San Antonio Spurs @ Phoenix Suns

[Revived]

Dragic and Bledsoe combined to shoot 12-for-33.

Popovich sent in Boris Diaw to quiet Frye early in the third quarter with the score tied 65-65. The Spurs quickly pulled ahead, and Frye scored only four points the rest of the way.

Dragic seems to always struggle when guarded by long good defenders. They had Leonard on him alot. And they forced him right and he couldn't do anything to the right side.

This should have been the game where Bledsoe proves he's worthy of a possible max contract and carry the Suns to a victory.

Nuggets coming up, better win that one. No Ginobili or Duncan to worry about there.

[BurningHeart]

24 fouls called on the Suns, only 17 on the Spurs. The Spurs were allowed to be far more physical tonight. I love having home court advantage!

This was the game. It was too tough to get a basket, and the touch fouls on the other end, made it impossible to return the favor. I'm kid of surprised we kept it that close. The league really needs to fix this stuff, they had third stringers allowed to two hand grab, or push our guys with no calls. It's sad that their record is really good because of stuff like this.

I watched the end of the Spurs Minny game the other night, and it was the same thing.

Typical Spurs. And they get away with this dirty type **** because somewhere along the way they built up the reputation of having some clean, respectable organization.

Tough loss, but I'm not surprised. Our late game execution has always paled in comparison to theirs.

[thamadkant]

When it comes to those little "dirty" tactics...I think if the refs allow you do it then why not do it... Popovic is a smart coach and would be aware of fouls referees will over look. Suns should do the same thing back, subtlety of course.

[MathiasPW]

Shhhhhhh... we lost on purpose. We are disguising strenghts for when we face them in the playoffs....

Just think about it....Green so long in the game.... Archie with most minutes in a game this season.... Frye suddenly not shooting at all....Bledsoe jacking threes when we had foul bonus....


Shhhhhhhh.....

it´s all good, all good.

Shhh....

[Milosh_Djuric]

Haha @MathiasPW

We had problems breaking their D, about refs, there were some bad calls on both sides I must admit, but also we made a lot of big mistakes, losing the ball in a lot of situations, some if it is because we played against a strong defense, and one thing we should have in mind is that they have a longer bench, which out shined our bench. No solution for their D, getting run down, you tend to make mistakes, not being able to stop Ginobili in the last quarter, all this decided the game IMHO. I'm not happy that we lost, but I'm pleased to see that we could hold against Spurs (even without Parker) and that there is room for improvement.

[Frank Lee]

Once again, we can't close it out.

We battled back from 7 down or so, to go up 95-93 with 5 minutes left AND HAD THE BALL.
Bledsoe misses jump shot
Dragic misses jump shot
Bledsoe misses jump shot
Dragic misses 3 pt shot

Dragic finally makes a lay up... and we are down three with 2 minutes left

then we have

Plumlee turnover
Frye misses a jump shot
Bledsoe turnover

Meanwhile Ginobli-one-konobli cooly scores 11.

Live by the J, die by the j. I don't think anyone wants the ball in crunch time.


and I agree Dez, an inside post moving big would be a welcome addition....

[RunDogGun]

When it comes to those little "dirty" tactics...I think if the refs allow you do it then why not do it... Popovic is a smart coach and would be aware of fouls referees will over look. Suns should do the same thing back, subtlety of course.

It's fine when both teams are allowed to be as physical, but we were barely touching them, and they would get the call, and would have to take two to three solid fouls before they called it for us, at home mind you.

I don't mind the loss, if we learn from it. But to lose like that, to them, at home? Too much for me. It becomes a league issue, as I watch teams like SA play (not only against us, but almost every team I see them play), this stuff happens.

[BurningHeart]

When it comes to those little "dirty" tactics...I think if the refs allow you do it then why not do it... Popovic is a smart coach and would be aware of fouls referees will over look. Suns should do the same thing back, subtlety of course.

I'd rather never win a championship than win while being bitchmade like the Spurs.

[Kerrsed]

[RunDogGun]

Apparently we were more of a threat than the Warriors? They sit both Duncan and Ginobli. I guess they were tired from getting all the calls.

[Ring_Wanted]

I wouldn't say they got all the calls, but it's true that the refs allowed them more than us. Still, it can be a learning experience to a young team like us. Next time the refs allow contact and above all don't call axe blows, just go as hard as the other team, and then some.