worked our way back into the game against the Spurs only to have Tim Duncan put a dagger right through our hearts. Great comeback, just wonder what might have been had Pau converted more freethrows. Oh and Tim Duncan is the best baller in the world.
Unfortunately, it's what makes San Antonio so good - they always find a way to make the winning play when it counts. Gutsy effort by the Grizz too, as I wouldn't have wanted to be playing the Spurs after they were humiliated by Detroit.
I never realized how awful Pau Gasol was from the line until this season. Actually, last year, I remember him being pretty good from the strike. Apparently he's shooting 10% less this season though. How can a player having a career year in terms of points, rebounds, assists, and blocks be putting up career low shooting %'s? His free-throw attempts per game are only up by about two attempts, so that's probably not that problem. Anyway, I love our schedule. It's just been about a day since we lost in San Antonio, and now we get payback on national tv.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Sir Desmond:</div><div class="quote_post">Unfortunately, it's what makes San Antonio so good - they always find a way to make the winning play when it counts. </div> Yep, that's why you've just got to respect them, regardless of whether you like them or not. They are the benchmark and will remain so whilst Tim Duncan and Pop are involved. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Voodoo Child:</div><div class="quote_post">I never realized how awful Pau Gasol was from the line until this season. Actually, last year, I remember him being pretty good from the strike. Apparently he's shooting 10% less this season though. How can a player having a career year in terms of points, rebounds, assists, and blocks be putting up career low shooting %'s? His free-throw attempts per game are only up by about two attempts, so that's probably not that problem. </div> I've seen more of Pau than most would have (followed him before he arrived in the NBA) and he's always been quite a good free-throw shooter. I can confidently say it's a mental issue, not a technique issue. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Voodoo Child:</div><div class="quote_post"> Anyway, I love our schedule. It's just been about a day since we lost in San Antonio, and now we get payback on national tv. </div> I hate the schedule. I have a lot of faith in our team (as you've seen with my Burks thing), but i just can never be confident against the Spurs. Those bastards are just too f'ing good.
Spurs shot 75% in the first quarter tonight. I know a lot has to do with our defence and the fact we had two starters on the bench within minutes through foul trouble, but man, how hard is it to stop these bastards. Lets hope we can fight back.
Well, i'm happy with the way the game is sitting. Pau is carrying us and making sure we don't give in, but it'll take some big efforts from others if we're to get over the Spurs. Hopefully EJ and Shane can have a greater impact and stay out of foul trouble.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Jerry West:</div><div class="quote_post">Well, i'm happy with the way the game is sitting. Pau is carrying us and making sure we don't give in, but it'll take some big efforts from others if we're to get over the Spurs. Hopefully EJ and Shane can have a greater impact and stay out of foul trouble.</div> Is this a one man thread?
Horrible, horrible last 5 minutes. I thought we'd toughed the quarter out pretty well, only to have them again hit a few big shots and get to the basket too easily. We can still win, but we've got to make it harder for them to score. Their FG% is far too high right now, need to make them miss a few shots with tough defence.
Hakim is killing us right now. I know he's a kid and will learn from it, but those offensive fouls and the missed free throws just really hurts us bigtime.
This is getting really ugly. 5 points in the last quarter, match FG of 38%. So very disappointing. One day we'll conquer the Spurs.
Even though the Griz lost last night, my esteem for Pau Gasol went up. He took it right at Timmah, which is something you have to like. He never seemed like he had enough intensity and desire in previous years, but now he's showing such a great all around game, and going toe to toe with a great player like TD tells me that he's ready to be a leader and a true star for the Griz. I am very impressed with his play this year, and he's got to be an All Star the way he's playing so far.
Hard to beat the Spurs when Duncan & Bowen gets to play with 10 fouls and everyone else only gets a measley 6 fouls. It's just alarming how the Spurs are allowed to do things on the court, that other teams aren't. This lame excuse that the aggressors always get the benefit of the call is a load of you know what. I see Bruce Bowen molest Eddie Jones along the baseline while Eddie's trying to drive and get no foul. Then I see Tony Parker get tapped on a layup by BJax and he gets the And 1. Pau Gasol was getting hacked left and right by Tim Duncan during the stretch of the game when Gasol had him in isolation and was scoring with the left and right hand. No damn calls. Duncan had 4 or 5 fouls at that point and picked up his 7th or 8th during that stretch of the game. I'm not a fan of either team, but it was a clear case that Pau Gasol is not considered a superstar in this league, because he wasn't getting any love last night, even though it was blatantly obvious Tim Duncan was fouling. On one of those shots Duncan was trying to intentionally foul him because Gasol got him out of position, still no call. But Shape, the Grizzlies had more FTAs (32 to 24) than the Spurs. Damn right they did, because they were attacking the paint all night long and not settling for jumpers AT ALL. Pau Gasol was 9 for 21 from the field. This guy shoots a career 50% from the field, and takes high % shots. Last night he wasn't doing anything different than what he normally does, but only hits on 43% of his shots? Tim Duncan is a great defensive player, but he's not that good of a one on one defender to hold Gasol to 9 for 21, unless of course Duncan was getting away with foul after foul. By my count Gasol should have been to the FT line at least 15 times last night.
Thanks for the comments boys. It's good to get another perspective on it and both your comments gave me a bit of heart.
