Big Picture Happiness

I don't even think Finley has played bad or anything(other than that disgusting pass attempt), he's just SOOOO SLOOOOOW..everything he does is in slow motion..if we're talking about a big man, then it can pass, but a slow swingman just doesn't work in the hand-check era..he's 36 years old..give it a rest Pop..

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Originally Posted by timvp

Tough loss.

However, that was the healthiest I've seen the Big Three the entire season. Duncan looked fine, Parker was moving well and Ginobili was able to attack the rim. When it comes down to it, the health of the Big Three is way more important than anything else right now.




*cue the flaming*

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You have got to be shitting me?

I agree with your comment, but there is no silver lining here.

Ginobili missing that potential game-tying three, in a game that if they win could have turned around the season, reminded me of the '03 championship DVD and Robinson talking about Horry's in-and-out three that would have given the Lakers a 3-2 series lead and likely did the Spurs in for the third consecutive year to the Lakers. Said Robinson (to paraphrase), "there are one or two moments in the playoffs that you remember and they either go for you or they go against you and when that shot came out, I remember thinking to myself, it's our time".

Well, when that Ginobili shot rimmed out, I immediately thought to myself (in case it already wasn't painfully obvious), our time is over. Arguably the most clutch player on the team and one of the most clutch in the league get's a wide open corner three with the game on the line and misses, particularly with the Spurs in dire need of pulling a game like this out, on the road, against quality opposition. Obviously I can't say for sure, but I feel if this were any other year since the big three formed, that shot goes down. Tonight it didn't and as cheesy as it may sound, maybe that's a sign.

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Originally Posted by timvp

On the other side of the coin, was I the only one who wanted to jump off a bridge when Pop put Finley in at the end of the third quarter right when the Spurs were starting to play pretty well? Finley hadn't played all night and hasn't hit a shot in months, yet Pop decides that's the time to put him in.

:hang

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what disgusted me was Pop putting Finley in the closing seconds of the game? Flashbacks of the last two seasons.

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Originally Posted by TD 21

Ginobili missing that potential game-tying three, in a game that if they win could have turned around the season, reminded me of the '03 championship DVD and Robinson talking about Horry's in-and-out three that would have given the Lakers a 3-2 series lead and likely did the Spurs in for the third consecutive year to the Lakers. Said Robinson (to paraphrase), "there are one or two moments in the playoffs that you remember and they either go for you or they go against you and when that shot came out, I remember thinking to myself, it's our time".

Well, when that Ginobili shot rimmed out, I immediately thought to myself (in case it already wasn't painfully obvious) our time is over. Arguably the most clutch player on the team and one of the most clutch in the league get's a wide open corner three with the game on the line and misses, particularly with the Spurs in dire need of pulling a game like this out, on the road, against quality opposition. Obviously I can't say for sure, but I feel if this were any other year since the big three formed, that shot goes down. Tonight it didn't and as cheesy as it may sound, maybe that's a sign.

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:lmao A little dramatic, aren't we. A three-pointer that would have tied a game in February between two teams playing horribly was one of only a few season defining moments we can expect this year? If Manu hits that shot and the Spurs lose in overtime, no one remember that shot. As it was, a week from now no one will remember that shot.

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Originally Posted by timvp

As it was, a week from now no one will remember that shot.

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Yeah, once the RRT ends at under .500, this shot will be the last thing on people's minds...

I wonder how big our picture actually is .. there were some very strong stretches in that first 43 minutes, but everything just turned around from there, the same problems we've had all season came roaring back so suddenly, so predictably.

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Originally Posted by timvp

:lmao A little dramatic, aren't we. A three-pointer that would have tied a game in February between two teams playing horribly was one of only a few season defining moments we can expect this year? If Manu hits that shot and the Spurs lose in overtime, no one remember that shot. As it was, a week from now no one will remember that shot.

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How many more excuses are you going to come up with? This was the latest most embarrassing loss in a season filled with them and you're looking for silver linings and clinging to some blind hope based on what this franchise (not team because, this is a different team) did in the past around this time of year. Give it up, this team flat out isn't a contender anymore. One or two problems can be fixed, but when it's a new one every other game rearing it's head, it's clear that this is just a middle-of-the-pack also ran.

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Originally Posted by TD 21

How many more excuses are you going to come up with? This was the latest most embarrassing loss in a season filled with them and you're looking for silver linings and clinging to some blind hope based on what this franchise (not team because, this is a different team) did in the past around this time of year. Give it up, this team flat out isn't a contender anymore. One or two problems can be fixed, but when it's a new one every other game rearing it's head, it's clear that this is just a middle-of-the-pack also ran.

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You're the one who had flashbacks to championship DVDs and I'm the one clinging to hope? You are insinuating that a missed three-pointer in this ugly game could be the difference between a championship and not a championship and you are telling me to give it up? I said it wasn't a silver lining or an excuse. But I would think the fact that the Big Three looked healthy for the first time all season would be a notable event.

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Originally Posted by DDS4

So much for taking TD out on back-2-backs...

Webster was perfect from the 3-point line. You would think somebody would stay on that guy towards the end.

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Since when did the Spurs defensive philosophy erode to the point where they're now giving up tons of wide open looks at the 3-pt arc?

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Originally Posted by SenorSpur

Since when did the Spurs defensive philosophy erode to the point where they're now giving up tons of wide open looks at the 3-pt arc?

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Did Dyess miss both of those rotations? After playing so well.

From the beginning of the third quarter up until about halfway through the fourth quarter, that was some of the best spurs basketball i've seen all year. The defense during that time was tremendous.

I don't understand why Popovich didn't call timeout to get tony in the game when the offense was completely out of it in the fourth.

I hope there's a good reason Mason wasn't playing, because the Spurs could've really used his shooting in the fourth.

The last Webster 3 was just horrible basketball IQ by the Spurs..3 guys went after Andre Miller on the drive, it was ridiculous..

Other than that, it was mostly slow rotations..that can improve a little with less miscues on missed rotations, but the Spurs perimeter players clearly lack the athleticism, as we all already know..

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Originally Posted by z0sa

Did Dyess miss both of those rotations? After playing so well.

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Both late Martell Webster 3s = Dice missed rotation because he was too busy fronting Aldridge. Didn't help it that the Spurs collapsed on Andre Miller late in the game.

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Originally Posted by timvp

On the other side of the coin, was I the only one who wanted to jump off a bridge when Pop put Finley in at the end of the third quarter right when the Spurs were starting to play pretty well? Finley hadn't played all night and hasn't hit a shot in months, yet Pop decides that's the time to put him in.

:hang

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No you weren't the only one. I was screaming at the TV.

The man-love continues.:bang

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Originally Posted by timvp

You're the one who had flashbacks to championship DVDs and I'm the one clinging to hope? You are insinuating that a missed three-pointer in this ugly game could be the difference between a championship and not a championship and you are telling me to give it up? I said it wasn't a silver lining or an excuse. But I would think the fact that the Big Three looked healthy for the first time all season would be a notable event.

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Way to take what I said out of context. You are clinging to hope and that's not at all what I'm insinuating, but thank you for putting words in my mouth. Notable, fine. Does it change the grand scheme of things? Not remotely. Healthy or not, the league has changed a lot the past two years and these guys have aged. Simply having them at full strength, while encouraging, is not enough.

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Originally Posted by HarlemHeat37

The last Webster 3 was just horrible basketball IQ by the Spurs..3 guys went after Andre Miller on the drive, it was ridiculous..

Other than that, it was mostly slow rotations..that can improve a little with less miscues on missed rotations, but the Spurs perimeter players clearly lack the athleticism, as we all already know..

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They pretty much had to or Miller was going to have a wide open lay up since McDyess wanted to wrestle and over commit fronting Aldridge. Blazers made some tough shots and hit every open shot they took in the 4th quarter. Sometimes it just comes down to " making some damn shots". Which is something we haven't done in the 4th quarter against the top teams in the West all year.

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Originally Posted by timvp

You're the one who had flashbacks to championship DVDs and I'm the one clinging to hope? You are insinuating that a missed three-pointer in this ugly game could be the difference between a championship and not a championship and you are telling me to give it up? I said it wasn't a silver lining or an excuse. But I would think the fact that the Big Three looked healthy for the first time all season would be a notable event.

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No Timvp, there is no notable event to be seen here..they don't have legitimate defence anymore and we won't win games even with a healthy trio playing horrible defense. Just ask Suns fans. The only notable event here is that the urge to make a trade has never been greater in the Spurs front office. :wakeup

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Originally Posted by Kori Ellis

Yeah, it was good to see everyone looking healthy. And I'm assuming Mason is gone as of tomorrow or something.

But when it comes down to it, to me, this game is on Pop. He should have called a timeout at 4 minutes to go, 3 minutes to go, etc to stop the bleeding. He sent Tony to the scorer's table with 4 something left and Tony sat there on the ground til 2 minutes (or less). A timeout to re-group was really needed and Pop let them blow the lead. I know it's on the players for not executing/getting stops, but the coach needs to know when they need a little help to re-focus.

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Tony sat at the scores table for FAR too long but the didn't really have time outs to blow. They were pretty low on them at that point.

In any event, you can't really put it on Pop. They played with NO urgency late in the game and had it on cruise control. That was the most frustrating aspect of tonight.

Yeah, they looked good and they 3rd quarter defense was excellent. Then they packed up and flew to LA before the game was over. The way they mentally checked out of this game was extremely disappointing for me.

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Originally Posted by TD 21

Way to take what I said out of context.

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What did I take out of context? I just repeated what you said. You had flashbacks to a championship DVD after Manu's missed three. That was the context.

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Originally Posted by TD 21

You are clinging to hope and that's not at all what I'm insulating, but thank you for putting words in my mouth.

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What exactly were you clinging to when you thought the Spurs lost the championship on that one shot?

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Originally Posted by TD 21

Notable, fine. Does it change the grand scheme of things? Not remotely.

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Are you serious? The Big Three being healthy doesn't change the grand scheme of things? The Spurs without a healthy Big Three have a 0% chance of winning the championship. Unless you want to tell me the Spurs have a 0% chance of winning the championship no matter what, then you aren't making sense.

And if you do want to say the Spurs have a 0% chance of winning the championship no matter what, then what exactly was the purpose of posting about your flashback to the championship DVD? Manu's miss altered the season how? Between not winning a championship and not winning a championship?

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Originally Posted by MaNu4Tres

They pretty much had to or Miller was going to have a wide open lay up since McDyess wanted to wrestle and over commit fronting Aldridge. Blazers made some tough shots and hit every open shot they took in the 4th quarter. Sometimes it just comes down to " making some damn shots". Which is something we haven't done in the 4th quarter against the top teams in the West all year.

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I still don't think Manu should have went to help though..I'll have to re-watch, but I think Duncan was there on the lay up, it would have been a shot Miller could make, but I would have lived with a semi-contested lay up as opposed to a 3 that put the game out of reach..

I agree that Portland made some lucky shots though, but that's been happening against the Spurs all year..

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Originally Posted by MannyIsGod

Tony sat at the scores table for FAR too long but the didn't really have time outs to blow. They were pretty low on them at that point.

In any event, you can't really put it on Pop. They played with NO urgency late in the game and had it on cruise control. That was the most frustrating aspect of tonight.

Yeah, they looked good and they 3rd quarter defense was excellent. Then they packed up and flew to LA before the game was over. The way they mentally checked out of this game was extremely disappointing for me.

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Well apparently Parker, the freshest of all the Spurs, needed 12 minutes of rest in the second half. But hey, who cares? Who needs wins when the three best players on the team (get this) all played well in the same game. Hooray, championship here we come!

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Originally Posted by TD 21

Who needs wins when the three best players on the team (get this) all played well in the same game. Hooray, championship here we come!

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Reading apparently isn't fundamental.

Does a healthy big 3 = contender status? I'm not so sure it does anymore. We got decent games from Blair, Dyess, and RJ as well, yet still couldn't notch a win. Don't wanna forget about Hill's contributions, either . .

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Originally Posted by z0sa

Does a healthy big 3 = contender status? I'm not so sure it does anymore.

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Not by itself, no. But an unhealthy big 3 = automatic non-contender status.

The first step in becoming a contender is the big 3 being healthy. Again, it doesn't guarantee anything by itself but without that health there is nothing.

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Originally Posted by timvp

What did I take out of context? I just repeated what you said. You had flashbacks to a championship DVD after Manu's missed three. That was the context.

What exactly were you clinging to when you thought the Spurs lost the championship on that one shot?



Are you serious? The Big Three being healthy doesn't change the grand scheme of things? The Spurs without a healthy Big Three have a 0% chance of winning the championship. Unless you want to tell me the Spurs have a 0% chance of winning the championship no matter what, then you aren't making sense.

And if you do want to say the Spurs have a 0% chance of winning the championship no matter what, then what exactly was the purpose of posting about your flashback to the championship DVD? Manu's miss altered the season how? Between not winning a championship and not winning a championship?

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I said it reminded me of it. I didn't compare the two moments in significance though, which you're inferring I did.

Not anymore it doesn't. It helps, of course. But as witnessed tonight, even with all three (though I didn't think Duncan played all that well) playing relatively well, the Spurs still lost to a team missing it's go-to scorer, two centers, 6th man and the fill in for their go-to scorer. I don't know if I'd say 0% no matter what, how does 0.5% sound?

The purpose/point was that, in the past, given the situation this team is in, I feel that shot goes down and they use this win as a springboard. Now, it appears there is no end in sight because, it doesn't look like this is some slump or a situation where they need one big win to get over the hump or turn the corner. Instead, it looks like this is just what this team is now; mediocre and a pretender.