Season 49, Game 13
San Antonio 92, Memphis 82
10-3, 2nd in the West
After San Antonio’s 10-point win against Memphis, it seems like a good time to bring back a round of ‘Good Cop, Bad Cop.’
Good Cop:
The Spurs continue to play top-level, stingy defense. Holding a team as good as Memphis to 82 points is no small feat. The Grizzlies’ highest scoring quarter was a mere 22 points. They made one 3-pointer, but more importantly, only took nine. The defensive rotations were spot on, running the Grizzlies off the 3-point line at every chance. Even as the game tightened at the end, it never felt like Memphis had a run in them.
Bad Cop:
Of course, if you thought the Grizzlies did have a chance, it was because of our putrid offense, particularly in the second half. Oh my, was it bad. I counted 5 TOs in the 3rd quarter alone which occurred simply because a Spurs player attempted to squeeze a pass somewhere it couldn’t fit. Memphis is a great defensive team, as well, and they just know our offensive tendencies so well. The 3rd and 4th quarters were an offensive nightmare; every dribble seemed like a turnover waiting to happen.
The Spurs made just enough shots to win. When the team was stuck on 84 points late in the game, I made a note that one more basket probably would win it. The next three possessions were: Tony Parker pick and roll with Tim Duncan for a Duncan floater (made); same play again, same result; and a Tony Parker drive to the rim where he got stripped and made the ‘pass’ out to Leonard in the corner from the game-sealing 3. Parker had no intention of passing it, but the ball just kind of bounced off of his hands as he was in the air and rolled to Kawhi.
Good Cop:
One of the heroes of that 4th quarter ‘holding off’ (you can’t call it a run, that’s for sure): Kyle Anderson. He made 2 or 3 huge baskets late in the shot clock when he had to essentially bail out the offense with a dribble penetration and short jump shot. He is definitely slow (no living down that nickname), but along with that comes patience and an intuitive understanding of timing. Plus, with his length, there aren’t many defenders that can bother his jump shot.
This was his first time playing important 4th quarter minutes, and he acquitted himself very well. He also rebounded on defense very well, a key to putting games away late.
Bad Cop:
Of course, a reason why Anderson had to bail the team out in late clock situations so many times was that the offense consisted of a lot of movement leading to nothing. The Grizzlies’ defense will do that to you, get you off kilter and off rhythm. So many times the Spurs passed up good, open shots, only to drive into trouble. The team tendency is “good to great”, but sometimes “good enough” is the stand-in for “great.” Anderson was a culprit, but so was Green, Leonard, Diaw, West, Parker, and just about every other player that got playing time.
Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, San Antonio Express-News
Good Cop:
The one really good offensive run was in the 2nd quarter, led by Manu and the bench. Manu looks incredible this season. If he needs one game off for every four or five played, so be it. His long-distance stroke is better than I’ve seen in perhaps 7 or 8 years. He’s under control, making smart plays, and still attacking the rim with guile and cunning. He really is the keystone that holds the entire second unit together. You could argue the game was won in that first stint of the second unit, bridging the end of the first quarter and start of the second, as the Spurs built a double digit lead – a lead they would never relinquish.
Bad Cop:
No other bench player is playing as consistently solid. Manu is 38 years old; he can’t be the engine of the Spurs’ bench forever. Boris and Patty have had great moments, but haven’t shown an ability to play solid, effective basketball game after game. Anderson is only in his second season and just doesn’t have Pop’s trust. Butler is a savvy vet, but has limitations (and his long-distance shot hasn’t shown up yet).
Good Cop:
The hope for the bench (with Manu) might be David West. He looks better and better with the Spurs each game. He started tonight for the injured LaMarcus, and, in a lot of ways, fulfilled the role that Aldridge is still struggling to find. He played pick and pop with Tony, actually making his midrange jumpers. He got some post-ups and bullied his way to the rim. He defended, he rebounded. If anything, his biggest sin thus far is over-passing, trying too hard to fit in, often eschewing open shots and drives to the rim we want him to take.
Bad Cop:
David West fouls way too much, though, a product of always bringing his hands down and going for the strip. One of the building blocks of the Spurs’ defensive scheme is “Do Not Foul!”, and we’ve had a few quarters where we sent the opposing team to the line too early and too often.
Good Cop:
Tony Parker is showing flashes of his old self. We don’t need peak Tony Parker, but we do need “lighting-quick, gets-to-the-rim-and-breaks-down-the-defense-while-hitting-a-good-percentage-of-open-jumpers” Tony Parker. We’ve seen him often enough this season to think he’ll stick around.
Bad Cop:
When ‘bad’ Tony shows up, the team is in a lot of trouble, regardless of the remaining talent on the team. His skill set is still irreplaceable.
Good Cop:
Kawhi Leonard might be one of the 5 most productive players in the league, and the best perimeter defender in the league.
Bad Cop:
His shot – after a scorching start to the season – has looked off for a few games. More worrying, he looks like he is trusting it less and less.
Good Cop:
Thankfully, he is remaining aggressive and determined. He is a force of nature that very few defenses can fully contain.
Good Cop:
The defense is so good this season, a 10-point lead at any point in the second half looks almost insurmountable.
Bad Cop:
The offense is struggling to the point that a 10-point deficit at any point in the second half feels almost insurmountable.
Good Cop:
Tim Duncan still defies all logic of science and time.
Bad Cop:
Science and time still exist, and Tim Duncan will one day not be able to play professional basketball at this level. (I’m pretty sure, at least.)
Good Cop:
The Spurs continue to take advantage of their “easy” early season schedule.
Bad Cop:
The schedule gets really tough as the season progresses, and the progression of the team damn well better match.
The Spurs continue a 3-game home stand by hosting the Phoenix Suns on Monday night. The Suns are like many teams in the West this season: solid and frisky. The Spurs should beat them if they play their game, but it won’t take much for the Suns to steal the win.
