Game Blog: Spurs @ Bulls - Feb. 17

[awktalk]

I agree, and is Splitter still unable to play? Blair and Bonner looking like weak links tonight.

Splitter is back in SA.

[jestersmash]

This is an excellent game to end on before the all star break. You want to end on a championship contender that's trying its best to win (Rose cited this as a "statement game" for the Bulls).

[xmas1997]

If I see the Spurs play some of their vaunted defense, then I will believe.
Until then, they will be out in the second round of the playoffs.

[hitmanyr2k]

I don't think Rose will sit 6 minutes again in the 2nd half ... only if the Bulls blow this one wide open

He better not sit out that much again since this is the last game before all-star break. Rose has plenty of time to rest up after the game. Boozer, Deng , Thomas and Korver better be ready though because the Spurs are gonna put the hurt on Rose in the 2nd half defensively. All of those guys should get plenty of wide open shots.

[Bender]

I don't really want to watch rose shoot 40 FTs

[TE]

this feels like a game that is for us to lose and the bulls to win...gotta play better during the second half

[G-Nob]

2 things :

Spurs tend to lax before a long break.

Bulls are quietly sneaking into the top 3 in every defensive category. That being said watch out for Chi.

[Budkin]

Letting the Bulls have 58 points in the first half is not Spurs basketball. No way we win the title with D that shitty.

[DesignatedT]

Just change the gameplan defensively. If Brewer and Bogans start knocking down shots then so be it but don't let Rose go for 40.

[Texas_Ranger]

lol 11 reb

[m33p0]

11-21 chicago on rebounds.., shit.

[JohnnySixString]

The Spurs haven't played "Spurs basketball" in a long time.

[DesignatedT]

wow what a bounce for rose. its just his night

[Brazil]

TP needs to do a better job of letting the ball moving in O and Tim needs to wake up

[benefactor]

He can have all of those he wants...just keep him out of the paint.

[Spurs Brazil]

Bulls on fire

[Tp9gospursgo]

Lets go Spurs pick it up!

[DesignatedT]

those are 2 tough shots out of the half. hands in the face

[Tp9gospursgo]

Timmy

[Creation88]

get a god damn fucking rebound!

[timtonymanu]

Bulls still wont miss

[Capt Bringdown]

Second chance points, groan...

[hitmanyr2k]

I'm kind of surprised Popovich isn't doubling up on Rose here. Looks like he's just gonna ride it out.

[Tp9gospursgo]

Tony needs to get his teammates involved right now.

[HarlemHeat37]

Spurs need to go to the p&r, too much iso..

[dbestpro]

Will Blair show up today?

[Spurs Brazil]

Yes TD!!!

[hitmanyr2k]

Boozer you soft MF. Yellin "HEY" isn't gonna help your ass. Take it strong!!

[Tp9gospursgo]

There we go.

[duncan228]

Duncan going now...

[m33p0]

chance to cut it down even further.

[crc21209]

Keith Bogans that piece of trash....:flipoff

[hitmanyr2k]

Alright Derrick...enough with the 3 point shot. It's not falling tonight.

CENTERPIECE!! :lol

[Spurs Brazil]

Manu miss layup, Bogans 3

FUCK

[Brazil]

TP doing a better job on defending Rose

[DesignatedT]

manu...................................

[Creation88]

bogans are you fucking kidding me?

[timtonymanu]

Bogans, you're full of shit. I hate you.

[BanditHiro]

not are night bogans is making his threes...

[Tp9gospursgo]

Bogans!!! oh wait...

[024]

lol wtf bogans.

[noles1983]

hahahaha eat a dick bogans you scrub

[m33p0]

that's like a 5-point swing for the bulls. :bang

[boutons_deux]

Tony and Manu missing close-in shots.

[DesignatedT]

get it going manu. we need you

[HarlemHeat37]

I don't mind leaving Bogans open for a shot, but that was just horrible D..4 guys closing in on a Luol Deng drive, where's the communication?..

Every time the Spurs miss a shot at the rim, it seems like the Bulls score in transition..

[Fermixalot]

So Bogans bricks every fucking shot he ever took in SA but buries corner 3 after corner 3 in Chicago?

[benefactor]

Great rotation by RJ there.

[DesignatedT]

Bogans > Mason


:lol

[Pauleta14]

What's wrong with the former spurs players????!!!!

Are they mad at Pop or something??

WTF...

[hitmanyr2k]

not are night bogans is making his threes...

It's not a fluke. I thought it was at first but Bogans has been knocking that 3 down for the last week. Took him 4 months to finally find his shot.

[Texas_Ranger]

This shit looks like that NY game. I don't see us winning this one.

[Spurologist]

Deplorable

[DPG21920]

So Bogans bricks every fucking shot he ever took in SA but buries corner 3 after corner 3 in Chicago?

Dude, if he is wide open in the corner (easiest 3 pt shot), he will make them. Just horrendous defensive sequence.

[TDfan2007]

Lol our offense can't be much better and we're down 8. Bulls just can't miss.

[timtonymanu]

It's not a fluke. I thought it was at first but Bogans has been knocking that 3 down for the last week. Took him 4 months to finally find his shot.

It won't last. He'll go back to his 0-5 3 pt shooting in no time. He had moments like that with the Spurs.

[m33p0]

It's not a fluke. I thought it was at first but Bogans has been knocking that 3 down for the last week. Took him 4 months to finally find his shot.

4 months + 1 year by spurs fans' count.

[Capt Bringdown]

Bulls hitting almost 58% and running circles around the Spurs. Very little indication the Spurs are capable of coming back tonight.

[Brazil]

Bogans is trash but he is a nba player if you let him wiiiiiiidddeeeee open he will eventually hit it

[Fireball]

So Bogans bricks every fucking shot he ever took in SA but buries corner 3 after corner 3 in Chicago?

well, he gets limited but steady playing time in Chicago ... that helps I think. in SA he was in the rotation, out of the rotation, starter, non-starter ...

[TampaDude]

Bulls can't fucking miss! Gonna be a loss. Oh, well...

[Pauleta14]

If Tony and/or Manu don't find their mojo back, we're dead...

unless Neal...

[Texas_Ranger]

Don't be mad at Bogans, he was wide open. Fuck this pathetic defense!

[hitmanyr2k]

It won't last. He'll go back to his 0-5 3 pt shooting in no time. He had moments like that with the Spurs.

I know :lol We're just gonna ride that hot hand and milk it for all it's worth. After the all-star break I expect Bogans to be the automatic bricklayer we all know and hate.

[dbestpro]

Bogans can make a shot but what bothers me is watching Blair jog back on that last play when he has been so non productive. When you are not playing well you need to at least try to play hard.

[Brutalis]

Refs calling this game loose. .. which is rare..

[xmas1997]

I predicted the Spurs would lose this game because the Bulls defense would not be overcome by the Spurs offense.
I was hoping I would be wrong, and still am, but it's not looking good at this point.

[Creation88]

+11 rebounding, +9 second chance points, +8 points in the paint. that is terrible hustle on the #Spurs part.

[boutons_deux]

Spurs getting killed on the boards, 25 - 14

[crc21209]

RJ! Good move! :tu

[Spurs Brazil]

RJ and one!

[will_spurs]

Parker working his ass off on the D at least. It's good when he plays against great PGs because he takes personal :D

[Tp9gospursgo]

There we go Dick J!

[Cessation]

and 1 rj

[hitmanyr2k]

That's some rare horrible defense by Deng.

[m33p0]

nice one, rj.

[DPG21920]

Nice drive by RJ. Very under control and strong.

[Spurs Brazil]

TD great shot

[blkroadrunners]

Nice banker by Tim

[Tp9gospursgo]

Timmy feeling it right now.

[Creation88]

Duncan is huge, which means we'll probably lose. ugh.

[timtonymanu]

Duncan beasting

[Spurs Brazil]

damn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[Warlord23]

Blair you fucking suck tonight

[HarlemHeat37]

Timmy is dominating right now, but how the fuck do you lose the rebound there?..that could be a point swing, right there..

[SpursRulez4eVeR]

what the fuck? how did blair/RJ not grab that?

[Capt Bringdown]

gawdamn Blair

[Creation88]

you fucking kidding me? we get a stop and immediate TO. fuck

[Cessation]

wow blair sucking

[Spurs Brazil]

Blair with back to back dumb plays

[dbestpro]

Blair needs to sit.

[TDfan2007]

Thank God Dejuan with 4 fouls. Gtfo.

[Texas_Ranger]

Thank god he's got 4.

[noles1983]

blair u retard, dude fouls more than oberto used to

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

We're definitely playing tired. Long trip. It'll take a huge effort to overtake these guys in the 4th.

[timtonymanu]

Jesus, put in McDyess. Bonner isn't playing any better than Blair right now.

[Texas_Ranger]

oh shit. Bonner is in.

[SpursRulez4eVeR]

oh great bonner is gonna get fucked on D

[benefactor]

Here comes Mr. Useless. Bulls lead is about to increase.

[Creation88]

how come this team can't hit a fucking FT? it's been terrible lately.

[TampaDude]

Everything going the Bulls' way...what can ya do???

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Can't buy an O board.

[dbestpro]

I think we would be a little better tonight if Parker would pass a little more.

[crc21209]

:lol Boozer crying for a foul....

[DesignatedT]

all Boozer does is yell. that last ball was out on rose

[HarlemHeat37]

That was off Rose's leg, horrible no-call..

Bulls getting to the loose balls right now..Spurs need to go to Duncan..Parker has cooled off..

[hitmanyr2k]

That was off Rose's leg. Got a break.

Boozer....DUNK THAT SHIT!! Sick of your soft ass verbal flopping while throwing up weak shit.

[c whata11]

boozer, shut the fuck up

[janetcn12]

C'mon Spurs..we must win tonite

[crc21209]

How the fuck does Hill end up on Boozer on that sideline out of bounds play? WEAK!

[timtonymanu]

Of course they get a basket.

[noles1983]

terrible defense wtf

[Creation88]

fuck you bonner you fucking pathetic piece of shit.

[Libri]

Just checking in and noticed a bald guy with a beard wearing Tim's jersey. Who's that?


Wait a minute, it's Tim! :lol

[HarlemHeat37]

Keep going to Duncan, they're gonna start double teaming..

[Spurs Brazil]

TD again!

[Tp9gospursgo]

Timmy again!

[duncan228]

My God Duncan

[crc21209]

Gotta go to TD right now....he's feelin' it...

[Cessation]

Timmeh owning

[timtonymanu]

Great play TP

[blkroadrunners]

TP and 1

[Spurologist]

tp and1!

[DPG21920]

Tim saving the Spurs right now and TP with the smart play.

[DesignatedT]

Tony and Tim! with Manu on the bench

[SpursRulez4eVeR]

TP c'mon now!

[Brazil]

Tppppppppppppppppp

[TDfan2007]

Timmy on fire. There's that left hand!

[noles1983]

Just checking in and noticed a bald guy with a beard wearing Tim's jersey. Who's that?


Wait a minute, it's Tim! :lol

doing his best boozer impersonation

[Tp9gospursgo]

TP! And the lead is cut!

[Banzai]

Bulls choking!

[hitmanyr2k]

Complete opposite of the first half. Bulls getting damaged in the paint. Fuckin Boozer gives up ground so easy. Can't wait to get Noah back.

[benefactor]

Spurs hanging tough.

[Spurs Brazil]

Tony and one!!!

[m33p0]

yes!

bad play by gibson.

[will_spurs]

Duncan post moves getting a lot better in the 2nd half.

And nice AND 1 by Parker off the steal.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

I love when Duncan goes to the lefty hook! :D

TP is a super-elite finisher in the open court. Awesome.

[Capt Bringdown]

Here we go, GO SPURS GO! C'mon guys

[hitmanyr2k]

Three guys on Rose :lol

[HarlemHeat37]

There you go, keep going to Duncan every single time..they're gonna start doubling soon..as long as he keeps going deep in the paint, they can't stop him..

I hate when Tim gets hot and they forget about him, 4-down is appropriate right now..

Spurs' D overplaying again..they have no idea what they're doing right now..

[timtonymanu]

Bulls and their timely baskets!

[Tp9gospursgo]

Bonner sucks.

[Texas_Ranger]

fuck you Bonner!!!!

[SpursRulez4eVeR]

Fuuuuuuubonner

[timtonymanu]

Bonner's really irritating me. First time in a while.

[Spurs Brazil]

Bonner can't get a rebound. Put Dice, Bonner sucks tonight

[noles1983]

theres the bogans we all know and love. would have gone ape shit if he made that

[dbestpro]

Bonner and his customary lack of a box out.

[Spurologist]

Fuck....every time we get close, Bulls counter :pctoss

[Creation88]

bs foul call for boozer.

[crc21209]

Everytime the Spurs cut it to 3 points, 2 points, etc...the Bulls answer back with a stupid shot...:lol

[DPG21920]

There is that Spurs 3PT defense rearing it's ugly head. TP can't finish anymore. He started out like 6-9 and is now 6-14.

Rebounding will be the Spurs undoing. Even if you make little runs, if you don't rebound or at least keep it close, you can't win. Spurs will have to compete on the boards the rest of the way to have a shot.

[TDfan2007]

Wow...our D is still awful. No rebounding.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

We've been horrific on the boards. Get a fucking rebound, for fucksake. :pctoss

[janetcn12]

Almost...2 more points...

[Warlord23]

Bonner loses rebounds even when he has the inside position and the ball is coming right towards him

[HarlemHeat37]

Spurs' D is pathetic..they're overplaying everything..no communication, horrible rotations..

Obviously, they don't go to Duncan, Parker misses an easy one, Bulls get easy points on the other end, story of the game..

Keep going to Duncan, live/die by him right now..

[Capt Bringdown]

Cut it down to 2, and the Bulls come right back.
Bulls in control this game

[Fireball]

game of small runs

[Warlord23]

How long till Pop goes small?

[HighLowLobForBig-50]

tp!

[Tp9gospursgo]

Tps still got it, but he needs to try to get his teammates involved.

[DPG21920]

Every time the Spurs get close, they have a defensive lapse and lack of rebounding and it keeps the lead at 7-8 points.

TP needs to keep attacking, he is getting good looks, just needs to finish them.

[Rummpd]

Nice hustle Bonner!

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Bonner with the diving rebound! He can't get them by jumping or boxing out, so he may as well hit the floor! :lmao

[DesignatedT]

on another note. duncan looks very nice this quarter.

[Spurs Brazil]

Finally a board for Bonner

[AidanNelson2009]

Can we get some rebounds !!! momentum is shifting between sides every minute. Looks like the Bulls are gonna keep this 6-8 lead for the whole game.

[Libri]

doing his best boozer impersonation

Must be a fashion thing. :lol

[Creation88]

get Neal back out there. we need someone to stretch the floor. and get a fucking big in there, Bonner is useless as usual

[Spurologist]

much better D against Rose. We are not overplaying him and allowing him to penetrate as much

[itzsoweezee]

this play-by-play guy is horrible. i can't stand listening to him any more.

[timtonymanu]

30-17 rebounding edge. Wow!

[Rummpd]

Spurs within 5 going into 4th like our chances - Bulls hitting everything and it will even out and they simply cannot defend Duncan without their center.

[Brutalis]

Bulls getting the breaks. Unless that changes the game is in hand for Chicago.

[Brazil]

spurs having a lot of unlucky plays as of late

[Arc]

our rebounding sucks tonight because blair decided to take a night off.

[Creation88]

+13 rebounding, +9 second chance pts all in Bulls favor. no hustle right now from Spurs

[Tp9gospursgo]

Why isnt Dice playing that much tonight?

[hitmanyr2k]

Bulls need a cushion for when the bench comes in. Because they're gonna give up whatever lead they have lol.

[Capt Bringdown]

Spurs getting outrebounded 30 to 17...ugh

[itzsoweezee]

bonner is pretty much a one-trick pony. unfortunately, popovich hasn't realized this.

[xmas1997]

If Bonner isn't going to make his 3s or even try, then get him out of there.
Damn, Spurs, take some pride in your defense!

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Hill on Rose now. Will be interesting to see what happens in that matchup in the 4th Q when Rose tries to take over completely.

[TampaDude]

Bulls are shooting lights out. No shame if we lose a close one.

[SpursRulez4eVeR]

don't like the spurs' chance if this comes down to a close game. the spurs are simply not getting stops when they needed them.

[MI21]

The problem with the defense this game is they seem to have no plan or goal.

I have no problem getting beat if you force Chicago to do things they don't want to do. But right now they are getting everything they want. Wing PnR with Rose/Boozer, Deng moving off ball and not having to create for himself, kicking the ball ahead for good shots.

The Spurs need to decide what they want to take away from the Bulls and want they want to give them and live with the results. This has been a recurring theme the whole season, defense that in no way even slightly dictates what the oppositions wants to do.

[Tp9gospursgo]

lmao Bonner blocked

[benefactor]

lol blocked

[Capt Bringdown]

Tony needs to get his teammates involved right now.


30-17 rebounding edge. Wow!

And that's without Noah...why can't the Spurs take advantage?

[Spurs Brazil]

Big shot Hill

[DPG21920]

Bonner having one to forget. On both ends. Hill with a big shot and Dice with the heads up play.

[TampaDude]

Hill!!!

[DesignatedT]

wtf are you doing hill on the fucking ground

[hitmanyr2k]

Hate to see a good defensive stance ruined by a shot clock buzzer beater. Good effort on the boards by Rose. Keep it up son.

[DPG21920]

:lol Bonner just watching Rose fall down, get up and grab the board.

[SpursRulez4eVeR]

holy shit rebound the basketball

[m33p0]

rose with his ass on floor still getting the rebound.

[timtonymanu]

Another missed rebound. FFS

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

If we lose this game, it's all about the pathetic rebounding.

[Spurologist]

:fuck fuck fuck

no rebouding

[AidanNelson2009]

Terrible rebounding, even Rose is getting off rebs, what the hell.

[Johnny RIngo]

Spurs rebounding is fucking pathetic tonight

[SpursNextRomanEmpire]

Gosh dammit

[HarlemHeat37]

Hill flopping for a foul call, instead of boxing Rose out..nice..

Spurs really don't want to keep it close, they seem content to play through a 7-9 point deficit, all game..

[timtonymanu]

Ugh back to 8 again. Christ, can the Spurs just put a run that is more than 5 points?

[DPG21920]

8 PT lead again. Spurs need a score, stop, score.

[HighLowLobForBig-50]

boo

[Tp9gospursgo]

Neal shoulda been in a long time ago tbh.

[DPG21920]

Or a turnover, mental lapse, turnover.

[WeNeedLength]

Rose is getting 40+ easily tonight. It's simply not going to happen tonight because of our defense...

[TDfan2007]

No Tim and Tony leads to an 8 point deficit.

[lefty]

Bonber sucks

Rose killing us

[Pauleta14]

I HATE when Pop puts none of the big3.... HATE IT!!!

[benefactor]

lol Bonner active defensively

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

The problem with the defense this game is they seem to have no plan or goal.

I have no problem getting beat if you force Chicago to do things they don't want to do. But right now they are getting everything they want. Wing PnR with Rose/Boozer, Deng moving off ball and not having to create for himself, kicking the ball ahead for good shots.

The Spurs need to decide what they want to take away from the Bulls and want they want to give them and live with the results. This has been a recurring theme the whole season, defense that in no way even slightly dictates what the oppositions wants to do.

:tu

[Spurs Brazil]

Games like that remind me why Bonner should not get any minutes in the playoffs

[c whata11]

fuckin manu

[hitmanyr2k]

Goddamn. That was "hide your eyes" ugly from the Spurs.

[DPG21920]

Hill, you suck. What piss poor clock management. Just a disgusting last minute of the quarter.

[HarlemHeat37]

One of the worst minutes of basketball I've ever seen..

[DesignatedT]

TERRIBLE job at running the offense Hill. Just a terrible job.

[Tp9gospursgo]

Lets hope Manu picks it up in the fourth...

[janetcn12]

Its still the 3rd qrt..Spurs will always catch up...go TP, Manu, TD, RJ, DB, Gh....

[AidanNelson2009]

wtf ginobili !!!!!

[DMC]

Manu in chucker mode again tonight.

[Warlord23]

I don't know why Pop keeps giving the ball to Manu with the quarter running down. When was the last time we got a bucket out of that?

[SpursNextRomanEmpire]

Great save by Hill, but we can't take advantage

[Brutalis]

Refs need to blow the fucking whistle. Dyess got hammered...

[timtonymanu]

Seriously no luck with plays today. Fuckin fumbles and travels. It's really annoying.

[TampaDude]

Ugly finish to the 3rd but we're still in this shit!!!

[TDfan2007]

Had it down to 4. That was our chance...waste of a great game by Tim...

[Creation88]

pathetic possession

[c whata11]

Hill, you suck. What piss poor clock management. Just a disgusting last minute of the quarter.
this

[ohmwrecker]

What the fuck was that?!

[Rummpd]

This is lost unless Spurs make an early run as sooner or later Chicago going to build the lead.

[TE]

Really bad play from the Spurs tonight. They're playing like shit.

[Brazil]

our bigs suck tonite we need to rebound the damn ball

[SpursRulez4eVeR]

that last play might have just killed any momentum for the spurs.

[m33p0]

I don't know why Pop keeps giving the ball to Manu with the quarter running down. When was the last time we got a bucket out of that?

bucks game comes to mind. nuggets game, too.

[hitmanyr2k]

Rose is getting TOO aggressive. I know the shot is going but he needs to find his teammates more as well. They're gonna be needed down the stretch.

[AidanNelson2009]

No shame in losing this one, which by the way is going to happen. The Bulls have been brilliant defensively and offensively. Rose is just to good.

[TE]

Chicago is a fine team, but the Spurs are beating themselves tonight.

[lefty]

We need Parker

[HarlemHeat37]

The problem with the defense this game is they seem to have no plan or goal.

I have no problem getting beat if you force Chicago to do things they don't want to do. But right now they are getting everything they want. Wing PnR with Rose/Boozer, Deng moving off ball and not having to create for himself, kicking the ball ahead for good shots.

The Spurs need to decide what they want to take away from the Bulls and want they want to give them and live with the results. This has been a recurring theme the whole season, defense that in no way even slightly dictates what the oppositions wants to do.

Exactly what happened vs. Portland, too, where they had no game plan or adjustments against Aldridge..

On a positive note, I'm pretty sure Pop will actually game plan during the playoffs, so hopefully that will resolve a few of these issues..

[dbestpro]

Just not moving the ball. Too much individual dribbling by Neal, Manu, and even Parker.

[DMC]

The Spurs aren't playing well and still in the game. Not bad actually. They have a knack for going off from 3 in the 4th, but we'll see how they hold up. Some minds are on the downhill to the AS weekend already, maybe the rookies although Neal was doing ok I thought.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

6-3 is what I predicted for the RRT. Got the other two losses wrong, but predicted these guys would beat us. The Bulls are very good, but we're also very fatigued and I'm sure these guys just want the game to end so they can go home. That's not to say they aren't trying, but it's human nature to let down a bit given their record.

[Arc]

to be fair.. dice clearly got fouled when he grabbed the board. should've been free throws i think.

[Capt Bringdown]

A very dramatic turnaround is required to win this game. Bulls in control, every time we make a move they counter - easily. Not fun.