Season 48, Game 76
San Antonio 123, Denver 93
50-26, 6th in the West
As we have for so many years, once again we arrive at a 50-win season for the Spurs. Same as it ever was.
As hard as it is to believe now, there was a time when this milestone was in real doubt this season. The team arrived at the halfway mark with only 25 wins and not playing great basketball. As recently as that disappointing Knicks loss, I proclaimed that they weren’t going to do it this season, having given away too many easy games and lost too many heartbreakers.
Yet, here we are, early April, Spurs rolling, 50 wins in the bank, looking forward to the playoffs. Will a Pop-Duncan team provide anything less?
There’s not much to say about the actual game. Last time these two teams met, the Spurs won a game featuring a ton of offense and very little defense. Coming into tonight’s game, I was hoping the Spurs would be able to apply a little bit of defensive pressure, take a big lead early, and force the Nuggets to check out of the game early. Check, check, and check.
(AP Photo/Darren Abate)
Kawhi Leonard started the romp off early, hitting his first 7 shots of the game and leading the Spurs to a double digit lead a mere 4 minutes in. His jump shot was on point, and he continued his strong work in the post, tormenting bigger and smaller defenders alike.
From there, Danny Green decided to make up for a few poor shooting performances by going 6-for-6 from behind the arc. He is on pace to break the team’s single season record for made 3-pointers, and he might have done it tonight if the game hadn’t been such a huge blowout. As it stands, he is now 10 away from tying, I believe.
Parker had his best outing in a while, playing a magnificent floor game. He didn’t need to score, because he was running the offense like it was designed specifically for him to run. Which it kind of was. He made the right passes at the right times, controlled the tempo and the spacing, and generally dominated the game without having to score. It was nice to see this often overlooked side of his game.
Finally, the bench continued its strong play, pushing leads and completely changing the energy and tempo of the game. With Boris reemerging, Baynes coming on strong, and Marco and Manu rounding into shape, those four have found their groove. The only real question is who gets that back-up PG spot, Cory or Patty. Tonight Cory was first off the bench, and played with good energy. I still think Patty’s game is an overall better fit, but if he’s not making his shot, he is a liability. The poor guy just can’t buy a shot right now.
All in all, the rotation seems to be settling in nicely as both the starter and bench are playing well, and the meshed line-ups are also performing.
The only downer of the game was Tiago leaving early with tightness in his right calf. Normally this would only seem minor, but that player and that injury raises a lot of red flags. Tiago’s strong play of late is directly correlated to the Spurs turning the corner, and Tiago is as vital a piece to this team as any other player. We don’t know the full extent of the injury, but I expect the team to proceed with caution and err on the side of rest. I imagine he’ll miss some games, but let’s hope it’s more precautionary than necessary. As the metaphor goes, the Spurs are a well-oiled machine, and all parts need to be fully functioning for the machine to reach optimal performance.
It’s good to be a Spurs fan right now. The team is rolling and peaking at the right time. There’s only one team playing better, and they are coming to town Sunday: The Warriors. It’ll be interesting to see how both coaches play it. Considering the teams could very well meet in the playoffs and the Warriors will be on the second night of a back-to-back, there could be rested players on both sides and shortened playbooks as neither coach wants to reveal too much. On the flip side, both teams could use the game as a barometer for where they are heading into the playoffs.
Either way, given the style each team plays, it should be an entertaining game.
