Game Links: Spurs at Kings

Game Flow | Shot Chart

On SacTown Royalty’s recap, two of the key differences were turnovers (Kings 15 / Spurs 9) and offensive rebounding (Kings 7 / Spurs 13).  The Spurs "outscored the Kings 19 to 4 on second chance points."

Comment Section of their Recap:  A poster commenting on Royce White’s 56 seconds of playing time.

I think we're all overlooking how good his defense was...

While White was on the floor… NO ONE SCORED.

by kfipp

Matthew Tynan, over at 48MOH, handed out grades and it wasn’t pretty.  The only two players to record an "A" were the foreign exchange students.  Round of applause for Italy and Brazil.

Speaking of grades, Jason Jones over at the SacBee, says that the Kings failed their latest test against the NBA’s best.  The game was not looking good offensively, but the Spurs notched they latest win "by holding the Kings to a season low in points."

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. "A lot of physicality … We played pretty good (defense). We couldn’t throw it in the ocean but we played pretty good D and that got us in the game."

Standings – The Spurs are still 1.5 games ahead of the Thunder, and lead the league with the best record of 52-16.  Notice that the Spurs are 26-8 on the road and 26-8 at home.  How’s that for balance? Also, notice that 2 teams have clinched playoff berths in the East, and no teams have done so in the West.

Coach Michael Malone - ''If you had told me going into tonight's game that we hold the Spurs to 99 points, 38 percent from the field, and 20 percent from three-point, I would've said we were going to win the game,'' Kings coach Michael Malone said. ''They just keep at it for 48 minutes, and that's why I think that they are the favorite to win the NBA championship.''

Manu Ginobili - ''It was one of those games where we couldn't make a shot,'' Ginobili said. ''The good thing is that they couldn't, either.''

Coach Gregg Popovich - "It was an ugly game, wasn’t it".

Tony Parker - ''It's a great reminder that we can win with defense…It was not pretty. We were not shooting well. But sometimes you need to win those kind of games. We know in the playoffs, sometimes the ball doesn't go in.''

On Project Spurs, Marco Belinelli had some personal pasta facts: "I can’t eat (pasta) during the season, or else I become really fat."

In that same article, Paul Garcia compiled some nice stats:

Where San Antonio Stands

• Regular Season: 52-16 (Lead the NBA)
• Road Record: 26-8 (Lead the NBA)
• Vs. Opponents with -.500 records: 29-2 (Lead the NBA)
• Vs. The Western Conference: 30-10 (Lead the Western Conference)
• Post All-Star Break Record: 14-1 (Lead the NBA)
• 29 of the Spurs’ 52 wins have been by 10 or more points
• The Spurs are 10-0 in the month of March.
• The Spurs are 21-0 when Tiago Splitter scores in double-figures.
• The Spurs are 13-0 when the team grabs 50 or more rebounds in a game.

For those keeping track, it’s starting to look like the Lakers have made up their mind.  Will the Spurs be interested and will the price be right for Pau Gasol?

Next Up:  More California Dreaming, as the Spurs stay in Cali and take on the Golden State Warriors.