Lauri
May 28, 2008 May 30, 2012 138 10197
website: I Know I Left it Here Somewhere
a fan of
San Antonio Spurs
Texas Longhorns
RSSUser Blog
Pops Mensah-Bonsu wins EuroChallenge Final Four MVP, the championship, and awesome nickname
Aw, POPS! His team, Beşiktaş Milangaz, went on to win the championship game as well.
It's very cool to see what former Spurs have been doing lately even as the parent team appears to be poised for success I dare not mention in detail lest I jinx it. What with T. J. Ford volunteer coaching the D-League champion Austin Toros and George Hill playing a big role on the plucky Indiana Pacers and Pops burning up the FIBA circuit, it's a good time.
All Eyes on the Ball
I love the photo they chose for the "cover" of today's Basketball Jones video. I haven't even watched the show yet--probably won't get to until tonight. But that picture is awesome, yeah?
This new strategy that the Lakers are implementing and practicing in the final quarter of the NBA season is in preparation for the playoffs, specifically a series with the San Antonio Spurs.
Sebastian Pruiti explains how the Lakers have adjusted with a particular goal in mind: to beat the Spurs. (Lots more video and analysis here.
Winners Prosper: The Case for Manu
Joey Whelan at Hardwood Paroxysm analyzes Ginobili's chances for Hall of Fame induction. A very good read.
Pop, he's an eagle. He hunts for salmon in the night.
LatinD, DRose has something SPECIAL for youuuuuu!
That poster has real potential.
b/r: Ranking the Top 10 NBA Players in Winning Percentage
HMOG. Look at your top three players.
That's just gaudy.
(Apologies if this has already been posted--I looked and didn't see it, but I could well have missed it.)
over 1 year ago
Lauri
22 comments
3 recs
Timmy Is in the Details
by Lauri on Jan 15, 2011 11:00 AM EST
on Pounding The Rock
So there's this new book coming out on January 25 that looks like it will be a fun read -- Scorecasting: The Hidden Influences Behind How Sports Are Played and Games Are Won. Explored in the book, according to the promo materials, are topics such as
Interesting in and of itself, right? You can read an excerpt here and read a discussion of home-court advantage here. But while reading an advance review I found the best part:
Some quick examples from chapters I enjoyed: . . .
Why Tim Duncan's 149 blocked shots are more valuable than Dwight Howard's 232 (Answer: Duncan tends to block the ball to his teammates, Howard tends toward the spectacular swat that goes into the 4th row...then back to the other team.)
I hope Timmy sees that and that it makes him smile.
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@DeJuan45
THIS TAT HURT LOL MY STOMACH IZ ON SWOLL LITERALLY!! CTFU I LOVE IT THO!!
1 minute ago via EchofonA tat on his stomach?
NBA Playbook: A Beautiful Play by Popovich
Sebastian Pruiti breaks down the set play that finally seared the deer.
over 1 year ago
Lauri
29 comments
7 recs
Nobody likes to be dunked on. It’s emasculation on permanent video loop. And Amare seems to know that. Look at the first clip in the Heat-Knicks recap package. When James drives down the lane, Stoudemire scampers to safety like a wise hermit crab. He wants no part of this highlight, even if it means possibly preventing it.
When we think of incentives that work against team play, scoring is our fixation. For the greater good, players must subvert ego by taking fewer shots. Youtube has given us a new kind of ego sacrifice: The dunk thwart attempt.
So, put yourself in Amare’s shoes. What would you choose? You can go for the block and receive public shaming, or you can duck the risk, assured that a mustache will catch D’Antoni’s anger spittle.
I’m reminded of a Spurs-Cavs game from some years back. LeBron James drove towards Tim Duncan, as Timmy tried to establish position. Too late. James scaled Duncan like a mountain, unleashing a cram that made TD crumble.
I jumped off my couch, yelled, pointed at the TV. The greatest power forward of all time looked feeble, pathetic and totally at the mercy of an ascendant star. It was a thrilling, sad, dunk to behold.
A wise friend sitting next to me calmly asserted, "Timmy don’t care." Later that year, the Spurs scraped the Cavs for an easy title. To be a defensive stalwart is to absorb moments of complete and total humiliation.
Manu chatting live on Twitter now
Hurry hurry!
Lakers and Spurs -- Crossroads
Another game preview -- this one from my Laker pal. Tell him I sent you.
"Those guys are serious"
After a mournful look at the recent goring LA endured at the hands antlers of the Bucks, my friend the Laker fan says the Spurs are "of even more concern" than Miami.
TP interview on his website
At the top of his website a banner reads, "After a month of silence, TP is back on the net. . ."
Something about that breaks my heart. Maybe it's the ellipses. . .
The interview is purely about basketball with one quick mention of a "difficult" November. After hearing Manu's heartfelt words of support for Tony yesterday on the Jim Rome show and after witnessing Tony's brilliant on-court performance in game after game, I'm hoping that the japes and the speculation will continue to fade.
Dude really just wants to play, you know?
Transcript: Interview with a Vampire Manu Ginobili
I just had time to get Manu's words. Figured you wouldn't really care what Romes had to say. Question topics are in parens. (On the "difference" this year): We are feeling confident now and our offense is going great. Defensively we are not quite there yet, but shots are falling and confidence is huge. Things are looking good now. (New strategies): We're trying to push the ball a little more and attack the rim a little earlier. Not wait 20 seconds before we take the shot. I don't know about now [referring to last night's 8 of 29], but we were leading the league in three-point percentage. (Contract extension): I know he [Popovich] was going to be a free agent pretty soon, so we had our conversation and he told me he wanted me and I told him I wanted him. [This said with a laugh.] I think I probably would have stayed anyways [if Pop had left] because San Antonio is my city now. (You make the incredible plays and TP gets Player of the Week--how do you feel about that?): He was the one who made the huge plays for 45 minutes, I just played for three! I know my job is to take the big shots or to make things happen down the stretch, but Tony Parker is unbelievable. (MVP chances): I really can't see myself winning MVP. I'm just very happy with the way things are going now. These conversations are way too early and inappropriate. [At this point Rome said something like, "You know, when players say that sort of thing, humble, too early, in most cases I don't buy it, but in yours I do. I think you mean it."] (Analyzing the West): I think the Lakers deserve all the respect as back to back champions. They are still the team to beat even though they didn't start strong. Dirk is doing amazing things. (TP marriage woes and effect on team): I wasn't worried about the locker room, I was worried about him. I like him as a good friend and I wanted him to do good and be good. We could see him struggling at times but now it's better. When it first started happening we could see he was devastated and that was hard to watch. (Rome asked: Do you take sides?) I'm his friend and I want to help him and support him, so it is personal. (On the possibility of becoming a coach): I like playing, not making the calls. I can see myself helping younger kids and trying to develop players, but not as a full-time thing. I doubt it. (Big name players going to big markets): I guess I'm different. I'm very lucky to be in a place where i want to be and where they love me and my family. This place has been amazing for me since day one. My goal is to finish my career here. At this point the interview ended. After Manu left, Rome went on to say this: Manu is the most polite guest in the history of the Jungle. (Plays compilation of clips of Manu from past appearances saying hi to everyone listening, thanking Jim for being on the show, etc.)
My very imperfect approximation of Manu's interview with Jim Rome on 12/21/2010
over 1 year ago
Lauri
19 comments
9 recs
Ginobili on Jim Rome Today (Like, Now)
You can find a radio station at the link. According to Rome he will be on "in the second half of the show, depending on when he gets out of practice."
(Practice!)
Remember my friend the Lakers fan?
Well, he has a blog, Searching for Slava, and it's a damn good read. But y'all will especially like this entry, because he respects the Spurs. Read the other entries if you like his style--rewarding stuff.
Austin Toros Will Be Coached by Brad Jones
An interesting tidbit you won't find in the press release: Jones is Jerry Sloan's nephew (by marriage). Folks were rather surprised when the Utah Flash let him go this summer, not just because of his ties to Sloan, but because he's considered an excellent coach for developing players. This is a good move by Holt and Co.
Shaq to Boston
It almost seems inevitable now that I think about it.
Dan Gilbert's Open Letter to Cavs Fans is Made of Win
Maybe win isn't the word I was looking for. Maybe the word is schadenfreude.
P.S. Mr. Gilbert, maybe I shouldn't kick you while you're down, but take it "easy" on the scare quotes. You're "not" "doing" it "right."
Caja Laboral to play the Spurs on October 16
Read into that what you will . . . (and you will).
Our old friend the JV.
Aw, it's the JV!
WELCOME BACK: Former Spurs point guard Jacque Vaughn is expected to serve as an assistant coach for the team's summer league squad next month in Las Vegas, an endeavor he might hope to parlay into a full-time gig next season.
The Spurs are in search of a replacement for long-time assistant coach/head video coordinator James Borrego, who left after seven seasons to join Monty Williams' new staff in New Orleans.
Vaughn, who spent the final three of his 12 seasons with the Spurs, retired after the 2008-09 campaign. He has long been held in high esteem by coach Gregg Popovich, who has called Vaughn prime coaching material.
"Welcome back . . . your dreams were your ticket out. . . . Welcome back . . . to that same old place that you laughed about. . . ."
Preview: Game 4, Phoenix Suns at San Antonio Spurs--maybe we'll talk about the Gipper
by Lauri on May 9, 2010 10:17 AM EDT
in Game Previews
on Pounding The Rock
I don't know what to say.
I considered going all Gregg Popovich on you, you know, telling you that you're grown men and women and you don't need me reminding you that no one's ever come from being down 0-3 to win a playoff series, and obviously a good strategy would consist of winning this game and the next 3 as well, and could someone ask a real question for a change?
I considered going zen. Simple calm serenity in the face of chaos and confusion. What is winning? What is losing? What is the sound of a baseline jumper left short? (I can tell you the answer to that one, actually, it sounds like this: clank.)
But in the end I've decided on something else.
I'll just say what I'm thinking.
72 comments
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Parker Skips MRI, Will Play Game 4
Tony's not ready to give up. Are you?
Game 3, Part 2, Number 1 in our hearts
by Lauri on May 7, 2010 10:55 PM EDT
in Game Threads
on Pounding The Rock
Get in here and keep it going.
Dwayne Jones, Undercover Agent for the Suns
"Jones said the Suns coaches have asked him about a couple plays San Antonio runs but that they get paid to do those kind of things and do them well.
"Still, the Toros and the Spurs run the same system, a system Jones has played in the past two years. He knows it like the back of his hand, and he won’t be surprised by anything San Antonio does if he’s called upon for some spot time, a nice trait to have in a deep reserve. And who knows, maybe he could help the coaching staff decode some intricate wrinkle that the Spurs run."
Hmph.
Game 6 Preview: Dallas Mavericks at San Antonio Spurs
by Lauri on Apr 29, 2010 9:46 AM EDT
in Game Previews
on Pounding The Rock
Yes, please, more knocking Barea on his ass.
For Dallas, it's win or go home. For us, it's win or . . . go to Dallas. Ew. Honestly, I think we have more to lose in that scenario.
207 comments
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2 recs |
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Monday Night DTOUR Thread
by Lauri on Apr 26, 2010 7:00 PM EDT
in DTOUR
on Pounding The Rock
It's a long, agonizing wait until Tuesday night. But we're here to help, after the jump.
DTOUR Time
by Lauri on Apr 22, 2010 8:30 PM EDT
on Pounding The Rock
Still basking in the afterglow of a convincing Spurs win over the Mavericks? Want some company while you watch tonight's other basketball sporting contests? Or, like me, do you just desperately need a place to post all your off-topic musings and links?
Your search is over. Your journey ends here. Well, not here here. After-the-jump here.
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