I must admit that I didn\u2019t have high hopes entering yesterday\u2019s game. After all, both Castle and Wemby were sidelined, and the Spurs weren\u2019t really playing for anything (the chance of them getting the first seed is now officially zero). In contrast, a Portland win tonight would have matched their record with the Clippers, giving them an excellent chance to finish the regular season with an improved position in the play-in. Even so, the shorthanded Spurs came out firing and won each of the first three quarters, showcasing impressive depth and versatility. While I hate to see injuries, especially this late in the season, it is heartening to know that this iteration of the Silver and Black can beat a motivated opponent without two of its best players.<\/p>\n
Another piece of good news is that \u2014 while the box score for this game was pretty vanilla in some respects \u2014 it did produce some highly unusual combinations related to free throws, as you will see below. I\u2019m testing out a slightly modified format for the highlights today; first, I\u2019ll outline the key box score factors that determined the game. Second, I\u2019ll identify any notable rarities contained within the box score. These posts are still new and evolving, so please let me know what you think!<\/p>\n
Factors that Decided the Game<\/p>\n
What are Team Graded Box Scores?<\/p>\n
Very briefly, these box scores grade winner-loser differentials for basic box score statistics, with the grade being based on the winning team\u2019s differential relative to other NBA winners during a defined reference period. Think of it like a report card for understanding how a given winner performed relative to other winners. The reference period used runs from the start of the 2012-2013 season to the latest date of play, including only games in the same season category (i.e., regular season and playoff games are not compared to each other).<\/p>\n