SB Nation User Blog: SgtinManusArmy

"I hate Tony Parker/God save the Mace" - phx suns recap

SgtinManusArmy — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 04:08:36 -0000

I was so close to just posting political pictures and giving self-assumed witty political commentary speckled throughout this recap. But then I realized…… I’m not an asshole. If you’re looking for anything non-SPURS, you’re going to Daily Kos or National Review or Sean Hannity or Move On. Who am I to assume that my opinions are worth a shit outside of things SPURS related? Hell, even SPURS-related my opinions aren’t that special. It would take either a complete idiot or a complete asshole to assume that either his opinions are so conformed and mainstream that he’s safe to venture into non-SPURS drivel; or it would take someone who doesn’t give a shit about offending you. Unfortunately, I’m not an idiot. Or a complete asshole. And I don’t want to offend you. Usually. So you have to deal with just SPURS stuff today. Anyway, all that ranting aside and speaking of assholes, let’s talk about phoenix.

I had a dream last night.

I dreamed that just for a day, we made perfect defensive rotations. We funneled drivers to the baseline, and Timmy and Bonner rotated back to eliminate easy shots. We challenged each shooter; not be going for the ridiculously overrated blocking stat, but instead had a hand in every face and made each attempt extremely difficult. We hustled on loose balls, and didn’t make an extreme amount of mental errors. In my dream, Tony drove the lane to draw the D in, then kicked out consistently to the open shooters, who then efficiently made their shots. In addition, Timmy focused on owning the paint and didn’t shy away from double teams by settling for 15-foot jumpers. Bonner had another huge game, as each time Timmy was doubled he kicked it across the lane to an open Red Rocket. We controlled the pace, and we fought hard to achieve a victory over an incredibly talented rival.

But that was only a dream. And completely the opposite in every way from what actually happened on Christmas Day in Phoenix. For 47 minutes and 45 seconds, I felt sick to my stomach. Completely nauseous. Like you’d feel if you drank ipecac.

First off, let’s get this out of the way. It’s a miracle that we pulled that out. No doubt about it, we didn’t play that great. Phx seemed to be playing pretty well and gelling nicely, even the top-notch announcing team headlined by Hubie "Skeletor" Brown seemed to notice. Flat out miracle. Several times out of ten, that shot doesn’t fall for Roger and we’re singing the Christmas blues right now. That one play represented 94% of the good that Tony Parker performed in that game, and were it not for basketball mojo we’d have a very short recap today. When you win like that after playing well, it’s the cherry on the sundae. When you win like that after playing FAR below your abilities, it’s the cheese on the shit-sandwich.

That doesn’t even make sense. We dodged a bullet, that’s all I’m saying. Thank God we have Tim Duncan.

They're in the waaaaaayyyyy back, dark corner of your local Foot Locker.

Ooooooohhhhh Timmy. Watching Timmy never gets old. Do you realize that even as good as Amare is, even if he somehow quickly learned to play defense and maintained it for the rest of his career…… at the end you still couldn’t put him in the top 5 PF conversation headlined by Timothy Duncan. Tim is the only player in the association who can effectively play the Big Snaq straight up one-on-one, and that's saying something. Think about it....the ONLY one. Every other team is incapable of using anything but the double- or triple-team to slow him down when he's on. And today Timmy rendered Snaq useless for most of the 2nd half. Duncan is so freakin brilliant that he disables your ability to see how freakin brilliant he is. KG is a great contrast here; cause KG usually screams at you to get your attention for how freakin brilliant he is, as if somehow he’s insecure that you might not actually appreciate his talents or may have completely overlooked them. To me though, being freakin brilliant at basketball is kinda like being black. If you are, you don’t need to remind people.

Everyone do your best Snaq impersonation....NOW!

And TD is freakin brilliant at basketball. He’s just good at it. Wizard held Amare scoreless on three straight possessions in the paint in the 4th, without drawing a foul. And he had 5 fouls at the time. Considering Amare’s their moneymaker, that’s pretty freakin brilliant. He held us together all day, even though he got very angry several times over his repeated paint-muggings being ignored. But when you’re in phoenix, on Christmas Day, in a nationally televised game….. you should probably anticipate that kind of thing. You guys know what I mean.

We started off the game sluggish and lazy, and it didn’t get much better until about 4 minutes left in the fourth. Do not lull yourself into believing that we were savvy and gritty, and that we fought back into the game as any good team does. The fact that we were only 2-6 points down for the majority of the game has a very real and simple explanation. The 2008-9 kleenex suns are not a good basketball team. They’re just not. We ended the 1st quarter having shot 29% to their 55%, and were only down 9. At the end of the 2nd, we were only down 6 and had shot only 33%. For those of you who don’t follow basketball much, those aren’t good percentages. We have much further to go to compete with the big boys in the NBA, but games like this give me hope. We can easily identify what went wrong, and what went right.

First off, what went wrong.

Zoost becuz I’s dizn’t haz de best game ehz it pertainz to ze mental does’zent mean I am not good playa, weee?

Tony had horrendous position D the entire game. He didn’t switch on screens that went baseline, he didn’t funnel drivers to the post men, he didn’t pass effectively and he hurried shots. This can be best witnessed by the last 1 minute of the game. Tony drove the lane rushing a teardrop with a full shotclock and open perimeter shooters, then immediately went on to ignore a switch on the other end allowing Grant Hill to score what was likely the deciding bucket. You guys wonder why I stress transition D- when you don’t communicate effectively on the baseline to rotate and cover Finley’s man as he drives uncontested to the basket………. you’re not playing smart basketball.

Like Frenchie, Matt Barnes' lockdown D is not exactly known the world over.

Also, our quick shooting was painful to watch. It appears as though Friday’s practice will include drills on utilizing the 24-second shot clock, because that was done sparingly during the phoenix game. In addition, the suns absolutely killed us on backdoor cuts. All night we allowed the baseline or the low block to be open because we fronted on the pick and roll. Although we didn’t allow any major P&R lapses as we’re accustomed to when we play Nash and Amare, 2 points scored is still 2 points scored regardless of how.

As for the good? I’ve already mentioned Tim Duncan, and that pretty much covers it. So let’s focus on the other players. Manu was mortal tonight, if for no other reason but to give us earthlings hope of personal greatness. The ankle was clearly bothering him and he hobbled on it several times that I saw. Bonner gradually figured out how to clog the lane with his hands held up and only finished with a team worst -11. Mason, although saving the game for us at the buzzer took no other shots and played only that possession in the 2nd half. Tony took 23 shots to get to his game-high 27, but did thoroughly abuse Nash as it pertained to "lateral movement." Findog went 2-3 on threes and was very spry tonight. Bruce…. not so much. Ime never left the bench with a DNP-CD and is starting to concern me. He was very cozy with the JV and that’s never a good sign, just ask Blake Ahern.

Overall, we played just well enough to squeak out a win on Christmas Day playing an overrated underachieving team. Watching the Big Snaq play now is just comical- When the only ones that really respect you are in the ESPN marketing department, then your time is done. When you need "days rest" between games to be an effective NBA player, you’re done.

Whoops, my bad.

And the most important part of the game, the part you've all heard and likely already seen on the highlights- The Mason Threeball. Tony allows the Hill backdoor layup by not switching, putting phx up 2 with less than five seconds to play. SPURS drive the court and after drawing the triple-team, Tony kicks out to an open Mace who drains the 3 at the buzzer. Fans sat motionless, stunned again that San Antonio had bested them on their home court. I've said it before, but there really is nothing greater than seeing little kids clad in orange crying on Christmas Day after your team just ripped the joy from their little whiny bodies. I'm surprised you didn't hear me, because you could have heard a mouse sneeze in the arena after the buzzer. A few of the most delusional waited cautiously for the replay, but it was clearly good upon the release. We won, SPURS fans, and it's exciting knowing that we're only getting better. Congratulations Roger Mason, you've won my heart eternally. Now please try and avoid shooting yourself in the leg or getting caught in an airport with a bag of crystal meth.

I'm with you now. I'm with you. -SiMA, 12/25/08

To summarily recap this game, we could have played much, much better while they likely couldn’t have. And we won. In a dramatic, emotional way. In phoenix on Christmas. It was wonderful and beautiful and joyous. The suns obviously have individual talent, but the sum of the parts don’t make a working machine. D’Antoni’s run-and-gun culture still exists, though they deny it here. Nash still simply plays too quickly and too rushed for half his team, and there are too many alpha-dogs on the team to keep a cohesive structure. They are still unable to play in the half court and look lost when attempting to. The suns are like the Denver in that they are entertainers first, professional basketball players second. But regardless of where this team is at the end of the year, it’s such a joy to beat them. Manu may be a flopper at some times, but he’s starting next to Steve Nash and Amare on the All-Flop Team.

I still defy you to convince me that that's not at least 45% flop.

Your three stars-

3.) Michael Finley- went 2-3 on threes and as I said, looked spry. Anytime I can write "spry" and "Michael Finley" in the same sentence he gets a star.

2.) Roger Mason- though he didn’t do much for the game (3-7 for 7 points), he hit the shot that will define his early regular season career with the San Antonio SPURS.

1.) Tim Duncan- It’ll likely be a cold day in hell before anyone takes this spot in one of my recaps. He’s just too freakin brilliant. 25/17/3 on 25 shots, and a pantload of intangibles.

PS- Some of you may think that I'm being cruel and mean again. "Damn, that was harsh." To that thought I say, "Come to phoenix and watch a game. Listen to the entitlement combined with bitterness and lack of accountability." As a person who is blessed to see games all over the country, it's truly unique here. They absolutely hate us with unbridled rage. They consider us they're primary rival (as most every other team in the league- you ever notice that?!), except they've never really bested us enough to qualify. It is being IN phoenix then that you will understand my relentlessness. I can be relentless AND be a good sport, can't I? I hope that I've done that, and not gone against our culture as a team in my analysis of things.

If not, phoenix has plenty of extras for you.

phoenix preparing for our boys

SgtinManusArmy — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 20:46:12 -0000

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/2008/12/23/20081223spurs1224.html

This is a great article from the Arizona Republic this morning about the SPURS. It's actually a pretty good piece about how our year has been, and pretty objective considering it's written by the biggest homerdouche in the Valley.

This game ought to be good. We typically don't deliver stunning performances on major holidays and don't seem to care much about emotional games during the RS. But we do always bring a little more fire when playing the Kleenix suns, so it will be entertaining. I'm taking the recap since it is going to work out that I'll be at the game. Any suggestions you may have for me for saturating the area with SPURS mojo would be appreciated. The Bruce jersey is already ironed and ready to unveil.

Article on DRob's HOF induction/SPURS culture

SgtinManusArmy — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 22:03:28 -0000

Our own frequent commenter Kid Dynamite had a great piece on David Robinson's 2009 HOF induction and relevance on the SPURS culture over at 48 Minutes of Hell this week.

You guys should check it out- http://48minutesofhell.blogspot.com/2008/12/david-robinson-2009-hall-of-fame.html

Good stuff there. It'll be a great day seeing DRob inducted.

filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler

Finally.... the Redemption Game - thuggets Recap

SgtinManusArmy — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 19:26:43 -0000

You have to understand, it is awful watching a SPURS game in Denver. I’ve never simply said that because I live here; there’s more to it than that. I’m fortunate to get to attend many games and games in Denver even surpass games in Phx for pure suckitude. The fans in CO are arrogant, entitled pricks with nothing but a 1994 NBA first round playoff upset to show for their basketball pedigree. And they hate the SPURS. It’s like most other fan bases, but more intense. Because Manu scorned them several years ago, because we always seem to bring our A game while here, because we frequently end their playoff dreams. Countless reasons why the boos you imagined so constant on the telecast were in fact, exactly as you suspected. Not to mention, as a true basketball fan and lover of the sport, watching the abortion that Denver puts on the court is sheer criminal.

Getting TO the game was fun, all the while thinking, "Which SPURS team is going to show tonight? Will it be the 2008-09 version, or a version I’m more accustomed to seeing that doesn’t suck ass and embarrass me? I hope I don’t get jumped tonight." So in lieu of a traditional recap and the fact that I'm so devoted to you morons that I actually brought a notebook to the game to take notes; I'm abandoning the traditional recap in favor of a running diary. SiMA's thoughts and observations, and some stats thrown in.

PREGAME-

My seats are nice, right behind the SPURS bench. If you go to a game it’s where you have to be to hear the goings on and see the body language. I like to psychoanalyze like that.
Why is Pop spending so much time talking to Bonner? Why is Don Newman talking so much to Bonner. Oh no. Oh God no.
Craptastic. The thugget fan behind me is loud and wants to make sure everyone in Colorado knows he’s a true fan. He’s already blowing about a 1.89.
Yep, Bonner is starting. This ought to be comedic gold. And if thats not enough for me to ridicule in my recap, Finley’s starting on Melo. By my calculation, Melo could possibly have 137 points tonight.
I suddenly realize something. Everyone on earth has come to the conclusion that because Billups is not a primary scorer and is more a PG than Iverson, that is the plausible explanation for the thuggets’ improvement. It occurs to me that no one has any explanation for why the thuggets still sucked ass with Andre Miller running the point.
It sure is good that I brought my camera. It’s not working for some reason, and now I look like I’m carrying a freakin’ purse. Thank God ATS isn’t here to see this.

1st QUARTER-

12:00- Thought Nene wins the tip, Manu grabs it and quickly spots up for a 16-footer. All net. I hope this continues.

11:20- Bonner with the quick and unreluctant 3. I don’t like Rocket being one of the very first to score, but I do like this strange new confidence-like thing he’s showing.

10:01- Finley jumper. San Antonio is shooting 4-4, Denver is shooting 4-4. You get dizzy watching shit like this for too long.

9:47- Matt Bonner is literally running circles on the floor. And I don’t mean ‘Pop’s play looks like circles on the hardwood.’ I mean he’s literally just running around aimlessly, like you do in a pickup game at the Y. Pop has caught on to Matt’s "offensive rotations" and is screaming.

9:28- If Pop truly is smart, he’ll go directly at Nene all 1st half. Timmy owns their bigs and they both have too much pride and insecurity to allow him in the paint without accruing 4-5 fouls apiece before half.

8:03- The pretzels at the Pepsi Center are terrible. Dry, stale and without enough salt. There’s not enough mustard in the arena to hide that hideousness, so I throw it carelessly on the ground. Rebel in a Bruce Bowen jersey, you can’t stop me.

7:45- 13-13. Tony is VERY, very rusty. You can see it in everything he does. He’s clearly out of shape, and he’s at least 1 step too slow. I have faith it will come back, but he’s not close to the same Tony we’ll need in April and May.

6:37- Cheryl Miller just walked by- I literally thought it was Rick Fox at first. She’s enormous, and I’m pretty sure I saw a bulge.

5:40- Timmy’s getting really angry with Kmart’s touch fouls. Kmart of course wants to immediately throw down. God I hate these guys.

This is seriously who he got the lips tattoo for. Insert joke here. And you wondered why I didn't correct you guys when you mistakenly thought he did it in honor of Miss Piggy.

5:02- Some Denver dancers walk by. As much as I hate the sports fans of Denver and am convinced that the city has very few redeeming qualities, the dancers certainly provide momentary redemption. Easily better than the Silver Dancers. Though this entry likely will never see the light of day on PtR.

4:00- Bruce is definitely not the same, and Melo knows it. Look for Melo to demand the ball even more than his ‘every minute usual.’

3:29- I suddenly smell hooch and look over at the scorer’s table. Coincidentally, Chris ‘Birdman’ Anderson is checking in.

3:17- "Hey Tony……Denver is playing rough. Yes, we know it’s hard playing a rough team. Get used to it. See that little guy on the bench? No, not the guy doing crosswords, that’s the JV. I’m talking about the guy paying attention and learning. He’s your backup. He relishes the fact that Denver is playing rough. Get used to it."

2:59- Well, the pick & roll D is atrocious, but the overall defensive rotations are improved. I wish I had a PtR shirt so I could wave at you guys. Wearing Bruce’s jersey IS sad, I was right.

2:00- Second shot attempts are winning this game for us. We’re simply outworking and out-hustling them.

1:34- Superfan behind me boos my sweet Manu for no apparent reason. I for a split second consider whether it would be a felony or a misdemeanor to turn around and crack him in the jaw. Maybe ATS is right, fanny packs ARE cool. If I had one right now at least I could have snuck in a taser or brass knuckles or something. Hopefully this guy will soon be too drunk to realize that you do not boo the Manu in my presense.

:04- Chris Anderson with a wide-open 3. This guy is a prime example of why I hate the thuggets. Chris Anderson would not even be allowed to rebound for our practice team. He would not even have the talent to play 3rd string with the JV in San Antonio, but yet, Coach Hairlip has decided he’s a good fit for a team already with chemistry issues. Hmm.

The quota for tattoos on the nuggets was set at 73, thus the only acceptable explanation for the acquisition.

30-26 SPURS, end of 1st.

-I’m now sold on Mace. He’s walking back to the bench and sees me. I’m staring at him as a child does when meeting a stranger, just soaking him in and trying to analyze him. He winks and gives me a head-nod. This cat is cool. I mean seriously, he’s very confident and he brings great chemistry to the team when viewed up close and interacting with the vets. Everyone likes him and he was clearly born to be a SPUR. Not saying I agree with everything he does, but I’m much more comfortable with him in black and silver now.

2nd QUARTER

11:23- There are so many Argentine’s here at that game. I always wonder, if you’re Argentine, why the hell would you move to Denver, CO? Could half these people simply be frauds, jumping on the Manu/Fab bandwagon? I hate Denver even more just contemplating the injustice as I dust off my baby blue flag hanging from the railing in front of me.

You're back in, LD. This one's for you.

10:25- Holding on, 34-31 SPURS.

9:50- I think to myself, "Why aren’t we driving the paint more" as Manu flies in for the foul. Boos rain down.

9:40- Finley enters the game. The stench of death around the bench suddenly dissipates.

8:07- We’re rebounding really well, but too many stupid turnovers.

7:50- I get pissed off and take off Bruce’s jersey. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch him leaning back and watching me. I bow my head in shame as a single tear rolls down his cheek. His very, very old cheek.

7:10- Mace gets greedy and jacks another 3, Pop stares vacantly.

6:12- Hill for three and we’re up 14. I look over to see the JV doing a Sudoku. He knows whats coming.

5:21- Kmart’s quote about stopping Timmy still makes me smile. Maybe he confused TD with Bonner, cause Tim’s absolutely abusing him tonight. Again. Another graduate of the Shaq O’Neal School of Quote Reliability.

4:04- If you were judging solely by Pop’s reactions and body language and choice of words, I’d say Bruce’s time is nearly over. I love Bruce Bowen, much more than any of you clowns, and it pains me to say that. But I’ve never been more sure that Bruce is not the same and slowly on his way out. He plays a shell of the defense that once made him famous, and he simply can’t move the way he once did. Without a higher shooting percentage, there’s no reason to keep him around and it appears the coaching staff is figuring this out.

3:15- T on Melo. Well, there’s still one thing Bruce can do. The thuggets are so easy, I love playing Denver.

I couldn't find any in-game pics of Carmelo because I didn't look; but I still have this one.

2:13- Melo with 3 fouls, and I’m pretty sure they’re all offensive.

2:01- Mace needs to slow down and stop shooting. It’s a long game, champ. We can put them away in the 2nd half. You don’t need to beat them in the 1st and in fact can’t. Settle down.

1:52- I’ve never seen a player more proud of making a routine basketball play than Kenyon Martin. Leading the league in post-dunk screaming and post-block posturing every year. Every game. Fortunately I was able to get a pic of Kmart before my camera died….

1:03- Holy shit we’re up 18.

:32- Holy shit we’re up 20.

:12- The thuggets fan behind me orders yet another Coors for his inbred cesspool of a wife and himself. Drink up assclown, we came to play.

HALFTIME

I’m starting to get that same feeling in my stomach that you get when you come home early and there’s another car next to your wifes in the driveway. Worry, doubt, confusion, paranoia for the 2nd half. Your 2008-09 San Antonio SPURS, Ladies and -Gentlemen!!
Denver shot 55% in the 1st, 24% in the 2nd.
The annual speech by Pop clearly worked, defense is much improved tonight.
On the last play of the half, Bonner tried to hit Tony on the outlet pass but sailed it over his little head. Tony stood there with his arms out and said, "Come on Matt!" My blood began to boil at seeing Tony sell Bonner out to an entire arena of opposing fans. The hillbillies behind me started laughing. Then, Tony started laughing. He walked over and put his arm around Matt and Bonner started laughing too. Suddenly, no one around me was mocking them anymore. Joe Dirt behind me calmly said, "I wish we had that kind of chemistry." I love being a San Antonio SPURS fan. The whole exchange was kindof like how ATS treats me on PtR. Except for the reconciliation, it’s a perfect parallel.
Bonner’s hair up close is frighteningly red. Like Viking red.
17 assists for San Antonio in the 1st half.
JR Smith could easily be the next 6th Man of the Year, but he's a fucking lunatic.

3rd QUARTER-

12:00- Probably not going to take as good of notes in the 2nd half because I’m hungry and want nachos and a beer, and you bastards won’t read it anyway.

11:40- I yell "Hell No" on Kmart’s 1st free throw (don’t know if you heard him do that on one of Bruce’s shots earlier, but it was retarded. If all else fails in your NBA career, and it has, don’t hesitate to employ the ‘Hey Batter Batter’ method of defense) He misses, and I smile as I get ever closer to getting my ass kicked by 389 blind loyalists.

9:06- Parker with the finger roll and it’s 67-44.

6:31- Bruce is really getting physical with Melo, there could be another T coming here soon. A team like Denver is really Bruce’s favorite though, they’re so easy to psychologically destroy. Bruce delivers an incredible block on Melo and the destruction is almost complete.

2:34- Uh oh. The D has left the building. Terrible rotations, poor shot selection, poor shooting, too much 1 on 1. I can literally feel Pop’s anger from here.

:56- I’m not sure that if we hadn’t put together a perfect first half we wouldn’t be getting blown out right now. We’re playing completely opposite from how we played in the 1st, and we’re not penetrating the lane at all. Denver’s D is not responsible by any means, we simply get soft in the 2nd halves of games and it’s occurring now.

4th QUARTER-

7:21- I realizes something for the first time watching the players this year up close in the great moments and the bad moments of a game. We don’t have our roles set just yet. Yes we’ve struggled with injuries as well, but the real problem is our identity. This is the explanation when Hill and Mason perform amazingly only until Tony and Manu’s return. This is the explanation when Bonner runs aimlessly in circles on the court. This is the problem when Tony shoots 30 times a game. Mason is settling into a ‘shoot-first’ role because that’s what we’ve needed. But we no longer need that with Manu and Tony back; they're those guys. You can see it in that often he shoots 3s with 20 on the shot clock and no SPURS back to pass to. You can see it when George looks confused and uninspired now that Tony’s back. It’s all about knowing your roles. Bowen understands he’s not going to be counted on to drop 30 points in a given night. Fab understands that he’s not an offensive option, but that he’s to do other intangible things. Once George grasps that he’s the backup PG, depended on for only stability and leadership, he’ll shake out of this funk. Once Mason understands that he’s to be an effective spot-up shooter and capable defender and not the leading man each night, we’ll see more consistency.

Timmy knows his role already. And that role is.....to.....destroy.

3:16- We’ve shot 26 threes this game. I HATE relying on the 3, but it was fun to watch.

3:00- 5th foul on Melo, courtest of Mr. Potato Head.

2:45- 5th foul on Nene as Manu gets the and-1

:00- Game. SPURS 108, thuggets 91. But it wasn’t that close.

Your three stars:

3. Matt Bonner- 6-8 for 14 and 2-2 from 3. Much needed performance from him.

2. Manu Ginobili- 7-11 for 21 points and 4-7 from 3. And he’s beautiful.

1. Tim Duncan- 21 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 blocks, 1 steal, 2 TOs and a game-high +22. Oh yeah, and he was 7-8 from the FT line. Kmart had 12 points 5 boards, 2 blocks for -15 on 4-7 shooting.

I’m not ready to give Tony a star. When you shoot under 50% as a PG who specializes in layups, you don’t get the nod regardless of how many points you finished with.The thuggets are never going to be an upper-tier team in the George Karl era. No matter how deep offensively they get, they’re still emotionally and psychologically infants. It’s far too easy for a smart veteran team to take them out of their game and allow them to beat themselves. And it’s beautiful if you’re there, and your team is doing the mindscrewing.

Coach Hairlip in one of his most interactive and involved coaching moments.

In the timeouts, Pop talked constantly about not trading baskets for baskets, play chess and not checkers, and getting stops. We got too tangled in this game for the 3rd quarter, and as a result were outscored 26-22. Seeing this wisdom and understanding the ‘pounding the rock’ mantra is good for the new guys.
Our rotations and plays were brilliant in the 2nd quarter. This is when we pulled away.
Funny thing about a player who showboats and screams a lot. Take a look at Kmart’s stats above. Maybe he is such an asshat because he’s realized that he seems like a better player when doing so. I know I never would have believed he only finished with 5 boards and 2 blocks. Huh.
Much to my surprise, Mason played terrible. He’s still obviously figuring out the system but he’ll be alright. Pop doesn’t tolerate such unwise pull-up 3s unless your name is Manu, and I see that habit changing very soon. Considering he went 2-10 from 3, I wouldn’t worry too much about Mace’s habit of jacking as he likely heard plenty about it postgame. Mace is a great fit overall and his stroke will return.

Well, we're now 10-8 and holding firmly to the 8th seed in the West.

Next up- @ home vs. the Warriors on Saturday night. 7:30PM CST

The Internet is fun

SgtinManusArmy — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:10:39 -0000

Somebody finally figured out how to post pics! I've tried for some time, facing constant ridicule from ATS for my lack of technical skills. But with a cold, slow day at work and special pic-posting instructions from the CMoney, I am now that much more internet-savy. It's exciting, it really is.

To mark this monumental occurrence, I've chosen a special pick to lose my cherry. There's really a lot of pressure when you're trying to decide which picture is worth the inaugural slot.

But in honor of the long-term overwhelming success of our old friends, the phx suns, here's a pic of their championship/winning banners hanging in the US Airways Center in phx. It just makes me laugh, because a picture is truly worth 1000 words in this case.

Other great SPURS pics to follow. And pics, via Bones' request, of the SPURS wall of fame to come as well. My excitement level is at monumental proportions.

via i497.photobucket.com

Manu having surgery

SgtinManusArmy — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:05:42 -0000

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/8502882?MSNHPHMA

So that's happening. Awesome. So much for the pipe dream that rehab and rest were all that is needed. No speculation about how long he'll be down, but ankle operations are not, in my experience, quick and painless procedures.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you, sweet prince.

wordswordswordswordswordswordswordswordswordswordswordswords

This word limit is really freakin ridiculous. That's my two cents. And 18 more words, suck that SB Nation.

PtR - All-time great Quotes

SgtinManusArmy — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 03:39:02 -0000

So I realized the other day, we've talked about a database for vintage PtR quotes for some time and haven't acted on it. There have been some gems over the years, and there needs to be somewhere to store all of this brilliance. And I'm not talking about how funny it was that time you told the other guy that he had a little weiner; I'm talking about classic statements that carry through a lifetime uttered by PtRers or those affiliated. The quotes that you find yourself stealing and wowing people with the day after games. Many times, the quotes taken and posted on avitars. The insults, the analogies, the comparisons, the descriptions that made us who we are and formed us as the best NBA blog going. It's time to share our wisdom, while at the same time providing a quick and easy access for laughs and cheers.

Post away those that you remember. And if it gets to be as good a resource as dreamed, don't forget to 'rec' the post so that it's easier to hang onto. CMoney and I will be doing exhaustive research over the next week or so (slogging through old posts and game threads) to identify some, but add on all that you know of that impacted you.

And it must be a gem. Post a squeaker and it'll follow you for ages. We're not talking about "Robert Horry" level quotes that are disputable as HOF quotes. We're talking the "Timmys" here, people.

It's not over...

SgtinManusArmy — Tue, 13 May 2008 21:17:16 -0000

Lots of national commentators are already swinging over to the SPURS, and virtually declaring the series over. "Nooch is demoralized," "Nooch is lost and confused," "San Antonio has figured Nooch out."

I still believe we're taking the series and have more control and favorability now than any stats or numbers would suggest, but this article definately is eye-opening. It's certainly not over. Nooch is a talented team, and capable of easily blowing us out in New Orleans. Tonight's game will be very, very difficult and we'll be fortunate to escape with a W. It's likely that tonight's winner wins the series.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2008/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=SpursHornets_080513

BRING ON THE NOOCH

SgtinManusArmy — Fri, 02 May 2008 03:06:53 -0000

There's been so much said about the phx series, and rightly so. It will go down as one of my favorite SPURS playoff series' of all time and I think it represented more than just a first round victory (as someone else already elaborated on). It was rewarding on so many levels, and vindicative as well. I will continue to relive this series for quite some time, watching videos and rereading posts and write-ups. And I definately can't wait for Stampler's recap of Game 5 and of the entire series. Pure beauty, beating those guys that are so cannonized by the media in only 5 games.

But.... the celebration is over.

For now, I think it's time to move ahead. One of my favorite qualities of the Tim Duncan era has always been the professionalism and poise in moving towards the final goal. I love that even announcers always notice that the SPURS don't celebrate or even overly show emotion after getting through an opponent in a round of the playoffs. I love seeing most other teams dogpile each other and break into tears and high-fives after winning a series, while the SPURS show little regard to winning "battles." We've always seemed to recognize that the goal is to win the war. The goal is a championship, and until that is achieved, we're consistantly moving forward and looking to tomorrow. Let phx and it's blog pontificate on the merits of the SPURS/suns series; we're already down the road. It's not like we're all going crazy or celebrating TOO much already, I just think it's time we looked ahead and ended our relief at getting through the suns. Our next opponent will present many new challenges and tests, and we're more than ready for the match-up. This week has been awesome as a SPURS fan, and next week will be awesome too. Congrats fellow SPURS worshippers, but now it's time to prepare....

http://www.nba.com/spurs/news/playoffs_2008.html

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA.050108.bkn_Spurs_off_day.EN.3c40c50.html

Bring on the New Orleans Hornets!!! I'm going out right now and saying SPURS in 5. Ballsy, but I have very high confidence right now that we're stopping CP3 and we're using our experience and superior coaching to blow through this young upstart. If we execute properly and play our game, there's no reason to think that we'll go 7 as some "experts" have already decided. Our playoff defense and focus is something this team has yet to experience; and as I've said before, I don't see anyone beating Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, and Pop 4 out of 7 games right now.

GO SPURS GO

phx is a miserable place to lose...

SgtinManusArmy — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 23:56:55 -0000

This is exactly why I love the SPURS and love PtR-

No one is panicking, not even the clingers from SpursTalk. No one is jumping from the bridge at the new hope and belief we gave phx today. No one is seemingly even remotely concerned. And rightly so.

Holy mouse fart. Yep, being there was bad. And I literally had the biggest phx sun douchebag fan and his girlfriend sitting behind us. It took everything I had for my head not to explode. There is no doubt in my mind now that they have the worst, most poorly educated, most minimally possessing of basketball knowledge, most arrogant and hypocritical fans in the league. EVERY play, EVERY call against the suns..... it's didn't matter, they were bitching. I mean literally the whole arena, but especially Captain Douchbag in 105/25/7. Snaq literally could have performed a flying elbow to Timmy's collarbone from a chair, gotten a whistle, and these people would have booed the poor officiating. It was astounding.

I hate even mentioning the officials. I hate it being a topic of discussion. I hate the mere thought that the officials or league may have had some influence in a game. Though I know it happens, I choose to win AND lose on the court, not any other way. Teams lose games, and there's no way around that. But that said, what you saw and suspected was 10x worse in person. You have no idea. I actually turned to my dad 4:00 into the game and said, "This is already over, we don't have a chance in this one." The league doesn't want sweeps, especially over 'golden boy' teams. We'll just leave it at that.

We lost the game on our own, by being completely inept at, well, basketball. This was finally our bitch game, and we all knew it was coming. We ALWAYS have this game, the one in which we should win but no one shows up, we don't get calls like the home team and the homers play lights out. I pined optimistic in my post guaranteeing victory, but we all deep down knew we likely hadn't dodged the bitch game. How foolish me was to feel so confident. The simple fact was- snaq and stevie are a proud bunch, and never going to allow getting swept in their gym. Didn't matter how well we played, it wasn't going to happen. Just so happens that we obliged them perfectly by completely choking today.

I don't even want to talk about the game or think about it anymore. I don't want to ponder how we didn't attempt to draw enough contact, or Tony overcommitted on drives too frequently, or Manu didn't fight through double teams, or we neglected their P&R, or our off-ball movement was poor. I took great pics for PtR- empty rafters at the arena for us to giggle at, an extra close-up of Manu's bald spot, me hugging Peter Holt and handing him a dollar, the suns new slogan of "Do you believe in miracles?," Roho sitting on the bench during shoot around just watching the rest of the team warm up, etc. But (and it helps not knowing how to post them, thanks again Matthew) I'm not even putting them up. This game is over and in the books, and not something I want to relive. We sucked complete ass, and they outplayed us in every category except looking tired. They deserved the win, and we'll all let them enjoy their sweet, cute and special moment (my exact words to Captain Douchbag when leaving the section). Tuesday, and I don't feel I'm risking much to say this, will be a bloodbath, gentlemen.

It was a terrible feeling leaving the arena after this game, but after about 10 minutes I lost the rage and disappointment. Think back to.....well, every year in the playoffs. This bitch game happens, the other team plays it's cards (exposes it's own adjustments/changes), Pop and team takes vigorous notes and feigns doubt and death, and comes back to serve the opposing team it's ass. Phx is back to feeling a seed of hope this afternoon, and starting to believe a little. Their confidence is high, and D'oh is feeding this as we speak. Meanwhile, Pop is playing the psychological game and playing it well.

I looked again at my dad after halftime and said, "The guys are coming out if this doesn't change inside of 3 minutes." Sure enough, they never returned. Actually a brilliant plan, in my opinion. We weren't shooting well while they were, and we clearly didn't have a prayer in this game from the first quarter onward. Pop recognized that there was still a victory we could gain today, and he got that. Somebody said it in the thread, but you ever notice how there's some games in which the officiating is just as poor or worse than others and Pop doesn't move, but in these others he argues relentlessly and possibly even gets tossed? These quiet games are coincidentally the playoff "bitch games." Pop understands that the entire series is one big game, and no one's better at playing it. Don't worry about 1 W, when you'll have your W soon enough. Learn the enemy well, and exploit his weaknesses to no end in your eventual victory. I've said it before, but it truly is the difference between chess and checkers. No one but SPURS fans actually see this; certainly no one in the arena today did. D'oh and his entire kingdom play: your move, my move, your move, my move, your move, my move. Many battles are won this way, but never the war. Today for example, D'oh feels victory and even attempts to make a last minute stand of pride by getting tossed, and plays all his cards to the end. Their team feels a little hope return, and their fans are lulled into believing that the problems (confusion on offense, no defensive presence, no killer instinct, no bench play) once huge, have all now miraculously been corrected. It's a myth. We gave them nothing, saved our energy, and now will completely understand their system even better on Tuesday. AND we're angry and suddenly aggressive. I cannot see an already pissed off Timmy and Manu allowing another to escape. Add Pop and Tony to that, and I wouldn't be surprised to see us completely annihilate phx on Tuesday. They will again have that amazingly confused look on their faces after the series, as though they'd again been ambushed or cheated from something; when they'd simply been played the entire time. I'm sticking with that, and I'm confident. We still own this series and there's no reason to be concerned. It's funny how all SPURS fans actually already know that. I'm thankful to be a SPURS fan. Today sucked, and we'll move onward. It was something we all truthfully expected, and that eases the frustration.

PS- Another great thing about being a SPURS fan in a hostile playoff environment, after the game we were all walking out and a bunch of SPURS fans ended up walking near each other. Blacks, whites, browns, fats, hot chicks, drunks, a hodgepodge or cross section, if you will, of our culture. There really wasn't even a 'leader' amoung all the strangers, but for some reason we all started shouting at each other and ended up 15-20 people standing in the corridors of the USAir Arena after getting our asses kicked, laughing and taking group pictures. I've never seen and will never again see these folks. We're all different, but we're all SPURS fans and thus family. And you know what? Not one person was doing anything but smiling and laughing. And it wasn't the alcohol. All SPURS fans understand what it takes to be champions, and we know that days like today are necessary for days like Tuesday. GO SPURS GO...

Have a great end to the weekend...

PSS- We gotta get this new format to where it works on PDAs. I don't know enough to describe what needs to be done or how it's not working; I just know that even though it was sometimes difficult, under the last format I could post from my phone. Sitting courtside chatting with Schoenig and hearing cool tidbits, I tried to post on the thread but it was crazy impossible. Can this even be done?! It would definately be cool to have for any of us AT the games.