Game Thread: Spurs @ Pistons -- Tue. (1/12) - 6:30PM CST (2:30AM Riga Time)

[sasaint]

I agree with you but in fact we have blown so many teams that they have all played more than we thought, specially considering everyone is healthy and Manu hasn't sat many games. We have actually been remarkably healthy and these guys playing has probably helped on that, on top of allowing guys to be fresh.

The problem is that the way I see what Pop is doing, he won't play Boban and if he does, that's 4 minutes in close games and whoever of the wings he chose for the situation would only play 8 mins in close games. It has been a pattern no matter if it was KA or Simmons. If the game is blown wide open that is different, but when the game is close Pop is sticking to his trusted guys. If Kawhi had shown up this game we would have seen more of the young guys bc the game was almost in garbage time b4 the 4th when Pistons got back in the game.

I believe Simmons has the nod but the fouling is a problem. Kyle has been getting better. But it's beyond compe ion between them, it's probable that Pop won't trust whoever much.

This season, Simmons and Kyle are in compe ion for minutes. Next season, assuming several of the old guys move on, they will not really be in compe ion because they will play different positions and be on the floor together. But I would like to see our old guys get even more rest. These short rotations make me think Pop has been taking advice from Tibs!

[SAGirl]

This season, Simmons and Kyle are in compe ion for minutes. Next season, assuming several of the old guys move on, they will not really be in compe ion because they will play different positions and be on the floor together. But I would like to see our old guys get even more rest. These short rotations make me think Pop has been taking advice from Tibs!

I agree, but:

1. Pop is not going to take minutes from Kawhi.
2. Danny has already given up minutes (on account of his poor play some games, but really in games against easy teams, he's given up minutes to develop the young wings.)
3. Manu could give up minutes, he could have sat more games. It was apparently an understanding that he would not play B2B this season, from early season statements. I think Manu himself has insisted on playing. He's a rhythm guy and doesn't want to sit as long as he can play. Then on top of that, he really has saved this team from some ugly starts. And we can agree, neither Simmons/Kyle are on Manu's stratosphere or able to do what he does at this point.

I do think Pop could have played both guys more, but this particular game Simmons got himself benched bc of his fouling. It's going to be a problem for him if he can't play under control specially in close games. I don't even think that Pop wants to be playing mind games with these guys at this point. It looks to me like he has already decided to play Simmons at the 4th wing spot and Kyle is fine to be developed when minutes can be spared for him. The problem is Simmons' fouling and mistakes. He's now on the receiving end that Kyle was in when he was the 4th wing, the short leash.

[313]

i was going to make a joke on here that you were there, had a feeling tbh. did you scream TONYYYYY?

you should post a few pics though imo.

mostly "manuuuu" tbh has a better ring to it. This drunk guy in front of me was so pissed every time Tony scored though

My my phone isn't ing with imgur tonight though so I'll try again tomorrow

[spurs10]

Man this was probably Tim and Manu's last time here right? There were tons of Spurs fans in attendance to show love especially where I was behind the bench. There was a group over behind the basket that had a sign saying they came all the way from Toronto to see the Big 3

So cool! Hope you and the Toronto group had a fantastic time!

[DenialTwist]

Yeah take this with a grain of salt, BPI said last season the spurs would win against the clippers in the 1st round. Anyways, I've been watching the Warriors and their small ball death lineup is deadly for a reason. Everyone on their team is a threat and can shoot threes. Their bench is the only thing that the spurs have advantage over. Their confidence is at an all time high, the spurs challenge to making the finals isn't just beating the warriors but having to go through OKC and Clippers before they even make the WCF. I also looked at the warriors schedule the rest of the season and they only have to go something like 37-8 to get to 72-10 and match the Bulls' record. They will have HCA if nothing disastrous happens like an injury to Curry.

[BatManu20]

[BatManu20]

[BatManu20]

[BatManu20]

[BatManu20]

[Blizzardwizard]

Yeah, because Parker obviously did it for a bunch of rejects on a basketball forum. Lol. got

E-krew membership confirmed.

[DenialTwist]

https://streamable.com/wq4c

Lol. How did I miss this halftime performance?

Pop Evil "I've waited all my life, for the pistons to beat the spurs"

[ElNono]

The Zidane of Basketball

who, tbh? I know you're french, but Zizou is overrated as , tbh, imo, fwiw...

[spursistan]

was this the gutsiest win thus far in the season? me think, yes..

[Pauleta14]

who, tbh? I know you're french, but Zizou is overrated as , tbh, imo, fwiw...

It was just after a pic of Manu from the back...

I agree that, even if he is one of my favorite of all time, Zidane is overrated btw (stats and resume wise), but he was so different, gave so much emotion, that the impact he had seemed bigger.

In terms of creativity, passing skills, they make other players shine, they are different in the way they play the game.

[ElNono]

It was just after a pic of Manu from the back...

I agree that, even if he is one of my favorite of all time, Zidane is overrated btw (stats and resume wise), but he was so different, gave so much emotion, that the impact he had seemed bigger.

In terms of creativity, passing skills, they make other players shine, they are different in the way they play the game.

I like him as a player, he was probably one of the best of his time, alongside Baggio, Maldini, etc... but I've see him ranked top 10 all time and that's just terrible, tbh...

[Brazil]

I like him as a player, he was probably one of the best of his time, alongside Baggio, Maldini, etc... but I've see him ranked top 10 all time and that's just terrible, tbh...

[ElNono]

see what I'm saying?

[Pauleta14]

I like him as a player, he was probably one of the best of his time, alongside Baggio, Maldini, etc... but I've see him ranked top 10 all time and that's just terrible, tbh...

I would rank him in the top 5 of all time

His stats are ridiculous in regards to his talent and impact on football, but if you ask all the greats of his generation, they will all t you he was the best.
There was something unique about him, his elegance the way he caressed the ball, the fact that he loved making other shine when NOBODY with this kind of talent ever and will ever do that.

Anyway, Manu's hair loss and brilliance with the ball remind me of him sometimes...

[ElNono]

I would rank him in the top 5 of all time

His stats are ridiculous in regards to his talent and impact on football, but if you ask all the greats of his generation, they will all t you he was the best.
There was something unique about him, his elegance the way he caressed the ball, the fact that he loved making other shine when NOBODY with this kind of talent ever and will ever do that.

Anyway, Manu's hair loss and brilliance with the ball remind me of him sometimes...

IMO, he wasn't better than: Pele, Di Stefano, Diego, Ronaldo (BRA), Messi, Ronaldo (POR), Cruyf, Beckenbauer... after that it gets more debatable... Eusebio, Puskas, Ronaldinho, Garrincha, Zico, Best, Platini...

He was fairly unique... only a few players I remember played with his style: Francescoli (whom he was a big fan of, and always underrated), Rivaldo, Riquelme...

Probably somewhere in the 10-15 range... which is not a bad place to be.

[Horry Hipcheck]

BPI said last season the spurs would win against the clippers in the 1st round.

To be fair, the Spurs had that series in the bag several times and threw each opportunity away.

GSW's offense is terrifying because they have matchup advantages at a lot of positions against most of the league. Against the Spurs, not so much. They can still beat them, it's just not a foregone conclusion for them to do so. Milwaukee presents similar challenges to their roster, they just lack depth and top-to-bottom talent.

The West playoff seeding will in all likelihood be a bloodbath from positions 5-8. I've got GSW at No. 1, Spurs No. 2, OKC No. 3, and LAC No. 4. That means a second round matchup with OKC while the Dubs would get the Clips. Here's to hoping Houston either climbs to 6 or drops to 8th by then, I'd rather OKC or GSW deal with them and get a more favorable first round matchup against Memphis or Utah.

[r0drig0lac]

[QUOTE=Pauleta14;8368975]I would rank him in the top 5 of all time
/QUOTE]

agree
1- Pele
2- Messi
3- Maradona
4- Cruyff
5- Zidane

imo

[Pauleta14]

IMO, he wasn't better than: Pele, Di Stefano, Diego, Ronaldo (BRA), Messi, Ronaldo (POR), Cruyf, Beckenbauer... after that it gets more debatable... Eusebio, Puskas, Ronaldinho, Garrincha, Zico, Best, Platini...

He was fairly unique... only a few players I remember played with his style: Francescoli (whom he was a big fan of, and always underrated), Rivaldo, Riquelme...

Probably somewhere in the 10-15 range... which is not a bad place to be.

Man, it's a long discussion I'd love to have but it's endless by definition because subjective...

Francescoli (that I love too) is, you're right, the closest in style/elegance, happens to be Zidane idol, he named his 1st son Enzo in homage btw...

(I loved Safet Susic too for the style, a Bosnian crack from the same years)

Edit/ Please don't list Christiano Ronaldo among this list, he is nowhere near in terme of class and what he brought to the football, plus he doesn't make his teamates better and can't make his national team descent, which every other champion did.
He is great, I'm not a hater, but stats doesn't say everything to me and he is all/only about that.

[ElNono]

Man, it's a long discussion I'd love to have but it's endless by definition because subjective...

Francescoli (that I love too) is, you're right, the closest in style/elegance, happens to be Zidane idol, he named his 1st son Enzo in homage btw...

(I loved Safet Susic too for the style, a Bosnian crack from the same years)

Edit/ Please don't list Christiano Ronaldo among this list, he is nowhere near in terme of class and what he brought to the football, plus he doesn't make his teamates better and can't make his national team descent, which every other champion did.
He is great, I'm not a hater, but stats doesn't say everything to me and he is all/only about that.

we can follow up this on the soccer forum... and yeah, it's obviously all opinion

[Kawhitstorm]

IMO, he wasn't better than: Pele, Di Stefano, Diego, Ronaldo (BRA), Messi, Ronaldo (POR), Cruyf, Beckenbauer... after that it gets more debatable... Eusebio, Puskas, Ronaldinho, Garrincha, Zico, Best, Platini...

He was fairly unique... only a few players I remember played with his style: Francescoli (whom he was a big fan of, and always underrated), Rivaldo, Riquelme...

Probably somewhere in the 10-15 range... which is not a bad place to be.

Although he played as a forward, Bergkamp was pretty similar to Zidane in that he was more interested setting up guys rather than scoring but still dominated games w/ his unique flair/cerebral feel for the game. Rivaldo played as a winger when he won Ballon d'Or & scored a ton of goals when he was at Barca (ala Cristiano in Manchester).