NBA Monday Roundup: Spurs, Heat Getting by with Stingy Defense

NBA Monday Round Up

San Antonio (23-11) Survive the Miami Heat (18-15): 91-84

Coaching Outrageously.

The rebuilding Miami Heat gave the Spurs everything they could handle. With the Spurs leading by just 84-81 with 1:33 left, Manu Ginobili made a game-changing block on a leaping Dwyane Wade drive to rim. Roger Mason then converted at the other end to seal the win

In a game far more competitive than it ought to have been, the rebuilding Heat stayed with the Spurs the entire game. Wade finished with 24 points and 12 assists, and four steals, one game after blocking four shots, including 7’0” Raul Lopez of the Nets.... twice.

Ever reliable Tim Duncan led a balanced Spurs’ attack with 19 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and two blocks, while rookie George Hill added 15 points, including 3-3 from downtown, and Center Matt Bonner added 11 more, including 3-4 from the arc.

San Antonio started strong, holding the Heat to 15 first quarter points. But by fighting off repeated Heat surges, the Spurs could never really pull away, right until the very end of course.

Stat of the Night

 

The Miami Heat’s defensive efficiency (the number of points allowed per 100 possessions) is almost identical to the Spurs at 102.2 to 101.8.

That is incredible. The Spurs are considered one of the top defenses annually in the NBA, while the Heat have been a work in progress, incorporating two rookies, especially regarding point guard, center, and their weak bench.

Coaching Outrageously.

Erik who? Until this season, Miami Heat rookie head coach Erik Spoelstra was just Jon Spoelstra’s son, the author of Marketing Outrageously, (a book I read some years ago). Now forward to be known as "Erik’s father," Jon is a top sports marketing expert, and former president of the New Jersey Nets, with executive stops with the Portland Trailblazers, and Denver Nuggets.

It has been open season on NBA head coaches this year and it wouldn’t have surprised me if untried rookie Heat coach Erik Spoelstra wasn’t up to the task. The former Heat Asst. Coach/Director of Scouting inherited a team that hit rock bottom at 15-67, worst in the NBA.

With Dwyane Wade back from injury, and Wade’s endorsement of the rookie coach, he had a good base to begin from. Sensitive, unadjusted forward Shawn Marion, untried rookie Michael Beasley, and veteran holdover forward Udonis Haslem constituted the basic core. A talented core with little experience together, center and point guard were up in the air.

2nd round rookie Mario Chalmers has won the point guard position, with undrafted 2nd year man Joel Anthony earning time at center, Udonis Haslem recently moved back to power forward, and the Heat are 6-3 over their last nine games, including a win over the Lakers.

Erik’s challenge was to put a new team together to get back to the playoffs. At 18-15, the Heat are surpassing my expectations.

Father Jon Spoelstra wrote another book titled; Success is Just One Wish Away. While tonight success was one swish away, it looks like Erik is getting his wish for success for this season.

If this keeps up, the Heat will make the playoffs. They are currently 6th in the east. Outrageous indeed.

Denver (24-12) Destroys Indiana (12-22): 135-115

After calling out the Nuggets exactly one week ago for having no heart, after seeing zero pulse against Atlanta—they responded with a “players only” meeting and a four-game winning streak. So there’s mud in my eye for you.

I’ve said for too many years that there is enough talent on the Nuggets to be true contenders. I’d given up on them. The perennially disillusioning Denver Caramel Nuggets swore this season would be different. We’ll see.

The poor performance in Atlanta was more typical than not of their recent history (see last season’s playoffs). Since “The Arrival” (of Billups), they have become a team with more character than characters (Chris ‘Bird Man’ Andersen, Kenyon Martin, and J. R. Smith notwithstanding).

They are now 6-1 and 23-9 since they ejected Iverson and filled up with Billups. Will it last?

They blew a 20-point first half lead, and then blew the Pacers out in the 4th quarter, 38-23, as Kenyon Martin led the Nuggets with 25 points and Billups added 24 and 11 assists. Carmelo Anthony played with heart and a broken hand, adding 21 points and nine assists.

Thanks to Denver’s Nene Hilario, Kenyon and Carmelo (24-33 combined), Denver shot a highly efficient .581 percent on 50-86 shooting. Denver’s bench is one of the more productive in the league with a plus/minus of +104 (6th) and 32.7 points (8th) per game.

The Pacers were paced by hard working Danny Granger with 36 points and Troy Murphy with a double-double of 15 points and 12 boards. They played without T.J. Ford, Mike Dunleavy, and lost Marquis Daniels after one quarter.

The bad attitudes and bad behavior are gone. The hard working players are here. The wins are not. Talent still matters.

(17-19) Milwaukee Closes Out (14-21) Toronto: 107-97

The Andrew Bogut-less Bucks outplayed the Raptors, who were without point guard Jose Calderon and center Jermaine O’Neal. It’s hard to believe, but the East is back down to having teams under .500 qualify for the playoffs. That offseason optimism didn’t last long, did it?

The reason? Toronto and Philly have had extremely disappointing seasons after making big acquisitions. Both of these sub .500 teams are still in the hunt for a playoff spot.

At least Scott Skiles has the Bucks moving in the right direction. A “defense first” coach, the Bucks are 6-4 lately, and 5th in the league in defensive efficiency at 100.9. Their bench is the 5th most productive point-wise (34.1 per game). I never would have thought it with this roster.

The highly paid ($21.4 mil), oft-injured Jermaine O’Neal (knee) has been a bust so far for the defenseless Raptors.

Michael Redd took game honors with 35 points while Chris Bosh provided 31 for the Raptors, while shooting 12-14 from the floor. Sam Mitchell must be smiling somewhere. Bosh must be thinking about 2010. Colangelo must be wondering if there are any good Euro centers out there.

New Jersey (17-18) Rebounds Against Beleaguered Sacramento (8-27): 98-90

The Nets are another team that continue to exceed expectations and rebounds after losing to Miami by outrebounding the beaten down Kings 53-38, led by Yi Jianlian with 13 boards while scoring 22 points.

Vince Carter’s 29 points led the Nets. Vince added eight rebounds in the first quarter for his career high, and contributed seven assists while Devin Harris did not play the second half with a sore hip.

Though one of the worst home teams in the league (7-12), the Nets were able to overcome the Sacramento Wonders, as in “wonder what happened to them,” and “wonder where their fans went.”

The Kings’ fall has been a long and hard one. Sacramento’s starters are the second worst in the league (plus/minus). They have the second worst defensive efficiency in the league at 109.9. They have a promising player in Jason Thompson on the bench, and a veteran center, Brad Miller, who they would trade, if they can find a partner.

Sac savior, Kevin Martin scored 36 points off the bench to lead both teams. I don’t know where to begin with this team. Perhaps another sport? Bowling?

Utah (20-15) Outlasts Golden State (10-26): 119-114

As Golden State burns, Don Nelson fiddles with his roster, cutting rookie guard DeMarcus Nelson and bringing in free agent Charlotte castoff forward Jermareo Davidson on a 10-day sightseeing tour of the ruins. Lunch at Fisherman’s Wharf.

This is another sinking ship that is miles from rescue. Rumors are that Don Nelson has lost interest, while Golden State Worrier Chris Mullin has lost power. How could something that was going so right, go so wrong…so quick?

"I’m Just Not That Into Team Play" Corey Maggette is now coming off the bench, and scored 23 points in 30 minutes, while Knick castoff Jamal Crawford led with 28 points and six assists.

Deron Williams leads with 25 points, 15 assists, and Mehmet Okur and Paul Millsap supports with double-doubles. Andris Biedrins does likewise for the Warriors.

If this were the Dating Game, the blind date with Maggette would be over. The Warriors are ready to choose bachelor number two. But who wants Maggette, the 8-Million Dollar Man, with his brand new 5-year contract?

Even host Jim Lange would have a hard time finding a partner with this one. As talented as he is, I’m kind of glad the Celtics didn’t get Maggette now.

Time for a Brylcreem commercial. Cue the music. A little dab’ll do ya. Where is Pat Riley when you really need him?

See you next week. Same time, same station.