Game Blog: 12/9/08 - Spurs vs. Mavericks

[Yorae]

We had 6 TOs and it's a Double OT Game..

[raspsa]

Bowen with 1 rebound, 3 points ... and a +21 best on the team.. I think Pop did a great job allocating playing time just wish Bonner got more minutes the way he was playing 2nite.

[m33p0]

in case you are interested..

Sacramento is nipping the Lakers as of this moment.

who is this Francisco Garcia?
He's good.

whoa! :wow

[silverblackfan]

Whew! That was a painful game to watch. Glad the Spurs pulled it out and that Terry fouled his team out of a close game with that flagrant. Manu pulled a few bonehead moves to lead to the first and second overtime, but he is such a threat it is hard not to have him out there. Good game by Tony, but he needed to get a little closer on defense. He is too fast to sag off like he is doing. Tim was the monster we have come to admire.

[Reck]

in case you are interested..

Sacramento is nipping the Lakers as of this moment.

who is this Francisco Garcia?
He's good.

Wouldn't that be something if The Lakers lose to Sacramento huh?


Fingers crossed here.

[milkyway21]

ShaQ, Yao, Dirk, & DUNCAN have great games tonight.

[Yorae]

Can anyone explain how someone who was perfect shooting-wise only played half of an hour long game(Bonner)??? Pop needs to go away from small ball against big teams like the mavs. Plus, bonner needs to start getting as many shots as Fin, since he hits a shitload more of them. He would've hit 9-15 at least this game.

Ok but barrea is good, it's just bowen is an insane defender...Poor TP heh.

[silverblackfan]

And Tim is still #1. He carried the team when the others were injured. He may not be as fast, but he is a hell of a lot craftier and smarter than Kobe or Lebron.

[peskypesky]

And Tim is still #1. He carried the team when the others were injured. He may not be as fast, but he is a hell of a lot craftier and smarter than Kobe or Lebron.

he's also quite a bit taller. and as much as the nba has warped the rules in the past 10 years to help perimeter players and hamper post players (because they so desperately want another MJ), basketball is STILL a game of height. it really does matter. a LOT.

[TDfan2007]

Everybody else can argue as much as they want. Give me Duncan, even now, at this stage of his career, over any of them. There's no one I'd rather watch play. Period.

not going to argue on that. I'd rather watch Tim over any player, only others that are close are DWade and Kobe. But like someone else said, Tim isn't at his 2003 level anymore where he was by FAR the best player in the NBA and better than anybody playing now too. He's still top 3 and I imagine he'll have his best playoffs in years this season. He just looks so much better.

[NewJerSpur]

He only scored once with Bruce on him, if I remember correctly... I mean, it's frickin' Barea we're talking about here... you can't get burned like that by that guy, Tony made him look like a fucking all star tonight...

Tony is not the greatest one-on-one defender as is and Barea is a VERY tough guy to keep in front of you. The spurs only chance of guarding him was to switch on the those pick and roles and hope he didn't get to the basket before Tim's long arms in the end. Tony came up with a huge steal when we needed it towards the end of regulation which was key. The team overall bent but did not break on defense, which was all we could ask for against a team like Dallas than can aways put up points.

[TDfan2007]

well, a lot of people who don't understand basketball only look at scoring. if they understood the huge importance of rebounding and protecting the basket from opposing players, they'd understand that a big man like Tim is more valuable than a SG or SF like Lebron or Kobe.

defense wins championships, not offense. deal with it.

I'd rather have Tim on my team than Lebron or Kobe, but I think they're better as of now.

[duncan228]

not going to argue on that. I'd rather watch Tim over any player, only others that are close are DWade and Kobe. But like someone else said, Tim isn't at his 2003 level anymore where he was by FAR the best player in the NBA and better than anybody playing now too. He's still top 3 and I imagine he'll have his best playoffs in years this season. He just looks so much better.

He does look great this season, right out of the gate. It's been a blast watching a little taste of post RRT Duncan now. I hope his minutes can be managed, if he's fresh and healthy his Playoff performances will be intense.

[Austin_Toros]

was i dreaming or was bonner a perfect 5-5 from the floor??

goooo red rocket!!

[mattb_25]

Wow.... that game was fun as hell to watch. I have to give it to you guys that the Spurs are gonna be a badass team this year especially with mason and hill coming off the bench. O well I hope we get to meet in the playoffs because it will be the best series of the year :ihit

[Reck]

Everyone tuned to the Lakers/Kings games.

The Lakers are getting picked apart by the lowly kings. Hah

[milkyway21]

Wouldn't that be something if The Lakers lose to Sacramento huh?


Fingers crossed here.
bad news though

it's neck to neck now 2 pt game

GRRRR!

:lol

[Reck]

bas news though

it's neck to neck now 2 pt game

GRRRR!

:lol

What game are you watching? The Kings are making laps around Lakers. lol

[mVp]

Timmy had a triple double tonight - and it wasn't even noticed?! 32 points, 14 rebounds, 12 assists!

He had 4 assists... still, fucking impressive... but hey, he's Tim Duncan.

[peskypesky]

not going to argue on that. I'd rather watch Tim over any player, only others that are close are DWade and Kobe. But like someone else said, Tim isn't at his 2003 level anymore where he was by FAR the best player in the NBA and better than anybody playing now too. He's still top 3 and I imagine he'll have his best playoffs in years this season. He just looks so much better.

Just cause he's not quite as good as he was in 2003, doesn't mean he's not still the best. i still say that ever since Jordan, the league and the public have deluded themselves into thinking that basketball is won by sg's and sf's. it's not the case. championship teams have been anchored by all-star caliber big men 90-95% of the time. just check it out. the facts speak for themselves. almost every championship team (except for jordan's) was anchored by a mikan, a russell, a chamberlain, an abdul-jabbar, a moses malone, a wes unseld, a bill walton,a mchale, a shaq, an olajuwon, a wallace/wallace duo, a duncan, or a garnett.

back in the day, when people like gervin and adrian dantley and dave thomas were scoring maniacs, nobody considered them MVPs. because scoring alone will not get you a championship. you need rebounds and interior defense.

so to hell with all the fools who want to give mvp's to nash and kobe and iverson and lebron. dominant big men are the true mvps.

[milkyway21]

triple double for Timmy yeah!!!

okay! whatever! :lmao

whoa Sacrament at it again.

Go! Go! Kings!

[Mavs<Spurs]

well, a lot of people who don't understand basketball only look at scoring. if they understood the huge importance of rebounding and protecting the basket from opposing players, they'd understand that a big man like Tim is more valuable than a SG or SF like Lebron or Kobe.

defense wins championships, not offense. deal with it.

I have to agree with you.


If I'm constructing a team around one player for one year, I'm starting with Tim Duncan and it's not even a tough decision.

First off, on the defensive end, what Tim enables the perimeter defenders to be able to do is be aggressive. They can be so aggressive only because Tim is back there in the paint protecting the goal. Kobe and Lebron don't / can't protect the goal like that. You finish possessions off on the defensive end with rebounding. Tim is far superior to them as a defensive rebounder, naturally. You might argue that this is not surprising due to the position that Tim plays.

But this is precisely Pesky's point. A superstar Power Forward, in fact, the best to ever play that position, will have inherent advantages in these categories.

Next, on the offensive end. Tim will always give you the 20 points and 10 rebounds a game average. You can write it down. But it's more than that.

He spaces the floor in a way that the small forward and the guards don't.
That's because he posts up and he's so effective posting up, that the shooting guards who feed him the ball are often left with an open shot.

That's the type of spacing that guards simply can't create.

It's easier for a defender to go back and forth covering a player near Kobe or Lebron and then help out and double on Kobe or Lebron simply due to the areas in which they operate.

They aren't post players. Therefore, it's easier for defenders to help out without completely leaving their man wide open.

So, Kobe and Lebron for that reason don't create spacing in the same way.


Also, many times the pass out of post leads to one more pass which leads to the score. However, the critical pass was the one from the big man back out. Tim is a great passing big man. Because often there is a second pass needed to get the score, he does not get credit for an assist, but the score and the play begins with Tim Duncan.


We should also note that Tim shoots at or above 50% every season. Kobe doesn't. In fact, Kobe surprisingly, isn't even that great a 3 point shooter by percentage.


Finally, when Kobe has won a championship, he was never the best player on the team. Tim has been the best player on the Spurs team every year that we have won with the exception of the 2007 NBA Finals. Tim has proven that he can be that centerpiece that you build around and win a championship with. He has done it without any other allstars on his team (2007 and 2003). Lebron and Kobe have yet to prove what Timmy has already proven: build a team around me and you can and will win championships.


For me, this is a conclusive case.

:lobt::lobt::lobt::lobt:

[Crookshanks]

He had 4 assists... still, fucking impressive... but hey, he's Tim Duncan.

yeah - I live in Arlington so I'm watching the Mavs station and they had the wrong stats! They were showing the top players on each team and they had Duncan with 14 assists.
:p:

[Texas_Ranger]

Beno, Beno, Beno!!

[Crookshanks]

Kings are now up by 17! woo hoo!!!!!

[Avitus1]

Woooo! Go Kings...

[peskypesky]

I have to agree with you.


If I'm constructing a team around one player for one year, I'm starting with Tim Duncan and it's not even a tough decision.

First off, on the defensive end, what Tim enables the perimeter defenders to be able to do is be aggressive. They can be so aggressive only because Tim is back there in the paint protecting the goal. Kobe and Lebron don't / can't protect the goal like that. You finish possessions off on the defensive end with rebounding. Tim is far superior to them as a defensive rebounder, naturally. You might argue that this is not surprising due to the position that Tim plays.

But this is precisely Pesky's point. A superstar Power Forward, in fact, the best to ever play that position, will have inherent advantages in these categories.

Next, on the offensive end. Tim will always give you the 20 points and 10 rebounds a game average. You can write it down. But it's more than that.

He spaces the floor in a way that the small forward and the guards don't.
That's because he posts up and he's so effective posting up, that the shooting guards who feed him the ball are often left with an open shot.

That's the type of spacing that guards simply can't create.

It's easier for a defender to go back and forth covering a player near Kobe or Lebron and then help out and double on Kobe or Lebron simply due to the areas in which they operate.

They aren't post players. Therefore, it's easier for defenders to help out without completely leaving their man wide open.

So, Kobe and Lebron for that reason don't create spacing in the same way.


Also, many times the pass out of post leads to one more pass which leads to the score. However, the critical pass was the one from the big man back out. Tim is a great passing big man. Because often there is a second pass needed to get the score, he does not get credit for an assist, but the score and the play begins with Tim Duncan.


We should also note that Tim shoots at or above 50% every season. Kobe doesn't. In fact, Kobe surprisingly, isn't even that great a 3 point shooter by percentage.


Finally, when Kobe has won a championship, he was never the best player on the team. Tim has been the best player on the Spurs team every year that we have won with the exception of the 2007 NBA Finals. Tim has proven that he can be that centerpiece that you build around and win a championship with. He has done it without any other allstars on his team (2007 and 2003). Lebron and Kobe have yet to prove what Timmy has already proven: build a team around me and you can and will win championships.


For me, this is a conclusive case.

:lobt::lobt::lobt::lobt:

:toast:toast:toast:toast

[milkyway21]

Brad Miller is one of the best big men who can really pass the ball(5 pr 6 assts)

I guess Beno has found his home at last, huh?

[homer]

Whew! That was a painful game to watch. Glad the Spurs pulled it out and that Terry fouled his team out of a close game with that flagrant. Manu pulled a few bonehead moves to lead to the first and second overtime, but he is such a threat it is hard not to have him out there. Good game by Tony, but he needed to get a little closer on defense. He is too fast to sag off like he is doing. Tim was the monster we have come to admire.

That was a great game to watch, for both sides, I think. The best team won but the Mavs played a pretty good game too, for them. I really like this JJ Barea kid. He's a keeper.
Because of the minutes everyone played tonite, tomorrows' game may be a challenge. Atlanta playing tonight too will help a little, but they didn't put in all the minutes the Spurs did. Although, as a marathon runner with only one lung, I have to laugh sometimes when they use playing for 30-48 minutes,
with timeouts, as an excuse for being tired and playing bad.:lmao
:hat

[duncan228]

I have to agree with you.


If I'm constructing a team around one player for one year, I'm starting with Tim Duncan and it's not even a tough decision.

First off, on the defensive end, what Tim enables the perimeter defenders to be able to do is be aggressive. They can be so aggressive only because Tim is back there in the paint protecting the goal. Kobe and Lebron don't / can't protect the goal like that. You finish possessions off on the defensive end with rebounding. Tim is far superior to them as a defensive rebounder, naturally. You might argue that this is not surprising due to the position that Tim plays.

But this is precisely Pesky's point. A superstar Power Forward, in fact, the best to ever play that position, will have inherent advantages in these categories.

Next, on the offensive end. Tim will always give you the 20 points and 10 rebounds a game average. You can write it down. But it's more than that.

He spaces the floor in a way that the small forward and the guards don't.
That's because he posts up and he's so effective posting up, that the shooting guards who feed him the ball are often left with an open shot.

That's the type of spacing that guards simply can't create.

It's easier for a defender to go back and forth covering a player near Kobe or Lebron and then help out and double on Kobe or Lebron simply due to the areas in which they operate.

They aren't post players. Therefore, it's easier for defenders to help out without completely leaving their man wide open.

So, Kobe and Lebron for that reason don't create spacing in the same way.


Also, many times the pass out of post leads to one more pass which leads to the score. However, the critical pass was the one from the big man back out. Tim is a great passing big man. Because often there is a second pass needed to get the score, he does not get credit for an assist, but the score and the play begins with Tim Duncan.


We should also note that Tim shoots at or above 50% every season. Kobe doesn't. In fact, Kobe surprisingly, isn't even that great a 3 point shooter by percentage.


Finally, when Kobe has won a championship, he was never the best player on the team. Tim has been the best player on the Spurs team every year that we have won with the exception of the 2007 NBA Finals. Tim has proven that he can be that centerpiece that you build around and win a championship with. He has done it without any other allstars on his team (2007 and 2003). Lebron and Kobe have yet to prove what Timmy has already proven: build a team around me and you can and will win championships.


For me, this is a conclusive case.

:lobt::lobt::lobt::lobt:

Well said, thank you. :toast

I think Parker deserved the Finals MVP in '07, but I think it was still Duncan that got us there through the Playoffs.

[The Truth #6]

With the emergence of JJ, a player that was already on their team, the trade for Kidd looks even more stupid.

[xellos88330]

With the emergence of JJ, a player that was already on their team, the trade for Kidd looks even more stupid.

:lmao I was just thinking the same damn thing!!!

[duncan228]

Now that I've had time to catch my breath...Damn. Am I glad we came out of that one with the win. It just feels good.

[m33p0]

lakers 101
kings 113

[m33p0]

With the emergence of JJ, a player that was already on their team, the trade for Kidd looks even more stupid.
barea will be traded for a worn-out decrepit old has-been allstar.

[Shank]

Weird with what?? Pointing out the obvious about Dirk and TD. Dirk is not a big time player IMO. He is not clutch. He'll go to the Hall based on stats, but he's not a leader or a winner. TD is on the legendary level, Dirk is just a very good player and that's all he'll ever be..

Some required reading. Might open your eyes a little:

http://slamonline.com/online/nba/2008/10/slamonline-top-50-dirk-nowitzki-no-12/

[peskypesky]

With the emergence of JJ, a player that was already on their team, the trade for Kidd looks even more stupid.

And the way Barea's been playing lately, you almost have to think that he should maybe start over Kidd.

Can you imagine if Dallas had Devin Harris AND Barea?

[milkyway21]

NOTABLE STAT:

Matt Bonner going 5-for-5 FG, with three 3-pointers.
4 rbds

[peskypesky]

barea will be traded for a worn-out decrepit old has-been allstar.

are you thinking Nash? Or Marbury?

[T Park]

When does it go from "Matt Bonner had a good game!" to, you start to expect it?

Hes been playing this well consistently for about 2 or 3 weeks now.

[Mavs<Spurs]

Some required reading. Might open your eyes a little:

http://slamonline.com/online/nba/2008/10/slamonline-top-50-dirk-nowitzki-no-12/

Weird with what?? Pointing out the obvious about Dirk and TD. Dirk is not a big time player IMO. He is not clutch. He'll go to the Hall based on stats, but he's not a leader or a winner. TD is on the legendary level, Dirk is just a very good player and that's all he'll ever be..



Ditto what Dbreiden said. It's hard to see how anyone could argue with the points made by Dbreiden there.

Do we really want to revisit the perhaps the worst choke of the NBA finals in recent memory? followed by a loss in the greatest upset in the history of the NBA playoffs to the eighth seeded Warriors? And what followed afterwards?

There is a lot of sorry history here. Dirk cannot escape responsibility here. He can't shirk it, shank.

We all know about his fourth quarter quits.

For how many years has he allowed guys five inches shorter than him to contain him?

Bottom line: Dirk just hasn't gotten it done in May or June.

He's a pretty good regular season player. There have been a number of them. Some of the better ones are HOFers, Dirk will be one too.


BTW, I agree that Timmy was our best player during most of 2007 due to all that he gives us, but Tony did deserve the 2007 Finals MVP without a doubt.

[m33p0]

are you thinking Nash? Or Marbury?
i don't want to dwell into mark cuban's mind longer than necessary. bad for the health. you can find some sick shit in there like paying george the full MLE and trading a very good young point guard for jason kidd or joining a dance competition while your team is rotting away. gives me the shivers.

[Anti.Hero]

Spurs 2nd fewest turnovers in a 2OT game since 1970.

[peskypesky]

i don't want to dwell into mark cuban's mind longer than necessary. bad for the health. you can find some sick shit in there like paying george the full MLE and trading a very good young point guard for jason kidd or joining a dance competition while your team is rotting away. gives me the shivers.

:lol:lmao:lol

[milkyway21]

i don't want to dwell into mark cuban's mind longer than necessary. bad for the health. you can find some sick shit in there like paying george the full MLE and trading a very good young point guard for jason kidd or joining a dance competition while your team is rotting away. gives me the shivers.
that's pretty funny, kababayan! :lmao :lmao :lmao

D.George has some explaining to do about tonight, he sucked big time...:lol

[DaBears]

Thats the SPURS of old i remember, an offensive display matched by Dallas till the very end.

With of course the better team kicking ass!!

[SpursDynasty]

Good job Spurs. Just went out there and took care of business. Reason Dallas lost: JJ Barea is trying to be someone he isn't. He may be making a few plays here and there lately, getting a couple of shots to go down, but in a big game like this he's trying to be the star. Some players think they can become a Kobe overnight. Nope.

[SPURS vs NBA media]

That Barrea has is developing into a rather nice replacement for Devin Harris, just when I thought that trade was a total wash. Great win, and now the guys have to run with a young Hawks team tomorrow night, LOL.

Next SPURS mavs game barea will score 10 points or less

[T Park]

Good job Spurs. Just went out there and took care of business. Reason Dallas lost: JJ Barea is trying to be someone he isn't. He may be making a few plays here and there lately, getting a couple of shots to go down, but in a big game like this he's trying to be the star. Some players think they can become a Kobe overnight. Nope.

Ya know, thats one of the more halfway decent comments I've seen this clown make.

[The Franchise]

That game was so good last night I look forward to the next one.