Tag: San Antonio

Bonner’s 3-point binge ranks as No. 9 best Spurs memory

In our look at the best Spurs memories of the past season, Matt Bonner’s early-season 3-point binge ranks as one of the best.

Here’s a look back at a night when Bonner couldn’t miss and how it helped fuel one of the Spurs’ most stunning comebacks to that point of the season.

No. 9: The Red Rocket’s 3-point blitz scorches Thunder

When: Nov. 14, 2010

Where: Oklahoma City Arena, Oklahoma City, Okla.

What happened: The Spurs struggled early, missing nine of their first 10 shots and falling into an early 12-point hole late in the first quarter. But Matt Bonner hit a deep three in the final 5 seconds of the first quarter and added three more to keep the Spurs close in the second quarter as they trailed for the entire first half.  He then sank three more during a 21-8 run to open the fourth quarter enabling the Spurs to cruise to their seventh straight victory with a 117-104 triumph. Bonner was a perfect 7-for-7 from 3-point range for a season-best 21 points.

What was said, Part I: “It was just one of those nights when I was feeling it,” Bonner, describing his career night to reporters after the game.  

What was said, Part II: “All it takes for him is just half a second. He’s a knockdown 3-point shooter. We didn’t do a good job on him. No excuses,” Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks, who described his team’s defensive struggles against Bonner to the Associated Press.

What was said, Part III: “Matty was huge, of course. When he shoots 7 for 3 on 3s, it gives you a lot of air on offense. He had great looks, great confidence, and he sank them all,” Manu Ginobili, analyzing Bonner’s huge game to the Express-News.  

What was said, Part IV: “I always think every one of them is going in, but this was just one of those nights when all of them did fall. You hit the first one, the second one, the third one, and then the hoop just keeps getting bigger and bigger,” Bonner, on his shooting binge to the Express-News.  

The upshot: Bonner’s big night came within one of the team’s record for consecutive 3-pointers in a game. Steve Smith hit all eight threes against Portland on Nov. 3, 2001. The victory extended San Antonio’s winning streak to seven games as they pushed their record to 8-1. At that point, it was the fastest start in team history.  It was Bonner’s third game since missing six games early in the season with an ankle sprain. And his perimeter binge enabled the Spurs to win despite hitting only 40.9 percent from the field in the game. Ginobili and Bonner led San Antonio with 21 points. The San Antonio defense tightened down the stretch, limiting Oklahoma City to only 38 points in the second half after permitting the Thunder to score 35 in the first quarter. Kevin Durant led the Thunder with 23 points — a season low for him at that point of the season.

Previous bad memories:

No. 10: .

No. 9: Black Friday fourth-quarter collapse leads to .  

Previous good memories:

No. 10: .

Could Grizzlies be headed for shakeup after stunning playoff run?

The Memphis Grizzlies stunned the NBA by making an unexpected surge through the Western Division playoffs.

The Grizzlies had never won a playoff game before this season. And despite not having second-leading scorer Rudy Gay, Coach Lionel Hollins’ team knocked out West top seed San Antonio before falling to Oklahoma City in seven games.

The Grizzlies missed Gay’s perimeter shooting in both series, but there is speculation around the league that the Grizzlies might let him go after their success without him in the playoffs. Particularly with the emergence of Shane Battier and Tony Allen’s defensive skills, the Grizzlies might have a replacement for Gay on their roster already.  

Gay, 25, has about $68 million left on his max contract over the next four years. Memphis awarded Zach Randolph a monster new $71 million contract at the start of the series with the Spurs. Rapidly improving center Marc Gasol’s expiring contract is next and there is thought that Memphis owner Michael Heisley might not be willing to sign all three players.  

The Akron Beacon Journal reports that Gay .

Since the new NBA season won’t officially begin until July 1, Gay’s 2010-11 salary would apply until then. His $13.6 million salary would fit under the Cavaliers’ trade exception, but he likely would command much more than just that trade exception.

While Gay’s future destination will command much attention with Memphis fans after their suprising run, Battier had an interesting tweet after the end of the Oklahoma City game that thanked fans for their support.

Would Nene look good in silver and black?

The Spurs will have some  distinct needs once the free-agent period arrives. 

The likely retirement of Antonio McDyess and Tim Duncan’s decline leaves a big hole for the Spurs inside for a big, strong rebounder. 

Denver’s Nene is exactly that kind of player. 

Nene told the Denver Post that he’s likely to opt out of the final year of his current contract that pays him about $12 million per year. 

The Nuggets reportedly have offered him a three-year extension at about those numbers, but that apparently won’t be good enough to keep the rugged 28-year-old Brazilian 6-11, 265-pound forward/center, who averaged 14.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per game and shot 61.5 percent from the field. 

Nene feels he’s not appreciated by the Nuggets, who went 50-32 before they were eliminated in five games  by Oklahoma City in the first round. 

“I’ve been here for nine years,” Nene told the Post. “If that doesn’t work how you want it, you need to sit down and evaluate everything and see what you can do…. 

“If I play happy, if I enjoy the game, my game improves. I did my best for the team, for the city. I tried to do my best for the fans. But the (Nuggets) need to understand you need to see the return on the other side, or you need to look for it. You need to look for it sometimes. They don’t realize all of the sacrifices I made. When you don’t feel appreciated, it’s hard.” 

It’s uncertain whether Spurs majority owner Peter Holt would authorize the big payment that Nene likely would command. 

The Spurs would likely need for Duncan to exercise his early-termination option this summer and sign a longer-term deal for less  money to give the Spurs the financial flexibility to even think about signing a player like Nene — or anybody else of his level for that matter. 

But Nene might listen to the Spurs for a couple of reasons. 

His talents would fit exactly what the Spurs need after their 61-win season. 

He also would be  coming to perhaps the NBA’s most welcoming team to international players. Nene potentially would be reuniting with his old friend, rookie Brazilian power forward Tiago Splitter. 

It’s unsure if it would make him come to San Antonio for less money. He probably wouldn’t. 

But Nene likely would at least listen to the Spurs if they showed any interest in him. 

What about it Spurs Nation? 

Is Nene the kind of player you would like to see playing for the Spurs next season?