Game Thread: Spurs vs Celtics -- Fri. (12/8) - 8:30/C (4:30am Riga Time)

[$pursDynasty]

Danny just posted this

MVParker, KingSlayer and Manu, too cool to play dress up. LMALPHA politicing with Pau, Rudy and the youngsters, for his coup d'etat.

[spurs10]

Maybe the second half can mirror the first!

Word up!

[spurs10]

Spurs have two days off after this, yes? If so, I don't think Pop will rest them.

We need to take care of business. I hope we don't rest everyone, but it already looks like KA, Green, Kawhi, and reputable Pau are out.

[duncan2k5]

This is what I agree with 100%. I had no problem resting Tim, Manu and now Tony (because he's coming back from a major injury). No one else should be resting (sorry, forgot to mention Rudy too). Tim was playing 40 minutes plus in all the big games when he was Kawhi's age. It's ing ridiculous.

You're putting more stress and strain on the healthy players that are there. Danny and Kyle have both been playing hard this season and now they're injured. So my logic is that all this resting of healthy players can have more negative effects than positive ones. The other one being your main players aren't ready for extended minutes in the playoffs and they can't perform under physical duress when their minutes are increased. they tire to easily, and that could be disasterous with the game up for grabs in the later stages of it, or at the end of the game when it's on the line.

Even back in 2010, or whenever Malik Hairston was here is when I first disagreed with it. Don't ask me why I mentioned Malik, it's just around that time I remember Pop doing it and I've disagreed with it ever since. I agree with Tim Grover (Jordan and D-Wade's former trainer) in regards to resting. He thinks players can't learn to push through fatigue and build mental toughness from it for when it really matters.

And the other issue is, how long does Tony and Rudy have to keep playing the same amount of limited minutes? Surely if they're cleared 100% and have been back a while, how would keeping them at the exact same amount of minutes make the chances or re-injury less? I agree Tony's minutes should still be limited, but what about Rudy? How long do you continue to play him limited minutes? He still needs to learn the plays and learn/improve on defense. He's not going to do that without court time.

Your Rudy argument is the same argument I make for DJ... It is even more needed for DJ since he is practically a rookie

[duncan2k5]

You don't fight thru screens when the strategy is to switch everything tho...

But that clearly wasn't the strategy since he ended up wide open... That was a situation where the point guard needed to call out the switch, and either called it late, or didn't call it at all... When everyone knows there is a switch to be made, you usually don't see players completely wide open, and the defender picking up the slack super late

[Darius Bieber]

Alright, I gotta admit that was a gutsy win. Good showing against a team who was hot. Without Leonard too. Hopefully no let down against Phoenix tomorrow though.

[duncan2k5]

Just silliness. His obsession with Murray really clouds his judgment

It's not just Murray... I'd even want to give our rookie pg minutes... My thing is we KNOW Tony won't last throughout the playoffs and we KNOW patty can't cut it... We need to get our young guys ready because these teams in the WC ain't no joke... U guys seem to be OK with regular season success... I'm not!

[duncan2k5]

Remember, you're talking to a dude who thinks the Spurs play everyone one-on-one.

U do know there is a difference between collapsing and double teaming right? The Spurs RARELY double team players... Pops thing is one player can't beat us... Don't let the role players get off... U guys are thinking that collapsing the defense or other help defensive plays is the same thing as double teaming

[duncan2k5]

Only nba player with smarts, that can change momentum from either end of floor and always competes.

Ummm... Kwahi? Lol

[duncan2k5]

Yeah, I hope you are right. I just don't see us letting a guy walk that Pop compares to Steph.

U guys are looking at the small picture... Bryn is an upgraded patty mills... That won't fly in the playoffs... We need a starter point guard that can play defense and make plays, break down the defense, etc... Bryn won't get those open looks, and his defense is too bad to play long periods of time VS the top teams... Tony is pretty much guaranteed to either disappear or get injured... He is 35/36 coming off a major injury after his worst season as a pro

[spurs10]

Alright, I gotta admit that was a gutsy win. Good showing against a team who was hot. Without Leonard too. Hopefully no let down against Phoenix tomorrow though.

Couldn't have done it without your reverse jinx!

[Darius Bieber]

Couldn't have done it without your reverse jinx!

[r0drig0lac]

big win of the season ...for while...

[r0drig0lac]

my

[BillMc]

Danny just posted this

Love the camaraderie. Somebody break into Python's Lumberjack song.

[raybies]

Unsung hero of this game. He balled out all night.

Was the exact wording I thought of when Rudy and Manu got recognition. He destroyed Horford and shut him down. He made Horford look silly and helpless and Horford is one of the best big defenders in the game.

[Chinook]

U do know there is a difference between collapsing and double teaming right? The Spurs RARELY double team players... Pops thing is one player can't beat us... Don't let the role players get off... U guys are thinking that collapsing the defense or other help defensive plays is the same thing as double teaming

First, you keep trying to move the goal posts. Second, the Spurs are doubling more now than they have in a long time. You literally don't watch games if you can't see that.

[bklynspursfan]

But that clearly wasn't the strategy since he ended up wide open... That was a situation where the point guard needed to call out the switch, and either called it late, or didn't call it at all... When everyone knows there is a switch to be made, you usually don't see players completely wide open, and the defender picking up the slack super late

Or maybe Rudy being new , didn't understand the plan. But SA has been switching everything on those types of plays for years now. Doubt that changed last night.

The broadcast team even said defensively is where Gay is still learning the most. Rudy recovered a second too late, and still closed out. Gotta check again, but Mills may have called it out.

[bklynspursfan]

I've been saying this for YEARS. If a team is down 3, with no timeouts and a few seconds left, WHY DO COACHES HAVE PLAYERS IN THE PAINT? You line your entire team up around that 3 point line giving up basket under the rim because if you get the ball and get fouled, even if you miss a freethrow, they don't have any time outs. I'll take my chances at a team hitting a half court shot than a wide open 3 to tie the game. I've never seen an NBA coach do that . You got Rudy Gay sitting down low as Irving used a screen to get wide open. If that 3 point line was guarded, No one could have got to it to shoot anything. These type of plays are gonna us over in the playoffsas it did in 2013

Has anyone in history ever played defense like that? It was a simple man to man defense, and switch every screen like it usually is for most teams.

5 seconds isn't .5 of a second where the ball Has to be inbounded at the 3 point line.

[bklynspursfan]

It's not just Murray... I'd even want to give our rookie pg minutes... My thing is we KNOW Tony won't last throughout the playoffs and we KNOW patty can't cut it... We need to get our young guys ready because these teams in the WC ain't no joke... U guys seem to be OK with regular season success... I'm not!

How do we KNOW Parker won't last? That was a freak injury he suffered. He started playing much better vs Memphis. It was clear he was taking care of business.

And we don't KNOW Patty can't cut it, he's had good series for us.

[bklynspursfan]

Alright, I gotta admit that was a gutsy win. Good showing against a team who was hot. Without Leonard too. Hopefully no let down against Phoenix tomorrow though.

[Spurtacular]

Unsung hero of this game. He balled out all night.

Now, if he'll only stop ting his pants in the clutch, he'll be solid.

[james evans]

Has anyone in history ever played defense like that? It was a simple man to man defense, and switch every screen like it usually is for most teams.

5 seconds isn't .5 of a second where the ball Has to be inbounded at the 3 point line.

they had no timeouts letf. Even if they get a quick 2(that we all knew they weren't going for). you get the ball back, run 2 seconds off the clock before a foul. even if you hit one of the freethrows(regardless of which one). they have 2 seconds to get the ball back up court for a score. What are the ods of a half court shot vs a wide open 3 as you're chasing someone off screens?

[CGD]

Quality win

[raybies]

love, love, love this.