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The warm-ups. The build-up. Fans scurry to their seats as the 7:30 tip approaches. The music slowly gets louder and the lights go down. All rise for the national anthem and everyone cheers when the Trinity Choir finishes. Now the music gets crazy loud and the spotlights are spinning and Tim is hanging from the rim in the dark and everybody's going crazy until finally the players hug and fist bump and chest bump and then it's the opening jump and people are now frothing at the mouth and nothing can possibly top this ever.
And then, as if from nowhere, DANNY GREEN MADE A LAYUP, and everybody in the arena knew they were witnessing something truly special.
Considering that the Spurs were coming off a three-game road-trip out West, and playing a SEGABABA, their 99-96 win over the Suns was impressive. Tony Parker had 20 points overall and 15 in the 4th quarter to go along with 6 assists. Tim Duncan was steady with 17 points and 5 boards in 28 minutes, and Danny Green broke out of his early slump with a strong 19.
Markieff Morris was very solid for the Suns off the bench leading all scorers with 23 points and 12 rebounds, but in the end it just wasn't enough because DANNY GREEN MAKES ALL THE LAYUPS!
Standard Pop Quote
Uh huh....... Anybody else? -Coach Pop, when asked if the team would have the day off on Thursday.
Spur Of The Moment
An argument can be made for Tony Parker with his huge 4th quarter and overall steady play, but I've gotta give it to Danny tonight. 19 points on 8-11 shooting to go along with 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 4 blocks. He was 3 of 6 from beyond the arc which means DANNY GREEN MAKES ALL THE LAYUPS.
By The Numbers
- 11: Points from Boris Diaw
- 17,870: Official attendance
- 5,000: People counted in the attendance number that didn't show up. Lots of empty seats.
- 2: Number of traffic cones worn as shoes by Phoenix Forward Miles Plumlee.
- Too Many: Number of times we were encouraged to celebrate Spurstoberfest. More on that below, but here's a free one for the marketing team for next year: Spurst Fest! You're welcome.
Odds And Ends
- This game celebrated Spurstoberfest, a longstanding tradition established in 2013. Spurstoberfest is traditionally celebrated in November and serves as proof that you can mash any three words together and make it into something.
- Makensensedon'tmatterfest is next week!
- If a politician ever started carrying around a T-shirt cannon, he'd win all the elections.
- Danny Green better be glad that the Coyote didn't give Pop the T-shirt cannon in the 4th quarter. With about 3:30 left there was a mad scramble for a loose ball, which led to a Ginobili foul, which led to a very upset Pop. If he woulda had that T-shirt cannon he woulda shot Danny with it. Multiple times.
- This new delay-of-game rule will blow up when a team makes a last-second shot to tie the game but a technical is called because someone touched the ball. A team is going to get a cheap win on a technical foul shot soon, guaranteed. Let's hope it's during a Heat/Lakers game.
- I couldn't tell for sure from my seat but someone please make my day and confirm that Matt Bonner was wearing corduroys.
- Ish Smith has the highest bounce on a dribble before a free throw in NBA history. Also, he uses the anagram "Tim Shish" when checking into a hotel so all the Ish fans don't swarm him.
- Late in the 1st quarter Pop had Manu, Marco, Mills, Diaw and Splitter on the floor, which to me smells just like Vegas. It's a potent mixture of danger and sex and anticipation and you can feel your heart beating in your chest. At any moment you can hit a Royal Flush and go on a 20-2 run or you can lose it all with an ill-advised no-look pass or missed dunk. It's the difference between hitting on 17 and drawing a 4 and buying all your buddies gold jet-skis and hitting on 17 and drawing a king and having to sell a few quarts of blood to get some cash so you can take the bus home. In that spirit, I created our own little slot machine. Hit the spin button and give it a go.
Tweets of the night
I'm starting to think Kawhi Leonard tried a breakfast taco and didn't tell anybody. He's playing like he's got something to hide.
— Caleb Saenz (@calebjsaenz) November 7, 2013
Not sure what accounts for Kawhi’s early-season issues. Not like he reads his own press. Or any press. Or anything.
— Pounding the Rock (@poundingtherock) November 7, 2013
Why are #Spurs celebrating Octoberfest in November? #whyspurstoberfest
— Mike Monroe (@Monroe_SA) November 7, 2013
By my unofficial count, Spurs foes are 3 for 13 on last-second shots, trailing by 3 or less, with Duncan on the bench over last two seasons.
— Dan McCarney (@danmccarneysaen) November 7, 2013
So basically, Pop thumbs his nose at your conventional wisdom.
— Dan McCarney (@danmccarneysaen) November 7, 2013
Going forward, the Spurs need to...
- This might go certainly against conventional wisdom, but I love seeing Kawhi push the ball up the court. I feel like he's holding my baby as he's darting through a mine field. OK, maybe that sounds weird. Anyway, imagine Kawhi leading in transition while Manu is able to sneak in and find his spot to catch and shoot. Now imagine that in June.
- Find a way to block all the LeBron commercials on the TV's in the media cafeteria. I'm just saying I'm trying to eat over here.
- Make all the layups.
More from Pounding The Rock:
- Tony Parker & Danny Green lead Spurs past Suns
- QuickCap: Spurs survive Suns, win 99-96
- Stampler Previews Spurs-Suns on The Phil Naessens Show
- Game Preview: San Antonio Spurs vs. Phoenix Suns
- Morning Rehash: Spurs win in Denver, 102-94, with a little help from the Nuggets