Game Blog: 12/13 - Spurs vs. Clippers

[phxspurfan]

First thing I thought was there go his ACLs. But wait...haha. Anyway I hate garbage time.

[Admidave50]

Come on Malik!

[Supergirl]

what happened to Blair?

[angelbelow]

Damn that was a pretty bone headed play by Blair.. but god i hope hes okay.

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

Blair was 1 rebound away from a dub dub.... :(

[Chieflion]

Who still remembers the Ricky Davis threads?

[timvp]

Hopefully Theo was passing that.

[Juanobili]

was that an airball by Ratliff? lol

[AussieFanKurt]

rofl @ theo

[siraulo23]

LMAO Ratliff!!!

[kbrury]

what happened to Blair?
Charged down the lane fell pretty hard but got up pretty quickly.

[DPG21920]

Announcers dogging Novak.

[Spursmania]

Pop is going to blow a gasket with Blair tonight. He's going to have a few choice words for him. He's going to tell Grizzly to calm the heck down. And, this time I totally agree with Pop.

[Spurs Brazil]

Time out?

[AussieFanKurt]

why timeout now...

[TIMMYD!]

Beast was about to throw that shit down.

[phxspurfan]

Damn I needed just 10 more boards and one more trey from Duncan, Parker and Manu for my fantasy squad to win this week and they sit out the entire 4th :[

[Chieflion]

Pop: Go out there, and get the score up to 120.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

In reference to the slow start... "I don't think anyone over in SA is worried".

Nah, only the cliffjumpers... :lmao

[AussieFanKurt]

Announcers dogging Novak.

:lmao
yeah

[TIMMYD!]

I hate when a team is down big at the end of games but still find reasons to use their Timeouts.

[Spurs Brazil]

Pop is going to blow a gasket with Blair tonight. He's going to have a few choice words for him. He going to tell Grizzly to calm the heck down. And, this time I totally agree with Pop.

Yep, the game was over, no need fot that

[urunobili]

why timeout now...

Pop doing some teaching :)

[pawe]

Any updates yet on Blair from the local announcers?

[Juanobili]

damnnn that stadium is empty

[Libri]

Charged down the lane fell pretty hard but got up pretty quickly.

That was kind of weird the way he got up like it was nothing.

[Supergirl]

is Blair OK?

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

Now if only they could get Dice going, because Manu and Rj seem to be in a groove.

[angelbelow]

Anyone have an update on Blair?

[Juanobili]

Any updates yet on Blair from the local announcers?

nothin yet

[ElNono]

On the other hand, is easy to forget Blair is a rookie after games like this one. He will make rookie mistakes...

[DesignatedT]

I hate when a team is down big at the end of games but still find reasons to use their Timeouts.

who gives a f*ck. obviously pop wants to try or say something to his squad to help in the future. we can use all the practice we can get with a 11-9 record, if you ask me.

[kbrury]

is Blair OK?

Don't know yet but he looked ok probably bruised pretty badly, he will feel it in the morning.

[Chieflion]

Blair got up using shoulder strength and leg strength, so probably he didn't injure himself in those areas. Should be somewhere at the hip or something. Probably a bruised hip, we will see.

[Spursmania]

Well, if Blair just has a few bruises I would say a great night for the Spurs.

[siraulo23]

good win, hopefully blair is okay

[Spurs Brazil]

Good win

We won 8 of 11 now

[Supergirl]

end of game 115-90

hope Blair is OK

[Spursmania]

Time to check out the box score.

[DPG21920]

Well, overall a very good game and a lot of positives. You still hate to see those massive let downs and swings that accompany the Spurs. Every team will go up and down, but the Spurs go through such big swings.

Happy with the win and minutes played.

[AussieFanKurt]

alright good road win i guess

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Blair just fell on his hip/butt/lower back. He'll be bruisde and sore, but he got up so quickly it's unlikely to be too serious.

[SpursRulez4eVeR]

who gives a f*ck. obviously pop wants to try or say something to his squad to help in the future. we can use all the practice we can get with a 11-9 record, if you ask me.

sry for losing all your vbookie

[urunobili]

I'm 4-0 when opening the game blog thread :smokin

[timvp]

Why would anyone be mad at Blair? That was Blair just playing like Blair. You take away that energy and fearlessness and he's not an NBA player.

Pop has benched Blair for not playing hard in blowouts. He's not going to get mad at him playing too hard.

[Chomag]

Good win Spurs. Hope Blair os doing ok.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

timvp, while you are around, any interestin trading one of your studs to me for depth and DLers in DL II??

[Chieflion]

The Spurs have 57 bench points to my count. The Spurs battled the Clippers in the rebounding area to a standstill, 37 to 38 in the Clippers's favor.

[TIMMYD!]

I'm 4-0 when opening the game blog thread :smokin

Don't stop doing whatever you do.:toast

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

I'm 4-0 when opening the game blog thread :smokin

Nice. Keep it up.

PS Where were you against Celts/Nuggs/Jazz when we needed you? :lol

[timvp]

Damn. Elliott is like a half foot taller than Bogans.

[Chomag]

In reference to the slow start... "I don't think anyone over in SA is worried".

Nah, only the cliffjumpers... :lmao

Patience grasshopper. I think I'll hold out judgment either way until Spurs play real teams again.

[SpursRulez4eVeR]

Damn. Elliott is like a half foot taller than Bogans.

got a pix ?

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Why would anyone be mad at Blair? That was Blair just playing like Blair. You take away that energy and fearlessness and he's not an NBA player.

Pop has benched Blair for not playing hard in blowouts. He's not going to get mad at him playing too hard.

Exactly. Anyone who's played much knows it's very hard to curb a guy's style and maintain his effectiveness. People play the way they play, and if they are hustle guys you can't tell them not to play with energy.

I'm going through this at the moment. I started playing competition 'ball again and am back to my best at the defensive end and on the boards, but I'm very hesitant at the O end because I don't want to do another ankle, and that has fucked up my low post game.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Patience grasshopper. I think I'll hold out judgment either way until Spurs play real teams again.

Patience is pretty much all I ever advocate, so I don't know why you mention it to me.

Yes, the real test will come when the schedule gets harder in January. But now is a perfect time to fatten up the record and get the chemistry really clicking.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

I'll try once more.


timvp, while you are around, any interestin trading one of your studs to me for depth and DLers in DL II??

Just say no and I'll leave you alone, but I really need to trade for a stud, and it looks like your DL II team could use depth.

[timvp]

timvp, while you are around, any interestin trading one of your studs to me for depth and DLers in DL II??

I'll take a look.

[bbarry]

got a pix ?
http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/3096/btvd3dshell200912132311.jpg

[raspsa]

Another good game for RJ. Keep it up.

[SpursRulez4eVeR]

sean was listed as 6'8 and keith at 6'5

[ElNono]

Patience is pretty much all I ever advocate, so I don't know why you mention it to me.

Yes, the real test will come when the schedule gets harder in January. But now is a perfect time to fatten up the record and get the chemistry really clicking.

Wait a sec. Barely beating the Clippers in LA is nothing to get excited about. But if you beat up a team to a 30 point lead, let them get back, then beat them up again to another 30 point lead with your bench, you should be getting excited, no matter who you're playing against...

[silverblackfan]

Wait a sec. Barely beating the Clippers in LA is nothing to get excited about. But if you beat up a team to a 30 point lead, let them get back, then beat them up again to another 30 point lead with your bench, you should be getting excited, no matter who you're playing against...

Agreed. They obviously had a bad quarter of time and let the other team get back in it, but got the obscene lead back. The difference I am seeing from this team that was missing from previous years, is that the bench can more than make up for the first team being off offensively.

[Baseline]

Any official word yet on Blair's condition?

[alchemist]

Any official word yet on Blair's condition?
I heard the Staples Center will be out of service 3-5 days :toast

[outmap]

We're currently at 6th in the west with that win.

[duncan228]

Updated, with quotes.

Spurs roll over Clippers 115-90 (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2009121312&prov=ap)

San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich is rationing Tim Duncan’s minutes on a regular basis so that he’ll be fresh for the postseason. The solid play of the Spurs’ backups has made that possible.

A good example was Sunday night, when Duncan sat out the fourth quarter and the Spurs pulled away to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 115-90.

San Antonio came in averaging the most points (42.2) and rebounds (17.0) from its reserves. In this one, the Spurs’ backups outscored the Clippers’ reserves 57-32 and outrebounded them 20-11.

“That’s been key for us,” said newcomer Richard Jefferson, the only player to start all 21 games for the Spurs. “As long as I’ve been in the league, San Antonio’s always had a quality bench. So it’s something that this team takes pride in. And now with the young guys and the development of guys like George Hill and Roger Mason, it’s only going to make us better.”

Another pleasant addition to the mix had been swingman DeJuan Blair, who came in leading all rookies with a field-goal percentage of 59.3, made 7 of 9 shots and finished with 14 points and nine rebounds.

“He’s been improving more and more, trying to understand the game and be a big part of what we do, and we’re going to need that energy from him,” Duncan said. “He’s staying within himself, which is the best part of it. He’s not trying to do anything special. He’s just playing hard and making the plays we expect him to make.”

Duncan led San Antonio with 21 points. He left the floor with 1:48 left in the third quarter after he was accidentally elbowed in the right ear by teammate Matt Bonner.

“I try to stay away from Matty. The closer I am to Matty, the more I get hurt,” Duncan said. “He’s hit me more than one time, and I don’t think he’s ever been apologetic.”

As things turned out, the Spurs didn’t need the two-time MVP and 11-time All-Star down the stretch. They put the game away with a 16-0 run that stretched a 12-point margin to 107-79 with 7:10 to play.

“Obviously, with that big guy on the court, we’re a much better team,” Jefferson said. “We had a couple of games early in the season that we were able to win when Tim and Tony Parker were hurt, so we’re getting used to playing with each other and we’re maximizing the talent we have on the court.”

Jefferson and Manu Ginobili each had 17 points for the Spurs, who shot 57.3 percent, have won three straight and eight of 11. They have beaten the Clippers 13 straight times since March 3, 2006, and have won 21 of the last 23 meetings. Michael Finley missed his fourth straight game because of a sprained left ankle.

Point guard Baron Davis, plagued by an upset stomach that prevented him from practicing on Saturday, came off the bench for the first time this season and led the Clippers with 20 points in 30 minutes.

“I’ve been a little sick, and I was getting a little tired and a little dizzy,” Davis said. “But when you are out on the court, you definitely need to do something out there.”

Los Angeles used its fifth different starting lineup. Sebastian Telfair made his first start for the club and got only two points in 20 minutes—the only Clippers starter who did not score in double figures.

Spurs shooting guard Keith Bogans had an embarrassing sequence early in the second quarter—shooting an airball from 3-point range and then tipping the ball into the wrong basket seconds later while trying to rebound a missed 3-point attempt by Davis.

The accidental basket was credited to Ricky Davis—the only points by the Clippers’ backups other than by Baron Davis, until Rasual Butler’s 18-footer with 11:23 left in the game.

NOTES: The only seasons in which Davis started every game he played in were the three in which he played all 82 (2000-01, 2001-02 and 2007-08). Kaman and Marcus Camby are now the only players to start every game this season for the Clippers. … Popovich needs two more victories to become the 17th NBA coach with at least 700 regular-season wins and the third to reach that total with one team, along with Jerry Sloan (Utah) and Red Auerbach (Boston).

[Manufan909]

Another pleasant addition to the mix had been swingman DeJuan Blair, who came in leading all rookies with a field-goal percentage of 59.3, made 7 of 9 shots and finished with 14 points and nine rebounds.

“He’s been improving more and more, trying to understand the game and be a big part of what we do, and we’re going to need that energy from him,” Duncan said. “He’s staying within himself, which is the best part of it. He’s not trying to do anything special. He’s just playing hard and making the plays we expect him to make.”

If this is Blair just doing what's expected of him, I will shit bricks when he comes out of his shell.:wow

And for those who think he played good D on Kaman and Boozer, could that possibly correlate to him slowing down Bynum?

[NickiRasgo]

RJ/Manu as a first option is much better than the offense before.

[urunobili]

Nice. Keep it up.

PS Where were you against Celts/Nuggs/Jazz when we needed you? :lol

I just remember that when I tried to open the game thread for the Nugs, one of your homies opened it the day BEFORE on purpose since her record when opening our game threads is undefeated against the Spurs... she even did it with the wrong date... Now im on a roll... I'll try to do it until i lose my first game... :toast

[Robinson#1]

Strong game by the spurs, the strong bench is making things easier, and to me I think the team chemistry is growing

[Spursmania]

“I try to stay away from Matty. The closer I am to Matty, the more I get hurt,” Duncan said. “He’s hit me more than one time, and I don’t think he’s ever been apologetic.”

:rollin