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ahh damn i'm dying. drunk post game and this almost killed me.
splitter really was soft as a lavender pillow.
So this is the new and improved Tiago Splitter? I hope there's a team out there that's willing to break the bank for him so the Spurs won't be able to resign him but, I don't think the Spurs will be that fortunate.
splitter really was soft as a lavender pillow.
good team post DF !
Tiago was one of the reasons neither Howard or Gasol got it going. If you all are disappointed in his scoring, consider that a Carmelo Anthony he ain't. This is still a team sport. Pop credited defense as the one thing the Spurs did very well. Our success is based on everyone having a role to play, even if doing so and earning a low grade from timvp is a risk players have to take. What is bothersome is that we even have these grades for Spur players not being perfect.
Leonard's offseason homework should be to watch Paul George (IND) and how he's transformed himself from simply an athletic SF, who shoots perimeter shots and attacks the basket, to a player who now rips the ball off the defensive glass and leads the break looking to create offense for his teammates just as much as he does himself. The guy had a triple-double in Game 1 of their first round series tihs weekend. That should now be the target of Leonard's evolution.
LOL
Ginobili was asked if it was true his freestyling play caused Popovich's hair turned from gray to white. "Yeah, and he lost a bunch, too," Ginobili said. "We both did."
I'm sure Tmac can teach him some of that.
I think that some folks in here are judging people negatively based on not understanding Pop's game plan.
For example...although Leonard could make a couple of threes and that would be helpful, but he has clearly been told by Pop to help on rebounding, which he did quite effectively. Our two bigs can be and often are boxed out by their bigs. Leonard being the third guy on rebounding gives us a chance to get out and run the fast break after a miss by them, which we did last night to the tune of 17 points vs. 2 or so for the Lakers. Plus, MWP was close to a non-factor in this game, and a lot of that has to be attributable to Leonard.
Example 2...Splitter did a commendable job on defense, and with Tim shooting from the elbow for the bulk of his made shots in the first half, that leaves only
Splitter for the low post offense and rebounding. Plus Tim was shut down in the second half in terms of scoring. They are clearly going to continue to hound and foul Duncan, and if Duncan gets the calls and make the free throws, it can work for us. Splitter was fouled mercilessly and got virtually no calls.
Example 3...Parker was fouled almost every time he got the ball by Blake. I believe that the refs are letting Blake get away with it because it they don't, L.A. has almost no one at backup point. Parker also had three steals and did a good defensive job on Blake (who was scoring at about a 30% clip) and Nash (who was scoring at about a 35% clip). And if Green and Neal had not been shooting so poorly from 3 point range, Tony would have had double double easily.
Points are not the only way that players should be measured, and I think in looking back on this game, although it wasn't pretty at all times (except for Manu), you could watch the game plan being executed. People were doing what they were supposed to be doing.
We all love Manu's heroics, but let's also admit that he is one of the only players who will do whatever he thinks is best, regardless of what Pop wants. Sometimes the magic works, sometimes it doesn't, but it is almost always entertaining.
Absolutely. They've had and will have plenty of time to get healthy. A three day break a couple of weeks ago, a three day break between the end of the season and playoffs and a two day break between Game 1 & 2. Tony and Manu have had quite a bit of time off. If they can finish the Lakers off in 5 they will be pretty healthy. This is a pretty mediocre Lakers team. They might still embarrass the Spurs one game. But this is a golden opportunity. I mean Tim started the '05 playoffs on a bum ankle and he still on the Supersonics. Tony will be as healthy as he can be.
Obvious bright spots were Manu & CoJo. I thought TD played great in the first half but really tailored off in the 2nd. TP's effort was commendable considering he looks to be at about 75% physically.
Pringles taking out Gasol late in the 3rd when he had Bonner guarding him was the worst move of the game tbh. Pop's Hack-A-Howard is a very close 2nd.
But a win's a win and I expect them to play much better on Wednesday tbh.
Any point guard will have trouble scoring in the paint against good defensive centers. Howard is still the best defensive center in the league even if he had an off season. He looks fully healthy now and ready to block or alter shots. So I wouldn't read too much into Parker being tentative in the paint. Even Gasol is a good shot blocker. Having two 7 foot shot blockers guarding the basket is about as tough as it gets. Parker just needs to get his jump shot going and he should be fine.
Once the 3's start raining again from the shooters, the Spurs should easily win games. It's too early in the playoffs to start choking at the 3 pt line so I expect the Spurs to do better as the series progresses.
I am seriously starting to question whether the Spurs should pay Splitter his $10+ million in the offseason. He's so soft and sulks around whenever he doesn't get a call. Kind of feels like Beno Udrih in a big's body. I doubt he can ever live up to the $10 million potential.
Well, they got the win, which of course is great and will hopefully give them back some confidence. But apart from that, the jury is still out on not only a possible deep playoff run from the Spurs, but on this series also. The Lakers were't that bad overall, I think, and there is room for improvement for them - Nash's shooting, for example.
Of course, the Spurs can (hopefully) play better than they did as well. We just have to hope that Manu looking pretty healthy wasn't a fluke and that TP will get some of his speed and explosiveness back as the series goes on.
BTW, didn't anyone beside me find it strange that Pop let Neal (the worst defender on the roster) defend against Nash for quite a while in the first half?
Well, Nash received 2 epidural shots before he could play, and he's not eligible to get more before 3 weeks. I'd like to hear from our local specialists: either he's going to feel more comfortable, or the effects of these shots are going to disappear. I'd bet on the 2nd option. He indicated after the game that he was in pain. I don't think he's going to play much better than in Game 1.
Blair's pre-game ritual
Blair's pre-game ritual
That's hilariousBlair's pre-game ritual
I could see Artest and Gasol making a few more shots, maybe Howard gets more aggressive, but thats about it. Meeks getting hurt is a tough blow. Blake I think did all he could do.
I think if anything Nash if the pain gets bad again, can't move as well nor have as much lift on his shot like he had yesterday. Even though he did OK he was still a plus for the Spurs when in.
Tweet from @JMcDonald_SAEN: Tony Parker, informed Steve Nash says he doesn't feel like himself: "That makes two of us."
Parker's grade is too high
Some things never change.
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