Spurs’ keys to victory: Invite Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker to the game
Web Posted: 04/24/2007 09:59 PM CDT
San Antonio Express-News
The Spurs’ Big Three was a Big Bust in Game 1, combining to make just 19 of 52 shots.
Duncan needs to establish better post position against Denver forward Nenê. He missed his first eight shots and, as a result, was never able to regularly command a double-team, which would have created better scoring opportunities for his teammates.
The Nuggets did a good job of keeping Ginobili out of the lane, sometimes setting up a wall of two or three defenders. If that happens again, Ginobili needs to pass a little more than he did in Game 1, and perhaps, more importantly, hope his perimeter shot is dropping.
As for Parker? He would have been wise to spend the two off days in a layup line.
Keep Nenê off the offensive boards
(or at least try to)
The Spurs had just one fewer offensive rebound than the Nuggets in Game 1, but that doesn’t mean they want to give up 15 more again.
Nenê repeatedly overpowered them, taking eight of the offensive boards, and Gregg Popovich wasn’t too happy with his team’s physicality, or lack of it.
If the Spurs continue to get beat up on the boards — and are still having a tough time scoring — they might try going small. That’s not going to help them win the rebounding battle, but at least they’ll have another shooter on the floor.
Don’t be satisfied with their Game 1 defense
The Spurs’ defense was respectable, but not great, unless one defines “great” as yielding 30 or more points to two different scorers in the same game.
The Spurs hope to better limit Allen Iverson’s catches or at least improve their reaction time once he does get the ball in his hands. They also think they can improve their pick-and-roll defense.
The Spurs did a pretty good job of limiting Carmelo Anthony to jump shots. What they now hope, of course, is that he doesn’t make so many of them.