Season 50, Game 09
San Antonio 96, Detroit 86
6-3

Coming into the game, the Pistons were 4-0 at home, winning by an average double-digit margin, and 0-4 on the road, losing by an average of about double digits. Despite the Spurs slow start on their home court, this was a game that was there for the taking.

While we all breathe a sigh of relief that the Spurs won this game going away, it’s mostly because we avoid the awkward conversation we’d have to have if they had lost a fourth home game this early in the season. They sky might actually fall in San Antonio had that happened.

The Spurs didn’t play especially great, but they didn’t play poorly, either. They were fine. After giving up 51 points in the first half, they held the Pistons to just 34 points in the second half, continuing the trend of strong second half defensive performances. I can’t for the life of me figure out what’s different, other than maybe a few words of ‘encouragement’ from Pop at the intermission.

I was most impressed by the team defensive rebounding. Drummond is a rebounding machine, particularly on the offensive glass. It’s too much to ask one individual player to slow him down. Rather, it falls to the team to all fight and scrap and help each other out. Drummond got 6 offensive rebounds, but the Pistons only got 9 as a team (compared to 10 for the Spurs). All in all, that’s good work on the boards.

Perhaps the most encouraging aspect of this game was the play of Pau Gasol. This was the first game he looked truly comfortable playing in the Spurs’ scheme. He came out on fire, scoring 13 points in the first quarter. This could be a good role for Gasol: first quarter scorer. It reminds me of how the team used Parker way back when. Get him going early to kickstart the offense.

He also had a team-high 6 assists, and looked really sharp working out of the high post with the ball in his hands. He has a nice touch and good vision, and made several nifty passes over the top of the defense to another big at the rim or to a small cutting to the rim from the side.

This is the Gasol that we were hoping to get, the one that would be an offensive upgrade over Duncan.

Not all games are created equal, and the most important thing about this game was not winning, it was ‘not losing’. The Spurs took care of business at home. They still look a bit disorganized, but each game is a step forward.

The Spurs face the Rockets in Houston on Saturday night.

Go Spurs Go.