[xtypo_dropcap]O[/xtypo_dropcap]ff the court, the San Antonio Spurs have had their share of distractions but that has not stopped them from keeping the best record in the NBA with the victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night.
First, shooting guard Manu Ginobili saw an unidentified flying object (UFO) while the team was in Los Angeles, playing the Clippers. TMZ posted video footage of Ginobili and the object.
“I’m not sure,” Ginobili said after practice, according to station KSAT. “There’s an Air Force base northwest of where we were. It was supposed to be some space shuttle landing. The good thing is, I’m not the only one who saw it. That’s what really got me (saying), ‘OK, I’m not totally crazy.’”
Ginobili ultimately conceded that it was probably an experimental military aircraft known as the X-37B.
Meanwhile, guard Tony Parker has been well-documented in his struggles off the court.
And Tim Duncan has been relatively quiet throughout the season, averaging less than 20 minutes per game.
It has to be a suprise that, after being eliminated early in the playoffs last year by the Phoenix Suns (a team they usually defeat), the Spurs’ dynasty was over, especially with the aging Tim Duncan likely to retire in the next few years.
Not so fast.
The Spurs have kept the best record in the NBA at 19-3, which is the best start in the history of the franchise.
After demolishing the Atlanta Hawks 108-92 Friday night, the San Antonio stretched their winning streak to four. With the record, they beat out the likes of the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics, putting them in contention to be early favorites to make the NBA finals.
Rather than relying on Tim Duncan to spark their offense, the Spurs have been hitting their 3-pointers. They have the best shooting percentage in the NBA from outside the arc .
“In the fourth quarter we found so many open 3s,” Ginobili, who scored 18 points, said of the Spurs’ performance Friday, according to the Associated Press. “It’s something so basic, and so important on every team, because it makes everyone happy and feel involved in the offense.”
The acquisition of Richard Jefferson last season has also proven to be a boon. Jefferson scored 18 and hit five three-pointers—including three in the fourth quarter—to help the Spurs pull away.
Parker continued to quarterback the Spurs offense, able to penetrate the interior of the Hawks defense. He scored 17 points and had 6 assists on the night.
“They are one of the better pick-and-roll teams in our league,” Hawks coach Larry Drew told the Atlanta-Journal Constitution. “Parker, he is just really good at it. He is one of the best in the league because of the speed, the quickness. He reads the defenses really well coming off the pick-and-roll.”
Atlanta is now 15–9 on the season, third in the Southeast division.
First, shooting guard Manu Ginobili saw an unidentified flying object (UFO) while the team was in Los Angeles, playing the Clippers. TMZ posted video footage of Ginobili and the object.
“I’m not sure,” Ginobili said after practice, according to station KSAT. “There’s an Air Force base northwest of where we were. It was supposed to be some space shuttle landing. The good thing is, I’m not the only one who saw it. That’s what really got me (saying), ‘OK, I’m not totally crazy.’”
Ginobili ultimately conceded that it was probably an experimental military aircraft known as the X-37B.
Meanwhile, guard Tony Parker has been well-documented in his struggles off the court.
And Tim Duncan has been relatively quiet throughout the season, averaging less than 20 minutes per game.
It has to be a suprise that, after being eliminated early in the playoffs last year by the Phoenix Suns (a team they usually defeat), the Spurs’ dynasty was over, especially with the aging Tim Duncan likely to retire in the next few years.
Not so fast.
The Spurs have kept the best record in the NBA at 19-3, which is the best start in the history of the franchise.
After demolishing the Atlanta Hawks 108-92 Friday night, the San Antonio stretched their winning streak to four. With the record, they beat out the likes of the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics, putting them in contention to be early favorites to make the NBA finals.
Rather than relying on Tim Duncan to spark their offense, the Spurs have been hitting their 3-pointers. They have the best shooting percentage in the NBA from outside the arc .
“In the fourth quarter we found so many open 3s,” Ginobili, who scored 18 points, said of the Spurs’ performance Friday, according to the Associated Press. “It’s something so basic, and so important on every team, because it makes everyone happy and feel involved in the offense.”
The acquisition of Richard Jefferson last season has also proven to be a boon. Jefferson scored 18 and hit five three-pointers—including three in the fourth quarter—to help the Spurs pull away.
Parker continued to quarterback the Spurs offense, able to penetrate the interior of the Hawks defense. He scored 17 points and had 6 assists on the night.
“They are one of the better pick-and-roll teams in our league,” Hawks coach Larry Drew told the Atlanta-Journal Constitution. “Parker, he is just really good at it. He is one of the best in the league because of the speed, the quickness. He reads the defenses really well coming off the pick-and-roll.”
Atlanta is now 15–9 on the season, third in the Southeast division.
