So as I tend to do, I got really hammered during last nights Spurs/Suns game.  And after the game I started telling anyone who would listen how bad the Suns are and how it's the most one-sided "rivalry" ever.  So then today I'm following the Sportsguy's chat and not doing anything cuz I'm hungover and those are tougher when you get older.  Then, out of nowhere, this pops up:

Chris (Carson City, NV): Hey, has any "rivalry" over the past 10 years been as much of a one-sided beat down as Spurs/Suns? I almost feel bad for Nash and them. Almost.

 Bill Simmons: (2:22 PM ET ) Agreed. It's definitely "feud" and not a "rivalry."

So yes, I apparently submitted a question mocking the Suns, blacked it out, and then got it answered anyways.  What a great day!

Who says blacking out leads to bad things?

Okay, so I kinda ignored the begining of the NBA season because my precious Bills were 5-1, but now that their season has effectively ended (who the fuck settles for a 46 y ard field goal into swirling wind with a minute left on the clock.  I hope Dick Jauron goes to whatever hell has already been reserved for Dirk and Avery...), I'm ready to get amped up for the Spurs odd year title win.  With that in mind, I think this thread should be for reasons why we're retardidly optimistic after the first 10 games.  My reasons:

An honest to goodness 4th option!  Seriously!  Roger Mason gives us an extra scoring option we haven't had since, what, Stephen Jackson?  And that was back before Manu and Tony were Manu and Tony.

A real backup point guard.  Down the stretch and in the playoffs we're only going to need 10 minutes per night or so, possibly less, if Tony's healthy.  And for the first time in years, I won't have to watch the spurs field a PG that I'm convinced I could take off the dribble.  Drunk.  I could drunkenly take JV off the dribble.  He's that fucking bad.

We're 5-5 without one of the 10 best players in the game and one of the 25 best players in the game.  Think about that.  We're currently in playoff contention and we're going to add one of the best PGs in the game and a player who would be the best player on at least 20 teams to our rotation.

So even though we have rebounding problems, those are my reasons why I'm wildy, blindly, stupidly, irrationally optimistic.

PS: sorry if this has been covered before, I really thought my football team wouldn't suck for the first time in the 2000's.  I was wrong.  At least Timmy won the CY Young.

PPS: are we still allowed to swear?  If not, I'm sorry.  You can take it out matthew and replace it with words like "oh butternuts" or something else.

Saw this today on CNNSI:

http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/77150

on the one hand, I don't want to rush Manu back early and see him get hurt again.  On the other hand, if he is good to go early, then that's fine by me.  The scrubs are fun and all, but I'm ready for the big three as soon as possible.  Just think.  When manu returns, we could be in for a manu-mason rotation at the 2 and see very little of fin. 

Then again, I'm not sure what I'd do without Fin to yell at as he clanged 3 after 3 after 3...

Anyone going to be around for the draft?  I've been avoiding all basketball related stuff, but recently I've come out of denial and am hoping we actually draft someone we can use next year.  Gosh, that would be superswell!  I want Chris Douglas-Roberts.  A wing who can slash and score?  Yes please.  Chad Ford seems convinced that we're taking Nicolas Batum, who is apparently still a work in progress.  I'm okay with that if we can bring him over next year (like we did with Tony), but I'm sick of these pick and stashers.  Scola and Splitter should have taught us something.

So anyways, anyone else going to be around for the draft?  Any good players we should draft I don't know about?

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/8165266/Kobe,-Lakers-turn-it-on-when-they-have-to

This column is only mildly annoying until the end.  Check this out:

"The Spurs, meanwhile, have now given up their biggest playoff lead since Stats Inc. started keeping records back in 2002. Their last worst loss came in 2003, when they squandered a 19-point advantage to the Dallas Mavericks.

That was a long time ago, though. The Spurs were younger, and I can't help but think, more resilient. A team that never seems to fold collapsed in historic fashion Wednesday night.

"Hurts like hell," said Popovich. "

What the fuck??

1.  We were more resilient in 2003??  Really?  Did he black out the second round?  Did he just get assined to the NBA beat?

2.  He's taking Pop's statement to mean we're dismayed.  Has he ever met Pop?

3.  We never fold?  We fold once a series annually to the Nuggets.  That or the "wordmichaelhasbanned" game always occurs. 

Sorry, but I somehow avoided a hangover this morning, and I was happy, but now I have a headache.  And it's Kreigel's fault.

This has to be said.

Goddamnit, we're the goddamn spurs.  The motherfucking Spurs.  The 4 titles in 9 year Spurs.  It's our fucking time.  I was there in 2002.  I was there in 2004.  We've paid our dues as the team that gets crushed by the talented vets.  The team that coulda/shoulda/woulda, but didn't.  Now, it's our fucking turn.  It's our turn to win a series the other team thinks it deserves.  Our turn to leave a young and talented team scratching their heads and wondering what happened.

So no more worrying.  No more complaining.  We're the goddamn Spurs.  This is our series.  This is our fucking  series.  We take game 6.  Then we cut their hearts out.  It's our turn.  Christ Paul is a great talent, but it's not his time yet.

It's ours.  Let's act like it.

And yes, I'm drunk.

This is one of the coolest things I've seen in a while.

http://theassociation.blogs.com/the_association/2008/04/photos-when-dun.html

Basically, Timmy had something to say towards the end of the second OT and everyone, even the reserve players, came over to listen.  It's really cool.

I need twenty four more words and that is annoying and I have to keep typing and D'antoni sucks and I hope he loses his job.  HA!

Suns 96
Spurs 79

Sorry this took so long.  I originally wanted to see if there was a story for why Manu was on the bench as the fourth quarter wound down.  Was Pop mad at him?  Was he hurt?  Has Pop finally gone batshit insane and decided that Fin is our best 2guard?  I needed to know what was going on.  Then my life was busy for a day or so.

Well, we all know that Manu got hurt basically 3 seconds after he checked in, which explains the 3-12 (0-4 from triple land).  To be fair to Manu, he took 2 last second, full-court shots in the second and third periods (so he was really just 3-10).  It also explains this loss for me.  See, we started off good, holding them to 16 points in the first quarter.  However, they managed to tie the game by halftime on Raja's 24-foot shot with 2 seconds left.  They had a four point lead by the end of the third period, and it all just fell apart in the fourth.  The problem was, without Manu, we just don't have the talent to beat the suns.  Our scheme is nice, and Timmy is still Timmy (though he didn't play a great game either, just an okay one for him), but we need Manu to beat the good teams.  The league is just too deep right now.  Unfortunately, we didn't have Manu at 100%.  Groin injuries are probably the second most debilitating muscle to movement (ab pulls are the worst.  If you disagree, you've just never had one).  Hopefully he'll get better before the playoffs, or we are in a bit of trouble.

As for our players, I'll start with Tony.  He seemed to have a great first quarter (5-7, 10 points, 2 assists), but I do worry if his style freezes up our ball movement too much.  Well, mostly I'm just concerned about him not passing the ball to Manu enough.  I get the idea that he and Timmy are supposed to start us off, but once Manu comes of the bench, he needs to have the ball.  However, this has been touched upon, so I won't bitch too much.  Besides, Manu was injured, so he gets a slight pass tonight.  And he shot 9-17 for 20 points, but you'd like it if you PG could get more than 4 assists(esp when he has 3 turnovers).  And yes, I have watched Tony play before, I know this is what he does.  Just saying is all...
At least he does seem to be healthy.  So that's nice...

As for Timmy, I know he led the game with 23 points and 10 rebounds, but he shot 9-21.  Is he practicing bankers before the playoffs?  I know he wasn't our problem, and had to do more than usual because of Manu's injury, but the refs were calling fouls.  He shouldn't have been shooting open bankers when Shaq and Amare are both in foul trouble.  Still, he's never let us down (even the last couple years when we lost, he hit that forgotten great shot, and had a great game in the game 7 loss), so I'll trust him to lead us in the playoffs until he gives me a reason not to.

Though please drive more Timmy, your FT percentage is up this year!

Also, fuck Shaq.  I like how he saves up his energy for the games against us (he shot 7-9 last night) because he was brought here to beat us.  Hey, guess what fat boy, you can't take games off to rest up for us in the playoffs.  So while he made us look bad on this night, he won't be having any 7-9 games in a game 6 or 7 should we meet in the playoffs.  Shaq is a mirage.  He won't be able to rest in the playoffs and he will fall off.

Michael Finley continued to not be a corpse.  4-5 including 2-2 in triple land and no turnovers!  I'd like it if he could get more than 1 rebound, but let's take baby steps.  If he can continue to shoot above 33%, then I'll be happy.  

Ime Udoka (who I was happy about signing the moment we did) continues to provide the little things.  He only shot 1-3, but pulled down 6 rebounds, which was second on our team and two better than their creampuff of a PF.  I really like him and I'm starting to think he should take a bit more of Bowen's time (especially if Bowen keeps shooting 2-8).  Of course, Bowen is also one of those guys I'll trust in the playoffs until he gives me a reason not to.

And Kurt Thomas needs to find his shot.  We can't have games where he doesn't score.  That's just not good.

Three Stars:

3.  Timmy.  They weren't efficient, but his 23 points was a game high and he also got his 10 boards.
2.  Steve Nash.  10 assists and 0(!) turnovers is pretty good.  If we meet in the playoffs, I hope Tony head butts him again and draws a foul.
1.  Shaq.  7-9 from the animated corpse.  That's fine, there's no resting in the playoffs douche bag...
   

sorry, i stole this from mavs moneyball comments, cuz it made me laugh:
"and they barely won in a home game over us. I like our chances, and we're still growing as a "new" team after a trade. It went right down to the line and Avery's idiocy. Too bad, we're stuck with the inept coach though.

How about this trade?

Mavs: send Avery Johnson and a first rounder
Spurs: send Gregg Poppovich."

I know Pop does weird things, but I wuvs him!