Game Blog: Spurs @ Raptors - Feb. 15

[Amuseddaysleeper]

While the city of Toronto is still reeling from the effects of getting bombed by Mr. Linsanity, Half-Man Half-Amasian (hit a 3 at the buzzer to beat the Raps) the Spurs always get played tough in Toronto.

I've been to every Spurs/Raps game since 2004 and I'd say the split is 50-50 when the Spurs try to get the win at the ACC. Bargnani is still injured but the Raps can get hot in a hurry. I also think they're a little better than their record indicates as they only lost by 2 to the Lakers (even beat them last year) and had a hard fought game last night vs NY. Their defense has vastly improved since former Mavs assistant Dwane Casey took over.

Kleiza has been playing well for them lately. However, Calderon is who I'd keep my eye on the most. He had a career high 30 points vs the Lakeshow this past Sunday. The frontline of the Raps includes Amir Johnson and Aaron Gray who have been playing pretty well this year all things considered.


I will try to give a game report/thoughts from the ACC by tomorrow.

Ginobili usually murders the Raps, so while he's still rusty I hope he can bring out the magic :toast

:flag:

[lefty]

Spurs by 50

[Borosai]

Bonner with a smooth 22.

[urunobili]

first L of the RRT

[Texas_Ranger]

Jose has been great lately, but still their roster is pathetic, it should be a 15+ win.

[DBMethos]

I had to go to their website to figure out who was playing for them...wow, that's really a terrible roster. Need to stomp on them early and not let off the gas, so hopefully last night's game taught them something.

At least we can't get Ukic'd.

[DesignatedT]

This will be a tough game IMO. It will go down to the wire.

Spurs 97
Raps 93

[Robz4000]

I feel like the Spurs will come out with a chip on their shoulders. I'm expecting an easy win. All else fails, just find a way to win like last night.

[TDMVPDPOY]

should be easy win, no excuse for a loss here....

[DesignatedT]

should be easy win, no excuse for a loss here....

They have actually been playing pretty well. Lost to the Lakers by 2. Beat the Celtics, Lost to Miami by 6 and NY by 3 all in the last week or so

Not sure what you are expecting here but I doubt it's a 20 pt win.

[SpursNextRomanEmpire]

We will win, trust me.

[WeNeedLength]

Does anyone know if Pop will sit Timmy tonight??

[timvp]

Don Newman managed to call Tiago Splitter a "lunch pail guy" and a "blue collar guy" in the same sentence. Props. That earns him an A+ in Popovich 101.

[WeNeedLength]

Just heard Duncan will start tonight. :tu

[ElNono]

Go Spurs Go! :flag:

[SpursRulez4eVeR]

air canada almost empty :lol

[TDMVPDPOY]

fck the raptors announcers, calderon is nothing but a scrub who posts up good efficiency numbers that dont equate to wins, cause his busy protecting those efficiency numbers...

[ajballer4]

air canada almost empty :lol

Linsanity wiped them out last night. Can't muster the energy to come back again

[Spurs Brazil]

Raptors announcers are by far the worst in the NBA

I hate them

[DarkGinobili]

:flag:

[WeNeedLength]

Raptors announcers are by far the worst in the NBA

I hate them

They had one mic down on the floor doing some pregame comments so they had to hand it off to each other to be heard. Said one of them is broken. Scrub ass announcers... :lol

[Libri]

should be easy win, no excuse for a loss here....

Especially since Bargnani is hurt.

Heard Kleiza is also out.

[BanditHiro]

aww look at how cute that raptors huddle was...they actually think they are going to win this game.

[TDMVPDPOY]

green attackin early, his playin against bullshit, he should be exposing and takin advantage of the mismatch

[BanditHiro]

shit pau gasol killer.

[SpursRulez4eVeR]

wtf Gray is huge, against Blair to say the least..

[Libri]

Aaron Gray is one big dude.

[TDMVPDPOY]

blair gettin exposed on the defensive end, nothing to see here, hope he gets his 2nd foul quick so we can see bonner or splitter

[BanditHiro]

what is our offense doing lol.

[TDMVPDPOY]

blair ball hogging the piece of shit

[Spurs Brazil]

Damn Blair

[BanditHiro]

look at this lock down defense.

[024]

green with a good start. interested to see how aaron gray plays against the spurs. i wanted the spurs to pick him up.

[BanditHiro]

fuck we should be up 15

[GB20]

fucking blair lost his man

[TDMVPDPOY]

fkn pathetic defensive effort

[WeNeedLength]

Blair is really really really stupid...

[Paranoid Pop]

Kawhi should be on Calderon.

[timvp]

Going under the screen on Calderon better not be an actual coaching strategy. Calderon shooting those jumpers behind the screen is the one way the Raptors can easily score.

[Paranoid Pop]

Blair is really really really stupid...

Can build a castle with all the bricks he's throwing, waste of assists.

[GB20]

blair is getting worse each game he plays.

[timvp]

Green with 5, 4 and 1 in four minutes. Making a good case to stick in the starting lineup.

[Duncan2177]

What the hell do the spurs see in Blair?

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

What is that Raptors logo on the baseline?

[GB20]

if the spurs get a decent big, blair will be the man out of rotation.

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

Rj 222

[Robz4000]

RJ and Green playin hard early. Good to see.

[GB20]

What the hell do the spurs see in Blair?

his contract

[timtonymanu]

At least RJ's offense seems to be heading back in the right direction.

[ThePop]

What is that Raptors logo on the baseline?

It's trippy

[TDMVPDPOY]

wtf is parker tryin to go coast to coast on calderon on every possession, fkn stupid shit

[BanditHiro]

parker playing like ass.

[Robz4000]

If not for Green and RJ we'd be losing.

[BanditHiro]

our offense is such shit right now

[WeNeedLength]

Real sloppy...

[Libri]

What is that Raptors logo on the baseline?

Yes, it's 3D.

[Juggity]

What is that Raptors logo on the baseline?

There's a company that specializes in painting 3D illusions on courts and fields for sport teams. (http://m.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2011/12/21/Facilities/Raptors-3D.aspx)

[BanditHiro]

now we can't finish defensive possessions

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

Bonner 3333333333333

[TDMVPDPOY]

blair...... scrub of all scrubs

[angelbelow]

WTF? No standing ovation for future HOFer, Matt Bonner?

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

Manu lay up

[Spurs Brazil]

Bonner 33333333333333

[Robz4000]

Spurs beginning to get their rhythm...

[TDMVPDPOY]

lol raptors defense is a load of shit

[timtonymanu]

That logo looks really cool.

[Robz4000]

Oh what the fuck...Barbosa at it again...

[TDMVPDPOY]

from my observation of matt bonner, when he doesnt shoot the 3 and goes into the lane = automatic miss

[BanditHiro]

embarrassing finish

[timtonymanu]

Still need to figure out how to stop giving teams stupid shots like that.

[Juggity]

Wow that was a smooth running jumper

[TDMVPDPOY]

pop in splitters grill? wtf...gtfo that was a flute shot

[Texas_Ranger]

everyone makes that shot against the Spurs :(

[WeNeedLength]

I can live with the mistakes that Splitter makes because he is a far superior player to Blair so he can make up for it so much easier.

[GSH]

What a great shot. A floater from the 3P line. Sometimes you just have to tip your hat.

[Muser]

Still need to figure out how to stop giving teams stupid shots like that.

Can't really do much about such low % shots like those, if they make them you just gotta accept it. Contest it and you risk giving away cheap FTs.

[TDMVPDPOY]

looks like that scrub blair played all of the first quarter....fkn pop wtf is he doing playin this scrub

[Paranoid Pop]

everyone makes that shot against the Spurs :(

Shows that's the problem comes from the Spurs.

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

Nice move Manu

[WeNeedLength]

sick nasty move ginobili

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

Tiago!

[mystargtr34]

Manu is making some really aggressive passes tonight.

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

Where was the travel?

[GSH]

Manu has been on the bench watching the other guys not feeding Tiago. He's gonna find a way to get it to him.

[TDMVPDPOY]

lol the pick and pop between ginoboli and splitter will continue

[TDMVPDPOY]

looks like the refs tryin to keep in close for the raptors

[Spurs Brazil]

Neal 33333333333333

[BanditHiro]

scrub superstar butler going to work. will this shit ever end.

[Juggity]

Damn, giving up too many jumpers

[TDMVPDPOY]

fck is this lazy deefense

[WeNeedLength]

Piss poor defense. This team should not be draining open jumpers left and right.

[Robz4000]

Just can't lose the Raptors. They're hitting all their jumpshots outside the 10 foot range.

[jestersmash]

lol the pick and pop between ginoboli and splitter will continues

Pick and..pop between Ginobili and Splitter? I must be watching a different game.

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

Tony and 1

[Robz4000]

lol there's Tony

[Muser]

Cut down on turnovers and the Spurs win in a blowout, this Raptors D is god awful.

[Muser]

Neal is such a badass.

[Robz4000]

Anybody else notice Neal has that little limp? Playin hard through the pain tho.

[TDMVPDPOY]

fck these wanker announcers, stop talkin about corey

[BanditHiro]

really he has never been able to hit the three his entire career.

[GSH]

Pick and..pop between Ginobili and Splitter? I must be watching a different game.

He'll fire back with an insult in 3...2...1...

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

Bonner 3333333333333

[Juggity]

Quick release by bonner on that 3...nice

[DesignatedT]

there you go bonner

[Robz4000]

Man, Raptors have bad D but the Spurs just can't get their offense going.

[timtonymanu]

lol Butler and Carter. The scrubs to go off tonight.

[GB20]

we need to keep scoring

[Texas_Ranger]

Butler and Carter look like NBA players.

[TDMVPDPOY]

lol parker lookin for a bailout call...all his turnovers so far come from running into traffic with shitty ballhandling

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

Green 3333333333333333333333

[Robz4000]

Green is becoming fearless

[Muser]

Man, Raptors have bad D but the Spurs just can't get their offense going.

?? Spurs are shooting 55 %

[GSH]

Illegal screen out of bounds. Remember when Dallas ran that as a set play off a timeout - and then got pissed when the ref called it?

[Juggity]

Green! Now the offense is cooking a little bit

[GB20]

danny green has found his shot

[bklynspursfan]

Green's shot looking better the last couple games

[TDMVPDPOY]

our defensive effort, turnin back the clock on the raptors scrubs....fkn fail

[timtonymanu]

Man, Raptors have bad D but the Spurs just can't get their offense going.

I think the offense looks fine. The defense is shit though.

[TDMVPDPOY]

green is ballin, too bad parker stops the momentum with stupid possessions

[BanditHiro]

?? Spurs are shooting 55 %

we are shooting well but we are turning the ball over way to much.

[GSH]

Green with 8 and 6 in the first half. And they robbed him of a steal a while ago - that wasn't a loose ball, it was an offensive rebound and a strip by Green.

[Robz4000]

?? Spurs are shooting 55 %
Their shooting hasn't really been the problem. It's the ball movement and ball handling. So many unforced turnovers. That will keep the offense from running at the level they need to really blow the game open.

[TDMVPDPOY]

I think the offense looks fine. The defense is shit though.

pop should try putting out his best defensive lineup

td, splitter, KL, green, ginoboli

[GB20]

hopefully danny keep shooting like this for the rest of the year.

[TDMVPDPOY]

this game should be a blowout if parker stops with the coast to coast shit everytime calderon scores...fck that shit, is he tryin to prove someshit against the euro scrub

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

Tp another and 1

[Spurs Brazil]

Tony and one!

[WeNeedLength]

WTF are these Raptor announcers talking about?!??

[Muser]

The offense is fine, Spurs have been careless with the ball but they're not going to play like that for the rest of the night. I'd be shocked if the Spurs don't win by double digits.

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

:lol Jefferson

[Robz4000]

I think the offense looks fine. The defense is shit though.
The D is ok, but they're mostly sleepwalking. The Raptors only have 34 points with 5 mins to go in the 2nd shooting under 40%. They're making some fluky shots and pushing it when they can. The O isn't running smoothly, what with all the turnovers and iffy spacing/passing, especially considering how bad Toronto is on D.

[TDMVPDPOY]

look for the starters to fck up our lead....

[Muser]

Duncan playing like 2007 - 2008. That's awesome.

[GSH]

I'm one of Green's biggest supporters here, but daamnnn he gets lost on defense sometimes. Maybe not lost so much as he pulls off his man early to go help or get a rebound, and he just leaves his guy totally unattended. I still think he brings a lot more than he gives up, but when he anticipates wrong it really looks bad.

[BanditHiro]

lol joseph.

[Muser]

Holy shit Danny green has 7 rebounds.

[Robz4000]

Thought it was a clean block, then I see CJ in there lol

[DesignatedT]

Pop doin CJ a favor and giving him some meaningful burn in front of his family

[Robz4000]

CJ shitting on the lead :wakeup

[BanditHiro]

that was cute pop but take him out of the game please.

[TDMVPDPOY]

fck these announcers hyping up corey like his the coming of the messiah or someshit

[Muser]

Joseph is so bad.

[GSH]

Thought it was a clean block, then I see CJ in there lol

Yeah, Green came close to another goaltend-and-1 there. I was cringing.

[timvp]

Giving CJ charity minutes is a good way to blow a lead, tbh.

[mystargtr34]

:lol Joseph

[Muser]

:lol that HEB commercial is awesome.

[Bill_Brasky]

CJ scrubbin' it up. He hasn't played in a while.

[Texas_Ranger]

is Joseph canadian national hero or something??

[Muser]

And Parker has 7 assists?? I really need to pay more attention to the game.

[Paranoid Pop]

CJ scrubbin' it up. He hasn't played in a while.

THis, it's fucking hard for him with all the pressure and the lacking of PT.

[TDMVPDPOY]

green is playin out of his mind atm, he should be demanding the ball, forcing his shit onto the defense

[Robz4000]

And Parker has 7 assists?? I really need to pay more attention to the game.
Oh damn, did not see that

[Warlord23]

I know Joseph is Canadian, and putting him in at the end of the game is fine, but Pop better not lose this lead by giving him minutes now

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

Good Manu is in, let him handle the ball.

[Robz4000]

......dammit RJ

[Juggity]

Damn, come on.

[GSH]

Damn DeRozan is hot tonight. Seems like there's one every time we play.

[BanditHiro]

all their points are jumpshots.

[EVAY]

lol parker lookin for a bailout call...all his turnovers so far come from running into traffic with shitty ballhandling

Well, let's see...TP has two turnovers, 7 assists, is shooting 50% from the field and has 12 points, leading the team.


Yeah, right...he's probably only producing at a slacker's rate...

[Warlord23]

smh some scrub or the other lights us up

[TDMVPDPOY]

green ballin

[DPG21920]

DeRozan has added a much better 3PT shot to his game this year. If he can keep at it, he can be a very dangerous player.

[Robz4000]

Oh man, Spurs just cannot get a break!

[BanditHiro]

first bucket in the paint for the raptors.

[timtonymanu]

So much fluky shit going in for Toronto.

[Bill_Brasky]

Fuckin scrubs always kill us.

[Paranoid Pop]

Pop should have waited the end to play Corey.

[DPG21920]

CJ needs to not play again unless the game is out of hand. Overall, have to be really happy with the Spurs focus tonight and energy. It's stunning how much better they look on back-to-backs and on the road compared to earlier this season :wow

[TDMVPDPOY]

our wings are giving their players too much spacing on the perimeter

[Muser]

Danny Green is in beast mode.

[Paranoid Pop]

D is still not good enough.

[Juggity]

Green 4-4! Hot tonight

[DPG21920]

Green can get scorching sometimes. I know I would really like more consistency, but it's nice to have someone who can erupt for big games sometimes.

[timtonymanu]

Green is killing it tonight.

[DesignatedT]

Danny Green ballin

[Spurs Brazil]

Green on fire!!!

[MI21]

I don't understand the logic in giving CJ charity minutes at the end of the half.

Give them to him in the middle of the first or middle of second quarter when the damage isn't as vital. Parker or Manu should be the PG to finish every quarter, tbh.

[GSH]

CJ needs to not play again unless the game is out of hand. Overall, have to be really happy with the Spurs focus tonight and energy. It's stunning how much better they look on back-to-backs and on the road compared to earlier this season :wow

Or last season. Or the season before that. Or the season before that.

[TDMVPDPOY]

danny green savin the lead, after Corey nearly blow the lead

[Bill_Brasky]

DG on fire tonight, let the man keep shooting.

[mystargtr34]

At least we know why Raptor fans were cheering when CJ came in.

[TDMVPDPOY]

I don't understand the logic in giving CJ charity minutes at the end of the half.

Give them to him in the middle of the first or middle of second quarter when the damage isn't as vital. Parker or Manu should be the PG to finish every quarter, tbh.

JA wished he had charity minutes also....

[DPG21920]

For those who keep saying "This scrub is beating us", DeRozan isn't a scurb IMO.

[GSH]

Just read that they are trying to add Lin to the All Star weekend. He's playing great, but AS on the basis of 6 games?

[GSH]

For those who keep saying "This scrub is beating us", DeRozan isn't a scurb IMO.

I was going to say that, but decided not to start a fight. He's a solid player, and actually bothers to play defense. The only thing he's been short is a consistent 3-point shot.

[koopa]

i don't get to watch much spurs games cause i work nights most the time, but when i do watch i never seen blair, is he just an honorary starter just so he doesn't pout? he seems to serve no purpose being on the roster

[Muser]

Just read that they are trying to add Lin to the All Star weekend. He's playing great, but AS on the basis of 6 games?

He's playing great and deserves the hype, but it's obvious the NBA are gonna milk him for everything while he's on this run. The Asian $ is huge.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

That would be gay, NBA whoring itself to China again

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

CJ needs to not play again unless the game is out of hand. Overall, have to be really happy with the Spurs focus tonight and energy. It's stunning how much better they look on back-to-backs and on the road compared to earlier this season :wow

I was just thinking the same thing, maybe its because our role players aren't ancient anymore :downspin:

[TDMVPDPOY]

For those who keep saying "This scrub is beating us", DeRozan isn't a scurb IMO.

he is man, just another player gettin the touches...tryin to make him into something his not

[Paranoid Pop]

Just read that they are trying to add Lin to the All Star weekend. He's playing great, but AS on the basis of 6 games?

All-stars being voted by the public is a big joke in the first place, kid will probably get in every year now. I would be fine with him getting in the rising star challenge but AS game would be ridiculous.

[Rummpd]

Splitter played more in first half than both Bonner and Blair!

[timvp]

TP playing like one of those "Pop told me to be aggressive" nights.

Good to see Green streaking in the other direction now.

Jefferson with one of his better halves in a long while.

Manu has no legs but he's not holding back using his left hand as a weapon.

New rule: Neal isn't allowed to throw no-look passes anymore.

Pop catering to the Canadians is pretty odd. Charity minutes for CJ almost was a disaster. Drawing up multiple plays for Bonner worked out a little better.

Anthony Carter and Rasual Butler enter the game shooting 31% and 30% respectively but are 5-for-8 tonight.

Barbosa is one of the most washed up 29-year-olds I've ever seen.

*cue Barbosa going off for 25 in the second half*

[TDMVPDPOY]

CJ has he ever executed a perfect play without bonehead rookie mistakes lookin for his own stats??

[Paranoid Pop]

i don't get to watch much spurs games cause i work nights most the time, but when i do watch i never seen blair, is he just an honorary starter just so he doesn't pout? he seems to serve no purpose being on the roster

Only really useful thing I've seen him do this season is defending Dirk.

[Muser]

It's no coincidence that the NBA already have 2 highlight videos of Lin when they're only just finishing the 1st quarter.

[ElNono]

Frankly, Toronto is just playing to their standard... IIRC they average 88 pts/game

[Dex]

That would be gay, NBA whoring itself to China again

Hard to say the NBA Hype Machine doesn't work. Since his breakout, Lin has the highest selling NBA jersey, even though it has to be custom ordered.

http://inagist.com/nbcbayarea/169172453317279744/

[Robz4000]

Man this is becoming another weird game. Spurs should be up near 20 but I guess I'll take a 10 point lead. They better put it away in the third though, don't want another Detroit-like game.

[Muser]

Sean just brought up a good point, if the Spurs turn it over this much against the Clippers they're going to get slaughtered.

[jestersmash]

Why does Barbosa always look like he's walking with a limp?

[timvp]

Jeremy Lin is an awesome story. I can't hate even if I try.

[Paranoid Pop]

Jeremy Lin is an awesome story. I can't hate even if I try.

It's hard not to be sick of the over-mediatisation tho.

[DieHardSpursFan1537]

Pretty solid first half with a comfortable 10 point lead. We got this one.

[timvp]

Why does Barbosa always look like he's walking with a limp?

Manu flopped into his knee twice back in the day. I think he tore some of his knee cartilage each time. Barbosa still whines about it to this day . . .

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

Timmy J

[BanditHiro]

kawahi on derozan please.

[TDMVPDPOY]

lazy defense fck thsi shit

[Juggity]

Trading baskets

[Rummpd]

Can Pop but someone in to guard that guy?

[Rummpd]

making this guy look like Lin...

[BanditHiro]

wow fucking atrocious defense.

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

So when does Pop take Blair out of the starting line-up?

[BanditHiro]

pop please call a time out and get some defense in the line up

[TDMVPDPOY]

whats with these fluke shots

[Robz4000]

Yep, this is gonna be another game like last night. Spurs are exposing themselves real quick.

[timtonymanu]

We're lucky the last two Spurs opponents are bad teams because the Spurs have been terrible these last two games.

[Juggity]

Spurs getting bullied, stripped this quarter.

[GB20]

we need the bench to come in right now.

[Paranoid Pop]

Pop is making a point not to play Kahwi, the best defender, but he's a defensive genius right. Chucking 3s, giving up everything on D. Pathetic.

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

Manu needs to come in and take over

[BanditHiro]

i just don't understand these teams. they are better off lying down and tanking.

[GSH]

The biggest problem with this kind of game (and last night's) is that teams start believing that they can always come at the Spurs hard and climb back into any game. It doesn't take long to get the reputation. I want people believing that if they're down to have a hard time climbing out of a hole against the Spurs. This isn't gonna do it.

[Paranoid Pop]

Derozan is happy Kahwi is benched.

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

damnnnnnnn Derozan

[timtonymanu]

Don't panic guys! Come on.

[DPG21920]

Spurs terribly flat, Toronto fighting hard per the usual. They don't quit.

[Juggity]

turnover...FUUUUUUUUUUUU—

[DesignatedT]

god manu looks horrible

[TDMVPDPOY]

dejuan blair lol scrub

[BanditHiro]

is kawahi going to come in to guard derozan yet...

[FkLA]

Tiago is in, hell regain the lead. I aint even worried tbh.

[Texas_Ranger]

Sucking.. Level pro!

[Bonner4MVPzz]

Bring in Matty so we can get dominated more

[rasho8]

Jesus Christ. Finally the bench is back in.

[DPG21920]

That CJ move by Pop looking more and more stupid by the second at this point.

[TDMVPDPOY]

lol starters = cory joseph

[ace3g]

took Pop long enough to make subs...

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Wouldn't be surprised if we lose this one - fatigue from the road will be setting in, 2nd of a b2b, and the Raps actually play D.

[rasho8]

Now don't be stupid and feed Tiago

[maverick1948]

Bring in Matty so we can get dominated more

He cant do any worse than the other 5 have done.

[urunobili]

Manu's shot keeps looking broken...

[Em-City]

lazy defense fck thsi shit

:sleep

I swear, you're the biggest fucking whinger i've ever seen post on a consistent basis.

You sound like a spoilt 4 year-old... just stop crying consistently about every goddamn thing... You're blowing my high. :rolleyes

[Bonner4MVPzz]

Great boxout mattty

[EVAY]

I know we are not supposed to say things like this, but, Tim's defense doesn't look very good to me tonight. He has backed off of shooters at the rim and isn't going after any of the loose balls.

[loveforthegame]

What did Leonard do to earn the extended bench time? I don't get it.

[Paranoid Pop]

That CJ move by Pop looking more and more stupid by the second at this point.

Good, keeps him from getting too full of himself.

[DPG21920]

Can we swap Amir for Blair now?

[timtonymanu]

Tony Parker stepping it up like always.

[ElNono]

:lmao Matty