2014 Western Conference Finals-Game 3-San Antonio Spurs @ Oklahoma City Thunder

[SanDiegoSpursFan]

Time to even up the foul calls

But seriously, the Spurs being soft is something they can control, and I think that's the biggest reason they lost.

[hommeaetage]

If Parker does not get called out I'll be really disappointed, tbh

Patty and Leonard didn't show up either

[smaka]

:cry Ibaka crying

[spursparker9]

We must thank CP3 for taking Abaka out for 2 games.

If not now will be 0-3

[jARS mEsH sEt]

You are in denial if you think the Spurs aren't getting outplayed this game.

That's not the same thing you piece of shit fucking retard. Jesus fucking christ how are you this fucking stupid? I usually troll people on these forums facetiously but you are legitimately fucking stupid and it's pissing me off.

The refs were in the Spurs' pocket in the first half. The refs were in OKC's pocket in the second half. OKC has outplayed the Spurs this game.

All three are true.

You are so god damned stupid it hurts.

[ontheraise]

the lack of class of that thunder team is amazing even los lakers were more classy when they were wining

[Ibleedslvrnblk]

I am actually more pissed off that Pop pulled the plug so early....

[Crookshanks]

I'm not going to go to NBA.com or any other news outlet because I don't want to see all the sportswriters falling all over themselves over the "Ibaka" factor, and bringing up 2012 OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. I could take the Spurs losing a close one, but them playing like they just wanted to give this game to OKC was so frustrating. They better get their asses chewed by Pop, and they better come out swinging for game 4.

[moisaenz]

Ibaka was not the game changer it was the refs

[slick'81]

No one said winning a championship was going to be easy

[dg7md]

As usual, Spurs make Ibaka look like an all-star. I bet we give him a max contract in Atlanta or Milwaukee soon.

[SpurPadre]

What's worse is that the media will spin it that we were completely outplayed when we actually couldn't hit our usual shots. The game would be a lot closer if we got any fouls on us and we made our open looks.

Or you can say the game would've been a lot closer if ibaka didn't play.

[jARS mEsH sEt]

No shit they have outplayed us, but until that shot was declined we were still hanging in there. It would have been a 5-6 point game if they kept it, and it would have silenced the crowd.
rascal is a lost cause. You're talking to a clinical retard.

[Horry Hipcheck]

All they had to do was play their game and even if they lost, don't let OKC run away with it. Hard not to let the 2012 comparisons come flying in when you lose Game 3 by 20 twice in three years against the same fucking team.

[Nathan89]

Wish we were playing the Pacers.

[ElNono]

Spurs couldn't make a shot or rebound... I expect TP and Tiago to have better games... take the next one and this one doesn't matter

[sexinthatsx]

Tony Parker was playing hero ball for the whole 3rd quarter digging a hole tbh

[Baam]

We must thank CP3 for taking Abaka out for 2 games.

If not now will be 0-3

:lol 10 blocks for the Thunder, Ibaka is the GOAT Spurs killer tbh...

[kjhip1]

I cant wait til we beat this team and end this series..we'll come back and get them in game 4

[noles1983]

One legged mandingo owning the spurs, Durant should hand over mvp

[Horry Hipcheck]

Game 4 is a must win. Too much can happen in a 2-2 series in Game 5.

[hitmanyr2k]

I'm not going to go to NBA.com or any other news outlet because I don't want to see all the sportswriters falling all over themselves over the "Ibaka" factor, and bringing up 2012 OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. I could take the Spurs losing a close one, but them playing like they just wanted to give this game to OKC was so frustrating. They better get their asses chewed by Pop, and they better come out swinging for game 4.

??? He should have chewed them out during the game and lit a fire under their ass. No sense waiting until after the game.

[Sean Cagney]

A desperate Thunder team, the emotional high of Ibaka coming back, the blatant home cooking by the refs = Spurs loss. Still, the Spurs had every chance to win this game if they'd just played like they cared. I still think the 3 days off was a huge momentum killer.

I flat out hated that three days off, true indeed. That sucked.

[Ibleedslvrnblk]

Please. Have you watched the game at all?

Ya cause nothing can change by making a few hoops and getting hot right? Over six minutes left in the NBA is a lifetime!

[703 Spurz]

It'll be fun seeing this place implode. It will happen. OKC is just too good.

Yeah right. You're one of those dildos who makes a "bold" statement hoping to all hell that you're wrong and IF the Spurs were to "prove" you wrong you'll be here running your mouth all summer.

[slick'81]

Let's c what pop can come up with for game 4 if their gonna take the paint away tony better be on on those jump shots

[texmich]

listening to react with Geoff sheen should be good tonight, all the drunk sad pissed and tired Mexicans from bringing back in the tv from the porch are going to so emotional during their call

[Knoxxx]

The stolen Mills 3 was a back breaker the refs went into pile on mode from there.

[downunder]

This game was chucked away but not by Mills who should have been kept on the floor; look at Green stats 3-12; Parker 4- 13

[-21-]

So bummed. I won't be able to see Game 4.

[Darius Bieber]

Yeah right. You're one of those dildos who makes a "bold" statement hoping to all hell that you're wrong and IF the Spurs were to "prove" you wrong you'll be here running your mouth all summer.

No hope needed, this Spurs team won't win another game this series.

[Horry Hipcheck]

Honestly let's just end the game and call it a 104-86 Thunder win.

[Southwest Texas Fan]

No shit they have outplayed us, but until that shot was declined we were still hanging in there. It would have been a 5-6 point game if they kept it, and it would have silenced the crowd.


:tu

[Horry Hipcheck]

No hope needed, this Spurs team won't win another game this series.

Being good at trolling requires a diversified message.

[mando6599]

This is disappointing, to say the least.

[slick'81]

Spurs in 7

[Death In June]

Trying to make that FT disparity a little less conspicuous in the box score?

[texmich]

no French vanilla coffee with xtr sugar and honeybun for the fatties tomorrow

[sammy]

Ibaka was not the game changer it was the refs

So true!

[mando6599]

At least I got to see another beast up close and personal this weekend when I went to see Godzilla. Good flick.

Kinda like the OKCrefs versus our Spurs 2-on-1!

[kjhip1]

beli should not see the floor next game

[benstanfield]

FUCK. Foster and Washington is a pretty deadly combination.

[Ice009]

A typical game three on the road, we have seen this before throughout the years when we went up 2-0, won quite a few of those series but still.....

The difference back then is that we had a younger Manu and Tim. I don't trust a 31 year old TP. He's nowhere near as good as those guys at the same age, yet people call out Tim and Manu, but don't get on Parker hard enough.

Tim and Manu were delivering in big games at 31. Tony Parker, what the fuck is his excuse? The main problem is that Tony Parker simply can't deliver in the biggest games in the toughest of environments. If he can't at least play much, much better than he did tonight, Spurs are in big, big trouble.

lol as I am typing this Kerr just said the same thing. TP needs to be big in game 4, he sets the table. I'm sorry Steve, but TP ain't no Tim or Manu.

[slick'81]

Manu and tony leaving the bench

[Crookshanks]

Soooooo - will any of the TNT guys mention the 21-0 FT disparity? That's complete and utter BS - and anyone who knows basketball has to acknowledge that. It will be interesting to hear what some of the twitter feeds are saying.

[Trifecta]

I'm not going to go to NBA.com or any other news outlet because I don't want to see all the sportswriters falling all over themselves over the "Ibaka" factor, and bringing up 2012 OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. I could take the Spurs losing a close one, but them playing like they just wanted to give this game to OKC was so frustrating. They better get their asses chewed by Pop, and they better come out swinging for game 4.


Exactly.....he will be called the next "miracle drug".....he will cure all ills!!!

[Death In June]

These calls are pissing me off now.

[01Snake]

LOL..Look at the refs calling foul after foul now for the Spurs.

[testies]

refs giving us garbage time FTs so it doesn't look bad on the stat sheet

[Horry Hipcheck]

Ya cause nothing can change by making a few hoops and getting hot right? Over six minutes left in the NBA is a lifetime!

Parker 4-13. Green 3-12. Almost nothing from Splitter or Diaw. Giving up offensive rebounds, 10 blocks, turnovers left and right. There's "what can mathematically happen" and "what's going to happen". The Spurs had absolutely no offense all night, aside from Manu's glorious first half. They couldn't overcome a 5 point deficit in the third, they weren't going to cut a deficit to 10 or fewer late in the fourth.

[SpurPadre]

Spurs in 7

After being up 2-0 in dominating fashion, it would be pathetic if it goes seven. We'd have nothing left against Miami.

[KaiRMD1]

Refs now calling fouls for the Spurs

[rascal]

Ibaka was not the game changer it was the refs

It clearly was Ibaka. The spurs were intimated to go inside and when they did Ibaka disrupted shots.
Ibaka is a big difference maker.

[01Snake]

And another one..

[Nathan89]

Lmao now we get freethrows.

[Horry Hipcheck]

Garbage time FTs to make it up to the Spurs.

[Spurs21Fan4Ever]

Start Joseph over Parker, jk.

[Ice009]

So bummed. I won't be able to see Game 4.

Neither will I, well not live anyway. I'll be at work. It's 11am here. Today is my day off.

[crc21209]

:lol Oh come on refs. We don't want these BS calls at the end of the game just so you can try and make the FT attempts look even..

[-21-]

Soooooo - will any of the TNT guys mention the 21-0 FT disparity? That's complete and utter BS - and anyone who knows basketball has to acknowledge that. It will be interesting to hear what some of the twitter feeds are saying.

They are mentioning it but they say it has nothing to do with officiating, just the way the two teams played.

[Johnny RIngo]

So how many games has Parker disappeared against a full OKC team thus far

It's not just OKC. Parker is one of the easier players to shut down and this goes as far back as the 2004 series against the Lakers. Crowd the paint and dare him to shoot. More often than not, he falls apart. This was a non-issue in the past with Tim and Manu being the first/second options on the team. Ever since they declined and TP became the top dog, Spurs have stopped winning titles. Even as a third option, he was never very efficient - Expecting him to lead a team to a title is asking too much from a mediocre player.

Thankfully, this year's Spurs isn't solely reliant on any one player. We were able to overcome the Mavs despite Parker's overall shittyness in that series. Just need to regroup and come back strong in game 4.

[Blizzardwizard]

The really sad thing is, most people saw this coming. Ibaka 'miraculously' returning and going off per par. Refs rigging the game per par. Scott Brooks being a smug twat, per par. Get ready for more of the same in game 4.

[hitmanyr2k]

Lmao now we get freethrows.

What did the Spurs do in the 2nd half to deserve free throws?

[jARS mEsH sEt]

These calls are pissing me off now.

What did I tell you?


Watch. Once the game isn't in question and OKC is guaranteed a victory, the refs will give us a bunch of "make up" calls during garbage time go make sure the FT disparity looks respectable.

[Horry Hipcheck]

Lol Spurs making it look like a single digit loss thanks to garbage FTs.

[32fastest]

:lol Oh come on refs. We don't want these BS calls at the end of the game just so you can try and make the FT attempts look even..

[texmich]

fuck, ths shit pisses me off, just threw the yorkie

[John_C]

I'd say Ibaka was a factor for this loss but what really hurt us was the lack of rebounding and usual shots not falling for us

[Crookshanks]

They are mentioning it but they say it has nothing to do with officiating, just the way the two teams played.

Really - and they can say that with a straight face? Scott Brooks was whining and complaining about not getting freethrows in ONE quarter by Durant and Westbrook - no one can tell me that 21-0 disparity was justified.

[myhc]

Ya cause nothing can change by making a few hoops and getting hot right? Over six minutes left in the NBA is a lifetime!

No way in hell they were coming back. They were down 17 and it may as well have been 27. They were panicking and jacking up wild 3 pointers while on the other end they either couldn't miss or were geting every single loose ball. They were DONE.

[Ice009]

I flat out hated that three days off, true indeed. That sucked.

As soon as I saw the schedule for the series, I thought, darn, they are giving Ibaka all the time possible to try and come back for game 3 if they are in a hole. They didn't really need him as much in game 1 and 2 because if they lost both, it wouldn't cost them the series, but they absolutely did need him for game 3 onwards. So as soon as I saw that schedule, I thought they were trying to help the Thunder out.

[BillMc]

Lmao now we get freethrows.

Yep, after the game is decided. So its not so obvious...

[texmich]

dont forget to mention the HGH ibaka

[Horry Hipcheck]

Welp. I'd have been fine with a loss so long as it didn't look like that. I think the Spurs need Game 4, bad. If there's any positive takeaway from tonight it's that the game was close until that Mills disallowed 3, despite how horrendous everyone aside from Manu looked. Winning Game 4 means Parker gets into the lane and out hustles their defenders. The Spurs did a piss poor job of capitalizing on Ibaka's absences tonight, mostly thanks to weak efforts from Tony and Tim.

[jag]

Ayers coming up big in the 4th. He took the deficit into single digits with that last bucket. I think he can ride this wave of momentum into Game 4. We're going to need him to perform even better than he did tonight if the Spurs are going to advance.

[Mugen]

The Spurs are in trouble tbh. Hopefully they come out with a better effort in Game 4 because they lost this game on the glass.

[crc21209]

What did the Spurs do in the 2nd half to deserve free throws?

No, the question is what did OKC to deserve 20 in ONE fucking quarter.

[cd021]

Bonner +8 king of the +/- lives on:king

[703 Spurz]

As soon as I saw the schedule for the series, I thought, darn, they are giving Ibaka all the time possible to try and come back for game 3 if they are in a hole. They didn't really need him as much in game 1 and 2 because if they lost both, it wouldn't cost them the series, but they absolutely did need him for game 3 onwards. So as soon as I saw that schedule, I thought they were trying to help the Thunder out.

You think the schedule was created to help Ibaka back in the lineup? Miami/Indiana had 3 days off as well. That's insane to say.

[Harry Callahan]

Monkeyball and Chimpball get a game.

That horseshit call on Mills should have been reviewed. They were hanging around until then. Asshole officials. This will likely be a long series now. Too bad.

[mVp]

It's not just OKC. Parker is one of the easier players to shut down and this goes as far back as the 2004 series against the Lakers. Crowd the paint and dare him to shoot. More often than not, he falls apart. This was a non-issue in the past with Tim and Manu being the first/second options on the team. Ever since they declined and TP became the top dog, Spurs have stopped winning titles. Even as a third option, he was never very efficient - Expecting him to lead a team to a title is asking too much from a mediocre player.

Thankfully, this year's Spurs isn't solely reliant on any one player. We were able to overcome the Mavs despite Parker's overall shittyness in that series. Just need to regroup and come back strong in game 4.

This tbh.

[cd021]

actually wouldn't be a terrible idea to play Bonner some of Baynes minutes. Have him guard Adams or Butler even.

[Mugen]

Spurs hung in longer than I thought. It's a brand new series, and the Spurs are gonna have to rise to the occasion. TP, Kawhi, and a lot of people outside of Manu were MIA tonight. They'll have to play better to have a chance at winning game 4.....

[hitmanyr2k]

No, the question is what did OKC to deserve 20 in ONE fucking quarter.

I would say they didn't deserve about 6 free throws on ticky tack fouls called away from the rim. The rest were legit. Six of those free throws came from intentional fouls on Adams. And unlike the Spurs the OKC players were going to the rim and putting pressure on the defense. And it would have helped if someone on San Antonio wanted to rebound rather than give more scoring opportunities for an aggressive OKC offense.

[jARS mEsH sEt]

I would say they didn't deserve about 6 free throws on ticky tack fouls called away from the rim. The rest were legit. Six of those free throws came from intentional fouls on Adams. And unlike the Spurs the OKC players were going to the rim and putting pressure on the defense. And it would have helped if someone on San Antonio wanted to rebound rather than give more scoring opportunities for an aggressive OKC offense.

I agree. So what's the problem? I don't understand what your point is.

[Crookshanks]

The only good thing to take from this game is that the Spurs sucked in every category - so there's tons of room for improvement. Plus, Timmy, Manu and Tony are so competitive, and they're going to probably not sleep much tonight because of replaying every ghastly minute of that horrible game. So, hopefully, they will come out with more energy and intensity for game 4. It's like they expected to lose this game, and just let OKC have it because of the Ibaka resurrection.

[ElNono]

Do we let Amused start the Game 4 thread? :lol

[Ice009]

It's not just OKC. Parker is one of the easier players to shut down and this goes as far back as the 2004 series against the Lakers. Crowd the paint and dare him to shoot. More often than not, he falls apart. This was a non-issue in the past with Tim and Manu being the first/second options on the team. Ever since they declined and TP became the top dog, Spurs have stopped winning titles. Even as a third option, he was never very efficient - Expecting him to lead a team to a title is asking too much from a mediocre player.

Thankfully, this year's Spurs isn't solely reliant on any one player. We were able to overcome the Mavs despite Parker's overall shittyness in that series. Just need to regroup and come back strong in game 4.

Exactly what I've been saying about TP. I feel that I am a better 3 point shooter than TP, which is not a fucking good thing at all. I really believe that if they developed a somewhat consistent 3 point shot with him it would have made a huge difference to his game. I don't have access to one of the best shooting coaches in the world like TP does, so I just find it negligent that the Spurs have never made it a top priority for him to have a somewhat consistent 3 point shot as a part of his game by now. He doesn't have to be a lights out shooter, but if he could have started taking 3-4 of those shots each game and shooting around 37%-38% from 3 point range, I think it would have helped him become a more versatile, unguardable player that could perform better in all these same games and situations he seems to fail in (Athletic shot blockers/long defenders). Back in 2006, I thought that by 2009-2010 he'd have that in his arsenal and be shooting them as a regular part of his game.

Trying to take midrange jumpers, and jumpers close to the rim when the other team has athletic shot blockers, or just long athletes around the rim in general is not a good shot IMO. His percentage goes right down against those teams. A three point shot would have been better to be able to get cleaner looks off, and then if that shot was going in for him, it would open up the rest of the game for him to go inside more.

[jARS mEsH sEt]

Do we let Amused start the Game 4 thread? :lol

That attention whore will take the liberty to do it anyways regardless of what you think, tbh :lmao

[Trill Clinton]

kawhi is getting off easy. he stunk it up tonight too. his jumper wasn't falling, took some bad shots and wasn't aggressive enough at attacking the rim. i know parker turned into ray charles and wasn't looking at getting everybody involved, but he still needs to be assertive and demand some touches. he's not a rookie anymore. closed mouth don't get fed.

[jARS mEsH sEt]

mouse poaching this thread for post-loss spurfan tears per par :lmao

[SpurPadre]

Pop indirectly just said the team was soft tonight.

[Hoops Czar]

This was so predictable that nearly half the talking heads didn't even see it coming. That was also predictable.

[jag]

It's not just OKC. Parker is one of the easier players to shut down and this goes as far back as the 2004 series against the Lakers. Crowd the paint and dare him to shoot. More often than not, he falls apart. This was a non-issue in the past with Tim and Manu being the first/second options on the team. Ever since they declined and TP became the top dog, Spurs have stopped winning titles. Even as a third option, he was never very efficient - Expecting him to lead a team to a title is asking too much from a mediocre player.

Thankfully, this year's Spurs isn't solely reliant on any one player. We were able to overcome the Mavs despite Parker's overall shittyness in that series. Just need to regroup and come back strong in game 4.

Are we just ignoring 2007 because it's convenient?

[Crookshanks]

Pop indirectly just said the team was soft tonight.

Soft? - the Stay Puffed Marshmallow Man was tougher than the Spurs tonight! :lol

[SpurPadre]

Pop just said Manu is out for the rest of the playoffs and told reporters to let presti know, lol.

[spursparker9]

Are we just ignoring 2007 because it's convenient?

Duncan was still the MVP that year.

Just that Parker had a better match up in the Cleveland series.

[cjw]

I would say they didn't deserve about 6 free throws on ticky tack fouls called away from the rim. The rest were legit. Six of those free throws came from intentional fouls on Adams. And unlike the Spurs the OKC players were going to the rim and putting pressure on the defense. And it would have helped if someone on San Antonio wanted to rebound rather than give more scoring opportunities for an aggressive OKC offense.

As soon as I saw the BONUS flicker on at the bottom of the TV with 7+ minutes left in the third, I knew we were in for it.

Need to get Ibaka into pick and rolls in game 4 and test that hammy early, and also get him away from the rim.

[Sean Cagney]

The difference back then is that we had a younger Manu and Tim. I don't trust a 31 year old TP. He's nowhere near as good as those guys at the same age, yet people call out Tim and Manu, but don't get on Parker hard enough.

Tim and Manu were delivering in big games at 31. Tony Parker, what the fuck is his excuse? The main problem is that Tony Parker simply can't deliver in the biggest games in the toughest of environments. If he can't at least play much, much better than he did tonight, Spurs are in big, big trouble.

lol as I am typing this Kerr just said the same thing. TP needs to be big in game 4, he sets the table. I'm sorry Steve, but TP ain't no Tim or Manu.
That dumbass played over the summer, but then again in some series he routinely will dissapear on you so I agree there. He has been that way since a rook. I agree Spurs will be in trouble as well if they lose game 4 and this continues, being up 2-0 is cool but then after getting whipped in game 3 you have to get back to business and focused.

[jag]

Duncan was still the MVP that year.

Just that Parker had a better match up in the Cleveland series.
So if he has a bad matchup it counts, but if he has a favorable matchup it doesn't? Got it. I thought that title counted, as well as the Finals MVP.

I keep forgetting Duncan had such an unfavorable matchup with Z's corpse and Varajao

[spursparker9]

So if he has a bad matchup it counts, but if he has a favorable matchup it doesn't? Got it. I thought that title counted, as well as the Finals MVP.

I keep forgetting Duncan had such an unfavorable matchup with Z's corpse and Varajao

PG don't win championship and Parker played like wussy.

[SpurPadre]

actually wouldn't be a terrible idea to play Bonner some of Baynes minutes. Have him guard Adams or Butler even.

We'll just pretend you didn't just suggest Bonner play important minutes against the thunder.

[lefty]

I hope the Spurs are watching Brooks' press conf

" I have a lot of respect forthe Spurs, but they are not better than us"

[SpurPadre]

I hope the Spurs are watching Brooks' press conf

" I have a lot of respect forthe Spurs, but they are not better than us"

Are you taking that out of context? I'm sure he said they were evenly matched.

[lefty]

Are you taking that out of context? I'm sure he said they were evenly matched.
I am TBH :lol

HE said " not that much better "

[Horry Hipcheck]

We'll just pretend you didn't just suggest Bonner play important minutes against the thunder.

This.

[jARS mEsH sEt]

I am TBH :lol

HE said " not that much better "

:lmao you changed the entire meaning

[slick'81]

Okc isn't scared of us we held home court their full strength and looking to do the same

[SpurPadre]

I am TBH :lol

HE said " not that much better "

Lol, thought so. Phil Jackson would be the only coach to say something like that.

[SpurPadre]

This.

If Bonner so much as has a toe on the in bounds line within the first three quarters, pop should resign on the spot.

[Horry Hipcheck]

If Bonner so much as has a toe on the in bounds line within the first three quarters, pop should resign on the spot.

I feel confident it won't happen, but yeah. Series suicide right there.

[cd021]

We'll just pretend you didn't just suggest Bonner play important minutes against the thunder.

Didn't realize early 2nd quarter minutes qualify as important. 5 minutes to see if he has it or if he can free up the offense. More often than not it works in short bursts.

[Ice009]

Are we just ignoring 2007 because it's convenient?

You're a long time poster here, and I'm going to call you out. How in the fuck could you make this statement. Tim was clearly the MVP of the first 3 rounds of the playoffs, with Manu being a close second. The Cavs were the easiest matchup for the Spurs in the whole of those playoffs. In the biggest games, Tim and Manu were the two that were huge in most of those wins.

Game 5 against the Suns on the road, Spurs were down 20 in the first half as the Suns started the game on an emotional high with the suspensions of Amare and Diaw. The crowd was howling, going nuts, and the Spurs came back to win that game. Tim started it all off with a monster 3rd quarter. He had a very good defender in Kurt Thomas guarding him, where he scored something like 10 plus points in a row on him to begin the 3rd. Bruce also hit a huge 3 in front of the Suns bench late in the 4th quarter to help get us that win (He also played stellar defense on Nash in the 4th quarter, Tony was taken off of him in nearly all those games in the 4th). Manu was huge against Denver on the road, he played pretty well in the Suns series and then had a big game in Utah on the road by getting to the rim in the 4th quarter, drawing fouls and hitting clutch free throws to get us back to San Antonio with a 3-1 lead.

Those two guys played awesome in the biggest games for the Spurs those playoffs. Don't fucking go trying to tell any of us differently. If we had the current Duncan and Manu, Spurs would have lost in the first round against Denver with that version of TP as the leader of the team. Bruce and Horry were big too. TP was nowhere close to being the MVP of the team that year. Tim was the MVP of the whole playoffs in those first 3 rounds against all players. As for the Spurs playoff MVP, it wasn't even close between him and TP. It was Tim 1A and Manu 1B. TP I'd say was third most important player for the Spurs in those playoffs.

TP had a favorable matchup in the finals and that is all it was. The Spurs took advantage of it and exploited it. People really need to stop bringing that up as a plus for TP all the time, because it simply isn't.

[slick'81]

Yup bonner is the answer

[Ice009]

So if he has a bad matchup it counts, but if he has a favorable matchup it doesn't? Got it. I thought that title counted, as well as the Finals MVP.

I keep forgetting Duncan had such an unfavorable matchup with Z's corpse and Varajao

Read my post I just posted. I can't believe you're trying to continue on and justify your statement.

[Johnny RIngo]

So if he has a bad matchup it counts, but if he has a favorable matchup it doesn't? Got it. I thought that title counted, as well as the Finals MVP.

I keep forgetting Duncan had such an unfavorable matchup with Z's corpse and Varajao

The argument shouldn't be Duncan vs Parker for the 1st option. TD was clearly the best player on the team. Led the team in scoring in the playoffs. First option against Nuggets/Jazz/Suns. It should be Parker vs Ginobili for the 2nd option.

[SpurPadre]

Didn't realize early 2nd quarter minutes qualify as important. 5 minutes to see if he has it or if he can free up the offense. More often than not it works in short bursts.

Any minute in the WCF is important, especially early in the game. Please, stop with the Bonner suggestion, unless you're just trolling. Or would you get a kick out of Bonner serving up as a human launch pad for thunder players and getting anally raped by ibaka? You don't put the most unathletic player on the team against the most athletic team in the league in the early stages of the game and anything other than garbage time.

[Ice009]

The argument shouldn't be Duncan vs Parker for the 1st option. TD was clearly the best player on the team. Led the team in scoring in the playoffs. First option against Nuggets/Jazz/Suns. It should be Parker vs Ginobili for the 2nd option.

Manu easily wins over Parker too in the first 3 rounds of those playoffs against the tougher opponents. Manu was pretty big in those playoffs too. The only time Parker outplayed either of them is when he went up against a pretty bad defender in Gibson (I don't even remember his first name, that's how much of an advantage TP had). The Spurs simply exploited that matchup. Manu also came up clutch in the 4th quarters of game 3 and 4 on the road in Cleveland.

[Horry Hipcheck]

Didn't realize early 2nd quarter minutes qualify as important. 5 minutes to see if he has it or if he can free up the offense. More often than not it works in short bursts.

Against literally any other team but the long, athletic, speedy Thunder. Bonner's the fat kid on the playground trying to play dodgeball with the jocks against OKC.

[Harry Callahan]

You're a long time poster here, and I'm going to call you out. How in the fuck could you make this statement. Tim was clearly the MVP of the first 3 rounds of the playoffs, with Manu being a close second. The Cavs were the easiest matchup for the Spurs in the whole of those playoffs. In the biggest games, Tim and Manu were the two that were huge in most of those wins.

Game 5 against the Suns on the road, Spurs were down 20 in the first half as the Suns started the game on an emotional high with the suspensions of Amare and Diaw. The crowd was howling, going nuts, and the Spurs came back to win that game. Tim started it all off with a monster 3rd quarter. He had a very good defender in Kurt Thomas guarding him, where he scored something like 10 plus points in a row on him to begin the 3rd. Bruce also hit a huge 3 in front of the Suns bench late in the 4th quarter to help get us that win (He also played stellar defense on Nash in the 4th quarter, Tony was taken off of him in nearly all those games in the 4th). Manu was huge against Denver on the road, he played pretty well in the Suns series and then had a big game in Utah on the road by getting to the rim in the 4th quarter, drawing fouls and hitting clutch free throws to get us back to San Antonio with a 3-1 lead.

Those two guys played awesome in the biggest games for the Spurs those playoffs. Don't fucking go trying to tell any of us differently. If we had the current Duncan and Manu, Spurs would have lost in the first round against Denver with that version of TP as the leader of the team. Bruce and Horry were big too. TP was nowhere close to being the MVP of the team that year. Tim was the MVP of the whole playoffs in those first 3 rounds against all players. As for the Spurs playoff MVP, it wasn't even close between him and TP. It was Tim 1A and Manu 1B. TP I'd say was third most important player for the Spurs in those playoffs.

TP had a favorable matchup in the finals and that is all it was. The Spurs took advantage of it and exploited it. People really need to stop bringing that up as a plus for TP all the time, because it simply isn't.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the finals MVP only for the finals? Tony was pretty good in the sweep. The Spurs have not been about just one guy dominating for over 10 years. The 2005 squad had a lot of Manu mixed in with a less than 100% Duncan.

[Hoops Czar]

TP had a favorable matchup in the finals and that is all it was. The Spurs took advantage of it and exploited it. People really need to stop bringing that up as a plus for TP all the time, because it simply isn't.

Well, this is a farce. Aren't the Spurs always about exploiting matchups? So TP's Finals MVP doesn't count because he exploited Cleveland's mismatches. While were at it, Lebron exploits matchups every game so his MVPs shouldn't count because everybody's a mismatch and Miami is just exploiting the mismatches and the Eastern Conference is so weak, Lebron gets to stat pad his numbers.

The Spurs were 25 seconds away from a championship last year with Parker as their best player. Yeah, it pains so many posters in here to hear that. If Ginobili or Leonard could knock down free throws, the Spurs win the championship led by point guard.

[jag]

TP had a favorable matchup in the finals and that is all it was. The Spurs took advantage of it and exploited it. People really need to stop bringing that up as a plus for TP all the time, because it simply isn't.

I'm just trying to figure out how that's not a "plus" for TP. I'm not even making an argument for TP over Duncan or TP over Manu. I'm simply saying he's carried the team through many playoff series over his career. Why is it that his bigtime series performances are always written off?

The previous poster said that asking him to lead the Spurs to a title is too much to ask from a "mediocre" player. If Tony is mediocre after how much he's carried the Spurs over the past 5 years, then what does that make Tim and Manu?

People hate to admit it, but Tony led the Spurs to a championship last year. He's not the one that failed to grab a rebound. He's not the one that missed a critical free throw to seal the Spurs 5th title.

[tim_duncan_fan]

We're fucked because we don't have a true superstar nor any real athleticism.

And worse than that, EVERY player on this team has a very volatile state of confidence. It doesn't take much at all for these guys to lose heart, and if a team is really going at them athletically on the defensive end, EVERY player on this team will give up on following through with shot attempts, throwing up weak shit instead and exacerbating the confidence/athleticism problem.

Ibaka coming back really mind-fucked our guys and eroded our built-up confidence.


Frankly, it's sad how soft we are.

[Ice009]

We're fucked because we don't have a true superstar nor any real athleticism.

And worse than that, EVERY player on this team has a very volatile state of confidence. It doesn't take much at all for these guys to lose heart, and if a team is really going at them athletically on the defensive end, EVERY player on this team will give up on following through with shot attempts, throwing up weak shit instead and exacerbating the confidence/athleticism problem.

Ibaka coming back really mind-fucked our guys and eroded our built-up confidence.


Frankly, it's sad how soft we are.

It's unfortunate that Tony Massenburg wasn't something like 25 years old back in 2005. I would love to have him on the team still as an enforcer. I really liked him and his role back then. Robert Horry's toughness was great too.

[Ice009]

Well, this is a farce. Aren't the Spurs always about exploiting matchups? So TP's Finals MVP doesn't count because he exploited Cleveland's mismatches. While were at it, Lebron exploits matchups every game so his MVPs shouldn't count because everybody's a mismatch and Miami is just exploiting the mismatches and the Eastern Conference is so weak, Lebron gets to stat pad his numbers.

The Spurs were 25 seconds away from a championship last year with Parker as their best player. Yeah, it pains so many posters in here to hear that. If Ginobili or Leonard could knock down free throws, the Spurs win the championship led by point guard.

Hey look, Tony Parker was not responsible for the Spurs winning that Championship. He helped, but he sure as fuck wasn't the best player on the team. That's the question I am answering. You guys can spin it anyway that you want. The answer to the question about who was the Spurs best player that season is - Tim and Manu 1A and 1B. Just because Tony won finals MVP doesn't mean he was the best player on the team as some people around here seem to think it is.

If he was the best player on the team back then, they would have lost in round 1.

[Ice009]

I'm just trying to figure out how that's not a "plus" for TP. I'm not even making an argument for TP over Duncan or TP over Manu. I'm simply saying he's carried the team through many playoff series over his career. Why is it that his bigtime series performances are always written off?

The previous poster said that asking him to lead the Spurs to a title is too much to ask from a "mediocre" player. If Tony is mediocre after how much he's carried the Spurs over the past 5 years, then what does that make Tim and Manu?

People hate to admit it, but Tony led the Spurs to a championship last year. He's not the one that failed to grab a rebound. He's not the one that missed a critical free throw to seal the Spurs 5th title.

He had a good finals in 2007, but the finals MVP doesn't mean he was the Spurs' best player that season. He wasn't the MVP of the team or the best player on the team that season or in the playoffs. That's the answer to the question I am answering.

I don't know why you guys are bringing up last season, Spurs didn't win last season. Tony also missed shots after making those big plays in game 6. Sorry, you can't use that as an argument. Tony still had a chance to make plays in game 6 and he didn't do it. He was horrible before those big plays for most of game 6 and he was also bad after those few good plays. Why didn't he play better the rest of the game? Why didn't he show up in game 7? You can't say it was on his teammates for not grabbing a board or hitting free throws and then let Tony off the hook when he had a pretty shit game before and after those few big plays that he made.

[james evans]

i hope it doesn't take popovich 3 games to figure out ibaka goes for every shot. he's easy to get in foul trouble. it's not illegal to pump fake. we pump fake everyone else, but the best defender they have, we don't. it doesn't make sense to me.

[james evans]

Hey look, Tony Parker was not responsible for the Spurs winning that Championship. He helped, but he sure as fuck wasn't the best player on the team. That's the question I am answering. You guys can spin it anyway that you want. The answer to the question about who was the Spurs best player that season is - Tim and Manu 1A and 1B. Just because Tony won finals MVP doesn't mean he was the best player on the team as some people around here seem to think it is.

If he was the best player on the team back then, they would have lost in round 1.
and he only won that finals mvp cuz duncan isn't kobe. he saw his man had a mismatch and he let him score the baskets. people that don't watch the spurs try to throw that finals mvp shit at me all the time. parker isn't our best player now and wasn't then.

[TampaDude]

Meh...one loss, which was expected. Spurs in 5.

[cd021]

Against literally any other team but the long, athletic, speedy Thunder. Bonner's the fat kid on the playground trying to play dodgeball with the jocks against OKC.

:lol hard to counter that. My point was to match him vs Adams or Butler (he could easily hide on him) and have him set screens for manu, parker or mills so OKC can't trap. Its not like OKC will start running post plays for Adams. Parker/Mills-Manu-Leonard-Bonner and Diaw for a short burst when OKC goes small. The spacing and potential ball movement could negate their athleticism.

[cd021]

kawhi is getting off easy. he stunk it up tonight too. his jumper wasn't falling, took some bad shots and wasn't aggressive enough at attacking the rim. i know parker turned into ray charles and wasn't looking at getting everybody involved, but he still needs to be assertive and demand some touches. he's not a rookie anymore. closed mouth don't get fed.

The truth . Kawhi was awful and people looking the other way. The kid is supposed to the "Y" if the Spurs best players were vowels (Duncan being A-E, Parker-I-O and Manu being U-) he's scored 14 points over the past two games in 47 minutes. It didn't matter in game 2 but he has a tendency to disappear sometimes on the road. Make Durant work on offense. He needs to be in the 12-15 point range more often than not. Spurs are 7-1 when he scores at least 15 in theses playoffs. The one loss was because of Vince Carter in game 3, of the 1st round.

Parker actually had his worst playoff game in a decade. He deserved to get benched. Hopefully he figures things out, they aren't even playing Sef. he really doesn't have any reason to struggle like he did. Even if Ibaka is back.

[therealtruth]

Well, this is a farce. Aren't the Spurs always about exploiting matchups? So TP's Finals MVP doesn't count because he exploited Cleveland's mismatches. While were at it, Lebron exploits matchups every game so his MVPs shouldn't count because everybody's a mismatch and Miami is just exploiting the mismatches and the Eastern Conference is so weak, Lebron gets to stat pad his numbers.

The Spurs were 25 seconds away from a championship last year with Parker as their best player. Yeah, it pains so many posters in here to hear that. If Ginobili or Leonard could knock down free throws, the Spurs win the championship led by point guard.

Pop's coaching screwed it up. TD should have been on the court at the end of regulation and TP should have been on the court at the end of overtime.