Game Blog: Spurs vs. Thunder - Game 5

[Spurs Brazil]

Good, no Bonner

[ace3g]

alright Blair, your time to shine again

[MannyIsGod]

Wow Blair first person off the bench. I gotta say Pop is making some serious changes that I didn't think he was capable of making.

[capek]

Blair first big off the bench! Redeem thyself Dejaun!

[Floyd Pacquiao]

blair!

[Libri]

Bonner not the first big off the bench. :)

[loveforthegame]

Yes. Blair first big off bench.

[AnthonyM]

Mm...Pop pulling all the stops tonight.

Hmmmm.

[DPG21920]

Blair first big? Pop really messing with rotations and the offense is suffering right now because of it some. Hopefully these moves pay off this game.

[spurspokesman]

Blair please play smart

[TDomination]

bonner = done!

[SpursRulez4eVeR]

bizarre timing to sub diaw out..

[Rummpd]

Damm TD with 2 fouls, Spurs in trouble and Pop not going with Splitter but Blair.

[Horse]

we look like the youngsters

[Dex]

Blair in ahead of Bonner!

NO DUCK FACES! :)

[dmac]

I swear, Marv is going senile. He gets every fucking call wrong

he's been there for years.

[Spurtacus]

Take out the only guy who has hit from the field? Yeah, smart thinkin Pop.

[Richie]

Diaw has to keep taking that open 3

[SanDiegoSpursFan]

no bonner!

[spursfan1000]

Blair!

[JohnnySixString]

Now it's up to the Spurs' defense?




Oh fuck.

[mudyez]

bo...ah...blair

[spurraider21]

Dancing bear sighting

[Uriel]

What does this imply? That Splitter is playing with Blair?

Or could Pop be going with a 3-big rotation of Duncan-Diaw-Blair?

[Spurs Brazil]

We need to keep attacking. They're already in the penalty

[Texas_Ranger]

well fuck you Matt Bonner!

[Rummpd]

What is the consensus on Blair going in?

[timtonymanu]

Damnit Diaw was shooting well.

Oh well at least it's not the red head.

[baseline bum]

Sloppy. The Spurs should be up big right now with how the Thunder are shooting.

[AztecSpur]

Of course POP takes DIAW Out???? Waz'up with that !

[spurspokesman]

Blair first big? Pop really messing with rotations and the offense is suffering right now because of it some. Hopefully these moves pay off this game.
this

[timvp]

Crazy start. But I like the energy and the attacking.

Keep it up.

[Rummpd]

Does Duncan have 2 fouls?

[MannyIsGod]

Didn't realize Diaw had picked up 2nd foul. That really sucks.

[Seventyniner]

We need to keep attacking. They're already in the penalty

And 1.

[baseline bum]

Nice to not see Ginger Faggot checking in.

[Spurs Brazil]

Boris has 2PF

[AnthonyM]

Diaw has two fouls. Not sure why people are surprised he's being taken out.

[EVAY]

Blair first big? Pop really messing with rotations and the offense is suffering right now because of it some. Hopefully these moves pay off this game.

This is a really good point.

[timvp]

Diaw has two fouls. He needs to come out.

[Fireball]

Does Duncan have 2 fouls?

Diaw has ...

[Holt's Cat]

Make us proud, Blairrrrrr.

[SpursRulez4eVeR]

ah, Diaw with 2 fouls

[Richie]

Take out the only guy who has hit from the field? Yeah, smart thinkin Pop.

He has 2 fouls

[illcendiary]

Really weird start to the game, I'm a little angry that the Spurs are up small despite the Thunder playing like trash. Really need to take advantage of being in the penalty.

[Manu20]

Was that cheer for Blair or Diaw??

[TE]

At the rate I'm drinking I might get alcohol intoxication but I really don't give a shit right now. Let's go spurs. Keep it up.

[100%duncan]

I swear I'm fucking happy not to see the fuckface being the first big off the bench. I'll be happier if he doesn't play at all.

[Kidd K]

Damm TD with 2 fouls, Spurs in trouble and Pop not going with Splitter but Blair.

We're in trouble because of Diaw being in foul trouble yes. . .but I don't think Blair is that much of a downgrade from Splitter tbh. Blair is a much better rebounder despite being smaller than Splitter, and he's a better post scorer as well. Splitter is better at setting screens and cutting to the basket though. . .and a better passer. But Blair does all the post stuff we have been lacking when Duncan's not on the floor.

[Dex]

Need a big game from Timmy.

PLZZZZZ!

[spursparker9]

when is bonner's contract up?

or is there any team that is willing to trade for him?

[DAF86]

I know you won't agree but I would have given Bonner one more chance, a few minutes to see if maybe he could be productive.

I know he usually sucks, but if he plays well, he's vital for us.

[Spurs Brazil]

We have 3PFs. We can't put those guys in the penalty early

[loveforthegame]

Except for the turnovers and few miscues on defense, the Spurs look more focused and the energy is amazing.

Let's hope the Grizzly Blair is locked and loaded.

Keep it up. :tu

[spurspokesman]

Sloppy. The Spurs should be up big right now with how the Thunder are shooting.
this thx to the dumb a## turnovers

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

Alright Blair, here is your chance to prove yourself

[foodie2]

Diaw has two fouls. Not sure why people are surprised he's being taken out.

This

[MannyIsGod]

I know you won't agree but I would have given Bonner one more chance, a few minutes to see if maybe he could be productive.

I know he usually sucks, but if he plays well, he's vital for us.

You're right. I don't agree. :lol

[anonoftheinternets]

leonard not keepin his head in the game ...

[spurspokesman]

Just win this game spurs

[Texas_Ranger]

I know you won't agree but I would have given Bonner one more chance, a few minutes to see if maybe he could be productive.

I know he usually sucks, but if he plays well, he's vital for us.

is this a joke??

[ShoogarBear]

I'm hoping Westbrook is jealous of Durant's last game and is out to prove he can do that, too.

[Rummpd]

nba.com has Diaw with 2 fouls not Duncan

[lrrr]

I don't mind Blair as long as he doesn't have to guard a scoring PF/C. Kendrick Perkins is about as good a matchup for him as there is in the NBA.

[MannyIsGod]

Love the back cuts the Spurs ran there.

[DPG21920]

Sloppy. The Spurs should be up big right now with how the Thunder are shooting.

It's very alarming, at least to me. Even with big leads, OKC has come back time and time again. Everything is going right for the Spurs and they can't get any distance. Shades of OKC in games 1 & 2 doing a lot of good things yet losing.

Keep attacking though and keep the energy up. YOu can do a lot of good with those two things.

[loveforthegame]

Nice cut. Need more of that.

[Kidd K]

Spurs in bonus in first 2 minutes. . .yet OKC has only one less FTA anyway.

So much for expecting to get the home town calls like OKC did. I guess we should feel fortunate if it's just "even" this time.

[Spurs Brazil]

Tim Duncan!!!!!!

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

There ya go Timmy!

[Rummpd]

Duncan with a nice shot

[illcendiary]

Nice to see Tim hitting his first jumper.

[Spurs9]

Blair! Hell yes

[spurspokesman]

bout damn time duncan hits a shot

[Juggity]

Fuckin' durant

[BatManu20]

Jesus Time Duncan..

[lrrr]

It's only 6 minutes into the 1st q. How many points do you want the Spurs to be ahead?

As long as they can SUSTAIN this level of play, they will win big.

[BatManu20]

Tony sucking again. We're gonna need him big time

[01Snake]

Be nice if we could score.

[illcendiary]

I'm glad Parker is being aggressive but he missed a wide open Neal there.

[loveforthegame]

Parker still missing easy ones. Damn. Keep attacking.

[capek]

Tony! You gotta hit those shots, then defend!!

[loveforthegame]

Lame.

[jiggy_55]

Man we should be up 10! Bad start offensively

[Spurs Brazil]

2nd on TD

Fuck

TONY FINISH THAT SHIT

[ace3g]

now TD has 2 fouls...

[MannyIsGod]

Terrible call.

[Rummpd]

Duncan with a bad decision and an OF

[Kidd K]

Collison moving again and foot on the line. . .yet another bogus ass foul call.

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

Damnit

[spurspokesman]

Spurs suck right now

[100%duncan]

Fuck turd towers.

[ace3g]

great Bonner in...

[MannyIsGod]

Spurs missed a huge opportunity to build a bigger lead here.

[SpursRulez4eVeR]

LOL the turddddddddddddddd tower !

[Bonner4MVPzz]

bitch collison

[Texas_Ranger]

omg... Bonner in...

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

OMG no. Bonner and Blair

[AnthonyM]

Lol...great. Bonner-Blair frontcourt.

[phxspurfan]

Fuck

[mudyez]

bonner?

[Spurtacus]

Bonner? Fuck Pop.

[Floyd Pacquiao]

fukin bonner

[baseline bum]

Fuck me. Bonner + Blair. Well, it was a great season. :pctoss

[capek]

Fuck!

[Uriel]

Turd towers?

Fuck my life.

[007nites]

Bonner and Blair combo

[Spurs Brazil]

And off coursed fuckig Bonner is late

[ace3g]

how can you justify putting in Bonner over Splitter...

[Spurs9]

Wtf bonner?!?!

[Rummpd]

Well there goes that lead

[spurspokesman]

oh gosh this lineup sucks

[InK]

Ok, such bullshit.....

[Juggity]

Come on Neal. Airball?

[loveforthegame]

Great start and nothing to show for it. Shit.

Neal wtf??

[DAF86]

Turd towers? Me don't like.

[Bulwark]

Ugh...

[lefty]

Wow

[capek]

wtf Neal...god dammit

[boutons_deux]

Spurs can't score

[BatManu20]

Our rotation is so out of whack. Pop fails again

[Libri]

wow, Neal way off

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

:lol Fucking horrible rotations

[MannyIsGod]

Neal with the retarded fucking shot. I fucking hate that.

[timtonymanu]

Fucking wake up, Spurs.

[007nites]

Bonner, Blair, and Neal possibly the worst lineup

[$pursDynasty]

don't know about this lineup

[Capt Bringdown]

The return of turd towers.

...oh

[ShoogarBear]

This is an ugly lineup.

[TDomination]

do NOT like this lineup one bit

[01Snake]

Take it to the damn hole! We're in the penalty!

[Richie]

Blair and Bonner. Uh oh

[phxspurfan]

Please be only down by 10 at the half

[Rummpd]

Pop has gone crazy

[capek]

there you go blair!

[spurspokesman]

Fuck turd towers.
this

[loveforthegame]

Blair. Good job.

[illcendiary]

Spurs not taking advantage of being in the penalty.

[ace3g]

just go small with SJAX and Blair

[capek]

Green's in, see what you get!

[boutons_deux]

midget ball

[Texas_Ranger]

hey Bonner go fuck yourself!

[Warlord23]

Pop's got no adjustments in terms of Xs and Os ... he's just hoping the Spurs make some shots.

[DPG21920]

Spurs are in trouble.

[polandprzem]

wtf spurs?

[spurspokesman]

boos from the crowd

[MannyIsGod]

Gonna give a Pop a pass on the weird rotations because of the foul trouble to Diaw and Duncan.

Fuck this lineup is terrible though.

[InK]

Wdf Pop, are u gonna choke it away like this....

[Rummpd]

Why the hell no Tiago again

[ballhog]

Lineup sucks

[Kidd K]

Green just totally choked right there.

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

:lol What the fuck is this....

[Libri]

Craaaaaaaaaaap

[Juggity]

Wow. This is absolutely awful.

[TDomination]

pop is trying too hard....i don't like this one bit

[capek]

this is fucking pathetic!

[Uriel]

What the fuck is Pop doing?

[loveforthegame]

Awful. Turnovers again.

[SpursRulez4eVeR]

the worst lineup i've ever seen in awhile

[bklynspursfan]

Turnovers what the fuck are they doing out there!!! This isn't game 1 with 7 days off come on already

[007nites]

Doesn't look good right now

[ChumpDumper]

lol six turnovers

[MannyIsGod]

Pop may have to take Blair out and go with Tiago. This lineup is way too fucking small.

[ballhog]

Green sucks

[bklynspursfan]

Green still sucks

[maverick1948]

Got the early calls and then we stopped getting anything. What the hell is wrong with the officiating?

[Horse]

Just when I thought the refs were'nt gonna Fuck us.

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

boos from the crowd


Fisher came in

[Rummpd]

ugn

[illcendiary]

Danny misses his first, sigh.

[capek]

missing your first shot is not cool Danny :(

[therealtruth]

What kind of bogus lineups is Pop coming up with?

[DPG21920]

Pop blowing it with his changes and rotations. You can't make the changes he did, expect rhythm and then still go to Bonner.

Spurs in bigg trouble.

[Capt Bringdown]

Softy Spurs unraveling before our eyes.

[timtonymanu]

What the fuck at this effort?

[jiggy_55]

Terrible terrible start...

[Spurs Brazil]

Manu sit and it seems we lost all the energy

[Texas_Ranger]

Pop is drunk...

[spurspokesman]

Spurs not taking advantage of being in the penalty.
this

[100%duncan]

Danny Green, Matt Bonner. You sirs, can get the fuck off. Thank you.

[timvp]

OMG WTF IS POP DOING :depressed

I ain't even got no words for this.

[DAF86]

Pop is losing it.

[BatManu20]

spurs role players playing like trash. Thunder are going to win this game we keep this up much longer. Dammit Spurs choking

[Admidave50]

Pop lost his mind...

[loveforthegame]

This might get out of hand quickly.

Good start but they're back to wetting the bed. smh

[Floyd Pacquiao]

fawk

[polandprzem]

shitty 1st - spurs playing real bad basketball

[mVp]

This looks like a loss already

[jag]

This is sad. This lineup is depressing as shit

[bklynspursfan]

Absolutely horrid start. I mean seriously, crowd is out of it, turning the ball over, missing open shots.

[ShoogarBear]

This is panic coaching.

[SpursRulez4eVeR]

Pop has gone MADDDDD with his rotation i can't believe it

[roycrikside]

The fuck is Pop doing? This is the stupidest lineup ever. Who the fuck is supposed to guard the paint or rebound? Put Splitter in.

[ChumpDumper]

Pop may have to take Blair out and go with Tiago. This lineup is way too fucking small.Deckchairs on the Titanic.

[Rummpd]

This is so ugly... so disturbing that this is the lineup.....

[urunobili]

Trashker with the 1Q performance...

[Nathan89]

Fuck rest. Manu needs to come in and play.

[baseline bum]

Fucking shit, I knew messing with the lineups was going to be bad news for the Spurs tonight. For as amazing of a job as Pop has done getting this team through the regular season with its health, his adjustments tonight have been completely moronic.

[Uriel]

Pop's lost it. His rotation is making absolutely no sense. And our offense is completely stagnant as a result.

This isn't good. The Coach of the Year might have overreacted to a couple of losses. If this costs us the game, I don't know what I'm gonna do.

[TE]

Damn, this is bad times for the Spurs.

[MannyIsGod]

Its obvious Pop made an adjustment and the foul trouble pretty much fucked it up. I think you HAVE to give Tiago a shot now because this lineup is just terrible and has no experience with each other.

[Libri]

this lineup is failing bad

[NASpurs]

Funny how confidence and having self doubts can turn a serious around.

[capek]

wtf happened to our offense?? No way the Thunder defense is this good smh

[siraulo23]

Pop in full panic mode? foul trouble on diaw/duncan didnt help either

not looking good

[Spurs21Fan4Ever]

Why the hell are the Spurs not takin advantage of Ibaka's 2 fouls? He won't be on the bench forever.

[Admidave50]

Pop panicking hard, he should wait til 2nd half before blowing out the rotation!!!

[phxspurfan]

I'm so sad right now. Whole season being pissed away with this lineup.

[therealtruth]

This is madness. How are the Spurs supposed to win a must-win game with lineups they're not used to? Pop must be desperate and scared.

[bklynspursfan]

Maybe now we can win the 2nd quarter since we probably can't play any worse than we are now.

[Manu20]

Spurs are going to have to dig deep to win this series...It looks like the Thunder figure the Spurs out :(

[slick'81]

so okc comes out scared and loses ibaka and now spurs are down jesus

[DPG21920]

Deckchairs on the Titanic.

You surprised by Pop's line ups in game 5 of the WCF. What are your initial thoughts?

[spurspokesman]

Fisher came in
Wasn't looking lol. .4

[Spurs Brazil]

Small ball with Blair NEVER work. Never. Pop is lost now

[DBMethos]

Terrible. Just terrible.

[Warlord23]

6 turnovers in under 10 minutes of play. What exactly is Pop hoping for here that will be different from the last 2 games?

[boutons_deux]

spurs can't score

[Mugen]

that's your playoff lineup?

[ColinB]

Just waiting for James Anderson and Patty Mills now.

Can we get Joseph out of that suit as well?

[Kuestmaster]

Fuck me. What the hell is doing t-rex bonner out there? No turd towers Pop!!!

[Sense]

The Spurs are nervous... like game 2, they need to calm the fuck down and Pop with the horrible line ups.

[Sa_Spursfan20]

Im not sure what to say right now. What the hell is going on?

[Two10Whitey]

This sucks.

[100%duncan]

Just fuck Pop tbh. Messing with the rotation big time.

[Poolboy5623]

Are u kidding me? This team is now a joke! Wow what a group of chokers and I've never said that about a spurs team since the late eighties when I started watching..I can't watch this anymore..

[ballhog]

Can we start over with the starters?

[Capt Bringdown]

Collison was invisible against the Lakers. We're making him look like Elvin Hayes ffs.

[dbestpro]

Pop has lost his mind.

[polandprzem]

I hope it's CIA pop


dammit

[mudyez]

we still can win game 6 and 7...believe

...and btw: let bud start in place of pop!

[ace3g]

everything was looking good until Bonner checked into the game instead of Splitter...

[jiggy_55]

Bonner over Splitter is hilarious! Then 4 guards with Blair???

[timvp]

You can't play Bonner, Blair and Neal together in any scenario. You can't play Bonner and Blair together in any scenario. You can't play Blair and Neal together in any scenario.

We know this.

Damn it Pop.

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

OMG WTF IS POP DOING :depressed

I ain't even got no words for this.


Pop's rotation making LJ sound like Ducks... :depressed

[DPG21920]

Its obvious Pop made an adjustment and the foul trouble pretty much fucked it up. I think you HAVE to give Tiago a shot now because this lineup is just terrible and has no experience with each other.

I mean, Ibaka goes out early and Brooks doesn't panic. No excuse to have Matt off the bench when Tiago is there. Even with foul trouble.

[polandprzem]

Spurs are going to have to dig deep to win this series...It looks like the Thunder figure the Spurs out :(

exactly :(

[TDomination]

This is panic coaching.

This is beyond panic coaching. This is pathetic coaching

Just sad...man he should've never started manu....

What got us here? You don't go away from it because we lost 2 games on the road against a good team.

this feels like a loss already because of what Pop is doing

[Spurs Brazil]

Please, finish strong

[Kuestmaster]

also refs shitting on us as usual. It's lame

[MannyIsGod]

Its amazing we're losing this game. Given the way OKC started there's just no excuse for being down at this point in the game. This is bad. REALLY bad.

[spurspokesman]

so okc comes out scared and loses ibaka and now spurs are down jesus
This unfortunately points to a long night for the spurs and a potential loss.

[DAF86]

There was no reason to change things so much.

[JohnnySixString]

Is it too late to go back to being a defensive team?

lol

[NASpurs]

Bonner over Splitter is hilarious! Then 4 guards with Blair???

4 guards plus Blair might as well be 5 guards.

[Kidd K]

Guys, you can't "take advantage of being in the bonus" if the refs stop calling the Thunder for fouling. Harden slaps Parker's hand for a "steal", no call. Parker gets hit on layup attempt, no call. Collison is moving and standing on the circle, yet we get called for charging and lose yet another bakset and no and 1.

Bonus doesn't mean shit if the refs swallow the whistle as soon as you get to it.



Got the early calls and then we stopped getting anything. What the hell is wrong with the officiating?

Exactly.

We got 2 minutes of fair officiating, then it went back to game 4 officiating. I expect to not get calls at this point unless it will barely effect anything. Like a loose ball foul that doesn't result in a turnover or FTAs. . .or FTAs only for our bad FT shooters. . .useless calls. That's about all we'll get.

[Uriel]

I actually don't think this is the bigman rotation Pop intended to go with. It was probably brought on out of necessity due to the foul trouble.

[spurspokesman]

Thunder in the driving seat

[100%duncan]

Play Splitter you idiot.

[illcendiary]

Have the Spurs even gotten to the line since getting in the penalty?