Season 48, Game 79
San Antonio 110, Houston 98
53-26, 6th in the West
This game wasn’t so much a “wake up call” as it was just a gentle reminder that you have to continue to play well and execute to win games in the NBA.
Like many Spurs fan, I still vividly remember that 2012 season when the Spurs rode a 10-game win streak into the playoffs, rattled off 10 more, and looked near invincible before dropping 4 in a row to the Thunder. So while I love the roll this team is on right now, I’m fearful of too much prosperity, if that makes sense. I don’t want the team losing its edge or focus and then not being able to get it back. So tonight’s game was the best of both worlds: we started the game horribly, undisciplined and out of sorts on both ends; but we got it back midway through the 2nd quarter before romping the Rockets (always a joyful experience) and getting the win regardless.
What a bad 18 minute it was. Houston looked unstoppable on offense, and the Spurs couldn’t get anything of their own going offensively. Harden was doing his Harden thing, driving to the rim, getting fouled, and generally being annoying. Howard was being his typically annoying Howard self. (Author’s note: the Rockets are my least favorite team in the league, and it’s not close.) It seemed as if the Spurs might get run out of the building.
For a while there I thought that Pop might be pulling some next-level Jedi maneuvering, basically showing the Rockets nothing in case the two teams meet in the first round. The offense was static and spare; the defense was basic. The team seemed content to lose. It almost seemed like the team was going out of its way to avoid giving Kawhi the ball on offense, and they were missing so many obvious passes to wide open 3-point shooters. They seemed out of sorts in a way we haven’t seen in a while.
This is a tricky position, though. If the Spurs win out, there’s a great chance they can still nab the 2-seed, which seems incredible given where they were most of the season. On a smaller level, playing Houston back-to-back right at the end of the season and facing the possibility that it would be a first round match-up, I don’t think you can just concede a loss. Record and standings aside, the Spurs had to win at least one of these next 2 games. So while there’s value in keeping some tricks up the sleeve, the better move is to still get the win. (Author’s note: I really hate the Rockets and always want to crush them.)
Then just like that, the Spurs started rolling again, went on a 16-2 run, took all momentum into halftime and then blew the game wide open in the 3rd, as if to say “why were you ever worried?” The second-half Spurs were a completely different animal than the first-half Spurs, and they just ran the Rockets off the court. The final margin doesn’t even do the game justice, as the lead grew to greater than 20 and was at 19 when McHale called the dogs off about halfway through the 4th. And it was only that close because the Rockets hit a few wild threes that kept it “close”.
A few more observations about this match-up:
–Tony had a tremendous game, and was in full Parker bloom. He was driving and attacking, hitting his jumper, and basically getting anywhere he wanted. With Beverley hurt, the Rockets have no starting-caliber PG, and this is probably the best possible post-season match-up for Tony. Houston had no answer for him. If they are forced to tilt their defense towards him, there will be too many other mismatches that open up for the Spurs’ offense.
–Joseph had a wonderful game, too. He occasionally gums up the offense a bit too much, especially when he refuses to take the wide-open 3. But with the way he is playing defense and just his overall tenacity, it makes up for it. (And with Mills’ shot still MIA, he is easily the best back-up PG option.)
What I particularly liked was the way in which he guarded Harden. I thought this was one of the keys that turned the game in the 2nd quarter. He is able to man him up without fouling, and he gets around screens better than any other defender. The real benefit of this, though, is that it allows Kawhi to guard Ariza or Brewer, and roam more freely on defense and mix things up with his help defense. Against the Rockets, this is probably a better route to slow them down than to try and put Kawhi on Harden one-on-one.
–After a slow start, Kawhi got it going, especially in the second half. He might not have been the best player on the floor (that was probably Tony), but he was probably better than the very-deserved MVP candidate that was on the floor, making it 3 MVP candidates he has outplayed in as many games. Imagine a full season of healthy Kawhi.
The two teams meet again on Friday, this time in Houston. It will be interesting to see what adjustments each team makes and how the game unfolds. This is a good little primer for the playoffs, getting to face the same team twice in a row.
Man, would I love to beat Houston back-to-back. (Author’s note: oh, you know already.)
