The Spurs won their season opener at home against the Indiana Pacers 122-109 in a closer-than-the-final-score-indicated game. After playing a Nellie-ball style first half in which both teams made every shot and seemed to have little regard for that ‘D’ word, the Spurs tightened the screws just enough in the fourth quarter to pull away late and bury the inexperienced Pacers. The game showcased both how potent our offense can be this year, and how far our defense has to go. Don’t worry, though; it’s just the first game.
What I Liked:
–It’s Duncan and Ginobili’s court; the Pacers just play on it. Oh, mama, did the bigger of the Big 3 have great games. Duncan put up the dominatingly efficient line we hope to expect from him in his dotage: 23 points on 12 shots, and 12 boards to boot. He looked quick and healthy, and his jumper was money in the bank. I don’t really know what to say about Ginobili other than that’s why we love him so. You think he’s been itching to start this season?
–George Hill, Quarter 4. Georgie shook off some early yips to play a solid 4th quarter in which his intensity and aggressiveness on both ends of the court really keyed our rally. The Big 3 obviously need more help than ever this season, and with Hill, Blair, and Jefferson battling every night to be that 4th player, we might just end up with 6 really good players every night.
–Richard Jefferson. 16 points on 6 shots and he seemed much more comfortable in the system. During the broadcast, Sean Elliott kept saying that he didn’t necessarily expect Jefferson’s numbers to increase this season. I agree, but I expect his efficiency and efficacy to greatly increase. Early signs are positive.
–Believe the lie. It seems the dedication to running is for real…at least for now. It was clear that the Spurs were committed to pushing the ball and trying to get as much early offense as possible. And for the most part, it worked well and effectively. Honestly, it was our set offense that seemed to struggle the most.
–Not bad, for a rookie. James Anderson had a solid first showing. During his first stint he seemed a bit overwhelmed, and he did press. But as he settled down and settled in, he made some big jumpers, and he competed hard, especially on the defensive end. Hey, isn’t that what Pop is looking for from his back-up small forward? Huh.
–44. During the Pop era, the Spurs try to hold their opponents to an average of 22 points per quarter. The Pacers scored 44 points in the second half, which seems to indicate that the defense was good if not spectacular the second half. Using the eye test, the team certainly competed a hell of a lot harder during the second half and in very un-Spurs-like fashion created havoc and TOs.
What I Didn’t Like:
–65. That’s how many points we gave up in the first half. That’s how many points we should be giving up in 3 quarters. That’s bad math.
–George Hill, Quarters 1-3. He was pressing, trying to do too much. He would pass up shots in the flow of the offense to dribble into the defense and make things worse. Year 3 will be an interesting year for Hill. He was solid as a rookie, and he made a leap in his second year. For him to really become a great player, he needs to make another leap in Year 3, and he has to start fulfilling some of his promise. I love the kid, and I hope nothing but the best for him and have no doubt that he’ll continue to improve.
–You guys have played with each other, right? The offensive execution was pretty bad. The spacing was off a lot, people seemed to be moving into each other. Passes were bobbled, lost, or thrown away. We just weren’t crisp. It’s not uncommon to see this early in the season, obviously, but I don’t remember it ever being quite so bad in the Big 3 era. One thing the Spurs always seem to have going for them is continuity. It seemed like last night was the first time playing with each other for lots of guys. Which I’m pretty sure it wasn’t.
–Matt Bonner’s ankle. Sucks to lose a player in the first game, even if only for a little bit.
Observations:
–We seemed to miss a lot of shots and lay-ups right at the rim. This is obviously crappy because it’s lost points. But the good news from that is that we’re getting to the rim pretty easily. Parker especially was having trouble finishing off drives. But that will come with a little bit of time. It’s a good sign that we’re attacking and getting there.
–I’m of two minds on the new technical rule, but in general I’m in favor of players calming down after calls and just playing the game. And yes, I’m aware that Tim Duncan is one of the biggest complainers in the game. (Take that aspect away from him and you may very well have the most perfect player ever.) I think players should get an initial reaction–that’s just human nature–but beyond that, zip it. The passion isn’t being taken out of the game. I’m pretty sure you can still celebrate when you make a huge basket, or get a big stop, or do things within the framework of the game.
But what’s really interesting to watch is how hard players are trying not to react, and how conscious they are of it. Seriously, watch it. It’s fun.
Game Ball:
Tough to decide between Ginobili and Duncan, but we’re giving it to the Big Fella for the home opener.
Looking Forward:
Next up is New Orleans at home on Saturday night. New Orleans is one of those teams that I have no idea what to expect from them this season. Chris Paul is back and is still one of the best players in the league. But is he happy? Does he have any quality around him? And how will the team adjust to a new coach and new system?
This is another early season game that the Spurs should win. Look for an increased emphasis on our defense. Continue to watch how Jefferson is fitting into the system, and see if Blair can have a bit of a breakout game since he won’t be playing against a 7’4″ opposing center. Also, see if some of Parker’s lay-ups start to drop. If they do, watch out. He loves playing against Paul, and always seems to acquit himself very well against him.
