Game Blog: Spurs @ Jazz - April 9 - 8:00 PM CT

[DPG21920]

Defensively against a tough front court it was one of his better nights.

Considering no Duncan? Probably better.

That's not what you said and not what I asked.

Did you say in the post I quoted that this was Matt's best game?

[100%duncan]

Awesome well thought response.

[TheSkeptic]

He is when Tim Duncan is sitting in a mansion 2 thousand miles away.

I actually think Diaw and...Blair...were better options towards the end.

As lopsided as the FT were, how badly we got beat on the boards defensively, having our two best ball handlers gone which led to a bunch of mistakes, I got no problem with a loss.

James Anderson and Diaw playing late might have helped. But we got some guys that were whipped. Jackson looked very tired to me.

This has got to give Tiago some more confidence with the playoffs coming. Pop has to see how valuable he is on our small team.

Agree on all counts except for the Pop thing. Something needs to be done about this big rotation going into the playoffs.

[T Park]

Because the starting PG managed to do worse.

Patty Mills was bad?

Was TV were you watching?

[Ice009]

Gary Neal, Spurstalk's favorite one dimensional pet was a huge reason for the loss.

Nary a word about him.

Gary Neal at least scored in the last 5 minutes of the game.

What the did Bonner do in crunch time?

Brick every ing shot he took.

[Borosai]

This was a throwaway game, but still...

Neal running point in the playoffs will get ugly.

The Spurs really needed to add size. Oh well. They'll have to manage.

Pop needs to find a playoff rotation soon, and test it at the end of the season. He can't give away a game or two figuring this out in the first round.

[T Park]

That's not what you said and not what I asked.

Did you say in the post I quoted that this was Matt's best game?

I said probably was considering no Duncan yes.


Flame away.

[TheSkeptic]

Bonner choked at the end. Couldn't hit .

I said in the first half jax and Bonner need to step up, but neither did in crunch time. Turns out I was right and they were the keys to the game.

If I was coaching I'd have been happy with the first half of that 4th quarter from Bonner and I would have left it at that. I would have went with Diaw and Splitter to close the game.

I've figured out the problem with Pop. He always pushes his luck with Bonner. Every time Bonner even remotely looks good like in that 4-5 minute stretch at the start of the 4th quarter Pop just keeps riding him like he's a difference maker, but almost every time he chokes at the end.

Pop has got to wake up and stop trying to ride Bonner. Tim Duncan usually covers up for Bonner, but tonight you saw what happens in crunch time when Tim Duncan isn't out the to cover up for Bonner's chokes.

Sjax putrid performance and he needs to step it up. He said a few seasons ago that he is every bit as good as Kobe Bryant. He needs to step it up.

+1

Nothing to add.

[Ice009]

ANd ing play Tiago at least 25 minutes a game.

Enough with Blair and Bonner.

[DPG21920]

I said probably was considering no Duncan yes.


Flame away.

Then here is my well thought out response to your hyperbole:

[T Park]

Gary Neal at least scored in the last 5 minutes of the game.

What the did Bonner do in crunch time?

Brick every ing shot he took.

Hey he scored so it ok.


Took two horrible shots in a row, gave open shot after open shot to Devin Harris,

But hey!!! He made a shot!!!

Yippee!!!

Neal with it! Yay!

[DesignatedT]

Jax just seems way to slow and sluggish now to play the 2 with KL out there. I know KL could probably guard most 2s in the league but he still struggles against the quicker guards in the league. Danny can stay with the quicker guys better.

I just don't see where Putting Danny on the bench for Jax improves the SL. If you want Jax in the SL it needs to be for KL IMO. Although I'm not so sure I'd change it at all outside of Diaw for Blair.

[T Park]

Then here is my well thought out response to your hyperbole:

Wouldn't expect anymore from the self given "smartest mind on basketball" on twitter.

[keywester]

Disagree some. Of course tonight was bad, but with TP on the floor Jac is a solid ball handler.

Because the starting PG managed to do worse.

Your love of Neal may be clouding you judgement

[T Park]

ANd ing play Tiago at least 25 minutes a game.

Enough with Blair and Bonner.

Yeah those layups getting stuffed back in his face will be huge in the playoffs.

[Ice009]

My closing 5 would have been
Splitter
Diaw
Jackson
Neal (at the 2 guard)
Mills

I would have went with that 5. Even though Neal hit a couple of shots I would have preferred Mills at PG. Neal would have been better at SG to close the game so he could focus only on scoring rather than running the team.

And Mills didn't play as bad as people are saying. He competed defensively against Harris.

[elemento]

S-Jax can't play the 2 anymore. He looks old and slow. He should always play the 3 from now on

[Borosai]

Harris shot more FTs than the entire Spurs team. A star in the making, apparently.

[T Park]

@ "competed"

[DesignatedT]

I agree that other than shooting the ball Mills did practically everything else better than Neal.

[TheSkeptic]

ANd ing play Tiago at least 25 minutes a game.

Enough with Blair and Bonner.

Completely agree. I'd also add that if you're going to play Tiago 25 minutes you should also give him the ball on offense.

[Ice009]

Yeah those layups getting stuffed back in his face will be huge in the playoffs.

LOL are you now saying that Tiago shouldn't play more than Blair or Bonner in the playoffs?

[TampaDude]

Lousy 7-point game...if the Big 3 had played, the Spurs would've blown them out.

[DPG21920]

Wouldn't expect anymore from the self given "smartest mind on basketball" on twitter.

Link

Yeah those layups getting stuffed back in his face will be huge in the playoffs.

5-8 from the field. I'll take that %.

[DPG21920]

T Park is atrocious at times. I'm glad he's back though, no b.s.