Let me just begin by saying that I DIDN'T actually watch the game.
This recap is based on the scoreboard, the play-by-plays, a few other
write-ups, a 2min 23sec NBA video and the final minute of the game using a game link that was really choppy and possibly in Turkish.
It was so choppy and pixellated that it looked like the players were teleporting around the court.

I tried to find another link that was clearer and I downloaded some chinese pptv thing.  Couldn't find the Spurs game but I caught a bit of The Dark Knight and Stardust.  Not being able to concentrate on the game, add my crappy comments to the thread and watch the movie, I decided to close the movie.

The "Team of the Decade" San Antonio Spurs were playing against the lowly
76ers.  A team playing without their key signing in the offseaon, former All-star and 20-10 threat Elton Brand.  The Spurs were coming off a win while the 76ers a loss.
Then I remember this was the 08-09 Spurs.  So this was going to be close........

The Spurs started the game HOT.  Like the Spurs we knew and loved.....from the 70's. The Red Rocket hit two 3's within the first minute of the game from two Tony assists. After that, it started raining points (and 3's) for the Spurs. In the 1st quarter, Mason and Bonner would hit three each, Manu AND Tony would get one each also. The sticky hands Frenchman would also dish out 5 assists in the quarter. The quarter ended with Mason drilling one of his 3's at the buzzer and the Spurs leading 40-19.  This can't be good.

As Pop has indicated in the past, he doesn't like huge 1st half leads as the leading team tends to get complacent and lets the other team back in.  There are also other factors like resting the starters etc. Surely NOT the experienced, profession Spurs though?  Not again.

 
Timmeh with the "boo!!!" defense

This Pop fellow must know a thing or two about basketball.
The Spurs held the 20 point buffer for the first 3 mins of the 2nd quarter.
Then the scoring drought that we love and the lack of defense kicked in.  The Sixers went on a 9-0 run spanning about 2 minutes to cut the lead to 9.  We were able to close out the half and had a 16 point buffer at the long break.  The Sixers had a 31 point quarter so Pop probably had some motivational words about that in the rooms.

 
Keep your eyes on the ball, break right and........SWISH......2 points!!!  Manu's simply awesome.

It obviously didn't work in the 3rd as the Spurs were outscored 31-18.  Only two late 3's by Finley and Mason (at the buzzer) made the Spurs offense look crap instead of super crap.  Damn, that Mason's a gun!!!  Spurs up 84-81 after 3.   Probably too many points for Pop's liking.

 
Bonner should have asked his barber to see the back of his head.

The fourth was back and forth (that makes sense).  After being all tied up at 91, we kept our noses in front but couldn't get a buffer of more than 5 points. 

With about a minute and a half left in the game, I decided to go back to the Turkish game link.  As I said above, it was choppy.  I somehow made out Manu scoring under the basket for the lead, then Iguodala dunking and finally Manu shooting a 3 from the corner.  The crowd went wild so I thought Manu hit it.  On these 3 plays, I didn't actually see the ball go in, I just looked at the pixels under the backboard that was the net and tried to determine whether it moved.  (also watched the scoreboard tick over after).  It was only after a few replays that I realised IT WAS TONY WITH THE TURNAROUND JUMPER AT THE BUZZER!!!!

 
I couldn't find a photo of TP hitting the game-winner so here's one of him using mind control to sink a buzzer-beater in NBA Live 09

Celebrations all round (even Manu raised his arms for Tony's shot.  See, best of friends) 

Some random stats -

 Fast-breat points and points in the paint are pretty glaring.  Oh, so is the biggest lead of 21 but eventually only winning by 2.

We still need frontline help for Tim.  Apart from his 12 rebounds and Bonner's 6, it was pretty lean and we were outrebounded 40-32.

Anyway, it was another close win and in the end, that's what counts.  Our points for/against difference inched a bit closer together and you who what Hollinger thinks about that......argh...screw him!!!  We got this championship!!!

Your 3 stars -

3 - Tony because he won the game (this could have been you, Manu)  Tony was only 2-9 after half time but he hit the one that counted.

2 - Timmeh because he was solid as usual.

1 - All you people at PtR for being loyal (but critical where needed)  We are more than one third through the season and we haven't had a convincing win yet.  Stick with it fellow PtRers, our team may reward us yet.
1.1 - The JV being put on the inactive list.  YES!!!!

So this was my first attempt at a recap.  Let me know if I should give up the exciting world of finance/accounting and become a full time basketball analyst. 

Sorry for the delay with posting.  It was the wife's birthday on Sunday and between her, my 2 year old and my brother going back to Sydney yesterday after the holidays, time was short.

Ooops, wifey's back from the grocery shopping.  I better post this and shut down.

Catch you all at the next game.  REVENGE!!!!

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=Perdiem-081231

What does it all mean???  Can it really be true??

Read below -

Checking out the Playoff Odds on Wednesday, there's a bit of a surprise out West.

According to Wednesday's simulations, the eight most likely playoff teams from that conference are the Lakers, Blazers, Nuggets, Hornets, Rockets, Jazz, Mavs and Suns.

You'll notice I didn't mention the Spurs. After Tuesday's 100-98 loss at home to Milwaukee, the Spurs project to finish ninth in the West with a 47-35 record. They're a lowly 14th in the Power Rankings -- more than a point behind No. 13 Dallas.

All this seems a bit odd just looking at the standings. San Antonio is 20-11, after all, with the third-best record in the West and just a half-game behind New Orleans in the Southwest Division race.

Intangible factors seem to be on the Spurs' side, too. They've compiled their record despite losing Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili for big chunks of time, and they have a history of rallying in the second half of the season after ho-hum starts.

However, the Playoff Odds and Power Rankings underscore this: San Antonio hasn't played nearly as well as its record. The Spurs already have played 18 home games, tied with Boston for most in the league. Also, their opponents' .469 winning percentage is the worst of any team in the West.

Moreover, the Spurs have been remarkably mediocre since Parker and Ginobili returned to the lineup. Their past 10 games include close shaves at home against Minnesota, Oklahoma City and Memphis, a home loss to the Bucks and a convincing defeat in Orlando.

As a result, the Playoff Odds project the Spurs to go just 27-24 in their final 51 games. This would be hugely disappointing from San Antonio's perspective, but its schedule is about to rise several notches in difficulty.

From Jan. 11 to March 4, the Spurs will play only eight of their 25 games at home. Of those eight, six are against high-caliber opponents: Orlando, Portland, Cleveland, the Lakers, Dallas and New Orleans. The other two games, against Indiana and New Jersey, aren't exactly gimmes, either.

And of the 17 road games, at least eight -- at L.A., Utah, Phoenix, Denver, Boston, Detroit, Portland and Dallas -- have to be considered likely or somewhat likely defeats. Of the 25 games, only two are against the bottom six teams in the West, and both are on the road.

Thus, the Spurs' position isn't nearly as strong as it appears in the standings. The Spurs aren't playing real well, and they'll get absolutely bushwhacked by the schedule if they don't start playing better real soon.

Jerry Stackhouse ......ready for another night on the inactive list as his agent explores a trade or buyout that would end his stint with the Mavericks.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Aglf9RP7ngim.4P6Cgwut228vLYF?slug=ap-mavericks-stackhouse&prov=ap&type=lgns

“The teams that make sense for me are close and need a veteran, some toughness and a guy that knows how to win big games,” Stackhouse said.

When he says "are close", is he talking about the Spurs and Rockets in terms of location or is he saying "are close" to winning a championship.  (although the Spurs and Rockets might fit into both categories)

We don't need his punk ass (still remembering the take down on Manu)

I really hope he rots on the end of the Mavs bench and only sees a championship ring if he visits Devean George's house.

It took a few years but Beno finally helped the Spurs and keeps it close with the Lakers.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap;_ylt=AnJi6gzpPsiEYSbqU5TTpqq8vLYF?gid=2008030913

Well done Beno.  Pop is proud.

Oh, 300 characters huh?  So many many do I need to reach that 300 character mark.....nope, not yet but hopefully there NOW......