The Spurs' recent scoring has inspired a lot of head-shaking. In the five games since Duncan was placed on the injured list, they have averaged 101 points — 11 more than they previously averaged for the season — and lost once.
In addition to beating Phoenix 107-86, the Spurs scored 117 points against Denver, their most in regulation this season, and 113 against Dallas. In their previous 28 games, they had topped 100 points only twice.
"Everybody feels comfortable," Parker said. "Everybody's touching the ball. Everybody is making shots. Everybody is aggressive. Everybody's moving."
Everybody's moving, in part, because the Spurs have increasingly relied on their motion offense rather than set plays. Coach Gregg Popovich began scaling back his play calling before Duncan was injured and estimated the team uses motion on about 50 percent of its possessions. He would like to see that increase to between 65-75 percent.
"In a way, I think (Duncan's absence) accelerates our familiarity with that," Popovich said.
Because the Spurs are not running their offense through one player, like they do with Duncan, their success is often dictated by their unselfishness. Parker (18.6), Rasho Nesterovic (17.0), Hedo Turkoglu (16.6) and Malik Rose (13.2) have all averaged better than 13 points in the past five games.
So what now. Bench Duncan?[/size] :blink:
