LB's a punk. Back in the day  Grant Hill (before we knew how bad the ankle was) and Tracy McGrady along with coach Doc Rivers tried to lure Timmie away during his and their free agency to Florida. They flew him out, wined, dined and made their best collective pitch. Tim mulled it over, who wouldn't?  Think about it, he chance to form a team, who along with the best power forward of ALL TIME, you add two of the best players players in the NBA at the time. These three would be an unstoppable beast for at least the next five years for sure (sound familiar?).  Alas, Timmie made the right decision, he stayed with the team that drafted him, the city that adored him, the League (whether or not they knew it) that needed this. A show of loyalty from it's premier player. He (and we) would later be rewarded for this loyalty with smart draft picks (MANU and Tony) a kick ass front office, and multiple 'ships. Pop, RC and the gang would surround them with team first role players and year after year, be far into the playoff mix if not winning it all. Orlando meanwhile, would never truly have a healthy Grant Hill,  Doc would get the boot and Tracy would ask to be traded. It never really worked out for Orlando. Hopefully things work out for LB (I'm no hater) but Karma's..., ya know?

Matthew Powell....

Finished......

     I'm not quite sure what to make of it. It's not like I ever had a beer with or even met the guy. It's not about that actually (I think to myself as I type this). It's more the fact that PTR is HIS baby. He's why it and we are all here, together as Spurs fans.  Celebrating their victories, mourning their losses. We all have our non-cyber friends, spouses, co-workers or acquaintances who we can catch the game with (which I usually do actually), but when here on PTR, it's different. It's almost like a club or team (yeah team is more like it). Just like in Latin D's game thread preview before the Celtics shame game, we all seem to have a position. From the best ever PF to the young and or role players on the bench, big or small we each try to contribute something. Be it a mere morsel or a five course meal of insight or breaking news. We're ahead of the game, knowledge wise compared to regular (non-PTR) fans because of it.

     Anyway, it just seems kind of weird. The man that made this will no longer be a part of it. It would be like Ronald leaving McDonald's or Captain Morgan jumping off of the bottle. I'd still down a quarter pounder with cheese and consume a few rum and Cokes now and then, it just wouldn't be the same. Nothing against ATS, I'm SURE he'll do an awesome job, it's just weird.

     All that being said, I hope for PTR to live long and prosper (not really a big Star Trek fan, I've just always dug that line) and hope to continue to be a contributing part off the bench. I'm only in my second year, so who knows, maybe I can pry away a starting spot with some smart unselfish play and consistent three's.

Thanks again Matthew and

I STILL LOVES ME SOME FINDOG!!!

Your thoughts everyone???

I wanted to get off the acquistion of Gooden track and talk about a guy who's taken a lot heat from most of us here at PTR over the past couple of years. He was one of the main men on his previous team and was offered more money and a starting spot to play elsewhere when he was looking for a new one. He left his ego at the door, accepted being bench/role player, all the while becoming a team leader and showing the utmost professionalism. You already know who I'm referring to, Findog, and we're lucky to have him. He's been en fuego as of late and I'm glad to see that. I've always liked him, even when he was sucking gas, so I tried not to bash him (I might have said something once or twice in reference to his lack of solid D). Either way, a stand up guy and a class act.

What do you guys/girls think?

......lets not forget the tenacious team D. Two games in a row with the opponents under 40% (minus our defensive anchor no less). I figured the defensive intensity would pick up the closer we came to the playoffs but thought it would do so gradually.  I guess Tim and Manu BOTH being out helped to kickstart the shut down tenacity. If they can maintain this, as well as the BIG 3 reuniting to wreak havoc and headaches for opposing teams and their coaches, we should be in for a fun, long ride.

Granted, initially the needed pieces for a hard nosed defensive team were not in place for Steve Kerr and Terry Porter. Apparently it was too much to ask for the impatient Sons fans/media (Spurs are their DADDY) to endure the style change and  growing pains associated with. The writing was on the wall, we all saw this coming. Too bad for them. THIS is why it will be a long time (if ever) before they win a championship.

As my friend so elequently put it......"WTF? No Manu? Gino'd win that easy".  Yet another NBA snub. Manu in a game of horse would not only be entertaining, but right up Ginobili's alley. I can see it now, kind of like that old McD's commercial with Bird -vs- Jordan. Gino would call a huge bounce off the score board, off Sterns head, off the press table bankshot for the win. Hmmm, I could go for a Big Mac right about now......

I've been lurking, reading all your posts and what not. I haven't really had anything to say but felt like chiming in about the Spurs percieved lack of defense, or focus on......

The D, it will get better and better the closer to playoff time we come. Pop used to rant and rave about every game during the season up to and including the playoffs. Almost nothing was good enough. Perfection was the goal and he would dangle that carrot in front of the team driving them pretty hard from start to finish. Now that team is older and already won some championships, I think he understands that saving the juice (his and the teams) for the REAL show is what counts. I’d bet money (and I don’t gamble…… usually) that in the coming weeks, we will slowly but surely start to see more the angry, ranting, never satisfied Pop we're all familiar with and not coincidentally, the return of the Spur trademark, smothering, hard-nosed D. Along with that, the Spurs climb up the various defensive rankings by years end.

And oh yeah, when an oppossing player gets hot, we’ll probably see Bruce stand up off his warm spot on the bench, remove his warmups, proceed to cool off said player, and be called “dirty” on at least a few more occassions.

It was reported by the local media in Argentina. I'm torn on this one. On the one hand, I want him to be 100% ready for the Spurs next season so am worried he won't be able to recharge his batteries and heal completely from the jammed ankle (or worse) in time, so don't want him to participate. On the other hand I realize he's a national hero there (he's to Argentina what Pele was to Brazil) and representing his country and fellow countrymen is HUGE for him and them, so I would like for him to do so. I just don't know..........like I said I'm torn. What do you guys (and girls) think?

I haven't been following the Finals or the NBA since the WCF. I had some downtime at work and came across the Donaghy story Chris Sheridan has on ESPN (check out the link). Sheridan  I'm not crying conspiracy or anything and I do realize that Dona doesn't have much credibility but.......I wonder if there are any Spurs games included in his 7 page report? Hmm......Also check out Marc Stein's take on the whole thing Stein. And again, I AM NOT a conspiracy jockey, the whole thing is just interesting. Public perception may not be reality, but it carries almost as much (if not more) weight. What do you think?

Big surprise, everybody is writing us off again, just lack last round vs the Hornets. So we're down 2-0 and couldn't "steal" one of the first two. We call it stealing because it's not supposed to happen. The team with the home court is SUPPOSED to win. That being said, one way or another we'll HAVE to steal one. There are potentially two more chances for the steal, granted the farther into series you go for that steal the lower your chances, BUT as long as we can take care of business in our house we still have good chance, i.e. the afformentioned Hornets series. Eff the injuries, the conspiracy theories, the over the hill/too old B.S. Our Spurs are champions and have the heart of one. I realize this post wreaks of homerism but I truly believe that until we lose one at home there's nothing to sweat about.  The basic keys for victory are these:

1.) Bruce MUST stay out of foul trouble stick to Kobe like glue. ( He'll get his 30 but will have to shoot 30 times and work for it)

2.) Manu needs to be Manu. If he's hurt either sit him to heal or shoot up his ankle so the real deal shows up.

3)Tony needs to be aggresive with his one man fastbreaks and attack the basket. If they pack the paint, focus on Chips shooting techniques and hit the open shot

4) Horry needs warm the bench, and if he HAS to come in, at least not until the very end so he still has his legs for a Big Shot" to even be a possiblity (would rather he warm the bench period, but Pop has blinders on when it comes to him)

5a.)J.V. MUST NOT come into the game other than to intentionally foul if needed

5b.)Bones needs to back up Tony. He's too smart and can shoot lights out opening up the paint for everyone else. Why the hell is here anyway?

As I mentioned in a prior post, NOOCH, you gotta pay your dues. You have to feel the pain/disbelief of your season being over. All the hype, the best regular season record in franchise history, the induvidual awards and recognition, homecourt and even a division championship do not/ can not equal a world championship if it's your first time there and unluckily matched against a veteran playoff tested team. It took the Bad Boy Pistons a couple of tries to get past the Celtics then Showtime Lakers respectively, it took MJ a few tries to get past those very Pistons, it took Timmy a couple of tries to get past Utah (luckily for us, the Bulls Dynasty was done so we never had to overcome them). Youth and talent can get you alot of wins, alot of fans, and past the first couple of rounds, but eventually at some point you're going to come up against a playoff hardened (and in your case championship) team. It's like the Sun (Phoenix Ha-Ha) going against the dad or the little brother going against the big brother. You don't succeed the first time thru, it takes a few years to mature and catch up. Somtimes you come close (even compete) but when it really counts the dad or big brother raises the intensity level, plays for keeps and sends you to defeat. Eventually you do catch up and if you've dedicated yourself, practiced and worked hard you might actually win, maybe even be dominant against your older nemesis. But it's not quickly done or easy, the bottom line is that it takes time and it is NOT given to you. NOOCH is a very good team, they are talented and played extremely well against our Spurs. They came close (very), they competed, but when it really counted (game 7) the intensity level went up, we played for keeps and now have sent you to defeat. Don't hang your head, don't make drastic changes, just feel this agony, let it harden you and maybe, just maybe if you dedicate yourself, practice your craft and work hard you might overcome.... someday. I'm not saying the NOOCH is ever going to win a championship. I'm only saying that any team that does, took their lumps, were better for it and eventually got over the preverbial hump.

I've been a Spurs fan all my life. I've read/known about PtR for about 3 or 4 years. I really dig the insight you guys bring to the table. ESPN SUX, the national media in general sucks (Spurs rarely get props they deserve) and I would take it personal when these putzes (is that a word?) would either make little to no mention of or take a crap on the Spurs. Prior to PtR I was pretty much limited to mysa.com, the opponents newspaper websites and the local news for anything in depth. Anyhow, I'm new to PtR as a blogger so what was meant to be a post I mistakenly left as comment on another post so here it is........

Although the Horn Nutz ARE talented and they DID hand us our asses twice during the regular season, it was just that, the regular season. As you all know, the playoffs are a different beast altogether. For those teams that are talented enough to make them repeatedly, and smart enough to learn from their previous attempts to get past the first round or beyond, there is a learning curve involved in understanding and attaining the increased intensity level that it takes to advance far into the playoffs and hopefully end up the last team standing. Unless you're team is supremely talented and they completely outmatch their series opponents, it’s extremely difficult for young, first time (even second or third time) playoff teams to advance far into the playoffs and win the whole thing. Timmies rookie year (I still feel we were robbed), Mikes Bulls, Lebrons Cavs (still waiting on them), the Dynasty Pistons, even these current Pistons ect, ect. have had to overcome an experienced ballclub, usually a few times, who always handed them their lunch. They had to take  their medicine and go home young, a little more playoff hardened and empty handed. In this league, you have to take your lumps, get bounced a couple of times (at least once) FEEL that pain of knowing their season is OVER, no more games to play in or prepare for, and that ALL the hard work, the bumps, bruises, the induvidual awards if applicable, were in the end…...for nothing. They have to chalk it up to experience, spend the offseason thinking what if, working on that jump shot/ free throw shooting/ game plan/ overall self and team improvement. Above all, they take the experience gained from actually being there, the pain of losing and going home early, job unfinished, and try again next season with a better understanding of what it REALLY takes to get there. CP3 is awesome, I like the Hornets and it should be a competive series. In the end though, they’re taking on the 4 time and current defending champs, they're in the 2nd round for the first time since they we’re in Charlotte (I think) and taking on a Spurs team that is now officially in PLAYOFF MODE. They will NOT see the same, somewhat disinterested team they spanked twice earlier this year. They will learn from this series and they themselves, end up having to chalk it up to experience and hopefully for them, learn from it. It's the way of the world, to be the best, to succeed at ANYTHING you do (unless you're smokin HOT and have everyting given to you of course) you have to put in the work. You have to experience failure. Horn Nutz, you have experience SPURS PLAYOFF MODE. Spurs in six

I'm at wrk right now, so gonna try to be quick with this. Hope it makes sense since I'll off and on this while working. I LOVE our Spurs, not just because of the hardware, not just because we DO have really good guys but more so because of the overall work ethic, the commitment to the goal. These things are instilled, not purchased or given and along with talent leads to success in not only sports, but whatever you do. Our Spurs along the lines of pounding the rock see the big picture and play those 82 games as well the playoffs with their eyes on the ultimate goal of getting the trophy and rings. The regular season and the post season are like two huge games to them. The first one preparing their focus, defensive rotations, offense, ect. but not meaning as much importance wise so not as much effort until the 4th (rodeo road trip and on). The second (postseason) being played with the full 48 playoff intensity minutes in mind. Each round counting one quarter with the Finals being the all important 4th. This team is built for the playoffs and getting through each round is expected. Just as getting to each quarter of an induvidual game is expected/required. Anything short would mean the game was never finished. These guys intend/expect to finish