Tony Parker, Kawhi Leonard, and Patty Mills out tomorrow vs Clips

[NASpurs]

546794579429564416

[apalisoc_9]

5 straight loses IMO.

The team can do without Parker, but without Leonard....

[dbreiden83080]

Can we pray they all play Christmas day?

[spurs10]

Can we pray they all play Christmas day? Well I'll join ya!

[TD 21]

:lol At all those who were fine with the imbalanced roster and claimed they didn't need to pick up another PG or at least another wing.

I don't care how minimal said PG/wing would have been, just having someone else who can dribble, has some speed and who can at least physically defend on the perimeter may have made a difference in a game or two.

But I guess having a big, slow, virtual non athlete (relatively speaking, of course), with no true defensive position and a fourth center is more important.

[ElNono]

Gotta keep playing hard and hopefully we'll lift a win here or there while we wait for those guys to heal...

We've been on every game in the last contests, just couldn't get over the hump... we're due.

[loveforthegame]

At this rate Mills will be back before Leonard and Parker.

What a tough game to have those two return to if they play Christmas.

[BillMc]

Tony's hamstring was a lot worse than we originally thought obviously.

I don't care about seeding, only health.

[Mugen]

I realistically don't expect any of them back before January tbh.

[Ice009]

Gotta keep playing hard and hopefully we'll lift a win here or there while we wait for those guys to heal...

We've been on every game in the last contests, just couldn't get over the hump... we're due.

They could also be due for massive blowouts. They can't keep playing their asses off shorthanded. Spurs should have cut the dead weight off the roster and tried to upgrade during the off-season.

I'm now pissed off they didn't try and get a backup for Kawhi. RC or Pop, can't remember which of the two said it, but in the 2013 off-season during an interview one of them said they are aware that their is a big hole there behind Kawhi at backup SF. They were able to get by last season without filling it, but I can't believe they thought they could just do it again this season and didn't bother addressing it. That's bordering on negligence.

[Ice009]

Tony's hamstring was a lot worse than we originally thought obviously.

I don't care about seeding, only health.

So you'd be OK with not making the playoffs or finishing 8th behind OKC if it came to that?

I care about health too, but I also care about seeding. I don't want a low seed.

[Mugen]

So you'd be OK with not making the playoffs or finishing 8th behind OKC if it came to that?

I care about health too, but I also care about seeding. I don't want a low seed.

:lol I think most people would care if the Spurs missed the playoffs. But they're injured, what do you want them to do? Trot TP/Kawhi out there and risk the whole season??

[BillMc]

So you'd be OK with not making the playoffs of finishing 8th behind OKC if it came to that?

I care about health too, but I also care about seeding. I don't want a low seed.

Obviously, I would not be OK with missing the playoffs. I don't think there's any danger of that. Even if everything were to go to hell I can't see us being worse than 7th or 8th and I think a healthy Spurs team can beat Golden State, Memphis or Portland without home court. Obviously, it would be better to be a high seed, but it's not the end of the world. OKC and maybe Dallas are the only teams I'd really fear if we didn't have home court.

And if we were 8th and OKC 7th, then they'd be on the opposite side of the WC bracket. We wouldn't have to worry about them until the Conference finals. A lot can happen on the way.

[ElNono]

They could also be due for massive blowouts. They can't keep playing their asses off shorthanded. Spurs should have cut the dead weight off the roster and tried to upgrade during the off-season.

I'm now pissed off they didn't try and get a backup for Kawhi. RC or Pop, can't remember which of the two said it, but in the 2013 off-season during an interview one of them said they are aware that their is a big hole there behind Kawhi at backup SF. They were able to get by last season without filling it, but I can't believe they thought they could just do it again this season and didn't bother addressing it. That's bordering on negligence.

I wasn't a fan of Daye getting re-signed or Bonner coming back, but they did navigate through the RS last season with basically this same team, including rest and Kawhi getting hurt... and while we might get blown out from here on out, it just hasn't been the case so far. We've been a possession away from winning at least 2 out of the last 3 games against basically what's the cream of the crop in the league at this time.

Obviously, they already knew they were going to be shorthanded with Patty out until January, but trying to guess that Marco, Tiago, Tony and Kawhi were all going to be out with different ailments at some point or another within the first two months of the season it's just something you can't plan for, IMO. When our backups were playing extraordinarily well last season, it was "deepest team ever". When they're not playing well, "dead weight". The truth is probably somewhere in the middle.

Now, on the backup SF topic specifically, I agree, but I thought that's what they drafted Anderson for. My impression was that was "addressing it". Now, you could say it was a big gamble, and I would probably agree with that.

Ultimately, if you're missing two starters, you're going to struggle. No amount of makeup is going to cover that.

[ElNono]

You can't be a chooser when you're a beggar... we've been obviously battling a lot of injuries, and, all in all, we've not done that bad (look how OKC did while missing two starters). At this point, it's all about getting healthy and whole again. You can worry about seeding once you have a full team.

[Brunodf]

Inb4 J.Crawford scores 50 points over Belinelli

[Clipper Nation]

Doesn't matter. We'll still lose by 20+.

[ChumpDumper]

:lol At all those who were fine with the imbalanced roster and claimed they didn't need to pick up another PG or at least another wing.

I don't care how minimal said PG/wing would have been, just having someone else who can dribble, has some speed and who can at least physically defend on the perimeter may have made a difference in a game or two.

But I guess having a big, slow, virtual non athlete (relatively speaking, of course), with no true defensive position and a fourth center is more important.I'm totally happy with all the PT guys like Joseph and Anderson are getting. As long as the Spurs are competitive during this stretch, I can't complain.

[TMTTRIO]

I really hope Manu will be out tomorrow and maybe even the next few games

[Ice009]

One of the only things out of this that I like is the court time Kyle Anderson has gotten. I'm starting to like his game.

[Spursfanfromafar]

The Spurs are winning tomorrow's game. Book it.

[benefactor]

:lol At all those who were fine with the imbalanced roster and claimed they didn't need to pick up another PG or at least another wing.

I don't care how minimal said PG/wing would have been, just having someone else who can dribble, has some speed and who can at least physically defend on the perimeter may have made a difference in a game or two.

But I guess having a big, slow, virtual non athlete (relatively speaking, of course), with no true defensive position and a fourth center is more important.
http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=177840 (http://www.pornhub.com/view_video.php?viewkey=7737964)

[Mr Bones]

I still think other teams look at the Spurs and are fearful. They've suffered an incredible amount of injuries to key players and are still 17-11. They've battled playoff teams to tough games while playing mostly second unit guys. When Parker and Mills get healthy, they will have the best 1-2-3 combo at the PG position in the league, and Kyle Anderson is looking like a guy who might actually give them 15 valuable mpg come playoff time. If they get healthy, they will be an incredibly deep and talented team.

[midnightpulp]

Welp, Jamal will go off for 30 now.

And as much as I've criticized Manu, I hope he plays. Have to gamble with him at the PG in closing situations until Mills returns or Parker's pussy heals. The odds that he'll close a game better than Belinelli are actually higher, as incredible as that sounds.

[Clipper Nation]

Welp, Jamal will go off for 30 now.

Nah, it'll be the typical brickfest, rendering him completely useless. Also, our SF situation is so bad that Faggotnelli will look like Kawhi. And let's not forget about how Choke shits his pants whenever he sees those black and silver jerseys (yet isn't quite scared enough to stop heroballing and pass the ball). Easy win for the Spurs, IMO. If you don't win this shit, there's going to be some barrels rolled.

[FireMicoHalili]

we are clearly tanking for Okafor

[midnightpulp]

Nah, it'll be the typical brickfest, rendering him completely useless. Also, our SF situation is so bad that Faggotnelli will look like Kawhi. And let's not forget about how Choke shits his pants whenever he sees those black and silver jerseys (yet isn't quite scared enough to stop heroballing and pass the ball). Easy win for the Spurs, IMO. If you don't win this shit, there's going to be some barrels rolled.

C'mon now. Don't be so pessimistic. Clippers have been playing well, are healthy, and facing a team who can't close for shit lately.

If we were healthy, I'd say we'd roll, since a fully healthy Spurs team is just a bad matchup for the Clips, but we're a wounded animal and mentally fragile in the clutch right now. I'd say it's a pick 'em.

[Malik Hairston]

C'mon now. Don't be so pessimistic. Clippers have been playing well, are healthy, and facing a team who can't close for shit lately.

If we were healthy, I'd say we'd roll, since a fully healthy Spurs team is just a bad matchup for the Clips, but we're a wounded animal and mentally fragile in the clutch right now. I'd say it's a pick 'em.

Haven't the Clippers been playing mediocre ball lately?

[midnightpulp]

Haven't the Clippers been playing mediocre ball lately?

12-3 in their last 15, with losses coming to the Bucks (who've played them tough this year), Memphis, and @Denver. Sure, their schedule hasn't been all that tough, but they've blown out most of the bad teams they've faced.

[Clipper Nation]

Haven't the Clippers been playing mediocre ball lately?

Pretty much all season, tbh. We look like a 7th or 8th seed, first round exit waiting to happen.

[timtonymanu]

Nah, it'll be the typical brickfest, rendering him completely useless. Also, our SF situation is so bad that Faggotnelli will look like Kawhi. And let's not forget about how Choke shits his pants whenever he sees those black and silver jerseys (yet isn't quite scared enough to stop heroballing and pass the ball). Easy win for the Spurs, IMO. If you don't win this shit, there's going to be some barrels rolled.

I haven't seen enough Clippers games, tbh, but Cancernelli just let a washed up scrub like Dorell Wright torch him. I'm sure Crawford/Barnes can light him up as well. Our perimeter defense looks like absolute shit with Green being the only anchor on the perimeter.

[Malik Hairston]

12-3 in their last 15, with losses coming to the Bucks (who've played them tough this year), Memphis, and @Denver. Sure, their schedule hasn't been all that tough, but they've blown out most of the bad teams they've faced.

They were looking great for a short stretch, but have been barely winning/losing all their games in the past 8 or so..

Hawes has been out and Crawford has been hurt IIRC, to be fair..

[midnightpulp]

They were looking great for a short stretch, but have been barely winning/losing all their games in the past 8 or so..

Hawes has been out and Crawford has been hurt IIRC, to be fair..

I forgot about Hawes.

Hopefully we can take advantage of their lack of front court depth tomorrow.

[loveforthegame]

547090850082091008

[bklynspursfan]

Interesting about TP. I almost feel like he needs to sit out again for a while to heal. Like Pop did with him last year for a "variety of maladies". This thing seems to keep happening all too often the past few yrs

[Clipper Nation]

With Enrique playing, Choke will 100% try to out-hero him. We'll be losing by 25+ now.

[SpurPadre]

Good to see TP has a chance tonight. We need to stop the bleeding.

[cjw]

Obviously, I would not be OK with missing the playoffs. I don't think there's any danger of that. Even if everything were to go to hell I can't see us being worse than 7th or 8th and I think a healthy Spurs team can beat Golden State, Memphis or Portland without home court. Obviously, it would be better to be a high seed, but it's not the end of the world. OKC and maybe Dallas are the only teams I'd really fear if we didn't have home court.

And if we were 8th and OKC 7th, then they'd be on the opposite side of the WC bracket. We wouldn't have to worry about them until the Conference finals. A lot can happen on the way.

Right, I'd rather be 8th and them 7th, than us 7th and them 6th. Push off that match up for as long as possible.

Like many, I cringe when I see no backup for CoJo and any minutes Ayres / Daye play (though Daye does spread the floor a bit). We are getting invaluable development time at the NBA level for CoJo, Anderson and Baynes though. Better to have them battle hardened now than a deer in headlights come April if they're needed. For CoJo and Baynes, it gives us a better idea of if we want to keep them beyond this season. For Anderson, he's looked like a competent NBA player in December. He'll likely top out as a 7th or 8th man, but I like what I'm seeing.

[le13]

Breaking news: it is TP last game tonight. He will not play for the Spurs anymore after this one. Timmy, Manu and him just want to quit this team after seeing all assholes comments on the spurstalk forum.....

[Fireball]

Was there ever a Spurs player who actually played when he was "questionable"? I doubt TP plays, but its good to see his return comes closer ...

[spurraider21]

why do we keep repeating that mills is out for each game? we know this

[313]

why do we keep repeating that mills is out for each game? we know this
I've always thought this too :lol

I guess it's just a formality

[hater]

dis team will go as far as MVParker takes em

[DesignatedT]

Tony Parker starting tonight.

[Splits]

547176629961625601

Did the Clipper beat writer just go FIRST on our beat writers?

[Cry Havoc]

Kawhi Leonard isn't near a return and the doctor has never seen Leonard's hand injury in his 40 years. Pop calls the injury "problematic". Leonard had "another" injection yesterday.

[Mugen]

That's terrible, terrible news regarding Kawhi's injury. Someone's gotta step up defensively and rebounding wise.

[timtonymanu]

Welp. Get well soon, Kawhi. Gonna be tough to win games without our best player. At least Parker is back.

[Hoops Czar]

Leonard's hand is just coasting. It'll be fine.

[ElNono]

That's terrible, terrible news regarding Kawhi's injury. Someone's gotta step up defensively and rebounding wise.

Maybe get an opinion from an American doctor?
/blue

[Robz4000]

:bang terrible news about Kawhi

[look_at_g_shred]

Where is this from?

[Mugen]

Maybe get an opinion from an American doctor?
/blue

Holt ain't shelling out for that IMO.

[cd98]

Is it me or does Leoard always have strange injuries? More than ever we could use a back up small forward. I can't see why we didn't bid on Brewer.

[crc21209]

Wtf! How has a doctor never seen a hand injury like that in 40 years. Kawhi must reeeeaaally have some shit luck with injuries. First it was a mysterious eye infection, now its a mysterious hand injury. Fuck...

[gambit1990]

Wtf! How has a doctor never seen a hand injury like that in 40 years.
exactly what i thought.

[BatManu20]

547191320490438656

[BatManu20]

Fuuuuuck Kawhi's injury is going to a lingering issue going forward. Huge bummer.

[Budkin]

Oh well, 5.

[timtonymanu]

The Spurs can never go through the regular season without having some bullshit injuries. :lol

Just have to hope the trend of being healthy for the postseason continues again.

[loveforthegame]

Say what? This doctor has never seen this injury before but last week was able to rule out surgery? Might as well do surgery and get things moving along.

[wildchild]

Say what? This doctor has never seen this injury before but last week was able to rule out surgery? Might as well do surgery and get things moving along.

I don't doubt Spurs doctors' professionalism but if they never seen this injury, at least they consult a specialist of another city?

They couldn't diagnose his vision issues and just said it won't heal in months, now they don't know about his hand injury...who're these doctors?

[ElNono]

Doctor shoulda consulted with Spurstalk first, IMO.

[timtonymanu]

I don't doubt Spurs doctors' professionalism but if they never seen this injury, at least they consult a specialist of another city?

They couldn't diagnose his vision issues and just said it won't heal in months, now they don't know about his hand injury...who're these doctors?

Even the Splitter injury. :lol

[wildchild]

Even the Splitter injury. :lol

Yeah...A lot of "unexplained injuries" for these doctors...

[midnightpulp]

Bright side is that it's not a leg or foot injury. Just sucks because he, along with Duncan, is a player the team can't afford to lose for any extended period.

[loveforthegame]

Doctor shoulda consulted with Spurstalk first, IMO.

Those guys know more than I ever will but you don't find this a little strange? They've gone from ruling out surgery and day to day to out for a while and the injury being something they haven't seen in 40 years. Maybe surgery won't speed things along but injections and scratching heads over the injury doesn't sound very promising either.

[wildchild]

Doctor shoulda consulted with Spurstalk first, IMO.

At this point, Spurs doctors' competence to diagnose is as good and reliable as your practice of cardiovascular surgery at Heart Hospital of Austin

[midnightpulp]

Some way Manu is responsible for this

[ace3g]

Kawhi might have to end up wearing sleeves on his hands from now on.

[rasuo214]

I'm no doctor but if the hand specialist has never seen that injury before then how do they know how to treat it? Also curious if Kawhi had it before the Portland game or if the Portland game is what made it into its current injury.