That's Earl Campbell's Face!

by sungo on May 22, 2007 2:23 AM CDT in Game Previews

First, I would like the record to show that the Spurs and Jazz combined for 208 points while the Pistons and Cavs put up 155. So when the Spurs beat the Pistons in 6 games in the finals, and the average score is 91-86, we'll know whom to blame ok? (The Pistons. We're blaming the Pistons.)

Just wanted to get that out there. Also wanted to give stampler a panic attack; he undoubtedly thinks I just inexorably jinxed the Spurs. I don't believe in that hooey. (But I do believe in Santa Claus. Which reminds me I need to talk to Rod about making plans to see that Transformers movie the day it comes it out. (I used to get Transformers for Christmas. The metal ones, dammit.))

Second, did you hear that the Rockets are going to hire Rick Adelman? How great is that! One less contender the Spurs have to worry about for years to come.

Third, how fun is it to be a Spurs fan right now? I would suggest it's "oodles" of fun. Maybe even "heaps" of fun. For gosh sakes, in game 1 Oberto and Elson combined for 20 and 8 on 9-11 shooting. Everything's working. Except Jacque Vaughn. He's broken and unsalvageable.

Manu has been absolutely sick of late(and I still believe The Sickness is the perfect nickname for him, but then again I'm partial to what is mine.) Stampler was on pizzle when he commented on how wonderful it is to see Manu in full attack mode. He picked apart the Jazz all night, dropping 10 dimes, with most of those leading to layups. The man's had three consecutive double-doubles and his playoff PER is up to 12th (amazing considering how awful he's been in stretches). And has anyone else noticed he's been flopping a lot less? I'm only talking to Spurs fans here, as I'm sure non-Spurs fans swear they saw him disembowel and then eat a live puppy during the second quarter.

Tim's been dominant on both ends of the court. On the prowl on defense, calculating on offense. Oh, and I've decided he's the best player since Michael Jordan.

I've also been impressed with Tony the past two games. He seems to be picking his spots well, especially against Utah. While watching game 1 I never got the feeling the wrong person was shooting the ball.

Hell, we played so well I actually managed to enjoy Mark Jackson's commentary!

What say you, Spurs fans?

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Re: That's Earl Campbell's Face!

For a good chunk of Game 1 Utah looked completely inept. The score got as close as it did, mostly because of a stretch in the 4th when the Jazz hit something like 10 straight shots. That's completely unheard of and won't likely happen again. I think that the Spurs went something like 1-9 for that stretch? Otherwise, the margin of victory is 14+.

Sure they will be better in Game 2 and maybe even better than that on their home court, but I'm thinking that the trend has been established in Game 1. Utah's margin of error is razor thin. They will have to shoot lights out in any game that they hope to win. Not their strength.

Oh yeah, and they will have to figure out a way to stop the mighty Fabricio Oberto. Is it just me, or does the fan of every Spurs opponent let out a loud (insert expletive of choice here) when ever Fabi gets one of those wide open lay-ups?

by bones on May 22, 2007 8:23 AM CDT reply actions

Re: That's Earl Campbell's Face!

Manu's definitely been flopping less. Even I've noticed. Maybe he gave his extra flopping to Raja.

by BrightSideoftheSun on May 22, 2007 9:52 AM CDT reply actions

Re: That's Earl Campbell's Face!

I read somewhere that Rockets' owners want them to be more of a run and gun team. I guess they haven't yet realized that their biggest star, both literally and figuratively, is one of the most plodding big men ever. But with that kind of brain power at work, their choice of Adelman makes perfect sense.
Manu has been on a tear. It's great to see at least some commentators finally coming to the realization that he is one of the most complete players in the league: yes, a great scorer, but also one of the best passers in the league, a great defender, a damn good rebounder (particularly given his size and position), and at his best at crunch time. One note: on that sweet bounce pass to TP close to the end of the first half of game 1, slow motion replay shows that he actually put reverse English on it, so he could pass it further away from the defender and yet have it bounce back perfectly into TP's hands. Ranks close to the between Kobe's legs pass to Horry a few years ago.

by agutierrez on May 22, 2007 10:19 AM CDT reply actions

Free Beno!

Seriously. There is no possible excuse for letting Vaughn touch a basketball for the rest of his life. Now personally, I see no reason why Tony and Manu should ever both be off the floor at the same time (seriously, what's not to like about letting Gino handle?), but if Pop decides that the Jazz don't deserve our best, why not pull out everybody's ninth-favorite Slovenian?

Think about it. The guy probably hasn't even broken a sweat in months; it would be like choosing a PG from the fans in the courtside seats. And really, what makes more of a statement than that? Pop could look at Jerry Sloan and say "I am going to pass you in the record books for most playoff wins today, and I'm going to do it with a point guard who I barely recognize." How does Sloan respond? He's got to man up somehow, right? He can't give up his spot going full-strength against Beno Udrih - he'd have to pull a guy and go 4-on-5. Or pull Stockton out of retirement. Or check in himself.

That would be oodles of fun.

by Rand on May 22, 2007 10:29 AM CDT reply actions

Re: Free Beno!

I like the way you think.

by sungo on May 22, 2007 12:11 PM CDT up reply actions

Re: Free Beno!

I've never met you before, but I think you are my brother.

by flickup17 on May 22, 2007 2:20 PM CDT up reply actions

He's Got... Earl Campbell Eyes...

The one thing I learned from Mark Jackson's commentary is that, at any given time, someone either is putting pressure on the defense or needs to put pressure on the defense or, and I think this is a very rare occurence, pressure-washing the defense.

by flickup17 on May 22, 2007 2:19 PM CDT reply actions

Re: That's Earl Campbell's Face!

As soon as the Spurs picked up Jacque Vaughn, I was really pissed off. Why would we need this hack? He was one of my most dissed players of all-time.

Then, during the course of the season, he had a few good moments of hustle D (or at leat I thought he did)...and then even a few jumpers in the play-offs (granted, very few).

So after all that, I had surmised that he played a little better than my expectations. Given how you all feel about JV, I hesitate to even post this. Don't get me wrong, his roster spot is pretty much wasted.

I'd rather see Brent Barry spelling the PG position like in 05. Whatever happened to that??? It didnt work out so bad that the Spurs needed to go get a journeyman hack with no jumper (insert the names of either Van Exel or Vaughn here).

Maybe a higher and better use for Vaughn is the late game hip-check if the Spurs are somehow losing.

Beno has been on the way out ever since the Pistons beat him up and stole his lunch money in the 05 finals. I like him well enough, but I think Pop is done with him. Maybe there is a back-up PG in the draft........

....on the Rockets picking up Adelman - what a dumbass move it would be for ALL the reasons already mentioned. Wasn't Tark available????

Wouldn't Rick Carlisle make a nice fit there? It looks like the Rockets are about to miss the boat on this one...thanks to them. I thought they were a PG away from something big.

Here is hoping Beno and Barry go for 20/per tonite (maybe I mean minutes instead of points)

by bones on May 22, 2007 3:48 PM CDT reply actions

Re: That's Earl Campbell's Face!

There has to be a way to get Bones on the floor. Manu, Bones, and Oberto - isn't that the "Pale Triangle"? But given the recent need for Beno, perhaps it could be a pale rectangle. With that much paleness, we might even steal away most of the Utah fans. Ouch. But true.

by Jones on May 22, 2007 5:53 PM CDT reply actions