So which one came closest to popping a blood vessel in your brain ...

[timvp]

1. Pop going with Bonner in the fourth during the collapse.

2. Neal getting important fourth quarter run.

3. An out of gas Parker forcing shots.

4. Ginobili deferring until he gifted the Grizzlies a four-point play single-handedly.

5. Duncan sitting on the bench until it was almost too late.

6. Green sitting important minutes even though he might have been the second best Spur through three quarters.

7. The lack of Duncan and Splitter together.

8. That playcall for Bonner to shoot a three off a down screen at a vital moment in the game.

9. Duncan attempting an awkward tip when the game is probably over if he just corrals the ball.

:smchode:















2-0, but got damn I think I lost four years off my life.

[Darius McCrary]

1. Pop going with Bonner in the fourth during the collapse.

2. Neal getting important fourth quarter run.

3. An out of gas Parker forcing shots.

4. Ginobili deferring until he gifted the Grizzlies a four-point play single-handedly.

5. Duncan sitting on the bench until it was almost too late.

6. Green sitting important minutes even though he might have been the second best Spur through three quarters.

7. The lack of Duncan and Splitter together.

8. That playcall for Bonner to shoot a three off a down screen at a vital moment in the game.



:smchode:















2-0, but got damn I think I lost four years off my life.

3 + 4, they were synergistic and should be considered as one. Vintage :smchode:

[hater]

but I thought the Grizz were the overwhelming favorites??

[Mark in Austin]

Fucking Bonner. Always this.

[easjer]

Oh, it was definitely 4. Though I credit the refs far more than Ginobili.

[Chris]

Pop was being extremely careful with Duncan since he played with 5 fouls for what seemed like an eternity. Diaw pissed me off more than anyone tbh

[SpursFan0728]

My life shortens every second Gary fucking Neal is on the floor.

[crc21209]

1, 2, and 7 got to me the most. Going with Bonner for the entire 4th was an idiotic move. He should've went to Diaw and brought Duncan back in earlier. Playing Neal in the 4th was also a big joke. It should've been either Kawhi or Green in there for those important minutes. And yeah...going away from the Duncan/Splitter combo was frustrating as hell....

[ShoogarBear]

You forgot to mention Duncan trying a difficult tip-in with the Spurs up seven and less than a minute left rather than grabbing the ball and running clock/forcing a foul.

[capek]

I'll be a contrarian and say what pissed me off most what not having Green in there enough down the stretch. That one just left me baffled. Others sucked too though

[Warlord23]

You know it's a watered down conference when a team giving significant minutes to Neal and Bonner is 2 wins away from the Finals

[Keepin' it real]

It was not pleasant watching Kawhi, Green, Bonner, Splitter and Diaw all become non-factors offensively down the stretch. We'll see in Memphis whether the stage is getting too big for certain role players again.

[Spurminator]

Duncan's botched tip after Parker blew the layup was the most frustrating moment of the game for me.

[BillMc]

Two things changed the whole game late in the 3rd:

1. Tim got in foul trouble
2. Tony got tired.

We got this. Despite the popping blood vessels, this gives Pop plenty of things to work on for Game 3. (And by that I mean, his own mistakes too!)

[Brunodf]

1/2/5/7/8.

[Robz4000]

Definitely 3, though no one else was hitting shots. Avoiding 6 prolly would've resulted in the Spurs winning by 10.

[Keepin' it real]

I'll be a contrarian and say what pissed me off most what not having Green in there enough down the stretch. That one just left me baffled. Others sucked too though

He's played scared in OT. You could tell by his body language and bad offensive play.

[Brunodf]

My life shortens every second Gary fucking Neal is on the floor.
This tbh, scrub Neal shouldn't be in rotation

[T Park]

Two things changed the whole game late in the 3rd:

1. Tim got in foul trouble
2. Tony got tired.

We got this. Despite the popping blood vessels, this gives Pop plenty of things to work on for Game 3. (And by that I mean, his own mistakes too!)



This.

[Mugen]

Ugh. Don't care.

2-0.

[freetiago]

is Popovich getting his token Bish grade because of a win today..
lineup was because they got cocky and went Bonner/Diaw/Neal vs a hot Bayless and a Gasol/Randolph who were getting gifted calls in the third
allowed over 30 vs a nonthreat

its the WCF now and guys cant start resting because of broken finger nails or whatever
at the start of the 4th quarter Duncan & Splitter had 20 minutes each and Green/Leonard had like 25-28 i think
both perimeter guys can and should play near 40 since theyre not exerting themsleves defensively and Splitter is a mandatory 30+ unless foul trouble

i know in the back of his mind Pop wants to see Bonner suceed to tell everyone i told you so
also this thread reminding me of Popovich going with Green in the pick and roll with Duncan in OT..

[mikec]

You forgot to mention Duncan trying a difficult tip-in with the Spurs up seven and less than a minute left rather than grabbing the ball and running clock/forcing a foul.

this should be #9. I was furious after that wild attempt a tip in when they could've run clock.

[pgardn]

I did not have an acute moment.

It was a slow,deceptive, onset of dementia watching Tony forced to dribble the shot clock down resulting in tired shots during the 4th while Duncan was on the bench.

In addition, my head hurts from self-inflicted forehead slaps due to most of the aforementioned events.
A nauseating win...

[Nathan89]

When Duncan came in after a timeout and I notice Pop had pulled Splitter that just about did it. We had a 7pt lead at the time. Only Pop knows why he wouldn't put the best defensive lineup in.

[GSH]

Every time I try to pick one, I see a couple of others that made me all crazy-like.

[slick'81]

Hopefully spurs learned from this lesson .glad to b up 2-0

[MR-Clutch]

Diaw pissed me off more than anyone tbh

this should be added to the list.

[Bill_Brasky]

Neal needs to sit, Bonner can still have a few first half minutes if Diaw is playing bad.

[mercos]

I popped several blood vessels when the Spurs had 4 fouls called against them in roughly a minute in the fourth quarter. That possession completely changed the game. It took the Spurs completely out of rhythm offensively, and put Memphis in the bonus with half the quarter left to go. The Spurs essentially couldn't play defense for the second half of the fourth quarter, allowing Memphis to come back.

[MR-Clutch]

I would also add Pop not taking a timeout when Kawhi couldn't get the ball in, and got it to a crowded duncan around the 3 pt line.

[JR3]

Me too. If he just rebounded it we could have taken more time off the clock.

[ShoogarBear]

I would also add Pop not taking a timeout when Kawhi couldn't get the ball in, and go it to a crowded duncan around the 3 pt line.

Oh, yeah. This one too. WTF?

[timvp]

You forgot to mention Duncan trying a difficult tip-in with the Spurs up seven and less than a minute left rather than grabbing the ball and running clock/forcing a foul.

Good call. That one was so bad I think I blacked out for a few seconds. I'll have to add that one in...

[FromWayDowntown]

Duncan's botched tip after Parker blew the layup was the most frustrating moment of the game for me.

That play was like watching Bizarro Tim Duncan or something.

[TheGoldStandard]

Don't mind Bonner there as long as Diaw is getting minutes too, Gary Neal should never see the floor unless we're up 18 and if he misses 1 shot he's pulled. Green should have been in the game and Kawhi should have gotten looks, he killed it in game 1 and Tony tried to do too much down the stretch.

[dbreiden83080]

Pop

F-

[Floyd Pacquiao]

pop rolling with bonner and neal are worst defensive players, is what really killed me tbh...if their not hitting shots their pretty mich useless...also didnt help that they were playing on tired legs in the 4th....glad their getting 3 days off for some much needed rest...

[DAF86]

Green had a an awful stint there at the end (don't remember if in the 4th or the OT) and that's why he got benched, tbh.

For me it was 1, definitely 1 and a little bit of 3 and 4 which go toghether and I don't think it was the players' fault, tbh (Tony for forcing or Manu for deferring) it was the playcalling (either for calling play after play for a clearly gassed Tony or for not calling plays for Manu).

[Keepin' it real]

How about the 5-second violation non-call at the end of regulation? Spurs very lucky it was not called.

[SouthernFried]

An out of gas Parker forcing shots.

I was looking for him to pass or have someone else do something...but, nobody was moving except Tony. Manu got the ball once, and immediately threw it back to Tony like it was Kryptonite. Everyone else was just standing around. Parker was killing us, but nobody else was stepping up.

Which is a situation a coach should deal with, methinks.

[ElNono]

1. Pop going with Bonner in the fourth during the collapse.

2. Neal getting important fourth quarter run.

6. Green sitting important minutes even though he might have been the second best Spur through three quarters.

7. The lack of Duncan and Splitter together.



All of these mostly. All Pop decisions that made no sense to me.

[ShoogarBear]

How about the 5-second violation non-call at the end of regulation? Spurs very lucky it was not called.

Lucky/stupid. They had a 20-second left.

[T Park]

Diaw playing bad and Duncan getting five with so much time left F'ed things up.

[BatManu20]

Just when you think Bonner might be turning the corner, he misses every open shot he gets and makes dumb fouls.. that guy alone will give you grey hairs.

[rmt]

Bonner playing well in the previous game's blowout has Pop thinking he deserves crunch time minutes. They have 3 days' rest between games so wth is Pop saving Tim and Tiago for - when the Spurs are getting murdered on the boards. Why doesn't he play them together? And why didn't he call time out earlier before the lead dwindled down to single digit. IOW, this collapse was mostly on Pop.

What were the officials thinking on that acting job by Tony Allen. Does Manu get fined for that flagrant foul? I hope the league reviews it and rescinds the foul. He was rolling around like his head got clobbered.

[TheyCallMePro]

A couple things really irked me.

1) Kawhi being out for long stretches of the game. He missed some shots, but was otherwise very productive while on the floor. And Neal did practically nothing with his minutes.

2) Bonner missing his wide open 3's. My god I mean that's the only reason he's in the game...gotta knock those down.

3) Tony Parker once again forcing it in the 4th quarter when he was clearly exhausted. Just move the ball and trust the offense Tony! Like you did in the first 3 quarters.

4) Ginobli's foul. A flagrant is when you don't make a play on the ball and he didn't. Just let him have the goddamn layup and were up by 2 with 22 seconds to go and they have to foul and we'd be up 4 again. Instead, the flagrant, 2 free throws, the ball and a tie game. Bad Manu bad!

[MR-Clutch]

Also, why not try calling a simple play for Leonard at the end, rather than tony Parker continuing to brick shots. He's our youngest and most athletic player which means when everyone else was standing around and looking dead tired, he probably has more energy than most people on the court. How is it so damn hard to integrate a post up play, a pin down screen at the free throw line, or any other simple bball play? Instead, lets have him sit for the corner and wait for the pass that tony parker is never going to feed him when he's in hero mode. Even when Tony gets it to guys in hero mode, they usually miss because they're completely out of rhythm in the offense.

[spurraider21]

parker forcing up jumpers got to me the most. not having duncan and splitter out there to close got to me as well

[siraulo23]

ginobili flagrant, no question number 1 for me. they could have escaped with a fluky 3 and the win!!! holy shit

followed by exhausted tp

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

1. Pop going with Bonner in the fourth during the collapse.

2. Neal getting important fourth quarter run.

3. An out of gas Parker forcing shots.

4. Ginobili deferring until he gifted the Grizzlies a four-point play single-handedly.

5. Duncan sitting on the bench until it was almost too late.

6. Green sitting important minutes even though he might have been the second best Spur through three quarters.

7. The lack of Duncan and Splitter together.

8. That playcall for Bonner to shoot a three off a down screen at a vital moment in the game.

9. Duncan attempting an awkward tip when the game is probably over if he just corrals the ball.

:smchode:















2-0, but got damn I think I lost four years off my life.

All of the above. I was :pctoss ing a lot! :lmao

Add to that Danny Green taking a pull-up 3, then turning it over as primary ballhandler in a pnr, both in OT. Danny is awesome when he sticks to what he does best, and those two things are not! :lol

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Also, why not try calling a simple play for Leonard at the end, rather than tony Parker continuing to brick shots. He's youngest and most athletic guy which means when everyone else was standing around and looked dead tired, he probably has more energy than most people on the court. How is it so damn hard to integrate a post up play, a pin down screen at the free throw line, or any other simple bball play? Instead, lets have him sit for the corner and wait for the pass that tony parker is never going to feed him when he's in hero mode. Even when Tony gets it to guys in hero mode, they usually miss because they're completely out of rhythm in the offense.

I was thinking absolutely the same thing - when everyone else looks tired, go to Kawhi in the post or off a screen at the elbow!

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

Pop would have been pretty mad going into games 3 and 4 on the back of two blowout wins. He had to screw something up :lol

[SouthernFried]

Also, why not try calling a simple play for Leonard at the end, rather than tony Parker continuing to brick shots. He's youngest and most athletic guy which means when everyone else was standing around and looked dead tired, he probably has more energy than most people on the court. How is it so damn hard to integrate a post up play, a pin down screen at the free throw line, or any other simple bball play? Instead, lets have him sit for the corner and wait for the pass that tony parker is never going to feed him when he's in hero mode. Even when Tony gets it to guys in hero mode, they usually miss because they're completely out of rhythm in the offense.

This.

It was obvious TP was exhausted. If we could see it, POP shoulda too. This is what I think done the Warriors in. Their coach ran Curry almost the whole first game...and he was never the same after that. Oh well, even coaches have bad games.

[Sean Cagney]

Duncan's botched tip after Parker blew the layup was the most frustrating moment of the game for me.

Yep, when that happened I said hereeeeeeee we go, three on the other end! Well not a three but an and one instead and it happens. Bonner shoves him in the damn back after he has the damn shot already and gives him one more lol! Glad we won but that sequence right there just about did it for me. I was LIVID! That MISS BY TONY and Tim point blank wide open spelled trouble, period.

[Sean Cagney]

A couple things really irked me.

1) Kawhi being out for long stretches of the game. He missed some shots, but was otherwise very productive while on the floor. And Neal did practically nothing with his minutes.

2) Bonner missing his wide open 3's. My god I mean that's the only reason he's in the game...gotta knock those down.

3) Tony Parker once again forcing it in the 4th quarter when he was clearly exhausted. Just move the ball and trust the offense Tony! Like you did in the first 3 quarters.

4) Ginobli's foul. A flagrant is when you don't make a play on the ball and he didn't. Just let him have the goddamn layup and were up by 2 with 22 seconds to go and they have to foul and we'd be up 4 again. Instead, the flagrant, 2 free throws, the ball and a tie game. Bad Manu bad!

I love Manu for his play and his big shots but man he does some stupid shit at times out of trying too hard! I love the way he tries and approaches the game, but man at times just think man! Let him have the two we are up 4, go out there and get fouled like you said instead of turning this into nightmare! I agree with you fully. He needs to calm down at times and think, I know thats not in his DNA and thats what makes him special BUT MY GOD!

[HI-FI]

a lot to take in. glad i'm not the only one calling this a sickening win. it really should have not come down to this, but tbh, i'm both happy and surprised we were able to pull out the win, because it felt like the league wanted to make this series more complicated than it need be.

as for Spurs, things that pissed me off the most was

-Parker going into heroball in the 4th after playing so great early on

-Bonner shitting the bed after playing so good in the first half

-Neal


I popped several blood vessels when the Spurs had 4 fouls called against them in roughly a minute in the fourth quarter. That possession completely changed the game. It took the Spurs completely out of rhythm offensively, and put Memphis in the bonus with half the quarter left to go. The Spurs essentially couldn't play defense for the second half of the fourth quarter, allowing Memphis to come back.
this is probably what bothered me the most tbh.

[SA210]

but I thought the Grizz were the overwhelming favorites??

[Hemotivo]

You forgot to mention Duncan trying a difficult tip-in with the Spurs up seven and less than a minute left rather than grabbing the ball and running clock/forcing a foul.

this

[SA210]

Pop and his stupid lineups. Bonner ball.

[DesignatedT]

Foul trouble screwed the rotation. Refs called two completely different halves which can be hard to adjust to. Tony got tired.

Much needed 3 day break for the Spurs. The Spurs have been playing every other day since the start of GS and are starting to get gassed. It's understandable. These two wins are still extremely impressive by SA. Now three days off.

[therealtruth]

Pop should get an F--. His minute management was horrible. Green should have played 30+ minutes. Bonner shouldn't have played more than 10-12 minutes. Parker shouldn't have been gassed at the end.

[letmk]

With Timmy in foul trouble and Diaw inefficient, I can understand Bonner gets more minutes than usual. Plus, IIRC Bonner started the game 2-2 before bricking the last three 3-pointers.

But I definitely don't understand why Green only played 27 minutes including OT. He was obviously better than Neal and Manu, on BOTH ends. When Pop finanlly played Green again, Grizzlies already got the momentum and Green couldn't find open shots either.

[Das Texan]

Spurs jacking up 3 after 3 after 3 after 3 after 3 after 3 in the fourth quarter was wildly entertaining too.

[skulls138]

I never came close to popping a blood vessel and felt confident in overtime.

[GSH]

There was a play in the first half where Kawhi dribbled away an entire possession, and then jacked up a contested shot with the clock running out. It's a good thing that one didn't happen in the second half, or I really would have popped a blood vessel. It's bad enough when Tony or Manu play hero ball... but Kawhi? WTF was he thinking?

[SenorSpur]

Definitely 1 & 3. Of course, Bonner gave up his customary "and-1" and was outmuscled for key defensive rebounds during that stretch because he was out of position. I don't care about him spreading the floor, this guy is a spaz, who usually takes away more than he gives.

[Budkin]

The fucking refs bailing them out in the 3rd, and Pop's awful 4th quarter rotations. But who gives a shit now... we won't be talking about this one for years. We won. 2-0.

[Budkin]

Pop should get an F--. His minute management was horrible. Green should have played 30+ minutes. Bonner shouldn't have played more than 10-12 minutes. Parker shouldn't have been gassed at the end.

This.

[DJR210]

HANDS FUCKING DOWN.

4. Ginobili deferring until he gifted the Grizzlies a four-point play single-handedly.

[Kidd K]

Out of the stuff you listed OP, #5 by far. I kept thinking, sometimes a game can be won or lost BEFORE the final couple minutes or 9th inning of a game. Sometimes it's better to bring in your best pitcher when the bases are loaded and no one's out, and not to leave out your worst guys instead.

I can't help but think if Pop just manned up and played Timmy with 7 1/2 minutes left, or even 5 minutes left. . .and not waited until what was it, less than 3 mins left?. . .that it absolutely would not have gone to overtime. In the end we won, but that was Pop's biggest mistake of the game imo.

Though not on the list, I think the 3 fouls on one possession made me furious, and the AWFUL flagrant call made me blow a gasket. That was one of the worst calls I've ever seen. They literally tried to hand that game to Memphis with that call. It's like they looked at the score, saw that they could directly alter the outcome of that game with an awful call, then did it.

Tony Allen only fell like that because he tried to keep his hands on the ball. If he let his arm go lax he doesn't even move. Manu didn't horsecollar him, he just grabbed his forearm. How the hell is that a flagrant now? Stupid, terrible call.

[polandprzem]

The last play at the reg was a 5 sec violation. I was counting that shit cause I knew it might be and error on our side.
And I was WTF, why no timeout?

So many things went wrong for the spurs it's insaine. Tired is not an excuse cause Miami will eat everybody that is close to tired. So will Memphis if the spurs keep acting like this.


btw. Gino went for a foul. It was not flagrant and Allen one second away from great acting.

[polandprzem]

Ahh yea, the worst was Parker in hero-mode. I know when he will miss b4 he knows. It just so odd and off the rythm ...


foooook

[therealtruth]

Definitely 1 & 3. Of course, Bonner gave up his customary "and-1" and was outmuscled for key defensive rebounds during that stretch because he was out of position. I don't care about him spreading the floor, this guy is a spaz, who usually takes away more than he gives.

Bonner/Neal are fine in limited minutes. The problem is Pop overplayed them.

[Obstructed_View]

I have zero problem with that foul. Ginobili has been fouled that hard probably two dozen times and it's never been called a flagrant because he gets up and walks to the line. Never did I think that was going to be a flagrant. I was so relieved that Jeff Van Gundy pointed out that his head never hit the ground, because I was yelling that at the TV from the time he was rolling on the ground. There is no fucking way Allen's reaction wasn't a factor in that call, and it's shameful. Worst flagrant I've seen since the one where Joe Johnson's hand slipped off the rim and they called a flagrant on Jerry Stackhouse who did nothing other than block the shot. (Google "Stackhouse flagrant Joe Johnson" to see that one)

Bonner tossed the ball to Manu with the shot clock winding down and did a big faggy olé! move which caused the turnover. I blame Bonner before I blame Manu, and I blame the guy who had Bonner in the game far more than I blame Bonner.

Why do the Spurs think changing their lineup and suddenly settling for jumpers is the way to close out a game? One shot in the paint in the 4th quarter. AGAIN. This is the second time this postseason that Splitter was the only guy to score in the paint in the 4th quarter of a game, if memory serves.

[Obstructed_View]

Bonner/Neal are fine in limited minutes. The problem is Pop overplayed them.

I missed where Neal has been fine at any point in this series, let alone this game. He's aggressively rebounding. Good for him, he's almost as good at that as Cory Joseph.

[Mal]

8. That playcall for Bonner to shoot a three off a down screen at a vital moment in the game.
:smchode:


Bonner is as good as his pick and pop threes. I do believe he shot twice, and twice he was wide open. He hit = game over. He didnt, but would Parker`s forced jumper been better shots ? I dont think so.

On defense, Bonner was fucking liability. I dont know when or whether he was playing so long, in very important game, without being red hot from three. smh

[Legacy]

I popped several blood vessels when the Spurs had 4 fouls called against them in roughly a minute in the fourth quarter. That possession completely changed the game. It took the Spurs completely out of rhythm offensively, and put Memphis in the bonus with half the quarter left to go. The Spurs essentially couldn't play defense for the second half of the fourth quarter, allowing Memphis to come back.


:cuss BINGOOO!!! :cuss

[The Reckoning]

spurs 17 fta compared to grizz 26. should have been less for spurs if it weren't for OT fouls...

[Capt Bringdown]

If anything, Pop has been exposed the last few years. Still a good/great coach, but he has a tendency to get rattled in the playoffs, and that tendency has contributed to the annual Spurs playoff meltdown. His reluctance to pair Splitter/Duncan and his raging hard-on for Matt Bonner is deeply puzzling.

We're up 2-0, but also facing a pivotal crossroads. I don't like what I saw in game 2, it was too reminiscent of last year. This could easily go bad if Pop doesn't get his fuckin' head screwed on straight.

[jiggy_55]

3 and 6!!! Green's benching really infuriated me, it's like Pop forgot about him!

[easjer]

I feel like people must be forgetting or ignoring that Timmy had 5 (FIVE) fouls at the end. I am not at all surprised, especially given the fouls being called on SA at that point, that he wasn't in. Up around double digits late? Meh. If Pop had played him and he'd picked up 6, then we'd be bitching about how bone headed and short sighted that was, and wondering what 2-0 would feel like. Plenty of other line-up issues without harping on the one that was a correct decision.

And the Manu foul was the right call. Even if my head was exploding.

[DarrinS]

Good thing I was heavily sedated in the 4th and OT.

[exstatic]

I would also add Pop not taking a timeout when Kawhi couldn't get the ball in, and got it to a crowded duncan around the 3 pt line.

That's actually the called play, but not the result you want. Manu is supposed to either cut to the rim on a Duncan pick, or the corner, and get a quick pass.. Both were covered.

I hate that play, BTW. We lost a regular season game because we couldn't execute it then, either.

What might salvage this is the fact that Memphis overplayed it as expected, leaving Kawhi wide open. That could be useful later in the series. The most dangerous man is the out of bounds passer. A simple return touch pass gets Kawhi an uncovered jumper with 2 seconds left.

[DarrinS]

Bright side? Spurs have to play some of their shittiest bball for Grizz to be close.

[biskvito]

3rd quarter was a mess, compared to the first 2... defense went cold with Duncan out... luckily offense didn't stopped, but Grizzlies woke up in that 3rd quarter...

the last straw was definitely Pop leaving Bonner in the last minutes while Splitter was benched... basically Pop forgot about that defensive mentality for a while and reverted to "let's win this on offense"... in the last seconds he reverted to Splitter again...

and once again Duncan saves Pop's ass... Duncan saved this game from Pop's meltdown...

[ohmwrecker]

10. Not trying to get a sixth foul on Gasol.

[100%duncan]

Everything you mentioned.

Especially TD and Green resting too much. Reliance on Bonner was cool until the 4th imho.

[mando6599]

Ugh. Don't care.

2-0.

This. Agreed. Just so happy & relieved we're up 2-0.

I feel this loss, with the way it happened and ended, is demoralizing for the Grizz. To climb all the way back into the game and then sputter at the end with clanks and airballs, well, let's just say it can't be a factor for spinning it positively, right?

Ugly win is better than a loss. And through 2 1/2 quarters, it was Spurs beautiful bball, but then the Grizz decided to play defense while Pop decided to go smoke a cigar.

Thank you TD for stepping up once again, even though that one shot looked straight out of TP's playbook and/or the group of Grizzlies luck shots.

GSG!

mando

[100%duncan]

timvp, you missed 1. The Refs and 2. That Oscar award nominee flop of the year by Allen, though.

[bklynspursfan]

Diaw wasn't aggressive enough to get more playing time I guess. He did some good things against the Warriors, but I guess they feel Bonner is playing harder. And frankly, he might be. He did miss 2 open 3's in the 4th that could've completely swung the momentum, but that's what happens sometimes. Tim got in foul trouble and that changed the whole game. Grizz getting 14 FTA's in the 3rd was crazy...

[DrunkTXLabrat]

although, the duncan tip was dumb. that manu foul had me screaming at the tv. i think the worst thing was bonner giving up a 3 point play to zbo.

zbo will now be a factor in game 3.

[ffadicted]

That duncan tip miss was the tipping point for me, no pun intended

[George Gervin's Afro]

1. Pop going with Bonner in the fourth during the collapse.

2. Neal getting important fourth quarter run.

3. An out of gas Parker forcing shots.

4. Ginobili deferring until he gifted the Grizzlies a four-point play single-handedly.

5. Duncan sitting on the bench until it was almost too late.

6. Green sitting important minutes even though he might have been the second best Spur through three quarters.

7. The lack of Duncan and Splitter together.

8. That playcall for Bonner to shoot a three off a down screen at a vital moment in the game.

9. Duncan attempting an awkward tip when the game is probably over if he just corrals the ball.

:smchode:















2-0, but got damn I think I lost four years off my life.

Manu's turnovers should be on the list tbh...


add parker's forced shots...


... bonner's foul on zach randolph during their run


............ neal picking up the foul with .2 seconds on the clock to end the 3rd qtr..

[Strategic]

Also, why not try calling a simple play for Leonard at the end, rather than tony Parker continuing to brick shots. He's our youngest and most athletic player which means when everyone else was standing around and looking dead tired, he probably has more energy than most people on the court. How is it so damn hard to integrate a post up play, a pin down screen at the free throw line, or any other simple bball play? Instead, lets have him sit for the corner and wait for the pass that tony parker is never going to feed him when he's in hero mode. Even when Tony gets it to guys in hero mode, they usually miss because they're completely out of rhythm in the offense.

This is an issue with me also. I think Pop will not be able to go away from Tony and Manu, no matter what, in crunch time. I feel sure he's telling the others to stay within the offense. Tony and Manu have free rein. I though Pop's inability to trust his offense to the younger players cost the Spurs in last year's conference finals. Thankfully, I don't think Memphis is good enough to take advantage this year. We'll see.

[2centsworth]

#9 and it's no close for me.

[sammy]

I popped several blood vessels when the Spurs had 4 fouls called against them in roughly a minute in the fourth quarter. That possession completely changed the game. It took the Spurs completely out of rhythm offensively, and put Memphis in the bonus with half the quarter left to go. The Spurs essentially couldn't play defense for the second half of the fourth quarter, allowing Memphis to come back.

I agree! This was definitely a momentum change in favor of the Grizzlies! When Timmy got his 5th foul, I knew the fix was in! Bogus BS calls all the way and yet they can hack and grab and no call! Fat Gasol should've fouled out a long time ago! The academy award performance flagrant foul was icing to cake! Everyone was laughing and saying he wasn't hurt and it wasn't a flagrant foul! Van Gundy was so sarcastic when the OT started and said are they going to give them a foul point play foul! (LOL) par for the night with these crooked refs!

[therealtruth]

If anything, Pop has been exposed the last few years. Still a good/great coach, but he has a tendency to get rattled in the playoffs, and that tendency has contributed to the annual Spurs playoff meltdown. His reluctance to pair Splitter/Duncan and his raging hard-on for Matt Bonner is deeply puzzling.

We're up 2-0, but also facing a pivotal crossroads. I don't like what I saw in game 2, it was too reminiscent of last year. This could easily go bad if Pop doesn't get his fuckin' head screwed on straight.

Pop recovered in the Warriors series before almost throwing it away. Maybe he'll do the same. If Pop plays the right rotations I don't think the Grizzlies really have a chance. There's no reason this shouldn't be a sweep.

[rwb]

MISSING FREE THROWS! I was already near bald from ripping my hair out, but chucking up missed free throws when they could have put us out of danger in the last few seconds....:bang

[philldafunk]

#4 I lost my shit!?!?! I was like "somebody just shoot the damn ball already". Anything would've been better than that possession. Hell take the shot clock violation, instead we give them 4 points -_-

[Spur|n|Austin]

Ugh. Don't care.

2-0.

This, with a slight anger in Neal being on the court.

[EVAY]

I popped several blood vessels when the Spurs had 4 fouls called against them in roughly a minute in the fourth quarter. That possession completely changed the game. It took the Spurs completely out of rhythm offensively, and put Memphis in the bonus with half the quarter left to go. The Spurs essentially couldn't play defense for the second half of the fourth quarter, allowing Memphis to come back.

This is the most astute observation on the forum, imo...especially regarding all the things that went on in that last quarter.

I mean...yeah, it was ugly to watch Tony miss shot after shot in that fourth quarter, but good god, who do you suggest should have taken the shot instead? The entire team only scored ( points in the quarter, and NO ONE on the team had played as many minutes as Parker.

[ShoogarBear]

Got durn, just thought of another one, although it was in the OT.

TP making a nice steal and play to try to save the ball going out of bounds on the Memphis end of the court, but then, instead of realizing he really had no play to save the possession, he tosses the ball underneath the basket and the Tony Allen gets a layup.

They teach you in junior high never to do that.

[baseline bum]

5. Duncan sitting on the bench until it was almost too late.

[thOOdee]

WOW, I thought we had it bad with pop playing bonner at the worst times. But vogel putting his best big on the bench twice during crunch time. Thats gotta sting.

[Manudona]

#11 Reading the game thread, and lately most of the posts, tbh

[Obstructed_View]

Vogel brings his seven footer out for a white, 6'9" backup for two plays and the whole world loses their shit on what an idiot he is.

Pop keeps his seven footer out for a white, 6'9" backup for the entire 4th quarter while an 18 point lead slips away and not only doesn't anyone notice, most Spurs fans don't even have a problem with it.

[TampaDude]

Vogel brings his seven footer out for a white, 6'9" backup for two plays and the whole world loses their shit on what an idiot he is.

Pop keeps his seven footer out for a white, 6'9" backup for the entire 4th quarter while an 18 point lead slips away and not only doesn't anyone notice, most Spurs fans don't even have a problem with it.

The difference is that we won and the Pacers got LeBron'ed.

[rmt]

The difference is that we won and the Pacers got LeBron'ed.

Well, Pop coaching like that ain't going to cut it if Spurs play MIA - margin of error is too small. I don't know why he won't learn from his mistakes and I don't see why Splitter can't play at least 35 minutes if he gets enough blows. He's only 28 - better than seeing ginger. If they get to the Finals, there's no time for Pop to figure it out - he needs to hit the ground running and steal game 1 or 2 for Spurs to have a chance.

[TampaDude]

Well, Pop coaching like that ain't going to cut it if Spurs play MIA - margin of error is too small. I don't know why he won't learn from his mistakes and I don't see why Splitter can't play at least 35 minutes if he gets enough blows. He's only 28 - better than seeing ginger. If they get to the Finals, there's no time for Pop to figure it out - he needs to hit the ground running and steal game 1 or 2 for Spurs to have a chance.

Let's win two more against the Grizz first, m'kay?

[therealtruth]

Vogel brings his seven footer out for a white, 6'9" backup for two plays and the whole world loses their shit on what an idiot he is.

Pop keeps his seven footer out for a white, 6'9" backup for the entire 4th quarter while an 18 point lead slips away and not only doesn't anyone notice, most Spurs fans don't even have a problem with it.

At least Vogel had a rational explanation for it.

[Budkin]

although, the duncan tip was dumb. that manu foul had me screaming at the tv. i think the worst thing was bonner giving up a 3 point play to zbo.

zbo will now be a factor in game 3.

No he won't. He only was when our rotation was fucked when Timmy was out.

[Fabbs]

PopoBonner-Ginobili combining for a zero chance at offensive points and giving Memphis 4 points in a 6 second span.

Ranks with the most unfundamental end of game playoff hoop ever seen.

[Spurs and Mavs fan]

Vogel brings his seven footer out for a white, 6'9" backup for two plays and the whole world loses their shit on what an idiot he is.

Pop keeps his seven footer out for a white, 6'9" backup for the entire 4th quarter while an 18 point lead slips away and not only doesn't anyone notice, most Spurs fans don't even have a problem with it.


Winning makes fans forget a lot.