*** Official Game 2/82: Spurs @ Kings Game Thread ***

[Spurtacular]

Not sure what game you were watching, but Cousins beasted and the Spurs were out of position, playing bad defense for most of the game. The Spurs got as many gifts as Sacramento did from the refs.

Refs know better than to cheat much for those scrubs, tbh.

[sasaint]

Yeah, it wasn't intended to be glowing. He did his job and didn't up. Not sure why some of you guys refuse to even acknowledge when he helps the team win.

I am not one of those guys. The little he did was nothing another player couldn't have done late in this game. I am not a Tony hater. I wish we had a better starter to move him to the bench, but I voted that the Spurs were NOT better without Parker.

[DMX7]

although I have to say, we didn't hold the Pistons to 78.5 ppg in the Finals solely because of Duncan and Bowen.

I guess... Pistons were also never an offensive juggernaut during that Larry Brown era.

[Obstructed_View]

I almost hate to say this, but even though Simmons did some of his old crap, he kept being aggressive and putting pressure on the defense. He got tot he line 4 times, and pitched 3 AST's. He got credited with 2 TO's, but he was probably responsible for at least a couple more. But he played with confidence and he never got hesitant, and he's always a threat to take it to the rim, which keeps defenses honest. On a not-great night, you can still understand why they kept him.

Hard to believe he only put up 2 shots, though, isn't it?

Not his fault. He played free and loose against the Warriors and wasn't asked to do a lot of ball handling. They had him running the point tonight, and to his credit, he took better care of the ball than many of us expected. He still contributed to a win and did what was asked of him.

[Kawhitstorm]

Early 2000s Sheed and early 2010s Zbo before he got slow and ineffective again.

Cousins is a giant version of Barkley & it's funny how they have beef w/ each other.

[TheDoctor]

Damn, Cousins is a nightmare matchup.

He is. He would've done the same against any team in the League. he's just a beast.

[Obstructed_View]

I am not one of those guys. The little he did was nothing another player couldn't have done late in this game. I am not a Tony hater. I wish we had a better starter to move him to the bench, but I voted that the Spurs were NOT better without Parker.

Fair enough. And I agree with you on all points. I think he should be replaced in the starting lineup ASAP, and I agree that he didn't do anything special, but it was better than he's played so far in two games, and he looked like he had a pulse for the first time. In this case, Pop was right to trust him and Anderson to finish out the game. I'm seriously worried about Parker, though. He needs to heal up or retire.

[UNT Eagles 2016]

I am not one of those guys. The little he did was nothing another player couldn't have done late in this game. I am not a Tony hater. I wish we had a better starter to move him to the bench, but I voted that the Spurs were NOT better without Parker.

yeah, Jacque Vaughn could have done what Tony did tonight... or better

[GSH]

Fair enough. And I agree with you on all points. I think he should be replaced in the starting lineup ASAP, and I agree that he didn't do anything special, but it was better than he's played so far in two games, and he looked like he had a pulse for the first time. In this case, Pop was right to trust him and Anderson to finish out the game. I'm seriously worried about Parker, though. He needs to heal up or retire.

Yeah, you called that in the game. I thought he was doing it on his own, but I saw you were right. Thought that was strange. Also, the way he was knocking down 3's in the first game, I was surprised that he didn't even take a single one tonight.

[Obstructed_View]

Over night? Dude hasn't been able to do for 2 years except the occasional spin move (that is predictable and looks exactly the same every time). His game was all quickness and he has none now. I appreciate everything TP has done for the franchise but he's is DONE. I hope he sticks around long enough to show Murray the ropes then...adios

Yeah, overnight. Note that I didn't say WHEN the night was. It damn sure wasn't last night. I don't think it was two years ago, but it was probably sometime in the middle of last season. We kept waiting for him to get "healthy" and he never did. Even with the summer to recover. I think you're probably right that he's done.

[DarrinS]

He is. He would've done the same against any team in the League. he's just a beast.

Dude can shoot from distance, too. Did he even miss any of those?

[pgardn]

Dedmon already earned the starting spot over Pau.

Not yet.

He makes our second team strong it appears. AND he was in at the end of the game at least forcing Cousins to hit long shots and challenging him physically. These are the nights he is useful. If it is a game that requires some finesse and guile, we will see. The refs don't like Cousins all that much so we can beat on him a bit.

[Obstructed_View]

Dude can shoot from distance, too. Did he even miss any of those?

He shuffled his feet on one in the first quarter and got called for it. I think that one was all net too.

[PopTheGOAT]

8767857[/URL]]Yeah, overnight. Note that I didn't say WHEN the night was. It damn sure wasn't last night. I don't think it was two years ago, but it was probably sometime in the middle of last season. We kept waiting for him to get "healthy" and he never did. Even with the summer to recover. I think you're probably right that he's done.

I feel like he started going downhill at the end of 2014. I remember he left the thunder game 6 at half and everyone was saying that's why we won the game. He still had a little bit left that season but the downward trend started around then imo. That's over 2 years ago (which sounds crazy to me)

[sasaint]

Starting 2-0 on the road with a win over the Dubs is perfect - even if this win was not pretty.

[TheDoctor]

Dude can shoot from distance, too. Did he even miss any of those?

3/5 from deep

[TheDoctor]

Watching LAC/POR recap right now, damn, Blake looks a ready. Gonna be a nightmare playing against that frontcourt w/ Gasoft and LMA starting.

[ViceCity86]

TNT crew interviewing the "Portland Tan Guy"

[GSH]

Starting 2-0 on the road with a win over the Dubs is perfect - even if this win was not pretty.

I like it when the Spurs win ugly. Especially when they do it by holding the other team to 37 points on 29% shooting in the second half. I made a joke at halftime about how the Spurs aren't going to be a top defensive team this year, and then they come out and smother the Kings in the second half.

I guess it would be nice if they won by 29 every night. But with lots of new/young guys on the team, being able to come back on the road the way they did tonight, and then to be able to hang on to the lead in crunch time? That will make them a better team.

[Robz4000]

Watching LAC/POR recap right now, damn, Blake looks a ready. Gonna be a nightmare playing against that frontcourt w/ Gasoft and LMA starting.

Not any worse than last year where Duncan couldn't do anything. At least Gasol should be able to post up DeMonkey and get him.in foul trouble. Their new bench might be a problem though.

[Obstructed_View]

I feel like he started going downhill at the end of 2014. I remember he left the thunder game 6 at half and everyone was saying that's why we won the game. He still had a little bit left that season but the downward trend started around then imo. That's over 2 years ago (which sounds crazy to me)

I'll take your word for it, but I don't mean when he started going downhill. Maybe I'm remebering it wrong, but he went from "better than anyone else we have" to "face on a milk carton" really fast. The hamstrings or the calves or something that he's fought with has just sapped his explosiveness.

[Obstructed_View]

I like it when the Spurs win ugly. Especially when they do it by holding the other team to 37 points on 29% shooting in the second half. I made a joke at halftime about how the Spurs aren't going to be a top defensive team this year, and then they come out and smother the Kings in the second half.

I guess it would be nice if they won by 29 every night. But with lots of new/young guys on the team, being able to come back on the road the way they did tonight, and then to be able to hang on to the lead in crunch time? That will make them a better team.

They got stout really quick, which was nice because nobody's jumper showed up in the second half. They weren't going to outscore anyone.

[SpurPadre]

Back from the game. A few thoughts: Really nice arena. I had a sign that read "New Arena, Same Results" that was taken away by security but I still had a good time. I'm loving Dedmon. Watching him live, his athleticism stands out being that we haven't had an athletic big in a while. I'm a little worried about TP but he showed signs of life when it mattered the most and he seems to accept his role. Same goes for Pau but he's 36 having to learn the most complex system he's ever had to learn. We just have to be patient with him. He'll come through. Lee is also better than advertised and should have played more minutes. Manu amazes me with his level of play at 39. Also, we clearly miss LDN on both ends and can't wait to see how much better he'll make the SL. Not the best of games, but the Kings played hard and would've beaten most teams tonight so it was still an impressive win.

[Obstructed_View]

Not any worse than last year where Duncan couldn't do anything. At least Gasol should be able to post up DeMonkey and get him.in foul trouble. Their new bench might be a problem though.

Yeah, but Duncan had what basically turned out to be the injury that ended his career. "Not any worse than last year" means the Spurs get bounced in the conference semis.

[TheDoctor]

Back from the game. A few thoughts: Really nice arena. I had a sign that read "New Arena, Same Results" that was taken away by security but I still had a good time. I'm loving Dedmon. Watching him live, his athleticism stands out being that we haven't had an athletic big in a while. I'm a little worried about TP but he showed signs of life when it mattered the most and he seems to accept his role. Same goes for Pau but he's 36 having to learn the most complex system he's ever had to learn. We just have to be patient with him. He'll come through. Lee is also better than advertised and should have played more minutes. Manu amazes me with his level of play at 39. Also, we clearly miss LDN on both ends and can't wait to see how much better he'll make the SL. Not the best of games, but the Kings played hard and would've beaten most teams tonight so it was still an impressive win.

Thanks for the input