Game Blog: Spurs @ Nuggets - March. 23

[Pauleta14]

too bad tony! this would have been a dagger...

Manu it's your turn!!

[TampaDude]

See...told y'all...only TIED...did NOT take the lead. EVERY TIME we have a shot to take the lead, we miss. Spurs lose by 1 or 2. BOOK IT.

[TE]

win or lose this group on the floor playing hard and over all smart, can live with that.

Yeah leaving the three point shot is playing smart. smh

[spurs1990]

Who takes the last shot for the Spurs?

[NRHector]

Fucking Brothers thanks to him is coming down to this

[Fireball]

spurs sniffing, but not fucking.

yes ... Finally

[Libri]

career high for Neal

[itzsoweezee]

Bad shot Tony, bad shot

[Gouken]

Wilson!!

[CFH]

Spurs have to score now

[HarlemHeat37]

Was there any doubt that Manu was going to shoot a 3?..

Manu and Tony with horrible shots to end the game..hopefully Denver chokes at the line..

[Spurs Brazil]

damn Manu

[DesignatedT]

damnit manu. 3 ball? really? take it to the rim

[Juggity]

Fuck

[Gouken]

SMH Dumb ass shot by Manu. Settles too much for that bullshit.

[DPG21920]

Oh. My. God.

Fucking Manu.

[Death In June]

Tony fucked them. They had a shot there and he fucked them.

[Rummpd]

Not a good shot by Manu.

[Chomag]

MANU!!! WTF taking a step back 3 there?

[ducks]

manu what the FUCK FUCK FUCK YOU FUCKIN MANU

[LakerHater]

What the fuck manu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[CFH]

Saw that coming...

[timtonymanu]

Game over.

Oh well Denver you "earned" this. :rolls eyes

[Danny.Zhu]

Damn.

[DPG21920]

Miss one FT.

[kjhip1]

clearly a push off by chandler

[DPG21920]

Shit.

[Rummpd]

so of course it falls in.

[CFH]

Spurs still alive

[Spurs Brazil]

great job Neal.

Now go there and make a 3

[spurspokesman]

We have life

[ducks]

go to neal

[Avitus1]

Shit.

[Crookshanks]

Sure...the Nuggets really "earned" this. Whatever...

[spurs1990]

Neal better take the shot!

[itzsoweezee]

Damn

[AnthonyM]

Quite possibly Gary Neal's biggest play of the night right there...

[DesignatedT]

what a save neal

[Juggity]

We have got to make this three. Toss it to Gary

[DPG21920]

Yes! Get a good look.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Step-back 3!? Really? :pctoss

[HarlemHeat37]

If anybody was going to choke, it would be Felton..he cost me $ earlier in the year with his choking, missing a FT with 20 seconds left, to kill my spread..

Pop needs to run a play for Neal here..I wouldn't be surprised if he tries to get RJ or Bonner though..

[Mugen]

manu is sending this shit to overtime.

[spurspokesman]

Who takes the last shot for the Spurs?
Neal:lol Why not

[JohnnySixString]

This is Spurs defense.

:rolleyes

[ace3g]

the ball better be in Neal's hands for the shot

[Avitus1]

Spread the floor.... get it to Neal.

[TE]

Game over.

Oh well Denver you "earned" this. :rolls eyes

Yeah. :lmao

[Rummpd]

hit a three and stun the crowd then mop up in overtime. (or better yet get fouled and hit the shot)

[dbestpro]

We've quit on several games but this is the first game we've lost this year because of playing stupid.

[ducks]

MANU!!! WTF taking a step back 3 there?

his fucking shot selection is terrible
jr clearly outplayed him

[davemaniscool]

bench RJ and start Neal going forward

[Borosai]

Novak!

[Death In June]

Almost forty fouls against the spurs. That's impressive.

[LakerHater]

Now you need a 3....MANU!

[DPG21920]

TP corner 3.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

win or lose this group on the floor playing hard and over all smart, can live with that.

Me too. Great game.

[Fireball]

no chance if we have to move the ball over the whole court

[TampaDude]

We miss the 3. Book it.

[Spurs Brazil]

WTF Pop, sit Blair and put Novak

[DPG21920]

:lol Smart isn't how I would describe the Spurs tonight.

[DesignatedT]

fuckkkk

[Mugen]

why the fuck is Blair in and not Novak? or at least RJ?

[ace3g]

hopefully the trend of us losing big still stands = winning close games

[Rummpd]

win or lose ok with effort, pissed at the execution last minute or so.

[kjhip1]

hit a three for overtime...BOOK IT!!!!!

[boutons_deux]

Spurs won 1st qtr and lost the next 3

[spurspokesman]

I burned sleep time for this

[Crookshanks]

Even though I hate it, I have to say the Nuggets are playing much better team basketball without Melo.

[Bill_Brasky]

Cmon Gary....

[NRHector]

seriuosly Pop Bonner and Blair what the fuck are you thinking we need 3's shooters :bang

[Borosai]

Those easy misses earlier in the game. Suck.

[TampaDude]

Wow...39 fucking FTAs for Denver...no wonder we lost. Fucking refs.

[maddnezz]

Tony Fuckin Parker didnt pass to wide open Jefferson Before Manu's 3 miss same as always. I know someones gonna gripe me out about this. Whatever......

[ducks]

Step-back 3!? Really? :pctoss

manus favorite shot:bang:bang

[Spurologist]

All the chuckers have had a field day. DAMN

[Death In June]

Spurs best defensive possessions came with Tiago playing minutes alongside Dice. Dont know why pop went away from it.

[TE]

C'mon. Let's go. Make that three.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

If anybody was going to choke, it would be Felton..he cost me $ earlier in the year with his choking, missing a FT with 20 seconds left, to kill my spread..

Pop needs to run a play for Neal here..I wouldn't be surprised if he tries to get RJ or Bonner though..

Do you keep a ledger? Make a profit? Is it just a sideline, or do you do it for a lining?

[DPG21920]

TP corner 3. Do it.

[Libri]

Neal will be the decoy.

[Avitus1]

Fuck!

[Bulwark]

Two misses by Gino at the end

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Terribly play at the end there.

[DesignatedT]

manu 2 terrible shots

[Juggity]

Trash, that was trash

[Borosai]

Manu...

[Bill_Brasky]

Manu.......why??

[duncan228]

Ugh.

[TE]

game over. fuck my life.

[HarlemHeat37]

Spurs play a tough game, but end the game on 3 horrible shots from Parker and Ginobili..what a wasted effort..obviously refs were huge, too..

[JohnnySixString]

Spurs let them shoot 51%. That might have something to do with it.

[CFH]

Oh well

[Spurminator]

Well shit.

[Mugen]

Pop cost us the game. Plain and simple.

[DPG21920]

Great fucking play :cry

This loss is on Bonner/RJ/Pop

[Spurs Brazil]

This loss is on Blair/Bonner

Great job by the rest of the team. Big props

[spurs1990]

It's official. Manu thinks he's Jordan.

[timtonymanu]

LMAO terrible execution.

Manu and TP terrible in the end.

[ffadicted]

wut lol 2 timeouts and that's the play we come up with?

[Chomag]

Manu.. come on m,an, you could have gotten a better shot then a fade away 3 pointer.

[ducks]

manu refusing to pass FUCKIN BALL HOG

[LakerHater]

DAMN, Spurs jus feel apart down the stretch!!!

[loveforthegame]

Thank goodness we had Ginobli take that shot. Fucking stupid.

[Spursmania]

Wow- tough game. They are all worn out now. Definitely see 2 more losses coming. We missed you Timmy.:depressed

[maddnezz]

no trust of your teamates manu and tony fuck you 2 dummys

[TE]

Spurs play a tough game, but end the game on 3 horrible shots from Parker and Ginobili..what a wasted effort..obviously refs were huge, too..

Obviously.

[Bulwark]

air ball

[mexicanjunior]

What a stupid final play...Manu with 2 straight bad 3's to kill the team's chances...

[timtonymanu]

Tony Brothers is on my hate list for sure. Fuck him as much as Joey Crawford.

[tdunk21]

14th loss.....

[JohnnySixString]

I blame .... the Spurs for this loss,lol.

[Gouken]

That shot had no chance in hell.

[Slydragon]

Great Gino's confidence is going to go down after this game.

[ducks]

Two misses by Gino at the end

nothing new

manu shooting to many threes in high attitude

[Death In June]

manu refusing to pass FUCKIN BALL HOGPass that blame to your butt buddy Tony, as well.

[Pauleta14]

If only Blair ... :bang

[ducks]

Great Gino's confidence is going to go down after this game.

his shooting has sucked alot this season

[Spurologist]

The vaunted great spurs D continues

[Fireball]

That play was not the one drawn up hopefully ...

Good game though, we made the Nuggets fight harder at home than they had to in a long time

[tdunk21]

good game by felton and lawson though

[ace3g]

stat of night: 39-26 FT disparity

[TE]

Damn. Just a terrible all around loss. Really made my day that much more shitty.


Fuck.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

I'm surprised Pop didn't run a complex play for Neal. He should have.

Still, a fighting loss. Nothing to be concerned about at all.

[DPG21920]

Tough team, tough place to play. Denver can get scorching hot. Spurs played a really dumb game and were let down big time by RJ. Spurs needed his scoring and energy and he failed the Spurs. Again.

[G-Dawgg]

Wow...live by the 3...die by the 3......... the Spurs are disappointing. I say they get upset in the first round because they can't hit their 3's. lol

[Crookshanks]

Nuggets were gift wrapped this game. No Duncan, and the Spurs were on the wrong end of a bunch of bad calls - thanks NBA for giving this game to Denver. Refs should be fined for this game!

[ducks]

If only Blair ... :bang

not missed that dunk
or denver did not get all those free throws

[JohnnySixString]

Yep...good old Spurs defense......

[TE]

his shooting has sucked alot this season

You do know that Parker had the ball on the possession that could've put the Spurs up.


STFU idiot.

[HarlemHeat37]

Pop is usually very good at drawing up plays in these situations, surprised the Spurs ended up with such a shitty shot..

Still, Parker and Ginobili settling for horrible shots against a team that plays no D and has an even worse interior D than the Spurs..disappointing..

[NRHector]

I'm sorry the fuck refs let the nuggets back on the game fuck them

[Pauleta14]

On one good side, it was against a very good team without TD...

[spurs1990]

If Duncan had played....

[DesignatedT]

Yeah, Parkers last shot and Manus 2 last shots were just terrible.

[Arc]

ref'd.. nough said

[Chomag]

If this team needs to rely on 3 point shooting to win games. It's going to be ashort playoffs.

[TE]

lol ESPN showing the highlights of the Spurs-Nuggets game before anything.



Great ESPN.

[spurs1990]

hope OKC beats Denver in the 1st round that's for sure.

[dbestpro]

As bad as the refs were this one is on Pop. His rotations with the bigs and Neal in thr 3rd quarter was putrid.

[DPG21920]

I'm surprised Pop didn't run a complex play for Neal. He should have.

Still, a fighting loss. Nothing to be concerned about at all.

Do you eat sunshine for breakfast? There is plenty to be concerned about. Like the fact Bonner is going to get major minutes and has regressed. Or the fact RJ can't step up in any situation and has repeatedly let the Spurs down. Spurs can't win without a top RJ and he hasn't been anywhere close to that in months.

[loveforthegame]

The Spurs shot themselves in the foot plenty of times this game but I thought Ginobli hurt them in the 4th quarter tonight. Parker wasn't much better.

Pop stays with Bonner but keeps Splitter and Novak glued to the bench. Genius.

I thought this was the game we could win with the other two being the toughest. Might not get a win on this road trip after all.

[Mugen]

officiating was atrocious but its not like the spurs were attacking the basket.

not gonna get many calls when you're settling for 32 three point attempts.

[Libri]

That play was not the one drawn up hopefully ...

Good game though, we made the Nuggets fight harder at home than they had to in a long time

That's what I'm thinking. Isolation play for Manu is too predictable.

[TampaDude]

I told y'all that if the Spurs lost the lead, they would not retake it.

[JohnnySixString]

I still say letting teams shoot 50+% isn't a good idea.

[Manu20]

Why do I have a feeling that the Spurs were just robbed?????

[LakerHater]

...Next 2 games wont be easy!

[NRHector]

On one good side, it was against a very good team without TD...

and with the help of the stupid refs too

[ducks]

Yeah, Parkers last shot and Manus 2 last shots were just terrible.

tp had a closer shot and was wide open
he also did not step back

refs were not calling fouls not smart to shot a layup

[Borosai]

Horrible execution down the stretch.

[ElNono]

lol playing Blair and Hill on that last play and sitting Novak and Neal

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Great Gino's confidence is going to go down after this game.

I highly doubt it. In fact, he'll probably look back at the tape, realise he took a lot of poor shots, and improve his shot selection next game.

[NRHector]

Why do I have a feeling that the Spurs were just robbed?????becuase they were

[8FOR!3]

It's hard to play defense when every time someone on Denver drives to the basket they're getting a call. That forced us to play the paint tight and left a lot of unnecessary wide open shots. No blame goes to Pop, Ginobili, or TP imo, the Spurs played hard against a tough team who had the refs on their side. Those Denver fans were obnoxious as fuck too.

[Libri]

Do you eat sunshine for breakfast? There is plenty to be concerned about. Like the fact Bonner is going to get major minutes and has regressed. Or the fact RJ can't step up in any situation and has repeatedly let the Spurs down. Spurs can't win without a top RJ and he hasn't been anywhere close to that in months.

RJ can't motivate himself. Pop needs to rip into his ass every damn game!

[Killakobe81]

stat of night: 39-26 FT disparity

agree they got some home cookin...but how many 3's did the Spurs take?
What about the 3 by Neal on a 3 on 1 break inside of 5 minutes?

[Fireball]

I told y'all that if the Spurs lost the lead, they would not retake it.

well, you had nothing to lose ... win win situation :lol

[NRHector]

lol playing Blair and Hill on that last play and sitting Novak and Neal

yeah that was fucking stupid like dumbass bonner is our savior

[ducks]

You do know that Parker had the ball on the possession that could've put the Spurs up.


STFU idiot.

manu chocked tp did not

[moisaenz]

Spurs sucked at defending the three....

[Arc]

duncan is out and splitter still can't get over 20m..

is something wrong with him or is pop really that fucked up?

[Death In June]

Spurs can't survive the absence of TD with Blair/Hill/RJ/Bonner sucking. One of those four needs to get their shit straight.

[Pauleta14]

not missed that dunk
or denver did not get all those free throws


not only the dunk, he missed 2 other EASY layup, each time to increase the lead!!!!

instead, fast break and the nuggest stay in the game ...

:bang:bang:bang:bang:bang:bang:bang:bang:bang:bang :bang:bang:bang

I'm so mad at him that I stoped caring about Bonner suckiness...:lol

[Mugen]

Dice was a warrior out there and Splitter was rock solid.

Blair/Bonner combo is a fucking joke.

[ElNono]

sucks because we shot lights out...

Hill another pale game... RJ and Bonner letting Harrington dominate (27 points)...

[timtonymanu]

Poor McDyess. Guy played his ass off in the final minutes and these guys choked. This better not be a pattern in the playoffs especially since he's about to hang them up.

[DPG21920]

RJ can't motivate himself. Pop needs to rip into his ass every damn game!

He does. Everyone does. You literally see them yelling at RJ and he doesn't respond. It is definitely cause for concern.

So is Manu's overall play, except he gives full effort while RJ does not. Manu makes mistakes and RJ is content to just be the guy who doesn't mess up.

[Capt Bringdown]

This was an extremely winnable game - we definitely snatched defeat from the jaws of victory tonite.

Spurs collapsed after Splitter picked up his 4th and Pop went with Bonner/Blair and then micro-ball in the 4th.

Blair deserves the goat horns tonight, as his play was strictly scrub.

[ducks]

I highly doubt it. In fact, he'll probably look back at the tape, realise he took a lot of poor shots, and improve his shot selection next game.

him watching film YEAH right
he has not improved his shot selection all year

[AnthonyM]

lol bonner has dropped 20% (57 to 37%) in his 3pt shooting from feb to march.

definitely not promising for the playoffs

[PÒÓCH]

what disturbs me the most is having to lose to those low class thug wanna be's,
who have to pound their chests and do those gay little dances after every made dunk and free throw.:ihit


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xl4WN4La18

[Pauleta14]

I highly doubt it. In fact, he'll probably look back at the tape, realise he took a lot of poor shots, and improve his shot selection next game.


the problem is that he also MAKES a lot a poor shot he takes...

[DPG21920]

Pop also needs to revise his strategy IMO. He needs to switch Manu and TP's rotations up. Instead of resting Parker so he can be the man at the end, Manu needs to have that rest.

[mexicanjunior]

It's hard to play defense when every time someone on Denver drives to the basket they're getting a call. That forced us to play the paint tight and left a lot of unnecessary wide open shots. No blame goes to Pop, Ginobili, or TP imo, the Spurs played hard against a tough team who had the refs on their side. Those Denver fans were obnoxious as fuck too.

Pop's reluctance to play their 2nd best interior defender when the Nuggets torched them inside the paint is definitely worthy of blame. Splitter could have cleaned some of the Lawson-Felton show up...He also DNP'd Novak, who was the hottest 3 point shooter on the team. He definitely could have nailed alot of those open looks RJ shit on...

[Borosai]

Manu's 4-12 3pt% is sad. That last play was sad. Defense is sad.

[JohnnySixString]

Games like this make the glass look half empty. Then you realize it was never full to begin with,lol.

[Arc]

stop trying to place the blame on RJ ffs. you should all know by now that RJ has a hard time creating his own shot. also, pop doesn't run a single goddamn play for him. if he hits his threes, then he has a good night, but if he doesn't.... well, people say he sucks. he's not a three point shooter, wake the fck up people!

this loss is on the homer refs, and on pop for sticking with blair/bonner for too long which allowed the nuggets to get hot. with no big to guard the paint, they got to do whatever they wanted in the paint.

[maddnezz]

Bonner and Blair were on the floor together 2 long . Pop just dosent understand that in practice that shit can work because you start and stop and run the plays over and over. In real time not so much Hell maybe the owner need to say something to his stuborn ass cause I guarentee other people other than us here on Spurstalk are seeing the same thing we are.....for extended min Bonner and Blair just dosent work. Ever....................................ever...... ......................ever,ever,ever.

[NRHector]

Manu's 4-12 3pt% is sad. That last play was sad. Defense is sad.you know what's more sad? the stupid coach that doesn't know when to make the right sub

[TampaDude]

This was the game I expected us to win despite the absence of TD. We will lose every game until Timmy comes back.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

him watching film YEAH right
he has not improved his shot selection all year

Are you ever goingto wake up and stop hating?


the problem is that he also MAKES a lot a poor shot he takes...

But his shot selection today was particularly bad - I think he'll cringe when he sees them and ask himself "what was I thinking?" Manu just wants to win, and he'll realise he potentially cost us the game today.

[LakerHater]

http://209.160.24.97/ds_img_direct.php?i=pop.jpg&t=8&d=1fjdcjav7c&x=360&y=480&l1=169&l2=61

[Libri]

He does. Everyone does. You literally see them yelling at RJ and he doesn't respond. It is definitely cause for concern.

So is Manu's overall play, except he gives full effort while RJ does not. Manu makes mistakes and RJ is content to just be the guy who doesn't mess up.

That's what kills me about RJ. He has ability but it's wasted because of his weak psyche.

[DesignatedT]

Denver has been playing awesome as of late especially at home. We weren't missing much but they countered with making everything also plus getting to the line. That team is scary right now at home although we would definitely beat that team in our house and with Duncan.

[mexicanjunior]

This was the game I expected us to win despite the absence of TD. We will lose every game until Timmy comes back.

Agreed...but don't say it too loud or the douches on this board will call you a "pussy" for not "believing" enough...

[Manu20]

At least we know Dice is in playoff form :toast

[Capt Bringdown]

It's looking more and more like our championship ambitions were decided by a stroke of a pen when Bonner re-signed.

[Mugen]

Agreed...but don't say it too loud or the douches on this board will call you a "pussy" for not "believing" enough...

you're actually a pussy though...tbh...

[DesignatedT]

Denver leads the entire league in FTA per game. Makes sense now.

[ducks]

are you ever goingto wake up and stop hating?



But his shot selection today was particularly bad - i think he'll cringe when he sees them and ask himself "what was i thinking?" manu just wants to win, and he'll realise he potentially cost us the game today.


manu is 3rd in nba at 3 point attempts and shooting at just .350 thats not something to be proud of.

not ducks

[ducks]

you know what's more sad? the stupid coach that doesn't know when to make the right sub

yeah he should have benched manu when I told him in the first quarter for jacking up ill advised threes

[mexicanjunior]

you're actually a pussy though...tbh...

Meh...from a douche like you, it really doesn't mean much...tbh

[crc21209]

This was probably the easiest game for the Spurs to get on this road trip, and they lost. I know Denver is a tough place to play because of the altitude and the crowds energy, but they've won there over and over again. Portland is just a fucking place the Spurs never seem to be able to get a win at. And Memphis, well we already know Memphis is a very tough matchup for the Spurs....Fuck....:td

[LakerHater]

What happend to Splitter in the 2nd half?

[crc21209]

What happend to Splitter in the 2nd half?

+1. After he picked up his 3rd or 4th foul (cant remember exactly) in the 3rd quarter, we never saw him again....

[TampaDude]

What happend to Splitter in the 2nd half?

Altitude + Lack of playing time = FAAAAADE!!!!!

[Sean Cagney]

This was probably the easiest game for the Spurs to get on this road trip, and they lost. I know Denver is a tough place to play because of the altitude and the crowds energy, but they've won there over and over again. Portland is just a fucking place the Spurs never seem to be able to get a win at. And Memphis, well we already know Memphis is a very tough matchup for the Spurs....Fuck....:td

So we have Portland twice, Memphis and Boston too without TIM! GOODBYE #1 seed, soon to say the least. We could drop 5 in a row easily there.

[duncan228]

+1. After he picked up his 3rd or 4th foul (cant remember exactly) in the 3rd quarter, we never saw him again....

It was his fourth.

[LakerHater]

+1. After he picked up his 3rd or 4th foul (cant remember exactly) in the 3rd quarter, we never saw him again....
Yeah, I thought he did a pretty decent job.

[crc21209]

It was his fourth.

Ahh, thanks 228! :tu

[Pauleta14]

At least we know Dice is in playoff form :toast


He won't be for a longtime if we have to overplay him...

I really fear the next 2 road games

[crc21209]

This game has many reasons why the Spurs lost, but let's look at the main reasons why:

1. The Spurs simply stopped moving the damn ball in the 4th quarter and went to TP and Manu ISOs way too much....

2. Manu's shot selection in the 4th was horrible....

3. I don't like to pull the ref card, but some of the calls all game were beyond horrible, even Sean called it out. Some of the whistles were when the Spurs were already dribbling up the court on offense, come on now. As soon as Dice came into the game with 3 fouls, he picked up #'s 4 and 5 within a 2 minute span. Which leads me to...

4. When Dice picked up those 2 quick fouls, it killed the Spurs defense and chance at winning the game. It also killed his aggressiveness on defense and on the boards after that. I think he was subbed out right away for Bonner for a brief time, which led to another Harrington bucket. Had Dice been in there, the end result MIGHT have been different.

5. No Tiago in the 4th at all? Really?

6. When Al Harrington, who has been a POS all season long, goes off for 5 threes on you for 27 points or whatever it was....you just gotta let it go. Dude was celebrating like he won a title...:lol

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

At least we know Dice is in playoff form :toast

Damn straight he is! Totally different player when we get to the business end of the season.

:toast to you, Dice.

[TampaDude]

We were lucky to not lose by 15. But for 14 missed FTs, Denver blows us out.

[jimo2305]

fuck it.. i know im late to this but manu trying to shoot over martin for a GW was just damn stupid.. why not give it to the man with the hot hand? gary neal!

[ElNono]

fuck it.. i know im late to this but manu trying to shoot over martin for a GW was just damn stupid.. why not give it to the man with the hot hand? gary neal!

Because Gary was watching from the bench?

[ElNono]

Actually, I take that back... he was out there... I just rewatched the play

[duncan228]

Feel like one got away, Spurs fans? McDyess agrees: "We had it in the bag, it seems like." Golden opp. to get hard-to-come-by W w/o Duncan.

[LakerHater]

Thats the xact same feelin I had!!

[duncan228]

Just some quotes, hit the link for the whole piece.


Spurs Duncan-less and defeated in Denver (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/03/23/lead-slips-away-in-denver-as-chandler-hits-key-shot/)
Jeff McDonald

...“They got us back on our heels,” Ginobili said. “We stopped being aggressive. We settled for too many jumpers.”


...“We had a chance to win the game,” said Neal, who enjoyed his first 20-point game since Dec. 30 at Dallas. “We didn’t execute down the stretch, and it cost us.”


...Ginobili’s last-ditch 3-point attempt, defended well by Martin, was way off mark.

“There were not many options,” Ginobili said.

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/03/23/lead-slips-away-in-denver-as-chandler-hits-key-shot/

[Sean Cagney]

We are fukked now without TIM and this loss, just face it. We are fucking FUCKED......... We will not win one of these next few games, LA will pass us.

[duncan228]

Chandler’s go-ahead basket lifts Nuggets (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2011032307)

The old Nuggets couldn't beat the San Antonio Spurs. The new-look Nuggets found a way.

Wilson Chandler hit a go-ahead jumper with 29.3 seconds remaining and the Nuggets beat the Spurs for the first time this season, 115-112 on Wednesday night.

Denver improved to 11-4 since pulling off the blockbuster deal on Feb. 22 that sent Carmelo Anthony to New York and reshaped the Nuggets' roster with a bevy of newcomers and altered roles for holdovers.

"They're a little more unpredictable," said the Spurs' Manu Ginobili, who missed a game-tying 3-point attempt at the buzzer. "They have a bunch of players that can score and they can go to down the stretch."

The Nuggets snapped a five-game losing streak to the Spurs, including three previous encounters this season, behind inspired play from the reserves. Al Harrington led Denver with 27 points. Raymond Felton and J.R. Smith each added 18 points. Felton and Chandler, who had eight points, were among the players sent to Denver as part of the Anthony deal.

Gary Neal had 25 points for the Spurs, who lead the Western Conference and have already clinched a playoff spot. Ginobili had 20 points and Tony Parker added 19.

The Spurs were playing their first game since losing Tim Duncan indefinitely to a left ankle sprain in Monday night's night win over Golden State, but Ginobili said the team as a whole picked up the slack. He said a defensive letdown ultimately is what cost the spurs.

"We had a great opportunity. We were up 10-12 for a big part of the game," Ginobili said. "But they got us on our heels. We stopped being aggressive. We settled for too many jumpers and they made more than us."

Up by five at the half, the Spurs took a 93-90 lead into the fourth quarter and stretched it to 98-91 on a layup by Matt Bonner. That's when the Nuggets countered with an 11-0 flurry that put them in front 102-98 for their first lead since the game's opening moments. Harrington had 3-pointers to start and finish the surge.

"I've always felt like I was a rhythm player," Harrington said. "Sometimes it's hard for me to get it going in 4 or 5 minutes. I realize the more aggressive and better I play the more I'll play."

The Spurs tied it at 112 on a layup by Gary Neal with 1:34 remaining before Wilson hit the decisive jumper from just inside the foul line. After Ginobili missed a jumper, the Spurs fouled Felton, who made one of two free throws with 9.5 seconds left.

Harried by the Nuggets' Kenyon Martin, Ginobili's try on a tying 3-pointer ended up being an air ball.

"Six seconds to go, down by three and I had Kenyon Martin all over me. I couldn't get closer. It's not like I had a lot of options," Ginobili said.

Said Martin, the Nuggets' top defender who was assigned to Ginobili in the late going, "I take every possession personally, especially at the end of the game when the game is on the line and you can make a play. I got a hand up and he took two tough shots."

San Antonio hit nine of their 13 3-point attempts in the first half, and led by as many as 14 before settling for a 69-64 advantage at the break.

After Neal connected from beyond the arc to put the Spurs up 55-42 with 6:19 left in the second quarter, the Nuggets got close with a 13-2 run. Felton and Danilo Gallinari each hit 3-pointers and Harrington converted a three-point play during the surge.

NOTES: Nuggets G Arron Afflalo, sidelined since re-injuring his left hamstring at Miami on Saturday, is expected to return for next Wednesday's game against Sacramento. ... The 69-point total by the Spurs in the first half was three shy of their season high and one shy of the season high by a Denver opponent. Golden State scored 70 in the first half against the Nuggets on Feb. 9. ... The Nuggets have won eight straight at home.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2011032307

[duncan228]

Parker at his best

http://www.nba.com/video/games/nuggets/2011/03/23/0021001064_sas_den_play4.nba/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt2

Blair hammers it home

http://www.nba.com/video/games/nuggets/2011/03/23/0021001064_sas_den_play2.nba/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt2

[crc21209]

There's a good article on Timmy on the MYSA/Spurs Nation website that Pop stated Timmy may be back by the start of April.

Pop on Timmy: “I’m hoping it won’t be that long, a good four or five games for sure,” Popovich said. “Beyond that, I really won’t know until we get back.”

“Once he gets back on the court in a couple of days, we’ll be able to tell more,” Popovich said. “But four or five games for sure.”

Asked again Wednesday if team doctors had given any indication Duncan might miss the start of the playoffs, Popovich said, “No, no, no.”

Here's the whole article: http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/03/23/duncan-may-return-by-april/

[Obstructed_View]

We were lucky to not lose by 15. But for 14 missed FTs, Denver blows us out.

Unfortunately, Pop's going to ignore that stat, convince himself that the Spurs were actually in the game for the last three quarters and feel justified in running Bonner/Blair lineups for long stretches. I wouldn't be surprised if Bonner's starting before Duncan comes back, and it could be sooner rather than later.

[crc21209]

There's a good article on Timmy on the MYSA/Spurs Nation website that Pop stated Timmy may be back by the start of April.

Pop on Timmy: “I’m hoping it won’t be that long, a good four or five games for sure,” Popovich said. “Beyond that, I really won’t know until we get back.”

“Once he gets back on the court in a couple of days, we’ll be able to tell more,” Popovich said. “But four or five games for sure.”

Asked again Wednesday if team doctors had given any indication Duncan might miss the start of the playoffs, Popovich said, “No, no, no.”

Here's the whole article: http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/03/23/duncan-may-return-by-april/

I hadnt noticed 228 had posted this already in the Duncan update thread, my bad! But oh well, just in case people hadnt seen it, I'll leave it...

[Sean Cagney]

Unfortunately, Pop's going to ignore that stat, convince himself that the Spurs were actually in the game for the last three quarters and feel justified in running Bonner/Blair lineups for long stretches. I wouldn't be surprised if Bonner's starting before Duncan comes back, and it could be sooner rather than later.

SHYT we are fuked then!!!!!

[Obstructed_View]

Nah, not until Pop decides to start Bonner next to Duncan for the playoffs to give the team extra offensive firepower. Of course, having him out there will immediately part the lane like the Red Sea for Parker and Manu, who owe their ability to score inside to Matty.

[hommeaetage]

Nah, not until Pop decides to start Bonner next to Duncan for the playoffs to give the team extra offensive firepower. Of course, having him out there will immediately part the lane like the Red Sea for Parker and Manu, who owe their ability to score inside to Matty.

Fify

[LakerHater]

man, even Blair's miss dunk is in the highlights!! :depressed

[Capt Bringdown]

We are fukked now without TIM and this loss, just face it. We are fucking FUCKED......... We will not win one of these next few games, LA will pass us.

Not really. Blair & Bonner aren't getting us very far in the playoffs anyway, and regarding the possibility of actually beating the Lakers 4 times in a series, fuggetaboutit.

It'd take a team like the '99 or '03 Spurs to topple those cats. I wish it weren't so, but they're just too damn loaded. Most teams are lucky even to have a serviceable big, and they've got 3 good ones + Kobe. That's probably one of the most lethal lineups ever, & we simply can't compete.

[duncan228]

...just in case people hadnt seen it, I'll leave it...

:tu Good idea. It will probably be posted again, the update thread is off the front page.

[crc21209]

:tu Good idea. It will probably be posted again, the update thread is off the front page.

Yeah I noticed it was on Page 2 now that's why I decided to leave it....

[DieHardSpursFan1537]

It's too bad Spurs lost this one, but if we have homecourt advantage in the playoffs and maybe we run into these guys in the second round, Nuggets won't last a chance.

[DieHardSpursFan1537]

And props to Dice for the great hustle and rebounding and Gary Neal for career high points.

[duncan228]

Denver Nuggets 115, San Antonio Spurs 112 (http://www.48minutesofhell.com/)
by Jesse Blanchard
48 Minutes of Hell

Last night the new-look Denver Nuggets welcomed the San Antonio Spurs to the other side of the coin (http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?id=310323007)–a nod to the theory that games decided in the last minute tend to be 50-50 propositions.

This time, there were no Manu Ginobili heroics (http://www.48minutesofhell.com/san-antonio-spurs-113-denver-nuggets-112-manu-ginobili-sheela-na-gig) to pull the Spurs through, as the shooting guard took and missed two tough shots that could have pulled the Spurs even. For you at home, the night was either highly entertaining—given the pace and flow of the game—or extremely frustrating, again, given the pace and flow of the game.

Giving up 115 points on over 50 percent shooting from the field and the three-point line, and yet somehow having an opportunity at the end, will do that.

But what the game had in entertainment value, it lacked in context. At this point in the season games, recaps, and opinions are given with the playoffs in mind and in this game there were no playoff implications. This game stands alone to be enjoyed or lamented for what it is, and then left behind in muck of an 82-game season.

Keep reading → (http://www.48minutesofhell.com/san-antonio-spurs-112-denver-nuggets-115#more-13368)

[duncan228]

Notes on a scorecard: No Duncan, big worries to start road trip (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/03/24/notes-on-a-scorecard-no-duncan-big-worries-to-start-road-trip/)
Tim Griffin

Tim Duncan was back home in San Antonio Wednesday night watching his team play while he attempts to recover from a sprained left ankle.

The Spurs missed their captain against Denver in a multitude of ways.

Their defense struggled and they seemingly didn’t have enough minutes from his replacements to cover all game situations.

The result led to some ragged play in the fourth quarter that enabled the surging Nuggets to claim their eighth straight home victory.

Keep reading... (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/03/24/notes-on-a-scorecard-no-duncan-big-worries-to-start-road-trip/)

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/03/24/notes-on-a-scorecard-no-duncan-big-worries-to-start-road-trip/

[NugzFan]

so let me get this straight. the 70 games or so per year the spurs get all teh calls and the refs go unnoticed or were fine.

we get a couple calls (even though there were bad calls both ways) and now the refs were to blame? hah.

[NugzFan]

3. I don't like to pull the ref card, but some of the calls all game were beyond horrible, even Sean called it out. Some of the whistles were when the Spurs were already dribbling up the court on offense, come on now. As soon as Dice came into the game with 3 fouls, he picked up #'s 4 and 5 within a 2 minute span. Which leads me to...

no offense but sean calling out bad calls doesnt mean anything.

biggest. homer. ever.

[LakerHater]

no offense but sean calling out bad calls doesnt mean anything.

biggest. homer. ever.

Thats true.

Im done with this game, good game to the Nuggets!!:toast
Now onto Portland!!

[crc21209]

no offense but sean calling out bad calls doesnt mean anything.

biggest. homer. ever.

:lol OK Nugz "fan". :tu

[moisaenz]

All these paranoid threads after losing this game... Fricking Nuggets had an excellent three point shooting night and we had a bad night defending it.... I think we would have lost even if Duncan played......

[Obstructed_View]

All these paranoid threads after losing this game... Fricking Nuggets had an excellent three point shooting night and we had a bad night defending it.... I think we would have lost even if Duncan played......

If Duncan had played they only needed to foul two fewer times to win the game.