Initial Reaction: Spurs @ Grizzlies - Game 3

[mingus]

As much as we'd love to rip Bonner, this game wasn't lost on the defensive end. Memphis finished with 91 points and 43% shooting. Those are winning numbers for us. We did a good job on the boards, and our 13 turnovers weren't an excessive number by any stretch.

We lost this game on offense, specifically two reasons:

1) Our three point shooters (Neal, Bonner, Hill, Jefferson) were terrible. The team that has shot a higher % from three has won all three games, and one would've thought going into the series that area would've been a huge advantage for us.

2) Parker has been absolute dog . He needs to be carrying the team. He has the biggest mismatch. Conley's not a great defender. He's the youngest of the big three and the healthiest. He really has no excuse to be playing this poorly. If he was playing even average we'd be up 3-0.

I was hoping that Dice's injury would be a mixed blessing and that it would force Pop to play Splitter, but now it looks like he'll play game 4. :-( That's too bad, because with the offense so limited right now we might have to hold the Grizzlies in the low 80s to win.

I think Tony Allen purposefully re-injured Manu's elbow. He can't even raise his right arm anymore. I wouldn't be surprised if they shut him down really. Looks like it just wasn't meant to be. That's the really ty thing about this game. Maybe if we stole a win they could've rested him for Game 4 and unleashed him for Game 5. Alas.

you coudn't be more wrong about that. the Spurs were BETTER than the Grizzlies for 3 quarters in terms of point total. They played 3 QUARTERS of solid defense. it was the 1st quarter that was killer. KILLER. the Spurs dug themselves a whole in the 1st quarter due to playing horrid defense. the Spurs tried to claw themselves out of this hole the entire game. turd towers had a lot to do with that & Parker had a couple of defensive mistakes in that 1st quarter. make no mistake, the lack of defense killed this team. it just so happened that it was in the 1st quarter and it coincided with Matt Bonner coming into the game and the Grizz straight disrespecting him. they scored like 11 straight points at one point in the 1st quarter IIRC.

[MaNu4Tres]

Besides, the way this team is built, they were always going to live or day by their depth.

Or live and die by their coach's use of personnel.

Not playing Splitter is beyond mind-boggling.

And I don't want to hear how he's "not ready". Or how he hasn't had enough time to generate signficant "corporate knowledge".

It's basketball. And Splitter has played a lot of it.

In his career, Splitter has played in more meaningful games and played more meaningful minutes than both Bonner and Blair combined.

Using the " he's not ready" card, is just an excuse to cover up the part of Pop's brain that died in May of 2006.

[Killakobe81]

Spurs lost this game by 3 and lost Game one, on a 3 ...

Series far from over.

But a loss here (series) will hurt, you wont be able to clown the Mavs fans for Gstate if you do the same ...

[ploto]

Could it be that Tony really is not good enough to carry a team as its best player? With TD at the age of 35 and Manu with one arm, Tony has to be able to carry the team, and he just has not done it. When you watch the games being put together by so many other players in the league, Tony looks like a scrub in comparison.

[SpurOutofTownFan]

One comment though about the ability to hit the 3s. The problem with that isn't the guys that usually hit them not hitting them anymore. The 3s the Spurs usually got where from elaborated plays which they seem to have lost completely.

There is no more ball movement anymore etc. If you want to know what I mean go back and watch the Spurs Miami game a couple months ago in San Antonio. Obviously that was a crazy game but then the Spurs were playing good rotational basketball and that helps you settle for 3s etc.

The Spurs are basically not attempting the 3s as much as they did during the season - one reason for that I believe it's the ball movement which is lost - for the last 3 games the Spurs have virtually played with no PG or backup PG.

[NewJerSpur]

Spurs lost this game by 3 and lost Game one, on a 3 ...

Series far from over.

But a loss here (series) will hurt, you wont be able to clown the Mavs fans for Gstate if you do the same ...

It would still happen, it's the nature of things, but they'd just be able to go back in forth in that regard. Nevertheless, agree with the first half Killa.

[DPG21920]

Could it be that Tony really is not good enough to carry a team as its best player? With TD at the age of 35 and Manu with one arm, Tony has to be able to carry the team, and he just has not done it. When you watch the games being put together by so many other players in the league, Tony looks like a scrub in comparison.

Except we've seen TP deliver before.

[timvp]

Could it be that Tony really is not good enough to carry a team as its best player? With TD at the age of 35 and Manu with one arm, Tony has to be able to carry the team, and he just has not done it. When you watch the games being put together by so many other players in the league, Tony looks like a scrub in comparison.

The Spurs have just needed Parker to play at his normal level. Or at least even 90% of it.

[Strike]

Spurs lost this game by 3 and lost Game one, on a 3 ...

Series far from over.

But a loss here (series) will hurt, you wont be able to clown the Mavs fans for Gstate if you do the same ...

Thing is, the reason why it's come down to a Battier 3 and a Randolph 3 is because the Spurs are not playing well. It's one thing to have a couple bad shooting nights. happens that way. The Spurs are just stinking up the joint with their mental mistakes, stupid turnovers, soft play, and Pop's subpar coaching.

[timvp]

Is TP injured?

I don't want to make an excuse for him but he was complaining of a chest cold against the Suns in the last game of the season. I doubt he's still sick ... although his crappy level of play kinda does look like how he played against the Suns that game.

Chances are he's just in a horribly timed slump.

[TDfan2007]

why are the spurs the only team in the league where you cant play your best players more than 36 mpg without them being completely ineffective?

Also, as ty as it sounds, spurs just have to hit shots in order to win. There are no curveballs here.

+100000000000000000000000000000000

[DPG21920]

What I find amazing is the Spurs out rebounding the Grizz in every game and down 2-1

[Wu36]

Spurs started crappy. TP again was crappy. I'd like to see a few of Bonners minutes go to Splitter even if its only 6 to 8 on Gasol. But they made it close and 1 in Memphis is all they need. Second half was better but for sure not great. I was just wondering since I've just moved to what I consider a hick town. Was there sound delay in in last seconds. Reason I ask was though Manu was trapped and had no shot, the basket lights went off as well as the buzzer while .05 was on the clock. Wouldn't have changed the out come just thought it was odd.

[TD 21]

As if that is a winning formula!

For this team, it's going to have to be. Or they can keep playing the bench significant minutes and watch as they fail to produce, just as they did last season in the playoffs.

[Splits]

After watching each game in this series, I feel like I just woke up out of a deep sleep and the woman next to me is not my wife, but she calls me sweetie and acts like my wife. But I've never met her before... and I want my wife back.

[WalterBenitez]

Too many mistakes, lack of effort.

TP is really having a bad serie; Manu is injured, TD is in slow motion and well this season is going to finish soon.

[baseline bum]

Parker is the difference in this series. The team still goes as he does. I can't believe he has been so worthless these first three games.

[baseline bum]

Spurs lost this game by 3 and lost Game one, on a 3 ...

Series far from over.

But a loss here (series) will hurt, you wont be able to clown the Mavs fans for Gstate if you do the same ...

Dallas 2007 will never stop being funny. That was supposed to be the year they rang, while everyone knew the Spurs were a pretty lousy 1-seed coming into this playoffs.

[Chomag]

I expect we will see Splitter sometime in this series, when it's to late to matter anymore (aka Ghill rookie season) So yea seeing him play will be a bad thing.

[Killakobe81]

Thing is, the reason why it's come down to a Battier 3 and a Randolph 3 is because the Spurs are not playing well. It's one thing to have a couple bad shooting nights. happens that way. The Spurs are just stinking up the joint with their mental mistakes, stupid turnovers, soft play, and Pop's subpar coaching.

My guess is Parker will snap out of it ...

I freely admit I did not see the whole game only the 4th quarter ...

But Manu wincing and limiting the use of his right hand is a HUGE problem ...all these games will be close ... and when healthy you have a closer that is not quite Kobe/Wade but is le proven. Manu at less than 100% you guys may neat Grizz, but I doubt you can get much further. Pray for his return to health ...

[Cessation]

At the end of first quarter ginger came in and ed up 3 plays in a row. Grizz went on a 10-0 run, what else is new?

[crc21209]

This series is all on TP, the Spurs bench, and stupid costly mistakes. If Parker would just get his head out of his ass everything would be fine. Add to the fact that Hill, Neal,and Bonner arent making off the bench, and that they are carelessly throwing the ball out of bounds or to the Grizzlies over and over again. IMO, the Spurs are beating themselves. While Memphis may be able to score at will in the paint, as bad as the Spurs played tonight and in Game 1, they had a chance to win BOTH games, only to fall short....

[toki9]

I don't want to make an excuse for him but he was complaining of a chest cold against the Suns in the last game of the season. I doubt he's still sick ... although his crappy level of play kinda does look like how he played against the Suns that game.

Chances are he's just in a horribly timed slump.

Or maybe he's got mono...

[TacoCabanaFajitas]

I expect we will see Splitter sometime in this series, when it's to late to matter anymore (aka Ghill rookie season) So yea seeing him play will be a bad thing.

This is exactly what was running through my head halfway through the 2nd quarter. I remember the same bull being talked about Hill when Dallas was raping us and Roger Mason was sucking . Everyone was saying Hill wasn't ready/Pop has his reasons/blahblahblah then he came in and lit it up and possibly would have tilted the series our way had he been involved from the start. I can see us being down 3-1 and halfway through the 5th game Pop decides to throw Splitter out there finally. Sad.

[duncan228]

Is SpursTalk the 'angry posters on a message board'?

...McDyess has been the most effective of the San Antonio defenders against Randolph and Marc Gasol. If he can’t play, it will alter the rotation and really limit San Antonio’s interior defense. But it might make those angry posters on the message boards and the chat rooms happy in at least one sense. Tiago Splitter might be forced to get his first playing time of the series if McDyess can’t play.

Five quick thoughts: What has happened to Tony Parker?
Tim Griffin

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursna...o-tony-parker/