deal was a good one, one that benefited all teams. Don't get me wrong, I have no interest in seeing Dwight Howard and Chris Paul in a Laker uniform together, but still. Houston would have been a very different squad with the acquisition of Pau Gasol, no?
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But before I get to tonight's preview, I am going to bore you, dear reader, with tales from my childhood. Hey, I'm still in the holiday mood, OK? Here goes. When I was a kid, I have to confess that my favorite basketball team was the Boston Celtics. Sure, I marveled at the Ice Man, and wanted the Spurs to do well. But I don't think I was quite a believer yet, and, like a lot of American boys my age, I was rather caught up in that wonderful Lakers/Celtics rivalry of the eighties. Most people picked sides in that one, and I rooted for the Celtics. The Lakers were loaded with talent and glamor, but those Celtics teams really captured my devotion. I was not a basketball player, but I knew artistry when I saw it. I am grateful to Magic and Bird for establishing for me early on two things about the game of basketball that I still value deeply: both of those guys were relentless competitors; and both of them were incredible passers. The Celtics particularly could move that ball around like nobody's business. I still feel that the more I focus on all the cutting and moving without the ball, and the more I try to see the big picture, then the more I enjoy the game and the better I understand what the heck is going on. Bird and Magic taught me to not just focus on the man with the ball.
There are two other beautiful aspects of the game that watching those Bird Era Celtics teams hammered home for me. First, although Larry Bird was always their star, that team succeeded because they had a great group of guys that really shared the ball and played together. Sound familiar, Spurs lovers? Boston had the great defender Dennis Johnson, rest in peace, who was perhaps my favorite player on that team. Even annoying little Danny Ainge with his pesky defense and timely threes won me over. There was The Chief, with his stoic demeanor and bruising, herky-jerky style. And, last but not least, there was the other artist on the Celtics, surely not as appreciated as Bird, but one of the greatest ever. What he demonstrated was that basketball was not only about power, it was also about gracefulness. Footwork and fundamentals can trump sheer brute force in this game. The man that taught me that was Kevin McHale.
via a323.yahoofs.com
If you aren't old enough to have watched those Celtics teams, do yourself a favor and check out some YouTube footage of Kevin McHale, the player. (Here is a pretty good one, but there are others. Also, apparently there is a Kevin McHale associated with some show called Glee. This is not the same Kevin McHale.) I honestly don't know if McHale is any good at coaching. His snarky brand of television broadcasting doesn't really do it for me, either. But the man was an artist on the basketball court. Foot. Work. The guy was like a ballet dancer on the floor. He had so many smooth but unique post moves, combined with those long arms and a deft touch. Defenders were usually helpless to stop him once he got the ball in the low paint. For me, the line of great power forwards with silky offense goes like this: McHale, Olajuwan, Duncan. I don't know who is next. Fundamentals and footwork don't seem very heavily valued in today's game, especially with so many NBA players having little or no college careers (no disrespect to you, Kawhi).
The Rockets were the first Texas team to make the NBA Finals, way back in 1981, and they were beaten handily by McHale's Celtics. But soon, Texas teams would be blessed with a wealth of riches when it comes to great forwards, and many championships would follow. Houston went from Choke City to Clutch City with Hakeem and his boys. The Spurs and Tim Duncan picked up that mantle a little over a decade ago, and have done Texas proud. Now even the Mavericks have a title, thanks in large part to the ever tricky Dirk Nowitzki. Seven titles. A Texas Trifecta. And now that an old Celtic power forward is helming the Rockets, it seems like everything is coming full circle.
All right, enough nostalgia. My hat is off to you, Kevin McHale. And now, we are going to crush your team.
The Rockets may not have made a big trade this offseason, but they have some pretty fine talent as it is, and the Spurs had better be ready tonight, or as ready as they can be on such short notice. Our Young Ones will need to contribute tonight, in spades. This game will give us a glimpse of how Popovich manages minutes and implements on-the-job training in this crazy season of playing four and five games per week. Let's get to it!
The Spurs looked sharp against a hot young Clippers team last night. The Rockets should be fresh with two nights of rest, and are always tough at home. I get the feeling Coach McHale and the team are still trying to figure things out. They looked a little disorderly in the preseason, and the Magic lead from the get go the other night in their first game of the regular season. Scola and Lowry both scored about 20 points in that one, and they also got double figures from Lee, Dalembert and and Williams. They got most of their points in the paint or from mid-range jumpers, and shot poorly from the 3 point line: 22%. But they had more rebounds than Orlando, and more assists. They also took care of the ball, only turning it over 9 times. This is a feisty team, and they have some dangerous scorers in Scola, Lowry and Martin, and they take care of the ball. And you just know Chase Budinger is going to light us up at some point.
As always Tony must dominate Fisher, and NBA league pass is recommended for those who are willing to pony up the cash. Almost every Spurs game will be broadcast there, which is especially helpful for those of us who aren't in the San Antonio area. Please don't post links to illegal game feeds in the game thread. Links to illegal feeds are not permitted on SBNation, but you can probably find them out there on the internets if you're resourceful and desperate.
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I disagree that the deal would have benefited NO. They would have become Houston Rockets Part 2, basically with that trade. I don’t necessarily agree with the blocking of the deal, but the Clippers – NO deal was a lot more fair. I’d maybe argue that NO got the better side of it, if they T-Pupps end up losing enough to give them a top 10 pick. NO could potentially have 2 lottery picks in a deep 2012 draft…enough on that…
Nice preview though. Houston is one of those pesky teams. A lot depends on how the other bigs like Jordan show up. In the game where the Rockets looked very good/Spurs looked rusty, he looked special.
T-Williams will likely have another big slam dunk. Spurs need those dunks so they can actually make it in any highlights at all!
They say every time Pop smiles, an angel is told to stop being so fu--ing lazy and play some defense. -Hipuks 2/3/11
Spurs need those dunks so they can actually make it in any highlights at all!
They need Neal back first.
"I'm good at killing fat boys. I like killing fat boys." ~Arya Stark
Honestly, Neal can come back, but his role is going to be smaller, or at least someone’s is. But honestly, aside from Manu’s minutes being more limited this year, who would you want to see play less? Anderson? Leonard (even though he’s more a 3/4, his minutes would clash with JA at the 3)?
They say every time Pop smiles, an angel is told to stop being so fu--ing lazy and play some defense. -Hipuks 2/3/11
ya only highlight i wanna see is timmy holding up larry obrien trophy in 2012
by i luv this site on Dec 29, 2011 11:38 AM CST up reply actions
This is a good read Mr. Scott.
I was actually sitting down with my dad just the other day watching an old Celtics Sixers conference finals game. I can’t remember if it was 81 or 82, but the game was spectacular. The lineup of both teams was impressive, I especially liked seeing the bird vs dr j match ups.
I mention this mostly because my dad kept mentioning a hatred of Danny Ainge that he couldn’t really explain either. I find it funny how the hate runs deep for Danny Ainge, but he’s kinda similar to our very own Manu Ginobili in his style of play (hustle player, clutch, not particularly gifted athletically). I actually enjoyed watching him play. Kevin McHale was a revelation to me. I have had the misfortune of only knowing him for his broadcast work, and had no idea he had such prowess on the court. I had never seen anyone else embody fundamentals like Timmeh before, I just assumed none existed.
My dad is unlike me and didn’t grow up here, so he had no real compelling reason to be a spurs fan, but ever since he was a kid growing up in South Dakota he’s been a loyal spurs fan. From the Gervin days on, he has a whole wealth of NBA knowledge that I could only pretend to have, it was great seeing some of the classics with him.
Pardon the reminiscing, let’s uh… sign a big man! Yeah!
Hey, I'm a firm believer in the philosophy of a ruling class. Especially since I rule.
by UkraineIsGame2u on Dec 29, 2011 4:04 AM CST reply actions
Forgive me if this will sound sacrilegious, but, what will happen if Fisher ever retires? Will Tony still dominate him?
"White-orange, orange, white-green, blue, white-blue, green, white-brown, brown"
Totally.
"A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest." --Willy Wonka
by SleepCrack on Dec 29, 2011 8:33 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
Fisher will retire thinking he can escape the Tony domination. But Tony will just simply go to Fisher’s whenever he is rotated out (with his amazing speed of course) and go dominate him just in time to get back and dominate whomever he’s against that night.
I am also Steelbeard, Megatron's personal bodyguard. I'm a '70 Chevy Stingray in vehicle mode. In robot mode, my windshield and windows transform into my beard. Made from special alloy, it reflects lasers and bullets. It can also fold into a sword with the same reflective properties.
He will dominate Fisher in his sleep.
They say every time Pop smiles, an angel is told to stop being so fu--ing lazy and play some defense. -Hipuks 2/3/11
But will he dominate Fisher in Fisher’s sleep?
by The Calvinator on Dec 29, 2011 12:31 PM CST up reply actions
This was a great preview, Quincy. I was only but a small lad in the 80s, so I can’t say I actually followed those Laker/Celtics rivalries first hand, but they’ve been horribly intriguing to me, and I’ve studied them… extensively, you might say. I think McHale is one of the most underrapreciated PFs in history. He could do it all…little weakness to his game. I do not think he’s coached a player better then himself (yes, that includes Kevin Garnett), which could be a reason his success as a head coach has been limited. I wish him luck, but not tonight.
I'm not as good as I once was...and that's just the cold, hard truth.
I loved the NBA in the 80s: the Celtics, Lakers and even the 76ers (which would have won multiple chips in this NBA). No PF that I’ve seen had better footwork than McHale or could use the rim/glass better. We saw a little of that style from Blair last night. I’m not sure why more big men haven’t tried to mimic it, but then again, I don’t understand why some of the useless tall guys haven’t trained with Kareem to learn the skyhook.
I feel exactly the same way about the sky hook. I am sure it is still a nearly impossible shot to defend, yet twenty years later, nobody uses it. So weird. I think a player like Duncan, with that in his bag of tricks, could extend his career for several seasons.
Bonner does have his shy hook. And last night Blair through in a couple of, I don’t know what to call them… Oh My Hooks.
All these GIFs are breaking my browser.
I grew up watching the Jordan-era Bulls (and Cubs) because they were on TV on the WGN, and to a lesser extent the Hawks (but more Braves) on the TBS. I don’t remember ever seeing the Spurs on TV as a kid, just David Robinson on Sportscenter highlights until the Duncan era began.
"A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest." --Willy Wonka
by SleepCrack on Dec 29, 2011 8:39 AM CST via mobile reply actions
What region were you from? I didn’t get to be a Spurs fan till I moved to Austin when I was 15. We didn’t have cable but they broadcast some games on the local NBC sister station. And that was a year before they got Duncan—so good timing, me, you dapper me.
Grew up in a fragrant little town called Muleshoe, about an hour from Lubbock, where I live now. I always liked the Spurs but only started following hardcore when the cable company added FSSW+ without telling anybody and I discovered it the first game of the 09-10 season. Otherwise I only got to watch playoff games mostly. But growing up they didn’t show any Texas basketball on our cable unless it was a rare nationally TV’d game.
"A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest." --Willy Wonka
by SleepCrack on Dec 29, 2011 9:23 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
I used to live in Clovis, New Mexico, right across the border from Muleshoe.
Will argue against trading #45 until I am blue in the face and your eyes and ears are bleeding.
by SpursfanSteve on Dec 29, 2011 12:14 PM CST up reply actions
Is this where they got the name for the Clovis civilization?
All these GIFs are breaking my browser.
by quincyscott on Dec 29, 2011 12:34 PM CST up reply actions
OK, I’m answering my own question. According to Wikipedia, this is indeed the site where the culture was first identified. That’s pretty cool.
All these GIFs are breaking my browser.
by quincyscott on Dec 29, 2011 12:37 PM CST up reply actions
All these GIFs are breaking my browser.
by quincyscott on Dec 29, 2011 12:41 PM CST up reply actions
This display might actually be a picture of the one at the Blackwater Draw museum a little ways from Clovis. Wild.
"A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest." --Willy Wonka
by SleepCrack on Dec 29, 2011 12:54 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Crazy, SFS! We used to go to Clovis all the time growing up because it was the big city compared to home.
"A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest." --Willy Wonka
by SleepCrack on Dec 29, 2011 12:56 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
That’s funny. We used to vacation in Lubbock because it had hotels with pools and a big mall. :)
Will argue against trading #45 until I am blue in the face and your eyes and ears are bleeding.
by SpursfanSteve on Dec 29, 2011 1:00 PM CST up reply actions
LBK! I grew up there and desperately tried to avoid going to Clovis. That poor town is just pitiful these days.
Really? It’s been about 5 years since I was there, but from the time I moved away (2000) to 05/06 the town had almost doubled in size, and the military was going to be moving more personnel to Cannon, which would only make it grow more. Kind of tough to believe it would get worse :/
Will argue against trading #45 until I am blue in the face and your eyes and ears are bleeding.
by SpursfanSteve on Dec 29, 2011 2:02 PM CST up reply actions
Well, it may be the same, but I thought it was pitiful back in the day. It’s been about 4 years since I’ve been up there. Of course the main strip is all I really drive thru and it’s got all those closed down stores. So it may just look more pitiful than it is.
The brick part? They really need to renovate that area. It could look so cool if they fixed it up.
Will argue against trading #45 until I am blue in the face and your eyes and ears are bleeding.
by SpursfanSteve on Dec 29, 2011 3:27 PM CST up reply actions
Nice work Quincy! I have only two questions. Was Hakeem a forward? I have always thought and heard of him as a center. Secondly, Duncan is not as good as McHale? I’m going to have to disagree with you there. McHale was good, no doubt, but I don’t think he was ever the best player on his team. Anyway, good write up nonetheless. :)
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Actually, I don’t know what Hakeem was. A freak of nature, mainly. When paired with Sampson, I consider him a forward.
I don’t think I ever said McHale was better than Duncan. Only an intoxicated Bostonite would make such a claim. Duncan is I think the all around better player, hands down. But, even he could learn a thing or two from McHale’s footwork and pump fakes.
All these GIFs are breaking my browser.
by quincyscott on Dec 29, 2011 10:03 AM CST up reply actions
Even though he was taller than “Akeem” at 7’2", Ralph Samson was the quintessential face-up power forward who’s quick enough to blow by other PFs and tall enough to shoot over everyone, including centers. Just seeing highlights of him and Olajuwon sharing the court together was really scary.
If Sampson wasn’t so brittle, who knows how many ‘chips they could’ve won?
Enjoyed the reminscing, qs. Think I’ll go watch some more McHale highlights.
by silverandblack_davis on Dec 29, 2011 11:05 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
Great game last night! Lets keep it going…..
Fuck it Spurs by 75!
"Dear prescription drug commercial,
It's nice to know that even though I have genital herpes, I can still go fishing.
Sincerely, thanks for giving me peace of mind."
by Cello the great on Dec 29, 2011 9:56 AM CST reply actions
That was a great game. Holding an opponent to under 40% from the field. I miss those days, and I hope we see more of them.
I think guys like Splitter, Leonard and Anderson are ratcheting up our defense.
All these GIFs are breaking my browser.
by quincyscott on Dec 29, 2011 10:05 AM CST up reply actions
ESPNChrisPalmer chris palmer
Manu Ginobli > Chauncey Billups
I'm not as good as I once was...and that's just the cold, hard truth.
Obvious is obvious?
They say every time Pop smiles, an angel is told to stop being so fu--ing lazy and play some defense. -Hipuks 2/3/11
It’s insulting that anyone thinks this is new information. In other news, Parker > Fisher.
"A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest." --Willy Wonka
by SleepCrack on Dec 29, 2011 11:20 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
Well, Billups isn’t really a 2 guard, anyway. He is a good player, with a different set of skills than Manu. And he has lost a step or two. But people could also argue that Griffin>Duncan, based purely on their numbers and head-to-head matchup last night. It’s a little more complicated than that.
All these GIFs are breaking my browser.
by quincyscott on Dec 29, 2011 11:45 AM CST via mobile reply actions
So, as it turns out, Manu Ginobili is the best basketball player on earth. (check out WS/48mins at the end of the page)
But we already knew that, right?
Free Cory Joseph!
Noticed that RJ is the other Spur on most of those lists…
Will argue against trading #45 until I am blue in the face and your eyes and ears are bleeding.
by SpursfanSteve on Dec 29, 2011 1:07 PM CST up reply actions
NBAonESPN The NBA on ESPN
Rookie of the Year (one vote each): Brooks, Faried, Knight, Leonard, Vesely. ESPN’s Winter Forecast http://t.co/xh8tq1k9 #NBApicks
about 2 hours ago
I'm not as good as I once was...and that's just the cold, hard truth.
OK, I’m doing this so I can later point back to this particular piece of e-garbage and rejoice myself with the accuracy of my predictions:
RJ is 2012 Spurs X factor
Carry on
"You are completely full of shit". CapHill exposing LatinD's perennial lack of arguments when it comes to crappy Korean comics.
Drats, reply fail… see below:
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"You are completely full of shit". CapHill exposing LatinD's perennial lack of arguments when it comes to crappy Korean comics.
Ive got some really good ones waiting that I recently. I will save them for the next game im online. I have to go to the Alamobowl with the GF tonight though.
Do or do not! There is no try!
Losing Gasol wasn't the big deal.
Losing Gasol AND Nene was the big deal. If that trade went through, Nene was going to sign with us, and probably form the best frontcourt in all of basketball. It would have looked even better with Patrick Patterson and Jordan Hill off the bench, two young and talented big men.
Aside from that garbage, we’ll probably be a competitive team all year, but likely won’t finish over .500. Our goal this year is to develop our young guys, especially Patrick Patterson, Jordan Hill, Terrence Williams, and Marcus Morris.
I think we have a great shot to beat you guys tonight, even though y’all just smashed the Clippers last night. Here’s why: The Celtics got killed by the Hornets last night. The Celtics, like the Spurs, are mainly an older team. The Celtics played an inferior team last night, but it was their 2nd game in two nights. I think that situation applies to tonight’s game. The Rockets are not as good as the Spurs, but the Spurs are a pretty old team, so I think they’ll start to tire in the 2nd half tonight, just like the Celtics did last night.
Only a theory, but I think it makes sense.
"Hakeem couldn't kick your ass cuz you were too
close kissin his!"- Sir Charles to Kenny Smith.
Your theory on back to backs is sound with the Spurs. It showed last season.
However, in the NBA it all comes down to match-ups. Either way, the point im trying to get to my friend……our bench is deep. Possibly deeper than last seasons 61 win game team. Though I would still like another big.
The Big three still produce, but our bench is stepping it up and playing major minutes to keep the starters fresh. This is really going to help on these back to back games in the shortened season.
Not to mention that our team average age is 27.
Oh and I forgot to mention……
Do or do not! There is no try!
The Celtics are also without Paul Pierce, so I don’t think we can read too much into that loss.
All these GIFs are breaking my browser.
But they lost by 13 against an inferior Hornets team.
If anything, the game should have at least been close.
"Hakeem couldn't kick your ass cuz you were too
close kissin his!"- Sir Charles to Kenny Smith.
by bone31crusher on Dec 29, 2011 4:50 PM CST up reply actions
OK, but they haven’t won a game yet, either. Pierce is a big part of what they do.
They did shoot 37% against the Hornets, and that certainly could have been due to fatigue. But here are the minutes played by their main guys in that Heat game the night before: Garnet 33, Ray Allen 40, Rondo 44. And in the Hornets game, all of their minutes were greatly reduced. Heavy minutes plus an injured starter take a toll, no doubt. If we are drawing parallels with the Spurs, Parker, Manu and Duncan have all averaged 25 minutes or less in the first two games. If they can continue to keep their minutes down like that, they should be all right.
All these GIFs are breaking my browser.
This makes me laugh from Coach Pop. A little more relevant tonight with now Coach McHale:
Gregg Popovich: “Kevin McHale doesn’t know what the hell he’s talking about”
Do or do not! There is no try!
lol
Will argue against trading #45 until I am blue in the face and your eyes and ears are bleeding.
by SpursfanSteve on Dec 29, 2011 3:19 PM CST up reply actions
Da’Sean Butler is playing in today’s game with the Austin Toros. So far 6 points and 5 rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench.
I had high hopes for him when we signed him. I hope we see him later.
"If the NBA season is a marathon, Gregg Popovich is a full-blooded Kenyan."
-Timothy Varner 48MoH
by Jordan Leithart on Dec 29, 2011 4:22 PM CST up reply actions
Good stuff Quincy! Maybe you should be the “Oldtimeyspurfan”. … I not only loved the Bird/Johnson matchup, but thought that Dennis was one of the best to ever play the game. … I have to admit that I LOVED Danny Ainge for what he did to the Boston opponents back then – YES, ala Ginobli. That removed, for me, ANY possibility of not liking the guy. I always thought that the ‘fond of the lawn (ahem)’ Chief was one of the best, if not the best Center that Boston, maybe any team, ever had… debatable, I understand. Then you come to Kevin.. Ballet? Yes! Modern Dance thrown in for good measure, maybe a touch of the Shag too. I was Green and White before I was Silver and Black… You are talking about a period though for me, that I was definitely Silver and Black – heck, that was my home town. But I could not get over a total respect for Boston and what they were doing to and FOR pro basketball. Lakers too…. but .. meh. I’d been watching the Celts since 1958 or so, and being a fan. Bob Cousy and Bill Russel were the ones that ‘gave me the first one for free’
I would go out with women my age, but there are no women my age.
George Burns
by oldtimeyspurfan on Dec 29, 2011 5:11 PM CST reply actions
I did not become a Bill Russel fan until later, but I am a big admirer. Such a dignified fellow, and played through a contentious era in so many ways, including of course the Civil Rights movement. His story is a great one. Sports is a pretty silly thing in many ways. I know I have been frittering away my day at my computer screen when there are far more important things I should probably be doing. But Russel is one of those few athletes that is actually a great figure outside of the game itself. I don’t think much of kids idolizing sports “heroes.” But if my kids idolized Russel, I wouldn’t mind a bit.
All these GIFs are breaking my browser.
That, the Bill Russel and Wilt Chamberlain era, was a GREAT time for basketball, as was the Bird and Magic Johnson era. “I’ve got a basketball Jones”. :)
I would go out with women my age, but there are no women my age.
George Burns
by oldtimeyspurfan on Dec 29, 2011 5:23 PM CST up reply actions
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