Game Blog: Spurs @ Rockets - Feb. 26

[anonoftheinternets]

http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/sp/v/nba/teams/1/50x50w/sas.gif

VS

http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/sp/v/nba/teams/1/50x50w/hou2.gif


Lets get a streak going :flag::flag::flag::flag::flag:
:lobt2::lobt2::lobt2::lobt2::lobt2:

[dirk4mvp]

sorry about the loss, spurs.

[kuato]

Scola and Ginobili ! , a pack with a lot of nice plays, allways a nice match to see.

[ElNono]

These are the games we need to start winning if we want to make the playoffs...
Monster game from Timmy?

[spursbird]

Go Spurs go! The rockets sucks. Martin sucks. Ariza sucks. Jefferson needs to wake up. Manu needs to add 30 points. Parker better rest. Duncan should have 20 rebs.

[Dex]

No KXAN or KBVO. :( Tough luck for the Austin folk.

[Obstructed_View]

So Parker's out, which means:

Finley and Bogans starting together!!!1!11!1!

[xellos88330]

Go Spurs Go!

Jefferson is gonna break out tonight! (Don't mark me on that though :P)

[TD 21]

Projected rotations for tonight's game:

Spurs

PF- McDyess/Bonner
SF- Jefferson/Finley
C- Duncan/Blair
SG- Bogans/Ginobili
PG- Hill/Mason


Rockets

PF- Scola/Jeffries
SF- Battier/Budinger
C- Hayes/Anderson
SG- Martin/Budinger
PG- Brooks/Temple

Spurs should not only win, but win convincingly. I suspect (though I'm not teeming with confidence) that the former is accomplished, but am doubtful that the latter is. I'll go with...

Spurs: 97
Rockets: 89

[silverblackfan]

I think this is a game of chemistry. Spurs hit theirs, and Rockets find they lost some with the new additions.

Spurs: 102
Rockets 91

Side note: I would have said Spurs by 1, but Manu is starting to look crazy good...

[easy7]

sorry about the loss, spurs.

Don't feel bad, Atlanta is a good team, no shame in losing to them tonight.

[Duncan2177]

Oh shit its the rocket announcers.:bang

[timtonymanu]

so who's starting? why is this blog so dead?

[ElNono]

LOL Finley starting...

Hill/Finley/Bogans/Dice/Duncan

[gospursgojas]

so who's starting? why is this blog so dead?

Friday maybe???

[ElNono]

I guess Mason is going to be the backup SG?

[timtonymanu]

I hate Pop's rotation already. Two guys who wouldnt be in the NBA anymore if it werent for the Spurs are starting.

[Chieflion]

I guess Mason is going to be the backup PF?

Fixed.

[Libri]

Spurs starting lineup

Hill
Bogans
Finley
McDyess
Duncan

[Johnny RIngo]

LOL Finley starting...

Hill/Finley/Bogans/Dice/Duncan

Bogans, Finley, and Mason could all receive injuries and Pop still wouldn't play Hairston. Same goes for Ian.

[DPG21920]

WTF. Why is Finley starting? Even if it turns out well, this makes no sense.

[ginobili fan]

LMAO did you just see pop dancing with Bogans ?

[ffadicted]

lmao Finley starting, now I'm convinced Pop is just fucking around with Spurs fans

[Johnny RIngo]

I hate Pop's rotation already. Two guys who wouldnt be in the NBA anymore if it werent for the Spurs are starting.

You know Pop is terrible when he NEEDS Manu to score 25 a game to guarantee a victory against a .500 team. Our coach is so washed up.

[superjames1992]

Good grief, now the Spurs are starting their 20th different lineup of the season with Michael Finley getting the start against Houston tonight... Geez.

[8FOR!3]

Hill/Bogans/Finley/McDyess/Duncan > Hill/Mason/Bogans/McDyess/Duncan

[Libri]

already a bad rotation by Dice

[iminol]

told ya Tony Brothers

[Chieflion]

Is this the 20th unique lineup?

[Israel_Manu]

Link?

[Libri]

Is anybody covering Scola?

[Chieflion]

Can the Spurs play some defense and rebound?

[Johnny RIngo]

Hill/Bogans/Finley/McDyess/Duncan > Hill/Mason/Bogans/McDyess/Duncan

I'd rather we not give minutes to players that won't be here next season. Spurs have no shot at a championship so they'd be better off giving the minutes to a young player like Hairston.

[timtonymanu]

i like duncan's aggression. Dice needs to guard Scola.

[DPG21920]

1 step forward. 2 steps back. I just want to watch inspired basketball.

[TJastal]

Lol

[TJastal]

LOL suckass

[TJastal]

LOL suckass Bogans w

[TJastal]

LOL suckass Bogans with

[TJastal]

LOL suckass Bogans with a

[TJastal]

LOL suckass Bogans with a charge

[TJastal]

LOL suckass Bogans with a charge and

[TJastal]

LOL suckass Bogans with a charge and a

[TJastal]

LOL suckass Bogans with a charge and a terrible

[TJastal]

LOL suckass Bogans with a charge and a terrible pass

[Ice009]

Spurs SUCK.

MANU is going to have to bust his ass again tonight.

Fucking losers on the court. 2 of them shouldn't even rotation minutes let alone START.

[Mal]

Bogans !! Great D, great pass, great transition defense. Great guy

[alchemist]

5 vs 8 :(

long night.

[ffadicted]

Can the Spurs play some defense and rebound?

Do you really want the answer to that question?

[dbestpro]

Damn, Dice has been out of poisiton on 4 or 5 posessions already. We need a PF/C badly. Should put Blair on Hayes and Duncan on Scola. Better match up.

[Mhak]

BOGANS!!! is a scrub!!! SCRUB!!!

[timtonymanu]

Spurs besides Timmy look like shit.

[Chomag]

LOL Finley starting...

Hill/Finley/Bogans/Dice/Duncan

I'm still wondering how those people that justified the Finley resigning because they said he would be a good 12th man.:lol

[Libri]

Manu in

[dbestpro]

LOL suckass Bogans with a charge and a terrible pass

pading the post count eh?

[iminol]

we want MANU in!!!!

[Chieflion]

Bloody shit. RJ can't do any worse than Bogans and Finley.

[Cherry]

Manu in

[Mal]

Finley ! All best guns out there

[TD 21]

We knew Bogans would start, but in tandem with Finley? That's the worst set of starting wings I've seen in a long time. It's unfortunate for this team, but you deserve to lose when your coach is a fucking retard.

[td4mvp21]

Sure enough, Pop finds a way to insert Finley back into the starting lineup :rolleyes

[DPG21920]

Good defense Dice :depressed

[Chieflion]

Fucking Dice. What are you doing?

[dbestpro]

Damn Dice! Stay with your man!

[timtonymanu]

wow McDyess is being a lazy fuck.

[SpursRulez4eVeR]

someone fucking wake dice up

[DPG21920]

They just have so much more energy than the Spurs. Spurs need to get it together if they want a legit shot to win this game.

[TJastal]

pading the post count eh?

lol I don't wtf happened w/ that.. I hit the enter key once and some strange shit starting happening.

[Chomag]

ouch...

[timtonymanu]

Game is over.

Spurs didnt come to play tonight.

[Ice009]

Rcoket annihilating us.

[dbestpro]

RJ coming in to save the day.

[Mal]

Too late for me. Can`t watch it , all night long. It`s almost 3 am, and I am done with this. Have forces to watch it.

[Israel_Manu]

Let Manu shoot, no finley or dice.

[DPG21920]

Hi Hill, meet Brooks.

[TD 21]

Shockingly, with that starting lineup, the Spurs inevitably couldn't score or get stops with any regularity, so they start off in a hole and need Ginobili to come in early and wear himself out to get them back into in. Inevitably, he'll over extend himself, play 32-34 and probably not have enough in the tank at the end to make plays down the stretch. Great coaching.

[Libri]

Manu will have to work his magic.

[ElNono]

Defense? What defense? :depressed

[Johnny RIngo]

I'm almost 100% convinced that the FO didn't make a move before the trade deadline because of Holt. There's no way Buford thought the team, as constructed, was enough to win a 'ship.

[dbestpro]

Why cant Finley or Bogans take the charge?

[DPG21920]

:lol Chuck Hayes is scoring on back door cuts.

[Cherry]

lol Manu and Luis

[Libri]

great blocks by Blair

[DPG21920]

There you go Blair. Bring us back.

[timtonymanu]

our depth is so overrated.

[Israel_Manu]

Fuck you RJ.

[dbestpro]

Need some Mason and Bonner.

[Ice009]

Rj had to have been a brick layer in another life ;).

[ffadicted]

Worst defensive effort of the season in a quarter?

[Cherry]

time out , please Pop

[Fundamental]

ugly as hell start....as i've become accustomed to this year

[DPG21920]

Duncan, WTF. You don't get calls, so learn from it and quit forcing terrible shots. What a terrible start. How can a team come off a big win like last game, and then do this?

[Israel_Manu]

What's going on timmy?

[Ice009]

I am beside myself with this fucking idiot coach Popovich.

WHAT THE FUCK IS HE DOING STARTING FINLEY and BOGANS.

[Chieflion]

Bullshit. Hill is being passive. Duncan is being swarmed. RJ is not getting his touches.

[alchemist]

1 vs 8 (so far)

[dbestpro]

Spurs need to sit Timmy down. Everything is going through Tim and the rest of the players have stopped playing.

[Mhak]

Damn we are looking very old.. we are atleast two step slower.

[Refocus]

that looked painful :o

[Libri]

rubbish

[Crookshanks]

man - this is ugly!!

[Duncan2177]

Spurs are stinkin it up.

[Spurologist]

RJ leads the league in WTF PLAYS

[bbarry]

ugly as hell start....as i've become accustomed to this year

what do you mean? spurs are the best 1st quarter team in the nba.

[Dex]

Glad to see the boys are gonna try to turn this one in early.

If this keeps up, this shit's going on record and I'm finding a better way to spend my Friday evening.

[Capt Bringdown]

I'm almost 100% convinced that the FO didn't make a move before the trade deadline because of Holt. There's no way Buford thought the team, as constructed, was enough to win a 'ship.

Well, he probably took the advice of his hired "experts" who claimed that RJ would be a great pickup. Look where it got him.

[noob cake]

Tin Duncan vs Rockets

[dbestpro]

I guess we got off to such a goos start because Pop was playing his all energy team.

[Libri]

So far Tim is the only player from the starting lineup who has scored.

[DPG21920]

This team just is not very good. You can tell by how every time they look ready to turn the corner, they lay an egg. They are good enough to look great on any given night, but the lack of coaching, talent and chemistry along with the injuries and age show this team just does not have it.

[timtonymanu]

oh well these guys checked out early.

Goodnight everyone!

[FvckMavs]

LOL at Pop's starting lineup. WTF is that?

[dbestpro]

Dice started this crap by playing some of the worse defense I have ever seen him play.

[bbarry]

Hopefully this slow start means Spurs play better the other 75% of the game.

[dbestpro]

bogans and Finley are just spectators.

[45 bank shot]

we rely way too much on duncan and as a result we are getting raped by the rockets

[SpursRulez4eVeR]

why are dice and rj so shitty? not to mention finley,bogans and rmj....holy shit thats like half the spurs team...

[DPG21920]

Tim is playing poorly. I don't care if he made is first 4 shots. Hard to fault him with the lineup he starts with.

[Libri]

Actually, only two Spurs have scored, Tim and Manu.

[Reeko_Htown]

Time for Small Ball?

[dbestpro]

I guess Dice was afraid of Scola's blinding speed.

[ElNono]

Ian in... Looks like we're giving up early..

[Refocus]

Ian in.. lol. Looks like Pop gave up already.

[Libri]

Mason J

[Libri]

Wow, Ian is in!

[dbestpro]

Ian!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[alchemist]

:lol jumping into Blair = foul :toast

[DPG21920]

Nice, Ian! Pop is looking for a spark. Hopefully Ian is that spark. Not fair to ask for much from him, but glad to see he is getting a chance.

[SpursNextRomanEmpire]

iannn

[Spurologist]

:wow

Is that who I think it is out there???? It can't be

[Chomag]

LOL @ Sean Elliott begging for Pop to play Ian. So now that Bowen and Sean that have wondered that.

[pad300]

From ESPN's Play by Play

2:58 Ian Mahinmi enters the game for Tim Duncan 10-23


WTF!

I assume this means Pop surrenders...

Go Ian, show the world...

[dbestpro]

You know Pop is giving up when Hairston comes in.

[SpursRulez4eVeR]

are they micing the basket?

[Chieflion]

Manu and Mason chucking up stupid shots.

[dbestpro]

At least Ian is getting a hand on the ball.

[Bartleby]

Great ball movement by the Spurs

[DPG21920]

Good defense by Manu there, good box out by Ian. :lol Damn he just trucked someone.

[Crookshanks]

Spurs can't buy a basket tonight. They are cold as ice.

[Capt Bringdown]

This team just is not very good. You can tell by how every time they look ready to turn the corner, they lay an egg. They are good enough to look great on any given night, but the lack of coaching, talent and chemistry along with the injuries and age show this team just does not have it.

Exactly. Mediocre at best, which means that it's going to have to get worse before it gets better.

Wholesale changes are need in the offseason. Every card needs to be put on the table.
We need to move to rebuilding mode ASAP.

[Libri]

Ian is going to foul out.

[Chieflion]

Bullshit call!

[Bartleby]

"traveled all the way to the basket" lol

[SpursNextRomanEmpire]

come on Ian, I really want him to do good out there

[Refocus]

Nice rebound. *cough*

[Bartleby]

come on Ian, I really want him to do good out there

Me too

[slick'81]

luis scola 12 spurs 12

[Chieflion]

What a pathetic game.

[alchemist]

How in the hell do the Rockets have any losses at home with this home cooking?

[ffadicted]

Spurs doing so bad that Ian is seeing early minutes lol

[Libri]

Ian layup

[SpursNextRomanEmpire]

Ian!!

[dbestpro]

Ian getting more minutes will help in the long run. Even if the Spurs lose this game it could be the most important development of the game.

[EricB]

The saviour :lmao

[Bartleby]

Ian scores!

[ohmwrecker]

The game is blacked out in Austin, but I guess I am not missing much.

[dbestpro]

What was Manu doing on that last play?

[Crookshanks]

maybe the only good thing about this quarter is that the Spurs can't possibly play any worse.

[SpursRulez4eVeR]

this is the longest first quarter ever

[Chomag]

The saviour :lmao

Why exactly do you hate Ian so much?

[45 bank shot]

sad

[Dex]

This team's defense is absolutely atrocious.

[Refocus]

Figures they would play like shit after a good win. So god damn predictable.

[Chieflion]

Why exactly do you hate Ian so much?

Pop-apologist alert.

[DPG21920]

Hopefully the Spurs can just chip away. A little 10 point run can put them right back in it. Onto the 2nd quarter.

[dbestpro]

I hope that Pop does not try the Finley - Bogans - Dice line up again.

[Ice009]

Well the Spurs are lucky they are not down 20, thwey really should be down 20 plus. That is crazy for a first quarter.

[SpursRulez4eVeR]

maybe the only good thing about this quarter is that the Spurs can't possibly play any worse.

um...hopefully that is

[ElNono]

Just patethic... And the Rockets don't even have Ariza...
I hope RC is watching Scola destroy us... fool

[DPG21920]

The saviour :lmao

What an idiot. This is all Ian's fault. Not Pop's or the rest of the lame ducks out there tonight.

[easy7]

Damn!!! Down by 16 against Houston in the first quarter? Who are these m-fers and what have they done to the Spurs?

[Dex]

Spurs don't deserve to be in the playoffs with this level of play.

That's not saying that the Spurs don't deserve to be int he playoffs.

That's saying that they need to get their shit together, or they very well may not be.

[ElNono]

Just patethic... And the Rockets don't even have Ariza...
I hope RC is watching Scola destroy us... fool

[HarlemHeat37]

As I said following the OKC game, that wasn't a "good win"..they didn't even play that well in that game..the Spurs took a step back by having Pop play Finley and playing atrocious lineups..they were missing rotations the entire game, but thankfully OKC missed wide open shots..Durant decided to not be aggressive..

The Spurs still have a ton of holes..

LOL @ starting Finley and Bogans..

[Fundamental]

embarrassing first quarter.

[Crookshanks]

Spurs look timid and afraid to shoot. They are really out of sync.

[45 bank shot]

Scola always goes berserk against us, no surprise here

[Chomag]

As I said following the OKC game, that wasn't a "good win"..they didn't even play that well in that game..the Spurs took a step back by having Pop play Finley and playing atrocious lineups..they were missing rotations the entire game, but thankfully OKC missed wide open shots..Durant decided to not be aggressive..

The Spurs still have a ton of holes..

This team just has way to much deadweight... Way to much!

[Budkin]

Was looking for the game here in Austin as well. Yeah we're not missing anything.

[dbestpro]

Does Blair know how to block out?

[Ikstomi]

omg,

[dbestpro]

Does anybody know how to block out?

[Bartleby]

Mason playing for that fat contract

[Allanon]

Somebody step up and stop Scola please.

[ElNono]

Can't hit the side of a barn.. Might aswell trot Hairston out there too

[8FOR!3]

Christ put Duncan on Scola, get someone on him. That's ridiculous.

[slick'81]

14-33

[JoeShmoe]

If you can't find the game on TV, atdhe.net has a poor quality feed. It's something at least.

[SpursRulez4eVeR]

box fucking out

[alchemist]

Somebody step up and stop Scola please.
:lol you'll foul out in 2 plays with these refs.

[Chieflion]

Small ball! But no one gives a shit at this point. Fuck Dice.

[roycrikside]

Yeah Pop really is trying out there isn't he? Finley plays like absolute ass last game, so as a reward, we start him today. Brilliant. And it seems like McDyess has no idea who Luis Scola is or what he can do.

You would think somebody on the coaching staff would've given him a scouting report on the guy, like "Hey, don't leave him open he can shoot, and not like your reputation, this guy can actually shoot."

Pop has absolutely no idea what he's doing, and if TD and Manu aren't constantly bailing him out, the team looks terrible.

[dbestpro]

Dice needs to go get his walker.

[Crookshanks]

damn - Spurs are just plain baaaaaaddddd tonight. And now the announcers are saying the refs are just letting them play and not calling fouls. Really?

[slick'81]

scola misses he is human

[Bartleby]

Dice looks like he's about 46 yrs old out there.

[Dex]

I don't question the Spurs FO often.

But letting Scola go was probably the single most fucking retarded decision they've made in the last 20 years.

6 years later, and we're still scrambling for a competent big man while Scola drops 30 and 15 on us.

[HarlemHeat37]

McDyess is fucking HORRIBLE tonight..

[easy7]

RJ better go off for 50 points...

[Ikstomi]

AWESOME!!!! brooks can make offensive rebound :facepalm:

[dbestpro]

They almost did not make that call. That is a bad ref sign.

[Libri]

Scola is a bigger version of Manu.

[Bartleby]

Pretty much any time Mason drives you can count on a miss.

[Biggems]

when did the Rockets sign Mike Epps?

[Crookshanks]

Scola almost always has a great game against the Spurs - it's like rubbing salt in the wound.

[Spurologist]

Manu is the absolute best at judging where the tip ball is gonna go

[slick'81]

rebound by dyess and he shows hes alive

[Allanon]

Manu starting to step up.

[8FOR!3]

We can still get back in this game. But I'd like to see more Mahinmi in the second half. Regardless of how he plays. Playing time = experience.

[Biggems]

mike epps fouls manu again

[ohmwrecker]

Was looking for the game here in Austin as well. Yeah we're not missing anything.

Definitely not going to the Tavern for this BS.

[Capt Bringdown]

Dice is as awful as Kurt Thomas.

[Crookshanks]

hmmmmm - the Houston announcers were just talking about the Scola deal. They said the Spurs FO doesn't make too many mistakes, but letting Scola go was a big one.

[Biggems]

If the Spurs can simply start making some shots they will be fine.

[slick'81]

4 point play coming up

[Chieflion]

4 point play! Roger Mason!

[Libri]

ooooh, Mason 3 and a foul

[Spurologist]

4 pt play

massssssssssooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnn

33333333333333333333333333

ft coming

[dbestpro]

Rmj!

[slick'81]

lead down to 10

[Refocus]

Clutch 3 by Money Mase.. oh god is that Finley i see coming in.

[Bartleby]

Definitely not going to the Tavern for this BS.

The Spurs have looked like dog shit but it's still early. I think they'll make a run and close the gap a bit before the half.

[Dex]

Mason fouled on the three, FT coming.

Spurs making a nice spurt here, but good timeout by Houston to try to quench the fire.

[8FOR!3]

4 point play opportunity. Maybe now ya'll can stop whining about Mason for a few minutes.

[DMX7]

Sean almost said if the Spurs "get their shit together"... etc.

[HarlemHeat37]

Please no Finley and Bogans for the rest of the game(rest of the season would be better, but I don't wanna get too greedy)..

[TimDunkem]

Now it's a ball game.

[Crookshanks]

Okay - now we're talking. Hey slick - how did you know about the foul so much earlier than I did? Is League Pass Broadband that far behind?

[Death In June]

I just started watching. Why was Ian benched after two minutes and two points with two rebounds?

[hsxvvd]

This game was over the minute they announced the starting line-up.

In fact it was over at, Hill.... Bogans... Finley....

End game.

[SpursRulez4eVeR]

damn it i think i saw bogans going to the scorer table

[DPG21920]

That was a terrible first quarter, but the Spurs need to chip away. The game is still easily winnable.

Just sad that the Spurs cannot get on a roll.

[ffadicted]

You know you put out a good starting lineup when 4 out of the 5 guys go scoreless after 16 minutes :lol

[Ice009]

Great shot from Roger a minute ago.

[TJastal]

The Spurs have looked like dog shit but it's still early. I think they'll make a run and close the gap a bit before the half.

thanks to Mason

[Chieflion]

I just started watching. Why was Ian benched after two minutes and two points with two rebounds?

He picked up 2 bullshit fouls in 2 bullshit minutes.

[Biggems]

hmmmmm - the Houston announcers were just talking about the Scola deal. They said the Spurs FO doesn't make too many mistakes, but letting Scola go was a big one.

Captains Obvious and Redundant must be lobbying for MENSA cards......I hate when announcers say shit we all already know and have known for years.....as if they have some under the radar knowledge

[ElNono]

Finley back... fuck me

[DPG21920]

He picked up 2 bullshit fouls in 2 bullshit minutes.
:lol

[Chieflion]

Finley at PF!

[Ice009]

I just started watching. Why was Ian benched after two minutes and two points with two rebounds?

Fuck that the Spurs don't want to pay players. Ian has to go straight to the bench after that.

lol one reason Blair might get so many minutes is because he is getting paid for 4 years.

[Allanon]

Refs are calling it tight but Manu's powering the comeback.

[SpursRulez4eVeR]

son of a bitch finley in

[Biggems]

im not about injuring players, but maybe we can call tonya harding to take out brooks at halftime

[TJastal]

Finley with the defense on Budinger....not

[TimDunkem]

No D Fin!

[roycrikside]

Goddamit why is finley playing?

[Spurologist]

WTF TD.....dunk that shit

:pctoss

[Tito_Trinidad]

Prediction: If Spurs win, everybody gonna say Manu is back, he is the beast, from Thunder game he got his legs back, Spurs has a chance bla bla bla bla bla bla,,,,,,,,,BUT if Spurs lose tonight, everybody saying "trade Manu NOW", he is streaky, inconsistent, Duncan is low, Spurs suck, fire Pop, bla bla bla bla

You Spurs fan are inconsistent as hell

[Chieflion]

Pop, you suck.