Game Blog: Spurs vs Jazz -- Game 4 (May 7, 7 PM CST, FSSW/TNT)

[ace3g]

SALT LAKE CITY — Coaches torture themselves over success, and Gregg Popovich has been lately. He’s been wondering out loud among his staff that, well, wouldn’t it be better to lose a game?

“That’s why,” one of his assistants kidded him, “you are coach of the year.”

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursna...s-dream-night/

[DrSteffo]

Too easy Props to the Team.

[PublicOption]

Jazz were being hyper-aggressive and the refs were letting them get away with it. They didn't realize the series was over.

the refs are trying to figure out how to stop/slow down the spurs with their whistles and swallowing their whistles.

I see what their doing.

[PublicOption]

One thing the Spurs are going to have to figure out in the next week is what to do about bringing up the ball when TP is resting. You could argue Neal should never be out there alone without Manu, but if I'm an opposing coach I put pressure on Neal every time Tony is on the bench and he is responsible for getting the Spurs into offensive sets. Apparently Mills isn't an option, but this is the only glaring weakness coming out of the series.

Its really no a weakness, Pop just isn't playing Mills.............he will.

[Obstructed_View]

Manu failed to get the ball over the half court line in 8 seconds?

Replay shows that the clock started early. Manu got the inbounds pass with 21 seconds to go. I know it doesn't matter now, but FYI.

[TampaDude]

1. Build a 21-point lead in the 4th.
2. Basically fart around for about 6 minutes.
3. Win anyway.

[ace3g]

Brian T. Smith ‏ @tribjazz

Corbin said it was his decision not to play Raja Bell during playoffs and "on him."

Corbin said he's open to having Jerry Sloan help team out during future in any way he wants. Great to have Sloan back at ESA.

Raja Bell said during playoffs, referees and #Spurs coaches/players asked why he wasn't playing. They never understood what Jazz were doing.

--

and another one of these type of tweets...

Steve Luhm ‏ @sluhm

Thing I least like about the likable Spurs: Stephen Jackson and Boris Diaw being rewarded for quitting on previous coaches, teammates.

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Diaw never quit, his coach in Charlotte wanted him to be a 20 ppg player, never been that type of player, and benched him for not shooting enough.

[Obstructed_View]

Charlotte wanted Diaw to be able to shoot 50 percent like he did when he was with Phoenix, but they wanted him to do it as the first option surrounded by D League talent. He actually improved on the previous year's numbers. Not sure where the quit is in that, as Charlotte are the ones that decided to start hoarding ping pong balls.

Skiles suddenly started benching Jack in Milwaukee. There's zero evidence that Jack ever quit on anyone. Brandon Jennings will probably leave because he didn't agree with the decision not to let Jack into the games when they were struggling. I still have no ing clue why the Warriors fans booed Jack, but it can't possibly have anything to do with this season unless they really hate RJ as much as San Antonio does.

[Mel_13]

Charlotte wanted Diaw to be able to shoot 50 percent like he did when he was with Phoenix, but they wanted him to do it as the first option surrounded by D League talent. He actually improved on the previous year's numbers. Not sure where the quit is in that, as Charlotte are the ones that decided to start hoarding ping pong balls.

Skiles suddenly started benching Jack in Milwaukee. There's zero evidence that Jack ever quit on anyone. Brandon Jennings will probably leave because he didn't agree with the decision not to let Jack into the games when they were struggling. I still have no ing clue why the Warriors fans booed Jack, but it can't possibly have anything to do with this season unless they really hate RJ as much as San Antonio does.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4636820

[therealtruth]

Isn't anyone going to give Stephen Jackson some love? Because I think there was a good possibility that the Spurs lose this one, or at least go to OT, if not for that steal he made happen with 24 seconds left. The lead was down to 4 points, the Jazz had the ball. They had been scoring almost at will, and the Spurs' offense couldn't make a shot if their lives depended on it.

Tony caught the ball and hit Manu for the uncontested basket. But it was Jackson who knocked the ball loose. If not for that, the Jazz very likely would have gotten it down to a 2 point game, with plenty of time left.

I know you can't really credit a win to one play, any more than you can blame a loss on one missed shot. But you can sure as say that Jackson sealed the win with that one play. He deserves some props for it.

It's called not being afraid of the moment. RJ showed it at times (I remember he hit a clutch 3 earlier in the year against the Jazz). However SJax is permanently in that mode.

[Obstructed_View]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4636820

Uh...as I said, I have no ing clue why the Warriors fans would boo Jack, though they seem to have an unfortunate need to boo someone other than their ing team this year.

[Mel_13]

Uh...as I said, I have no ing clue why the Warriors fans would boo Jack

Seems obvious to me.