Quarter by quarter recap: Spurs vs. Jazz
The San Antonio Spurs (3-0) have now won three games in a row to kickoff the 2012-13 NBA season with a 110-100 win over the Utah Jazz. Danny
Green paced the Spurs with 21 points, going 3-3 from the three-point line, 8-9 from the field, three assists and one steal in 32:30 minutes. The Jazz were led by Mo Williams who scored a game-high 29 points in 38:32 minutes.
Here is a quarter-by-quarter recap of tonight's Spurs' win.
First quarter:
Spurs Stat Leader - Danny Green with 10 points, shooting 4-4 from the field, and 2-2 from the three-point line.
Recap - It was an inside-out game with Danny Green and Tony Parker doing most of the damage. Green knocking down shots and TP was getting into the paint and nailing outside shots as well. The Spurs defense was in full effect as well as the rim was shut for Utah early in the game. However, the Jazz started to get to the paint including a monster dunk on Tim Duncan by Derrick Favors to close the gap. But the Spurs defense was just too much for the Jazz early in the game as San Antonio held Utah to 31.8% shooting (7-22). The Spurs shot a blistering 66.7%.
Score - Spurs 28, Jazz 17.
Second quarter:
Spurs Stat Leader - Tony Parker with 14 points, five assists, 6-8 shooting.
Recap - Gary Neal got the Spurs scoring going with a bucket to start the second with Manu Ginobili showing no signs of any back spasm issues which kept him out of the first two games of the season. San Antonio's defense was still firing on all cylinders, keeping the Jazz at bay, including Tiago Splitter showing much aggressiveness on both ends of the court. San Antonio got balanced scoring during the quarter including a few long distance bombs from Matt Bonner. Though Utah's Gordon Hayward would have a nice quarter (six points) but much like the first quarter, Spurs' defense was just too much for the Jazz. Utah shot 45.2% while San Antonio shot 74.3%. Green continued to perform well scoring 13 points and going 3-3 from three-point line.
Score - Spurs 60, Jazz 46.
Third quarter:
Spurs Stat Leader - Tony Parker with 18 points, six assists, two steals, shooting 7-16.
Recap - Utah came out firing hitting outside shots and scoring in the paint. Mo Williams got called for a flagrant one foul when he horse-collared Parker early in the second. The game got a little sloppy as Green coughed the ball up and TP got called for traveling. San Antonio cooled off from the field in the quarter after a hot-shooting first half. After a big lead of 19 in the first-half, Utah began chipping away at the lead as the Spurs'
defense relaxed which allowed the Jazz to close the gap and head into the third quarter tied at 79. Utah went on a 13-0 run to end the third with Mo Williams hitting 11 points in that run.
Score - Spurs 79, Jazz 79
Fourth quarter:
Spurs Stat Leader -
Recap - Nando De Colo started the final quarter in place of Neal. Utah's Williams continued his hot -shooting keeping the Jazz in the game. More calls were made on the Spurs frustrating Splitter on the defensive end. He was much more aggressive defensively but the refs were quick with the whistle. Kawhi Leonard picked up up the defense for San Antonio which kept Utah at arms-length including key defensive rebounds. Green continued his hot play for the Spurs as he was driving to the rim, passing to TD for easy buckets, moving without the ball for easy scoring opportunities, and hitting his outside shots.
Final Score - Spurs 110, Jazz 100
Quotes:
Jazz coach Ty Corbin on the Spurs: "They're a great team in their home building. You've got to believe you can beat them."
Tim Duncan on facing Al Jefferson: "He's a load. He's very skilled. I like the way he plays. I got to work the entire game to keep him out of his sweet spots."
Duncan on Kawhi Leonard's improved defense: "Pop is trying to turn him into that defender we need on the perimeter."
Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich on stemming Utah's late run: "I thought our guys executed well in the fourth quarter. Kawhi (Leonard) and Danny (Green) obviously were big offensively."
Gordon Hayward on the Spurs: "I think we just realized we've got to fight these guys."
Mo Williams on the Spurs: "San Antonio is a great team. I felt like we gave them too much respect when we came out."
Coach Pop on Tiago Splitter: "He's starting to feel comfortable playing basketball again."
Popovich on the return of Manu Ginobili: "He looked fine. He could have gone back into the game. He felt pretty good. I just opted not to do that."
Jazz Paul Milsap on the Spurs' win: "We put ourselves within reach to win the game, but their veterans came through."
Jazz Mo Williams on the Spurs: "I felt like we gave them too much respect coming out."
Miscellaneous:
Jazz are now 2-18 all time in the AT&T Center.
Spurs are now 3-0 when outscoring their opponents in the paint. Spurs 44, Jazz 38 points in the paint.
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Just wanted to say I am very excited about Leonard. I loved how he posted up and scored so easily off the post even though the defender did a good job of moving in the post, I think Pop is turning him into a All-star already. Manu is back which is great and Green and Neal show they can carry the load on any given night.
It feels great to see our team not having to rely on Bonner or Blair for a change, Ironically our defense is better when Blair gets 0 minutes of action.
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Pop sticking to Blair with the 2nd DNP of the year! Hahaha too great to describe. If anything, this should show all of those Blair supporters that we did not win 50 games last regular season because of him, rather we won because we have a good team and a good system that even the most rotund of centers can play in. Hope this is a sign of things to come aka moving Blair or at the very least not resigning him come this off-season. Good riddance to loud garbage.
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@JeffProjectSpurs @CraigThomas That'll depend on a team wanting Blair, I'm sure if a decent deal presents itself the Spurs F.O will not hesitate.
@CraigThomas @Spursforever69 @JeffProjectSpurs
I think even if Blair and Bonner were given free, no crazy GM will pick them up.
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@rtesoro440 @Spursforever69 @JeffProjectSpurs There is no doubt other GM's will go for Bonner or Blair, the question is in what type of deal (my guess is one involving our most tradable piece, Jackson), and how much will we get in return (definitely not a 1st round pick for Blair as seen by last year's shopping).
My guess is if the Spurs stay on a 55+ win pace, we won't trade Jackson and others and Blair just won't be resigned at the end of the season. These numerous DNP's seem to confirm the fact that Pop has had it with Blair's antics. It's coming off now as punishment from Pop, b/c we should be playing him more to rest Duncan and Diaw.
@Spursforever69 @JeffProjectSpurs @CraigThomas
Is there a crazy GM out there to take Blair and Bonner?
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Jazz never learned their lesson. Instead of shopping one of it's big men for a quality PG that can defend, they replaced Harris w/ another offensive clone in Williams. Haven't they watched Cleveland when Mo had an "All Star" season? He can score in bunches but that wouldn't get you nowhere. It's defense that counts. Favors and Kanter is languishing on the bench because Millsap and Jefferson is eating their minutes. This team didn't change a tad from what they were last season. No improvement at all. Im not gonna be surprised if they found themselves out of the playoffs this year.TD is 36 and running rings around Millsap and Jefferson. 9 blocks in three games and the media says Garnett is the better defender than TD. Dorks.
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@UsernameAlvin Hopefully that means one or two of those posts will be on the trade market or want to get out of Utah this off-season. We will have the cap to sign a Jefferson/Millsap which would be awesome alongside Timmy D. We shall see though.
@CraigThomas Or perhaps they can shop Kanter. I like him better than the two starters. And much younger. he's very undervalued by the Jazz organization now.
@rtesoro440 @UsernameAlvin If Splitter could simply catch the ball when it's passed to him and not foul out in 20 minutes of play, he would be a good sub for Duncan. We do need another big if we're going to completely bench Blair.
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The minutes per game played by TD is self-destructing. Somebody must sub for him. He can't withstand the rigors of 82 games. Maybe, they should consider signing a guy like Kenyon Martin. He has the experience, height and body to substitute for TD. He played creditably well with the clippers. Away with Blair and Splitter!
Well, if the Spurs are expecting a trade they will come out empty. As I said if they are seeking to trade for Blair and Bonner, no crazy GM will trade any of their assets for them.
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@rtesoro440 @UsernameAlvin I'm fine with either of those, I just don't think the Jazz will part ways with Favors that easily, and we don't have the pieces to trade for Kanter because Jackson's contract is too large in comparison with Kanter's to trade straight up. I was talking about Al Jefferson being available in FA and the Jazz not resigning him. He already said Timmy was his idol. How about playing alongside Timmy for his final two seasons Jefferson? I think we can get him on that pitch.
If the jazz let go of either Kanter or Favor, it is well for either to go the Spurs camp.
