Season 48, Game 62
San Antonio 116, Chicago 105
39-23, 7th in the West
Remember in my recap of the last game when I talked about how good Parker and Leonard looked? Just copy and paste that and we should be good to go here.
Leonard continues his streak of all-around dominance, scoring 20 points to go along with 8 rebounds and 3 steals. That makes 4-straight 20-point games, the longest of his career. He continues to spark the team both offensively and defensively. Seriously, if you’re foolish enough to dribble the ball around him, you deserve the steal and fast break dunk that is coming.
Parker had easily his most dominant game of the season. While he showed signs in the Denver game of rounding into form, tonight he unleashed the whole package. Driving to the basket for easy layups, the spin move in transition, the elbow jumper. He had it all going tonight. In the second half, he almost single-handedly kept the Bulls’ runs at bay by matching them point for point.
The assist numbers were low across the board, but this is a bit deceptive. For one, when Parker is going like this, that number will necessarily be low. Why stop him? Also, the Spurs got so much in transition and fast break and secondary fast break, and those baskets are usually unassisted. The Spurs crushed the Bulls in fast break points, 35-9. It was clear that the Spurs were told to run and push, and they did. The offense looked crisp and focused.
And the ball was still flying around. That’s why the low assist numbers don’t worry me, because the offense wasn’t stagnant. Even depleted, the Bulls are a great defense, and the Spurs carved it up however they wanted. Perhaps Pop was using the first 50 games to tinker and try new things (like focusing on Kawhi’s offense), but as we enter March and the final 20 games of the season, it’s time to get back to last season’s offense, and see what else we can add.
Just in time, plenty of things seem to be coming around, back into form. Green’s 3-point shot looks more settled, and this is an important dimension to that starting unit. A starting unit, by the way, that seems to be returning to its dominant form of last year. Patty Mills also seems to be regaining his stroke and confidence. Like Green with the starters, Patty with the second unit is critical, as it opens up everything for them and really sets the tone that that unit likes to play with. A second unit which also seems to be returning to its 3-Bombing Lead-Growing ways.
This was a great win. While the competition hasn’t been top shelf over the 5-game win streak, the way the team has been playing is encouraging regardless of opponent. There are difficult match-ups looming, but it’s a great stretch for the team to get rhythm and confidence and rack up some wins, too. Most importantly, there’s a returning joy in the way the team is playing, and a joy in watching the team play. This is the Spurs I know and love.
