That odd feeling

[Obstructed_View]

I wish I were Chumpdumper but I'm not clever

butthurt.

[Splits]

The Spurs pretty much aggressively double teamed the ball the entire game to the point that it looked like a zone defense. The fact that Randolph got two shots up before anyone else could collapse doesn't mean Bonner wasn't guarding him.

No, the total touches in that graphic pretty much matched the number of shots he took, he didn't even have an offensive board. Rewatch the game.

My odd feeling is this: when's the last time a Spur in a tight playoff game dropped two three balls in the final two minutes to give us the lead, only to have the rest of the team let him down with crap play? The air was let out of the building before those two bombs, and we still ing choked it away.

[Obstructed_View]

No, the total touches in that graphic pretty much matched the number of shots he took, he didn't even have an offensive board. Rewatch the game.

My odd feeling is this: when's the last time a Spur in a tight playoff game dropped two three balls in the final two minutes to give us the lead, only to have the rest of the team let him down with crap play? The air was let out of the building before those two bombs, and we still ing choked it away.

Unfortunately I erased the game in disgust at the end, so I'm just going to have to concede the point. I would love to have seen that graphic and rewatched the game. I certainly didn't walk away from that game thinking Bonner was that horrid, but it sure felt like he checked Randolph a lot when he and Duncan were on the floor and I don't know how you argue with that shooting percentage for the Grizz. Blair and Dice were worse in every way than Bonner was, but the bar was pretty low.

Blame aside, there's no universe where Bonner should be getting the second most minutes of the bigs against that frontline, while Splitter's on the bench. Bonner could have had his shots at the end even if Splitter was handling the heavy lifting earlier in the game against Randolph and Gasol. The Spurs' inability to close out games is beginning to feel like a slump.

[jjktkk]

butthurt.

No butthurt at all Coach obstructed view.

[Splits]

Blame aside, there's no universe where Bonner should be getting the second most minutes of the bigs against that frontline, while Splitter's on the bench. Bonner could have had his shots at the end even if Splitter was handling the heavy lifting earlier in the game against Randolph and Gasol. The Spurs' inability to close out games is beginning to feel like a slump.

I agree with most of this, except that Splitter's minutes are mostly either Dice's or Blair's. And I'm not sure the last time I saw a playoff series where a team runs a 5-big rotation. He's the odd man out, and has been all season. I'm not sure what good it would do at this point to change it. We lost this game due to ty guard play. We outrebounded them overall, including 11-5 on the offensive glass. Parker/Hill/Neal playing very inconsistent and RJ missing a wide open 3 to send it to OT is what cost us the game.

[Obstructed_View]

I agree with most of this, except that Splitter's minutes are mostly either Dice's or Blair's. And I'm not sure the last time I saw a playoff series where a team runs a 5-big rotation. He's the odd man out, and has been all season. I'm not sure what good it would do at this point to change it. We lost this game due to ty guard play. We outrebounded them overall, including 11-5 on the offensive glass. Parker/Hill/Neal playing very inconsistent and RJ missing a wide open 3 to send it to OT is what cost us the game.

Okay, I tried to be nice, but you're out of your mind and I can't take your word for anything you say about the game. First of all, this McDonaldesque argument about whose minutes Splitter gets is bordering on superre ed. When Bonner gets most of the minutes next to Duncan, including the overwhelming majority of crunch time minutes, and the front line gets completely destroyed in epic fashion (lol ty guard play), Splitter should be getting those minutes in the rotation. Bonner is not a rotation big, he's a three point shooting role player.

Second, and allow me to repeat: lol ' ty guard play'. Interesting that you cite rebounding, when Hill, Parker and Neal combined for the same number of boards as Blair, Dice and Bonner. Parker and Hill attempted 29 foul shots. To walk away from that game with any other conclusion than the front line of the Spurs was destroyed and steamrolled is nothing short of delusional.

[Splits]

Okay, I tried to be nice, but you're out of your mind and I can't take your word for anything you say about the game. First of all, this McDonaldesque argument about whose minutes Splitter gets is bordering on superre ed. When Bonner gets most of the minutes next to Duncan, including the overwhelming majority of crunch time minutes, and the front line gets completely destroyed in epic fashion (lol ty guard play), Splitter should be getting those minutes in the rotation. Bonner is not a rotation big, he's a three point shooting role player.

Oh really? So how many times is he playing the 3 spot?

Look, Tim's going to play 35-40 of the 96 minutes at the 4/5. Let's say 36, that leaves 60 minutes. You're either advising that those should be broken up between 4 players (Splitter in the rotation) or you have to say who sits in the 5th-big spot behind Splitter. It's that simple. And I can't see any team running a 5-big rotation and expect players to get in a groove.

Second, and allow me to repeat: lol ' ty guard play'. Interesting that you cite rebounding, when Hill, Parker and Neal combined for the same number of boards as Blair, Dice and Bonner. Parker and Hill attempted 29 foul shots. To walk away from that game with any other conclusion than the front line of the Spurs was destroyed and steamrolled is nothing short of delusional.

We outrebounded them. Our guards had a bunch of cleanup rebounds off of 12 missed FTs by Memphis. It was either Hill or Parker who missed a clutch FT on the backend of TD missing a pair in the final 5 minutes. Parker/Hill/Neal shot 10/33 combined. Our guards sucked, we missed Manu, that was the difference in the game. Oh, and RJ missing a wide open 3 to send it to overtime.

Game 2 here we come.

[Obstructed_View]

I didn't say Bonner didn't get minutes as a rotation big, I said he's not a rotation big. Just like I say George Hill is not a point guard, but it didn't stop him getting most of the point guard minutes today.

And I'd rather see him get some minutes at small forward if he's going to be used properly as a role player, because ideally Bonner should only get about ten to twelve minutes a game and get five or six shots during that time, so you can match him up accordingly. Four three pointers in 24 minutes for your three point specialist is pretty dumb.

I guess I'm just too set in my ways to blame offense in a game where the Spurs gave up 55% shooting, just like I'm reluctant to blame guards in a game where the Spurs gave up half their points to the center and power forward.

[jeebus]

I turned the game off when Bonner came in the game, then watched the last bit of the 4th quarter. He's a cancer.

[xellos88330]

Sunday games always feel funny.

[Splits]

I didn't say Bonner didn't get minutes as a rotation big, I said he's not a rotation big. Just like I say George Hill is not a point guard, but it didn't stop him getting most of the point guard minutes today.

And I'd rather see him get some minutes at small forward if he's going to be used properly as a role player, because ideally Bonner should only get about ten to twelve minutes a game and get five or six shots during that time, so you can match him up accordingly. Four three pointers in 24 minutes for your three point specialist is pretty dumb.

I guess I'm just too set in my ways to blame offense in a game where the Spurs gave up 55% shooting, just like I'm reluctant to blame guards in a game where the Spurs gave up half their points to the center and power forward.

I'm too set in my ways as well. The Griz played the best game they possibly could, with crazy bounces ending in their favor. Spurs will take the series. But I just don't understand how all the hatred on this board which comes down on Bonner, including from you, which is never pared back when he performs as best as can be expected.

Again: when is the last time a Spur has knocked down two clutch 3pointers in the final two minutes of a playoff game to give us the lead? And then you read the boards and 99% of people are hating on him while RJ misses a wide open 3 to tie the game and clanks it. The imbalance is what pisses me off.

[Obstructed_View]

My hate isn't for Bonner, it's for Pop. Bonner does the best he can when he's in the game, he hustles and is in good position. In addition, he hit two gigantic three pointers today that should shut up all the people who have been rooting for him to fail in the playoffs.

However, despite being 6'10", he can't jump, doesn't have long arms, and can't keep people in front of him. He doesn't foul (yet can't buy a call), he doesn't block shots and he inspires opposing players to individually exploit him far too often with no help from his coach.

Bonner shot the ball well, and defended as well as can be expected. The results of what Randolph and Gasol did in the game, as well as the shooting percentage, point to Splitter being in the game. You could spend a day drawing up plays and get Bonner six or seven three point attempts in four or five total minutes of playing time, which maximizes his effectiveness and virtually eliminates all his weaknesses.

[John Basedow]

I'm too set in my ways as well. The Griz played the best game they possibly could, with crazy bounces ending in their favor. Spurs will take the series. But I just don't understand how all the hatred on this board which comes down on Bonner, including from you, which is never pared back when he performs as best as can be expected.

Again: when is the last time a Spur has knocked down two clutch 3pointers in the final two minutes of a playoff game to give us the lead? And then you read the boards and 99% of people are hating on him while RJ misses a wide open 3 to tie the game and clanks it. The imbalance is what pisses me off.

They choked from the FT line in the 4th quarter, and opened the door for a Spurs 10-0 run that nearly sealed the game. Both teams got bounces.

The glaring weakness today was front-court defense. Bonner is incapable of guarding any of the Grizzlies' bigs, so when he plays 20+ minutes that means the opposing team is getting a plethora of high % looks at the basket.

[ferg]

1. Spurs fans at the ATT Center were NOT into it from the start. Bad JUJU.

i do not understand why people keep posting this garbage. i was at the game and that damn arena was rediculously loud until the refs some how thought everyone was there to see them and decided to call every thing going both ways. that pretty much sucked the life out of the crowd until about the two min mark of the fourth quarter when they let them play more.

[Splits]

i do not understand why people keep posting this garbage. i was at the game and that damn arena was rediculously loud until the refs some how thought everyone was there to see them and decided to call every thing going both ways. that pretty much sucked the life out of the crowd until about the two min mark of the fourth quarter when Bonner dropped two clutch three-bombs

fify

[LongtimeSpursFan]

i do not understand why people keep posting this garbage. i was at the game and that damn arena was rediculously loud until the refs some how thought everyone was there to see them and decided to call every thing going both ways. that pretty much sucked the life out of the crowd until about the two min mark of the fourth quarter when they let them play more.

I was at the game as well and it was much more noticeably louder than regular season games. That third quarter did seem to draw the game out quite a bit and suck the life out of the fans, even though we took a 10 point lead that quarter.

Oh and let met also add my two cents in to the Bonner/Blair discussion. Bonner/Blair and to some extent Jefferson were not the reason the Spurs didnt get a 'W'. Parker and Hill were terrible in the first half and for most of the game. They could not get the offense flowing nor could they get anything going to the rim. Also, Dice was a big disappointment for the game.

[spurtech09]

It didn't really feel like a playoff game tbh.

yeah what was up with the crowd.....

[Agloco]

Did anyone get that "odd" feeling once the game started? In other words, it's that gut feeling that one gets that pretty much sums up the outcome of a Spurs game, which is a loss.

Here are the factors I've come on conclude:

1. Spurs fans at the ATT Center were NOT into it from the start. Bad JUJU.
2. They (Spurs) were playing too tense (not loose).
3. As Sean Elliott ALWAYS preached (Too much one-on-one), not sharing the ball, which explains their horrific lack of assists during the 1st half. No ball movement and poor shot selections.
4. Blowing double digit leads. This phenomenon has occured one too many times. History repeats itself.
5. 4th quarter meltdowns. Not executing in the final 2:00 of the game (carried over from the regular season).

Now with Manu injured, that is NO EXCUSE to lose to a #8 seed.

Just my observations.

This is the problem with your assumptions. The Spurs and Grizz are a fairly even matchup. Add to the fact that your best playmaker is out, and yeah it makes for "coin toss" series.