Tag: Washington

Game rewind: Why the Spurs’ road defense has to improve

Even with a breakout game from Tiago Splitter, the Spurs couldn’t overcome their defensive woes in another road defeat Saturday night in Houston.

It was more of the same road problems that have dogged the team all season when the Rockets singed them for 57.7 percent field-goal shooting in a 105-102 victory.

The Rockets were the sixth road teams in seven games that has shot better than 50 percent against the Spurs.  San Antonio has lost all of those games.

And even including a frigid 33.3 effort by Orlando earlier this week in a game where the Magic were coming off their third game in three nights, Spurs road opponents have shot a collective 50.8 percent from the field. 

At the ATT Center, opponents have shot a more respectable 42.9 percent as the Spurs have gone 9-1. Only one opponent has shot better than 50 percent against them at their home facility.

Until that road defense improves, the Spurs are doomed to a lot of similar performances as the one that beat them at the Toyota Center Saturday night.

No matter how good their offense may be, the inability to make critical defensive stops down the stretch remains their biggest weakness.

It cost them the victory Saturday night.

Here’s a look at the specifics of San Antonio’s third loss in its last four games.  

Game analysis: The Spurs fell behind early before catching up and going ahead on strong performances by Splitter and Tony Parker. But they again didn’t have the offensive firepower to keep up with Houston down the stretch as the game got away in the final minutes.

Where the game was won: A 7-0 run punctuated by five straight points by Gary Neal appeared to have given San Antonio a boost with an 84-79 lead with 9:15 left. But Houston answered with a run of eight straight points capped by a 17-foot jumper by Samuel Dalembert and never trailed during the rest of the game.  

Almosts don’t count: The Spurs made Houston sweat after Richard Jefferson’s 3-pointer had pulled them within 103-102 with 10.1 seconds left.  But Kevin Martin sank two foul shots and Neal misfired on a potential game-tying 3-pointer with 4.8 seconds remaining to allow Houston to escape with the victory.  

Player of the game I: Martin was the most consistent weapon for Houston throughout the game with 25 points and three assists.

Player of the game II: Houston point guard Kyle Lowry was the Rockets’ go-to player down the stretch, scoring 10 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter. Lowry also added five rebounds and eight assists as he expertly ran Houston’s offense.

Player of the game III: Splitter took advantage of Tim Duncan’s absence to produce the best game of his NBA career. He scored a career-high 25 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished off four assists. A variety of Houston defenders unsuccessfully tried to combat him as he missed only two of his 13 field-goal attempts.  

Most unsung: Houston guard Goran Dragic scored 14 points, but none was bigger than a circus scoop shot that bailed the Rockets out of a near 24-second violation with 54.6 seconds left. Earlier in the possession, the Rockets nearly lost the ball in the backcourt, but Dragic maintained the possession before just beating the shot clock with a one-hander to give them a four-point lead.

Did you notice: Other than Splitter inside, the Spurs had a lot of trouble with Dalembert. San Antonio was rattled early when Dalembert produced three blocks and a steal in the first 7:17 of the game despite hobbling with a sprained ankle.

Did you notice II: Even though he struggled offensively in a miserable 2-for-11 shooting night, Jefferson was an active defender who came up with several big plays to help spark the run that gave  the Spurs the lead in the fourth quarter. Most impressively, he was making them at the power forward position.

Stat of the game: Houston shot 55.7 percent from the field and 58.8 percent from the field in the fourth quarter to bring home the comeback victory and claim their sixth straight victory.  It’s their longest winning streak since late in the 2008-09 season.

Stat of the game II: The Spurs’ 3-point shooting improved for the third consecutive game, but it was still at only 31.8 percent. In their last five games the Spurs have shot 26.9 percent from 3-point territory and are 2-3.

Stat of the game III:  Parker produced 13 assists — the first time this season a Spur has notched a double-figure assist total this season.

Weird stat of the game: Despite not having leading rebounder Duncan in the lineup as he rested, the Spurs had a 43-32 rebounding edge and piled up a season-best 60 points in the paint.

Weird stat of the game II: Duncan’s absence was the seventh game his missed over the last two seasons. The Spurs are 1-6 in those games.   

Weird stat of  the game III: The Spurs are now 0-3 in the second game of home-road back-to-backs this season.

Quote of the game: “Splitter did his best Tim Duncan impresson,” Houston coach Kevin McHale, to reporters after the game about Splitter’s big game.

How the schedule stacks up: The Spurs have the day off  before facing Western Conference bottom feeder New Orleans Monday night, a home game Wednesday against Atlanta and road games Friday night at Minnesota and Jan. 29 at Dallas. For the Rockets, they play Monday at Minnesota, and then return home Wednesday against Milwaukee and Friday with Washington.

Injuries: Manu Ginobili missed his 12th game (record 7-5) after undergoing surgery for a fractured fifth left metacarpal.  T.J. Ford missed his seventh game (record 4-3) with a torn left hamstring. Parker appeared to be favoring his hip along the San Antonio sidelines midway during the fourth quarter, but later told  reporters it was merely discomfort from a fall suffered earlier this week. Houston center Jordan Hill returned to the lineup after missing his  last game with flu-like symptoms. Dalembert played despite a sprained left ankle.  And rookie forward Marcus Morris is out indefinitely with a sprained left ankle.

Jefferson out, Butler up next?

The Richard Jefferson era in San Antonio appears over.

According to an NBA source, the Spurs plan to exercise their one-time amnesty provision on Jefferson’s contract, once that option becomes available to them upon completion of the new collective bargaining agreement.

A source familiar with the thinking of Spurs front office said decision-makers are awaiting to see the language of the finalized amnesty rule before making a final call, but the team is strongly considering jettisoning Jefferson.

The move, first reported by Yahoo! Sports, would wipe from the books the remaining three years of  Jefferson’s contract worth nearly $30.5 million, $9.2 million of which is due this season, and give the Spurs financial freedom to pursue a new starting small forward in free agency.

That  replacement part, in fact, might be already be in San Antonio.

Not long before word of Jefferson’s impending release broke Wednesday, free agent Caron Butler wrapped up a visit in San Antonio his agent, Raymond Brothers, said “went flawlessly.”

“He felt comfortable here,” Brothers said. “I’m waiting for (the Spurs) to call and discuss it. All I can tell you is, he really liked it.”

Though Butler has already visited the Los Angeles Clippers and still plans to visit the New Jersey Nets — two teams that can offer more than the $5 million mid-level exception that will be available to the Spurs after Jefferson is waived — one league source said the Spurs are now considered the front-runner to land him.

Butler has also met with representatives from Chicago, which can also offer only the $5 million mid-level exception. The Spurs are also considering Washington small forward Josh Howard, who visited Tuesday, among other candidates to fill their small-forward void.

One factor that might entice Butler to San Antonio, his agent said, was the chance to play for coach Gregg Popovich. Asked if he believed the Spurs had a strong chance of signing Butler, Brothers said, “Absolutely.”

“He’s not wasting his time,” Brothers said “He’s wasn’t in San Antonio today to be nice.”

Butler, 31, has averaged 16.6 points over nine NBA seasons but had his 2010-11 campaign cut short in Dallas after tearing his right patella tendon on New Year’s Day. Brothers said Butler passed a physical during his visit with the Clippers earlier this week, and will be cleared for full participation in training camp once he signs with a team.

Butler’s decision is expected to come not long after free agency opens Friday. Brothers said he hopes to have Butler in some team’s camp by the weekend.

“We’ve got one stop left (New Jersey),” Brothers said. “Then it will be time to make a decision.”

With Jefferson, the Spurs appear to have already made their decision, although they can’t formalize it until after the CBA is ratified. Though he averaged 11.6 points in two seasons with the Spurs, Jefferson never lived up to the promise that accompanied his breathless 2009 arrival from Milwaukee.

Jefferson was a good soldier and a well-liked member of the Spurs locker room, but a bad fit on the court. His strengths and a floor-running wingman never quite meshed with the Spurs’ style. His career with the Spurs essentially ended at halftime of the team’s Game 6 ouster in Memphis, with Jefferson being benched for the final two quarters.

Casting off Jefferson’s contract under the upcoming amnesty rule would move the Spurs below the luxury tax line and give them extra cash with which to chase his replacement. Jefferson’s future is as unclear, though it is certain he will find a  job somewhere.

Under the new amnesty rules, teams under the salary cap will be allowed to bid for Jefferson’s services, with the difference between his new contract and old one being returned to the Spurs.

RJ remains, but for how long?

By Jeff McDonald
jmcdonald@express-news.net

Richard Jefferson walked off the floor after the first practice of training camp Friday, took one look at the assembled media horde waiting for him and smiled.

“I feel like I just got traded here,” Jefferson joked.

Only 72 hours earlier, Jefferson’s Spurs career had been fitted for a toe tag. The Spurs had all but decided to exercise their one-time amnesty provision on him, prepared to offer him a handshake, a ticket out of town and several million dollars to chase other small forwards on the free-agent market.

The Spurs still could do all of the above.

But for now — and with that being the key phrase — Jefferson began his third Spurs training camp in the same manner he’d opened the previous two: as the team’s apparent starter at small forward.

“Things could happen, or things could stay the same,” said Jefferson, 31. “As far as I’m concerned, I’m a Spur right now.”

Jefferson, of course, has heard the rampant speculation that he was not long for the Spurs. Earlier this week, he was telling teammates that team officials had informed him he would be waived.

Then, the Spurs came up short in pursuit of their top free-agent target when Caron Butler agreed to a more lucrative offer from the Los Angeles Clippers. Grant Hill decided to return for one more go-round in Phoenix.

The Spurs appear to have little interest in pursuing 35-year-old Vince Carter, who was waived by the Suns on Friday in a cost-cutting manuever and is likely headed to Dallas.

The Spurs remain in the hunt for Washington’s Josh Howard, 31, who is still weighing interest from Chicago, New Jersey, Washington, Utah and Denver, according to a member of his camp, but hopes to decide early next week.

“San Antonio is still very much in the discussions with Josh and his agent (Derek Lafayette),” said Howard’s publicist, Crystal Howard (no relation). “A decision has not been made yet, but he’s certainly considering San Antonio as his new home.”

The Spurs would prefer a resolution sooner rather than later. They have until Dec. 16 to waive Jefferson if they plan to use amnesty on him this season, but are unlikely to do so unless a suitable replacement is found.

If the Spurs don’t use amnesty now, they could keep that card in their pocket until the summer, when the free agent crop should be substantially deeper.

For now, Jefferson remains in limbo, employed by a team that has been openly shopping for his substitute. He averaged 11.6 points in two seasons in San Antonio, and last season shot a career-best 44 percent from 3-point range, but seemed like a poor fit in the Spurs’ system.

Asked if he felt unwanted in San Antonio, Jefferson — who has three years and $30.5 million left on the deal he signed in July 2010 — said the answer was unimportant.

“We’re not little kids, where we want to feel wanted and hugged,” Jefferson said. “You want to work and enjoy your environment, not necessarily to feel wanted. You can feel wanted in a situation you don’t want to be in.”

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said he expects Jefferson will remain professional, whether he’s with the team for another week or another season.

“He’s got a job to do,” Popovich said. “He’s a Spur just like Timmy (Duncan) or Manu (Ginobili) or (new signee) T.J. Ford or anybody else.”

In his role as team captain, Duncan likewise saw no need to engage in damage control with Jefferson.

“He’s a professional, and I don’t think any one of us knows what is going to happen with that,” Duncan said. “It’s all rumors until something happens.”

And so Jefferson will continue to show up at the Spurs practice facility everyday, until somebody tells him not to.

“I’m a Spur right now,” Jefferson said, repeating himself. “That’s pretty much the best way to describe it.”