Game Blog: Jazz @ Spurs - April 9

[ShoogarBear]

Wow, that was awkward, Tiago.

[peskypesky]

Splitter!

[ace3g]

Splitter with the board and putback!!!

[Spurs Brazil]

good job Tiago

[alchemist]

what'd she win?
Tim gave a season ticket holder an autographed basketball but he wanted Ginobili's instead, Tim snatched the ball back and gave it to the lucky lady.

That guy was a moron though, refusing a gift from a Top 10 player :wow

[Capt Bringdown]

Pop is the wayward son, lost in the Bonnerball wilderness.
Tiago is the redeemer.
Tiago 3:16

[Juggity]

What's up with RJ not playing like utter shit today?
Is he sick or something?

[Mugen]

sweet putback by Tiago.

He's great when he doesnt think hes hakeem down in the block.

[Warlord23]

Splitter's offensive moves look like ass because he isn't strong enough. He tried to put his shoulder down and drive past his man but didn't get anywhere and got it blocked.

Having said that, he's showing a lot on defense, which is the primary reason he will be needed at some point in the playoffs against teams with size when our current backup "bigs" get emasculated.

[Fireball]

Wow, that was awkward, Tiago.

i thought he would go for one fake and an easy layup ... instead he got blocked ... still when Tiago is in the game its not a layup drill for opposing guards

[Ice009]

Splitter got us into the bonus.

Bonner not much better than Splitter at the line.

[Ice009]

Splitter got us into the bonus.

Bonner not much better than Splitter at the line.

[Splits]

Blair/Bonner/Splitter 1-8 from the line. Ugh.

[carina_gino20]

Tim gave a season ticket holder an autographed basketball but he wanted Ginobili's instead, Tim snatched the ball back and gave it to the lucky lady.

That guy was a moron though, refusing a gift from a Top 10 player :wow

:lmao

[crc21209]

what'd she win?

An autographed basketball signed by Tim Duncan...

[crc21209]

:lol Gordon Heyward....

[crc21209]

That's the Bonner I know, jackass....:lol

[Juanobili]

lmao! again!

[crc21209]

Splitter doing some work on D....:tu

[Spurologist]

Splitter with back 2 back drawn charges

[alchemist]

Tiago right under the basket feed him

[Libri]

Seriously, Splitter must be terrible in practice. There is no logical reason for why he is not getting significant minutes.

[carina_gino20]

Splitter :lol

[Death In June]

The contrast in splitter/bonners game is pretty comical.

[Bill_Brasky]

Bonner, bricking 3's.........

[Spurs Brazil]

Tiago working hard on D

[peskypesky]

Tiago having a really good game. :)

[crc21209]

Don't fuck this up guys.....

[Warlord23]

Bonner is 5-17 from 3 point land so far in April ... that's 29.4%

Given that his 3 point % fell from about 57% in February to 36% in March, I was hoping he had hit his lowest point and would start an upswing. But this is looking downright scary with the playoffs looming.

[Capt Bringdown]

Splitter's ability to draw fouls is good thing against lineups such as the Lakers, but nooooo...

[Fireball]

Tiago having a really good game. :)

he did not have a bad game for weeks

[Mugen]

Pop shoulda sat Bonner after he made his last 3. Let him go out on a high note.

[Juanobili]

I know we really want to see Tim and Tiago on the court at the same time but... has it EVER happened? I can't recall ever seeing it.

[LakerHater]

Don't fuck this up guys.....
Yeah hopefully Spurs can get a good W while restin Tim!

[Capt Bringdown]

But this is looking downright scary with the playoffs looming.

Should we be surprised? Everyone could see this coming except for Pop.

[Spurs Brazil]

Bonner is 5-17 from 3 point land so far in April ... that's 29.4%

Given that his 3 point % fell from about 57% in February to 36% in March, I was hoping he had hit his lowest point and would start an upswing. But this is looking downright scary with the playoffs looming.

The snowman

[Fireball]

When Bonner clanks three open 3s in a row you have to bring in Novak for him ... I mean who else can throw up shit like that and stays on the floor for extended minutes

[crc21209]

Lucky shot from Big Ears Watson....

[peskypesky]

damn. losing the lead. :(

[Arc]

too many bonner 3s...

[crc21209]

Fuck you Matt Bonner you piece of trash.....

[Bill_Brasky]

Utah is getting extremely lucky.

And Bonner sucks.

[crc21209]

Pop, come on...Bonner is fucking this shit up. Put Novak in and see if he can make some damn shots....

[Fireball]

could we at least contest their jump shots?

[crc21209]

Matt Bonner needs to really do something to piss off Pop, like come on to his wife or something so Pop can stop playing him....:lol

[Libri]

I know we really want to see Tim and Tiago on the court at the same time but... has it EVER happened? I can't recall ever seeing it.

It hasn't happened.

[alchemist]

was that Udoka?

[LakerHater]

WTF Gary!!?

[crc21209]

:lol Fucking Devin Harris....

[Spurologist]

Poor kid got a face full of Devin Harris' forearm

[Spurs Brazil]

Why small ball now?

[Juanobili]

It hasn't happened.

:grim: damn... crazy

[TVI]

Wow...Bonner really sucking big time tonight...

[toki9]

Why small ball now?

Because Pop's out of good ideas?

[LakerHater]

nice lay in Tony!!

[crc21209]

:lol WEAK ass calls by the refs....

[CFH]

Refs calling everything now

[Bill_Brasky]

Refs suddenly trying to get the Spurs in foul trouble........

[crc21209]

Rj 333333333333333333333!!!!!!

[Spurologist]

Rrrrrrrrrjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj 33333333333333333333

[Warlord23]

At least RJ seems to be finding his shot

[TVI]

Tony making things happen

[Nathan89]

44% and rising.

[CFH]

Spurs need this RJ in the playoffs

[Capt Bringdown]

Jefferson's first 20 point game since when, November?

[LakerHater]

Rj hits a 3 & could giv it right back!!! :bang

[crc21209]

Great move by Blair, and good garbage pick-up by Splitter...

[Nathan89]

Splitterific

[TVI]

I'd sure like to see some separation in the next few minutes

[Ice009]

Sean Elliott telling fans to step up their game for the playoffs. You guys in San Antonio BETTER BRING IT.

[peskypesky]

nice pass from Blair to Tiago!

[rwb]

You know, as much as I respect Dice and think he's needed on the team for his steadiness and experience, I still don't want him starting. I want things back like tonight where everyone is comfortable and the Blair/Bonner combination is limited and the Spurs are looking like the team that got them the best record in the NBA. How nice not to have to scream at my TV once. Yet. Blair just doesn't bring a spark like Manu does; he just plays better as a starter...unless Bonner starts too:shootme

[crc21209]

Al DWI Jefferson....:lol

[Juanobili]

Splitter!!!!

[peskypesky]

Tiago with another put-back!

[Spurologist]

Tiago!!!!

[CFH]

Splitter with 6 straight points

[crc21209]

Tiago has a pretty damn good knack for the ball....:tu

[crc21209]

Millsap for 3....GTFO here...:lol

[TVI]

Splitter bailing the boys out tonight with his hustle

[crc21209]

Get TP out already! :lol

[Juanobili]

Jefferson >:[

[ShoogarBear]

Yuck. The D is still not good.

[Spurs Brazil]

It's the Tiago show!!!

[carina_gino20]

Tiago with a big FU to Pop :lol

[Capt Bringdown]

Splitter scores, rebounds and defends as good, if not better than Blair.

[FaM0us Skins]

lol Millsap shot a three on that other play

[tdunk21]

awesome tiago.....very good 4th quarter for tiago.....

[Spurologist]

Jefferson came to play today

[tdunk21]

Jefferson came to play today

[LakerHater]

8 point lead, hope Spurs can hold on to it!!

[DMC]

Tiago is the reason the Spurs have any lead at all right now.

[alchemist]

lol Millsap shot a three on that other play
HCiHOpNJXnc

he can get it going

[DMC]

Jazz pour on points like crazy.

[Capt Bringdown]

Tiago with a big FU to Pop :lol
Pop with a big FU to Splitter.

[Mugen]

Jefferson is a beast when he's on. Probably the most post moves for a big man in the NBA.

[Bill_Brasky]

Splitter is doing some great things out there.

Does it seem like Al Jeff is scoring all the Jazz points right now? Dude knows how to work in the low block.......

[Spursnlego]

Yuck. The D is still not good.

Correction, Jazz making shots...

[TVI]

Need some defensive stops...I hate seeing them just trade baskets.

[GinobiliForTres]

Jazz pour on points like crazy.

They are getting so lucky.

Manu is 0-0 from three tonight. Definitely not used to that.

[DMC]

Tiago didn't even acknowledge Pop when he went to the bench earlier, and Pop was trying to compliment him. Pop has to see this shit.

[Pauleta14]

Sean Elliott telling fans to step up their game for the playoffs. You guys in San Antonio BETTER BRING IT.


:ihit:flag:

[Fireball]

awesome tiago.....very good 4th quarter for tiago.....

you can see he is exhausted, thats why his D is not as good on Jefferson as it could be ... but Jefferson is really good ... he can burn Timmy as well

[crc21209]

Blair sucks ass at the line tonight.....

[ThePop]

hcihopnjxnc

he can get it going

wow

[peskypesky]

Splitter with the offensive board!

[crc21209]

:lol Splitter and that hook shot.....

[Juanobili]

Tiago!!!

[peskypesky]

Tiago fucking shit up tonight!!!

[FaM0us Skins]

Splitter is the man

[duncan228]

Fun fourth watching Splitter.

[LakerHater]

What a last minute by the SPURS!!! :flag:

[Bill_Brasky]

Somebody should make a .gif of Pop saying "Good job Tiago. Good job". :lol

[Libri]

Tiago didn't even acknowledge Pop when he went to the bench earlier, and Pop was trying to compliment him. Pop has to see this shit.

Yes, I noticed that.

[Nathan89]

Fun fourth watching Splitter.

Splitter228

[peskypesky]

Yes!!! SPurs win!!!

[TIMMYD!]

Tiago is killing out there!!!

[Chomag]

All Splitter needs is Playing time. I hope we don't see Bonner anymore untill next season.

[SpursNextRomanEmpire]

Great performance from Tiago in the last few minutes, and damn he can take charges

[ShoogarBear]

buuuut . . . . .

Splitter -1
Bonner +1

[Capt Bringdown]

Crazy to think how good we'd be if we'd made an real effort to integrate Splitter into the rotation instead of making him the last man off the bench.

[alchemist]

Tiago is gassed, nice to see that

[tdunk21]

balanced scoring and hats off to tiago's 4th quarter performance

[Spurs Brazil]

Good win. Tiago with a solid 4th quarter. RJ with a great game

I know I'm asking too much but it would be nice to see 25-30 minutes of Tiago against Gasol/Bynum on Tuesday

[Warlord23]

All Splitter needs is Playing time. I hope we don't see Bonner anymore untill next season.

Too bad you don't have the 4 rings that are necessary to have a say in this matter.

[MeesterMarcus]

Splitter did great tonight. Bonner in the fourth was awfulllll. I wanted anybody to replace him there. Well, good win. WooHoo.

[Fireball]

Great performance from Tiago in the last few minutes, and damn he can take charges

and he was really gassed because of so much playing time

[Chomag]

Too bad you don't have the 4 rings that are necessary to have a say in this matter.
I forgot this was not a fans site sorry.

[Holden_Caulfield]

larry owens and otheus jeffers did good tonight too. nice to see former spurs do good.

[DMC]

Somebody should make a .gif of Pop saying "Good job errr... what's your name again?. Good job". :lol
fify

[Warlord23]

I forgot this was not a fans site sorry.

I was just being sarcastic ... should've used the blue font :downspin:

[Mugen]

Splitter just doing the things Splitter is supposed to do. Nothing to see here. Move along.

[silverblk mystix]

Tiago with the fuckin' crowbar just prying that fuckin' Pop door open slightly...

Pop will respond with a DNP next game.

[Ice009]

The snowman

Someone should get a real snowball and just ditch it in Pop's face. You think that would wake him up?

Any lineup with Splitter and Blair or Splitter and Bonner is so much better than the Bonner and Blair lineup IMO. I understand it's tough to do that this late in the season though.

[Chomag]

I was just being sarcastic ... should've used the blue font :downspin:
I know man, so was I on that last one lol

[Splits]

Nice win in a somewhat meaningless game. Bonner almost lost it for us in the 4th. Splitter was a beast, won the game for us with his defense and knack for the offensive glass. 5 offensive boards was HUGE. Props to the Splitman.

[duncan228]

RJ being interviewed on NBA TV.

[LakerHater]

Somebody should make a .gif of Pop saying "Good job Tiago. Good job". :lol
http://i51.tinypic.com/rat94h.jpg

[Bill_Brasky]

Tiago/Blair play pretty well together.

[DMC]

Nice win in a somewhat meaningless game. Bonner almost lost it for us in the 4th. Splitter was a beast, won the game for us with his defense and knack for the offensive glass. 5 offensive boards was HUGE. Props to the Splitman.

It's not a meaningless game. It could be the decider for HCA in the Finals.

[Sean Cagney]

All Splitter needs is Playing time. I hope we don't see Bonner anymore untill next season.

THIS IS POPS PUPPET BRO! GET REAL :rollin:bang

[DMC]

What I like about Tiago is that he's all business, and damn, he caused like what, 10 fouls? Too bad those don't show up on the stat sheet.

[Spurs Brazil]

Can we get the gifs of Hill and RJ dunks?

[Ice009]

Matt Bonner needs to really do something to piss off Pop, like come on to his wife or something so Pop can stop playing him....:lol

Actually, is there any hot girls in SA that want to take one for the team? A hot chick needs to come onto Matt, and then lock him up in the basement, and do not let him out until after the playoffs j/k.

[Mugen]

C'mon Pop. There's still time. I still sense some good in you. Come back from the dark side.

[duncan228]

Hill Throws Down

http://www.nba.com/video/games/spurs/2011/04/09/0021001191_uta_sas_play2.nba/

Jefferson Goes Up

http://www.nba.com/video/games/spurs/2011/04/09/0021001191_uta_sas_play3.nba/

[easy7]

Hell of a game. Glad to see the team improving..

[Spurs Brazil]

Hill Throws Down

http://www.nba.com/video/games/spurs/2011/04/09/0021001191_uta_sas_play2.nba/

Jefferson Goes Up

http://www.nba.com/video/games/spurs/2011/04/09/0021001191_uta_sas_play3.nba/

Thanks!

[Splits]

It's not a meaningless game. It could be the decider for HCA in the Finals.

I didn't say it was meaningless. I said it was somewhat meaningless. The chances of meeting the Bulls in the Finals are slim, and I doubt that the best record in the NBA is driving Pop's decisions right now. Stay healthy, stay fresh, win if we can. I doubt we see any of the big 3 playing 30+ against the Lakers, which is another "somewhat meaningless" game. Just like tonight.

[LakerHater]

Can we get the gifs of Hill and RJ dunks?

http://i56.tinypic.com/2ecjlhv.jpg

http://i53.tinypic.com/2vla07c.jpg

[Splits]

http://i53.tinypic.com/2vla07c.jpg


I swear, Jefferson was hanging on the rim looking around, thinking "is there anyone there to teabag like I did David Lee? Dammit, there isn't. This woody is going to waste"

[Strategic]

Tiago gains a ton of confidence in this game, only to get beat down like a red headed step kid (not Bonner) in practice tomorrow.

[LakerHater]

http://i56.tinypic.com/2ecjlhv.jpg

http://i53.tinypic.com/2vla07c.jpg

http://i51.tinypic.com/rat94h.jpg

[Spurs Brazil]

http://i56.tinypic.com/2ecjlhv.jpg

http://i53.tinypic.com/2vla07c.jpg

Thanks a lot

[LakerHater]

Thanks a lot

:toast

[duncan228]

Great work as always LakerHater. :tu

[LakerHater]

Great work as always LakerHater. :tu

Thank You :toast

[TMTTRIO]

Nice win tonight. Manu played too much tonight. I think they should've sat Manu out. He's the only one of the big three that has pretty much played every game this season other than one game. He's getting older so he can't play as much and if we want him ready for the playoffs he needs rest. Even tonight he ended up playing 27 minutes. He seemed to get hit in the hip pretty good and they continued to play him (he kept holding his leg for a while). Of course after that he struggled like usual. This would be a great opportunity for Hill, Neal, and the others to get some confidence.

[duncan228]

San Antonio Spurs 111, Utah Jazz 102: Meh (http://www.48minutesofhell.com/)
by Andrew A. McNeill
48 Minutes of Hell

AT&T CENTER — In a game that felt like it really didn’t matter all that much, there were a few noticeable things that happened. Tim Duncan sat out another fourth quarter, Indiana George got real aggressive and dunked on somebody and Richard Jefferson had his first 20-point game since November.

But according to Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich, Tiago Splitter was the story of the Spurs’ 111-102 win over the Jazz.

Keep reading → (http://www.48minutesofhell.com/san-antonio-spurs-111-utah-jazz-102-meh#more-13651)

[DMC]

"Portland, New Orleans and Memphis all had scouts at the game watching the Spurs in preparation for a possible first round matchup."

I would like to read the Tiago Splitter reports.

[TampaDude]

Spurs just TCB...61-19, bitches!

GO SPURS GO!!!!!

[ElNono]

Good win, resting Dice all game and Timmy at the end... I'll take it.

[duncan228]

Some post-game quotes.


Richard Jefferson lead Spurs' reserves to win over Jazz (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2011040924)
Paul J. Weber

Richard Jefferson said the San Antonio Spurs want to finish with the NBA's best record. Then someone told him how many more victories it could take to assure that.

"We got to win two more?" Jefferson said.

They'll try, but the Spurs have other priorities.

Jefferson scored 20 points and the Spurs, mindful of the playoffs starting next weekend, won their fourth in a row while starting to rest some players in a 111-102 win over the Utah Jazz on Saturday night.

San Antonio (61-19) has already locked up the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, and, with two games left, are 1 1/2 games ahead of Chicago for the NBA's best record. Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker all started and played more than 20 minutes while Antonio McDyess got the night off.

Coach Gregg Popovich said he's "certainly not going to overplay anybody" with the playoffs starting next week but also doesn't want to fall out of rhythm..

"We've played this well all season long we'd love to finish out atop the NBA," said Duncan, who had 10 points. "We're going to try to do the best of managing minutes and winning games and doing that all at the same time."

Al Jefferson scored 23 points as the Jazz lost for the 10th time in 11 games, unable to pull a second upset this week after beating the Los Angeles Lakers.

That stunner Wednesday is what clinched the fifth No. 1 seed for the Spurs in the Tim Duncan era. The Spurs visit the Lakers on Tuesday, but with little at stake, the game hardly figures to be a potential Western Conference finals preview.

The Jazz, who won't be in the playoffs for the first time in five years, just want to get through their season finale Wednesday.

Coach Tyrone Corbin had only 10 healthy players and guessed it might stay that way in their final two games. Derrick Favors scored 17 points and Paul Millsap added 16.

"We gotta finish this season with our head up high and have some pride for ourselves. We just ain't going out here and lay down," Al Jefferson said. "We're going to play hard. I really thought we had a chance to win the game tonight. We just made too many mistakes."

Ginobili had 12 points in 27 minutes and Parker had 13 in 29 minutes. Both played into the fourth when the Jazz crept within single digits.

Utah trailed by 11 at halftime but quickly fell behind in the third, when San Antonio stretched the lead to 17 while shooting 12 of 15 from the field.

Richard Jefferson put together his first 20-point game since November by shooting 6 of 10 from the field and hitting four 3-pointers. His most memorable play, however, came on an alley-oop dunk from Gary Neal moments after George Hill wowed the crowd with an impressive one-handed dunk over Earl Watson.

Who the Spurs will meet in the first round is still up in the air. Memphis held the No. 8 seed on Saturday but was a game behind New Orleans, which faces the Grizzlies on Sunday. Portland, currently holding the No. 6 spot, could also drop to the final slot.

"You take whoever comes," Jefferson said.

Devin Harris added 13 points for Utah on just 3 of 11 shooting. He also took two tumbles into the front row, the second time into a young fan. A member of the Spurs' training staff went over to check on the boy, who appeared to be OK.

Harris gave the boy a token of apology: his wristband.

NOTES: Popovich needs three wins to reach 800 with the Spurs. ... San Antonio swept the season series 3-0 over Utah. ... The Spurs must win their final two games (Lakers, Phoenix) to match their franchise-record 63 wins set in 2005-06.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2011040924

[duncan228]

Five quick takes: Jefferson’s offensive return adds another weapon to spread the court (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/09/five-quick-takes-jeffersons-offensive-return-adds-another-weapon-to-spread-the-court/)
Tim Griffin

...Gregg Popovich was careful bringing Tiago Splitter into the game, playing him only 2:46 in the first half. But when the rested Splitter came into the game in the second half, he looked like the second coming of Moses Malone in one of his best extended sequences of the season. Splitter finished with a monster 10-point, six-rebound effort in the fourth quarter. Was it Splitter’s fresh arrival against Utah’s tired players? Or is it a sign that Splitter is finally showing flashes of playing up to his potential?

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/09/five-quick-takes-jeffersons-offensive-return-adds-another-weapon-to-spread-the-court/

[Ice009]

Tim Griffin, what a clown. Thanks a lot of you're reading this.

Now you say it's a sign that he's playing up to his potential when about 10-12 days ago he was too fragile to play in the 4th quarter. The only thing that changed was that he got playing time in the 4th quarter. He's been playing this way for around 2-3 weeks now in the games he got decent court time.

[timtonymanu]

Didn't catch the game.

Based on the boxscore, Tiago had a good night again. I still don't think it gave Pop a wake up call.

[duncan228]

Rare 3-point sabbatical surprising for Ginobili (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/10/rare-3-point-sabbatical-surprising-for-ginobili/)
Mike Monroe

..."I didn’t get the opportunity,” he said. “It’s not that I passed shots that I didn’t take. I was just guarded the whole time, and I tried to attack and find open teammates.

“I realized after I went to the bench for the last time that I hadn’t shot one, but it’s no big deal. Once in a while, it’s good not to force it. If you’re open, you shoot; if you’re not, you just drive it.”

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/10/rare-3-point-sabbatical-surprising-for-ginobili/

[yavozerb]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqcRuPV753o

This is the way to finish up this thread...