| 12 July 2009
First Quarter:
The Spurs started the game with Ian Mahinimi, Malik Hairston, Jack McClinton, George Hill, and James Gist.
Spurs started off slow going 2-9 for a while before George Hill began to prove he is worthy of more minutes off the bench for the Spurs next season. Hill paced the Spurs early, keeping them in the game and had a massive dunk down the lane on a few Hornets players. In the first quarter, Spurs rookie Dejuan Blair made his NBA debut and impressed everyone having 5 points, 5 boards in 5 minutes and showed he can hit a mid-range shot. Now that's what you call production! As for Jack McClinton, he was unimpressive, looking nervous and his shot was off. Ian did add more size to his frame but still looked unpolished.
Second Quarter:
Romel Beck was the star of the second quarter. He showed he can play at the NBA level showing he can slash to the basket and shoot from the field. DeJuan Blair continued his strong play having 8 boards and 7 points. George Hill continued to show his game has vastly improved with his hot shooting and setting up the offense.
During the broadcast of the Spurs-Hornets game, Assistant GM for the Spurs, Dennis Lindsey, was interviewed and did mention Manu Ginobili is fully healthy and has been cleared for practice. Good news for Spurs fans across the globe.
At the end of the first half it was Spurs 39, Hornets 41 with Hill leading the way for the team with 13 points.
Third Quarter:
The Spurs started with Ian, Hill, Gist, McClinton, and Hairston. Though undersized and having an off game, McClinton showed his grit, opening the second half with a steal for the Spurs which led to a score. However the third quarter belonged to Malik Hairston. He went for 6 field goals in a row including a tremendous dunk on the Hornets. Overall the Spurs did go into an offensive slump with little contributions from anyone else besides Hill and Hairston. End of the third with the score 65-63 Hornets.
Fourth Quarter:
It was a very close game but Dejuan Blair continued to shine in the quarter by grabbing boards, scoring off boards, and pushing around other big guys from the Hornets. Hill was just impressive, getting key defensive stops for the Spurs and getting to the free throw line with veteren like moves. Ian showed he can create facing the basket when he hit a runner but still needs to show what he can do with his back to the basket.
With the score tight throughout the quarter, the Spurs dug in and got great plays from Hairston who hit a key 3-pointer to ice the game for the Spurs and from Hill who drew fouls and going perfect from the free-throw line (11-11).
Final score: Spurs 92. Hornets 86.
Overall impressions:
Are we sure this is Hill's second year in the NBA? He was a stud, pacing the Spurs with 25 points and was perfect from the free-throw line going 11 for 11. Not bad for someone who went 0-16 in the span of 2 games in last years Summer League.
Blair is a beast. He ended up with 13 points, 10 boards in 22 mins. He looked very comfortable out on the floor. He was talking to his teammates on the defensive end and was just pushing Hornet's big men around. Also he slimmed down which is going to help him in his transition to the NBA.
Romel Beck and Malik Hairston. Beck had a great first half but was quiet in the second. He flourished when the Spurs ran, slashing to the bucket and shooting from the field. He ended up with 13 points and 3 rebounds. Hairston was just "nails" in the second half and finished with 16 points. Good signs from these two players.
Ian, Gist and McClinton need to have better showings. Ian did hit all his free-throws but picked up 7 fouls. Shocker! Gist says he is going to be on the Spurs, well he needs to step it up. He went 1-6 and didn't hve a good game. McClinton was nervous and his shot suffered. He went 0-2 for the game. If anything, Hill went 0-16 last summer league so it does happen to the best of them.
Click HERE for boxscore. Game 2 for the Spurs Summer League team in against the Denver Nuggets this Tuesday, July 14.
Also, Project Spurs brings you an exclusive interview with Chris Denker of NetScouts Basketball who is in Las Vegas covering the 2009 Summer League, as he gives his thoughts on the Spurs game against the Hornets.
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