Pounding The Rock - Full Coverage Game 5: Trail Blazers @ SpursFor all your Manu Ginobili loving and San Antonio Spurs newshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/12497/ptr-fv.jpg2014-05-15T17:22:38-05:00http://www.poundingtherock.com/rss/stream/54820372014-05-15T17:22:38-05:002014-05-15T17:22:38-05:00Spurs "role" past Blazers in gentlemen's sweep
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<figcaption>Chris Covatta</figcaption>
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<p>Never let it be said that Shaq isn't a team player. He took partner Charles Barkley off the hot seat in San Antonio by christening Kawhi Leonard with a really dumb nickname. </p> <p>You remember the last time someone besides the <a href="https://www.hothothoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Miami Heat</a> won the NBA Championship?</p>
<p>On the podium after Game 6, <a href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Mavericks</a> coach <span>Rick Carlisle</span> called his underdog team's triumph "a victory for basketball," and <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/recap?id=310612014">followed that up with a line</a> straight from the <span>Gregg Popovich</span> playbook:</p>
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<p><i>"This is a true team. This is an old bunch. We don't run fast or jump high. These guys had each other's backs. We played the right way. We trusted the pass."</i></p>
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<p>What Carlisle meant was that his team with one true star on the downside of his career in <span>Dirk Nowitzki</span> and a bunch of role players who fit well together in guys like <span>Tyson Chandler</span>, <span>Shawn Marion</span>, <span>Jason Terry</span>, <span>J.J. Barea</span>, <span>Jason Kidd</span>, etc. proved to be superior over the ballyhooed Heat squad, who were essentially two superduperstars in <span>LeBron James</span> and <span>Dwyane Wade</span>, another perennial All-Star in <span>Chris Bosh</span>, and not a whole lot else. (Miami would add better complementary pieces in the following years, with <span>Shane Battier</span> getting them over the hump in 2012 and both <span>Ray Allen</span> and <span>Chris Andersen</span> helping the cause quite a bit in 2013).</p>
<p>Fast forward to the present.</p>
<p>Even though James -- unfathomably -- continues to get better and better, the cast around him has frayed badly around the edges, to the point where it's starting to resemble the situation in Cleveland he abandoned. Wade is a star in name only, playing like one only every fourth or fifth game these days. Bosh has been reduced to a three-point specialist on offense, hardly ever taking a shot inside the paint anymore. Shane Battier is ready for the glue factory, the infernal Ray Allen isn't far behind him and even Andersen plays less imposingly than before, regardless of his biker gang appearance.</p>
<p>But Miami still continues to pile on the playoff wins, because James has been an unstoppable force in the playoffs. He nearly scored half his team's points -- 49! -- in their pivotal Game 4 win over the <a href="https://www.netsdaily.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Nets</a> in the Eastern Semi-Finals, and was guarding Brooklyn's most potent threat, <span>Joe Johnson</span>, on the other end. Their winning formula is James, one other star (either Wade or Bosh but rarely both together) and then just enough from one role guy making a big shot late, usually Allen. James has been their leading scorer in each of their nine playoff games this season. In fact, he has a streak of 13 playoff games where he was the leading point man for Miami, you have to go back to Game 3 of the last Finals where he wasn't.</p>
<p>Then we have Oklahoma City, the ultimate two-man team, with <span>Kevin Durant</span> and <span>Russell Westbrook</span> just relentlessly playing "your turn, my turn" in their boring, formless, ugly, ISO-heavy "offense." So far this postseason they've combined for 58.1 of the <a href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Thunder's</a> 104.5 points per game, 44.8 of their 82.1 field goal attempts and 17.6 of their 27.0 free throw attempts. There's a 14.5 points-per-game game gap between their second and third leading scorer (Westbrook to <span>Serge Ibaka</span>) and a 12.8 shots-per-game gap between their second and third leading chuckers (ditto).</p>
<p>The two games where the Thunder looked the most unstoppable (least stoppable?) in the playoffs was in Games 2 and 3 against the <a href="https://www.clipsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Clippers</a> where not only Ibaka contributed but also <span>Reggie Jackson</span> and Caron Butler. When they spread the scoring around and pass the ball like an actual basketball team, OKC has no peer. It's just not the norm for them though, and it's fair to speculate whether the egos of their stars, Westbrook in particular, sabotage that potential, or if the role players just aren't up to performing that way consistently.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Spurs</a>, meanwhile, the virtuous example of team ball, who got consistent production on the macro level from nine guys all year and led the league in assists and in bench scoring, won games all year without getting star-level production from Hall-of-Famers Tim Duncan, <span>Manu Ginobili</span> and Tony Parker. The first two are very close to the end while the latter has dealt with injuries all season long and did so again in Game 5 against the overmatched Blazers.</p>
<p>San Antonio's stars faced an unexpected burden themselves in the first round against Carlisle's game Mavs, when their role players shrunk under the postseason spotlight. Only Tiago Splitter had a difference-making series, while <span>Boris Diaw</span>, <span>Patty Mills</span> and <span>Danny Green</span> all had more bad moments than good and <span>Marco Belinelli</span> was practically unplayable. Ginobili and Parker had to carry the team far more so than they did in the regular season to get them past Dallas in seven games, with only the final one being a laugher.</p>
<p>Parker helped carry the Spurs for the first couple of games against Portland too, but the reason the margins of victory were so lopsided in the series -- San Antonio became just the third team in NBA history to win by at least 15 points in each of their four wins in a best-of-seven series -- was because the role players started contributing the way they had all season long.</p>
<p>At this point it's unfair and plain wrong to label <span>Kawhi Leonard</span> as a role player, since he's probably far closer to being a true star, and he indeed was fantastic all series long -- in Game 5 especially, with 22 points, eight rebounds, stifling defense on <span>Nicolas Batum</span> and five game-changing steals.</p>
<p>However, even setting Leonard aside, the Spurs blew out Portland even with an average showing by Duncan, a subpar one from Ginobili and absolutely nothing at all from Parker, who bowed out after ten useless minutes where Batum again looked quite capable of causing him difficulty. Mills (San Antonio's first true backup point guard in forever) had 18 points and three steals in relief, while unsung hero Danny Green quietly added 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting, to go along with nine rebounds and an emphatic block on <span>Damian Lillard</span>, whom he hounded all game long.</p>
<p>Indeed the Spurs' renewed defensive energy was the real story of the game, with Green on Lillard from jump street being just as important (perhaps more than Leonard's highlight plays) and he was even better on that end of the floor than he was offensively. Hopefully he'll be able to carry that upswing in confidence and momentum into the next match-up with Westbrook (or, less likely, <span>Chris Paul</span>), since he remains the Spurs' best hope to limit the carnage there.</p>
<p>The Spurs got 57 points out of their role players last night and have been led by different guys all season long, with their nine main rotation guys, plus scrub <span>Austin Daye</span>, leading them in scoring at various points throughout the season and 30 different startling lineups employed by Pop. They're going to their third consecutive Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history, and doing so with the very real possibility of not having a single player on the All-NBA first, second or third teams. In the playoffs they don't have a top-20 scorer, a top-15 rebounder or a top-10 assist man.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba-playoffs" class="sbn-auto-link">NBA playoffs</a> have become Star Wars more than ever, but fans of true team basketball are playing the role of Princess Leia, to San Antonio's Obi-Wan Kenobi.</p>
<p>"Help us, Spurs, you're our only hope."</p>
<p><b>***</b></p>
<p><b>Your Three Stars: </b></p>
<p>3) Patty Mills (2 pts)</p>
<p>2) Danny Green (8 pts)</p>
<p>1) Kawhi Leonard (15 pts)</p>
https://www.poundingtherock.com/2014/5/15/5721074/spurs-remain-only-hope-in-leagues-star-warsMichael Erler2014-05-15T08:00:18-05:002014-05-15T08:00:18-05:00GIF Breakdown Game 5: Trail Blazers @ Spurs
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<p>I think it's safe to say that the Blazers have quite a ways to go before they are ready to play with the big boys. San Antonio outscored the Blazers by 67 over the five games of the series, and by 22 in the closeout game. Let's look at some of the plays that helped the Good Guys get back to the Conference Finals for the third consecutive time. </p> <p>Every game this series was won by the team that scored first. Here's <span>Tony Parker</span> dishing to <span>Tiago Splitter</span>, who encounters resistance in the lane but finds <span>Tim Duncan</span> in the right block for an easy bucket. Tiago Splitter is really an underrated passer, and when you combine that with his incredible feel as a roll-man, it makes for a scary combination for the opposition.</p>
<p><img alt="1_tim_score_first" class="photo" src="http://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/assets/4456889/1_tim_score_first.gif"> <br id="1400141144325"></p>
<p>In this play we see <span>Kawhi Leonard</span> lose control of the ball, but he grabs it as it rolls on the ground with those big hands, kind of the way we'd grab a rolling softball. With the ball securely back in <i>Sugar K Leonard's</i> possession, the young man attacks, curls around Tim, and gets a really tough layup to go while being contested by <span>Robin Lopez</span>. Kawhi had quite the game, finishing with 22 points, seven boards, and five steals.</p>
<p><img alt="2_whi_picks_it_up" class="photo" src="http://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/assets/4456897/2_whi_picks_it_up.gif"> <br id="1400141204814"></p>
<p>Watch the big Frenchman, <span>Boris Diaw</span>, push the ball up the court and then defer to Manu Ginobili. Manu immediately drives to the paint, but decides not to press the issue against Lopez, instead making a great pass back to Diaw who has no problem getting two for the Good Guys.</p>
<p><img alt="3_bobo" class="photo" src="http://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/assets/4456905/3_bobo.gif"> <br id="1400141261616"></p>
<p>Kawhi had a couple of steals that he took the other way for dunks in this game. He's not the only Spur that is capable of that feat. Well, I guess <span>Patty Mills</span> doesn't finish with a dunk, but he successfully converts a layup, and well, points is points. Great game from the little Aussie.</p>
<p><img alt="4" class="photo" src="http://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/assets/4456913/4.gif"> <br id="1400141402499"></p>
<p>Back when Boris Diaw played for the <a href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Hawks</a> early in his career he was a point guard. He might now be firmly in the point forward category, but he has great court awareness and is an absolutely great passer. Here we see him push the ball up the floor as <span>Danny Green</span> flanks his left. Bobo makes a slick pass to Danny who then swishes the pull-up triple.</p>
<p><img alt="5_mills" class="photo" src="http://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/assets/4456921/5_mills.gif"> <br id="1400141458217"></p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Spurs</a> really punished the Blazers with steals followed by scores in transition. In this GIF we see Whi get a piece of the ball as <span>LaMarcus Aldridge</span> is going to work in the post. Danny Green plucks the ball out of the air, takes it just outside of the three-point line and then sends it to Kawhi, who is wide open because <span>Damian Lillard</span> turns his back on the play assuming that Leonard is going to continue to the hoop, and the young stud indifferently drains the trey. That's cold blooded and well executed.</p>
<p><img alt="6_whi" class="photo" src="http://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/assets/4456937/6_whi.gif"> <br id="1400141595120"></p>
<p>Check out Manu secure a rebound and then find a streaking Tiago Splitter with a sweet outlet pass. Before the series started some fans of the Blazers called Tiago a <i>lumbering big man</i>. Who's lumbering now? I've said it before, but if Manu were a quarterback he'd throw 50 touchdowns and 30 interceptions a season. Luckily, this is the touchdown type pass, and Splitter doesn't even have to put the ball on the floor before he throws it down. It's always nice to see Good Manu, no matter how brief. Hopefully the guaranteed four days of rest will do our beloved Argentine some good.</p>
<p><img alt="7_manu_outlet" class="photo" src="http://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/assets/4456953/7_manu_outlet.gif"> <br id="1400141747530"></p>
<p>Manu certainly hasn't found his shooting touch, and he just seems tired right now. He's still able to make a play here and there, and here we see him play for the two-for-one as he blitzes off of a Splitter screen and has enough patience to let Aldridge make his move and then finish with a lefty banker from the right side of the rim. Get that rest Manu! We're going to need you.</p>
<p><img alt="8_manu" class="photo" src="http://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/assets/4456969/8_manu.gif"> <br id="1400141814469"></p>
<p>Tony Parker was like, "My leg hurts," and then Patty Mills was all like, "Hey, no problem, mate, I've got this." Patty Mills Shot Count for the game: 17.</p>
<p><img src="http://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/assets/4456985/9_patty.gif" class="photo" alt="9_patty"> <br id="1400141887695"></p>
<p>"Well, if you're not even going to try to stop me, I don't mind if I do." Timmy with the uncontested score off of an offensive rebound. Yes Tim, that's a fine hand.</p>
<p><img src="http://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/assets/4456993/10_tim.gif" class="photo" alt="10_tim"></p>
<p>Well, even with the game in hand the Spurs kept on punishing the Blazers with steals and scores. Manu sneaks in to take the ball away from Robin Lopez and then gets it to Splitter, who takes just a dribble before pushing it to Kawhi waiting near half-court. I sped the clip up from Tiago getting the ball to Kawhi at the three-point boundary, but Kawhi nonchalantly pauses at the line before taking it right at <span>Nicolas Batum</span>, who will probably think twice before jacking up a three in garbage time to give him a triple double in the regular season.<a target="_blank" href="http://ballislife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/4194081bbbf7f713.jpg"> It seemed to displease </a>the<a target="_blank" href="http://ballislife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/4194081bbbf7f713.jpg"> </a><a target="_blank" href="http://www.poundingtherock.com/pages/ptr-lexicon#timduncan">GOATPUFF</a>. Timmy clears room for Whi to convert an easy score. Never forget.</p>
<p><img src="http://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/assets/4457001/12.gif" class="photo" alt="12"> <br id="1400142251030"></p>
<p>Let's end this edition of GIF Breakdown with a collaborative effort for a steal and score. Leonard gets a piece of Batum's pass and Patty Mills makes his way to the right place at the right time to pick up the ball and take it all the way back for, well, two points. Ladies and gentlemen, Patty Thirlls.</p>
<p><img src="http://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/assets/4457009/13_whi_patty.gif" class="photo" alt="13_whi_patty"> <br id="1400142334784"></p>
<p>Before you start asking where the Kawhi Leonard steals and dunks are, let me point you in the direction of a<a href="http://www.poundingtherock.com/2014/5/14/5719346/kawhi-leonard-steals-the-ball-and-dunks-it-twice" target="_blank">n entire piece dedicated to them.</a> If I missed another of your favorite plays, just know that I made 100 GIFs this series. Not only do the Spurs need a little rest, so do I. We'll be back with more GIFs on Tuesday morning at the earliest and possibly not until Thursday -- hopefully after the Spurs take a 1-0 lead over whoever they face in the WCF. Until then, Pounders,<i> This team is so easy to root for. </i></p>
<h4>Bonus GIF:</h4>
<p>Because what kind of person would you be if you didn't enjoy watching the grey beard smile? Probably a bad one.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/assets/4457041/tim_smiles.gif" class="photo" alt="Tim_smiles"></p>
https://www.poundingtherock.com/2014/5/15/5719050/gif-breakdown-game-5-trail-blazers-spursChris Itz2014-05-15T06:00:07-05:002014-05-15T06:00:07-05:00Game 5 Links: Trail Blazers at Spurs
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<p>The Blazers could not match their Game 4 intensity as they left it out on the floor in Portland. That proved to be problematic, since they were playing in San Antonio. Spurs win the series 4-1.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-line-height-alt: 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span><a href="http://popcornmachine.net/cgi-bin/gameflow.cgi?date=20140514&game=PORSAS">Game Flow</a> | <a href="http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/shotchart?gameId=400556338">Shot Chart</a> | <a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/gameTrax?gameId=2014051424">Game Trax</a> </span></p>
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<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-line-height-alt: 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.nbaplayoffsbracket.com/2014/index.php"><b><span>Playoff Bracket</span></b></a><span>: <a href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Spurs</a> clock their ticket to the Western Conference Finals: Await winner of <a href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Thunder</a>/<a href="https://www.clipsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Clippers</a>. </span></p>
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<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-line-height-alt: 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span>As the Blazers made their way to their locker rooms, "<a href="http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/john_canzano/index.ssf/2014/05/canzano_trail_blazers_long_wal.html">R.C. Buford waited for them</a>. The Spurs' general manager and the NBA's executive of the year had positioned himself, mid-walk, off to the left side. He wanted to shake hands with each of the Portland players, and Coach Terry Stotts' staff, too." </span></p>
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<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-line-height-alt: 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span>Can’t get enough of that dunk? <a href="http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=10934553">Check out this video</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnzvzgFmLGQ#t=27">or this one</a>, of <span>Kawhi Leonard</span>’s one-handed double pump dunk. </span></p>
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<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-line-height-alt: 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span><a href="http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=10935040&categoryid=2378529">ESPN’s Top 3 plays</a> of the night have Mr. Leonard at the No. 1 spot.</span></p>
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<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-line-height-alt: 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span><a href="http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2014/05/portland_trail_blazers_at_san_antonio_spurs_game_5_1.html#incart_big-photo">No Parker, No Problem</a>: Beyond the Box Score at the Oregonian, plus plenty of pictures.</span></p>
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<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-line-height-alt: 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span>According to the NBA site, the <a href="http://www.nba.com/games/20140514/PORSAS/gameinfo.html?ls=iref:nba:serieshubs:mid:seriesschedule">Turning Point</a> was the Spurs started playing faster after <span>Tony Parker</span> went to the locker room.</span></p>
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<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-line-height-alt: 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span>As always, 48 Minutes of Hell has the <a href="http://www.48minutesofhell.com/el-conclusion-spurs-trail-blazers-game-5">Playoff Grade Book</a> posted. Kawhi Leonard and <span>Danny Green</span> posted an A+ effort.</span></p>
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<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-line-height-alt: 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span><a href="http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/">Spurs Nation</a>, as well as others, reports that Parker’s injury "<a href="http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2014/05/14/parkers-return-questionable-with-hamstring-tightness/">is not believed to be serious</a>."</span></p>
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<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-line-height-alt: 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span>Office betting pool not going according to plan: <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2014/matchup/_/teams/por-sa">Elhassan picked the Blazers in 6</a>.</span></p>
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<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-line-height-alt: 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span>On the Blazer’s Edge Quick-Cap, Timmay stated that "<a href="http://www.blazersedge.com/2014/5/14/5719002/game-5-final-spurs-finish-blazers-104-82-win-series-4-1">Game 5 looked incredibly familiar</a>."</span></p>
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<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-line-height-alt: 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span>Here is a <a href="http://instagram.com/p/n63-Bhxhxz">dramatic walk and music</a> from the Spurs on the NBA’s Instagram.</span></p>
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<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-line-height-alt: 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span>One valuable lesson that the Spurs taught the Blazers, is "<a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/southwest/story/spurs-beat-blazers-back-in-west-finals-051514">not to panic when an All-Star goes down</a>."</span></p>
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<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-line-height-alt: 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span>Up Next: The Western Conference Finals</span></p>
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https://www.poundingtherock.com/2014/5/15/5719662/game-5-links-trail-blazers-at-spursTrooperJoe732014-05-15T01:55:41-05:002014-05-15T01:55:41-05:00Spurs close out Blazers convincingly 104-82
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<figcaption>Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Tony Parker left the game with an injury in the first half and Manu Ginobili didn't play well, but Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, and Tim Duncan the Spurs rebound from their Game 4 loss to close out the Portland Trail Blazers. Patty Mills filled in admirably for Parker, scoring 18 points with 3 timely steals.</p> <p>When the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blazersedge.com/">Portland Trail Blazers</a> won Game 4 at Moda Center, streamers were let free from the ceiling, and it was the biggest moment in the Blazers season since <span>Nicolas Batum</span> cemented a triple double by shooting a 3 point shot at the buzzer in extended garbage time. By contrast, when the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/">Spurs</a> closed out the series Wednesday by routing the Blazers, there weren't any streamers or big celebrations, although <span>Tim Duncan</span> was visibly happy about the extra rest his team earned by closing out the series in 5 games.</p>
<p>The game started out well for the Spurs as they jumped out to a quick 8-1 lead, but then the Spurs' shooting went cold and <span>LaMarcus Aldridge</span> was able to play <span>Tiago Splitter</span> one-on-one and make some difficult shots. Lillard and Batum also contributed and Portland went on a 14-4 run and led 15-12. The Spurs picked up their defense for the rest of the quarter, and Patrick Mills came in and hit a 3-point shot, and at after the first 12 minutes, both teams had scored 19 points.</p>
<p>If you were really observant (I wasn't) you might have noticed that <span>Tony Parker</span> wasn't having much of an impact on the game. He looked like he did late in the regular season when he was conserving energy for the playoffs. He went into the locker room before halftime, but nobody seemed concerned until R.C. Buford and the team doctor got out of his seat and hustled to the locker room to join Parker.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the Spurs started to pick up their defense further out on the floor. In Game 4, the Blazers were able to get comfortable and set up their offense in the half court, but during Game 5 they were kept off balance by aggressive ball-hawking defense from the Spurs as <span>Kawhi Leonard</span> and <span>Patty Mills</span> were able to come away with key steals that led to quick scores. Lately, Kawhi has about once a game had a steal that leads to quick run out fast break dunk, but Wednesday he had several. He had 5 total steals in the game and most of them were the back-breaking variety. Kawhi is the Spur most capable of creating his own shot and with Parker out, he knew he had to be aggressive. The Silver and Black led at the half, 51-44.</p>
<p>At the half, the news came out that Parker had tightness in his hamstring and would not return. This would mean that Mills would have to play a lot of minutes, and frankly I was concerned that he might get tired. My friend Evelyn looked at him and said "he looks really fit. He won't get tired." That's not something you would have said last year. Mills always had skill, but his dedication to getting better and more fit really paid off, and the Spurs were the beneficiary.</p>
<p>The third quarter has been bad for the Spurs during this series. But this game was different, as the Spurs came out of the locker room with intensity and energy and showed that they wanted to close out the series. The Blazers continued to play well, but the Spurs just played with more energy and aggression. <span>Danny Green</span> hit some timely three point shots and the Spurs won the quarter 26-19. It would have been even higher, but the Blazers had a little mini-run to close out the quarter.</p>
<p>In the fourth quarter, the Spurs lost whatever little tentativeness and uncertainty they exhibited early in the game and put the hammer down on the Blazers. There was no joy in Rip City as the Danny Green hit clutch shots, and Marco and Patty got into the act. The defense picked up too, and the Blazers were held to 19 points in the quarter. With about 3 minutes left, both coaches pulled the plug and put in their benches. It was all gravy for the Spurs fans and they were treated to a rare <span>Matt Bonner</span> basket and rebound.</p>
<p>As the game ended, there were no streamers, just a team grateful to gain a few additional days of rest and preparation for their next opponent. They are focused on only one goal, the same goal they narrowly missed last June.</p>
<p><b>Quick Notes:</b></p>
<ul>
<li><span>Reggie Miller is just a terrible announcer. A good announcer will enhance your enjoyment of the game by helping you to understand subtleties of the game by pointing out things you may have missed. Most of the time what Reggie is talking about has nothing to do with what's transpiring on the court. He's just a distraction. And his voice is annoying.</span></li>
<li><span>Kawhi is OK with being called 'Sugar K' but he doesn't like 'The Claw.' I find his taste in nicknames about the only thing I can criticize about him.</span></li>
<li><span>Every time I've recapped a game, the Spurs have won. I was scheduled to recap game 4, but Wilco pulled me off the assignment a day before because the game was so late. I want to thank him for preserving my record.</span></li>
<li><span><span>Manu Ginobili</span> isn't able to produce consistently when the team is playing every other day with travel on off days. Maybe Pop should consider sitting him a game or two during the playoffs if there are too many games in a short period of time. He always has a few terrible turnovers even when he plays well, but Wednesday he had nothing and looked beat out there. If Parker misses any significant time, he's going to have to play better.</span></li>
</ul>
<div><b>Going forward:</b></div>
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<div>The Spurs earned a few extra days of rest, and they're going to need it. With any luck, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.clipsnation.com/">Clippers</a> will win tomorrow and extend that series to 7 games. Hopefully, Parker's injury won't cause him to miss significant time.</div>
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https://www.poundingtherock.com/2014/5/15/5719464/recap-san-antonio-spurs-portland-trail-blazers-nba-playoffsMark Barrington2014-05-14T23:10:53-05:002014-05-14T23:10:53-05:00Final Score: Spurs take the series, win 104-82
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<p>If the last game raised any doubt that the Spurs were a much better team than the Blazers, this one stomped it back down and then buried it under 100 feet of concrete. The Spurs played the second half without their offensive general in Tony Parker and just completely destroyed the Blazers. Checkmate -- Popovich. </p> <p>BadPierre is doing the Recap tonight and I'll let him handle the details. There's not too much to talk about after this one. After a historically bad shooting night in Portland on Monday, the Good Guys went back into their early series form and this one was pretty much over about four minutes into the second half. This was due to the 13-2 run the <a href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Spurs</a> went on to start the half which led to a 64-46 lead with eight minutes left to play in the third quarter.</p>
<p>Now we just have to wait and see who the Spurs will face in the Conference Finals. Speaking of the Conference Finals, this will be the third consecutive appearance for the Spurs, a franchise first.</p>
<p><span>Kawhi Leonard</span> had himself a heck of a game, scoring 22 points to go along with his seven boards and FIVE steals. There were also <a target="_blank" href="http://www.poundingtherock.com/2014/5/14/5719346/kawhi-leonard-steals-the-ball-and-dunks-it-twice">these two great steals and scores.</a></p>
<p>This was a good closeout win for the good guys and your Spurs improve to 8-4 for the postseason. The Magic Number now stands at Eight.</p>
<p><i>This team is so easy to root for.</i></p>
<h4>Popovich Postgame</h4>
<blockquote>
<p>I'm glad that's over. Those guys are hard to guard, they're athletic. Terry does a great job with them, and we were really concerned with them having the energy they showed last game. Tonight's game started out pretty tit-for-tat, and our bench did a good job coming in for us. I think that changed things a little bit. Congratulate those guys for playing as hard as they did and they have a bright future. A bunch of young guys that play their butts off so we feel great about being able to move forward</p>
</blockquote>
<p>On Tony's hamstring injury</p>
<blockquote>
<p>No, I don't know anything, he just said he couldn't come back.</p>
</blockquote>
https://www.poundingtherock.com/2014/5/14/5719054/final-score-spurs-close-out-series-in-rout-of-blazers-win-104-82Chris Itz2014-05-14T22:39:18-05:002014-05-14T22:39:18-05:00Kawhi Leonard steals and slams the ball...twice
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<figcaption>Chris Covatta</figcaption>
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<p>In just a couple of minutes of game time Kawhi Leonard managed to tally two steals and then take them both all the way back for unassisted dunks. The kid's kind of awesome. </p> <p>"Sugar Cane" Leonard sees the pass from Nicolas Batum coming and snatches the ball, makes his way down the court, pushes the ball ahead of two defenders as he puts the afterburners on and splits the defense before finishing with a sweet slam. The big men on the bench react appropriately with "The Hand." Thanks to J.R. Wilco for the Vines.</p>
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<p>Three minutes later he takes it away from Lillard and deposits the ball for the easy score. <a href="http://www.poundingtherock.com/pages/ptr-lexicon#amazinebrillian" target="_blank">Amazine</a>!</p>
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https://www.poundingtherock.com/2014/5/14/5719346/kawhi-leonard-steals-the-ball-and-dunks-it-twiceChris Itz2014-05-14T22:02:25-05:002014-05-14T22:02:25-05:00Game Thread Game 5 Part Deux: Blazers @ Spurs
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<figcaption>Steve Dykes</figcaption>
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<p>Dear Spurs,</p>
<p>You have two more 2nd quarters in this game. Now is the time to FINISH THEM!</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/imported_assets/2198445/finish-him-o.gif"><img src="http://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/imported_assets/2198445/finish-him-o_medium.gif" class="photo" alt="Finish-him-o_medium"></a></p>
<p>via <a href="http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view/930178/finish-him-o.gif">stream1.gifsoup.com</a></p>
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https://www.poundingtherock.com/2014/5/14/5719246/game-thread-game-5-part-deux-blazers-spursCapHill