Spurs @ Nuggets Game Blog 4/10/10

[Spursox]

Garrett for three

[ohmwrecker]

Man - this is hilarious! I didn't get to start watching the game until the 4th quarter. Are the Nuggets really playing this badly, or are the Spurs finally getting a game where the calls are going our way?

Yes.

[siraulo23]

what are they chanting???

[Spurs Brazil]

Temple 3333333333333333333333333

Temple much better after he came back to the game in the 4th. His help D was great

[ginobme]

Denver fans showing some class to the refs LOL

[Ginobili2Duncan]

What are they saying?

[Tp9gospursgo]

What was the crowd chanting?

[TDomination]

This is great. I mean, it makes for a boring game. But it's pretty damn hilarious.

lol, i am being very entertained!

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

What are they chanting?

[Spurologist]

What is the crowd chanting?

[TDomination]

What was the crowd chanting?
i think.... "these refs suck"

[ginobme]

These refs suck...is that what they said?

[Spursox]

Hairston sighting....Garbage time..must be in Pops doghouse

[Obstructed_View]

Oh man, if ever the Spurs face the nuggets in the playoffs, that team is gonna get skull f*cked specially without their coach.

Maybe his life partner will show up to calm down the idiot fans in Denver.

[Manudona]

what are they chanting???

We want Manu? :rolleyes

[SpursRulez4eVeR]

they chant 'these refs sucks" right after they called the spurs for a foul... great timing

[Spurs Brazil]

No Mason = Win

[Supergirl]

even the announcers say they can't tell what the fans are chanting.

[raspsa]

I think players need more colored tattoos.. add color to the game

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

And replace those guys with who?? Role players who care about winning more than making ESPN's top ten....no...that would just be boring....[sarcasm]

:tu

[SpurAddict561]

Temple needs to get all Mason's minutes from here on out

I like this kid

and he's not afraid to shoot, and he hits it more often than RMJ has been.

I'm also ending my procrastinating and buying my Blair jersey tonight...it's long overdue, I fuckin love this guy, he's becoming my fav player on the team

[Charles Sappa]

So long Denver, I'm going to fu... Party over

Ha HA

[Crookshanks]

ewww - the Birdman is so ugly looking with all those tatooes.

[easy7]

The Refs are whistle happy tonight

[Blackjack]

Malik's in; the victory joint. :smokin

[anakha]

The Nuggets seem mystified as how to handle the Parker/Blair PnR.

[Spursox]

Mihimi sighting..

[Supergirl]

Spurs outscoring the Nuggets 25-12 in the fourth quarter

[carina_gino20]

Manu and Tim, 29 mins each. :tu

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

b2b mile high and we thump them. But we can't beat the Grizz. Very strange.

[pawe]

Wonder what could have happened if the trade between Bones and Smith got done. Smith is an offensive spark the Spurs need.

[easy7]

So many tats I expect a mofo to grab a mic any minute an start gansta rapping...

[ohmwrecker]

Maybe his life partner will show up to calm down the idiot fans in Denver.

Awwwwwww!

[Ginobili2Duncan]

Hopefully Temple comes back next year. He can be a really good role player.

[ShoogarBear]

LOL Balkman sighting.

[SpurAddict561]

All I can say is thank God we don't play shitty teams in the playoffs

they are our kryptonite hahahah

[SpurAddict561]

All I can say is thank God we don't play shitty teams in the playoffs

they are our kryptonite hahahah

[JustBlaze]

Spurs win!! Spurs win!!!
Good win Spurs. Just embarrassing a team that they're suppose to embarrass tonight.:lol

[Spurologist]

The refs would've never made that call if TD made that move

[siraulo23]

fuck too many fouls, just finish this game plz

[SpursRulez4eVeR]

that gotta be the worst travel by blair by far

[TJastal]

Blair needs to learn what a pivot foot is...

[Naelven]

Ah ah 3 french guys on the floor !!

[easy7]

Its a free throw battle now, dosen't look good for the Nugs

[Spursox]

Wow Lawson has no tattoos??????

[ohmwrecker]

Wonder what could have happened if the trade between Bones and Smith got done. Smith is an offensive spark the Spurs need.

No thanks. No moron thugs on the Spurs!

[Spurologist]

Why didn't lawson play more????? Missed a practice or what?

[Spurs Brazil]

Temple 333333333333333333333333333

[TampaDude]

Wow...y'all think the Spurs were pissed off about losing to the Grizz??? :lol

[Tp9gospursgo]

Temple should be a regular even with Hill coming back. Should take Masons minutes

[m33p0]

nicely done.

[Spurologist]

Petro's jumpshot = :lmao

BUT IT WENT IN

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Wonder what could have happened if the trade between Bones and Smith got done. Smith is an offensive spark the Spurs need.

Whatchobeensmokin???

JR would live in Pop's doghouse! :lol

[Crookshanks]

So many tats I expect a mofo to grab a mic any minute an start gansta rapping...
Yeah - they look like a bunch of thugs - really disturbing...

[Kamala]

Renaldo Balkman in the House!

[pawe]

No thanks. No moron thugs on the Spurs!

Smith has mad skills, I think Pop and TD can keep him in check ala Rodman.

[alchemist]

lol TP suxors

[TJastal]

Gotta say Temple is much better than I initially thought.. they said he was 1 dimensional with no outside shot and I believed that, but this kid can really shoot

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Petro's jumpshot = :lmao

BUT IT WENT IN

Every seen Noah's? :lmao

Somehow, it goes in too!

[tothrowed]

temple > mason , and parker is not a passer

[Naelven]

Every seen Noah's? :lmao

Somehow, it goes in too!

We have a nice shooting school for big man in France ;)

[SpursRulez4eVeR]

temple > mason , and parker is not a passer

lolwut?

[it's me]

b2b mile high and we thump them. But we can't beat the Grizz. Very strange.

and the Grizz got manhanded at home by the 76s today....... :bang

[raspsa]

This is my fist chance to see Temple play extended minutes.. I can see why Pop likes this guy..

[Spurs Brazil]

That's a great win

Let's go for 50 on Monday. If we win the last 2 games we'll finish 6th or 7th

[ginobme]

Temple should be a regular even with Hill coming back. Should take Masons minutes

Forward this to Pop

[it's me]

the Tony hate is getting fucking old......just saying.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Smith has mad skills, I think Pop and TD can keep him in check ala Rodman.

You obviously don't recall how the Rodman era ended.

DRob could NOT keep him in check when it mattered.

[Crookshanks]

Gotta say Temple is much better than I initially thought.. they said he was 1 dimensional with no outside shot and I believed that, but this kid can really shoot

Interesting trivia - Temple's dad played for the Spurs back in the ABA days. How cool is that? And his dad was the first African-American guy to play for LSU.

[ohmwrecker]

Gotta say Temple is much better than I initially thought.. they said he was 1 dimensional with no outside shot and I believed that, but this kid can really shoot
I prefer him to Mason, but both of those shots were wide open looks and it's garbage time. He wasn't that great when this was still a game.

[senorglory]

The Nuggets seem mystified as how to handle the Parker/Blair PnR.

That's a nice thing to read with only a few games remaining before the playoffs. Would be fun as hell if those two tore it up together in the playoffs.

[alchemist]

and the Grizz got manhanded at home by the 76s today....... :bang
there's motivation to play the Spurs, none to play the Sixers :depressed

[Obstructed_View]

Earlier this season, the Spurs couldn't lose to a bad team and couldn't beat a good one. I gotta tell you guys, I'm pretty happy with the reversal over this last stretch of the season. Like someone else said, there are no lottery teams to worry about in the playoffs.

[pawe]

temple > mason , and parker is not a passer

I bet you're gonna get screwed too when your coach tells you to play a position that doesnt suit your game. Mason is a spot up shooter, not a playmaker.

[alchemist]

Blair has zero lift in his jumpshot :lol

[Spurologist]

Every seen Noah's? :lmao

Somehow, it goes in too!

:lol

it's literally a PRAYER shot the way he tosses it up there

[Spursox]

I like Garrett as our future backup and Hill backing up Manu...

[TJastal]

Earlier this season, the Spurs couldn't lose to a bad team and couldn't beat a good one. I gotta tell you guys, I'm pretty happy with the reversal over this last stretch of the season. Like someone else said, there are no lottery teams to worry about in the playoffs.

:tu

[SpursRulez4eVeR]

ian looks soooo happy to be out there :)

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Earlier this season, the Spurs couldn't lose to a bad team and couldn't beat a good one. I gotta tell you guys, I'm pretty happy with the reversal over this last stretch of the season. Like someone else said, there are no lottery teams to worry about in the playoffs.

:lmao

Nice.

[TDomination]

dang you could hear that slap lol

[Spurologist]

French connection is working in garbage time. :tu

[senorglory]

You obviously don't recall how the Rodman era ended.

Pop and DRob could NOT keep him in check when it mattered.

I'm still mad at Rodman for that. If I ever see him in person, I'm gonna throw my hightops at him. "Oh, I'm sorry, Dennis. Is it distracting for me to throw my hightops out there in your way? Maybe I'll pick them up right away, maybe I got a migraine and will just sit her pouting. Don't mind me, look at me."

[Spursox]

Mahimi hustling during garbage time...

[siraulo23]

ughhhhh

Just fiinish the game already

[Borosai]

Mason is only a shooter, and he's not doing that right either. At this point he's probably the worse player on the roster, and considering he wanted to be traded, it's just time to sit the guy until the season is over and say goodbye. Temple will be more effective with those minutes, and he can handle the ball.

[SpursRulez4eVeR]

lol @ the off foul

[Crookshanks]

Denver laid an egg tonight like the Spurs did last night.

[TDomination]

Earlier this season, the Spurs couldn't lose to a bad team and couldn't beat a good one. I gotta tell you guys, I'm pretty happy with the reversal over this last stretch of the season. Like someone else said, there are no lottery teams to worry about in the playoffs.

BINGO!

We're playing like a good team. Good teams sometimes tend to not take the bad teams as seriously because they feel they are good enough to just show up and win. We saw this plenty on our championship years.

So lets just be happy that we won enough in the early season in order to keep us in the playoff race.

[siraulo23]

Finally.

Good win Spurs!!!!!

[JustBlaze]

ROFL Lawson finally getting the chance to play once the game don't matter. Nice one coach Dantley. Coach of the year candidate for sure.:tu

[Spurologist]

Earlier this season, the Spurs couldn't lose to a bad team and couldn't beat a good one. I gotta tell you guys, I'm pretty happy with the reversal over this last stretch of the season. Like someone else said, there are no lottery teams to worry about in the playoffs.

Just because of that statement, I think the SpursTalk suicide cliff became smaller.

[siraulo23]

2nd game of a back to back on the road vs Denver

This is a L

(Note: trying to jinx myself, they actually win 90% of the time when I doubt this team, hopefully it happens again)

It worked again, whooooooohooooooo

[easy7]

Spurs won, let the ass kissing begin...

[BillMc]

7 Spurs Players in double digits. Nice!!!

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

good win :toast

tough team. I am hoping the nuggets get the 3rd seed and the Spurs stay in 7th :lol

[Crookshanks]

Why oh why couldn't the Spurs have played with half this energy and intensity last night?

[Obstructed_View]

And I also need to throw some kudos toward the folks at NBA Audio League Pass, since I don't think there's been a single game that I've been unable to listen to this season. They really got their act together since last year.

[raspsa]

Great win.. Pop got to rest Timmy, Dice and Manu. . this team continues to gel and build trust and cohesion.. defense was much better than vs. Memphis.. as long as they can play this level of BB. it really doesn't matter what seed they are.

[pawe]

You obviously don't recall how the Rodman era ended.

DRob could NOT keep him in check when it mattered.

I remember Karl throwing Smith under the bus when he did nothing against the Spurs in the playoffs. You don't do that to a young player specially on a highly talented but mentally soft young player.
I dont know how Pop's approach on Smith is gonna be but do you see how Pop takes care of Hill right now?

[siraulo23]

And I also need to throw some kudos toward the folks at NBA Audio League Pass, since I don't think there's been a single game that I've been unable to listen to this season. They really got their act together since last year.

Really?

Cause it has not worked for me even once this year

[ohmwrecker]

Why oh why couldn't the Spurs have played with half this energy and intensity last night?
Because they played the Grizzlies.

[Crookshanks]

Great win.. Pop got to rest Timmy, Dice and Manu. . this team continues to gel and build trust and cohesion.. defense was much better than vs. Memphis.. as long as they can play this level of BB. it really doesn't matter what seed they are.

Yeah - even the Denver announcers were saying that if the Spurs played like this, they could beat the Lakers. It was refreshing to hear the opposing team's announcers being much more balanced. They were very complimentary to the Spurs tonight.

[Ditty]

good win :toast

tough team. I am hoping the nuggets get the 3rd seed and the Spurs stay in 7th :lol

i want revenge on dallas

but spurs played nuggets tough all 4 games this season i think spurs could give the nuggets the most trouble for some reason but i would still think that the nuggets have a better chance of beating the lakers in a series

[Ice009]

b2b mile high and we thump them. But we can't beat the Grizz. Very strange.

It could be that we just needed some time to integrate TP back into the team. The teams balance and chemistry this season has been very thin so maybe just a little time to get everyone on the same page is all that is needed. I mean we've got a rookie starting so a little adjustment is definitely required.

I like Temple so far.

GREAT GAME Spurs.

[Obstructed_View]

Really?

Cause it has not worked for me even once this year

Yep, every single time. The only thing I don't like about it is that they leave the game pretty close afterward, and you can't hear the postgame or even some of the interviews or wrapups.

[ohmwrecker]

I remember Karl throwing Smith under the bus when he did nothing against the Spurs in the playoffs. You don't do that to a young player specially on a highly talented but mentally soft young player.
I dont know how Pop's approach on Smith is gonna be but do you see how Pop takes care of Hill right now?

Hill is smart and works his ass off. Smith is a lazy dumbass.

[Spurs Brazil]

If Lakers and Warriors help us tomorrow will be great

[Crookshanks]

Yep, every single time. The only thing I don't like about it is that they leave the game pretty close afterward, and you can't hear the postgame or even some of the interviews or wrapups.

Yeah - that's one of the drawbacks to League Pass. They stop coverage immediately after the game. I miss seeing the postgame. It also sucks to not be able to hear the Spurs announcers every game.

[pawe]

The Spurs played like that against the Grizzlies too. Unfortunately, every freaking jumpshot in the 4th that Memphis took all went in.
And its not like they were open shots, they have a hand on their faces too.

[JustBlaze]

Hill is smart and works his ass off. Smith is a lazy dumbass.
He's not lazy son. Just a little slow in the head.

[Obstructed_View]

Yeah - that's one of the drawbacks to League Pass. They stop coverage immediately after the game. I miss seeing the postgame. It also sucks to not be able to hear the Spurs announcers every game.

Yeah, I like getting to hear Bill call the games for the Spurs. I've gotten to see the local Spurs broadcast of a game maybe twice in the last two or three years. That was a factor in my choice not to get LP.

[xellos88330]

Spurs WILL win! The basketball gods favor them this night.

Do you all doubt my prophetic abilities now? MUAHAHAHA!!!

[pawe]

He's not lazy son. Just a little slow in the head.

Idiot Melo lying on the floor is funny as shit! :lol
Could've been more funnier if Smith tripped on his dumbass.

[JustBlaze]

Idiot Melo lying on the floor is funny as shit! :lol
Could've been more funnier if Smith tripped on his dumbass.
k

[Crookshanks]

Nuggets are a really mentally weak team. It seems like it doesn't take much to get in their heads and then they self-destruct. They really do need George Karl back ASAP.

[Obstructed_View]

Nuggets are a really mentally weak team. It seems like it doesn't take much to get in their heads and then they self-destruct. They really do need George Karl back ASAP.

And when George Karl is the life presever you reach for, it says so much.

[Crookshanks]

And when George Karl is the life presever you reach for, it says so much.

:lmao

[boutons_deux]

Nuggs are one screwed up team

[duncan228]

Updated.

Spurs cruise to 104-85 win over Nuggets (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2010041007)
By Pat Graham

The Denver Nuggets lost their cool and composure in a clunker of a performance.

Along with it may have gone any shot at the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference.

Tim Duncan had 18 points and 10 rebounds Saturday night, leading the San Antonio Spurs to a 104-85 victory over Denver on a night when Carmelo Anthony was ejected for jawing at the officials.

Anthony wasn’t the only Nuggets player who couldn’t hold his tongue. Team leader Chauncey Billups and J.R. Smith also were given technicals for arguing in a fourth quarter that got out of hand for Denver.

“It wasn’t their night. They had a tough night,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “We all have them and this was theirs.”

The loss was a blow to Denver’s hopes of securing the No. 2 seed. With Dallas beating Sacramento on Saturday, the Nuggets need to win their final two games and then receive some help.

What’s more, the loss also dropped them into a tie with Utah for the Northwest Division lead.

“Every loss at this point of the season is costly,” said Billups, who led all scorers with 27 points.

The Spurs know that all too well, turning in a forgetful performance of their own the night before against Memphis.

But this helps, winning on a court where very few teams have this season. San Antonio temporarily moved into seventh in the West, avoiding—at least for the moment—a first-round matchup with the top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers.

Asked on a scale of 1 to 10 how bad the Spurs wanted to face the Lakers in the opening round, Popovich simply answered, “Minus-5.”

For Duncan, it really doesn’t matter who the Spurs face.

“We’ll play who we play. We’ll prepare for it the same way,” Duncan said. “We’ve got to refocus.”

The loss spoiled the return of Kenyon Martin, who was back in the starting lineup after missing 18 games because of patellar tendinitis in his left knee.

The forward’s minutes were closely monitored in his first contest since March 3 because acting coach Adrian Dantley didn’t want to exert him too much. Martin finished with six points in nearly 23 minutes.

“Minus the result, it’s a positive for the team just to have me back out there,” said Martin, whose team had its four-game winning streak halted.

Martin did provide his usual spark on defense, grabbing 10 rebounds and attempting to push around and pester Duncan.

Still, Martin’s presence couldn’t prevent the Spurs from breaking open a close game early in the fourth quarter. Leading 68-63, San Antonio went on a 13-0 run to seal it.

As the Nuggets began to unravel, they also lost their cool. Smith was given a technical for arguing over a blocking call.

Later, Anthony was ejected after picking up two quick technicals, exiting with 19 points and four rebounds.

Even the mild-mannered Billups couldn’t resist arguing. He drew a technical for jawing over a call with the game already long decided.

When asked about the officiating, though, Billups wouldn’t take the bait.

“It was just a rough night, period,” he said.

Martin, though, was a little more forthcoming, especially when queried if he could put a finger on how the game got away.

“I can put a finger on it, but it might cost me a little bit so I’m going to keep my mouth closed,” he said.

That might be a wise move. The Nuggets strategy now is to forget it and move on.

“You get a little frustrated sometimes when you feel like you’re having it rough out there,” Billups explained. “It was just a rough day for us.”

NOTES: Spurs G George Hill missed his fourth straight game with a sprained right ankle. San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said before the game he wasn’t sure if Hill would play in either of the last two games. … Nuggets F Joey Graham missed the game with a sprained left ankle. … With the loss, Dantley is 10-7 while filling in for George Karl this season. Karl recently finished up an intense six-week regimen of chemotherapy for throat and neck cancer. … Nuggets F Chris Andersen wore a splint to protect a sprained left pinkie. … With the victory, the Spurs are a win away from 50 for the season, a total they’re trying to amass for the 11th straight season.

[carina_gino20]

I remember Karl throwing Smith under the bus when he did nothing against the Spurs in the playoffs. You don't do that to a young player specially on a highly talented but mentally soft young player.
I dont know how Pop's approach on Smith is gonna be but do you see how Pop takes care of Hill right now?

There's no comparison between Hill and Smith. Hill was never a jacka$$ to begin with.

[Budkin]

Holy shit... was listening to the game on WOAI until a bit into the second when we were down by 3 or so... now I just got a text with the score... we crushed the Nuggets on their own floor... fuck yeah!

[raspsa]

Gotta say Temple is much better than I initially thought.. they said he was 1 dimensional with no outside shot and I believed that, but this kid can really shoot

He had one D league game where he was aperfect 7-for7 from beyond the arc. Coming out of college, his strength was his defense.. outside shot and slashing ability were not strengths.. very apparent he has worked on his game and he seems pretty solid all around for a rookie.. doesn't seem to get flustered easily, doesn't force anything and stays within his game.

[spurs10]

Nuggets acting like they lost this game due to officiating is laughable. I pray we get this team in the 1st round!

[alchemist]

Nuggets acting like they lost this game due to officiating is laughable. I pray we get this team in the 1st round!
Well to be honest the refs did have a part in them losing, sometimes you get the calls and sometimes you don't. I've seen this team lose their cool too when they're not getting the calls only to get blown out.

[Obstructed_View]

Well to be honest the refs did have a part in them losing, sometimes you get the calls and sometimes you don't. I've seen this team lose their cool too when they're not getting the calls only to get blown out.

Really? You've seen the Spurs melt down and get players thrown out? I certainly can't remember the last time that happened, but I suspect that the only time it's happened since Rodman was in town involved Jack.

[alchemist]

Really? You've seen the Spurs melt down and get players thrown out? I certainly can't remember the last time that happened, but I suspect that the only time it's happened since Rodman was in town involved Jack.
I had no idea that, losing your cool = getting thrown out...thank you for the clarification. :toast

[PBEEZY]

At the beginning of the year we could only beat teams below .500 and no real playoff teams now its the other way around, i think if anyone here had to choose it would be this way going into the playoffs

[rascal]

Nuggets acting like they lost this game due to officiating is laughable. I pray we get this team in the 1st round!

Denver is the best matchup in the first round for the Spurs.

[urunobili]

Denver is the best matchup in the first round for the Spurs.

Been calling this shit for like 2 months :wakeup

[Obstructed_View]

I had no idea that, losing your cool = getting thrown out...thank you for the clarification. :toast

Okay, how about the last time the Spurs had three technicals and an ejection? Or do you have some new definition of "losing your cool" that's in no way relevant to the Nuggets game? Maybe you should just quit while you're ahead.