FanPost

5 points! YEAH!

Spurs 89
Hawks 74

So nobody else was set to write a recap, at least that I was aware of, so I figured I'd do one.  Again, like last time, I didn't get to watch the actual game, but considering we shot 1/17 in the first quarter, that's probably a good thing.  The basic game flow was we sucked a big dick in the first quarter.  No, seriously.  5 Points.  1/17 Shooting.  I think that Powell, Stampler, and 3 smurfs picked at random (other than Hefty Smurf, cuz he was strong and could play decent in the post) could have matched that.  Then we won the second quarter by 4, the third quarter by 16, and the route was on.  This game reminded me of my NBA Live '07 season where I sim the first couple quarters, then, if I'm losing, I play the fourth and win it.  I'm on pace for 70 wins (though I have Duncan, Howard, a fake player who was the fourth overall pick, and Ben Gordon (godblesstheEAtradeengine)).  Anyways, in the same vein, I think the Spurs didn't do shit, and then made up for it.  Also, Timmy hit 13/16 FTs.  If Timmy hits 13 free throws against you, it's just not your night.

Compared to recently, Manu played a shit game.  And yet, I'd argue this game was almost as good as the rest.  See, Elias Sports compared Manu's recent run to Shaq (and then Hakeem before him), but I'd compare it more to Kobe.  Remember in 2003, when Shaq was out and Kobe went on that ridiculous run of 40 points in like 9 straight games?  Well, Manu's streak was similar.  The difference is, our guys are winners, not me-first guys.  Whereas the talent of Kobe and Shaq pushed the two apart, Timmy and Manu only give a shit about winning.  I'm convinced that either of them would be happy with a 1/9 for 4 points performance in a finals game 7 if their team won the championship.  Oh, they wouldn't be happy with their play, but they'd be happy to win.  And that's why we should be happy.  Our version of Shaq/Kobe, or Jordan/Pippen (or etc), only gives a shit about winning.  They like each other and they will never complain about personal stats.

Anyways, that's why I enjoyed this game from Manu.  He only shot 4/13 overall, 1/7 inside the arc, yet he did the little things.  He had 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals.  Not an overwhelming stat line, I grant you, but he does the little things.  There's a reason he finished with a team high +20 (and I don't even take plus/minus that seriously for a single game).  Honestly, everyone at this page loves Manu's 30/10 games, or whatnot, but I enjoy the games where he struggles because, even then, he finds ways to leave his imprint on the game.  Like game 3 against the Cavs last year, where he score 7 points, but they were all in the last few minutes.  Also, he made up for that the next night.

Timmy was a God, as usual.  He led the team with 23 points (on 9 shots!) and 10 rebounds.  This is the thing about Timmy.  Manu's ceiling is higher, and so are a lot of players, but he will never no-show.  Even his bad games are 19-9.  Simmons once called him the Russell Crowe of the NBA and I agree completely.  The weird thing was he finished with a +4 for the game.  I wanted to attribute this to the first quarter, but Manu played more of the first than Timmy did, so that's no excuse.  Here's my excuse:

Manu is an amazing player, but teams will always game plan for Timmy.  Thus, when Timmy goes out, so do the best players on the other team (unless we're playing the Lakers or cavs, where the star plays 44 minutes).  Timmy doesn't get run against the second team unless he gets the first team in foul trouble.  The same can't be said for Manu.  I'm not attacking Manu here, just defending Timmy.  Remember, his stats are always accumulated against the other team's best.  That's not always true for Manu and Tony.

Speaking of Tony, he played much better.  He shot like 33% or so in the first half (I saved the halftime stats, but my comp crashed and I lost them), but finished at 7/16.  He was a lucky bounce away from 50%.  He also had 9 assists, though only 2 went to Manu (both were for 3's, but I'm sure people will bitch that he won't pass to Manu).  I read that Tony says he is okay (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA022508.07C.SpursNotebook_0225.en .3bafeff.html).  So I hope this is true.

Other thoughts:
Someone said they'd like Josh Smith to be on our team, but I cannot agree.  The dude is talented as fuck, but he's always got a frown on.  I see him as the same as JR Smith.  Talented as Hell, but not a team-first guy.  We have our trio for the next 3 years, we need roll players.  If He would accept being a roll player, great, but he won't.

Then again, my second favorite player on the Spurs is already Tiago Splitter (read a scouting report, he's a great position defender apparently!).

Michael Finley shot 4/11, 1/6 from downtown.  Rinse, wash, repeat.  I'd love to badmouth him, but he'll hit a big 3 in the playoffs.  I know he will.  In fact, he'll wait till I start swearing at him, and hate him, and we need the three to win, and then he'll nail it.  It's what he does, cuz he thinks it's funny.  Fucker...

Kurt Thomas had 9 rebounds, 3 offensive.  I'm telling you, he's going to be a bigger add than Pau "Oh my god, don't touch me!  Isn't this flag basketball???" Gasol will be.  Also, I'm drunk...

The Hornets lost.  We're legitly in first.  I'm so close to pretending we're Goldberg at this point and saying that the Lakers are next.

Robert Horry had 5 rebounds and hit his only 3.  He also shot 1/4 and bricked both his FTs.  I'm not unconvinced that he's playing this season on a dare.  Also, like Finely, he'll wait till I'm swearing at him, and then hit a big three.  I hate the old players on our team...  I fucking hate them.

We're in first by a game and a tie-breaker.  I like it.

Three stars:

  1.  Mike Bibby.  He shot 1/11 and was a -8.  However, he looks like batboy (http://www.fif3.com/pics/people/batboy.jpg), so that earns my respect.
  2.  Tony Parker.  15 and 9.  And Manu shot 4/13.  Plus, he had the fake tan rocking from what I hear...
  3.  Tim Duncan.  I'm wearing my Duncan Jersey.  It's the only sports jersey I own apart from the ones from the teams I played on.  Timmy is the shit, and don't you ever fucking forget it.  Also, 13/16.  

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