Game Blog: Spurs vs Suns - April 3

[Fireball]

GO Denver !!!

[alchemist]

Hey...we just eliminated the Suns from playoff contention, too.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! :lmao
:lol that has to burn them a lot, those playoff bonus checks are no joke

[Fireball]

James Andersons -23 does not look good ... 4 TOs

[Crookshanks]

Hey...we just eliminated the Suns from playoff contention, too.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! :lmao

It's only fitting since they bounced us from the playoffs last year. Oh how far the Suns have fallen in one season!

[BillMc]

A win!

To paraphrase Gerald Ford: "And our long national nightmare is over."

[Capt Bringdown]

James Andersons -23 does not look good ... 4 TOs

Not impressed with him at all. Thank goodness Neal got the opportunity.

[DesignatedT]

Yeah, Anderson didn't look very impressive at all.

[TampaDude]

Okay...now it's Denver's turn...crush the Fakers!!!

[Fireball]

Okay...now it's Denver's turn...crush the Fakers!!!

if this game was in Denver, I had more confidence ...

[TampaDude]

It's only fitting since they bounced us from the playoffs last year. Oh how far the Suns have fallen in one season!

Yup...but getting that payback is still sweet. :hat

[TE]

if this game was in Denver, I had more confidence ...

Nuggets playing like a machine right now. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Nuggets go into LA and take this game.

[Capt Bringdown]

Now if we can just go 15 for 29 from downtown throughout the playoffs...

[Mugen]

i'd be surprised if the Nuggets only lose by single digits.

[TampaDude]

Now if we can just go 15 for 29 from downtown throughout the playoffs...

If we could actually do that, we'd be unstoppable. Don't hold your breath, though. :lol

[ElNono]

Great win... much needed... We won the 3 point lottery today though... when we do, we hardly lose. The question is what happens when it doesn't go in.

I liked Pop giving Tiago plenty of time while we were building the lead. I don't mind seeing Blair/Bonner when we're up 30+...

[Crookshanks]

Nuggets playing like a machine right now. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Nuggets go into LA and take this game.

Yeah - and those last 4 playoff spots are up for grabs. Right now Denver is 5th, but only 2 1/2 games up on Portland. I'm hoping Denver plays hard and takes the Fakers by surprise.

[silverblk mystix]

Great 1st half by Hill...it doesn't make up for how he got ass-raped in last season's playoff's and how badly he shit the bed...

but it's a start.

IF---and that is a big IF---

If Pop could trust enough to go with the 1st half's rotation in the playoffs...the spurs might just get on a HUGE roll...

but knowing Pop...he won't give the bench such an opportunity (especially Tiago) in the playoffs and will WEAR out the starters....

This is the first time in years that I have seen Bonner come into a game and actually play with balls...rebounding, hustling, even running like a man-for once...if ---another big-- IF----If Bonner HAS to be out there...he could watch the first half film and tell himself that this is the kind of effort he is capable of...and do it every time...then it wouldn't suck so bad that he is the first big off the bench...(it wouldn't even be necessary to hit so many threes-if he played this way) --but I am not holding my breath...

Now, if Denver can do the spurs a SOLID....

[Capt Bringdown]

Lakers lost what, only 1 game since the allstar break?

[Crookshanks]

Lakers lost what, only 1 game since the allstar break?

Yep - so hopefully the odds catch up and they're due for a loss. :ihit

[Fireball]

Nuggets don't play as if they want to win ...

[DesignatedT]

I wish Denver had more to play for. They are pretty much locked into that 5 seed.

[crc21209]

I wish Denver had more to play for. They are pretty much locked into that 5 seed.

Well at least if they win today, they clinch their playoff spot....

[DesignatedT]

van gundy is so fucking bad

[Pauleta14]

i'd be surprised if the Nuggets only lose by single digits.

this.

[duncan228]

Some post-game quotes.


Reeling Spurs stomp Suns to end 6-game slide (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2011040324)
By Paul J. Weber

The longest losing streak of Tim Duncan's career is over. The San Antonio Spurs coasted in a blowout and stayed atop the Western Conference.

Now they have to keep it up for five more games.

George Hill scored 29 points and the Spurs ended a six-game losing streak by beating up the Phoenix Suns 114-97 on Sunday. It was a cathartic rout after San Antonio went winless for nearly two weeks and squandered their once-comfortable position for the No. 1 seed in the West.

"Before the game, our three leaders spoke up and tried to say that everyone needs to hold themselves accountable," said Hill, referring to the championship core of Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. "It's not about one person on this team, it's about the whole team."

The win kept the Spurs at least 1 1/2 games ahead of the surging Los Angeles Lakers, who played later Sunday. Three of San Antonio's final five games are against teams out of the playoff race -- including Phoenix again -- but one of the other two is April 12 at the Lakers.

Thanks to San Antonio's untimely faltering, that game could decide who gets home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.

"Nobody will turn down momentum going into the playoffs," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.

Aaron Brooks and Channing Frye had 14 points apiece for the Suns. The loss guaranteed that Phoenix, which swept the Spurs out of the playoffs last year to reach the Western Conference finals, will miss the playoffs for the second time in three seasons.

Suns guard Steve Nash stayed in Phoenix because of the flu. Between the Suns missing their leading scorer and the Spurs desperate for a win, Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry had a bad feeling about this blowout even before it started.

"We knew they were going to have a reaction, obviously they lost six straight games," Gentry said. "They're fighting like crazy to stay ahead of the Lakers, and the Bulls. Obviously, it becomes really important to them, and they played that way."

Matt Bonner added 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Spurs (58-19), who are the NBA's winningest team but they have lost an air of dominance during the longest slide of Duncan's 14-year career.

San Antonio led the Lakers by seven games following its previous win on March 21. What followed was Duncan missing four games with an ankle injury, the Spurs choking away games late and jeopardizing the top seed that had looked all but certain.

"We've got a lot of confidence, and hopefully we can finish in first place," Parker said.

The Suns trailed by as many as 31 points, and San Antonio's 70 first-half points were two shy of its most in a half this season. Hill scored 24, tying the most points in a half for a Spurs player all season.

Richard Jefferson added 12 points and was the only Spurs starter in double-figures.

Jared Dudley had 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Vince Carter also scored 12 for Phoenix.

Although the Suns were officially eliminated on Sunday, they essentially saw their postseason hopes vanish during a miserable March. Phoenix went 5-11 last month and has lost 10 of 14.

It's been a steep fall for the team that took the Lakers to six games last year in the West finals. But an overhauled roster never made a late, long winning surge as Suns teams had in previous years.

Suns center Marcin Gortat didn't want to talk about whether finding the motivation is getting harder.

"I don't want to answer that question, but I'll just tell you one thing, I'm embarrassed," Gortat said. "I'm glad in the second half we stepped up a little bit and didn't get blown out by 40 or 50, but it's embarrassing."

NOTES: Gentry said Nash could play in Phoenix's next game at Chicago on Tuesday. ... The Spurs' previous longest skid in the Duncan era was four games. ... The Spurs will try to sweep the season series against the Suns on April 13 in the finale.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2011040324

[duncan228]

More quotes here.


San Antonio Spurs 114, Phoenix Suns 97: Slump buster (http://www.48minutesofhell.com/)
by Andrew A. McNeill
48 Minutes of Hell

AT&T CENTER — Stating the obvious, a number of things went right during the San Antonio Spurs’ 114-97 win over the Phoenix Suns on Sunday afternoon. It started off as a fairly close contest between two old rivals, despite the Suns missing Steve Nash (http://www.48minutesofhell.com/pregaming-spurs-vs-suns) with “flu-like symptoms,” and then George Hill entered the game.

Offensively, Hill dominated the first half for the Spurs. The Spurs guard scored 24 points in the first half, hitting eight of nine shots, including shooting four of five from 3-point range.

Keep reading → (http://www.48minutesofhell.com/san-antonio-spurs-phoenix-suns-slump-buster#more-13489)

[ajballer4]

Denver looks like they may have enough to pull out a W for us. Also, Gasol just went to the locker room. Didnt look serious, but could help Denver win this one

[Xylus]

Nice pass from Dick to Splitter.

Gross.

[TampaDude]

LOL Kobe took about 8 steps there. :lol

[TampaDude]

Damn...Kobe just traveled AGAIN and no call... :lmao

[ajballer4]

Denver is playing great D. I wouldnt hand the Thunder the first round series like most people are. Denver is solid

[TampaDude]

Denver is playing great D. I wouldnt hand the Thunder the first round series like most people are. Denver is solid

Yup...the Nuggz seem to have really benefited from their trade. They look great now.

[Mugen]

this.

i forgot about Kobes ability to chuck away a game against a good defensive team. :lol

[Pauleta14]

i forgot about Kobes ability to chuck away a game against a good defensive team. :lol


:lol

Man, I'm sooooo happy I was wrong!

I start to believe we can't lock the 1st place even before the Lakers game!!!!

They have to play AT Portland and against the Thunder before the us, if we win all our games...

ps/ See how I'm talking like I'm part of the team ("we...") :lol:lol

[Mugen]

:lol

Man, I'm sooooo happy I was wrong!

I start to believe we can't lock the 1st place even before the Lakers game!!!!

They have to play AT Portland and against the Thunder before the us, if we win all our games...

ps/ See how I'm talking like I'm part of the team ("we...") :lol:lol

I think if the Spurs beat ATL, we wrap up HC by the Laker game because I see the Lakers losing one of those games you mentioned.

Whether that HC is ultimately a good thing for the Spurs, i dont know because I think only OKC has the ability to beat LA in a 7 game series.

But when in doubt, I say go with the HC being a positive.

[duncan228]

Five quick thoughts: Why Hill shooting isn’t a bad thing for Spurs (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/03/five-quick-thoughts-why-hill-shooting-isnt-a-bad-thing-for-spurs/)
by Tim Griffin

...After the game, Hill joked that Spurs coach Gregg Popovich wanted him into the “Indiana George” role where he considers himself more of a scorer than in his career.

It seems to suit him well, and it’s not surprising.

Back in the day, he was one of the most noted gunners in Indiana high-school basketball history, averaging 36.2 points per game at Broad Ripple High School in Indianapolis during his senior season. It’s the fifth-highest single-season average in Indiana schoolboy history.

“Indiana George to me is to play like I did in high school and college, go out there and try to play super-aggressive,” Hill said.

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/03/five-quick-thoughts-why-hill-shooting-isnt-a-bad-thing-for-spurs/

*********************

Notes on a scorecard: The return of the Spurs’ perimeter game (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/03/notes-on-a-scorecard-the-return-of-the-spurs-perimeter-game/)
Tim Griffin

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/03/notes-on-a-scorecard-the-return-of-the-spurs-perimeter-game/

[mytespurs]

First reaction....whew with a sigh of relief-a win-FINALLY!!! I was unsure the Spurs would win this one, even though I followed the game via tweets....I was so sure Spurs were going to blow the lead somehow....glad they hung on.....hope this is the start of good things for the Spurs-I'm taking it one game at a time and I'm not going to get into relying on other teams to get the Spurs the top seed....Spurs may have to face OKC, Lakershow, Nuggets so they better be able to play well enough to beat these teams many are hoping help the Spurs advance.

[ace3g]

http://www.nba.com/spurs/photos/110403_49.jpg

looks like Bonner is going away from the play...

[Splits]

Anyone have a link to the replay? Still blacked out on LP

[Dex]

http://www.nba.com/spurs/photos/110403_49.jpg

looks like Bonner is going away from the play...

This pic pretty much sums up the defensive prowess of the Blair/Bonner front court in one snapshot.

[slick'81]

lol@ bonner running away

[Sean Cagney]

lol@ bonner running away

He sees the paint and runs off spite! Thats his hell there.

[Splits]

Anyone have a link to the replay? Still blacked out on LP

Does League Pass ever make nationally televised games available? Or are they blacked out forever? Would sure like to watch yesterday's game...

[Obstructed_View]

Does League Pass ever make nationally televised games available? Or are they blacked out forever? Would sure like to watch yesterday's game...

I don't think they do, which is why it's not worth the money to me.