Game Thread: 3/3 Spurs @ Pelicans 8:30PM CST (9:30 PM EST, 4:30 AM Riga Time)

[sasaint]

Were you watching the same game I was? Kawhi had 28 points something like midway through the 4th quarter, IIRC. He finished with 31 points. That one layup he missed was just weird. Then he missed a couple of putbacks on the same play. I think he must have found something in SJax' old locker room at halftime.

"...not named Kawhi..." Yeah, we watched the same game.

[BillMc]

You know it!! Is that Larsen in your sig...it's got to be!

Yep

[SpurPadre]

Your logic sounds like one of those lebron haters from before who gave him because he would miss or wouldnt take the last shot

So, I'm making it up that Kawhi tends to miss 4th quarter free throws more than any other point in the game?

[GSH]

Another year, another season of dominating NO. I haven't seen this amount of yellow-bellying since that timvp thread about the 2013 WCF. Guess who's not just barely beating teams right now? Golden State. Stop ing.

Oh, c'mon Chinook. I know all they count is the W's and L's, but I sure as don't feel like the Spurs dominated anything tonight. The only good thing you can say about that is that they are finding ways to win ugly. It was a win, and it was definitely ugly.

Still... just 2 games back in the L column.

[Chinook]

Unlike Golden State, we're not missing our best player.

So?

[TXstbobcat]

Spurs within 2.5 games of GS and can get within 2 games back with a win tomorrow against the T-Pups.

[spurs10]

Victory!

You know it!! Is that Larsen in your sig...it's got to be!

[rasuo214]

Kawhi missed the most crucial free throw you can possibly miss...a Championship winning free throw. Yes, that was 4 years ago but it still happened and you can still see remnants of that shakiness.

He was shooting 60% in the playoffs that year and don't forget your boy Manu also missed a FT. Manu seasoned vet, Kawhi 2nd year player.

[BillMc]

Spurs within 2.5 games of GS and can get within 2 games back with a win tomorrow against the T-Pups.

Neuter those pups.

[Chinook]

Oh, c'mon Chinook. I know all they count is the W's and L's, but I sure as don't feel like the Spurs dominated anything tonight. The only good thing you can say about that is that they are finding ways to win ugly. It was a win, and it was definitely ugly.

Still... just 2 games back in the L column.

They didn't dominate them in this game. But when looking at the whole season and their recent history, the Spurs have definitely dominated them. You can play a whole bunch of close games, but if one team constantly wins those games, they're still dominating. It's like the 2013 WCF, where the Spurs dominated despite Memphis getting the final two games to OT.

[SpurPadre]

So?

It makes a difference. Look, there are legitimate gripes about how the team played tonight, people aren't just pulling stuff out of their asses.

[PopTheGOAT]

Unlike Golden State, we're not missing our best player.

Unlike GS, we won our last 2

[100%duncan]

So, I'm making it up that Kawhi tends to miss 4th quarter free throws more than any other point in the game?

Yes please give me some actual statistics rather than spouting the first thing that comes on your mind.

For example, Kawhi shot 8-10 ft's this game, 1 early miss and 1 late game. But sure he tends to miss more in 4th quarter because you said so right?

[BillMc]

Unlike Golden State, we're not missing our best player.

Durant has always been injury prone. That's a risk the dubs took...

[SpurPadre]

He was shooting 60% in the playoffs that year and don't forget your boy Manu also missed a FT. Manu seasoned vet, Kawhi 2nd year player.

And he's hitting around 75% of them in the 4th quarter now, which is a big dropoff from his 90% overall

[BatManu20]

Unlike GS, we won our last 2

[GSH]

Feels like an omen not a win. I don't know what the percentages were at game's end, but it feels like everybody not named Kawhi couldn't toss a BB in the ocean. How can an entire team go so sour shooting the ball all at once.

I didn't even notice Tony on the floor in the second half. Wonder how few minutes he played after the half?

"...not named Kawhi..." Yeah, we watched the same game.

Heh. Well everyone named Kawhi shot it pretty badly in the second half, too. He went 5-18 and 4-6 from the FT line in the second half. I don't know what happened to him.

Oh, man, and that really dumb 3-pointer he chucked late in the 4th. That just didn't even look like Kawhi out there on the offensive end. He made some nice defensive plays, though.

[SpurPadre]

Yes please give me some actual statistics rather than spouting the first thing that comes on your mind.

For example, Kawhi shot 8-10 ft's this game, 1 early miss and 1 late game. But sure he tends to miss more in 4th quarter because you said so right?

Someone put it up earlier, he's hitting around 75% of them in the 4th quarter...big dropoff from his 90% overall.

[Chinook]

It makes a difference. Look, there are legitimate gripes about how the team played tonight, people aren't just pulling stuff out of their asses.

It doesn't make a difference. You can look bad and still win or you can lose. The Spurs won. Stop ing about that we know will be fixed in the playoffs. Stop acting like scrub teams are going to be anything other than doormats. The Spurs are struggling and picking up W's. The Warriors are struggling and picking up L's. The struggle is inevitable in an 82-game season. How you handle yourself while you're struggling is the key.

People aren't just pulling stuff out of their asses, but they are spending an awful long time harping on the things, and they're constantly doom-and-glooming every thread and then scattering like roaches when the Spurs win.

[TXstbobcat]

It doesn't make a difference. You can look bad and still win or you can lose. The Spurs won. Stop ing about that we know will be fixed in the playoffs. Stop acting like scrub teams are going to be anything other than doormats. The Spurs are struggling and picking up W's. The Warriors are struggling and picking up L's. The struggle is inevitable in an 82-game season. How you handle yourself while you're struggling is the key.

People aren't just pulling stuff out of their asses, but they are spending an awful long time harping on the things, and they're constantly doom-and-glooming every thread and then scattering like roaches when the Spurs win.

yeah, a lot of negativity tonight from people when the team is on a 6 game win streak.

[GSH]

They didn't dominate them in this game. But when looking at the whole season and their recent history, the Spurs have definitely dominated them. You can play a whole bunch of close games, but if one team constantly wins those games, they're still dominating. It's like the 2013 WCF, where the Spurs dominated despite Memphis getting the final two games to OT.

Meh. Semantics. I'm not getting into that kind of argument. I know what you're saying. But you always expect a little easier win against a .387 team. The Pels are just about as consistent at challenging the Spurs as the Spurs are about winning games against them. I guess if I had to pick one or the other, I'll take the wins. But tonight the Spurs felt more lucky than dominant to me.

[sasaint]

Heh. Well everyone named Kawhi shot it pretty badly in the second half, too. He went 5-18 and 4-6 from the FT line in the second half. I don't know what happened to him.

Oh, man, and that really dumb 3-pointer he chucked late in the 4th. That just didn't even look like Kawhi out there on the offensive end. He made some nice defensive plays, though.

Yeah, my comment didn't break it down by halves. But statistically Kawhi still had a decent game, I believe. True, he made a couple of bad shot choices late, but his two steals and two assists on Patty's threes were excellent plays when it really, really counted. He is still learning to be The Man, tbh. To state the obvious: without him tonight the Spurs lose - quite probably in a blow-out.

[TheDoctor]

From the few minutes I saw, Mills was pretty damn quick on defense.

Of course he was. He dropped some major weight through the game w/ all the bricking.

[TXstbobcat]

Meh. Semantics. I'm not getting into that kind of argument. I know what you're saying. But you always expect a little easier win against a .387 team. The Pels are just about as consistent at challenging the Spurs as the Spurs are about winning games against them. I guess if I had to pick one or the other, I'll take the wins. But tonight the Spurs felt more lucky than dominant to me.

I will take a lucky win over a loss.

[Robz4000]

It doesn't make a difference. You can look bad and still win or you can lose. The Spurs won. Stop ing about that we know will be fixed in the playoffs. Stop acting like scrub teams are going to be anything other than doormats. The Spurs are struggling and picking up W's. The Warriors are struggling and picking up L's. The struggle is inevitable in an 82-game season. How you handle yourself while you're struggling is the key.

People aren't just pulling stuff out of their asses, but they are spending an awful long time harping on the things, and they're constantly doom-and-glooming every thread and then scattering like roaches when the Spurs win.

Still here tbh. Glad the Spurs got the win, but there are very serious flaws on display that have been apparent since the start of the season (and even beyond). Still pissed the Spurs didn't pick up a guard at the deadline, but I never expected them to make a move regardless. The drop-off in FT shooting since the start of the year is also alarming; not sure what can fix that. Only brightside is seeing the defense recover towards the end of the fourth/OT to get the W. Despite my earlier ing the D definitely looks better the past 10 games or so.