You know this whole "back to back" struggle for the Spurs is quite interesting. While I can understand that TD is not healthy and struggling in back-to-backs, why is the rest of the team struggling? Manu has gotten time off (if you check his stats, they don't really seem to reflect a problem with back-to-backs -- down in some categories, up in others).
However, look at this:
Horry is 36
Barry is 35
Finley and Bowen are 33
Fabs is 31
TD and Rasho are both 30
Manu and Nazr are 29
Parker and Udrih are both 24
So this squad is up there in years -- of course, a healthy TD makes all the difference.
However, notice this:
TD in back to backs: 40% fg%; 9 reb; 15 ppg
TD 1 to 2 days rest: 51% fg%; 11.5 to 12.8 reb; 20-22 ppg
But look at this as well:
Parker in back to backs: 52% fg%; 5.1 ass; 17 ppg
Parker 1-2 days rest: 53-56% fg%; 6 ass; 19 ppg
Parker 3+ days rest: 60% fg%; 6.8 ass; 23 ppg
Parker has had a GREAT year this year -- he has really helped open the floor with his dribble penetration (he has flourished when coaches got him to give up 3 point shooting and just work on driving the ball).
Anyway, only comment about last nights game -- the ONLY player for the Spurs who had more than THREE rebounds was TD (who had 6).
Fabs - did absolutely NOTHING in 3 minutes.
Rasho - did absolutely NOTHING in 4 minutes.
Guess Reality would have played them both 10-15 minutes rather than play somebody who might do something, huh?
However, nobody else rebounded the ball well either. The Spurs just didn't have any energy -- as an entire squad!
However, look at this as well:
Nuggets: +12 points; +21 reb; + 1 made ft (Spurs shot 62% ft%); +5.4 fg%;
+9% 3pt%; -5 in TO's (the only category the Spurs won
Question: How did the Spurs manage to only lose by 12? When the Nuggets shot a better fg%; better 3 pt%; had 5 less TO's, made one more ft; and had a TWENTY-ONE rebound advantage! How did they only win by 12?