Bleacher Report - Articles by Craig Salomonson

Ten Keys to the Spurs' Success in the Postseason

Craig Salomonson — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 23:12:49 -0400

1. Manu Ginobili is out. Move on.

Basketball is a team game. Press on and go for it. The NBA Championship, that is.

2. Collectively play with energy, extreme passion, intensity, and with a sense of urgency.

Pump things up. Show emotion. Dunk the basketball with authority on occasion. Play with street-ball-like intensity.

3. Play the game of basketball in the playoffs as if you’ve never won a championship.

Never become complacent or satisfied until the NBA Larry O’Brien trophy is hoisted.

4. Tony Parker needs to improve his free-throw shooting.

A 79 percent clip is not going to cut it with the amount of free-throws he will be shooting in the playoffs with his offensive penetration to the rim. Parker has missed countless free-throws at important moments this season. This needs to stop.

5. Parker has to distribute the basketball more.

He could learn a thing or two by watching New Orleans’s Chris Paul on film and how he assists his teammates. Or, perhaps he will witness it again in person in the playoffs if they become matched up.

6. Tim Duncan must improve his shooting from the foul line.

This has always been a weakness for Duncan, but this basketball “fundamental” will have to be performed better if the Spurs want to advance in the playoffs. Without Ginobili, there is no room for error. Games can be won and lost from the charity stripe.

7. Roger Mason Jr. should work on his three-point shot positioning, as long two-pointers or attempts are not going to cut it.

Mason Jr. will have to step up in Ginobili’s absence. He needs to improve upon his defensive game as well. In addition, Mason Jr. should realize that driving or attacking the rim is not his game. Focus on set and clutch three-point shooting, where you have had success this season.

8. Maximize Drew Gooden.

Rely on his size and shooting ability as well as rebounding ability. Gooden must not hesitate on his jumpers. Take the shots with confidence. Gooden will be the best option to fill Ginobili’s shoes.

9. Get better defense out of Matt Bonner.

Bonner’s defense is inept. It needs to improve, or he is just not helping the Spurs. Just attempting or hitting three’s as a center is not going to go far in the NBA. Bonner also needs to avoid getting into foul trouble which he has been susceptible of during the season.

10. Try not to get too fancy with the passing game.

Take the open shot when it is available instead of trying to make impossible passes.

Note: With tonight’s 99-89 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio has won 50-plus games for 10 straight seasons. Someone tell me what NBA team has recently matched this accomplishment?

San Antonio Spurs Playoff Preview

Craig Salomonson — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 23:23:26 -0400

With 19 regular season games remaining for the San Antonio Spurs, it is very difficult to predict first-round playoff match ups. The Spurs simply want to get in, and head into the playoffs healthy.

As the playoffs near, the Spurs have demonstrated various strengths and weaknesses.

One of San Antonio’s strengths at this point include their collective playoff experience. As the Spurs roster stands today, the total career playoff games played by the sum of the Spurs players is an incredible 886 games.

This kind of experience should serve the Spurs well.

Another clear strength of the Spurs heading into the playoffs is the leadership of Tim Duncan. The Spurs team captain is a true leader and his presence alone in the playoffs will keep the Spurs focused.

Team defense is also a strength that the Spurs possess and will serve them well in the playoffs. This season, the Spurs are holding opponents to an average of 93.38 points per game, third in the NBA behind only Cleveland and Boston.

The Spurs are also demonstrating weaknesses heading into the playoffs.

Clearly, one of the most glaring weaknesses for the Spurs is team health. Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan have both had injuries lately that have hurt the Spurs and if they are not 100% in the playoffs, a championship is not within reach.

The Spurs bench depth and bench experience in playoff situations is also lacking. George Hill, Roger Mason Jr., Matt Bonner, Ime Udoka, and Malik Hairston all lack realistic playoff experience.

Another problem that may arise for the Spurs as the playoffs draw near, is the lack of Manu Ginobili and Drew Gooden playing together and the cohesiveness and rotations that Gregg Popovich will need to establish when both players become healthy.

The Spurs will need to work on team chemistry when Ginobili and Gooden both return to action.

How will the Spurs match up against various Western Conference teams they could meet in the first round of the postseason?

First of all, depending on how the Spurs finish out the season, they could conceivably end up being anywhere from a 2nd seed to 8th seed. Yes, believe it or not, the Spurs could fall from their current 2nd seeding and drop to as far as the 8th seed.

Anything can happen between now and the beginning of the playoffs as far as seeding.

In my opinion though, as long as the Spurs can get at least a fourth seeding or better, they have a great chance at representing the West in the NBA Finals.

This is because in the past, the Spurs have shown that they consistently can go into a seven game playoff series and time after time, come up with at least one road win.

Typically, the Spurs organization and Gregg Popovich do not profess that playoff seeding is paramount, and they play the last month of the season to prepare and establish cohesiveness as a team.

Which teams that the Spurs may play in the first round of the playoffs will create match up problems in a seven game series? The simple answer is: all of them.

The Spurs have had difficulty this season in winning games against all the teams currently seeded 3rd through 8th. The only team the Spurs have beaten consistently is Utah, and beating them not only in San Antonio, but in Salt Lake City.

But, clearly Utah is playing better now as they recently won 12 in a row, and are now completely healthy with Carlos Boozer and Andre Kirilenko back.

The worst case scenario is if the Spurs have to play Houston, Portland or Utah and lack home court advantage. Houston is 27-6 at home this season, Portland is 27-5, and Utah is 28-6 in their back yard.

This would spell trouble for the Spurs, not only because these teams are hot at home, but because these three teams are playing incredibly well and are peaking at this point in the season.

The best case scenario at this point is if the Spurs are matched up with either Denver, Dallas, or New Orleans and possess home court advantage. These scenarios give the Spurs more of an advantage than the worst case scenarios mentioned above.

Denver is 17-17 on the road this year. Dallas has a losing record on the road this year, at 15-17, and New Orleans is a little better with a 16-14 road record. Playing any of these teams would be the best situation for the Spurs in the first round.

Really though, the Spurs cannot at this point in time think about or prepare for any match up in particular.

They just need to be playing their best as a team down the stretch and be ready for whatever team they end up facing in the first round.

The Spurs can’t try to “dodge” any team in particular or hope to play any team in particular.

They must be ready for anybody, at anytime, on any court.

And it bears repeating: The best strategy for the Spurs is to be healthy.

If they can get to that point, they will have all the ingredients to compete and win against the best of the West.

Watching the Spurs Just Isn't The Same Without Manu

Craig Salomonson — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:34:12 -0500

Manu Ginobili, you are sorely missed by this San Antonio Spurs fan.

Since you're last game played against the Toronto Raptors on February 11th, I have faithfully watched the Spurs, but I have to admit, I don't enjoy watching the games quite as much without you in the lineup.

The last game you played before the All-Star break was filled with excitement and energy from your play, albeit in an 89-91 loss to the Raptors.

The 33:36 minutes played, 12-23 shot from the field, and 32 points was the kind of performance that led me to believe you were back and better than before.

The day before you were officially diagnosed on February 19th with the ankle injury, I had replaced my computer wallpaper with a beautiful artistic design of you dunking that was the "wallpaper of the week" created by a Spurs fan on Spurs.com.

Since then, I have faithfully kept the wallpaper on my computer, and patiently been waiting for your return.

Although the Spurs have done okay without you, 5-3 since your injury, your unorthodox style of play, explosiveness, slashing drives to the basket, and energy you bring off the bench that the Spurs have lacked without you, leaves me in a state of "Ginobili withdrawal."

One may say that I don't have a life if I miss seeing you play that much, but my life is full, it's just my free-time on game night that I treasure watching you and the Spurs is what is suffering immensely.

I realize that it is a good thing that Gregg Popovich is the kind of coach he is, and that he will cautiously bring you back, possibly as early as March 8th vs. Phoenix.

The last thing in the world I want to see is for you to come back too soon, and re-injure your ankle again.

You are spending plenty of time in the pool, running on treadmills, but the last report I read is that you aren't ready to resume practicing yet.

Get well soon Manu, I can't wait to watch you play again, but I hope you come back completely healthy and ready to make a run in the playoffs and contend for another NBA Championship.

In my humble opinion, I find it extremely hard to believe that the Spurs will have any success during the playoffs in the West without your presence.

The Spurs just aren't the same without you.

The glory days of playoff runs and your spectacular performances that I watched during the 2003, 2005, and 2007 Championship years are exactly what I hope to see again this year when you come back.

But for now, I can only watch highlights and "Ginobili Mixes" on YouTube to satisfy my hunger for the passion you play the game with night after night. There is no player out there like you Manu, and that is what I like about your game.

I can imagine that missing games and watching the rest of the Spurs play while injured is agonizing for you, so please get well, and I hope to see you playing like your remarkable self again soon.

San Antonio Spurs Victorious Without Duncan, Ginobili

Craig Salomonson — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 23:44:40 -0500

After coming off a 37 points and 12 assists performance against the Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs' point guard Tony Parker put together an encore performance against the Portland Trailblazers Wednesday night.

Parker scored 39 points and nine assists in an unbelievable individual and team effort.

The Spurs won their fourth straight game in a 99-84 victory over the Trailblazers.

It was an outstanding 27-and-a-half hours of back-to-back team basketball for San Antonio in the wins over the Mavericks and Trailblazers.

Parker injected a tremendous amount of energy for the Spurs tonight. Penetrating to the basket, and finishing drives with spectacular layups and drilling critical jumpshots.

He did not just do it with his impressive shooting. Parker also distributed the ball very well, dishing out 12 assists.

Parker also worked well with Kurt Thomas on screen and rolls, which were run to perfection.

During a postgame interview with Bill Schoening of San Antonio’s 1200 WOAI, Parker pointed out that team defense was a key ingredient in the Spurs success the past two games.

Teamwork defined the Spurs play tonight. They showed that they can compete and win against playoff contenders such as Dallas and Portland with team basketball on both ends of the court.

Thomas continued his impressive performance against the Trailblazers, pulling down critical offensive rebounds that led to second chance opportunities for the Spurs.

He had a total of 10 rebounds on the night. Overall, the Spurs tallied a total of 39 rebounds.

Thomas over the past two games has shown that he can rebound, block shots, lay his screens, and hit his mid-range jumpers, which is all critical to the Spurs' success.

Michael Finley continued his clutch shooting, adding 13 points on the night, and has averaged 16 points over the last three games. He is proving to be critical to the San Antonio's success with his offensive firepower and timely three-point shooting.

Matt Bonner hit two key three-pointers coming out in the third quarter of tonight’s game and had a critical steal, which lead to one of those three-pointers.

Portland was lead by Brandon Roy, who scored 14 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Channing Frye also contributed 15 points and pulled down seven rebounds on the night.

The Spurs proved over the past two games against the Mavericks and Trailblazers that they can compete with playoff teams that are basically at full-strength.

They can even do it without injured All-Star power forward Tim Duncan and superstar shooting guard Manu Ginobili.

If the Spurs hope to compete down the stretch and in the playoffs though, they will need Duncan and Ginobili at the top of their game if they want to win another Championship.

San Antonio's next contest on Friday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers will test them again.

They will continue to be without Ginobili, but Duncan may play. He is listed as day-to-day at this point.

The Genius That Is Gregg Popovich

Craig Salomonson — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 02:06:58 -0500

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich knows what his priorities are. He gets the “big picture” of that which is professional basketball. Given his many career accomplishments, which include four NBA Championships, he has earned the right to run his team anyway he sees fit.

That includes last Tuesday’s decision to essentially give Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and Michael Finley a five-day break heading into their matchup with the reigning NBA Champion Boston Celtics on Sunday afternoon.

Whether it was or ends up being a “bonehead” move or a stroke of genius by not bringing his team to full strength against the Denver Nuggets last week remains to be seen.

By essentially conceding the game to the Nuggets, Denver now owns the tie-breaker for homecourt advantage if the Spurs matchup with them in the playoffs.

This may or may not end up being important. Only time will tell.

The immediate result of Popovich’s decision last week was stealing a win on the road over the “World Champion” Boston Celtics, 105-99 on a nationally televised ABC broadcast.

The strategy he employed by sitting his stars demonstrates that he is preparing the Spurs for the long road ahead that faces them, that being another run for a championship.

Popovich as he has demonstrated year after year, is coaching the Spurs his way, not the way of the fans, the ticket holders, or NBA Commissioner; David Stern.

His sole purpose for coaching this team the way he does is to win championships. NBA titles in 1999, 2003, 2005, and 2007 are examples of that kind of determination.

What differentiates Popovich from other coaches around the NBA is that he understands how to groom and prepare his players from training camp to the playoffs.

He patiently develops them over a long 82-game season, until they evolve into a team ready to take on the NBA’s elite when it really counts.

Popovich knows that the NBA season is not a sprint, rather it is a marathon, and he operates with that mentality.

Last week’s game in Denver was just one example among many decisions over his 13-year career with the Spurs in which he understands that there is a time for everything. A time for resting players, healing wounds, and a time for testing them and pushing them to their collective limits.

Popovich is a product of the U.S. Air Force Academy, and Air Force intelligence and process training. This experience instilled within him the qualities of discipline, hard work, character, and leadership ability. It molded him into the officer, man, and coach that he would eventually become.

Popovich has also been blessed by the opportunity to be mentored by Larry Brown and Don Nelson. In addition, he has been fortunate enough to have players like David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili essentially fall into his lap.

Good fortune is not what has led to his success though. His basketball mind, leadership, offensive and defensive systems, hard work, and innate ability to develop his players, many of whom come from diverse backgrounds, is the secret to his success.

Popovich’s influence on his players is legendary.

Tim Duncan is the ultimate example. Popovich spent considerable time with the first player selected in the 1997 NBA Draft during the summer prior to Duncan’s first NBA season with the Spurs on Duncan’s own turf in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

This experience brought Popovich and Duncan closer and forged a relationship that would shape Duncan into a leader and champion.

This relationship that Popovich and Duncan continue to have today directly influences the Spurs current chances of winning additional championships in the window of excellence that still exists for Duncan, Parker, Ginobili, and the rest of the Spurs team.

Tim Duncan, unlike other NBA superstars, possesses the humility as a player to set his individual ego aside, listen, to be coached by Popovich even after four NBA titles, three NBA Finals MVP trophies, and two MVP awards, and continue to listen during his 12th NBA season.

This sends a clear message that if the team captain heeds his coach and his direction, the rest of the team must certainly follow his lead.

The development of Tony Parker is another example of what sets Popovich apart from other coaches around the league. When Parker entered his career with the Spurs in 2001 at 19 years, six months of age, Popovich publicly noted his doubts about Parker’s toughness and ability to make it as a point guard for the Spurs.

Popovich’s unconventional nature and style as a coach developed the 28th pick in the 2001 NBA Draft into the superstar that he is today. Popovich was patient enough in coaching Parker in his early years, and this allowed Parker to evolve.

Slowly, Parker emerged after his regular season and playoff experiences in 2001 and 2002. His performance improved further during the playoffs and NBA Finals of 2003 and 2005.

Parker eventually reached the level of play that led him to become the 2007 NBA Finals MVP.

All of Popovich’s qualities and championship experience he has as a coach brings us to the current Spurs 2008-09 campaign. And nothing has changed.

Popovich’s priorities are today what they have always been: playing team basketball, emphasizing defense, and coaching his team to play the way the game was designed to be played.

This season, Popovich has continued to keep his team on their toes, and has surprised and shocked them on many occasions with his unusual approach, techniques and words of wisdom. The following are just a few examples:

1. In training camp, he incorporated yoga into their daily routine.

2. Prior to the Dec. 4, matchup with the Denver Nuggets, Popovich chewed his team out on their chartered jet flight bound for Denver after a 77-89 bruising defeat at home by the Detroit Pistons. During the flight, he basically questioned their manhood, and the Spurs responded with a 108-91 thumping of the Nuggets in Denver the following night.

3. Popovich, very disappointed with his team on the road for a game with Sacramento, actually had their chartered bus stop at the State Capitol, and he gave them an earful atop the steps in front of the building where the “Governator” presides over the State of California.

Where these examples of Popovich’s approach to coaching this season leads to remains to be seen.

What is clear is that Popovich has his team exactly where he wants them:

1. Doubted and criticized by NBA analysts across the country.

2. His team’s style of play deemed as “boring” by fans near and far.

3. The Spurs “on the back burner,” overshadowed by the NBA’s perceived elite, the Lakers, Cavaliers, and Celtics.

4. His players heavily obscured by the “me-first” personalities of Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, and Dwight Howard’s of today’s game.

Gregg Popovich has promised to remain the coach of the Spurs until Tim Duncan retires. Duncan becomes a free agent in 2012.

The story of the genius of Gregg Popovich will be continued...Stay tuned.

Tony Parker at the Top of His Game

Craig Salomonson — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 23:33:59 -0500

Before this week’s loss to the Denver Nuggets, San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich told reporters, with his tongue in cheek, “Parker makes the All-Star team and becomes hard to deal with, so we’re going to sit him and teach him a lesson.”

Whether this was a joke or not, T.P. 9 has every right to be a little “cocky,” given his career accomplishments, current game, and future potential. Playing in Texas for the San Antonio Spurs, who in his shoes wouldn’t walk with a little Texas sized “swagger?”

Parker, the 26-year-old superstar Frenchman point guard who is currently in his eighth season with the Spurs, was recently was named an All-Star reserve. In addition, Parker is having a career-high season thus far, averaging 20.7 points per game and 6.6 assists. He is now a three-time All-Star, earning this honor in 2006, 2007 and now 2009.

Despite Parker’s lack of size, (6-foot-2, 180 pounds) he is known most for his tremendous skill at penetrating and slashing to the basket, as well as his patented “teardrop” shot. Parker is fearless when it comes to driving to the basket, and “spinning like a top” to finish spectacular lay-ups.

Parker’s incredible explosiveness and agility as a player earned him the votes by his peers in a 2007 poll as “one of the quickest players in the NBA.”

Over time, he has also established himself as a potent scorer, averaging 50 percent from the field this season, second only to his career high of 54.8 percent during the 2005-06 campaign.

Parker is a fearless, intensely-competitive point guard who knows how to run the Spurs offense. It is quite possible that he may not have fit quite as well anywhere else in the NBA, due to the fact that the Spurs offense is centered around one of the best power forwards in the NBA, Tim Duncan.

Parker became only the second French player to ever play in an NBA game in 2001, and the youngest Spur in the history of the franchise to wear the silver-and-black at 19 years, six months of age.

Like many current players and stars in today’s game, Parker was heavily influenced by Michael Jordan, and chose to play basketball over soccer. This is also likely due to the fact that his father, Tony Parker Sr., influenced him when he played for Loyola University (Chicago) and also played professionally overseas.

What you may ask will give a player like Parker perceived cockiness and the likelihood that a 28th pick in the 2001 NBA Draft will in my opinion secure him a future spot in the NBA Hall of Fame? Perhaps the following achievements he has accumulated in his still very young career will serve as an indication that this may in fact happen:

3-Time NBA Champion over the span of five years-2003, 2005, 2007

2007 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (First European-born player to receive the award)

3-time NBA All-Star-2006, 2007, 2009

The very fact that he is still a very young athlete and given the experience he has as an NBA champion, leads me to believe that he will only add to this already impressive resume over the next 3 to 5 years.

Parker’s popularity as an NBA superstar has also become very apparent, as he is on the cover of NBA Live 09 by EA Sports. This may lead younger kids to one day emulate him, and want to “be like Tony.”

On top of all this, you’ve got to give the guy credit for branching-out in his current career. In 2007, Parker recorded and released a hip-hop album with Faboulous and Booba in “Top of the Game.” What basketball player wouldn’t dream of being a rap star or what rap star wouldn’t dream of being a basketball player?

To put icing on the cake, Parker is married to Eva Longoria of the TV hit show “Desperate Housewives.” Forget about the fact of being an NBA superstar or hip-hop artist, this gives him the biggest reason to walk with a Texas-style swagger.

To make his life even more balanced, Tony Parker donates 20 tickets for each home game to underprivileged youth, and he is the first ambassador for “Make-a-Wish France.”

What will Tony Parker do for an encore in his already-celebrated career? Perhaps he will star in a Hollywood movie, win an Olympic Gold Medal, or win another championship or two with the Spurs.

Anything is possible for the calm, cool, and collected NBA All-Star point guard. The sky is the limit, indeed.

Ginobili: Boos By Opposing Fans Ineffective

Craig Salomonson — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 03:08:58 -0500

What is it about Manu Ginobili that brings out the worst behavior from opposing crowds such as in Phoenix? It’s not just in Phoenix either, many fans from arenas around the NBA consistently show contempt and disapproval for the Spurs’ superstar shooting guard.

For example, in Thursday night’s game against Phoenix, Ginobili was instantly booed even before he reached the scorer’s table to check into the game.

Ginobili over the past year and a half has typically found himself coming off the bench into contests, usually with about six minutes remaining in the first and third quarters. This gives opposing team’s fans ample opportunity to show their ire for Manu.

Ginobili gets booed just as frequently when the Spurs play the Utah Jazz, where he is often greeted with hostility in a city and state full of supposedly good-hearted, loving, faithful Mormons.

They simply don't like him there.

I’ve seen fans on TV at Energy Solutions Arena throw empty bottles in the direction Spurs after a heartbreaking defeat. There are other examples around the league that I don’t have the time to mention.

Is it that he is so talented and gifted as a basketball player that he draws so much attention from the crowd? This is definitely the case, because there is no other reasonable explanation for such behavior from fans.

In the case of the Phoenix Suns, Ginobili has on many occasions burned the Suns with his clutch play. During the 2007 Western Conference Semifinals against the Suns, Ginobili came up with huge buckets to knock the favored Suns out of the playoffs in Game six of that series.

During that 2007 series with the Suns, many from Phoenix, i.e. former Head Coach Mike D’Antoni, thought the Spurs played dirty and were deemed as never before by fans as the “Bad Boys” in silver and black from San Antonio. But, Manu Ginobili is not a dirty player. So, it must be something else about Manu that sets him apart.

Maybe it is due to the fact that he has displayed consistent excellence throughout his career. He has been instrumental in winning three NBA titles for the Spurs, and he played for a team that won the Euroleague Championship in 2000-01. In fact, he was the finals MVP during that championship series.

Ginobili has also won an Olympic Gold Medal for his home country, Argentina in 2004. Last year he won the NBA's sixth man of the year award. It’s quite an impressive resume.

It is not only Ginobili’s consistent excellence on the basketball court that makes him the total opposite of unsportsmanlike, but his efforts in his community make him a great person as well.

Just during the first half of this season I have seen Manu several times covered by websites such as Spurs.com giving back to the San Antonio community. He has visited a Children’s Hospital in San Antonio where he and other Spurs spent time with sick children and posed for photos with the unfortunate kids.

Manu also spent time with schoolchildren in a small town outside San Antonio, leading a math competition there with young students. I am sure there are many other examples of Ginobili's leadership off the court as well.

Perhaps Suns, Jazz, and other fans around the league should take a closer look at Manu and see him for who he genuinely is: an extremely motivated, highly skilled, intelligent, crafty, and intensely competitive professional basketball player who is extremely successful.

Because of this success, I believe Manu draws envy from teams and fans that want what he has, which is consistent greatness. He wouldn’t get booed all the time or screamed at vehemently by fans while shooting free throws if he wasn’t so irritatingly good at what he does.

Perhaps bitter fans feel Ginobili is a “flopper.” Granted, he “sells” his blocks very well. An element of acting is involved. But you go try playing on the basketball court and fall backwards so dramatically as critics of flopping insist and feel it is not fair play.

It’s just not a natural physical act to “flop,” backwards, sideways or otherwise unless there is at least some, and a lot of times plenty of physical contact from an opposing offensive player.

Add to that the fact that Ginobili is a master at faking out defenders when he begins a shot, and then leans into the player while actually shooting the ball, thus drawing the foul. Opposing teams know Ginobili is extremely proficient at this move, and they can only shake their heads in frustration when he does it time and time again.

I believe that Ginobili feeds off the boos and negative fan responses to his presence on the court. This, I am sure, makes him play harder, better, and makes his drive to win every game even stronger. His outstanding performances and numbers on the road indicate that this is likely the case.

Although there are the boo’s coming from fans across the league, I have also very frequently seen Manu in pictures and on TV signing autographs and posing for pictures with not only fans from San Antonio, but from very warm and admiring fans in cities around the NBA. This indicates he is truly a tremendous talent and very popular.

So, with huge success, comes praise and respect by many fans, and contempt and anger from the other fans. One thing is certain though, both the cheers and the boos give Manu intense energy and motivation to continue to reach for the pinnacle of success at the highest level of basketball.

Manu’s stats and the Spurs 114-104 victory against rival Phoenix Thursday night indicate that motivation must be drawn from the fiery Suns fans:

30 points on 13 attempts

18-18 at the free throw line

Nine rebounds (one rebound away from a triple-double)

Three assists

I believe one can now say that the Manu of old is back.

Spurs-Nets: Parker's Third Quarter Sparks San Antonio Victory

Craig Salomonson — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 23:43:12 -0500

The San Antonio Spurs extended their winning streak to four games Friday night with a victory over the New Jersey Nets at the AT&T Center. The game ended as a nail biter, with the Spurs triumphing 94-91.

The Spurs have won 13 of their last 16 games to bring their record to 29-13 on the season. The Nets have now lost 13 straight games against the Spurs, going all the way back to June 11, 2003. The Nets have lost five straight games with the loss.

Tony Parker had a very productive third quarter, scoring 15 of his 17 points on the night in that frame. Parker opened up the quarter with two free throws and followed that with a jump shot. Parker came out firing in the quarter, scoring the Spurs first seven points. With Parker’s production, the Spurs went on a 15-6 run and outscored the Nets 28-16 in the quarter.

Tim Duncan, who scored 30 points on the night, along with 14 rebounds and five assists, shot two huge bank shots with 5:43 and 4:56 left in the fourth quarter, helping the Spurs close the game out down the stretch.

Manu Ginobili’s assist to Michael Finley with 22 seconds left resulted in a huge three-pointer to make it a two possession game, from which the Nets would not recover from.

Devin Harris led the Nets with 25 points in the Nets loss. Vince Carter added 23 points. Brook Lopez scored 15 points and had eight rebounds on the night.

The Spurs victory came on a night when Phoenix, Houston, and New Orleans all lost their games, putting the Spurs ahead of the Suns by 5.5 games, three games ahead of the Rockets and two games ahead of the Hornets.

The Spurs did it with defense tonight, coming up with many critical stops in the fourth quarter to give them the opportunity to eke out the win. All of the Spurs players commented during Thursday’s practice that defense was their highest priority, and only with strong defense would they continue to win games. Their thoughts were prophetic.

Tonight the Spurs played better defense, but I am sure Gregg Popovich will still be insisting upon further improving their defensive effort in the future, especially with road games coming up against the Lakers, Jazz, and Suns next week.

Spurs-Bobcats: Duncan's Big Block Stops Charlotte

Craig Salomonson — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:00:45 -0500

The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Charlotte Bobcats 86-84 Monday afternoon, which was made possible by a blocked shot by Tim Duncan on the final possession of the game.

Boris Diaw did have a good look on the last shot of the game after Duncan’s big block, and the three-pointer would have won the game for the Bobcats, but it came up short.

Tim Duncan had a strong performance today. In addition to his two blocks, he scored 17 points, pulled down 11 rebounds and dished out six assists.

Duncan’s weakness was exposed throughout the game, as he missed six free throws, which would have made the game far easier for the Spurs. As a team, the Spurs shot 20 of 30 from the free throw line, which isn’t going to cut it come playoff time.

Although Manu Ginobili doesn’t start, he sure does finish games. He sank two huge three-pointers with under five minutes to play. This is what really put the game in San Antonio’s favor, and provided the spark the Spurs needed to eke out the win.

Every Spur scored today, except for the recently acquired Austin Croshere.

Tony Parker scored 13 points and dished out 10 big assists. Roger Mason Jr. scored 12 points, and Manu Ginobili and George Hill each scored 10 points. Five Spurs scored in double-figures.

The Bobcats were led by two ex-Suns, who the Spurs are very familiar with. Raja Bell scored a season-high 25 points and pulled down six rebounds on the game. Boris Diaw put forward a valiant effort, scoring 16 points and pulling down 12 rebounds in the loss.

The Spurs were able to win two out of their three games on this eastern conference road trip.

San Antonio heads home for two games this week, Tuesday night against the Indiana Pacers, and then Friday night versus the New Jersey Nets.

San Antonio Spurs Sign Austin Croshere for 10-Day Look

Craig Salomonson — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 00:46:10 -0500

Austin Croshere, after being waived on January 6th by the Milwaukee Bucks, has an opportunity to show San Antonio what he can bring to the Spurs after signing a 10-day contract.

The 6'10" shooting forward is most widely known for the nine years he played for the Indiana Pacers. During his career in the NBA, he has averaged 6.8 points and four rebounds per game. He has shot 40.8 percent from the field in his career.

Croshere is known for being a hard-nosed player who can play both the power-forward and small-forward positions. He is also a decent three-point shooter, averaging 33.9 percent in his 11-year career.

Croshere does have playoff and NBA Finals experience, as he helped the 1999-2000 Indiana team reach the Finals for the first time since the ABA/NBA merger.

Croshere has been shuffled around the NBA quite a bit in his career, as he has played for the Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, and now San Antonio.

This may be a more solid move than the Spurs made last year when they brought in Damon Stoudemire, who made very little impact. Certainly, Croshere brings more size and power to the Spurs, as well as a long-range shooting threat.

The Spurs I believe are looking for any player available who can potentially fit into Gregg Popovich’s system in San Antonio right now, and Croshere is a low-cost, no-risk investment on a trial basis.

This by no means is an earth-shattering move by the Spurs and will not shake-up the Western Conference race. Croshere may just find his stay in San Antonio to be quite short, unless he displays talent similar to his performance with the Pacers in 1999-2000.

Spurs-Bulls: Ginobili Leads San Antonio to 92-87 Victory

Craig Salomonson — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 23:47:19 -0500

Manu Ginobili came off the bench Saturday night and shot a late three-pointer, lifting the San Antonio Spurs to a 92-87 win over the Chicago Bulls.

After Ginobili’s shot, he made three free throws when Andres Nocioni fouled him with less than thirty seconds left in the game, sealing the victory for the Spurs.

Prior to Ginobili’s game winning free-throws, Tony Parker made a big mental error and fouled Andres Nocioni on a similar three-point shot which brought the Bulls to within three points, 90-87. Despite this mistake, Tony Parker scored 20 points on the night and added eight assists.

Ginobili led the Spurs with 21 points, six rebounds and four assists. Tim Duncan scored 18 points and pulled down 13 rebounds to round out the night.

The Bulls shot the ball well in the first half—46 percent from the field. Their play resulted in a 43-43 tie to end the half. The Spurs, on the other hand, shot an abysmal 21 percent in the second quarter, which gave the Bulls the opportunity to come back after being down by as many as 13 points in the first half.

The veteran Spurs demonstrated that they had the poise and experience to close the game out with a victory against the younger Bulls, even though at times the Spurs played badly. The poor play includes turning the ball over, playing weaker defense than in the past, and shooting a low percentage from the field.

Chicago was led by Ben Gordon, who scored 20 points on the night and added four assists for the Bulls. Andres Nocioni scored 14 points and pulled down 15 big rebounds in the loss.

San Antonio, coming off a disturbing 109-87 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night, appeared to be a little fatigued during the game, and a second-straight loss on the road to the Bulls could have really shaken their confidence.

The Spurs finish their three-game road trip with a Martin Luther King Jr. Day game on Monday afternoon against the Charlotte Bobcats. The Bobcats will be coming off a big overtime win Saturday night over the Portland Trailblazers.

San Antonio Spurs 2008-09 Midseason Awards

Craig Salomonson — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 20:24:36 -0500

As the 2008-09 NBA midseason draws near, the San Antonio Spurs find themselves right in the thick of another run for a championship. The Spurs season started off shaky, a 1-4 start with Manu Ginobili sidelined by the ankle injury that required surgery in September. The Spurs also found themselves without Tony Parker for a handful of games in November. Despite these setbacks, the Spurs have come a long way. With the addition of Roger Mason Jr., and George Hill, the Spurs are a lot younger and more dangerous team than many skeptics had thought. This slideshow features the Spurs midseason awards. Has the first half of the season shown that the Spurs are capable of winning another Larry O'Brien Championsip Trophy? It is an odd year.

Begin Slideshow

Spurs-Clippers: San Antonio Keeps Clips Winless at AT&T Center

Craig Salomonson — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 23:32:57 -0500

The Los Angeles Clippers entered Thursday’s matchup with the San Antonio Spurs without a win in San Antonio since the AT&T Center was opened back in 2002. Nothing changed tonight as the Clippers are now 0-12 vs. the Spurs in San Antonio over the past seven seasons with a 106-84 Spurs victory.

The Spurs, with the victory, have won 15 of their last 18 games. Yes, that’s 15-3 since Dec. 4.

The Spurs met the Clippers tonight at a time in their season where they are injury-riddled and had lost their last eight games. Yes, that’s right; the Clippers haven’t won a game since Dec. 17.

The Spurs began the first quarter with very poor shooting, only 26 percent from the field. A very energized Tony Parker led the Spurs out of the gates with a quick nine points. The Spurs although, were outscored 22-16 by the end of the first quarter.

Roger Mason Jr. shot 3 three-pointers to begin the second quarter. Mason is shooting better from three-point land than a lot of NBA players are from inside the arc.

Down by as many as nine points in the second quarter, the Spurs recovered, with a surge prior to halftime to bring the Spurs to within one. The Clippers had the edge 44-43 at that point.

The Spurs opened the third quarter strong. They went on a 10-0 run to start the quarter, led by Michael Finley’s quick 3 three-pointers. The Clips forgot to guard Finley, as he scored 11 points in the quarter.

The Spurs opened up a 12-point lead in the third quarter, and led 75-69. The biggest problem the Spurs had on the night began to become apparent at this point in the game. They weren’t playing any transition defense, and the Clippers got some quick scores.

The Spurs began the fourth quarter like the third, by going on a 9-0 run to give the Spurs an 84-69 edge at that point. The Spurs must have gotten an earful from Coach Gregg Popovich between quarters, because they began to play on both ends of the court.

The Spurs managed to go up by 24 points with 4:00 left in the fourth, when Jacque Vaughn dished the basketball to George Hill, who made a Jordanesque reverse layup.

In the victory, the Spurs were led by Tony Parker who had 19 points and four assists on the night. Mason added 18 points, and Matt Bonner scored 11 points and had five rebounds.

Tim Duncan played the game very quietly, only scoring eight points, but dishing out nine big assists.

The Spurs had five players in double-figures on the night, which has become a formula for success on the season.

The Spurs await the arrival of Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic who come into San Antonio for their next game on Sunday night.

Spurs-Grizzlies: San Antonio Holds the Mayo, Wins Season Series 4-0 Over Memphis

Craig Salomonson — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:53:22 -0500

The San Antonio Spurs completed their dominance of the Memphis Grizzlies with a 91-80 win Friday night in Memphis.

The Spurs held O.J. Mayo to just 12 points, who had been averaging about 29 points a game against the Spurs this season.

Although the Spurs turned the ball over 10 times in the first quarter, they held a 44-40 lead going into halftime.

The Spurs took a 19-point lead at one point in the second half, due to mistakes by the young Grizzlies squad. The Grizzlies passed the ball poorly in the game.

In the fourth quarter, although the Grizzlies opened with a 7-0 run, the Spurs kept the Grizzlies down, with the steady performance of their bench play.

George Hill really hustled throughout the game, and Matt Bonner, Michael Finley and Manu Ginobili came up with big baskets in the final quarter to put the game out of reach.

Tim Duncan led the Spurs with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists.

Tony Parker added 19 points and four assists in another steady performance against the Grizzlies.

Matt Bonner and Manu Ginobili also scored in double-figures, with 16 and 13 points respectively.

The Spurs, who came into the game leading the NBA in 3-point shooting with a percentage of 40.3 percent, struggled from behind the arc, shooting just five of 21 from long-range.

The win for the Spurs was a great way to start the new year, as they were coming off a stinging 100-98 loss against the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night.

The 21-11 Spurs take on Philadelphia Saturday night at the AT&T Center in San Antonio.

Spurs Edge Grizzlies in Double-Overtime Thriller

Craig Salomonson — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 17:03:32 -0500

The torch has not been passed from Steve Nash to Tony Parker, rather, it has been snatched away.

Tony Parker is the real deal, and has no doubt become one of the NBA’s top point guards this season.

In Saturday nights 106-103 double overtime win over Memphis, Parker made a pair of clutch jumpers that led the Spurs to victory.

Parker scored 32 points and dished out 5 assists in a game that the Spurs never had control of, and struggled just to force the Grizzlies into overtime.

Parker hit two of the Spurs' three baskets in the second overtime period.

Tim Duncan, who fouled out in the first overtime, ended up scoring 29 points in the game. After Duncan fouled out, Kurt Thomas entered double overtime and was critical in the Spurs victory.

Thomas fought hard for an offensive rebound, which resulted in a quick put-back, the first basket of the second overtime. He also came up with several critical defensive rebounds and contributed to stops in the final minutes.

Manu Ginobili added 20 points and 4 assists in the game.

The Spurs big three of Duncan, Ginobili, and Parker combined for 81 points for the Spurs.

It was also the Spurs' defense, led by Duncan and Bruce Bowen that allowed the Spurs to eke out the win.

Memphis’ young guns had plenty of chances to win this one, and were led by O.J. Mayo who scored 29 points in the loss.

This was the fifthstraight win for the Spurs and its seventh straight win at home. With the win, the Spurs improve to 3-0 in double overtime games this season. San Antonio has won 11 of its last 13 games. Tony Parker has led the Spurs in scoring nine times in the Spurs 11 victories.

The Spurs now lead the Southwest Division with a record of 20-10, and have a one game lead over the New Orleans Hornets.

Spurs-Timberwolves: It's the Tony Parker Show

Craig Salomonson — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:07:30 -0500

Tony Parker shows up when the Spurs play the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Reminiscent of his 55-point, 10-assist performance in Minnesota Nov. 5, Parker scored 36 points against the Wolves Tuesday night at the AT&T Center in San Antonio.

Parker was also in the Christmas spirit, handing out gifts like Santa, with his eight assists on the night.

With Parker’s dazzling performance, the Spurs coasted to a 99-93 home win over the Timberwolves.

Despite a late Timberwolves run in the fourth quarter, Parker made several big jump shots to finally put away the Wolves, including a long two-pointer with two minutes left in the game.

Parker not only had a hot hand shooting the ball, he was also attacking and penetrating to the basket throughout the game, making circus shots and tough layups against the T-Wolves bigs.

Minnesota showed it is a young ball club, making crucial mistakes down the stretch, including not fouling the Spurs with 25 seconds left in the game and only a six-point deficit.

A very consistent Tim Duncan added 19 points and 12 rebounds. Michael Finley also had a great night, ending up with 13 points. He shot well early and got the Spurs rolling in the first quarter.

Tuesday night was the fifth game in seven days for the Spurs. San Antonio has won nine out of its last 11 games.

The Spurs have won six straight at home and are 11-2 at the AT&T Center since losing their first three games there.

Despite the screwed up schedule recently, the Spurs fly to Phoenix tomorrow in preparation for their Christmas Day match-up with the Suns, who have not played in five days.

The Suns have been relaxing, finishing up their Christmas shopping and enjoying home cooking in Phoenix, and should be well-prepared for the big game Thursday on ABC.

But remember this, Suns fans: The Spurs have four NBA championship banners hanging in their rafters.

2008 Olympic Games in Beijing: One World One Dream

Craig Salomonson — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 07:32:52 -0500

The 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games were spectacular this year and will not soon be forgotten. From the Opening Ceremony at the "Bird's Nest" to the Closing Ceremony two weeks later, the world witnessed amazing athletic performances, and we all learned to appreciate the rich Chinese culture and it's dynamic people more. From Michael Phelps' incredible record-breaking 8 Gold Medals, to the "lightning" speed of Usain Bolt in Track and Field, the world witnessed an Olympic Games that kept fans on the edge of their seats. This slideshow attempts to remind you of all the memories of the Olymic Games in Beijing, and how the world came together for two weeks, temporarily leaving behind the pain of wars, conflict, and impending economic strain to come.

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Matt Bonner Stepping Up For San Antonio Spurs

Craig Salomonson — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:37:08 -0500

Matt Bonner is getting his chance in San Antonio and he is making the most of it.

The “Red Rocket,” in his fifth NBA season, has made quite a turnaround from his play of a year ago. In fact, he is quickly becoming a fan favorite for the black and white.

The unconventional 6-foot-10 starting center is fitting in well at a position previously held by Robert Horry and Fabricio Oberto.

How is Bonner becoming a reliable starter in San Antonio, when he has pretty much been a non-factor in previous years in the NBA? The short answer is simply that he is getting consistent minutes and his confidence is sky-rocketing due to his outstanding shooting.

Bonner is hitting 52.6% of his three-point shots, leading the NBA at this point. When was the last time you even heard of a center leading the league in three-pointers? It is unheard of.

Bonner’s jump shot has really been stretching the floor for the Spurs, clearing space for players such as Tim Duncan, who can score from the post.

In previous years, Bonner would just stop shooting the ball if he was missing,and this would put him on the bench.

Now, he is choosing to shoot and this breeds confidence.

Not only is Bonner lighting things up from downtown and shooting 56.2% from the field, he is also rebounding the basketball extremely well. He is all over the place and he is also providing the Spurs with many second-chance opportunities with his offensive rebounding.

Bonner is playing solid defense as well, which is pretty much a prerequisite for any starting center on a Gregg Popovich led Spurs outfit.

The improvement of Matt Bonner this year from last year is like the difference between night and day. He has basically gone from playing late in games during garbage time to an impact player on the starting lineup.

He may just prove to be a key ingredient in the Spurs success from here on out.

Spurs-Suns: Rivalry Continues on Christmas Day

Craig Salomonson — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 01:52:03 -0500

Christmas is supposed to be a time of peace, love, and goodwill to all.

But if the rivalry between the Spurs and Suns is anything like the past five years, this Christmas, the “goodwill towards men” adage may have to take a break for two and a half hours.

Over the past decade, the Spurs and Suns have clashed on many occasions. The only Spurs series loss to the Suns occurred in the 2000 NBA Playoffs, and that year Tim Duncan was out with a knee injury.

The Spurs took the first round of the 2003 series from the Suns in six games on their way to their second NBA title.

In 2005, the revived Suns, after the third-greatest regular season turnaround in NBA history, met the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals. Again, San Antonio took home the bragging rights, as they won in five games on their way to their third NBA title in six years.

In 2007, the Spurs and Suns met again in the Western Conference Semifinals, and this series cemented the rivalry's history.

Game four of the series took an ugly turn when Robert Horry knocked Steve Nash into the scorer's table at mid-court. Coming to the aid of his teammate, Raja Bell then left the bench area and was given a technical foul.

Horry was charged with a flagrant foul and ejected from the game, while Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw were both suspended for one game after leaving their bench during the altercation.

This lead to a game five and game six victory for the Spurs as they ousted the Suns en route to their fourth NBA championship. The Suns’ fans may have lost their cool after this episode of the rivalry.

The 2008 version of the rivalry between these two teams continued in the final regular-season game for them in San Antonio. Although the Suns won that game, it was not without more drama.

During the game, Stoudemire set a screen for Nash on Bruce Bowen with a little over a minute to play. Bowen threw an elbow into Stoudemire's chest, and had to be restrained by teammates and coaching staff.

The Spurs had the last say, though. They rebounded in the first-round playoff series against the Suns, defeating them 4-1. This series brought on a new aspect to the rivalry, with the clash of two dominant big men, Duncan and Shaquille O’Neal.

The Christmas Day game on ABC this year may just interrupt the holiday spirit for a while for Spurs-Suns fans, but it is sure to be entertaining. If the past is any indication of what to expect, buckle-up for a wild ride two weeks from today.

Thousands of fans will totally be ignoring their family. Bump Christmas cheer!

What Manu Ginobili's Return Will Mean for the Spurs

Craig Salomonson — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 03:30:31 -0500

The San Antonio Spurs are simply not the same championship-caliber team without Manu Ginobili in the lineup. The kind of intensity and spark he ignites when typically coming off the bench for the Spurs has been sorely missed in the Spurs first 12 games.

This was evident by the immediate impact Ginobili brought to the Spurs in Monday night’s contest with the Memphis Grizzlies. Ginobili came out very aggressive in his return, after his ankle injury this summer and surgery in September.

His first shot of the season against he Grizzlies was a clock-shot beating three-pointer and seconds later was followed by an aggressive driving slam dunk. Ginobili ended up with 12 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist in his return, and he looked almost in mid-season form.

It is clear that the Spurs will be a much better team as Ginobili plays each game and continues to work toward getting completely healthy. He will help the Spurs win more games, which has been evident by the two consecutive wins this week, the second of which came Wednesday night against the Chicago Bulls.

Ginobili will do the kind of things he always does for the Spurs, which is to bring energy and points off the bench. The Spurs haven’t been the same without him thus far this season and will be a much better team with him. If Ginobili can remain healthy, and Tony Parker returns soon, the Spurs will be a deeper and very dangerous team and will match up well against the best teams in the Western Conference.

Without Ginobili, the Spurs will not be as competitive, particularly in a playoff run. Ginobili has always been a team-player, simply wanting to do whatever he can to help the Spurs win games. Manu is Manu, and when he is healthy, he has been a winner everywhere, including 3 NBA Championships, a Euroleague Title, and an Olympic Gold Medal, and this kind of success will continue as long as he remains healthy.

It is clear that Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich will need to slowly inject Manu Ginobili into the mix in the next 5-10 games.The Spurs will not completely rely on Ginobili now that he has returned, and his minutes will be increased slowly each game. It is very important that he not be over-worked and potentially re-injure or aggravate his ankle.

What is also important in Ginobili’s return is how he will fit in with Roger Mason Jr. and George Hill, who have looked very impressive thus far this season. Both Mason Jr. and Hill have been getting a lot of minutes, and it will be interesting to see how Popovich will play them with Ginobili back, and in particular, when Tony Parker returns.

This is a good problem to have though at this point. This combination of the experience of the Spurs big three-Duncan, Parker and Ginobili mixed with the fresh look of Mason Jr. and Hill may just make the Spurs a better team than last year, and last years team made it to the Western Conference Finals.