Grades: Spurs @ Lakers - Apr. 17

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Originally Posted by timvp

Gary Neal A-
Everyone knows Gary Neal isn't a true point guard. But if he can play like he did tonight more often, he could be an incredibly valuable piece of the puzzle in the playoffs. I really liked how he played on both ends. Offensively, he played to his strengths and kept it simple. When Neal was asked to create, he looked to score himself and only passed if the Lakers brought help. It's not exactly a complicated scheme but it works well when Neal is running the show since he's such a talented scorer. Defensively, he was much better than usual. I liked his closeouts and he was usually able to keep his man in front of him.

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:tu Neals game last night.
Lakers started the 4th with 7 straight points by Barnes and World Puss. Both of these assholes were feeling chesty and as the lead was *cut" from 19 to 14, visions of Popped going into fetal mode was within the realm of possibility. Spurs offense looked confused and unagressive.
Enter Neal. Did a nifty fake 3 to get rid of Blake, drove it towards the hoop and when a tree was in his way he did that nifty stop and pop-running-one-footed jumper. Killed Flamer momentum, brought it back to Spurs.

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Originally Posted by TJastal

Don't forget, Diaw and Parker have played together on the french national team for years plus they (the french national team) borrowed alot of the spurs sets, so he has a built-in advantage already.

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It's a fair point. I just think Splitter has better chemistry with Manu and the 2nd unit, and his role should remain as Tim's backup. People dismiss the importance of the bench and act like once the playoffs commence it is a non-factor. It won't be as big of a factor because the starters will obviously play more minutes, but it is still vitally important. And it is the primary reason the Lakers have zero chance of winning a chip this year.

lj you know pop likes to use diferent stuff before playoffs.

On friday we can see Bonner in s5, although I do not think so.

I wonder how lakers will respond now being so pissed about that one loss.


However if everything will go spurs way and they will be able to take no 1 spot. The chances to win the West are big IMO - having LA and OKC on the same bracket.

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Originally Posted by pad300

Actually, were I coaching, would be having Splitter and TD switch roles between the defensive and offensive sides. On D, Splitter takes the "mobile" big, the PF role, while TD guards the paint. On offence, however, I would let Splitter stay in his comfort zone, playing C off the pick and roll. Duncan has far more skills than Splitter, especially jumpshots, so he's a better fit for the offensive PF role. Letter Splitter set screens on the P&R, while Duncan uses his B-ball IQ and skill level to play off the ball movement for Tony...

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This would make too much sense for Pop. And this is what should have been done LAST season...by now they would be a very good tandem.

Pop is so overrated....any other coach would have seen this.

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Originally Posted by Splitman4evah

Do you really believe this? Since when is having 3 fouls at the half "foul trouble"?

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You, SIR... are as stubborn as Pop. Seriously, you are (actually MORE now, heh). BAH!! Not even worth it.

Thank you, ST, for The Ignore Function.

Pairing Tim and Tiago was the right thing to do.

After a bad loss being out rebounded as hell by the Lakers, the first minutes of the game were critical for the team confidence. We needed size, defense and rebounds to start, I think Pop recognized that. After having set the tone, pop came back to use duncan with matt, splitter with diaw.

I do think against Lakers the plan is now the first minutes of the game and the first minutes of the second half with Tiago and Tim then Tiago will play when Tim is on the bench for his usual role, his minutes will increase a bit but it's not the return of the twin towers in SA.

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Originally Posted by Legacy

You, SIR... are as stubborn as Pop. Seriously, you are (actually MORE now, heh). BAH!! Not even worth it.

Thank you, ST, for The Ignore Function.

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:lol ignore function
:lol gnsf
:lol surely a naruto fan
:lol :princess

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Originally Posted by Brazil

:lol ignore function
:lol gnsf
:lol surely a naruto fan
:lol :princess

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:lmao I'm honored by obtaining ignore status for suggesting that 3 fouls at half time is not "foul trouble".

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Originally Posted by Brazil

:lol ignore function
:lol gnsf
:lol surely a naruto fan
:lol :princess

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Ehh, Shaddup, Mr. "Vampire". :lol:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol

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Originally Posted by Splitman4evah

Do you really believe this? Since when is having 3 fouls at the half "foul trouble"?

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:lol 3 fouls at the half is "foul trouble". That's pretty much common bball knowledge.

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Originally Posted by Mugen

:lol 3 fouls at the half is "foul trouble". That's pretty much common bball knowledge.

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Umm, yeah, in college.

In the NBA, you get 6 fouls per game. 2 fouls in the 1st period gets you benched. 3 fouls in the first half gets you benched. A 4th foul in the 3rd gets you benched. 3 fouls in the 1st half is not "foul trouble".

I fell like I'm in bizzar-o-land.

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Originally Posted by Splitman4evah

:lmao I'm honored by obtaining ignore status for suggesting that 3 fouls at half time is not "foul trouble".

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He / She is going to have 90% of ST on ignore in no time if he / she uses the ignore function on that kind of stubbornness:lol

I do hope Legacy for mental health reason will never go down stairs to see what's going on

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Originally Posted by Legacy

Ehh, Shaddup, Mr. "Vampire". :lol:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol

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are you a naruto fan ?


I'm afraid Legacy is a Luva troll

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Originally Posted by Splitman4evah

Fair enough, I stand corrected.

I do find it quite interesting that there is no mention of the fact that Splitter got benched to start the 2nd half in place of Diaw.

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Splitter got "benched" because he had three fouls. Splitter, even though he was starting, was still Duncan's backup. Pop didn't want him picking up a fourth and then having to play Duncan the entire third quarter.

If Splitter wasn't in foul trouble, he would have started the second half.


Edit to add:

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Originally Posted by Splitman4evah

Do you really believe this? Since when is having 3 fouls at the half "foul trouble"?

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It's foul trouble when you're also the backup of a fellow starter. Pop has done the same thing numerous times in the past. For example, when Neal started next to Parker and was also the backup PG, he would come off the bench in the second half if he had three fouls. Same when Ginobili was the de facto backup point guard while also the starting shooting guard.

Pop doesn't do it with Blair because Blair doesn't backup Duncan ... and because he doesn't care if Blair gets in foul trouble. But Pop used to do the same thing with Oberto when he was starting next to Duncan and also backing him up.

Ignore list. :lol:lol:lol:lol:lol


Can't see any of ya'll's funny-arse posts, sorry. Dur-Hurrr.

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Originally Posted by Splitman4evah

Umm, yeah, in college.

In the NBA, you get 6 fouls per game. 2 fouls in the 1st period gets you benched. 3 fouls in the first half gets you benched. A 4th foul in the 3rd gets you benched. 3 fouls in the 1st half is not "foul trouble".

I fell like I'm in bizzar-o-land.

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No shit, Sherlock. That's why Pop didn't want to have Tiago starting the 2nd half because if he picks up a 4th early then he's out til the 4th qtr. He wanted to use him as a backup so he wouldnt be stuck with nobody to guard bynum when TD rested towards the end of the 3rd qtr. Tiago was in foul trouble. If he wasn't, he probably starts the 2nd half as well.

Read these two sentences again:

"3 fouls in the first half gets you benched. 3 fouls in the 1st half is not "foul trouble"

And tell me how you're not a fucking idiot.

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Originally Posted by Mugen

No shit, Sherlock. That's why Pop didn't want to have Tiago starting the 2nd half because if he picks up a 4th early then he's out til the 4th qtr. He wanted to use him as a backup so he wouldnt be stuck with nobody to guard bynum when TD rested towards the end of the 3rd qtr. Tiago was in foul trouble. If he wasn't, he probably starts the 2nd half as well.

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Your Pop mindreading skills are tremendous. I will never underestimate you again.

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Originally Posted by Mugen

Read these two sentences again:

"3 fouls in the first half gets you benched. 3 fouls in the 1st half is not "foul trouble"

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I read them and they make perfect sense. 3 fouls in the 1st half gets you benched so you don't have 4 going into halftime

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Originally Posted by Mugen

And tell me how you're not a fucking idiot.

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Is this the best you can come up with? Are you 12?

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Originally Posted by timvp

Splitter got "benched" because he had three fouls. Splitter, even though he was starting, was still Duncan's backup. Pop didn't want him picking up a fourth and then having to play Duncan the entire third quarter.

If Splitter wasn't in foul trouble, he would have started the second half.


Edit to add:



It's foul trouble when you're also the backup of a fellow starter. Pop has done the same thing numerous times in the past. For example, when Neal started next to Parker and was also the backup PG, he would come off the bench in the second half if he had three fouls. Same when Ginobili was the de facto backup point guard while also the starting shooting guard.

Pop doesn't do it with Blair because Blair doesn't backup Duncan ... and because he doesn't care if Blair gets in foul trouble. But Pop used to do the same thing with Oberto when he was starting next to Duncan and also backing him up.

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This is such a far stretch. I'm not buying it. But what do I know, LJ and Mugen have Pop mindreading skills I can never obtain.

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Originally Posted by Splitman4evah

Your Pop mindreading skills are tremendous. I will never underestimate you again.

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Good. I'll continue to underestimate you because you're probably the worst poster in the forum I don't even think it's close.

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Originally Posted by Splitman4evah

I read them and they make perfect sense. 3 fouls in the 1st half gets you benched so you don't have 4 going into halftime

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Doesn't getting benched for having 3 fouls = being in "foul trouble." Are you struggling with the definition of "trouble"?

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Originally Posted by Splitman4evah

Is this the best you can come up with? Are you 12?

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You've been consistently wrong and shitted on for 2 seasons now. I pray to god that you're 12 because that would go a long way in explaining your thought process.

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Originally Posted by Splitman4evah

This is such a far stretch. I'm not buying it. But what do I know, LJ and Mugen have Pop mindreading skills I can never obtain.

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It's not mindreading skills when you've watched the team for longer than 2 seasons, tbh.

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Originally Posted by Mugen

Good. I'll continue to underestimate you because you're probably the worst poster in the forum I don't even think it's close.

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Originally Posted by Mugen

You've been consistently wrong and shitted on for 2 seasons now.

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Except I'm constantly right. For example, going into last night's game where some people were convinced that a random comment made by Sean was a command sent by god that the big 3 wouldn't play and I called bullshit. And that's just the past 24 hours.

Continue on in your fantasy world. I'll go ahead and inform the rest of the coaches in the league that if any player has 3 fouls at halftime they must not start the 2nd half. That's the only plausible explanation for Diaw starting the 3rd last night. No other possibilities. Because you said so.

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Originally Posted by Splitman4evah

Continue on in your fantasy world. I'll go ahead and inform the rest of the coaches in the league that if any player has 3 fouls at halftime they must not start the 2nd half. That's the only plausible explanation for Diaw starting the 3rd last night. No other possibilities. Because you said so.

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Good. Don't forget to put on your helmet when you leave the house today.

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Originally Posted by timvp

...
Even if they switched roles on offense, with Duncan on the floor (and Parker and Leonard, to a lesser extent), there is still much less spacing than what Splitter is used to. Splitter is accustomed to being surrounded by four sharpshooters. So even if he gets to run pick-and-rolls with the starters, it's a totally different type of rolling because the lane will be more clogged.

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Yep, it'd be more constricted than Tiago has had to work with in the NBA, but I'd still try it. Tiago's been awfully good at the PnR so far; I think he could adapt quite effectively. The only way to find out is to run it a bit...

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Originally Posted by Spur|n|Austin

Yeah, they had a couple dirty moves last night. Did you or anyone else happen to catch Barnes' elbow to Manu's ribcage after he shot and drained a three?

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caught that to in the highlights going to be physical game this friday