Chris Quinn is a spritely-looking fellow, an every-man’s guy. He’s the type of NBA player you look at and say, ‘man, if that guy can make it, anyone can.’ Dude must work really, really hard. So this here post of pictures from the Wizards’ 118-94 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night is dedicated to the guy who couldn’t be picked out in a lineup of ball boys. Although Quinn didn’t exactly tear it up in his 20 minutes off the bench (6 points, 2-9 FGs, 2-4 3PT, 2 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 assists and 2 turnovers), his presence goes to show you that just about anyone can take part in embarrassing the Wizards. Here’s to the regular guy doing basketball things.
Quinn didn’t make this particular shot, but I still love it.
Quinn didn’t make this shot either, but again, the moxie.
Now to the scenes that epitomize the game…
Flip Saunders looks to Nick Young in the second quarter after Young dribble-drove from the right, was cut off, picked up his dribble, then turned his back to the rest of the action, not seeing an astute Manu Ginobili double team coming. Young, in a fit of panic under pressure, and carrying two fouls on his mental game already, committed an offensive foul which forced him to go to the bench with three. Young finished 2-10 from the field with four points, four fouls, three turnovers and absolutely nothing else.
The Spurs found time to laugh in the second quarter. In another situation, Tony Parker and Richard Jefferson might not be smiling with the referee at a call that did not go their way.
Coming off a rough 77-71 loss to the 76ers in Philadelphia on Friday, there couldn’t be a better team for San Antonio to face than the Wizards. All they really had to do was look at the fact that they were starting Nick Young, Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee to determine that mere execution would crush the confidence of Washington as a whole. San Antonio scored more points in the first half against the Wizards (72 points on 27-43 FGs, 7-12 3PT, 11-11 FTs — Washington scored 45) than they did in the whole game against Philly. After that match against the Sixers, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said both teams set offensive basketball back a decade. On Saturday night, the San Antonio franchise proved that the Washington franchise is in the Stone Age compared to the model they’ve set.
Manu Ginobili played eight minutes, scored six points on 3-5 shooting, had a plus-11, a rebound, and this epic blocked shot on Andray Blatche.
This is collective face of the Wizards.
No, really, this guy’s face was put up on a lot of the banners surrounding the Verizon Center before the season. The Wizards last beat the Spurs 1,919 days ago and counting.
[photos by Kyle Weidie, Truth About It.net]
Again with the random picking on Blatche. Here’s something that nobody’s seemed to notice: his shot selection has been much better. Last night he took open jumpers or drove to the hoop. In fact, over the last 16 games, he has averaged over a point per shot (FG attempted + FT/2 with and-ones taken out) which is pretty good, especially when you consider that he’s been averaging 3 assists per game over that stretch.
My take on him last night: He put up a pretty decent line, though those turnovers were awful. His body language was bad, as usual, and I doubt that’s ever changing, but I think he is tougher than we give him credit for (like not going out with a bloody nose). He is not a bad half-court defender, for this team at least. He seems to react slowly and is truly awful on loose balls, fast breaks, and passes to him that defenders try to undercut.