Spurs Waste Another Opportunity

The Spurs lost 97-95 last night to the Shaq-less and LeBron-less Cavaliers who also played with only 1/2 of Antawn Jamison. How did it come to this? Well, I’m glad you asked. Allow me to break it down box-score-commentary style.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Anderson Varejao, Antawn Jamison, Antonio McDyess, Cleveland Cavaliers, DeJuan Blair, George Hill, Ian Mahinmi, J.J. Hickson, Keith Bogans, LeBron James, Malik Hairston, Manu Ginobili, Matt Bonner, Michael Finley, Minnesota Timberwolves, Mo Williams, New York Knicks, Richard Jefferson, Roger Mason, San Antonio Spurs, Shaquille O'Neal, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker

Ginobili Starting Vs Cavs

It looks like Popovich has started taking his meds again and is back to making (some) rational decisions. Manu Ginobili is set to start in the backcourt with George Hill tonight. Manu is the only real playmaker the Spurs have now that Parker is on the mend, and as Jeff McDonald points out, “Gregg Popovich obviously believes, with Parker shelved, he needs a creator in the starting lineup.”

LeBron James is apparently a game-time decision after he twisted his ankle a few nights ago. I am not convinced he is going to play so the Spurs might catch a break here. Not that they can’t spoil a golden opportunity (see the Blazers games this year), but I like their chances a whole lot more without James and Shaq around. It’s not that I don’t want to watch LeBron, but I want to watch the Spurs in the playoffs too so anything that helps that is ok with me.

On another, more comical note, Bogans is hopeful that LeBron plays tonight. Apparently he is under the impression that he can guard him or knows how to guard him or some such nonsense. Maybe he is just into getting dunked on, abused, and spanked by LBJ in front of thousands of people…. freak.

Tags: Cleveland Cavaliers, George Hill, LeBron James, Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs

Spurs Win 4th Straight, Lose Parker Again

The Good News: The Spurs have won four straight games, are 36-24 (12 games over .500), and are in 7th place in the West still – 5.5 games ahead of Houston (9th) and Memphis (10th).
The Bad News: Tony Parker is out for the next six weeks with a broken hand.

That’s the short and sweet version of events, but I feel compelled to elaborate. Let’s start with the wins.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Antonio McDyess, Chicago Bulls, Darren Collison, David West, DeJuan Blair, George Hill, Injury, Keith Bogans, LA Clippers, Manu Ginobili, Marc Gasol, Marcus Thornton, Matt Bonner, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Michael Finley, New Jersey Nets, New Orleans Hornets, New York Knicks, O.J. Mayo, Oklahoma City Thunder, Richard Jefferson, Roger Mason, Rudy Gay, San Antonio Spurs, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Zach Randolph

Finley Joins Celtics

Well, as expected, Michael Finley is joining the Boston Celtics. I wish him well and all that jazz, but seriously – does he expect to get that many more minutes in Boston than he did in San Antonio? Paul Pierce barely sits down long enough to tie his shoes, and Marquis Daniels will also be in front of Finley in the rotation. Maybe he just figures the Celtics have a better shot at the Finals in the East than the Spurs do in the West… it’s a fair assessment. Also, Pierce is battling a thumb injury so it’s conceivable that Fin will get some extra minutes if Pierce takes any longer to recover.

Tags: Boston Celtics, Marquis Daniels, Michael Finley, Paul Pierce, San Antonio Spurs

Odds and Ends: Spurs Links

There are no more Spurs games until Friday, so for those of us in need of a Spurs fix, I give you another installment of “Odds and Ends”… enjoy.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, Dwayne Jones, Larry Hughes, Mark Blount, Michael Finley, Mike James, Playoffs, Richard Jefferson, San Antonio Spurs

Spurs Beat Hornets 106-92

The Spurs won the second game of a back-to-back, played defense, and shot 50.6% from the field. On the one hand, I’m very happy with the win. On the other hand, I shouldn’t be so shocked when they play well – especially against a team that is 9th in the West and is missing their best player. Then again, screw it, I am gonna enjoy the win since it’s all the Spurs basketball we are gonna get until Friday when they play the Hornets again.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Antonio McDyess, Coytote Ugly, Darren Collison, David West, DeJuan Blair, Emeka Okafor, George Hill, Highlights, Ian Mahinmi, Keith Bogans, Malik Hairston, Manu Ginobili, Marcus Thornton, Matt Bonner, Michael Finley, Morris Peterson, New Orleans Hornets, Peja Stojakovic, Richard Jefferson, Roger Mason, San Antonio Spurs, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Video

Spurs (Finally) Releasing Michael Finley

It looks as though Coach Popovich’s love affair with Michael Finley will be coming to an end today. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Adrian Wojnarowski, Austin Toros, Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, George Hill, Ian Mahinmi, Keith Bogans, Malik Hairston, Manu Ginobili, Michael Finley, Release, Roger Mason, San Antonio Spurs, Tony Parker

Jefferson Shows Up, Plays D, Gets Dunked On, Spurs Win

The Spurs beat the Suns yesterday 113-110. I will get into the gory details but first, the big story: Jason Richardson, of all people, missed a dunk in crunch time that would have tied the game with 42 seconds left. Two-Time Slam Dunk Champion Jason Richardson. Had 20 points in the game Jason Richardson. Had no one in front of him Jason Richardson. Missed A Dunk. As if we needed any more proof that, for whatever cosmic reason, the Spurs will always inexplicably own the Suns. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Amare Stoudemire, Antonio McDyess, DeJuan Blair, Highlights, Jason Richardson, Manu Ginobili, Missed Dunk, New Orleans Hornets, Phoenix Suns, Richard Jefferson, San Antonio Spurs, Schedule, Steve Nash, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Video

Manu Ginobili Is My Hero

The Spurs beat the Thunder last night 95-87 with Manu Ginobili leading the way. Ginobili finished with a game high of 26 points along with nine rebounds, four assists, two steals and a re-freaking-diculous block. With Kevin Durant about to dunk on a fast break for a one point lead, Ginobili came up huge by stuffing him at the rim. Even he thought he was going to get dunked on instead but, thankfully, fear of being posterized did not factor into his decision making process.  Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: DeJuan Blair, George Hill, Keith Bogans, Manu Ginobili, Michael Finley, Richard Jefferson, Roger Mason, San Antonio Spurs, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker

Ex-Spur Jones To Join Mavericks?

You may or may not remember this, but on October 13th, just before the start of this season, the Spurs waived Dwayne Jones. Jones, a 6-11 250-lb forward/center, is now averaging 16.8 points and 15.4 rebounds for the Austin Toros. Not too shabby, even for the D-League. Well, the Mavericks lost Erick Dampier for a month or so with a dislocated finger and need to bring on a backup. Guess who they are looking at? You guessed it… Dwayne Jones. According to ESPN:

“Sources close to the situation told ESPN.com that the Mavericks will work out Dwayne Jones of the Austin Toros later Tuesday and are planning to sign him to a 10-day contract. One source said Jones could even be active for Wednesday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers.”

Now there is no certainty that the Mavs will bring in Jones, but it would be one more punch in the gut if this guy turned out to be halfway decent and further helped our division rivals in Dallas. The simple fact that he is being considered right now makes me wonder how much potential is being wasted in Ian Mahinmi and Malik Hairston right now.

With a brutal upcoming schedule, we probably won’t get to find out any time soon. I am sure Pop will insist on playing Keith Bogans and Matt Bonner while the Spurs defense fizzles away into non-existence in the fourth quarter of the next few games. We’d be lucky to see Blair get more than 20 minutes.

Tags: Austin Toros, Dallas Mavericks, Dwayne Jones, Erick Dampier, Ian Mahinmi, Keith Bogans, Malik Hairston, Matt Bonner, San Antonio Spurs