Wednesday NBA Roundup: Spurs Are Officially Overmatched in Western Conference
The San Antonio Spurs have rightfully received the benefit of the doubt for months now, but a four-game losing streak has magnified the team's foray into unfamiliar territory.
Since returning from the All-Star break, San Antonio's dropped four straight, including a 111-95 road loss to the Portland Trail Blazers Wednesday night.
According to Bleacher Report's Dan Favale, the Spurs have rarely dealt with losing streaks of such an extended nature since Tim Duncan was drafted in 1997:
For more than a decade, the Spurs have been associated with brilliant ball movement and flawless fluidity on offense. But lately, the offense has assumed a clunkier, less efficient form.
Although the Spurs are still sharing the ball at an elite rate, their offensive rating that's hovering over 103 points per 100 possessions barely ranks above the league average, according to NBA.com. Last season, the defending champions ranked No. 6 overall in offensive efficiency with a rating of 108.2, per NBA.com.
Part of that regression can be attributed to Tony Parker's statistical decline.
Compared to last season, Parker's scoring average has dipped by more than two points, with his conversion rate down three percentage points. Against the Blazers, Parker scored two points on 1-of-8 shooting, the third straight game in which he failed to crack double figures. In fact, Parker's scored just nine points on 3-of-21 shooting over his last 69 minutes.
"If he’s not the Tony Parker of past years, we’re not going anywhere," head coach Gregg Popovich said, according to the San Antonio Express-News' Jeff McDonald.
Interestingly enough, Parker's struggles have served as a microcosm of San Antonio's offensive woes.
As ESPN Insider's Kevin Pelton noted, "Parker is no longer getting to the basket on a regular basis, leaving him dependent on inefficient mid-range jump shots that haven't gone in as frequently this season."
For the Spurs, the same sentiment rings true. San Antonio's looked strangely tentative of late as teams have sought to eliminate Parker's ability to slice and dice them in the pick-and-roll. Instead, opponents have been content to run under screens, freeing up Parker for mid-range jump shots.
Much to the Spurs' chagrin, that strategy has proved to be incredibly effective. Parker's shooting worse than 40 percent on mid-range jumpers and ranks in the 55th percentile as a pick-and-roll ball-handler, according to NBA.com.
However, San Antonio's battle-tested veterans aren't content to pin the slide on Parker's strife alone.
"Can you point to anybody who is doing well?" Manu Ginobili said, according to McDonald. "He’s struggling like the rest of us are struggling. It’s an 'us' thing. We as a team have to get it together."
For the time being, they certainly don't look like contenders in a Western Conference loaded with offensive firepower.
But as history shows, counting out San Antonio entirely is risky business. After all, the Spurs have proved capable of thriving when the rest of the league views them as harmless, dormant and past their prime. In short order, tactical tweaks can be made, switches can be flipped and the fountain of youth can be found.
Until that day comes, though, the Spurs will have a hard time convincing anyone they belong in the title conversation with a group of contenders who have been exponentially more consistent.
Around the Association
Garnett Makes a Feel-Good Return
It started with goosebumps and ended with a triumphant result.
Nearly eight years after Minnesota traded Kevin Garnett to the Boston Celtics, the team reintroduced him to the Land of 10,000 Lakes to a deafening roar from the Target Center crowd:
That chilling scene laid the foundation for a 97-77 Minnesota Timberwolves victory over the Washington Wizards. Garnett finished with five points, eight rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal, but his contributions spanned well beyond the box score.
While the team encountered momentary speed bumps in the form of a 13-1 first-quarter deficit, the Timberwolves—much like the man of the hour—remained resilient.
Over the final three quarters, Minnesota (13-43) outscored Washington, 86-57, holding John Wall (season-low five points) and the Wizards offense to 37.9 percent shooting from the field and 22.2 percent from three.
According to Timberwolves PR, head coach Flip Saunders was thrilled with his team's defensive effort:
Garnett set the tone early with an emphatic rejection that had the home crowd in hysterics:
From there, it didn't take the Minnesota faithful long to revive chants that were popularized during the 2003-04 season:
Garnett isn't going to have a profound statistical impact night after night, but his leadership and ability to set the tone with discipline on defense will be invaluable to one of the league's most impressionable cores moving forward. Garnett's leadership was illustrated in his comments, courtesy of Timberwolves PR:
Although he's lost a few steps at 38 years old, Garnett still ranks in the 97th percentile when it comes to defending post-ups, according to Synergy Sports data provided to NBA.com.
On the losing end of things, Washington has now dropped five straight, including 10 of its last 12. Luckily, a matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers awaits on Friday. That's the definition of a tailor-made slump-buster.
Harden Thrusts Rockets Past Clippers
The seventh time was the charm for the Houston Rockets, who took down the Los Angeles Clippers by a final score of 110-105, ending a six-game slide to Chris Paul and friends. It was Houston's first victory against L.A. since March 30, 2013.
James Harden gamely battled through a nasty ankle sprain in the fourth quarter, helping Houston hold off a Clippers charge in the final four minutes.
Clearly in pain, Harden refused to leave the floor. He scored eight of the Rockets' final 11 points in the contest. With 21 points overall, he led the way, though Corey Brewer's 20 off the pine were a welcome throw-in.
The Clips dropped their second straight, despite getting 22 points and 14 assists from Chris Paul, as well as 22 points and 19 rebounds from DeAndre Jordan. With the Memphis Grizzlies (who took a 90-87 decision from Los Angeles on Feb. 23) looming on Friday, the Clippers face the distinct possibility of a three-game slide.
L.A. has weathered the storm of Blake Griffin's absence, winning four of its last seven. But it's now becoming clear that there's just not enough depth or talent on the Clippers' roster to keep this up against a brutal Western Conference schedule.
Melissa Rohlin of the Los Angeles Times reported Feb. 23 that Griffin was approximately a week away from returning, which is good news. The Clippers can't wait much longer.
—Contributed by Grant Hughes
Chicago's Offense Suffers Without Rose
After Derrick Rose was diagnosed with a medial meniscus tear in his right knee Tuesday, the Chicago Bulls fell flat against the Charlotte Hornets, 98-86.
Pau Gasol was superb throughout with 25 points and 13 rebounds, but Chicago's offense was completely stale without its star point guard. Aaron Brooks drew the start in Rose's place but managed just 12 points on 4-of-12 shooting (1-of-5 from three) and four assists.
Starters not named Gasol shot a combined 10-of-30 from the field as Chicago hit on 44.2 percent of its total field goals and 17.6 percent of its three-point attempts. According to Bulls.com's Sam Smith, the Spaniard felt his team was mentally drained:
Since Rose was one of the team's few reliable off-the-dribble scorers capable of creating space and his own shot, the Bulls figure to have a hard time finding a consistent solution to their stagnancy.
Dallas Can't Extend Winning Streak Sans Rondo
Following Rajon Rondo's verbal altercation with head coach Rick Carlisle on Tuesday, the Dallas Mavericks suspended their point guard for Wednesday night's clash with the Atlanta Hawks, citing "conduct detrimental to the team," according to ESPN.com's Marc Stein.
Despite receiving 19 points on 9-of-14 shooting from Monta Ellis, Dallas' third-ranked offense, per NBA.com, crumbled against the balanced Hawks. As a team, the Mavericks shot 16.1 percent (5-of-31) from three in the 104-87 loss. Dirk Nowitzki also scored a season-low four points just three days after scoring a then-season-low eight points against the Charlotte Hornets.
As has become custom, all five Hawks starters finished in double figures, but it was Dennis Schroder who led Atlanta with 17 points (7-of-15 shooting, 3-of-5 from three) off the bench.
Not even a leaky roof could cool down the Hawks, who sank 13 triples and have now won back-to-back games for the first time since Feb. 6.
Atlantic Division Tanks Roll On
Take a bow, Evan Turner.
In 34 minutes, Turner finished with 10 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists to pick up his first career triple-double. The Boston Celtics went on to crush the New York Knicks, 115-94, handing Derek Fisher's squad its eighth straight loss. New York is now 0-16 sans Carmelo Anthony.
Isaiah Thomas put forth another impressive showing off the bench, scoring 19 points (11-of-11 from the free-throw line) and dropping seven dimes. Boston was plus-21 during his 28 minutes on the floor. And according to ESPN Stats & Info, Thomas is a free-throw shooting savant compared to former Celtic Rondo:
In other anomalistic statistical news, Jonas Jerebko scored a season-high 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting. As The Wall Street Journal's Chris Herring noted, the Knicks have a knack for allowing personal milestones:
Westward in Milwaukee, Michael Carter-Williams exacted revenge in his Bucks debut as the Central Division risers dropped the Philadelphia 76ers, 104-88. The Bucks are now within a game-and-a-half of the fifth-seeded Wizards.
Carter-Williams tallied seven points and eight assists, but the Sixers' general ineptitude overshadowed the reigning Rookie of the Year's opening act.
Philadelphia finished with 28 turnovers, including 19 in the first half. Milwaukee scored 37 points off those turnovers and torched the undersized Sixers, 48-30, in the paint.
Cousins Loses His Cool
Already frustrated by a couple of early fouls and two (count 'em two) Zach Randolph elbows to the face, DeMarcus Cousins was primed for detonation when refs whistled him for his third foul with 3:09 remaining in the second quarter of the Sacramento Kings' 102-90 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
To his credit, Cousins didn't direct his outburst at the officials, Randolph or any animate objects.
Instead, a courtside chair absorbed his wrath. And Tony Allen came close to getting a little for himself, too.
Ongoing foul trouble limited Cousins' availability, but he was a major contributor whenever he was on the floor, totaling 16 points, nine rebounds and six assists in just 24 minutes before fouling out. Thanks to him (and Rudy Gay, who pumped in a team-high 28 points), the Kings are now 2-1 in the admittedly brief George Karl era.
—Contributed by Grant Hughes
Don't Cross Jusuf Nurkic
At 6'11'' and 280 pounds, Denver Nuggets center Jusuf Nurkic is an absolute load.
Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris learned that the hard way:
Unfortunately, Nurkic (eight points, eight rebounds) was forced to leave the Nuggets' 110-96 loss in a wheelchair after suffering a right ankle sprain, according to The Denver Post's Chris Dempsey.
