Game Thoughts: Spurs vs. Hornets Feb. 23

[dbreiden83080]

It really is amazing with Manu just how deadly he has become from 3pt range. His jumpshot is so good anymore. People back off him and he makes them pay with incredible regularity these days.

[Kori Ellis]

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.

The literally meaning of what he orginally wrote without any explanation doesn't mean that Manu sucked in last year's playoffs.

But whatever...

[MaNuMaNiAc]

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.

I think this post has finally convinced me Timvp is right about the CoM...

How in God's green earth can you interpret this...

-Speaking of dominant, that’s one of the many words you can use right now when describing Manu Ginobili. The guy is just on fire beyond description. In 37 minutes, Ginobili had 30 points, a career-high 12 assists, six rebounds and a steal, while shooting 10-for-18 from the field. His playmaking this game was incredible. I’m running out of things to say about Ginobili. 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. If he can continue this level of play, the Spurs are going to be extremely dangerous once the real season begins.

As anything BUT complimentary?? ing ridiculous

[2centsworth]

Compared to how he’s playing now,

if that was in the original analysis when I first read it, and then I owe a big apology. I read it from my blackberry and didn't read that at all, but if it was there I was wrong.

[SpurYank]

timvp, I love reading your critiques. They tell me you know a lot about pro-basketball and the NBA. The one thing I never read in your analyses is about (somehow) giving the opposing team, and players, any credit. Let me give you an example. I'm not sure you mentioned it, but others have since the game from last night ended. "I was disappointed the Spurs let down and let the Hornets go on a run." Excuse me, but Chris Paul and David West can probably go on a run when they want to, no matter how the Spurs feel about it. Manu, Tim, everyone, can play the best defense they know, and the Hornets (and most teams in the NBA) can go on runs whether we like it or not.

Bottom line, how about giving the opposition some credit for putting up a good fight, and not saying that we "let them?"

[SpurYank]

Oh yeah, and I don't mean this to be sarcastic, your critiques seem to require perfection in order to get an A. Are you, in your line of work?

The Spurs give me and my family a lot of thrills, even if we are almost 2000 miles away. And that's win or lose. I've been a fan since Dallas disowned them more than 35 years ago. I've never been disappointed.

[roycrikside]

You could've phrased it better, that's all I'm saying. You can't throw the word "sucked" around, in any context and expect it to not have a negative connotation. In fact, I don't even understand the need to reference the last playoffs at all.

Sorry, but you're too smart to not understand what you're doing as a writer and I call shenanigans on it. I mean, if you want to take it to the nth degree, you could've just as easily written, "Manu's playing so spectacularly now, that he doesn't remind me at all of the player who fouled Dirk in Game 7 of the 2006 semis."

You can make the exact same argument and say, "What? What did I do wrong? I was nothing but complimentary of the current Ginobili..."

C'mon dude, you're better than that... Aren't you?

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

roy - There is NO WAY that timvp was slating Manu in any way. Let it go.

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.

Yeah, last time the teams played the Hornets set double screens out near, or even beyond, the three-pt line on just about every possession. I remember you being amazed that the Spurs couldn't work out how to defend it.

No such problem last night.

[smeagol]

timvp is a Manu hater.

We all know that. rascal is just one of his trolls . . .

[The Truth #6]

I think in the context of praising Manu by saying he's playing the best of anyone in the NBA right now it was pretty clear what his analogy implied.

As for not giving the other team credit - I think you may have a point generally but not in this case at all. The Spurs went into one of their typical droughts and just couldn't score. We tightened up completely and couldn't hit a shot. NO is a solid team but they weren't shutting us down by any stretch during their 18-0 run.

[MaNuMaNiAc]

You could've phrased it better, that's all I'm saying. You can't throw the word "sucked" around, in any context and expect it to not have a negative connotation. In fact, I don't even understand the need to reference the last playoffs at all.

Sorry, but you're too smart to not understand what you're doing as a writer and I call shenanigans on it. I mean, if you want to take it to the nth degree, you could've just as easily written, "Manu's playing so spectacularly now, that he doesn't remind me at all of the player who fouled Dirk in Game 7 of the 2006 semis."

You can make the exact same argument and say, "What? What did I do wrong? I was nothing but complimentary of the current Ginobili..."

C'mon dude, you're better than that... Aren't you?

Are you ting me? The comparison was clearly meant to emphasize how good Ginobili has been playing now. In the sense that as good as Manu performed last playoffs, he still doesn't come close to the way he's been playing now. Get it?? Its not so hard.

[2centsworth]

I'm majorily backpeddling right now. I think I should wear a dunce hat for a day. Roy should wear one for a week. Atleast I have the blackberry excuse.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

I'm majorily backpeddling right now. I think I should wear a dunce hat for a day. Roy should wear one for a week. Atleast I have the blackberry excuse.

It's a credit to you to readily admit a mistake though... most people around here find that very difficult.

[T Park]

Yeah like me :Lol

No but TIMVP is one of the biggest Manu fans out there.

Hes not afraid though to call Manu out though when he plays bad.

[roycrikside]

Are you ting me? The comparison was clearly meant to emphasize how good Ginobili has been playing now. In the sense that as good as Manu performed last playoffs, he still doesn't come close to the way he's been playing now. Get it?? Its not so hard.

If he wrote it exactly that way, I wouldn't have said anything. You throw the word "sucked" around, it's different. Please, give me a little credit. I know how to read and I know exactly what he meant. I'm just saying the choice of phrasing was poor. No professional writer would disagree with me.

If you want to emphasize how good somebody is playing by comparing it to something else, it makes more sense to compare it to something else that was equally positive, instead of comparing it to something where the other thing is put down...

Why not just say, "He's playing like Michael Jordan in his prime right now?" That compliments the current thing and doesn't take away from the past thing. That's how you actually compliment something. It's pretty simple.

Maybe the best way I can explain it to you is to get away from basketball. Suppose you saw Tony Parker on the street and wanted to compliment him on his wife. Would you say, "Man Tony, Eva is so beautiful. Your last girlfriend must look like a dog compared to her?"

I'm guessing not, and Tony would be rightly offended. It's the same principle, you're complimenting the current thing by insulting a past thing in comparison. It's just not a very intelligent way to write.

[MaNuMaNiAc]

I'm majorily backpeddling right now. I think I should wear a dunce hat for a day. Roy should wear one for a week. Atleast I have the blackberry excuse.

Anybody makes mistakes. Roy over there is just letting his ego do his typing, is all

[2centsworth]

If he wrote it exactly that way, I wouldn't have said anything. You throw the word "sucked" around, it's different. Please, give me a little credit. I know how to read and I know exactly what he meant. I'm just saying the choice of phrasing was poor. No professional writer would disagree with me.

If you want to emphasize how good somebody is playing by comparing it to something else, it makes more sense to compare it to something else that was equally positive, instead of comparing it to something where the other thing is put down...

Why not just say, "He's playing like Michael Jordan in his prime right now?" That compliments the current thing and doesn't take away from the past thing. That's how you actually compliment something. It's pretty simple.

Maybe the best way I can explain it to you is to get away from basketball. Suppose you saw Tony Parker on the street and wanted to compliment him on his wife. Would you say, "Man Tony, Eva is so beautiful. Your last girlfriend must look like a dog compared to her?"

I'm guessing not, and Tony would be rightly offended. It's the same principle, you're complimenting the current thing by insulting a past thing in comparison. It's just not a very intelligent way to write.

that should have been your original reply. Instead, we went off of the dude.

[2centsworth]

Yeah like me :Lol

No but TIMVP is one of the biggest Manu fans out there.

Hes not afraid though to call Manu out though when he plays bad.

i was one of the leaders in calling out Manu when he played poorly in last years playoffs. I'm far from an apologist, but I'm certainly a huge fan of the dude since his first game with the spurs.

[spurster]

I think what timvp was trying to say was that Manu was sloughing off during the playoffs last year. Now we see that Manu has finally decided to play basketball instead of feeling sorry for himself about the low-ball contract he signed with the Spurs.

Now I will duck for cover.

[MaNuMaNiAc]

I think what timvp was trying to say was that Manu was sloughing off during the playoffs last year. Now we see that Manu has finally decided to play basketball instead of feeling sorry for himself about the low-ball contract he signed with the Spurs.

Now I will duck for cover.

*readies gatling gun and aims*

[2centsworth]

Let me set the record straight. Manu had a very good playoffs last year, and sometime spectacular playoffs, except for the first round and a couple of games against the Suns where he was brutal for Manu standards.

Quick look at Manu's Efficiency ratings goes like this.

1st round- Tim 25, TP 16, Manu 13
2nd round- Tim 32, Manu 21, TP 16
3rd round- Tim 25, Manu 17, TP 17
Finals- Tim 23, TP 20, Manu 16

[Agloco]

......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........

Believe.

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

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.

My favorite is when he puts together sequencese, grabbing that handed rebounded out of nowhere, and then going coast to coast to draw the foul in the last minutes of the fourth quarter.

[bigfundamental21]

Another great analysis Timvp. Thanks for always sharing your thoughts.

The story of the game once again was Manu Ginobili. The Argentine superstar is playing better than a superstar. In fact, he’s the best player in the NBA right now. By far.

Manu was unbelievable once again. I just hope he can continue to play with such a high level of intensity. And that he remains injury-free. He is unstoppable right now.

-Tim Duncan had a very impressive outing. He has played very well of late overall and if he can stay healthy, there’s no reason why he can’t have his most dominant playoff run of his life.

Timmy is playing like he really wants the repeat. He is quietly dominant as usual, but has been so consistent. He is really crashing the boards and with the addition of Thomas, I hope that we will have two guys averaging double digits in rebounds. I hope your prediction of Tim's dominance comes to fruition.

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

I can't believe how much flak you are getting for this one line. I completely agree that Manu has taken his game to an entirely different level and that if you compare how he is playing now to how he played in the playoffs last year, there is just no comparison. Manu had a few great games here and there, but not back to back to back great games. I don't know if Pop will be able to put him back on the bench the way he is playing.

-Tony Parker got the start and looked healthy. He didn’t play well but the most important thing right now is his health... but he seemed to get tired as the game went along. Hopefully he can regain his form at some point in the next week or so.

Yeah, all the time off has affected him. He was not pushing the ball up the court like usual and seemed tentative to attack the basket. But that will come with time as he works himself back into game shape.

-Bruce Bowen reminded Peja Stojakovic that Bowen owns him. Bowen held Stojakovic scoreless until there were eight and half minutes left in the third quarter.

Bruce always shows up with solid D when it matters most. He shines when he plays people like Peja, Kobe, or Ray Allen.

-Robert Horry led the bench players in minutes and played one of his better games of the season. In 22 minutes, Horry had seven points and three rebounds. Two of his points came on a thunderous two-handed dunk that Horry must have pulled out of a time machine.

That dunk was a huge surprise. I think he even surprised himself.

-Michael Finley only played 11 minutes and went 1-for-5 from the floor. I’m not sure if he was injured or was just having a bad night but he appeared to be a step slow. Hopefully it’s not an injury because Finley has been playing very well as of late.

I think Finley's reduction in minutes is mainly due to Manu's success. How can you take out the best player when he is completely torching everyone. Plus, Bowen had to stay in to guard Peja. So, Finley didn't get a lot of PT. I am sure he is fine, but he may have to come off the bench for a while if Manu continues to play possessed.

-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.

Playing Duncan and Ginobili 38 and 37 minutes respectively is a questionable strategy but I guess we’ll see if either player wears down as the season progresses. Right now, Duncan and Ginobili seem to have responded favorably to the extended minutes.

I am also worried about the extended minutes for Tim and Manu. But they are basically carrying the team right now. Hopefully, as Tony works back into game shape, we can get back to the regular rotation.

[greens]

I also noticed that the Timmy/Manu chemistry was especially off the charts in the game...The Manu assists to Timmy for his dunks...and then Timmy throwing that long pass for a Manu 3...

The whole team seemed more energized! And how good was the pass from Tony to Bruce for a 3 late in the fourth quarter!