Game Thoughts: Spurs vs. Hornets Feb. 23

[foodie2]

-Kurt Thomas didn’t play but while on the bench, the Spurs explained the rule to him about not leaving the bench if a fight breaks out. It was the first time Thomas had heard of the rule.

This was classic.

[wildchild]

Thanks TIMVP your post are better than sunday's newspaper, anyhow some comments.

1. I seee a great team play effort, by stats we can see we did a great game, many players doing good thing here and there.

2. Besides that another comments quoting you.




This guy is amazing, he's playing very well lately, even from FT's line (the only stat he could improve).




What about his ...

In another Manunight, many manumoments happens, manuratio was good from the field, manuassists make step up his manumates, Manu also make some manusteals and decent manurebounds.



I do agree even if he needs more time, we could send him home for 3/4 days more, TP would importante in closed games later in the season.




Old Bruce is making things happen



Not so bad

About new kids on the block I'd like to see a second unit playing, let's say...

Bonner Thomas Damon Udoka Finley

For the rest ... I can't wait for your next recap!

and Rob? Don't forget Rob!

Rob Kurt Damon Ime Mike pretty nice!

[SAGambler]

Did anyone else notice the lack of "whining" about calls last night? Damn impressive. I guess Pop has finally told them to shut up and get back on D instead of arguing the call.

Props to all the guys last night. There is just not any adjetives left to describe Manu, and I can hardly wait for Thurs night to see if Barkley has jumped back on the Spurs wagon.

I think the only thing that kept this one from being a blowout, was that stupid 3 they let Paul sit out there and shoot at the end of the third. If someone goes down and makes him pick the ball up early, that doesn't happen, and I think the Spurs win by 20 or more.

Anyway, it was nice to get the "revenge game" in our corner, and after Houston giving them a whipping Friday night, the Hornets may now have returned to being the Honey Bees.

I predicted they would slide,once the 2nd half of the season began. Teams are playing them a whole lot tougher. I think at least 5 or 6 teams in the West will step it up a notch now, while the Honey Bees may have played up to their full potential the first half of the season. I suspect in a couple of weeks or so, they may be struggleing to be there at the end.

[SAGambler]

I disagree with you on Tony looking healthy... Go back and watch the game again and look how how many times he pulled the ball out on a 1 on 2 or 3 situation.

Healthy Tony takes that ball to the rack every time.

I realize that Chandler is a beast under there as a shotblocker... but many of the times he pulled up were without Chandler in the game.

Oh, I think TP is healthy, he just isn't in any kind of game shape. But he has been relegated to sitting around for 3 weeks, so it's understandable he is going to have to work to get back in the shape he needs to be in. I think pulling the ball back out may have been more to catch his breath than anything else.

[T Park]

Parker is healthy, that was evident when he did take it to the rack.

Hes just not 100% game ready.

That comes in time.

I've got a feeling he will have one of his vintage Parker nights against the Mavericks.

If Parker plays agressive and shoots well, the Hornets don't even get close.

Folks you want something to get excited about? Last night, while the Hornets made their run, imagine if the run could be stopped, offensively, when Thomas and if Barry comes back, could play.

Barry taking pressure off guys on the outside, and Thomas with his decent post game, and great outside jumper.

Im telling ya, Thomas is a better offensive player than people give him credit for.

The Spurs days of not having an offensive low post guy in the game when Duncan goes out are over.

[The Truth #6]

In 2005 playoffs he got to the rim anyway and anytime he wanted. It was unbelievably dominant. Now, he's been completely dominant from behind the arc. It's a different look. Equally as impressive.

His tenacity in the last few minutes was insane. I can't think of very many players who want to win as much and do as much to make it happen.

[Herschel Walker]

I disagree with you on Tony looking healthy... Go back and watch the game again and look how how many times he pulled the ball out on a 1 on 2 or 3 situation.

Healthy Tony takes that ball to the rack every time.

I realize that Chandler is a beast under there as a shotblocker... but many of the times he pulled up were without Chandler in the game.

That's more Parker not being in game shape and not being in the flow yet. The times he did take it strong he looked better than before he sat, which is a good sign. Still a ways to go before he feels comfortable again

[2centsworth]

Like I said earlier, he’s by far the best player in the NBA right now. Compared to how he’s playing now, Ginobili sucked last year in the playoffs.<<

This is an unfair statement. Yeah, maybe Manu wasn't as hot shooting the ball last playoffs, but the rest of his game was as good, if not better. He consistently came up big on the road for the Spurs, in Games 3 and 4 at Denver, Game 5 at Phoenix, Game 4 at Utah, and Game 4 at Cleveland. He was arguably their best player in the Finals, all things considered, and had one stretch of games where he had three double-doubles in a row. Heck, he ended the Suns series with like a 33-11-6 or something line in Game 6.

Manu might not have dominated the games from start to finish, but he was as clutch as clutch gets last playoffs and it's a shame that the only details you remember are Tony Parker holding the Finals MVP trophy and the stupid DVD the NBA put out.

It's sad that when Ginobili has one of the finest games of his career you still have to throw a "yeah but" in there. Why can't you just accept it for what it is, a really hot stretch by a very talented, hungry player? You sound like Ducks or Sequ and it's pathetic how you emphasize the negative. I swear I was just waiting for you to mention the play where he lost Pargo for a backdoor lay-up.

You know what has me bat worried? Manu is playing as well as he possibly can and the Spurs are squeaking games out. THAT's what you should be focusing on. Instead of writing how Manu so-called "sucked" last playoffs, maybe you should worry more about how Parker is sucking right now.

Stop excusing his play by saying at least he's healthy now. He's playing exactly the way he was before Pop sat him for nine games: He can't ing shoot, he's not getting nearly as many lay-ups as he used to, his defense is completely non-existent to the point where he gives up on any and all screens and he's not being very aggressive on either end of the floor.

Pop has to do something to get him to wake the up and get back to playing like Tony Parker. Either he has to bench him or Manu, because right now Manu has been too successful, too much has happened, and when he's on the court, Manu is getting the lion's share of the plays and the touches. Tony can't play effectively that way and he becomes tentative.

Maybe the burden of being a scorer and facilitator has fried Tony's circuits and he's overwhelmed. Maybe he should ride the pine for a while and look to come in and be the energy guy and just score. Either that or go back to how things were. I don't like the big three starting at the same time because all it does is either diminish Tony or Manu's effectiveness (depending on how hot the other guy is) and ruin our bench. Especially with no Brent now, we need a bench scorer.

this is an excellent post. To say ginobilli sucked last year in the playoffs just destroys TIMVPs credibiliry when it comes to Manu. I cant agrEe with ur tony také because tony is a great player, but it's going to také him time. Manu had some sucky moments last yr, but stepped up when the spurs had to have it.

[Kori Ellis]

I disagree with you on Tony looking healthy... Go back and watch the game again and look how how many times he pulled the ball out on a 1 on 2 or 3 situation.

Healthy Tony takes that ball to the rack every time.

I think he looked healthy but not in game shape. There's a big difference.

[Kori Ellis]

this is an excellent post. To say ginobilli sucked last year in the playoffs just destroys TIMVPs credibiliry when it comes to Manu.

I guess you misread too.

Compared to how he’s playing now, Ginobili sucked last year in the playoffs.

That sentence doesn't mean he sucked in last year's playoffs.

If he averaged 30 and 10 in last year's playoffs. And now, he averaged 50 and 20, then compared to how he’s playing now, Ginobili sucked last year in the playoffs.

I expected the reaction from roycrikside, considering who he is and how he hates timvp, but not you.

[timvp]

this is an excellent post. To say ginobilli sucked last year in the playoffs just destroys TIMVPs credibiliry when it comes to Manu.

Read the line again. Here, let me try it again in language even the CoM can understand:

Like I said earlier, he’s by far the best player in the NBA right now. Compared to how Manu Ginobili is playing right now, Tony Parker sucked in the playoffs last year. Compared to how Manu Ginobili is playing right now, Tim Duncan has had a horrible season. Compared to how Manu Ginobili is playing right now, Bruce Bowen shouldn't even be allowed to play basketball.

Better?

And for the record, I thought Ginobili played well last year in the playoffs. When the Spurs needed him most, he was there to deliver. Sure he had a couple tough games but overall he was still really good. Nobody could have watched Manu in the playoffs last year and say he sucked.

[robino2001]

Last nights game was the most relaxed I've seen the team all season in pregame - everyone's just screwing around with each other. You got the sense that they were all ready to take care of business, but were ready to enjoy the out of doing it.

The main thing I took away from last night - if Bonzi gets as much playing time with NO as he did last night, the Hornets will miss the playoffs. His at ude has already rubbed off on NO and I think he's going to wreck the chemistry on the team. I've never thought as Paul to be thugish (maybe I haven't watched him enough), but once Bonzi came in - Paul pretty much was a thug. After the one 3 pointer Paul hit, he stood there and stared down Pop. Seriously, who does that? He stared him down a couple of more times after shots... can that be a good move for his career?

Anyways, so maybe NO won't miss the playoffs with Bonzi - but if last night is any indication, their team got worse with Bonzi's addition unless Byron is able to reign him in quite a bit (and I don't think he can).

[picnroll]

Compared to how Manu is playing right now Elson should have been euthanized last year.

[td4mvp21]

Parker is healthy, that was evident when he did take it to the rack.

Hes just not 100% game ready.

That comes in time.

I've got a feeling he will have one of his vintage Parker nights against the Mavericks.

He's going to have to, I'm willing to bet Avery is going to focus the defense on Ginobili that game. Parker/Duncan/role players are going to need to bring their A game.

[Dex]

-Kurt Thomas didn’t play but while on the bench, the Spurs explained the rule to him about not leaving the bench if a fight breaks out. It was the first time Thomas had heard of the rule.

[Ghost Writer]

Huge win.

Let's use remaining games to work out kinks and then after March tighten up the playoff rotation.

[1Parker1]

Let's see if Manu can continue this dominance in the playoffs...he's peaking too early


[/Church of Parker]

[polandprzem]

I guess you misread too.

Excactly what I wanted to write.


As usual I am concerned that manu is playing so great so early. It is not a playoff time yet and players like to have ups and downs during the season.

The minutes Pop is giving them is not a problem. At least they will be prepared to the intensive playoff games and I think Pop will decrease their minutes in the middle or at the end of March.


Waiting for a wing.

We do not have much offens when Fin is struggling so Pop decided to turn to Damon who can hit some jumpers. Voughn can't.

I'm tellin ya - the spurs rides are realy fun to watch. So many things happening that is insaine. I just love it.

[timvp]

Did anyone else notice the lack of "whining" about calls last night? Damn impressive. I guess Pop has finally told them to shut up and get back on D instead of arguing the call.

Yeah, I was impressed by that too. The whining was about 10% of what it usually was earlier in the season. The Spurs play like a machine when they just play basketball and don't worry about the refs.

After the one 3 pointer Paul hit, he stood there and stared down Pop. Seriously, who does that? He stared him down a couple of more times after shots... can that be a good move for his career?

Thanks for bringing this up. I forgot to mention it.

The last time the two teams played, the Spurs tried to trap the pick-and-rolls and Paul just destroyed the Spurs. He's just too quick for the trap to be effective. You trap Paul and he'll either still get to the rim or find the open player.

What the Spurs did this game is go under the pick-and-rolls and turn Paul into a shooter. That's why his shot attempts were so high and his assists were so low. If the Hornets were going to beat the Spurs, Pop decided that Paul was going to do so on his jumper.

And yeah, apparently Paul didn't appreciate the Spurs disrespecting his jumper. Although he probably would have been better served by hitting more jumpers instead of getting pissed at Pop.

Paul is a high intensity player ... it's not really thuggish. He just wears his emotions on his sleeve and does anything he can to win. He's basically the point guard version of Kevin Garnett in that regard.

[myhc]

The main thing I took away from last night - if Bonzi gets as much playing time with NO as he did last night, the Hornets will miss the playoffs. His at ude has already rubbed off on NO and I think he's going to wreck the chemistry on the team. I've never thought as Paul to be thugish (maybe I haven't watched him enough), but once Bonzi came in - Paul pretty much was a thug. After the one 3 pointer Paul hit, he stood there and stared down Pop. Seriously, who does that? He stared him down a couple of more times after shots... can that be a good move for his career?

Anyways, so maybe NO won't miss the playoffs with Bonzi - but if last night is any indication, their team got worse with Bonzi's addition unless Byron is able to reign him in quite a bit (and I don't think he can).

It's not Bonzi. Living on the east coast in the middle of ACC country, I've seen my share of Wake Forest games and I've seen him act like a thug before. Dude acts all innocent but he's got a dirty side to him. He got suspended for hitting a guy below the belt. Great player but I'm not a fan.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2007240

[myhc]

oh and timvp. excellent recap as usual.....except hold off on the manu bashing, he's playing great.

[phxspurfan]

-Kurt Thomas didn’t play but while on the bench, the Spurs explained the rule to him about not leaving the bench if a fight breaks out. It was the first time Thomas had heard of the rule.

cute...

[Athenea]

It's not Bonzi. Living on the east coast in the middle of ACC country, I've seen my share of Wake Forest games and I've seen him act like a thug before. Dude acts all innocent but he's got a dirty side to him. He got suspended for hitting a guy below the belt. Great player but I'm not a fan.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2007240

Tnx. I was trying to remember the incident some other poster told me after yesterday's game.

[Athenea]

Like I said earlier, he’s by far the best player in the NBA right now. Compared to how he’s playing now, Ginobili sucked last year in the playoffs.<<

This is an unfair statement (....)

It's sad that when Ginobili has one of the finest games of his career you still have to throw a "yeah but" in there. Why can't you just accept it for what it is, a really hot stretch by a very talented, hungry player? You sound like Ducks or Sequ and it's pathetic how you emphasize the negative. I swear I was just waiting for you to mention the play where he lost Pargo for a backdoor lay-up.

You know what has me bat worried? Manu is playing as well as he possibly can and the Spurs are squeaking games out. THAT's what you should be focusing on. Instead of writing how Manu so-called "sucked" last playoffs, maybe you should worry more about how Parker is sucking right now.

I couldn't agree more.
But u know the guy has different measure sticks for diff players.

[2centsworth]

I guess you misread too.

i didn't misread. he just added whatever he did in green to make clear what he meant, but the literally meaning of what he wrote read exactly the way I interpreted.

people who know him better may have been able to know what he really meant.