Spurs: 58-24, 1st SW Div, 7th Off/3rd Def
d. Lakers West 1st Rnd 4-0
d. Warriors West Semis 4-2
d. Grizzlies West Finals 4-0
Lost Heat NBA Finals 4-3
#46 overall seed
d. '06 Suns (2-0, Splitter/Duncan)
d. '74 Bucks (2-0, Duncan 1)
d. '96 Lakers (2-0 Splitter/Duncan)
Regional Final d. '09 Lakers (2-0 Duncan/Splitter)
Coach: Gregg Popovich, Asst Mike Budenholzer
Starters
C Tim Duncan 36-Wake 17.8 PPG 24.4 PER 8.3 WS 3.8 VORP
F Tiago Splitter 28 10.3 18.7 8.2 2.1
F Kawhi Leonard 21-San Diego St 11.9 16.4 6.2 2.3
G Tony Parker 30 20.3 23 9.3 3.1
G Manu Ginobli 35 11.8 19 4.5 2
Rotation Reserves
C Matt Bonner 32-Florida 4.2 11.8 2.5 .5
F Boris Diaw 30 5.8 11.9 4.4 1.2
F DeJuan Blair 23-Pitt 5.4 14.6 2.2 .1
G Patty Mills 24-St Marys 5.1 14.1 1.5 .4
G Danny Green 25-UNC 10.5 14.1 5.9 2.7
Leaders Duncan 5th Blocks, 3rd Blocks/Gm, 4th Def WS, 2nd Def +/-, 1st Def Rtng, 3rd Def Reb%, 4th Block%, 1st Team All NBA Team
Parker 5th WS/48, 4th Asst%, 2nd Team All NBA
3rd seed in the Region is the Spurs team that lost to Miami in the Finals; it's a defense first group; 36 year old Duncan and 30 year old Parker each pass 20 PER. The Spurs are looking for their 3rd Regional Title; the '15 and '17 groups have already won. Duncan was 2nd team all defense; he and Parker were All Stars; the Spurs are undefeated in the tournament. The '17 Spurs just won their Sweet 16 matchup - back up 4 years and here's this crew - with Tim Duncan.
Bulls: 62-20, 1st Cen Div, 11th Off, 1st Def
d. Pacers East 1st Rnd, 4-1
d. Hawks East Semis 4-2
Lost East Finals Heat 4-1
#99 overall seed
d. '04 Lakers (2-0, Boozer/Noah, PotG)
d. '72 Bucks (2-0 Noah/Rose PotG)
d. '06 Spurs (2-0 Rose PotG)
Regional Final d. '97 Sonics (2-1 Noah/Boozer)
Coach: Tom Thibodeau
Starters
C Joakim Noah (25, Florida) 11.7 PPG 18.8 PER 6.7 Win Shares 1.9
F Carlos Boozer (29, Duke) 17.5 18.8 5.8 1.4
F Luol Deng (25, Duke) 17.4 15.5 9.9 3
G Derrick Rose (22, Memphis) 25 23.5 13.1 6.7 VORP
G Ronnie Brewer (25, Arkansas) 6.2 13.8 5.4 2
Rotation Reserves
C Omer Asik (24) 8.2 11.8 2.7 .1
F Taj Gibson (25, USC) 7.1 14.3 5.2 .5
F Kurt Thomas (38, TCU) 4.1 10 3.2 .4
G CJ Watson (26, Tennessee) 4.9 12.8 2.1 .5
G Kyle Korver (29, Creighton) 8.3 13 5.1 1.3
Leaders: Rose (4th Assists, 5th Win Shares, 3rd +/1, 2nd VORP, 1st Team All NBA
Noah (3rd Off Reb %, 3rd Def Rating)
Brewer (4th Steal % 1st Def +/-)
Gibson (5th Def Rating)
Deng (4th Def WS)
22 year old DRose is first team All NBA, 20+ PER and double digit WS. The Bulls had the best regular season record in 2011; DRose was MVP. Joakim Noah is 25, 2nd Team All Defense. Rose was named to the All Star Game. Thibodeau was Coach of the Year.
Matchup
C Duncan (Spurs)
F Push
F Deng (Bulls)
G Rose (Bulls)
G Ginobli (Spurs)
Bench: Bulls
Gm 1: San Antonio: AT&T Center: Dick Enberg/Sean Elliott
1Qtr
9 Spurs 5 Bulls 3
Spurs Ginobli(1) Kawhi, Parker
Bulls Deng(1) Rose
6 Spurs 9 Bulls 9
Spurs Parker, Duncan
Bulls Rose, Gibson, Boozer
Top defense in '11 vs the undefeated top defense of '13. You gotta figure we see a grind it out series.
3 Bulls 17 Spurs 12
Spurs Splitter, Green (1)
Bulls Deng, Rose(3) Rose(1) Korver
1Score Bulls 24 Spurs 20
Spurs Splitter, Bonner, Blair, Bonner
Bulls Boozer, Watson(3) Boozer
DRose has 8 - can the Bulls hand the Spurs their first loss?
2Qtr
9 Bulls 31 Spurs 26
Spurs Bonner, Mills, Bonner
Bulls Asik, Korver, Watson, Boozer(1)
6 Bulls 37 Spurs 34
Spurs Ginobli, Ginobli, Kawhi(1) Mills(3)
Bulls Noah, Rose, Noah
Spurs are coming.
3 Spurs 43 Bulls 40
Spurs Parker, Ginobli(3) Parker, Blair
Bulls Noah(3)
HScore Spurs 51 Bulls 49
Spurs Parker, Ginobli, Duncan
Bulls Brewer, Noah, Brewer(3) Deng
You take those 2017 Spurs and subtract 4 years - you lose a more seasoned version of Kawhi - you lose Aldridge and Gasol; but you get younger versions of Parker and Ginobli and you add Duncan.
3Qtr
9 Spurs 53 Bulls 51
Spurs Diaw
Bulls Asik
6 Spurs 62 Bulls 57
Spurs Bonner(3) Kawhi, Blair, Blair
Bulls Deng, Deng, Noah
Biggest Spurs lead.
3 Spurs 68 Bulls 62
Spurs Parker, Splitter, Parker
Bulls Brewer(3) Deng
3Score Spurs 74 Bulls 68
Spurs Parker, Blair, Duncan
Bulls Noah, Boozer, Rose
Balanced attacks - these are two deep, deep teams that spread the load around.
4Qtr
9 Spurs 81 Bulls 76
Spurs Kawhi, Green, Parker(3)
Bulls Deng, Rose, Noah, Boozer
6 Spurs 92 Bulls 83
Spurs Ginobli(3) Ginobli, Parker, Parker, Diaw
Bulls Noah, Rose(3) Boozer
7 more for Parker - Spurs solid lead.
3 Spurs 98 Bulls 87
Spurs Duncan, Parker, kawhi
Bulls Noah, Korver
FScore Spurs 107 Bulls 97
Spurs Duncan, Duncan(3) Ginobli, Duncan
Bulls Boozer, Deng, Deng(3) Rose(3)
The Bulls didn't get closer than 6 in the 4th - the Spurs remain undefeated.
Parker: 25 pts/6 assists/5 boards-Player of the Game
Duncan: 16 pts/13 boards/6 assists
Splitter: 6 pts/14 boards
Ginobli: 18 pts
Blair: 10 pts
Bonner: 10 pts
Rose: 20 pts/6 assists/5 boards
Boozer: 15 pts/11 boards
Deng: 18 pts/5 boards/5 assists
Noah: 19 pts/9 boards
Gm 2: San Antonio: AT&T Center: Dick Enberg/Sean Elliott
1Qtr
9 Spurs 8 Bulls 6
Spurs Duncan, Ginobli(3) Splitter(1) Duncan
Bulls Deng, Rose, Brewer
6 Spurs 16 Bulls 13
Spurs Parker, Kawhi, Kawhi, Splitter
Bulls Deng, Noah, Rose(3)
Game 2 - can anyone, anyone, even take 1 game from the 2013 Spurs?
3 Spurs 18 Bulls 15
Spurs Duncan
Bulls Noah
1Score Spurs 22 Bulls 17
Spurs Blair, Blair
Bulls Deng
Once again - defense - once again, the Spurs seem undeniable.
2Qtr
9 Spurs 25 Bulls 23
Spurs Blair(1) Parker
Bulls Noah, Korver, Boozer
6 Bulls 30 Spurs 29
Spurs Bonner, Blair
Bulls Brewer, Rose(3) Rose
Rose has 10 - he might need a real star level performance to take a game.
3 Bulls 38 Spurs 38
Spurs Mills(3) Duncan, Duncan, Splitte
Bulls Rose(1) Korver(3) Boozer, Rose
HScore Bulls 42 Spurs 40
Spurs Parker
Bulls Gibson, Gibson
Defense forward is the storu here; Chicago trying to even this up.
3Qtr
9 Spurs 49 Bulls 47
Spurs Splitter, Duncan(3) Duncan, Duncan
Bulls Deng, Brewer, Watson(1)
6 Spurs 57 Bulls 54
Spurs Duncan(1) Duncan(3) Parker, Kawhi
Bulls Watson(3) Boozer, Rose
Duncan with 11 to open the half.
3 Spurs 66 Bulls 58
Spurs Duncan, Kawhi, Kawhi(3) Blair
Bulls Boozer, Boozer
3Score Spurs 74 Bulls 64
Spurs Parker, Kawhi, Bonner, Bonner
Bulls Boozer, Deng, Gibson
Kawhi scores 9 in the third - the Spurs start to pull away.
4Qtr
9 Spurs 80 Bulls 73
Spurs Splitter, Ginobli, Kawhi
Bulls Boozer, Boozer, Noah, Korver(3)
6 Spurs 88 Bulls 80
Spurs Parker, Green, Kawhi, Splitter
Bulls Noah(3) Boozer, Gibson
Could of Bulls triples get them a nudge closer.
3 Spurs 91 Bulls 84
Spurs Mills(3)
Bulls Watson, Deng
FScore Spurs 99 Bulls 90
Spurs Parker, Ginobli, Duncan, Duncan
Bulls Deng, Boozer, Boozer
There's no run to be had - that 7 point margin at the 3 minute mark is as close as Chicago gets -- this Spurs team is undefeated. Undefeated.
Duncan: 27 pts/13 boards-Player of the Game
Kawhi: 17 pts/10 boards
Parker: 14 pts/6 assists
Splitter: 11 pts
Rose: 15 pts/8 assists/5 boards
Deng: 14 pts/7 boards
Boozer: 22 pts/10 boards
Noah: 11 pts/11 boards
Gm 3: Chicago: United Center: Neil Funk/ Dr. Jack Ramsey
1Qtr
9 Bulls 9 Spurs 3
Bulls Boozer, Noah, Deng(3) Deng
Spurs Duncan Splitter(1)
6 Bulls 17 Spurs 11
Bulls Boozer, Boozer, Boozer, Brewer
Spurs Duncan, Duncan, Kawhi, Parker
Game 3 - in both the prior Sweet 16 series, the home team won games 1-3; if that happens here the Spurs will drop their first game in the tournament.
3 Bulls 25 Spurs 15
Bulls Rose, Korver(3) Korver(3)
Spurs Splitter, Duncan
1Score Bulls 32 Spurs 21
Bulls Boozer, Boozer, Deng(3)
Spurs Parker, Parker, Diaw
The move hope inspires this Bulls offense. 14 for Carlos Boozer.
2Qtr
9 Bulls 37 Spurs 29
Bulls Brewer, Watson(3)
Spurs Blair, Diaw, Blair, Mills
6 Bulls 48 Spurs 38
Bulls Gibson, Boozer, Deng, Deng, Rose, Noah(1)
Spurs Duncan, Ginobli(3) Parker, Duncan
Deng has a dozen and the Bulls continue on.
3 Bulls 54 Spurs 44
Bulls Deng, Rose, Rose
Spurs Spitter(1) Mills(3) Green
HScore Bulls 60 Spurs 50
Bulls Boozer, Deng, Noah
Spurs Kawhi, Splitter(1) Ginobli
Bulls have kept this 10 pt lead. 24 minutes from now they may be handing the Spurs a loss.
3Qtr
9 Bulls 64 Spurs 54
Bulls Gibson(1) Boozer(3)
Spurs Ginobli, Kawhi
6 Bulls 66 Spurs 63
Bulls Boozer
Spurs Duncan, Blair(1) Splitter(3) Kawhi(3)
There's the run - Kawhi with 5 to open the qtr.
3 Bulls 77 Spurs 67
Bulls Deng(1) Noah, Boozer, Boozer, Deng, Deng
Spurs Parker, Parker
3Score Bulls 85 Spurs 74
Bulls Rose, Rose, Rose, Gibson
Spurs Green(3) Splitter, Green
Sure looks like Chicago is about to hand the Spurs their first loss.
4Qtr
9 Bulls 90 Spurs 81
Bulls Boozer, Rose(3)
Spurs Duncan, Duncan, Green(3)
6 Bulls 96 Spurs 86
Bulls Noah, Noah, Noah
Spurs Parker(3) Duncan
6 minutes left and the Bulls get a W
3 Bulls 105 Spurs 94
Bulls Noah, Brewer, Korver, Korver(3)
Spurs Duncan, Ginobli, Duncan, Duncan
5 seconds
Bulls Boozer, Rose(1) Boozer, Rose(1)
Spurs Ginobli(3) Duncan, Parker, Duncan, Ginobli, Ginobli(3)
Ginobli triples at 8 seconds to cut the deficit to 2 - Rose is fouled, hits just 1.
So - 5 seconds left - the Spurs have trailed all day - but have a chance to tie this up.
It goes to Ginobli. From the wing. For the tie....
Nope.
Final: Bulls 111 Spurs 108
The Spurs charged hard at the close - but fell short and they drop their first game of the entire tournament.
Boozer: 31 pts/15 boards-Player of the Game
Deng: 21 pts/7 boards
Rose: 19 pts/12 assists/7 boards
Noah: 15 pts/12 boards
Korver: 11 pts
Splitter: 10 pts/8 boards
Kawhi: 9 pts/11 boards
Duncan: 30 pts/10 boards/6 blocks
Parker: 17 pts/13 assists
Ginobli: 18 pts/7 assists
Green: 10 pts
Gm 4: Chicago: United Center: Neil Funk/ Dr. Jack Ramsey
1Qtr
9 Bulls 9 Spurs 5
Bulls Noah, Rose, Deng, Boozer(1)
Spurs Kawhi, Kawhi
6 Bulls 16 Spurs 12
Bulls Deng, Boozer(3) Rose
Spurs Duncan(1) Splitter, Splitter
Chicago takes game 3 and now is a game from tying this up.
3 Bulls 22 Spurs 20
Bulls Boozer, Rose, Rose
Spurs Splitter, Splitter, Duncan, Ginobli
1Score Bulls 27 Spurs 26
Bulls Korver, Noah(3)
Spurs Kawhi, Duncan, Diaw
The Bulls keep that game one flow going - can they force the first showdown of the Sweet 16?
2Qtr
9 Bulls 30 Spurs 30
Bulls Gibson, Deng(1)
Spurs Blair, Kawhi
6 Spurs 39 Bulls 36
Bulls Boozer, Deng, Noah
Spurs Bonner(3) Bonner(3) Bonner(3)
How about Matt Bonner going triple, triple, triple.
3 Spurs 48 Bulls 42
Bulls Korver, Deng, Rose
Spurs Duncan, Splitter(1) Duncan, Duncan, Splitter
HScore Spurs 57 Bulls 49
Bulls Asik, Deng(1) Rose, Rose
Spurs Duncan, Splitter, Kawhi, Parker(3)
Duncan with 8 in the last 6 - is this series about to take the same path as the prior 2?
3Qtr
9 Spurs 59 Bulls 53
Bulls Rose, Gibson
Spurs Duncan
6 Spurs 68 Bulls 62
Bulls Watson, Noah, Deng, Deng(3)
Spurs Kawhi(3) Duncan, Parker, Parker
Will the Spurs close?
3 Spurs 74 Bulls 73
Bulls Rose, Noah, Boozer, Boozer, Rose(3)
Spurs Splitter, Parker, Splitter
3Score Spurs 84 Bulls 78
Bulls Noah(3) Noah
Spurs Kawhi, Kawhi(3) Duncan, Kawhi(3)
Kawhi with 11 in the qtr. 12 minutes left.
4Qtr
9 Spurs 91 Bulls 82
Bulls Boozer
Spurs Blair, Bonner(3)
6 Spurs 95 Bulls 84
Bulls Rose
Spurs Duncan, Splitter
3 Spurs 102 Bulls 92
Bulls Boozer, Boozer, Rose, Boozer
Spurs Parker, Kawhi, Kawhi
FScore Spurs 117 Bulls 98
Bulls Rose(3) Butler(3)
Spurs Duncan, Green(3) Spliter(1) Joseph, Joseph, Baynes, Splitter(3)
3 series down - they've all gone exactly the same; home teams in games 1-3, road team wins in gm 4 and clinches the series.
2 Spurs teams are into the Elite 8. Boozer 24/12 in the loss
Duncan: 25 pts/11 boards/5 blocks-Player of the Game, Series MVP
Splitter: 23 pts/18 boards
Kawhi: 27 pts/10 boards
Parker: 11 pts/11 boards
Bonner: 12 pts
All Tournament Team 1st Team
C Duncan ('13 Spurs 6 PotG)
F Garnett ('08 Celtics 9 PotG)
F Kawhi ('17 Spurs 7 PotG)
G Kobe ('09 Lakers 6 PotG)
G Harden ('19 Rockets 5 PotG)
All Tournament Team 2nd Team
C Kareem ('80 Lakers, 6 PotG)
F Duncan ('04 Spurs 7 PotG)
F LeBron ('09 Cavs 5 PotG)
G Rose ('11 Bulls 3 PotG)
G Magic ('80 Lakers 3 PotG)
