Game 53: SA Spurs (29-21) @ Denver Nuggets (35-17)

[eathy]

Everyone but Nene sucks tonight.

Oh and I hope tonight will be the last of Malik Allen in a Nuggets uniform.

[MHZ]

Dick Stockton, on a side note, has been god awful tonight. I can't even recount all the very simple screw ups he's had. One of which was insisting Arron Afflalo scored when it was JR, others were things such as "off SA, Denver ball" when it wasn't even an out of bounds situation.

Better step up the second half. Hopefully Melo's okay. "I'll be fine" generally means he's missing eight games.

[sportsmikegm23]

Turning this BS off and going to bed....they are a damn joke tonight... can't lose games like this... Chauncey and Melo bricking and not going to the rack... just dumb arse basketball!!!!

[Powder Blue]

Pop took a good timeout...killed our run, 4 pt game went back up to 10

[eathy]

Billups is such a turd.

JR gets a lot of criticism for his shot selection... but Billups is just as bad.

[devv83]

I think everybody took bad shots tonight except Nene, ty was over dribbling, afflalo couldnt hit anything, Melo act like he doesnt wanna go to the rack anymore, Chauncey is in love with that pull up three, I'm starting to dislike it, and jr was jr I really think that blown layup hurt us. Kinda like when he blew a dunk a couple weeks ago I forgot who is was against but it went downhill from there.

Malik allen is flabby and sick he looks like he should be playing at the y or something.

[pickaxe]

Out of synch. Resting on laurels. Lazy. Uninspired. Weak.

The thing that bothers me the most is it appeared every single player out there thought what they were doing was enough and decided after they didn't get the call they weren't going to finish or even pursue the play to the end. They can't figure out this is what Spurs preyed on all night?

Saw a bunch of people pissed off at refs but not a single player (or coach) that look like they were to happy to be in their position and appreciated what it took to get them there.

Lack of leadership.

[KAVK]

One of those nights!

Guys were just off. except Nene. LAL & DAL win must have calmed them down a notch. I am sure guys are learning the ropes to be an consistent elite team.

At this POINT. I will point out 3 teams that are going to be in contending late in the playoffs, of course unless major injury set back.

Denver - If we can get over the hump which is LAL then no matter who comes out of the EAST will eat dirt. Keys are Nene being beast down low like he has shown at LAL game recently, & AA D on Kobe, & Graham provide some good mins while Melo rests.

LAL - If Kobe stays healthy they have a chance to repeat unless of course DENVER stays healthy and upset them. which could very much might happen.

CLE - They are the favorite coming out of EAST unless ORL Nelson comes back to his old form by the playoffs. They should have kept Alston. If CLE meet DEN in the FINALS. It is a much easier guess then LAL Vs DEN. No Kidding.

[Teens On Acid]

crap...a loss on my birthday sucks..especially to the spurs.

[SnakefromHell]

This is one of those games where we shouldn't look too much into it... we just didn't have it from the start... the disappointing thing is few decided to pick up the energy.

Spurs were having things going their way so much I wouldn't be surprised if they had bounced the ball off Rocky's head and it went into the basket, the ball just went their way and they started to be more confident and their defense went up probably to the best they've played all season... and then the refs started to make calls their way too, for the more aggressive team.


While I don't think we should look much into it, one thing that could cause problems down the road is Spurs' defense. It was no fluke... they played great D, and if they could maintain that level of D, they could be a problem for everyone in the playoffs, including us. This game could be a turning point of their season, and if it is, watch for the Spurs.


And if this game is not a reason for the FO to make a deadline trade, I don't know what game is. I don't wish Swish to be traded... but God make a move, we need a BIG. How idiotic will it be that we are "a championship contender team" but comes playoffs time, if KMart gets injured again (knock on wood) "uhh... we're no longer championship contenders because KMart is injured and we're really tissue-thin on bigs..."


Uh, and watch for the Thunder. I think they'd make a tougher second round opponents for us than the Dallas Mavericks did last playoffs. People have been raving the Jazz, but Thunder imo regardless of experience, are the sleeper and most dangerous team to watch after Lakers and Spurs.



And lastly, I would applaud Bird's efforts tonight. He got knocked around by Blair and McDyess but his efforts and genuine desire to want to help the team in rebounding department deserves praise. If Nene had Bird's brain, he would average double figure in rebounding.

[Teens On Acid]

is kenyon sitting because of rest or imminent trade? with him playing so well lately, does FO and coaching staff actually say, "you know what Kenyon, you've been playing so well we want you to take a break, it's time for the rest of the team to step up." really? after a loss to the Jazz? sure Kenyon, sit out this game against the Spurs, we probably won't need you cause we killed the Mavs.

i don't like it. i (think i) smell something.

Kenyon should have at least been playing bench minutes. could have (probably) cost us the game, which we needed.

[corona]

is kenyon sitting because of rest or imminent trade? with him playing so well lately, does FO and coaching staff actually say, "you know what Kenyon, you've been playing so well we want you to take a break, it's time for the rest of the team to step up." really? after a loss to the Jazz? sure Kenyon, sit out this game against the Spurs, we probably won't need you cause we killed the Mavs.

i don't like it. i (think i) smell something.

Kenyon should have at least been playing bench minutes. could have (probably) cost us the game, which we needed.

what?

he was out with left knee tendinitis. only thing that makes it better is rest.

and with kmarts knee situation....i don't want to take any chances.

[SnakefromHell]

Knee tendinitis is notorious to linger all season... this is **** up.

[pickaxe]

One of those nights!

Guys were just off. except Nene. LAL & DAL win must have calmed them down a notch. I am sure guys are learning the ropes to be an consistent elite team.

Makes sense they are learning the ropes.....but the Spurs alone has given this team so many "lessons" since 2005 you'd think it would be hard wired by this point. We achieved bettering the Spurs and should stay there, and know how to stay there....especially with Chauncey present.

Can't have a best win of the season on Tuesday and then play like it's 2006 on Thursday. Need to at least know how to stay in the game even if we lose it....

What I saw was several flashy plays by our team....followed up by 10 fundamental boring plays by San Antonio. So SA won out by just executing time and time again very simple plays. I loved JR's tomahawk dunk. Loved Melo getting Ginobli called for foul in the doubleteam. Loved a lot of defensive plays to regain possession of the ball......but then the offense was in the toilet.

Hey it's not like these guys haven't earned it....but they shouldn't take time off while on the floor. It just leaves the door open. We don't want San Antonio to suddenly get hot because they figured out how to beat us again. After the break this team needs to get serious about follow ups - follow up each play, follow up each win, follow up each game.

[SnakefromHell]

^Agreed