Season 49, Game 27
San Antonio 114, Washington 95
22-5, 2nd in the West
The Wizards were owed one, and the Spurs weren’t going to let them off.
The Wizards beat the Spurs way back before we knew how great this Spurs team was. Now, weeks later, this new dominant Spurs squad had every motivation to lay into the struggling Wizards.
Except that’s not how the Spurs are wired. They don’t imagine slights for motivation; they don’t speak out of school. Every one in the league respects them, and their rivalries are played out purely on the floor. It’s a blessing and a curse. They tend to bring out the best in other teams, like the Clippers in last year’s playoffs. Had the Spurs mucked it up a bit with the mentally fragile Clippers, they might have pulled the series out. Instead, they played with respect and allowed the Clippers to break through their own mental barrier. (Of course, they immediately gave it back in the next round, because Clippers.)
So when the Spurs ‘owe’ you one, they give it to you the same as they do on any night: quiet, methodical, devastating.
This team is playing so well right now that a 15-point lead is what constitutes a ‘close’ game in the 3rd quarter. I’m so accustomed to 30-point leads that I fret when the team is up 19 with under 5 minutes to play.
To be fair, the Wizards played a great first half, particularly on offense. They scored 31 in the first quarter, an accomplishment in itself against this Spurs squad. John Wall was doing whatever he wanted on offense, and the Wall-Gortat pick and roll was flummoxing the Spurs’ defense.
Until Pop put Kawhi on Wall, and that pretty much ended that.
What a luxury to have a wing stopper like Kawhi who excels at every facet of defense. He plays sounds positional defense while still getting steals, turnovers, blocks, deflections, and wreaking general havoc everywhere. But he almost never gambles or gets lost. It’s incredible. As big a leap as he’s taken on offense this year, I still enjoy watching him on defense more.
(Photo: Antonio Morano / Special to Kens5.com)
In the third quarter, Kawhi put it all together and more or less took the game over for a 5-minute stretch, effectively putting the game out of reach for the Wizards. A 3-point game at the half, midway through the 3rd it was a 15-point deficit and the Spurs were rolling.
I was foolish to have ever been worried.
A few more thoughts from Wednesday’s win:
• With Duncan sitting, Pop was able to give Boban some real game-time minutes in a close game. He acquitted himself very well. While his hands are a bit slow around the rim, he continues to show a soft touch on his shots. And when he does get the ball near the rim, it’s pretty much a done deal. He also was able to get some extra possessions on offensive rebounds when the Washington defender just had no choice but to foul him to try and stop him.
On defense, he seems to be getting more and more comfortable in the system. His size alone deters plenty of drivers at the rim. He has quick feet relative to his size, and was even able to get some Duncan-like non-jumping blocks at the rim.
He’s still a long way from being a big player in a playoff series, but he’s the real deal.
• I thought Parker was playing a bit selfishly tonight, missing a lot of open players. He had 10 assists in 26 minutes. I might be an idiot.
• Manu continues to be great. It feels like Pop has found the perfect amount of minutes for him to maximize his amazing and curtail his crazy. He had 8 assists in 18 minutes, and continues to lead the charge for the bench unit, which routinely blows the game wide open or gets the team back in the game. Either way, my notes often read: the bench to the rescue.
• I miss you, Gary Neal, but I’m glad the Spurs don’t need you anymore. Seriously, would Gary find playing time on this Spurs’ team? It was obvious that he was putting the shot up every time he had it. He’s not good enough for a revenge game.
• Neither is DeJuan Blair. I don’t miss him, though I carry no ill will towards him. Wait, he viciously kicked at Splitter two years ago in the playoffs. Maybe I carry a little bit.
Speaking of avenging losses, the Clippers come to town Friday night. This is a big game and a real test for this Spurs squad. The Clippers have always played the Spurs tough in the Chris Paul era.
Go Spurs Go.
