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GMAFB
YOU KNOW
was it?
GMAFB.
Last year it was Bowen who shut down Bosh.
GMAFB
YOU KNOW
was it?
I am all for the current Spurs big men doing well. I hope Elson finds his niche and is awesome.
I would like to see Oberto get in the mix too. And Rob will be ready when we need him.
Funny, of all the new additions I was most excited about Jackie Butler and now I am undecided about him.
Anyway, the Spurs will be all right as will Sho.
Might want to refresh your memory.
Rasho enrapturing: Center fuels lethargic win over Toronto
Web Posted: 12/24/2005 12:16 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
Gregg Popovich needed five seconds to list the positives from the Spurs' performance Friday night:
Winning is better than losing.
Rasho Nesterovic played well.
Aside from that, the Spurs' 95-90 victory over the Toronto Raptors elicited more incredulity than praise from their coach.
"It's a miracle," Popovich said, "we have the best record in the West."
While the Spurs improved to 21-6, they labored to put away the 6-21 Raptors, providing the SBC Center's sellout crowd more drama than it needed. Toronto shot 47.9 percent, won the rebounding battle 39-36 and scored 18 points off 15 turnovers by the Spurs.
Oh, and the Spurs missed 13 free throws.
In short, it wasn't the type of tune-up Popovich was seeking heading into the Christmas Day showdown with Detroit. Since losing Game7 of last season's NBA Finals to the Spurs, the Pistons have compiled the league's best record at 21-3.
"Those guys are playing the best basketball," Tim Duncan said. "This will be a great test for us at this time of the season."
The Spurs can only hope they play up to the level of their opponent as easily as they played down to it Friday. Duncan barely missed a triple-double with 27 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, but Popovich was more concerned with his inconsistent defense.
Aside from Nesterovic, who matched his season-high with 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds, "most everyone else was inconsistent and spotty," Popovich said.
With three of the Spurs' previous four opponents having shot at least 45 percent, Popovich expressed concern about his team's defense even before stepping onto the court. Friday's performance didn't do much to ease his worries.
The Raptors entered the game ranked 25th in the league in shooting but had no trouble finding their stroke against the Spurs. Were it not for their own porous defense and poor free-throw shooting, they might have left Texas with their second upset in three nights.
Jalen Rose scored 19 points off the bench for Toronto, making all but one of his nine shots. Forward Matt Bonner also gave the Spurs trouble by drawing Duncan away from the basket. He scored 11 points in the first half, four coming when Duncan fouled him on a 25-footer.
"We have some new guys, but I think the most frustrating part (of the defensive struggles) is from the guys that have been here a while," Bruce Bowen said. "If we continue to make mistakes, how is Pop going to use us as examples for the new guys?"
Fortunately for the Spurs, Toronto was equally unsuccessful in its attempts to contain Duncan.
The Spurs were still clinging to a 73-72 lead with less than 10 minutes remaining when Duncan gave them the push they needed. He tossed in a jump hook, watched Nick Van Exel pull up for a 22-footer on the break, then drove for a finger roll.
"They were double-teaming me a lot," Duncan said, "but I think they got a little jittery there and gave me a little space. And I got some shots to go down."
The sequence energized the Spurs. After having Chris Bosh snuff out his dunk attempt, Brent Barry hustled back on defense, batted away a pass from behind and saved the ball to Van Exel. Nesterovic put back a missed 3-pointer by Barry, then blocked Mike James' layup attempt, triggering a break that ended with a 24-footer by Bruce Bowen.
Bowen's 3-pointer stretched the Spurs' lead to 88-77 and sent the Raptors into a timeout with 3:44 remaining. Nesterovic's teammates bounced off the bench to congratulate him.
In addition to making five of eight shots, Nesterovic often defended Bosh, whose quickness posed problems.
"Obviously, that's not a cover you want," Popovich said, "but I thought (Nesterovic) did a darn good job."
Even still, the Raptors had a chance to draw within two points when James came up with a steal with 28.9 seconds left. His layup attempt, however, slid off the rim. Nesterovic was intentionally fouled after taking the rebound and made both free throws.
The Spurs walked off the floor with another victory. And much to improve.
"Thank God they don't start the playoffs tomorrow," Popovich said. "Or we'd be in big trouble."
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b....19903d16.html
Yeah too bad you've highlited about 2 out of 82 games, the other 80 he sucked ass.
The topic is playing against Toronto and Bosh. Sorry I made you guys look like fools.
Osucko had four fouls too, so why was he out there?elson had 4 fouls in 15 minutes, given more run he may have fouled out. no bigs played good but timmy.
What's wrong with Elson on Bosh? He's fast enough to keep up with the guy. If by fools, you mean everyone who isn't sucking off Rasho for his one good game last year is a fool, I guess we're all fools then.The topic is playing against Toronto and Bosh. Sorry I made you guys look like fools.
i'm pretty sure they put bowen on bosh in the 2nd half, namely 4th quarter and he shut him down. rasho may have defended him before that, but bowen was the one who locked him up towards the end of the game. (the second game in the series)
actually the topic is Francisco Elson and your stalkerness brought in Rasho.The topic is playing against Toronto and Bosh. Sorry I made you guys look like fools.
Your the fool.
i thought i remembered elson coming in and picking up 2 quick fouls in the first or second quarter, then horry was brought in. i think the center play will improve as the season goes on - the rotation will be juggled for the forseeable future until some sort of consistency is shown. none of these guys have seen major minutes at the 5 in the spurs system, and it will take a while for everyone to settle in. (and i know oberto was here last year so spare me that comment)
Bowen is who they used in Toronto to shut down Bosh in the fourth quarter and OT when Duncan was out with the flu. He lit up Rasho the rest of the game.
ploto has no objectivity and precious little credibility on the subject of Rasho.
You mean the game where the score was tied with less than a minute to go in the fourth quarter and Rasho had the put back dunk to give the Spurs the lead.
Yeah, that fits in well with the topic of defense on Bosh.
Like I said, no credibility.
So you want Bowen on Bosh- then who covers Anthony Parker?
We don't need Bowen on Bosh now. We've got a center who won't sleepwalk through the game.
Once again, topic is Francisco Elson, and we said, Elson can guard Bosh.
MOVE ON. LET GO!!!!!!!!!!!!
So Oberto on Bosh then?
Do you have, zero, reading comprehension?
Give pluto a break. It must be hard to lose Rasho and planetary status all in a matter of months.
Let's see. In March the awful Raptors played the Nuggets and Elson played all of 13 minutes with 4 fouls, 1 rebound and 4 points while Bosh had 18 points and 15 rebounds. Looks like a good choice.
We need Nazr back.
I thought Rasho had planetary status.
Tim will probably guard Bosh to start the game. He doesn't need to guard Rasho.
Let's see. In March the awful Raptors played the Nuggets and Elson played all of 13 minutes with 4 fouls, 1 rebound and 4 points while Bosh had 18 points and 15 rebounds. Looks like a good choice
Time to go to bed and hug the Rasho jock strap.
Spurs are always afraid he will get in foul trouble. That is why I asked a valid question when I entered this thread. With this starting line-up, you are left with Oberto on Bosh.
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