Game 4 Thread: Clippers at Spurs 3:30 EST (2:30 CST) Sunday, April 26

[hitmanyr2k]

Baynes isn't right for this series. Spurs have to have spacing Playing 4 bigs who can't space the floor plus Cojo and Parker (who can't or don't shoot 3's well enough) and Green being a poor 3pt shooter on the road along with Manu this season. Add in poor FT shooting and the Spurs sketchy play from Parker and Manu. Bonner makes more sense as the 4th big. Its really only about 10 minutes of floor time but Bonner is more likely to be a plus in that time.

Baynes is definitely right for this series in spurts. He gives San Antonio toughness, sure as hell more toughness than Splitter has given them this series. God forbid San Antonio has a big man who actually finishes strong with a dunk instead of taking 2 seconds to gather himself to attempt a soft layup :lol

[Harry Callahan]

Jeff McDonald
Jeff McDonald – Verified account ‏@JMcDonald_SAEN

Blake Griffin did something to his left shoulder there at the end. Couldn't use both arms to inbound the ball.

Blake tore his labia.:lol

[ViceCity86]

Baynes is definitely right for this series in spurts. He gives San Antonio toughness, sure as hell more toughness than Splitter has given them this series. God forbid San Antonio has a big man who actually finishes strong with a dunk instead of taking 2 seconds to gather himself to attempt a soft layup :lol

[milkyway21]

unleash Baynes !!!!!

[Harry Callahan]

The first thing the clippers did today was cut Tony Parker.

The Spurs need to compromise Paul or Griffin and finish them off.

Hopefully Blake is already messed up with the shoulder.

[Ice009]

Baynes is definitely right for this series in spurts. He gives San Antonio toughness, sure as hell more toughness than Splitter has given them this series. God forbid San Antonio has a big man who actually finishes strong with a dunk instead of taking 2 seconds to gather himself to attempt a soft layup :lol

At least someone sees it my way. I definitely wouldn't play him a lot, but I would play him a little bit and see how it goes. Playing him too much though would likely have Griffin abusing him in the face up game, but with a little court time, at worst, I think he can/could inject some toughness into the games. No-one else on the Spurs is willing to bring any physical toughness out there.

[cd021]

I would have just used him for some spot minutes to rest Duncan and send him out there to lay some hard fouls. I wouldn't have played him much. This team just needs some toughness out there instead of that pussy Splitter playing like a girl.

Hard fouls = Shooting fouls late in quarters (when Duncan rests). I just don't think he's right for this series. Splitter went up soft but he generally draws fouls at a high rate and is a superior defender and passer. Not loving the Spurs bigs situation at the moment. Duncan having to battle with 'Dre Jordan and Big Baby ( who height to weight ratio, might be the biggest player in the league. 6'8 290lbs) in the post for 38 minutes or Diaw not posting or being able to hit 3's (0-9 in the series). Splitter is 4-14 in the last 3 games. Maybe the Spurs should consider going small with Mills-Ginobili-Green-Leonard . Leonard on Griffin is the biggest mismatch but they could exploit him on offense as well.

[SpurPadre]

Meanwhile, the Rockets are playing the Mavericks...must be nice having a high seed.

[james evans]

People not talking about Diaw. Clippers ignoring him from 3 and he's 0-9 in 4 games. Last season was a 40% 3pt shooter, Even this year hit around 1/3 of his 3's. Alot of pump fakes and drives. Hasn't done much in terms of post scoring. His real plus in this series has been his passing and rebounding. Has had moments defensively.
diaw is playing horrible. He plays better in the 2nd half of each game, but i'd like to see him shoot that open 3 that he's terrified to take. I'd also like to see him stop fronting blake griffin and gambling on steals. As fat as he is, he shouldn't be gambling for steals. You don't front a mf like blake griffin with the skill to jump off a vertical and dunk it no matter how high the lob is.

[cd021]

Baynes is definitely right for this series in spurts. He gives San Antonio toughness, sure as hell more toughness than Splitter has given them this series. God forbid San Antonio has a big man who actually finishes strong with a dunk instead of taking 2 seconds to gather himself to attempt a soft layup :lol

:lol toughness. Fouling alot doesn't equate to toughness the Spurs need better play from Parker and Ginobili. Green to knock down some outside shots and for Splitter to not forget how to finish without getting blocked.

Splitter is still better defensively. He has been tragic in the past 3 games offensively (4-14) but I'd rather have him than Griffin abusing Baynes. I like Baynes but the Spurs have enough spacing problems. Adding a 4th big that can't knock down 3's to a rotation that has two PGs who struggle to knock down outside shots and Green who is much worse on the road shooting the ball isn't what the Spurs need.

[cd021]

diaw is playing horrible. He plays better in the 2nd half of each game, but i'd like to see him shoot that open 3 that he's terrified to take. I'd also like to see him stop fronting blake griffin and gambling on steals. As fat as he is, he shouldn't be gambling for steals. You don't front a mf like blake griffin with the skill to jump off a vertical and dunk it no matter how high the lob is.

pump faking ,when he's open, for drives in a crowded paint.:bang He's been playing like a guard for most of this series. There have been moments when that's worked well but I'd like to see some post ups on Griffin as well.

[cd021]

Spurs have to continue to balance Parker and Mills minutes. Parker had moments tonight. 28/20 is a good balance. Hopefully Parker is closer to tonight's performance (minus the FT misses) in that time. Mills has been great in limited minutes.

I'd like the Spurs to use the Ginobili-Green-Leonard-Diaw and Duncan or Mills-Ginobili-Leonard-Diaw and Duncan lineups a bit more.

[BatManu20]

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[Mugen]

this is a team without a signature win this season. No game where you went wow, what a statement game by the Spurs on the road. Sure they lucked out in Game 2 after an absolute chokejob but that's about it. This team was rolling and got their shit pushed in at New Orleans to a team that just got swept out of the first round. Lucked into another chance to seize control of the series and got absolutely throttled.....so many huge chokejobs this season, it's tough to name them all....

This team is a pretender this year with zero heart to defend the title outside of Kawhi and Timmy. Nothing wrong with that, as it's tough to make these many deeps runs and still rely on 3 players that are WELL past their prime......

Hopefully they can retool quickly and build around Leonard who is a terrific piece to build around tbh....

[RD2191]

this is a team without a signature win this season. No game where you went wow, what a statement game by the Spurs on the road. Sure they lucked out in Game 2 after an absolute chokejob but that's about it. This team was rolling and got their shit pushed in at New Orleans to a team that just got swept out of the first round. Lucked into another chance to seize control of the series and got absolutely throttled.....so many huge chokejobs this season, it's tough to name them all....

This team is a pretender this year with zero heart to defend the title outside of Kawhi and Timmy. Nothing wrong with that, as it's tough to make these many deeps runs and still rely on 3 players that are WELL past their prime......

Hopefully they can retool quickly and build around Leonard who is a terrific piece to build around tbh....
I hate to see Kawhi's talent wasted with Parker at PG.

[timtonymanu]

this is a team without a signature win this season. No game where you went wow, what a statement game by the Spurs on the road. Sure they lucked out in Game 2 after an absolute chokejob but that's about it. This team was rolling and got their shit pushed in at New Orleans to a team that just got swept out of the first round. Lucked into another chance to seize control of the series and got absolutely throttled.....so many huge chokejobs this season, it's tough to name them all....

This team is a pretender this year with zero heart to defend the title outside of Kawhi and Timmy. Nothing wrong with that, as it's tough to make these many deeps runs and still rely on 3 players that are WELL past their prime......

Hopefully they can retool quickly and build around Leonard who is a terrific piece to build around tbh....

Good post. You would have thought that the motivation and focus would have been there once they blew the chance at being the 2nd seed and getting embarrassed by the Pelicans in the final regular season game. But aside from Game 3, they have looked unfocused in this series and just lack any heart. That's why I have low hopes for them pulling out Game 5, which is actually very possible if the Spurs have any drive to win. I think fatigue and being content with 5 adds to that lack of drive.