DrumsInTheDeep
Jan 20, 2010 May 31, 2012 79 22910
Media Junkie, Culture Vulture, Patron Saint of Mediocrity.
website: http://twitter.com/dav_mcg
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Fraternizing With The Enemy: DITD & Sherman Go One More Round
by DrumsInTheDeep on May 24, 2012 4:14 PM EDT
in Fraternizing with the Enemy
on Pounding The Rock
Well, it was inevitable, and now we're here. 66 games of sweat, blood, and calculated rest, and the matchup we all knew was coming is now upon us. It is the deep breath before the plunge.
The Spurs, to outside observers, look like an unstoppable juggernaut, a churning maw of destruction, but I don't think you'll find a player or fan who isn't carrying a hefty amount of what Pop calls "appropriate fear" into this series. The Thunder, meanwhile, appeared to easily dispatch the mighty Lakers, and have the swagger of world-beaters. Many are calling this the TRUE Finals, which may be hyperbole, but there's no doubt this is going to be epic.
There's also a bit of mystery. The Thunder and Spurs have played three times this season, with the Spurs winning two, but the lineups have always been in flux. None of those three games involved Manu Ginobili, Boris Diaw, or Stephen Jackson.
I (digitally) sat down again with our buddy J.A. Sherman from Welcome to Loud City to pre-hash this series. Our Q&A follows after the jump!
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The last NBA team that said to itself, "We're playing for something beyond just a title here" was the 2001 Lakers — the best Shaq/Kobe team, as well as the last time those two guys were fully invested in each other's success. It hasn't happened since. It's happening right now, it happened at Staples Center, and it's going to keep happening through next month's Finals (and yes, they're going to win, barring an injury).
Simmons has now totally bought into the Spurs...we take over the last section of his "Playoff Eclipse" Chronicle.
More from BSPN: 5 Q's about the Spurs
Seriously, don't read this. It'll just make you mad.
HOW DOES GUTIERREZ CONTINUE TO HAVE A JOB?
Hollinger: Spurs' Success Starts at the Top (Insider)
Spurs are awesome, blah blah blah, and then...
"Which takes us to the curious case of the league's Executive of the Year voting, won by the Pacers' Larry Bird. No disrespect to Larry Legend, who certainly has overseen a masterful rebuilding work by the Pacers, but the fact San Antonio's R.C. Buford didn't win is a joke. One wonders what league the NBA's general managers have been watching for the past decade, one in which Buford has yet to win the award.
"Buford came in second this time, with 14 of the league's 30 GMs leaving him off their ballots entirely. Which means 14 of the league's 30 GMs are either jealous, morons, or both. You look at the ballots and wonder if these guys are following their own league."
Corcoran: Sorry, skeptics--these Spurs are legit
"This should not have happened. The San Antonio Spurs should not be the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.
Not with a roster that is in full-on transition mode. Not with their best player taking quarters, halves and entire nights off – not in the figurative "he's getting lazy" way either, but in the literal "he's sitting on the bench in his warmups" way. It should not be happening as Manu Ginobili's bald spot expands like the hole in the ozone layer.
We are all doomed, or at least the Spurs should be.
And yet they are not. "
Thunder Q&A Part IV: Where Do We Go From Here?
by DrumsInTheDeep on Apr 10, 2012 9:23 PM EDT
in Discussion Starters
on Pounding The Rock
In this edition of my ongoing dialog with Welcome to Loud City's J.A. Sherman, we forecast the final standings at the tippy-top of the topsy-turvy Western Conference. You can find my initial volley HERE, and, as always, feel free to engage in the comments on both sides of the border!
So what's your take on the recent fluctuations in the standings? Do you expect the Thunder to stay on top? And who, if anyone, scares you in the playoffs?
As I watched the Thunder lead in the West dwindle over these past few weeks, a lead that at one time seemed insurmountable, I was reminded of all of those games earlier in the season that now seem like needless losses. The Kings, Wizards, and Cavaliers all got a W at the end of the night because the Thunder weren't paying enough attention to what was going on, either at that moment or down the road. What could have still been a 2-3 game cushion is for intents and purposes a tie as both the Spurs and Thunder play out the string.
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Thomsen: Youth, depth spark Spurs' success
They're not old. They're not dull. They're not done.
The Spurs are suddenly and surprisingly young. They're fun, which is even more surprising. And this June they may yet win their fifth championship in 14 years, which would be an amazing achievement of resilience and renewal.
Oh really?
Thunder Q&A Part III: Mid-Season Pickups
by DrumsInTheDeep on Mar 27, 2012 11:32 AM EDT
in Discussion Starters
on Pounding The Rock
Continuing our on-going discussion with J.A. Sherman of Welcome to Loud City, here's his take on the Thunder's trade-deadline moves. You can find my (admittedly brief) thoughts HERE--you're all encouraged to join in the conversation! I know Sherm will be lurking around here, still high off their win against Miami...
- - -
First, congrats on your big win [Sunday]. Disappointed LeBron is the best LeBron. Do you still see the Thunder as the best team in the West, after these last few games post-Deadline? And what do you make of Derek "0.4" Fisher donning a Thunder uniform?
Stephen Jackson, addressing SA media in full for 1st time since trade, said he cried tears of joy when informed he was headed back to Spurs.
When asked if he can recapture magic from 2003: "It's not if I can. I have to... I’m going to be my normal self. I still make love to pressure."
A Thunder Q & A, Part II: That Just Happened
by DrumsInTheDeep on Mar 18, 2012 6:21 PM EDT
in Discussion Starters
on Pounding The Rock
As a follow-up to Friday's piece, and by way of alleviating the frustration of last night's loss, here's Welcome to Loud City's J.A. Sherman with his take on the Spurs' win over the Thunder. You can find my attempt at playing the encouraging "big brother" here. Know this: we'll see them again. Take it away, Sherm...
After a game like the one we had on Friday night, I feel like we're watching the original Matrix movie. Morpheus has just laid the smack down on Neo in the sparring program, looks at him panting on the floor, and simply asks, "How did I beat you?" It is not a question of condescension or malice or even arrogance. It felt like, as I posed in today's question, a big brother asking his more talented but defeated younger brother, "Do you understand what just happened there?" as if big brother wants little brother to learn, but the lesson learned cannot be short-cut.
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A Thunder Q & A, Part I: Chasing the Champs
by DrumsInTheDeep on Mar 16, 2012 5:24 PM EDT
in Discussion Starters
on Pounding The Rock
DrumsInTheDeep here with a little pre-game reading for you. J.A. Sherman (from Welcome to Loud City) and I started what may be a recurring feature between our two blogs, similar to our Fraternizing With the Enemy series, but perhaps a little deeper. A couple weeks ago he reached out, explaining that since the Spurs and Thunder were perhaps destined to meet in the playoffs, and the squad in OKC has been noticeably attempting to emulate the Spurs' success, why not build a running dialogue? I jumped in with him, and here is the first in hopefully several installments. You can find where I answered his questions here. Enjoy!
THE QUESTION: How exactly have the Thunder been trying to follow the Spurs' model? You guys haven't been around THAT long--are you surprised you're already at championship level? What do you think has contributed to that?
1) The Thunder Model: Chasing the Champs
Grantland: What doesn't kill the Spurs makes them stronger
Look! A decent article on Grantland about the Spurs! Kudos to Ben Detrick for not being a hack like that other guy...
"For San Antonio, the regular season is an exhausting march over loose stones and frayed rope bridges. While other teams focus on proving their mettle, San Antonio plods along stoically, crowfeet-latticed eyes trained on the distant horizon. If this creaky army can reach the postseason in reasonable health, the belief is, their experience will trump youthful athleticism and vigor."
3 months ago
DrumsInTheDeep
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Pop Named Western Conference Coach of the Month
Hooray for Pop, not like he cares.
Injury updates:
Pop says Manu has a chance to play FRI vs. Bobcats. Officially a "game time decision."
Kawhi Leonard (calf) is "probably out" for Bobcats. Danny Green suffered a stinger vs. CHI but plans to try and play.
Manu, Kawhi out for Chicago. Splitter, Neal (hamstring) are questionable. Ford will dress, may or may not play.
Pop on Manu's status: "He partial-practiced. He just wanted to test it a little bit, see how it’s feeling. He’s not ready to play yet."
Pop on Ford, who has missed 24 games: "I think he’s going to dress. He may or may not get in. I’d like to get him a few minutes if I can."
Saturday All-Star Thread
by DrumsInTheDeep on Feb 25, 2012 8:33 PM EST
in DTOUR
on Pounding The Rock
- 2012 Haier Shooting Stars (1st Event)
- 2012 Taco Bell Skills Challenge (2nd Event)
- 2012 Foot Locker Three-Point Contest (3rd Event)
- 2012 Sprite Slam Dunk (4th Event)
What manner of ill-conceived stunts await us tonight?
Discuss it here.
UPDATE: Tony Parker won the Skills Challenge because he's awesome like that. M-V-P! M-V-P! Hip hip, huzzah!
PCL: Academy Award Extravaganza 2012
by DrumsInTheDeep on Feb 24, 2012 8:30 AM EST
in Off The Wall
on Pounding The Rock
Welcome to the sixth installment of my very own, JRW-mandated series "Coach Pop Culture Lessons," where I comment on things wonderful and terrible in the world of entertainment, and desperately attempt to connect it to the Spurs.
Tired of watching raging egomaniacs, bored celebrities, and breathlessly airheaded TV personalities on this fine, fine All-Star Weekend? Flip over to the Oscars, where there is absolutely none of that! I've got to be honest--the only thing keeping me interested in the ASG is Tony, but there's enough French influence in these nominees to fill a bushel of baguettes.
As last year's issue was moderately well-received, it's time again for us to take a look at this year's crop of Best Picture nominees... as only PtR can do. Hold onto your butts.
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James Anderson requests trade
Per Buck Harvey's Twitter:
Sources say James Anderson's agent this month encouraged Spurs to trade his client. Nothing offered would have been better than JA Monday.
Note: Anderson will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1 after the Spurs declined their 2012-13 team option. He will likely leave San Antonio in the summer and sign with another team, so there's a chance the Spurs will trade him before he leaves for nothing.
PCL: MoneybalLIN'
by DrumsInTheDeep on Feb 15, 2012 11:13 AM EST
in Off The Wall
on Pounding The Rock
Welcome to the fifth installment of my very own, JRW-mandated series "Coach Pop Culture Lessons," where I comment on things wonderful and terrible in the world of entertainment, and desperately attempt to connect it to the Spurs.
This Jeremy Lin kid is something else! He's got the entire basketball world eating out of the palm of his hand.
And he's such a nice kid, really humble...
Exactly. I want him. Get me Glen Grunwald on the phone.
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Blinebury: Parker Continues to Shine
More national press...
"Popovich can be as crusty as a week-old baguette. It takes a certain je ne sais quoi from Parker, who simply swallows it like goose liver pate.
You see them on the sidelines together or on the occasions when an angry Popovich stomps out onto the court at the start of a timeout. It's like watching an old married couple that knows each other's favorite routines, arguments and wisecracks."
Hollinger: Watch out for the Spurs (Insider)
Brace yourselves, we're getting ink again. Here comes the Pop-mandated losing streak.
For those of you who have wisely saved your money and can't read this article, basically it says everything we've been saying here on PtR the last couple weeks. There's also a nice rundown of our draft picks and other acquisitions in the last decade, and basically how awesome we are even though no one cares.
SI: Little Admiral, Renaissance Man
Cool article about Corey Robinson, who's developing into a football star, model student, and artist, all while being son of the most beloved man in San Antonio.
PCL: Carpal, Princess, Sandwich, Spy
by DrumsInTheDeep on Jan 23, 2012 12:04 PM EST
in Off The Wall
on Pounding The Rock
Welcome to the fourth installment of my very own, JRW-mandated series "Coach Pop Culture Lessons," where I comment on things wonderful and terrible in the world of entertainment, and desperately attempt to connect it to the Spurs.
There's a mole right at the top of the Fiesta.
He's been there for years.
He's very good, you know. Very good at hiding in plain sight.
If this season takes a turn for the worse, worse than it is already, there are only a handful of men who would be in such a position to commit that level of athletic espionage.
Let's take a look at the suspects.
You'll notice my man-crush remained unmolested. I also forgot there was a woman in this movie.
Grantland: Breaking Down SA's Go-Ahead 3
Analysis! From a national source! With pictures! And they loooove Pop!
FWTE: PtR & The Dream Shake, Round 2
by DrumsInTheDeep on Jan 11, 2012 12:15 PM EST
in Fraternizing with the Enemy
on Pounding The Rock
Well, don't say you didn't see this coming. Our last go-round was such a rousing success, I got an e-mail from the ghost of Dostoevsky asking for pointers on how to "maximize his word count." At least, I think that's what it was about. I took it at face value.
Anyway, here's Only_A_Lad from The Dream Shake for another edition of Fraternizing with the Enemy. Be warned, we go even further off-topic this time. Enjoy, and as always, play nice with visitors.
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PCL: Midnight in San Antonio
by DrumsInTheDeep on Jan 1, 2012 4:15 PM EST
in Off The Wall
on Pounding The Rock
Welcome to the third installment of my very own, JRW-mandated series "Coach Pop Culture Lessons," where I comment on things wonderful and terrible in the world of entertainment, and desperately attempt to connect it to our beloved Spurs.
I sometimes think I was born too late.
This may come as a shock to some of you, but I emerged screaming into the world in the summer of 1987, long after the years of George Gervin and Artis Gilmore, which also made me just a bit too young to fully appreciate the first championship in 1999. This may come as a bigger shock to some of you, but I also feel like I missed out on one of the most polarizing decades in American history: the 1980s.
If it were up to me, I might have chosen to be born around 1970, so I could come of age in the most legendary, fondly-remembered geek age of Star Wars, Dungeons & Dragons, Atari, The Breakfast Club, and much, much more.
Where I'm sure he'd rather be
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QuickCap #4 - Spurs 104, Jazz 89
by DrumsInTheDeep on Jan 1, 2012 12:03 AM EST
in Game Threads
on Pounding The Rock
Fraternizing with the Enemy: DITD & Only_A_Lad Talk Rockets vs Spurs
by DrumsInTheDeep on Dec 29, 2011 9:30 AM EST
in Fraternizing with the Enemy
on Pounding The Rock
What's that? We're playing the Rockets AGAIN? Man, those guys won't just leave us alone! Time for some inside scoop: I sat down with Only_A_Lad from The Dream Shake, in his Fortress of Solitude, to talk tonight's matchup. Enjoy, and play nice in the comments!
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There and Back Again
by DrumsInTheDeep on Dec 27, 2011 12:02 PM EST
in Editorial
on Pounding The Rock
When JRW asked if I was interested in representing PtR at last night's game, I had two immediate, visceral reactions: "YES YES YES!" and "OH GOD." The first because it's an extraordinarily cool opportunity I may never get again, the second because the prospect of coming face to face with Pop and the other players, while trying to avoid embarrassment, was terrifying.
As the circled date of December 26th drew nearer, I felt a combination of anticipation and dread. I'd heard the stories. I knew the stakes. My objective was to be a spectre, silent, invisible. A shadow in the night. Fortunately, I had JRW to keep me company.
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