Game Blog: Spurs vs. Bulls - Feb. 29

[DPG21920]

Gary Big Neal

[024]

parker definitely getting outplayed by rose this game. no one else can save the spurs this late in the game, not even duncan. parker has to step up and make plays. like that one to neal.

[noles1983]

gary neal says fuck you parker and RJ i got this shit

[phxspurfan]

lol RJ running straight to the corner on that break, when he could have jammed one home.

Neal with it btw

[Juggity]

Gary Neal! Thank you again

Big balls, big shots

[ace3g]

jeez Rose...

[Libri]

Jefferson is awful out there, just awful

$9 million worth of awful

[GSH]

fucking bulls fans in SA

They're gonna feel like dumbasses walking out, when we win this one.

[benefactor]

I am a motherfucker.

-Gary Neal

[Spurs Brazil]

Yes TD!

Now a stop

[jjktkk]

Why put Grizz and not SPlitter in???

Splitter's calfs maybe?

[DPG21920]

Stop score stop score

[Texas_Ranger]

rose owned tony tonight

[Johnny RIngo]

parker definitely getting outplayed by rose this game. no one else can save the spurs this late in the game, not even duncan. parker has to step up and make plays. like that one to neal.

IIRC, Rose has always owned Parker h2h

[ace3g]

need Splitter in there, make Rose elevate over 2 7 footers, not just one...

[lefty]

They're gonna feel like dumbasses walking out, when we win this one.

Dumbass

[phxspurfan]

Rose being MVP as all

[TIMMYD!]

Fuck you, Rose!

[jestersmash]

This is a really good game tbh.

[timtonymanu]

Bulls fans in the arena sound like faggot teenyboppers.

[Spurs Brazil]

Rose is fantastic

[DesignatedT]

Can't do anything about Rose there.

[Death In June]

Would have been nice to get anything out of RJ. Absolutely anything.

[noles1983]

rose is so clutch, too bad he has a shitty supporting cast.

[DPG21920]

Double Rose

[ffadicted]

Fuck Rose is clutch

[Mal]

Rose alone owning Spurs

[024]

damn i wonder if leonard can stop rose

[GSH]

DAAMNNN. Got the ball out of Rose's hands, and then let him get it back.

[HarlemHeat37]

Chicago's offense is absolutely terrible when Rose isn't shooting..

Can they get the ball out of his hands?..send a fucking double team..

[SpursNextRomanEmpire]

Rose, balling.

[Brazil]

if TP plays only average we win this game...

[boutons_deux]

Bulls just the better team, dammit

[Fermixalot]

Derrick Rose is ridiculous.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

No answer for Rose, would've loved to see Kawhi guard him but oh well.

Good game, huge bummer though, thought we had a chance

[Barfunk]

lol so many fucking casual bandwagon fans at the AT&T center tonight...

[timtonymanu]

Get a stop, can't score.

Get a basket, can't get a stop.

Come on Spurs.

[phxspurfan]

At least Dallas lost to who...?

edit
lost 2 straight to Memphis and NJ lol

[DPG21920]

rose is so clutch, too bad he has a shitty supporting cast.

:lol what

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Bulls hitting big shots in the clutch. Not like them. :lol

[ace3g]

aren't going to win many games with Blair and RJ closing out the 4th...

[Quiet Strength]

Dumbass

:lmao :lmao :lmao

[BanditHiro]

parker should be ashamed of himself.

[Texas_Ranger]

fuck the money, trade that idiot Dick right away.

[Spursfanfromafar]

Rose is playing like ..how he is expected to play. But we are playing with 4 men on the field and an asshole who is paid as if he is a second banana.

[Ice009]

Why is Richard and Blair out there? Who told Pop you gotta play 2 out of you 3 worst players in crunch time. This guy is a full on retard.

And Derrick Rose has absolutely killed TP. WOW. Not even close how much better Rose has been. WOW. SUPERSTAR MVP level player.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

This is a microcosm for spurs playoff failure. great defensive teams make us look sad. 84 points for SA is pathetic

[ElNono]

I don't call out officials often, and I doubt you're going to get a call now, but those are all moving screens. Splitter got called for it...

[Capt Bringdown]

Rose singlehandedly beating the Spurs, we've seen this before.

[mexicanjunior]

For those thinking Parker should be MVP this year, Rose is showing what a real MVP looks like...

Pop waited 5 minutes too late to pull that POS Bonner but decided to stick with his 2nd POS in Jefferson instead of someone who gives a shit like Danny Green. This loss is on Pop...

[Juggity]

Neal's got this, just watch :lol

[ace3g]

Neal can't be stoppped

[SpursNextRomanEmpire]

Gary Fuckin Neal

[DPG21920]

Gary Rose

[phxspurfan]

Damn, Neal is like TP with a 3pt J

[Spurs Brazil]

fucking Jefferson late again

[024]

neal playing out of his mind but spurs cant get a stop

[Mal]

why not foul Noah ?

[noles1983]

chicago scrubs getting lucky shots to go down

[BanditHiro]

lol the bulls being clutch what a joke

[Barfunk]

bad defense fuck!!

[timtonymanu]

That's game.

Pathetic!

[ffadicted]

Dagger

[Texas_Ranger]

good job Dick, good job....

[lefty]

Our D :lmao

[ElNono]

Game over

[GSH]

Deng killed us in the 4th.

[Libri]

Dang! :bang

[Spursfanfromafar]

RJ!. You pathetic fuck.

[Brazil]

For those thinking Parker should be MVP this year, Rose is showing what a real MVP looks like...

Pop waited 5 minutes too late to pull that POS Bonner but decided to stick with his 2nd POS in Jefferson instead of someone who gives a shit like Danny Green. This loss is on Pop...

nobody is thinking parker should be mvp

[ace3g]

RJ has been the poster for many 3 pointers tonight...

[DPG21920]

Defense fails again.

[angelbelow]

Like the double... but RJ doesn't need to be so deep in the post.

[TIMMYD!]

why is deng always fucking open??

[loveforthegame]

Fu rj. Unreal.

[benefactor]

lol Jefferson

[Tp9gospursgo]

Gotta get a quick 3 here.

[Juggity]

Fuck the Bulls, man.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

Kyle korver looks like Kramer when he buttered himself up and got sunburnt. Wtf happened to his skin

[DesignatedT]

This is just good ball by Chicago guys. No reason to get upset at this shit. Rose kills us we are force to take it out of his hands, we do, and then deng knocks down a big 3. We showed some grind getting back into this time and time again.

[Capt Bringdown]

On the replay, it looked like an RJ fuckup to leave Deng that open?

[phxspurfan]

This is gonna be some gold game tape for Pop

[sanman53]

Are they playing in Chicago? Bulls fans are louder than Spurs fans tonight.

[timtonymanu]

I wanna punch RJ in his lifeless balls.

[noles1983]

damn almost won without manu and leonard.

[wildbill2u]

Anybody know who is guarding Deng?

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

That's what happens when you trap a good team outside the 3pt line - find the open shooter, and bang. :(

[dbestpro]

Wonder what Pop is thinking with RJ on the floor when Green had been playing so well.

[Spursfanfromafar]

RJ is paid 10 times more than Gary Neal. Can anyone believe that?

[The ADMIRAL 50]

Gosh Deng it.

[SpursNextRomanEmpire]

Fuck

[lefty]

Trade Neal

[Death In June]

That's game.

[Ice009]

Spurs defense sucks ass.

Neal is a baller that plays his heart out and is tough as nails. You never trade a player like that, like some here suggested. 15 out of our last 17 points. everyone else should be ashamed.

[TIMMYD!]

Didn't matter if Neal made the 3, Deng or Rose would've hit one the other way.

[GSH]

Are they playing in Chicago? Bulls fans are louder than Spurs fans tonight.

I've never seen anything like it. Especially not here.

[TDomination]

almost got that to go neal
oh and i think he traveled lol

[ace3g]

just another game showing some of our glaring weaknesses: RJ, Blair (have to be traded); rebounding; interior defense... and worse happened at home...

[Spursfanfromafar]

I wanna punch RJ in his lifeless balls.

Doubt he has one..

[Tp9gospursgo]

RJ SUCKS!! Danny Green should've been in instead.

[Brazil]

why is deng always fucking open??

RJ is guarding him.. thats why

[lefty]

RJ is paid 10 times more than Gary Neal. Can anyone believe that?

RC can

[ElNono]

tbh, not gonna get greedy. We competed against one of the top 3 teams in the league without Manu and Leonard, who has been playing decent for us.

[noles1983]

not impressed with the bulls really, one man show with lucky shooting scrub supporting cast

[johnnySpurs]

We have to fight for every single shot that we put up in this quarter. Deng, Brewer and Korver have all had wide open shots.

[Mal]

Lol if Spurs thought that Neal would win this game. No Tony, Duncan unused in 4th

[loveforthegame]

Oh well. Neal at least came to play tonight.

Rj is worthless and he's closing out another game.

[DesignatedT]

Green has like an ice pack on his shoulder on the bench, did he bang it or something?

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

This is just good ball by Chicago guys. No reason to get upset at this shit. Rose kills us we are force to take it out of his hands, we do, and then deng knocks down a big 3. We showed some grind getting back into this time and time again.

Exactly my thinking. Bulls have played superbly down the stretch. Usually they don't make shots like this.

[Barfunk]

dammit

[Libri]

I've never seen anything like it. Especially not here.

Lakers

[HarlemHeat37]

Doubling Rose was a great move, they should have been doing that all quarter..

However, why would you give Deng the open 3, instead of allowing him to swing it to Ronnie Brewer?..

[Mal]

27 pts in 4th for Chicago. Talking about clutch

[Death In June]

I've never seen anything like it. Especially not here.Spurs/Lakers home games are worse. SA residents are fickle, front running pussies.

[dbestpro]

The end of the game came down to poor defesne by RJ coupled with our inability to defend the moving screen.

[GSH]

We better see a couple of A's for Neal and Green tonight. Those guys played their asses off. Give RJ another "I" for Invisible.

[phxspurfan]

JVG is wrong. Chicago is a better executing team than Miami, and this style will win in the playoffs if the refs don't give Wade, James and Bosh 80 FTs. I expect to see the Bulls in the finals.

[DesignatedT]

tbh, not gonna get greedy. We competed against one of the top 3 teams in the league without Manu and Leonard, who has been playing decent for us.

Splitter and TJ definitely didn't look right tonight as well tbqh.

[Bill_Brasky]

I'll take the effort, woulda been nice to have Leonard in the 4th....

[Quiet Strength]

I don't call out officials often, and I doubt you're going to get a call now, but those are all moving screens. Splitter got called for it...

They've been shitty all game. The bulls got away with alot. Still though the spurs played bad defense.. especially ending the game. The bulls deserve this win.

[lefty]

Bad loss

Although we are missing Manu, the Bulls are still an overrated team

[Ice009]

This is just good ball by Chicago guys. No reason to get upset at this shit. Rose kills us we are force to take it out of his hands, we do, and then deng knocks down a big 3. We showed some grind getting back into this time and time again.

The Bulls had a shockingly bad 3rd quarter. they missed a lot of shots. it kind of shows the Spurs are a long way back. we got murdered on the boards, that won't change against big teams in the playoffs. our guards are good, but that doesn't help to get boards and play tough and physical.

[Brazil]

tbh, not gonna get greedy. We competed against one of the top 3 teams in the league without Manu and Leonard, who has been playing decent for us.

and TP has one of his worst game since january

now we must not forget that chi is playing a second game in two nights after a long travel

[Spurs Brazil]

Pop sit Green after he missed Korver on that 3

RJ lost Deng twice and still playing

[Juggity]

all these san antonio bullfans dusting off their old jerseys from the 90s after stowing them away for a decade

[DAF86]

It sucks that we lost but it's one of those loses you can't feel too bad about it.

[timtonymanu]

We better see a couple of A's for Neal and Green tonight. Those guys played their asses off. Give RJ another "I" for Invisible.

It's crazy how the salaries of Neal, Green, and Splitter combined still don't equal RJ's.

[Mal]

why there are so many bulls fans ?

[GSH]

Green has like an ice pack on his shoulder on the bench, did he bang it or something?

He hurt it early in the game. One of two plays against Rose, but I wasn't sure which one. Green got called for a foul AND got hurt.

[ElNono]

Green has like an ice pack on his shoulder on the bench, did he bang it or something?

In the 1st or 2nd quarter

[TIMMYD!]

RJ decides he wants to do something when there's no chance of winning.

[lefty]

Lol


Great timing, RJ

[timtonymanu]

lol that faggot hits a shot when it's out of reach. Fuck you Jefferson!

[boutons_deux]

Spurs outplayed definitively

[BanditHiro]

JVG is wrong. Chicago is a better executing team than Miami, and this style will win in the playoffs if the refs don't give Wade, James and Bosh 80 FTs. I expect to see the Bulls in the finals.

The heat will beat them mostly because wade and lebron can shut out rose.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

RJ is guarding him.. thats why

Actually, it's not. The last two have been on a good pnr and a double by the Spurs outside the 3 which led to 2 open guys.

[Ice009]

Green has like an ice pack on his shoulder on the bench, did he bang it or something?

I actually saw him grab it in the first quarter after a bump. I'd say he's injured. FUCK.

[loveforthegame]

Of course rj hits a shot too late.

[phxspurfan]

lol epic collapse?

[Johnny RIngo]

Spurs/Lakers home games are worse. SA residents are fickle, front running pussies.

To be fair, a lot of cities are like that when it comes to bandwagon Laker/Bulls fans.

[mexicanjunior]

LOL...Jefferson making sure to hit a 3 when the game was decided. I'm sure Pop will point to that shot as the reason why he stuck with him through the holocaust of that last 6 minutes.

[noles1983]

fuck these pussy ass chicago fans in SA. Move to chicago bitches

[dbestpro]

I wonder if these refs travel with the Bulls too.

[Libri]

why there are so many bulls fans ?

migrated south for the winter

[Quiet Strength]

Splitter and TJ definitely didn't look right tonight as well tbqh.

Tj kinda looked like he's continuing where he left off. I remember him being sloppy with the ball right before his injury.

[DesignatedT]

The Bulls had a shockingly bad 3rd quarter. they missed a lot of shots. it kind of shows the Spurs are a long way back. we got murdered on the boards, that won't change against big teams in the playoffs. our guards are good, but that doesn't help to get boards and play tough and physical.

Not trying to make excuses but at the end of the day were without Manu, Leonard and have 2 guys playing their first game back from injury. Not exactly the ideal situation for us

[Tp9gospursgo]

RJ makes it when it doesn;t even matter.

[DPG21920]

Well, really tough way to start after a great RRT. Great team in CHI, but the Spurs defense was too porous and they missed TP tonight. Spurs played a top 3 team competitively though.

Pops really questionable line ups in the fourth really hurt as well.

[spursparker9]

why is there such a big crowd of chicago fans?

[Barfunk]

ultimately played great against a great Bulls team without Kawhi and Ginobili on the road.... No worries.....

[phxspurfan]

Damn, Duncan again for 3...this isn't the ASG foo

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

why there are so many bulls fans ?

Bulls fans were everywhere when MJ played... maybe some of them weren't bandwagoners? :lol

[Mal]

Where is Spurs D, when needed ?

[jjktkk]

tbh, not gonna get greedy. We competed against one of the top 3 teams in the league without Manu and Leonard, who has been playing decent for us.

[DAF86]

I fucking hate that Rose always plays like the player he's supossed to be against us.

[lefty]

Oh My God Timmy missed 3

[MaNu4Tres]

I've never seen anything like it. Especially not here.

All the ex-Laker fans in the city jumped ship tbh..

[timtonymanu]

I still don't understand why Pop had to put in Bonner and Jefferson in the 4th.

He should have gone with Splitter, Duncan, Anderson or Green, Neal, and TP.

[Tp9gospursgo]

We could've won. Almost beat a great team with 2 of our best players.

[DPG21920]

This is just good ball by Chicago guys. No reason to get upset at this shit. Rose kills us we are force to take it out of his hands, we do, and then deng knocks down a big 3. We showed some grind getting back into this time and time again.

Agree somewhat but the Spurs fatal flaws were on display and its alarming.

[DesignatedT]

Pop playing with some inbound plays. Good because he needs some practice, they've been pretty bad this year when needed.

[wildbill2u]

Deng scored 8 of his 10 points in 4th quarter. Hit two big 3s.

[GSH]

Not trying to make excuses but at the end of the day were without Manu, Leonard and have 2 guys playing their first game back from injury. Not exactly the ideal situation for us

They were better than us tonight - but not by much. One of the best teams in the league, and all that separated us was a few boards, or a few loose balls. Far from embarassing.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Well, really tough way to start after a great RRT. Great team in CHI, but the Spurs defense was too porous and they missed TP tonight. Spurs played a top 3 team competitively though.

Pops really questionable line ups in the fourth really hurt as well.

The Rose double outside the 3pt line was the play that broke the game open. Doubling that far out is always very risky.

[ElNono]

Pop fucking with ESPN by calling a meaningless TO

[Mal]

Spurs are not clutch. They need Manu , bad

[phxspurfan]

gg I respect Chicago now

[DBMethos]

Oh well. No Manu, no Leonard, Splitter and Ford first game back...we still played them close up to the end. I'll take that.

[Ice009]

fuck these pussy ass chicago fans in SA. Move to chicago bitches

Spurs fans are soft. I don't like the Spurs crowd at times. Pathetic energy levels, let's other teams fans invade the arena, just spoiled and not hungry enough.

[BanditHiro]

gg I respect Chicago now

you just hate the Heat tbh.

[DPG21920]

Let's hope the Spurs regroup, hide their massive flaws and bounce back like they have all year

[timtonymanu]

It's obvious that our team still has a lot of work to do. The defense isn't there and like expected, a good defensive team exposed them.

[Barfunk]

like I said, tough battle without Ginobili and Leonard on the road.... no worries lol.... road games like this are always tougher than when you are playing at home lol

[mexicanjunior]

Spurs are not clutch. They need Manu , bad

Pop had Jefferson and Bonner in when it mattered...Spurs never had a chance tbh...

[wildbill2u]

Good game considering our injured players, but we missed good opportunity to beat them.

[jjktkk]

Splitter and TJ definitely didn't look right tonight as well tbqh.

I actually thought Splitter looked pretty damn good out there tonight.

[HarlemHeat37]

JVG is wrong. Chicago is a better executing team than Miami, and this style will win in the playoffs if the refs don't give Wade, James and Bosh 80 FTs. I expect to see the Bulls in the finals.

:lol you said the same thing, last year..

[Mal]

It's obvious that our team still has a lot of work to do. The defense isn't there and like expected, a good defensive team exposed them.

Chicago is the best defensive team. So it is not bad. Still Manu missing.

[BanditHiro]

:lol you said the same thing, last year..

typical Heat hater. Wade or LeBron shut out Rose and the bulls are done.

[DesignatedT]

Pops really questionable line ups in the fourth really hurt as well.

Just not sure how much injuries played a part in this. During the RRT you actually started to see Pop adjust his lineups accordingly but that all went to shit once everyone started getting hurt. The Spurs were not in the most ideal situation when it came to health,rotations,etc.

While you can take some things from this game I wouldn't try to take too much away from it. It's been pretty obvious that we lack a big man inside and Chicago,LAL,MEM are the teams that directly show that.

[timtonymanu]

JVG is wrong. Chicago is a better executing team than Miami, and this style will win in the playoffs if the refs don't give Wade, James and Bosh 80 FTs. I expect to see the Bulls in the finals.

Lol wut?

They looked good tonight since the Spurs don't play good defense, but guys like Korver, Brewer, Watson will fade into obscurity when they face Miami.

Miami will own them again, imo and have home court this time.

[Spursnlego]

Felt like a Bulls home game tbh, fans, crap shots that fall, and home cook'n by the refs...

[Mugen]

Huge shots by Rose/Deng. Deng hit some wide open shots he's supposed to hit and Rose hit shots that MVPs hit.

I like how we competed but the Bulls bench was the difference maker tonight.

[roycrikside]

God our defense blows. Even at home to a Bulls team that's mediocre offensively, was on the second night of a back-to-back and likes to play at a slow pace, we still gave up 96 and they scored every time they needed to down the stretch no matter what we tried.

But really, Parker lost the game for us. He had a subpar night and missed a lot of shots he usually makes. Rose kicked his butt, tbh.

[DAF86]

JVG is wrong. Chicago is a better executing team than Miami, and this style will win in the playoffs if the refs don't give Wade, James and Bosh 80 FTs. I expect to see the Bulls in the finals.

Rose will play like the player he is against them and Miami will advance easily.

[Johnny RIngo]

Spurs are not clutch. They need Manu , bad

injury-prone Manu isn't saving us anymore

[DesignatedT]

Atleast Dallas lost again tonight.

[timtonymanu]

Chicago is the best defensive team. So it is not bad. Still Manu missing.

Well we couldn't get stops down the stretch and that's not gonna fly in the playoffs. Then again playing defensive liabilities like Jefferson and Bonner is asking for it.

[Mugen]

CHI is a very good team but the gap between them and MIA is pretty huge. Rose is the ONLY guy that can create his own shot. Same exact problems as last year and I'd be surprised if they took the Heat to 6 games.

[timtonymanu]

Atleast Dallas lost again tonight.

Houston lost too. They were creeping up on us in the standings. I believe they're 2nd in our division now.

[roycrikside]

I don't understand why Green didn't play more down the stretch, I thought he was playing pretty well. Lost the game in the second quarter. Just gave them too many second chances and wide open shots to guys like Brewer, Watson and Korver. Their bench outplayed ours and did a real good job of not letting Bonner get open looks.

[DPG21920]

Ya, Hou/lac/DAL all losing helps. Would have been nice but no harm.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

CHI is a very good team but the gap between them and MIA is pretty huge. Rose is the ONLY guy that can create his own shot. Same exact problems as last year and I'd be surprised if they took the Heat to 6 games.

Unless they can win with defence alone, this is still true.

[DesignatedT]

And I'm also glad we have Charlotte coming up. Guys who have been hurt should be able to get some good burn in that blowout.

[Johnny RIngo]

Last time Parker had a good game against Rose was nearly three years ago

[Capt Bringdown]

Questionable coaching moves (RJ with crunchtime minutes) and non-performing assets, same as it ever was.
Injuries hurt us no doubt, but the fundamental problem of the usual suspects is the key aspect.

[timtonymanu]

I don't understand why Green didn't play more down the stretch, I thought he was playing pretty well. Lost the game in the second quarter. Just gave them too many second chances and wide open shots to guys like Brewer, Watson and Korver. Their bench outplayed ours and did a real good job of not letting Bonner get open looks.

Agreed. The clincher was when Pop put Bonner and RJ back in. Both weren't even playing well either.

We should have ended with Splitter, Duncan, Anderson/Green, Neal, TP

[roycrikside]

Real reason we lost: Got killed in the point guard battle. Not only did Rose outplay Tony, but Watson must destroyed Ford. It's impossible to overstate how horrible Ford was in his little fourth quarter stretch. It's easy to see why LJ was never high on him. The guy holds on to the ball too much and can't shoot.

Once Manu comes back I'm hoping we stay with the Neal/Ginobili backcourt for the second unit. Ford is a disaster defensively too. There are no good backup PGs on this roster.

[Ice009]

Not trying to make excuses but at the end of the day were without Manu, Leonard and have 2 guys playing their first game back from injury. Not exactly the ideal situation for us

I'm not even mad about this loss. I'm actually mad about the Spurs chances to compete in the playoffs after seeing the Bulls expose the Spurs' flaws. Bonner, Blair and RJ will basically be useless in the playoffs and Pop played 2/3 in the 4th quarter. what was the point of that? against good defensive teams with good defensive bigs those three usually fold and are rendered useless. Same story, but at least this was a regular season game.

Edit : Blair doesn't fold, but he usually plays dumb and still tries to throw up shots over longer defenders when he should pass the ball out.

TP looked like he did against the Pistons back in the day. He has lots of trouble getting to the rim and scoring against teams with good length that play great defense like the Bulls.

Sure Manu and Kawhi will help a lot, but what big man will step up in the playoffs next to Tim Duncan? That's basically what this season will come down to. What big man will step up next to Tim Duncan in the playoffs? That is what makes me mad, not this actual game or loss itself. Does anyone have any confidence in any of the Spurs bigs stepping up next to Tim Duncan in the playoffs?

[GSH]

All the talk about how bad our defense was... we held them to 42% shooting. Chicago is 4th in the league, and they average 46%. If we could hold everyone to 42%, we'd be a favorite for the finals.

We made the same number of FG's as them (37), and one more 3 pointer than them (8 vs 7). I didn't see anything from this game to make me think we wouldn't be able to beat them next time we play. It was a good game. Not like the Spurs sucked.

Except for RJ.

[GSH]

I don't understand why Green didn't play more down the stretch, I thought he was playing pretty well. Lost the game in the second quarter. Just gave them too many second chances and wide open shots to guys like Brewer, Watson and Korver. Their bench outplayed ours and did a real good job of not letting Bonner get open looks.

I think Green is our latest injury. That ice pack on his shoulder at the end didn't make me happy. He may have been stiffening up, and Pop shut him down.

[Johnny RIngo]

Real reason we lost: Got killed in the point guard battle. Not only did Rose outplay Tony, but Watson must destroyed Ford. It's impossible to overstate how horrible Ford was in his little fourth quarter stretch. It's easy to see why LJ was never high on him. The guy holds on to the ball too much and can't shoot.

Once Manu comes back I'm hoping we stay with the Neal/Ginobili backcourt for the second unit. Ford is a disaster defensively too. There are no good backup PGs on this roster.

Ford was pretty decent for us before the injury though. No reason to give up on him after his first game back from injury. If anything, this loss is more on Tony. No reason to be outplayed THAT badly when you're the best player on the team.

[DesignatedT]

I'm not even mad about this loss. I'm actually mad about the Spurs chances to compete in the playoffs after seeing the Bulls expose the Spurs' flaws. Bonner, Blair and RJ will basically be useless in the playoffs and Pop played 2/3 in the 4th quarter. what was the point of that? against good defensive teams with good defensive bigs those three usually fold and are rendered useless. Same story, but at least this was a regular season game.

Edit : Blair doesn't fold, but he usually plays dumb and still tries to throw up shots over longer defenders when he should pass the ball out.

TP looked like he did against the Pistons back in the day. He has lots of trouble getting to the rim and scoring against teams with good length that play great defense like the Bulls.

Sure Manu and Kawhi will help a lot, but what big man will step up in the playoffs next to Tim Duncan? That's basically what this season will come down to. What big man will step up next to Tim Duncan in the playoffs? That is what makes me mad, not this actual game or loss itself. Does anyone have any confidence in any of the Spurs bigs stepping up next to Tim Duncan in the playoffs?


The Spurs desperately need another big man but I'm not sure how much Splitters injury and this being his first game back tonight had to do with his limited time and knowing Pop it's pretty likely that had a lot to do with it. Before Splitter got hurt he was actually starting to spend a lot more time on the court with TD. but of course he got hurt, lets just hope this doesn't send that idea back to square one.

[elemento]

It was fucking funny to watch a pissed Duncan shooting two 3s in row like he didn't give a shit.

It must be awful to fight the whole game and then watch a hot garbage like Jefferson throwing away the game in 2 possessions letting his man free to shoot.

[timtonymanu]

I'm still trying to remember the quotes but didn't Pop or somebody from the Spurs say Jefferson was going to be the Spurs' best defender every night when they acquired him?

[Robz4000]

Lost by 7 to a legit contender, one of the two best teams in the NBA, without Manu and Kawhi. I'll take this loss. Saw flashes of elite D periodically, but then RJ fucked it all up. If/when the Spurs get fully healthy they can compete with anyone.

[Ice009]

Lost by 7 to a legit contender, one of the two best teams in the NBA, without Manu and Kawhi. I'll take this loss. Saw flashes of elite D periodically, but then RJ fucked it all up. If/when the Spurs get fully healthy they can compete with anyone.

So which big will step up out of the ones we have next to Tim Duncan in the playoffs? Lack of decent bigs will stop us from competing "with anyone".

[Johnny RIngo]

So which big will step up out of the ones we have next to Tim Duncan in the playoffs? Lack of decent bigs will stop us from competing "with anyone".

Probably. But I don't think anyone expected the team to be playing as well as they have going into this season. If you think we have the potential for a Finals trip, I think you're aiming a bit high. As far as bigs go, we might get lucky and sign someone that gets waived in the coming weeks. After missing out on EVERY free agent thus far, we have to land someone eventually. No way the FO goes into the post-season with just four bigs

[timtonymanu]

Lost by 7 to a legit contender, one of the two best teams in the NBA, without Manu and Kawhi. I'll take this loss. Saw flashes of elite D periodically, but then RJ fucked it all up. If/when the Spurs get fully healthy they can compete with anyone.

I really hope Pop nuts up and benches Jefferson and starts Leonard. It would make our starting 5 an upgrade already and guys like Green, Leonard, and Anderson have shown they can bring more production than RJ.

[Robz4000]

So which big will step up out of the ones we have next to Tim Duncan in the playoffs? Lack of decent bigs will stop us from competing "with anyone".
Splitter imo. I also think the FO will nab a big that's bought out after the trade deadline that may make some difference.

[SpurPadre]

Lost by 7 to a legit contender, one of the two best teams in the NBA, without Manu and Kawhi. I'll take this loss. Saw flashes of elite D periodically, but then RJ fucked it all up. If/when the Spurs get fully healthy they can compete with anyone.


It was a legit team, the best team in the East, in my opinion (fuck the heat) but it was a team that was on the road off a back-to-back in a condensed season. Oh, and they also came to town late after a late flight and after BARELY beating a weak Hornets team. It's still a game we should've won but of course, we need our best player back ASAP.

[Ice009]

Probably. But I don't think anyone expected the team to be playing as well as they have going into this season. If you think we have the potential for a Finals trip, I think you're aiming a bit high. As far as bigs go, we might get lucky and sign someone that gets waived in the coming weeks. After missing out on EVERY free agent thus far, we have to land someone eventually. No way the FO goes into the post-season with just four bigs

We definitely have a shot at the finals with the way all the young guys are playing (expectations before the season started are irrelevant as the young guys have shown they can play), but the thing that could stop that shot at making the finals dead in it's tracks is a lack of a decent second big next to TD.

[SpurPadre]

Splitter imo. I also think the FO will nab a big that's bought out after the trade deadline that may make some difference.

If anything, I expect Pop and RC to give McDyess a call.

[timtonymanu]

If anything, I expect Pop and RC to give McDyess a call.

I hope not. McDyess must be in terrible shape right now.

[Dex]

If anything, I expect Pop and RC to give McDyess a call.

McDyess has basically said he has no interest in returning. Pop and RC might as well call up Horry and DRob while they are at it, because the chances of getting them to come back are probably just as good.

[GSH]

BTW - the +/- kings for the Spurs last night? Yep... RJ and Blair. Man I hate that stat.

[Robz4000]

Blair had his shining moments tbh. The problem is he was up against Boozer and Noah most of the time. If he was playing against Asik and Gibson he would've ended up looking better.