Spurs vs. Suns Game 1 - Grades

[timvp]

Timvp and Kori expect more from Elson.

I have no expectations for Elson. Whatever he gives is a plus. I would just like to see him help more than he hurts.

Almost every game in the first round people said I gave him too high of a grade. Go back and check.

But yeah next time I'll remember that two points, two rebounds, two turnovers and three fouls while being guarded by a shooting guard is an A+.

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

Actually, I'm perfectly happy the way it is. I'd have no complaints if ParkerBasket become best of fwiendz.

me too.

I need to put one of my Tim_Tony, best of fwiendz pic in my sig some time. .

[Obstructed_View]

I have no expectations for Elson. Whatever he gives is a plus. I would just like to see him help more than he hurts.

Almost every game in the first round people said I gave him too high of a grade. Go back and check.

But yeah next time I'll remember that two points, two rebounds, two turnovers and three fouls while being guarded by a shooting guard is an A+.

Hey, don't get all bent out of shape about it. You gave him a lower grade than Oberto and Elson played better. You routinely ignore Horry's defensive lapses, and routinely blame Elson for any score while he's on the floor. When Elson produces numbers, you point to his bad rotations. When he rotates well, you point to his numbers. Since Rasho and Nazr deserved to be benched last year in your eyes, you should be doing jumping jacks that Elson can stay on the floor for any length of time.

[Obstructed_View]

. I wasn't going to respond until I re-watched the game. Sorry.

[MannyIsGod]

Odder than thinking that Shawn Marion can stop........Tony Parker?

That for me is one of the dumbest things I've ever seen. Marion's only advantadge is length but if you give Tony the amount of area from the top of the key to the rim he's length is never going to be an issue because Tony is always going to blow past him.

You saw it time and time again - Tony would simply back him up and blow past him. I loved it.

But it also screws the Suns because it moves Marion out of rebounding range and that really hurts them on the boards. Marion is flat out pathetic and nearly useless against the Spurs.

[MannyIsGod]

I don't know .... I've never seen Bell on Parker in Bell's career. But with the way a bigger player has to guard Parker (back off and put a hand up on jumpers), I'd imagine Marion is their best option.

If D'Antoni gives up on that way of guarding Parker, Barbosa is probably their best option. But then again, no one has ever accused Barbosa of being a defensive stopper.

Raja Bell was guarding Parker in most of their games last year.

[Obstructed_View]

That for me is one of the dumbest things I've ever seen. Marion's only advantadge is length but if you give Tony the amount of area from the top of the key to the rim he's length is never going to be an issue because Tony is always going to blow past him.

You saw it time and time again - Tony would simply back him up and blow past him. I loved it.

But it also screws the Suns because it moves Marion out of rebounding range and that really hurts them on the boards. Marion is flat out pathetic and nearly useless against the Spurs.

Nash did the same to Bowen on the other end, though. I hope they make that adjustment.

[timvp]

Hey, don't get all bent out of shape about it. You gave him a lower grade than Oberto and Elson played better. You routinely ignore Horry's defensive lapses, and routinely blame Elson for any score while he's on the floor. When Elson produces numbers, you point to his bad rotations. When he rotates well, you point to his numbers. Since Rasho and Nazr deserved to be benched last year in your eyes, you should be doing jumping jacks that Elson can stay on the floor for any length of time.

You give Elson too much credit. Yes, this was his best game, but he couldn't possibly have regressed any further.

Most of the grades were pretty on. (Elson's might have been too high.)

you give duncan a b+ while elson did jack gets a b?

Elson: C. Good grade for him, but still making the bone-headed fouls and not playing smart ball. Oh well, he didn't -hurt- us tonight at least.

I felt Elson's score should have been a C at best due to his defensive shortcomings, i.e. losing his man under the basket for a couple of easy dunks. A few nice rebounds keep Elson from the D range. .

Elson had cold heart last night.
I like more Horry and Oberto in this series.

Elson still getting a decent grade? IMO, he was horrible throughout the game.

Literally every game I've written grades, people have come in to say I've graded Elson too kindly. No one (outside of you and T Park) has ever said he played better than I give him credit for. The ratio is like 25 to 1 in favor of people who say Elson played worse than his grade.

But yeah, go watch the game again and take off the Elson homer glasses. I've been overly understanding of his shortcomings this playoffs.

[Obstructed_View]

Funny that you get so in' defensive about it. You know you don't like him. You haven't all year long. It's okay to admit it. There are other people that hate him too. Wow. What a revelation. He gets a big block, and you criticize him for swatting it out of bounds instead of tapping it to a teammate. Seriously, dude, you sound like ducks.

[aaronstampler]

I think one adjustment we'll have to make in Game 2 is putting Bowen back on Marion and letting Tony guard Nash as best as he can. After the way Game 1 ended with Nash bleeding and missing the last couple of minutes (though it wasn't anyone's fault) and all the D'Antoni whining afterward, I think the Suns will get a ton of calls in Game 2. Really, this is supposed to be the best series of the playoffs, so I doubt Stern will want it to be over in just four or five games.

I think if we keep Bowen on Nash, he's going to be whistled for a bunch of cheap fouls, and quickly. If we keep Parker on Nash, he'll play him less physically and will have a chance to stay in the game. Besides, Bowen didn't do a very good job on Nash today anyway, which surprised me. Let's just put him on Marion and completely take Shawn out of the game.

We're pretty much going to have to play a perfect game in Game 2 to win because I think the zebras will make it pretty lopsided. Still, I'm excited with the win today and even more excited that the championship is now on our racquet. As long as we don't lose another home game, it's ours.

[timvp]

Funny that you get so in' defensive about it. You know you don't like him. You haven't all year long. It's okay to admit it. There are other people that hate him too. Wow. What a revelation. He gets a big block, and you criticize him for swatting it out of bounds instead of tapping it to a teammate. Seriously, dude, you sound like ducks.

Get refuel Elson make shooters CIA block dunk wow me Spurs Lebraun.

[Obstructed_View]

Get refuel Elson make shooters CIA block dunk wow me Spurs Lebraun.

I'd call that one "post of the day" except for the Nash bleeding vagina post.


Seriously, I'll watch the game again and we'll re-visit it. I think you are a tad biased, but I have enough respect for your takes that I don't want to just trade jabs about it in the meantime. I call kings X.

[Obstructed_View]

We're pretty much going to have to play a perfect game in Game 2 to win because I think the zebras will make it pretty lopsided. Still, I'm excited with the win today and even more excited that the championship is now on our racquet. As long as we don't lose another home game, it's ours.

I thought the game was going to go that way today, but then they were calling things that they could have let go if they were trying to screw the Spurs. I've been looking for the refs to get Timmy back so far these playoffs and I honestly can't see any evidence of it.

[timvp]

I'd call that one "post of the day" except for the Nash bleeding vagina post.


Seriously, I'll watch the game again and we'll re-visit it. I think you are a tad biased, but I have enough respect for your takes that I don't want to just trade jabs about it in the meantime. I call kings X.

Fair.

I've tried to look at the bright side of the Elson picture. For the record, once the playoffs start, I like all Spurs.

Even Beno.

[TXan11]

You forgot to give Mark Wonderlich an A+++++++

That foul on Amare at the end of the first half had me in s ches on the floor! LOL! Timmy pulls him down and Amare gets the foul! Huge call cause Amare has greatly improved his D since '05 and was doing very well (18 boards). That call meant he couldn't play D in the third, which was when we turned it up.

I also enjoyed the Parker flop on the inbounds. It's a tough call either way, but you gotta love Parker's veteran move to flop knowing the ref would make that call. Nice job!

[Obstructed_View]

Fair.

I've tried to look at the bright side of the Elson picture. For the record, once the playoffs start, I like all Spurs.

Even Beno.

Absolutely. I'm hoping for the worst guy on the Spurs to do well, too. I understand that we are all fans first.

[Obstructed_View]

You forgot to give Mark Wonderlich an A+++++++

That foul on Amare at the end of the first half had me in s ches on the floor! LOL! Timmy pulls him down and Amare gets the foul! Huge call cause Amare has greatly improved his D since '05 and was doing very well (18 boards). That call meant he couldn't play D in the third, which was when we turned it up.

I also enjoyed the Parker flop on the inbounds. It's a tough call either way, but you gotta love Parker's veteran move to flop knowing the ref would make that call. Nice job!

I call BS on you. Nice try, Suns fan. Amare just had to disengage, but he didn't. Baboso could have backed off, but he didn't have position and pushed parker.

[Kori Ellis]

You forgot to give Mark Wonderlich an A+++++++

That foul on Amare at the end of the first half had me in s ches on the floor! LOL! Timmy pulls him down and Amare gets the foul! Huge call cause Amare has greatly improved his D since '05 and was doing very well (18 boards). That call meant he couldn't play D in the third, which was when we turned it up.

I also enjoyed the Parker flop on the inbounds. It's a tough call either way, but you gotta love Parker's veteran move to flop knowing the ref would make that call. Nice job!

If you want to start noting flops, please note Amare flopping to the floor when he collided with 175 pound Bruce Bowen.

[Clutch20]

Tony Mejia quote:
Duncan turned his game up to a level not even Stoudemire could touch, and his eight offensive rebounds matched Phoenix's total as a team, contributing to a commanding 49-35 edge on the boards. Duncan outplayed Stoudemire one-on-one by consistently getting better positioning on both ends of the floor. Certainly, Stoudemire's 20 points and 18 rebounds are proof of his activity, but he shot 6-for-19 and it was obvious Duncan was the more polished performer, and indicated through his 33-point outburst that he's getting serious. Duncan didn't score more than 23 points in any one of the first-round games against Denver.

[Obstructed_View]

Tony Mejia quote:
Duncan turned his game up to a level not even Stoudemire could touch, and his eight offensive rebounds matched Phoenix's total as a team, contributing to a commanding 49-35 edge on the boards. Duncan outplayed Stoudemire one-on-one by consistently getting better positioning on both ends of the floor. Certainly, Stoudemire's 20 points and 18 rebounds are proof of his activity, but he shot 6-for-19 and it was obvious Duncan was the more polished performer, and indicated through his 33-point outburst that he's getting serious. Duncan didn't score more than 23 points in any one of the first-round games against Denver.

Are you cross-posting this? If so, why?

[leemajors]

i thought it was pretty obvious amare had hooked his arm, if we are talking about the same play. timmy turned and kinda dived, but amare having hooked him sealed it - easy call.

[TXan11]

I call BS on you. Nice try, Suns fan. Amare just had to disengage, but he didn't. Baboso could have backed off, but he didn't have position and pushed parker.

That Amare-Bowen foul was a makeup call, and it should have been a no call.

Come on guys, just because I'm not simply agreeing with everything you say and praising the Spurs to the heavens doesn't mean I'm a ing Suns fan. Get your head out of your ass and let people disagree with you.

Remember Danny Ainge? He was a piece of flopper. I hated him. But let me tell you that if he were on the Spurs I would have loved him! He was that type of guy. Always flailing and flopping around! Used to piss me off watching him. Here's my point: We have 3 Danny Ainge's right now that can get calls that are BS. It's great! Let's enjoy it! I'm simply acknowledging it and appreciating it. Don't call BS on me for that.

[Agloco]

The Spurs have sunken to a low point when their center gets props even when he has more turnovers and fouls than points and rebounds.

I think folks are excited to see some D out of him finally. Its not a lot, but its more than we've seen all season. If he could rebound worth a , we'd be in a great spot.

Oh, and the travel he had was just pathetic. At least toss the damm ball towards the rim or something........

[Clutch20]

Are you cross-posting this? If so, why?

I wanted the main "grades" thread but left the first post in the postgame game thread, and?

[Kori Ellis]

That Amare-Bowen foul was a makeup call, and it should have been a no call.

Come on guys, just because I'm not simply agreeing with everything you say and praising the Spurs to the heavens doesn't mean I'm a ing Suns fan. Get your head out of your ass and let people disagree with you.

Remember Danny Ainge? He was a piece of flopper. I hated him. But let me tell you that if he were on the Spurs I would have loved him! He was that type of guy. Always flailing and flopping around! Used to piss me off watching him. Here's my point: We have 3 Danny Ainge's right now that can get calls that are BS. It's great! Let's enjoy it! I'm simply acknowledging it and appreciating it. Don't call BS on me for that.

So you are a Spurs fan in Phoenix?