Game 3 Hack Recap - Soul Trampling and some occasional Rants

Do you know that feeling of a trampled soul? like somebody's putting their foot right into your being and stamps at your heart - this is how i felt after yesterdays loss. We as fans want to believe in our team, we look at it as our family, a child even, we misregard its shortcomings (we dont need dependable bigs and bangers - weve got manu) and overstate its positives. But sometimes, after tough losses like yesterday, you get that tough feeling like your loosing your religion, a crack in the armor of our spurs fandom. Yesterdays game did that to me and still, i see positives, im optimistic, i still think we can get through this.

So this is my attempt at a hack recap, or actually just a bunch of rants, hope you like it, and forgive my subpar english as i am from Israel for crying out loud:) Read more after the jump friends

So ive been a spurs fan for over 20 years almost, ever since David Robinson's rookie year. Now you dont get many NBA broadcasting here in Israel but i did manage to still be a true fan, i loved JR Reid and Del Negro, i came into terms that while we managed to get great regular seasons from our Robinson's led teams we usually crumbled at somepoint during the playoffs. Enter TD and my life as a fan changed. Suddenly we were winning championships, my friends werent making fun of me for rooting for the Spurs (most everybody in Israel either root for the Knicks, Lakers, Celtics or the Mavs for some obscure godawefull reason). Now Through the years you get some kind of fan swagger - "our team can get through this" "weve been here before" -mostly due to cold hearted killers like Manu and Big shot Rob. But i guess eventually you loose that, you get to the point were you think you have it, but the team no longer does. We might be at that point today, though im not that sure. Luckily - These playoffs dont have a killer team that can definitely reap everyones heart out when needed and it feels like its everybodys game.

Now usually i dont get to watch live games or full games (depending on my cable companys schedule - usually they rather broadcast the lakers or knicks) But since im 33 years old already and a resident Surgeon i decided what the heck and purchased an NBA league pass, a premium one at that. So i got to watch the last 2 games live, and even decided to join the chat yesterday and exchange witty remarks with the worshiped Hipkus. Now one thing i got from watching these live games is the true feel for a players worth, stuff that is not mirrored by the box scores and hinted in the recaps. You need to see it by yourself to know - well... several things i do know from just a brief observation First lets start with coach B, I love the guy, he's one of the most intelligent, funny and hard working NBA players and is also humble. But he is mostly a terrible basketball player. The last 2 games he hustled and gave a great effort, but if he's not shooting light out, he is a major major liability, especially versus skilled big men like the Grizzlies have. I think that even me as a plastic surgeon cant surgically remove the smile of Darrel Arthurs or Gasols face when they find themeselves guarded by his gingerness. Sure he tries and hustles but the amount of botched blockouts, fumbles and just sloppy defense was terrible. Its amazing that when confronted by one of the strongest, most physical frontlines in the NBA we dish out the Bonner-Blair poopoo plater at defence. I love the beast but has he been able to toss a decent shot lately without getting himself blocked? Man how come Pop doest see we are better off getting the steady boxing out, defence and rebounding by sparkles, eventhough he has "no playoff experience". WHATEVER he gives us would be better than this right? frack the offense... man ive seen him on big stages in Europe rocking it out - he is not going to be intimidated, either way we have nothing to loose.

Secondly there the painfull subject of TP's chalky outline. This should have been our biggest advantage over the Griz with a speedy pointguard that can get in the paint, dish some assists, get their bigs into foul trouble and hit an occasional jumper. We were justified in expecting that, TP did dominate the Griz in previous playoff meetings in the past. But the last 3 games have been atrocious with sloppy ballhandling, no shooting, bad decisions and being outplayed by MIKE FREEKING CONLEY (no disrespect). We need to get TP's decaying body off the floor and get more Neal in there with his royal MANUNESS. Truth be said i dont think we can win this without a good outing from TP- he's crucial if we are to advance.

Now some for Grizz observations - Gasol is a quality big, hard working and skilled but he aint a natural. If TD (or sparkles/Dice) focuses on him, he can be fairly limited on the offensive end. I can accept 10 points + alot of boards but 17 and 9 is too much. Granted ZBO will get his, we should limit Gasol's if we want to compete. Now to that Sam Young fellow - i think he's a beast, a quiet one. To begin with he looks like a man, he has real size at the SF position, he doesnt require a lot of shot but up to now it seems he almost does not miss any mid range jumper with the occasional 3. As much as RJ impressed me up to now with his production, he's been almost evenly countered by Sam Young. Too bad the salaries dont match.

So what should be our gameplan for the next game (a must win obviously)? For me i think well go as far as TP takes us - he needs to be agressive and actually take some mid range jumpers - when they are falling, he is practically unstopable. More attention to gasol, less boner and blair and PLS PLS put sparkles in. Plus is it only me that thinks that more Neal and less Hill might work better?

so for our 3 Anti stars of the game (we lost, no one starred)

3- TP - We need you buddy, without you we are not getting over this...

2- Bonner - Even with the offchance that he catches fire, i rather give all his minutes to sparkles or blair

1 - The Memphis crowd - Really were you cheering when Manu clutched his elbow? REALLY? and when Dice went down? karma is a b&$#ch sportfans...