Man what a horrible fast break.

Harden gets so many calls just like Durant.

Guitar, are you one of the good guys?

What a stupid in bound play. Leonard just stood around.

Tough game. Too many unforced turnovers.

Why do we always use the same play at the end of the game? You would think other teams are onto it by now.

Fun game to watch. But, man, we need to get it together.

No way we hold on to the 1 seed.

quote:

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Guitar, are you one of the good guys?

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Whatcha mean?

Denver, LAC and Miami next. Awesome.

Much rather play the Rockets than the Lakers. That's more important than seeding at this point. That said, shouldn't be afraid of either if we're playing like we should come April.

Also, if it's Spurs-Rockets I might go to a game.

Funniest thing tonight was Duncan drove the paint and had a nice finger roll and the bench jump up and yelled "DUNK THAT ****ER"

Yea. I would also want the Rox or GS. Every series in the West is going to be tough.

I just don't see us beating OKC without home court. I think the 1 seed is more important than our first round matchup.

I think what will kill the Spurs in the playoffs is poor rebounding.

I hate how Harden bulldozes into the lane then flops when he takes the shot. He's a strong player and he should be playing physical, but I think if you choose to initiate contact like he does you shouldn't get as many calls. Also he looks like a hobo and that irritates me.

Asik didn't set a clean screen all night. He hip-checked the defender every time and only got called for it once.

Manu once again played poorly. I know he had a couple good games in early March, but in general he seems to be struggling. Anyone else would be seeing their minutes decline. I'm starting to wonder if it's really worth it to keep playing him 28 mpg hoping he'll get his game back.

Tony Parker is healthy.

The Spurs are an improbably horrible rebounding team. Defense doesn't stop when the shot goes up.

That Beverly rookie actually looked pretty good on both ends.

Good W, but our offense for the last two minutes was just not getting it done. A lot of close shots that didn't fall and too much standing around.

Great win.

Tony is not back to a MVP level yet but he is slowly getting there. He still lacks confidence on that ankle to go in the paint full speed which is what makes him unstoppable but he'll get there.

Really good win against a good team. The Nuggets cause so many matchup problems it's hard to know what to do against them. They are the 3rd best team in the West IMO.

Good win against a hot team. This 6 games in 9 days is going to be tough. Looks like Pop is going with a shorter rotation...or maybe not. I never can tell. He could very well have a completely different one on Friday.

On another note, it isn't too surprising that the Spurs had trouble closing out the last 2 games. Parker is obviously not 100% yet (he'll get there by the playoffs) and it's hard to close a team out without a ball dominating star to do it for you. With the way Manu has been playing all year and down the stretch of games he obviously can't be that guy anymore also.


If you think about it, Denver has this same problem without the notable "superstar" on their team. In result they have a problem closing out games as well.

It will be interesting to see how Pop plays out these next few games.

MIA on SUN and then @MEM on MON.

ORL on WED and @OKC on THU.

This means the Spurs go into OKC playing the 4th game in 5 nights.


On the other hand, OKC plays SAT and has 4 FULL DAYS OFF before the matchup vs the Spurs. I know Pop is not happy about that.

Parker actually got us back into that Houston game. What killed us was that hideous fast break that could of put us up by 5 or 6; instead Parsons nailed the three to cut the lead to 1 or 2. I agree though. He's still not 100%. Although he looks better at this point than I thought he would.

You would think that Pop would rest some players for the Magic game, at least Timmy.

Yeah I think he looks good, especially his jumper.

Was moreso talking about his conditioning which is obviously giving him some problems down the stretch and his confidence to go full blast into the paint around all those shoes.

No doubt he will get there before the playoffs as long as he doesn't have any major setbacks. Hopefully that finger doesn't bother him too much.

But man the more and more I see Manu play, the less I want to sign him to an extension. I love Manu, but I think we could get more for our money elsewhere.

I just can't believe the league gave OKC Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday off while the Spurs are playing 4 in 5 nights on TNT.

The last time the league did this was @MIA earlier this season and we know how that turned out.

If Pop is afraid to get fined by the league again or Holt tells him not to get fined then I guess his only other option is to sit guys against ORL but that isn't how he normally handles these situations.

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But man the more and more I see Manu play, the less I want to sign him to an extension. I love Manu, but I think we could get more for our money elsewhere.

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Lets see how he performs in the playoffs but I'm sure the Spurs will look at all possibilities this off-season. Just have to see what the #s are and what the Spurs sign Tiago too first.

Spurs have a brutal schedule down the stretch. 8 of 11 games against playoff teams. It's gonna be very difficult to stay ahead of OKC the way we've been playing, especially since we've got a road game against them at the end of a 5 nights-4 games stretch (and they've got a ton of rest)

The Denver game was a privilege to watch. That was playoff level basketball.

This 9 day stretch is brutal. Looks like another Stern special.

DEN
bye
LAC
bye
MIA
@MEM
bye
ORL
@OKC

For the purposes of this post, every time I use the word injury, pretend it has quotes around it.

I think either Timmy or TP will be injured against the Clippers, probably TP with the sprained finger, and they'll try to play the other limited minutes. If the Spurs move the ball well, they'll beat the Clips anyway.

I'm expecting the Spurs to roll with their playoff lineup against the Grizzlies. That will be a rough, playoff-level game.

Pop will try to beat the Heat. He might pack it in early if the Heat build a lead, but they are only two less in the loss column. Home court advantage in the finals, while unlikely, is still in play.

I think we'll see a bunch of players out with injuries or playing limited minutes against Orlando, which means they'll face the Thunder on nearly two days of rest.

They'll try to jump out early on the potentially slightly rusty Thunder. That is the most important game left on the schedule. Win it and they all but clinch the 1 seed; lose, and it's even money that the Thunder get their monster home court advantage.



The stretch run has started and the playoffs are in sight. I have high hopes this season and really want to see Timmy get another ring, but the west is a meat grinder, OKC is a great team and a very tough matchup, and Lebron is waiting in the finals.

In other news, Metta World Peace having Knee Surgery and being out for at least 6 weeks is a pretty big blow for LA since he will miss the first round.

Pretty decent chance all of the Lakers miss the first round.

Personally, I'd like to see the Spurs represent the Western Conference this year, over OKC.

Great Tim Duncan video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=7HRMl8W3djQ

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Jeff McDonald ‏@JMcDonald_SAEN30m
Tony Parker (finger and other stuff) says he expects to play tonight.

Jeff McDonald ‏@JMcDonald_SAEN29m
Parker's sprained middle finger appeared substantially less swollen at shootaround this morning than after Wed game.

Jeff McDonald ‏@JMcDonald_SAEN28m
Judging from the part of shootaround open to the media, Parker was shooting without any kind of wrap on his sprained finger.

Jeff McDonald ‏@JMcDonald_SAEN24m
Parker says he still has a bone bruise in the left ankle, expects it to remain sore for a few more weeks: "It hurts every morning."

Jeff McDonald ‏@JMcDonald_SAEN24m
Parker, on playing through pain: "Just going to have to be strong mentally and keep playing. A lot of guys in the league play hurt."

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