Game Blog: Spurs vs. Blazers 2/25/09

[MarHill]

And now, I am officially very worried.

I know we got through 05 with Timmy injured and won it all, but this year would be a lot harder.

We have no margin for error here with the Lakers and Cavs and Celtics.

Yeah, I hear you but this is his 12th year and he has played a lot of basketball in his career.

Plus, he has a high pain threshold and I know he will give his all because he believes this team has a shot for another ring.

Also, with Pop always looking at the big picture....the Spurs will monitor him carefully.

Don't worry so much!

[Mavs<Spurs]

Also, although we have won on the road in previous championship runs (typically losing to Denver in the first round, then beating the Suns when they have home court advantage), it would be very difficult to beat Cleveland in the Finals.

Our 38-3 record in 2005 at home was a key indicator that we were a championship level team.

In addition to margin of victory, I'm thinking that the team that wins it all often has one of the best home records.

Cleveland and LA both have large average margins of victory.

Cleveland has only one loss at home.

Beating them at home would be extremely difficult for any team (including us0 , it would seem.


The one really encouraging sign is the improvement of our defense lately. Our field goal percentage defense and our total points defense have been great lately.

And we had to radically improve our defense if we were to make any serious run in the playoffs at a championship.

[MarHill]

Also, although we have won on the road in previous championship runs (typically losing to Denver in the first round, then beating the Suns when they have home court advantage), it would be very difficult to beat Cleveland in the Finals.

Our 38-3 record in 2005 at home was a key indicator that we were a championship level team.

In addition to margin of victory, I'm thinking that the team that wins it all often has one of the best home records.

Cleveland and LA both have large average margins of victory.

Cleveland has only one loss at home.

Beating them at home would be extremely difficult for any team (including us0 , it would seem.


The one really encouraging sign is the improvement of our defense lately. Our field goal percentage defense and our total points defense have been great lately.

And we had to radically improve our defense if we were to make any serious run in the playoffs at a championship.

However, I would only believe the Spurs and Celtics can win in Cleveland and L.A. in a playoff series.

You can take playing good defense on the road and having championship experience is so valuable.

If you can win in Utah in a playoff series and a game 7 in New Orleans...you can win anywhere!!

[Mavs<Spurs]

Yeah, I hear you but this is his 12th year and he has played a lot of basketball in his career.

Plus, he has a high pain threshold and I know he will give his all because he believes this team has a shot for another ring.

Also, with Pop always looking at the big picture....the Spurs will monitor him carefully.

Don't worry so much!

Thanks for the encouragement!

I still remember this one Spurs fan in Seattle (This is in 2005 when Tim got injured - both pf and then injured his ankle) after we ran that play with Manu and Tim and Tim scored with about 1 second left in game 6 of the second round of the playoffs. The tv showed this one Spurs fan in Seattle jumping up and down when Tim scored.

And of course, they got the ball in to Ray Allen who missed a very contested 3. And that was the series.

I also remember their fans cheering when Tim was injured.

Not cool.


And Tim's numbers the next series against Phoenix were incredible despite the injuries.


Tim is definitely a playoff warrior!!

[MarHill]

Thanks for the encouragement!

I still remember this one Spurs fan in Seattle after we ran that play with Manu and Tim and Tim scored with about 1 second left in game 6 of the second round of the playoffs. The tv showed this one Spurs fan in Seattle jumping up and down when Tim scored.

And of course, they got the ball in to Ray Allen who missed a very contested 3. And that was the series.

I also remember their fans cheering when Tim was injured.

Not cool.


And Tim's numbers the next series against Phoenix were incredible despite the injuries.


Tim is definitely a playoff warrior!!

Yes he is!

A lot of people don't realize how compe ive he is and how much he wants to win!!

[Mavs<Spurs]

However, I would only believe the Spurs and Celtics can win in Cleveland and L.A. in a playoff series.

You can take playing good defense on the road and having championship experience is so valuable.

If you can win in Utah in a playoff series and a game 7 in New Orleans...you can win anywhere!!

Manu seems to always help us win on the road in Denver and Utah, even when many of the other Spurs struggle.

[duncan228]

Winning wall.

[Mavs<Spurs]

Pryzbilla has no chance at blocking Tony's layup in the picture above.


Matt and Kurt did pretty good on the boards tonight- 9 boards for Matt and 10 for Kurt.

Thanks for the photo !

[peskypesky]

I would rest TD as long as needs..we are three games up on the nuggets in the loss column for 2nd in the West..I think its best to say no one is catching the Lakers...I really think our guys can win on the road in the playoffs...to our team, home court is good but I'm sure pop and the rest of the guys know they can beat any team especially come playoff time..it only makes sense to have our guys healthy

[TMTTRIO]

anyone think pop will keep duncan out especially if we keep winning w/o him? I really hope to TP can keep up these numbers even though he will prolly come back down to around 20-25 points a game...

No. I actually see Tim back in the next game or two depending on how he's doing. Now with Manu I wouldn't mind just sitting him out for most of the games left. I would like him back maybe a few games before the playoffs for him to get some kind of rhythm again for the playoffs.

[GSH]

Did the scorers screw Thomas out of some boards in the last couple of games?

Last night I swear he had 10, got another one, and still had 10. And I thought the end of game total was light, too.

Tonight when they showed him with 7 boards, I would have figured him for at least 10. There was one play where he had 2, and another where I think he had 3. And I know he collected a couple on the first few Blazers' possessions. I just don't think he could have had as few as 7 at that point.

I also thought Bonner had a couple of blocks. The one got called a jump ball, and I guess that isn't a block, even though he was in the act of shooting? I can't remember the details of the other, but I was pretty sure he deflected a shot.

I know the stats don't matter, but Thomas was a beast on the boards. Several times he ripped them down when he was sandwiched between two big men who are damned good rebounders in their own right. He should get credit for that kind of effort.

[Spursfan092120]

Hey..breaking news...big men get sore knees. It happens. Timmy will be fine..he'll get out there, he'll play, and he'll play hard. Did you see how he was all smiles and jumping around on the sideline? Did that look like a man who had just been told he was going to be out for a while? He'll probably be in the lineup against Cleveland, and if not, I can definitely see him in the lineup in Portland.

[Yorae]

Looking at the winning wall, you appreciate Matt Bonner more. Poor Aldridge.

[Spursfan092120]

Looking at the winning wall, you appreciate Matt Bonner more. Poor Aldridge.

ooh...yeah...definitely. Keep a big like Aldridge outside the paint and Tony's almost automatic. Get Manu back and keep Bonner out there, and we WILL be automatic.

[Spursfan092120]

Winning wall.

lol...Brandon's like...DAMNIT!

[Manufan909]

Brandon thinks a last 2nd scream might've freaked out TP, but to no avail.

[Yorae]

Why does finley looked so "I can't believe it" out there....

[timtonymanu]

lol. i was reading through the posts and noticed that alot of you complained about the blazers' announcers. im a secret blazers fan (Spurs are number one of course) but i cant help but dislike the Blazers' announcers. they are complete homers. I remember when Przybilla and Chandler fought and one of the Blazers' announcers said "Joel's like Manny. Tyson's like Dela Hoya. Joel will win." And I was even watching and Przybilla was crying like a and Tyson didnt back down. lol.


btw, great win Spurs! Hey announcers, tell the Spurs how their ass tastes.

[Manufan909]

Really, I don't remember Joel backing down, but I only saw that highlight once.

[Spursmania]

Hey..breaking news...big men get sore knees. It happens. Timmy will be fine..he'll get out there, he'll play, and he'll play hard. Did you see how he was all smiles and jumping around on the sideline? Did that look like a man who had just been told he was going to be out for a while? He'll probably be in the lineup against Cleveland, and if not, I can definitely see him in the lineup in Portland.

That's true. Timmy definitely looked like he was in a great mood even from the beginning of the game. He did not look like a man who had been told he would have a gimp leg for the rest of the season. So, I feel a little better now. I just want to beat LA's ass so bad.

[Spursmania]

GUYS- , I have to deal all day with politics, now I have to hear it here. There is a separate forum for politics. Please don't make this a political forum too! The thread is not even a political one. Please let us enjoy sports...

[Banzai]

[anakha]

Looking at that wall, I'm trying to figure out the Blazers' defensive scheme.

Assuming Roy was on Finley, who the heck was supposed to be on Parker?