ESPN Insider Brian James provides a scouting report update.
Keys in Game 4
Spurs: On Monday, the San Antonio Spurs escaped Denver with a 126-115 Game 4 overtime victory over the Nuggets. The Spurs own a 3-1 series lead and hope to clinch the first-round playoff with a victory Wednesday in San Antonio. In Game 4, the slower pace – with 73 fouls called and 93 free-throw attempts – definitely favored the Spurs and their half-court tempo. Tim Duncan played his best game of the series, getting deep post position with his teammates setting the tone by getting him plenty of touches early in the game with his assortment of turnaround jump shots, bank shots, jump hooks and drop-step layups out of his deep post position. He scored 18 points in the first half to get things going. Duncan also made big plays at the end in regulation and stayed aggressive throughout until he fouled out with 2:55 left in overtime. Coach Gregg Popovic had to smile watching Duncan hit those 13 of 14 free throws. The team made 39 of 45 for 86.7 percent accuracy; free-throw shooting had been a sore spot most of the season. But the trio of Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili combined for 92 points. When all three play like this, the Spurs usually win. Parker hit some big shots late in the game on kick-out passes from the post, creating his own shot, or dribbling off a screen set for him and getting into the lane. Parker and Ginobili together had 13 assists.
Nuggets: They gave great effort and had breakout games by Earl Boykins and Carmelo Anthony. Boykins found his stroke with a team-high 32 points. Anthony hit from outside for 28 more points, including two baskets late in the game to help send it to overtime. But this still wasn't enough as the playoff-tested Spurs made the plays needed down the stretch. The Nuggets just can't keep hard-driving Ginobili out of the lane, as now the Denver crowd boos every time he catches the ball. Ginobili is being taunted after Nuggets coach George Karl stated that Ginobili's style was not typical basketball but more like running into people and throwing the ball up. Question: Would Denver have liked Manu's style if he had signed there as a free agent last summer? The big difference in this game was the Nuggets' inability to hit their 3-point shots. Since the team lost Voshon Lenard for most of the season because of injury, the outside shooting has suffered. During Karl's tenure, the 3-point shooting accuracy rose to 40 percent. But in Game 4, they missed seven of their eight 3-point attempts.
Adjustments for Game 5
Spurs: They have done a great job of attempting to slow the Nuggets' break by keeping three men back in transition defense. This makes the Nuggets play more half-court basketball, which is greatly to the Spurs' liking and plays to the Spurs' strengths. By using Ginobili and Rasho Nesterovic as reserves instead of starters, San Antonio is 3-0 in this series. The bottom line is that when two of their three stars -- Duncan, Parker and Ginobili -- play well, the Spurs are very good. When all three play great, as they did in Game 4, San Antonio is almost unbeatable. Counting playoff games, the Spurs are 39-4 at home this season. But the Nuggets won Game 1 in San Antonio. This should be motivation enough for not wanting to go back to Denver, especially as the Spurs know Seattle is resting and waiting for them.
Nuggets: Despite two home losses, the Nuggets played intense basketball. Do they have anything left to save their season? They proved in Game 1 that they have what it takes. Obviously, the Nuggets need to improve their 3-point accuracy. They must get into the open court and attack in transition before the Spurs' defense sets up. Quick and easier scores must be a priority. Above all, the Nuggets must keep Duncan at bay, pushing him off the block so he doesn't get so deep into the post. Kenyon Martin, Marcus Camby and Nene Hilario all must do a better job of this. Added to this is the task of keeping Ginobili and Parker out of the lane looking for their own shot, drive and kick to shooters or chance to dump the ball off to the big men. It won't be easy.
Brian James, a former assistant coach with the Pistons, Raptors and Wizards, is a regular contributor to Insider.
Keys in Game 4
Spurs: On Monday, the San Antonio Spurs escaped Denver with a 126-115 Game 4 overtime victory over the Nuggets. The Spurs own a 3-1 series lead and hope to clinch the first-round playoff with a victory Wednesday in San Antonio. In Game 4, the slower pace – with 73 fouls called and 93 free-throw attempts – definitely favored the Spurs and their half-court tempo. Tim Duncan played his best game of the series, getting deep post position with his teammates setting the tone by getting him plenty of touches early in the game with his assortment of turnaround jump shots, bank shots, jump hooks and drop-step layups out of his deep post position. He scored 18 points in the first half to get things going. Duncan also made big plays at the end in regulation and stayed aggressive throughout until he fouled out with 2:55 left in overtime. Coach Gregg Popovic had to smile watching Duncan hit those 13 of 14 free throws. The team made 39 of 45 for 86.7 percent accuracy; free-throw shooting had been a sore spot most of the season. But the trio of Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili combined for 92 points. When all three play like this, the Spurs usually win. Parker hit some big shots late in the game on kick-out passes from the post, creating his own shot, or dribbling off a screen set for him and getting into the lane. Parker and Ginobili together had 13 assists.
Nuggets: They gave great effort and had breakout games by Earl Boykins and Carmelo Anthony. Boykins found his stroke with a team-high 32 points. Anthony hit from outside for 28 more points, including two baskets late in the game to help send it to overtime. But this still wasn't enough as the playoff-tested Spurs made the plays needed down the stretch. The Nuggets just can't keep hard-driving Ginobili out of the lane, as now the Denver crowd boos every time he catches the ball. Ginobili is being taunted after Nuggets coach George Karl stated that Ginobili's style was not typical basketball but more like running into people and throwing the ball up. Question: Would Denver have liked Manu's style if he had signed there as a free agent last summer? The big difference in this game was the Nuggets' inability to hit their 3-point shots. Since the team lost Voshon Lenard for most of the season because of injury, the outside shooting has suffered. During Karl's tenure, the 3-point shooting accuracy rose to 40 percent. But in Game 4, they missed seven of their eight 3-point attempts.
Adjustments for Game 5
Spurs: They have done a great job of attempting to slow the Nuggets' break by keeping three men back in transition defense. This makes the Nuggets play more half-court basketball, which is greatly to the Spurs' liking and plays to the Spurs' strengths. By using Ginobili and Rasho Nesterovic as reserves instead of starters, San Antonio is 3-0 in this series. The bottom line is that when two of their three stars -- Duncan, Parker and Ginobili -- play well, the Spurs are very good. When all three play great, as they did in Game 4, San Antonio is almost unbeatable. Counting playoff games, the Spurs are 39-4 at home this season. But the Nuggets won Game 1 in San Antonio. This should be motivation enough for not wanting to go back to Denver, especially as the Spurs know Seattle is resting and waiting for them.
Nuggets: Despite two home losses, the Nuggets played intense basketball. Do they have anything left to save their season? They proved in Game 1 that they have what it takes. Obviously, the Nuggets need to improve their 3-point accuracy. They must get into the open court and attack in transition before the Spurs' defense sets up. Quick and easier scores must be a priority. Above all, the Nuggets must keep Duncan at bay, pushing him off the block so he doesn't get so deep into the post. Kenyon Martin, Marcus Camby and Nene Hilario all must do a better job of this. Added to this is the task of keeping Ginobili and Parker out of the lane looking for their own shot, drive and kick to shooters or chance to dump the ball off to the big men. It won't be easy.
Brian James, a former assistant coach with the Pistons, Raptors and Wizards, is a regular contributor to Insider.
