Back In the Second Round, And It Feels So Good

There's nothing I fear more than a 20 point first half lead. Because you know it won't last, especially against a team as good as the Mavs and a player as good as Dirk. And then when Dirk picked up his 4th foul in the first half, I just had this sense of dread: "Uh oh; this is way too easy. We're being set up for a massive comeback."

And it came. It came on the back of Roddy Beaubois. It came on the back of Dirk Nowitzki. It came on the heels of an understandable Spurs letdown. But it came early, and once the Mavs neutralized the game, it was easy to get over, move on, and play out the game like we all knew it would be: super competitive and down to the wire.

We won the game as we've won so many in the last 13 years, with poise, execution, and solid D down the stretch. I can't say enough about the job McDyess did on Dirk, nor the emergence of George Hill as one of our top scorers and crunch-time performers. We knew we needed a 4th scorer and star this year, we just all thought it would be Jefferson. But with Hill's emergence, this team has a totally new look and swagger about them, and must certainly scare the rest of the West. And despite average numbers, I was quite pleased with what we got from Jefferson. If he can settle into the role as energy/defense player, get us some cheap baskets in transition and putbacks, and stick the jumpshot every so often, he'll continue to be an integral piece of the puzzle.

All credit to the Mavs: they are a great team, and I echo Pop's sentiment that I hope we never have to play them again. Despite the hatred between the two teams, I have nothing but respect for Dirk and Kidd and Carlisle, and am always terrified when Terry, Barea and (now) Beaubois are on the court. I even kind of like Cuban, at least when he's not talking shit about the Spurs. The Mavs were the team I least wanted to play in the first round, and I'm grateful to be done with the series and the havoc it wreaks on my nerves!

Up next, another old friend: The Phoenix Suns. I hope to be back with a series preview sometime on Sunday.

"For us it's a Game 7"

"For us it's a Game 7. It has to be. We definitely don't want to come [to Dallas] for a seventh. We've got to approach it as if there's no tomorrow."
--Manu Ginobili

I Still Hate NBATV, But the Mavs Announcers Aren't Half Bad

If you didn't see this game coming, I don't know what to tell you. It would have been fantastic if the Spurs could have closed this out in 5, but it also would have been a monumental task. The Mavs are too good, too proud, and too resilient to go down in 5 games, on their home court, losing 4 straight.

They came out with intensity that we just couldn't match. They were deflecting our passes, getting steals, and getting out and running. They were attacking the rim, working inside-out, and executing beautifully. On the other hand, the Spurs played without fire, were careless with the ball, lazy on rotations, settled for jump shot after jump shot, and played as if they knew their best chance to win the series was in Game 6. Which it is. But you never want to play a playoff game as if you have margin for error. If the Mavs rally and end up winning this series, we'll look back at Game 5 as the turning point.

Manu Ginobili is not playing well. He has come up clutch in some big moments, so we give him the benefit of the doubt and a free pass. But his shot is not looking good, he is having trouble converting at the rim, and he is careless with the ball, seemingly responsible for at least half of our turnovers. Turning the ball over against the Mavs is about the worst thing you can do, as it allows the team to get out and run, which is the only way they can beat us. By taking care of the ball and making our shots, we are slowing the Mavs down. Right now, Ginobili is doing neither.

Game 6 is our season. We need the energy, we need the hunger, and we need the crowd. The Mavs are more than capable of beating us on our floor, and we don't want to go back to Dallas for a Game 7. It's time to put this series away.

Happy Birthday, Big Fella

Just sit back, Tim, and enjoy the present the rest of the guys got you. Manu and Tim and Pop told them what you like, and George, DeJuan, Richard, and Antonio went out and got it for you. It's your birthday, you shouldn't have to do any heavy lifting today. Get us some boards, play some good defense. But leave the scoring to everybody else; they got this.
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Things are starting to get chippy. It's bound to happen in any playoff series, especially one so hard fought and between two teams that know each other so well. 3 flagrant fouls, one ejection, and probably more bruises and sores than can be counted.

The Mavs came out hungry, as was to be expected. This was a game that they needed to win. In the 2nd quarter it seemed as if they were going to run away with it. But the Spurs came out in the 3rd quarter ready to play. George Hill couldn't miss a shot; DeJuan Blair's energy finally started to outweigh his naivete (welcome to the playoffs, young man). But make no mistake--this game was won with with our 2nd half defense. It was superb. We were rotating hard and smart, being disruptive, and giving Dirk lots of different looks. Dirk is a great player, and he made smart passes that led to open 3s. But for the Mavs to win, Dirk needs to score efficiently, and we really limited him tonight.

What can we say about George Hill? He surely deserves his own paragraph. On a night when none of the Big 3 had particularly good games, George Hill carried us. Yes, he carried us. 5 3-pointers, tons of clutch shots, and his usual long-armed pesky defense. He was the flash point of a very nice subplot for this game: the continued stepping up of the Spurs "other" players. Jefferson played a solid game; McDyess continued his superb defense on Dirk and made a handful of clutch jumpers; and DeJuan was the beast we fell in love with in the regular season, creating positive plays out of nothing with sheer force of will and hustle. That's the player that deserves time on the floor.

A word of caution, though: don't start counting your chickens. Being up 3-1 is fantastic, and assures us a close-out opportunity on our home floor. But the Mavs have a lot of pride and experience, and they will not go down without a fight. Remember 2006. A 3-1 lead is not safe. How we play in Game 5 will say a lot about this team's character. The Mavs will come out hungry and scrappy and playing with a sense of urgency that neither team has had yet. Will we handle their best shot and make it a close game, with a chance to win the game and the series in the closing minutes? Or will we let up just a bit, content in the knowledge that we have a Game 6 back in San Antonio to try and close the series out?

The difference between those two could be the difference between a nice playoff run and a championship run.

A note to TNT: Overall, you do great work, and I really like Doug Collins calling our game. But you're broadcasting a basketball game, not an art house indie film. I don't need the eye-level handheld camera shots during action; I don't need the crazy, unique angles. Just give me the standard camera perspective, so that I can see all the action. Thank you.

I'm Sure There's a Ginobili Nose Joke In Here Somewhere

Oh my, that was a good game.

Did you see the rotations in the second half? That's right, you didn't. Because there weren't any. At this rate, Game 4 is going to be 5-on-5, call your own fouls, first to 100 wins. Pure craziness.

Carlisle seems to be taking a lot of early heat for playing only 7 players in the second half (and really, Marion only spelled Dirk for a few minutes, so it was basically 6). I'll let the Mavs bloggers handle that one. But I will say that the line-up they played with for most of the second half is the line-up I fear the most from the Mavs. That Barea sure is a pest, a classic "love to hate" Mavs player.

Pop was just as restrained in the second half, playing 7, and only 6 in the 4th quarter (I'm pretty certain that McDyess came in for Bonner--our very last substitution [not counting in the final moments of the free throw game]--early in the 4th).

As long as our players can handle it, I like our tight rotation. Blair needs to play a few minutes in the first half (possibly each half) to spell Duncan, but probably no more than 10 total. Blair doesn't look quite ready for the bright lights of the playoffs yet, but his activity and energy is neutralizing his inexperience while on the floor. Bonner can play 15-20 spelling McDyess and Duncan. Ginobili, Parker, Hill, and Jefferson will play all the minutes for the 1, 2, and 3 spots. Ginobili and Parker will be on the floor in crunch time. The decision between Jefferson and Hill will come down to match-ups and who is playing better on that particular night.

Tonight it was Hill, who seems to finally be healthy and finally ready for the playoffs. His value to the team is immeasurable on both ends of the floor. As good as his offense was tonight (hitting clutch baskets, breaking down the defense), his defense was even more important. He is our best perimeter defender. Ginobili causes more havoc, but Hill is better in isolation. Welcome to the playoffs, Hill. After Game 2, Duncan said that we will need at least one other player to step up each game. Between Hill and Jefferson, I'm confident we'll get that more often than not. And don't sleep on McDyess and Bonner; both are capable of going for 15-20 points in a game.

The best news of all is just how good the Big 3 are playing. Each had crucial stretches of the game where they put the team on their back. Duncan owned the first half. Ginobili gave us back control of the game in the beginning of the 4th quarter. Parker hit at least 3 huge baskets late to put the game out of reach. I had forgotten just how good this team is when all 3 of those players are playing well, as it has been so long since they've all been healthy and clicking together. Me likey.

Game 4 promises to be another instant classic. These teams just know each other so well and match up with each other so well. No lead is safe and no game is over until the buzzer. As important as this game was to win, Game 4 is just as important. We can't have any let up. We need to go back to Dallas up 3-1, with at least one chance to put the series away at home.

Meet the Newest Spurs Fan

I'm pretty sure this is what Pop had in mind.

Meet Parker. He is my friend's new puppy who was in large part named based upon my suggestion. I got the idea from the Spurs. I suggested Parker, Duncan, and Finley (all sound like good dog names), and she really liked Parker. She says he is not named after Tony Parker, per se, but he's definitely an influence.

He's all black except for a small white/silver tuft of fur on his chest, which you can just barely make out in the picture. Already in uniform. He's sweet and cuddly and just about the cutest thing you could ever hope to see.

Let's win one for Parker.

The Dogs Have Their Day

Welcome to the post season, San Antonio.

After The Spurs' disappointing Game 1 loss in which the team played with a noticeable lack of energy and intensity, Pop called out the team, saying many of them had played like "dogs". The most obvious target of these comments was Richard Jefferson, and with good reason. He had a horrible game. But I feel like the canine criticism extended well beyond Jefferson, even as far up as Duncan and Ginobili, who both had spotty outings in the opening game.

In Game 2, everything seemed to turn around. Jefferson was a new man, hitting jump shots, driving to the basket, nabbing offensive rebounds, diving to the floor for loose balls. We saw the player we envisioned when we signed him in the offseason. We don't need a player that averages 20 points a game--we just need a player who is a threat to score 20 points a game. If Jefferson has to be accounted for, then that opens everything else up for Duncan, Ginobili, and Parker. Then it becomes pick your poison. You can cheat off Jefferson, but run the risk of having him go off for 17 points in a half. Stay at home and honor his scoring prowess, and watch Duncan and Ginobili put the game away in the second half. Beautiful.

While Jefferson was the most dramatic improvement between games, everybody played better. Duncan was masterful with 25 points and 17 boards. But more important was the way in which he ripped out the heart of the Mavs comeback and put the game away with 8 straight points late in the 4th. He just looks so good right now. Ginobili is still being a bit too careless with the ball (especially around Kidd), but his ice water-in-the-veins 3 pointers were vintage Manu. Parker played another solid game off the bench, preventing us from really ever having a dip in offense. Bonner hit some open 3s (and needs to continue taking them whenever they give them to him). McDyess continued his unheralded scrappy play, keeping so many balls alive on the offensive end and playing solid D on Dirk.

I'm still worried about Hill. He needs to show up in this series. He started to show some flashes in the second half as he drove to the rim off turnovers and got to the free throw line, but he doesn't look right. He's guiding his shot, rather than just shooting it; and he seems timid, fearful of the moment. We need Hill to step up. I feel like we're getting close to a break-out game for him. Call it a hunch. I think playing at home will help his confidence.

I'm not quite sure what to make of Blair at this point. I think he's being used exactly as he should, which is mostly to spell Duncan. That gives him about 10 minutes a game. Right now his energy and his tenacity is doing just slightly more good than harm, but he's having a lot of trouble scoring the ball. His offensive rebounds and putbacks are a big part of our offense (even if it's just 8 points a night), and right now he can't get the ball back in the basket. Plus, he's struggling to guard anyone on the Mavs since he's so undersized compared to the Mavs frontline. Again, like Hill, I think playing at home will help his confidence and might allow him to have more of a positive impact on the next two games.

The other big development from Game 2 was Pop's shortening of the rotation. Quite honestly, it was a very welcome sight. He went to (more or less) an 8-man rotation, with Parker, Ginobili, and Hill in the backcourt, Jefferson at the 3 (with Ginobili subbing in for him primarily), and a four-man front court rotation of Duncan, McDyess, Bonner, and Blair. Mason, Jr. got some spot duty in the first half, but outside of that, no other Spurs player saw the floor until the final minute. This is the rotation that we need moving forward. For better or worse, these are our 8 best players, and the players that we are going to win or lose with. Mason, Jr. and Bogans have had their moments, but over the course of the season, have proven to be more of a liability than a help, and this isn't the time to be hoping for turnarounds. You dance with who brought you, and you only play the players you can trust unconditionally.

Game 2 was a great win, but don't read too much into it. As I said in the series preview, every game is going to have its own unique character and feel, and there really won't be any momentum carry over between games. What happened in Game 1 really had no bearing in Game 2; what happened in Game 2 won't affect anything in Game 3. At this point, between these two teams, there really aren't even any adjustments left to make. Just roll the ball out there, and see which team beats the other team on that given night. Eventually, one team will win four of the games.

Where Art Thou, George Hill?: The Death of the Championship Role Player

The Spurs Organization has many philosophies that it lives by, the most notable being "pounding the rock." One of my favorites happens to be our philosophy on filling out the roster with our role players: find professionals who will fall in line behind the superstars and would run through a wall to win a game.

The championship years are littered with these types of players. Think Bruce Bowen. Think Robert Horry. Think Malik Rose. Hell, even think Stephen Jackson, Brent Barry, and Michael Finley. These are all players who did their job, knew the system, rarely made mistakes, and could be counted upon in tense end-game situations. Championships are won on the talents of superstars, but they're also won on the backs of superlative role players. 10 minutes of Robert Horry swung the 2005 Finals in our favor.

People decry the aging Big 3, wondering if they still have the talent and the juice to lead the Spurs to another championship. But the dirty little secret of these Spurs is not the decline of the Big 3--it's the lack of role players willing to run through a wall to get that ring.

The Big 3 all played very good (though not great) Sunday night. Manu and Tim were a little too careless with the ball. Ginobili, especially, needs to tighten up his passing. Kidd has very obviously studied his tendencies and knows when to expect that across the body pass, which he picked off several times.

The Big 3 weren't the problem, though. It was everybody else (I'm going to exempt Antonio McDyess, who I thought played a great role player game, and his heart and hustle were commendable). We got nothing from anybody else. Jefferson got two early fouls and more or less vanished; Bonner, while playing hard, missed shots he usually makes and that we need him to make; Keith Bogans is NOT Bruce Bowen; Roger Mason, Jr. is a gunner who can no longer gun; DeJuan Blair had very little impact either way.

George Hill was easily the most disappointing player of all. I'm willing to cut him some slack if he's still injured, though he claims he is not. He got the start, and did almost nothing in the first half. Pop gave him just over 2 minutes in the second half, and then yanked him for the rest of the game. And I can't blame him. He was clearly not right. Whether it was the lingering injury, fear of the moment, or something else entirely, he was giving us nothing.

If we're to have any success in this series and moving on further in the playoffs, we need to get something from players 4-9. The Big 3 can not carry us through this series, let alone to a championship. And the truth is, they never have. Every great championship team has role players that propel the team forward at critical moments. Right now, we have none. Sadly, the other bench seems to be littered with them.

It's common to proclaim the death of a team and the end of a series after one game. If San Antonio wins Game 2, the entire complexion of the series changes. And there's plenty of good to take away from this game. Despite subpar play from almost our entire roster AND Nowitzki having one of the most amazingly efficient playoff games ever, we only lost by 6. There's plenty of hope, and plenty of reason to think we still have a great chance.

But somebody not named Duncan, Ginobili, or Parker is going to have to force their way into the narrative of the series and impose their will on a stretch of game that just might swing the whole series.

Through the Looking Glass

It seems fitting that our post-season begins where it ended last year: with the Dallas Mavericks. It's a nice reversal from a year ago, as we've seemingly switched spots, with the Mavs winning the division and being the higher seed, and the Spurs as the lower seed peaking at the right time. Despite the seeds, when these two teams meet, all conventional wisdom goes flying out the door. Season record doesn't matter, homecourt advantage doesn't matter, head-to-head doesn't matter, match-ups don't matter...every game is going to be a battle, it's own unique campaign within the larger war.

That's all the pre-series analysis you get. For one, my computer died on me and I'm doing this all on my phone. But more importantly, it's the Mavs. We seemingly play them every year in the playoffs, and there isn't a team that we know better (or that knows us better). And yet this year is completely different. Both rosters have lots of new faces. Both teams have numbers showing their superiority and their inferiority.

Basically, it's a toss up, and anyone who claims to know better is lying, delusional, or a genius. The truth is, I don't know who will win, and I don't know who has the advantage, if there is any. Nothing will surprise me in this series, except Jason Terry being likeable. It's no longer about analysis or prognostication--it's about playing better than the other team and exerting your will.

The West is wide open this year. Do the Spurs have another run left in them? We've been waiting almost a year to find out. Sunday, the answer begins.

Go Spurs Go.

Reversing A Reversed Trend

Early in the season, we couldn't beat the good teams but beat up on the bad teams.

Lately, we've been whipping the good teams and losing to the bad teams.

Thankfully, tonight we didn't allow a bad team to get the jump on us. After a slightly shaky start to the game, we seized control in the second quarter and really opened up the game. It's pretty telling when most of your leading scorers are scrubs because there was so much garbage time.

The best thing to take from this game--besides reaching 50 wins for the 11th straight season--was just how good the team looked. Parker seems to be getting his zip back, and his passing actually looks better than ever. If he gets fully reintegrated to the team, we may look back at the injury as something of a blessing, as it allowed his other nagging injuries to heal, and also helped Hill and Ginobili really emerge. Speaking of which, Hill came back tonight and looked great. Hopefully there will be no ill effect from the injury. Ginobili was great as always. Bonner looked really good. Bogans literally (almost) couldn't miss from 3. All the bench players played great, as well.

But Duncan. Oooh, boy did Duncan look good. His moves were fluid and refined. His movement was smooth. He had lift, he had energy. He's definitely in playoff mode. Get here already, playoffs!

Looking Forward:

With Portland beating OKC tonight, The Thunder have locked up the number 8 seed, and we're assured 6 or 7. If Portland wins Wednesday against the Warriors, they lock up the 6 seed. If we lose on Wednesday, Portland is the 6th seed. The only way we can get the 6th seed is with a win and a Blazers loss.

Honestly, I don't know which seed is better to have. It's all about the match-up. Do we want to play Dallas, Phoenix, Utah, or Denver? My choice, in order, would be Denver, Phoenix (those two might be tied in my mind, hard to choose), Dallas, Utah.

Interestingly, if Dallas beats us on Wednesday, it ensures that we meet them in the playoffs, as they would clinch the 2 seed and we would clinch the 7 seed. If we beat them, they could fall all they way to 4, and we could rise to 6, though we could still meet them as the 3-6 match-up. Do you think they want to avoid us in the first round? If so, maybe they'll throw the game. Of course, the last time they did that, the Warriors snuck into the playoffs, pulled off the greatest upset in first round history, and 6 weeks later we were hoisting our fourth Larry O'Brien trophy. Karma's a bitch.

The other question is: do we have anything to play for? Do we want to face Dallas? If we rest starters and concede the game, we get Dallas in the first round. Personally, I'd prefer to play to win and let the chips fall where they may.

Some people have been hoping that we might actually face the Lakers in the first round. While I agree that they have been playing very poor of late and are quite vulnerable, I'd still rather avoid the champs and Kobe as long as possible. Despite their troubles, they still have Kobe, they still have Pau, they still have Jackson, and they're still a great team. They've been there, and they know what to do. (Hey, kind of like us.) Give me the Mavs or the Nuggets or the Suns in the first round, please.

Everything will be decided by the end of the day on Wednesday. This is the best time of the NBA year.

Jekyll and Hyde

I don't understand any better than you do how we can lose to the Grizzlies at home on a day's rest and then go into Denver--one of the most difficult places to get a road win--the very next night and whip the Nuggets by 20 in a game that they desperately needed to win to stay on pace with the Mavs for the 2nd seed. I just don't. We played great tonight. Our defense was Spursian, and we allowed almost no offensive rebounds and 2nd chance points. Our offense was solid if unspectacular. The game had a very playoff-like feel, with the pace grinding to a halt, the stakes being raised, and the team that could execute better and play with more energy would win. And we did. A night after it seemed like we never might again.

So I'm just going to throw my hands up, be thankful for the win, and stop trying to understand this team. Until the next game.

Looking Forward:

The win put us a half game up on the Blazers and moved us back into 7th place, however tenuously. Let's look at the remaining schedules of the two teams we're fighting with and see what might happen.

We play Minnesota at home on Monday and at Dallas on Wednesday to close out the season. The way the team's playing, it seems we're more likely to lose to Minnesota and beat Dallas. I hate to predict anything, but for worst case scenario's sake, let's say we go 1-1, finishing with a record of 50-32.

Portland plays the Lakers in LA on Sunday, then OKC in Portland on Monday, and they close out the season against the Warriors in Portland on Wednesday. OKC plays at the Warriors on Sunday, at Portland on Monday, and then finish out their season at home against the Grizzlies on Wednesday.

Obviously, the first thing you notice is the game between OKC and Portland. Honestly, it's still too early to tell who we want to win that game, but in general we want the Blazers to lose since they hold the tiebreaker over us, and we can finish even with the Thunder since we hold the tiebreaker over them. A lot of it is going to depend on tomorrow's games, particularly Portland's game against the Lakers. The Lakers are in an interesting spot, in that if they beat the Blazers, they greatly increase the chances that they will face the Blazers in the first round. If they lose, then it remains a toss up, especially if OKC loses to Golden State (which I'm not counting on).

So for now, pay close attention to those two games tomorrow, and root for the Warriors and (gulp) the Lakers (that is, unless you want to face the Lakers in the first round). Believe me, as a Spurs fan and a Blazers fan, it pains me to write that. But this is playoff seeding we're talking about. Lines must be drawn and sides must be chosen.

Go Spurs Go.

Correlation Isn't Causation, Except When It Is

The Spurs suffered a crushing blow in their bid to stay out of the 8th spot. I didn't watch the second half of the game (and now I don't want to). But from what I saw in the first half, we were sluggish, lazy, and disconnected as a team. The Grizzlies--out of the playoffs and only playing for pride and a winning season--played as if the game was more important to them than it was to us. Think about that.

In the last 3 games the team has played poorly, regressing to early season mediocre form. Two things happened in that span that bear looking at: 1) George Hill went down with an injury; 2) Tony Parker came back from injury. Obviously we miss George, especially on the defensive end. His ability to pester the ball handler, keep dribblers out of the lane, and deny entry to wing scorers is vital to our defensive philosophy. And that's not even mentioning his scoring ability.

But is any of this recent mini-slump due in some part to Parker coming back? I'm not talking about a "Hill is Better For the Team Than Parker" debate, though I plan on getting into that in the offseason. More, is Parker disrupting chemistry that we had built over the run we put together while he was out? Is his re-insertion back into the rotation (and presumably, the starting line-up eventually) limiting the effectiveness of the "Super Manu" we had all come to love over the last month? To me, the ultimate question for now and moving forward is: can a maximum effective Tony Parker and a maximum effective Manu Ginobili exist on the same team? And if not, which is more valuable?

Looking Forward:

The schedule doesn't get any easier, as we travel into Denver tonight to play the Nuggets. Playing in Denver, against the Nuggets, on a back-to-back is hard. We need this win. Will the team respond?

After tonight's game I'm hoping to do a more thorough breakdown of the race between OKC, Portland, and San Antonio. It's not looking good.

That Nets loss is looking worse and worse.

I Never Thought I'd Say This, But I Hope We Don't Meet The Suns in The Playoffs

This isn't your father's Suns team. This team plays pesky, irritating defense. They still score bunches in fast-break and transition, but they can also score in half-court sets efficiently. They shoot better, if that's possible. And they actually have a bench, and a pretty good one at that. (D'Antonio's greatest flaw might be his inability to trust more than 7 or 8 players, running those players ragged throughout the season and burning them out by the playoffs).

They played very well; we didn't. There's lots of reasons why we wouldn't have played well, mainly that we're in the stretch of 5 games in 7 nights and they had been off for 3 days. One game does not a season make. But there was enough there to make us fear a potential playoff match-up with them. We had absolutely no answer for the Nash-Stoudemire pick and roll. It was almost embarrassing. Missing Hill obviously hurts us, but as good as his defense is, pick and roll defense is not his forte. (I find it interesting that Pop didn't employ Bogans on Nash, a la Bowen. Was he holding out for a potential playoff match-up? Does he not trust Bogans on smaller, quicker players?) There defense actually seemed to bother us, pestering us into TOs and miscues all over the place. They outplayed and outworked us, and it was just a tiny bit embarrassing.

On a happier note, it looks like Ginobili is finally getting his extension. Spurs fans around the world sigh a relief of happiness. Losing Ginobili would have been just short of disastrous for this team. I understand the reservations of paying a 33 year old swingman with injury issues who plays with reckless abandon $40 million over the next 3 years. I really do. Like I've said a million times, though: Pop is the brains, Duncan is the soul, and Ginobili is the heart. And you don't let your heart just up and leave. You pay whatever it takes to keep him around, and you go to battle with the guys you trust and love. Like Dingo said in a comment months ago (I'm paraphrasing here), "I'd rather go to war with Ginobili and lose than go without him." Agreed. We only have so many years of watching Ginobili's manic genius on the court, and I want to watch every minute of it, and I want him in the Spurs uniform.

And someday, years from now, I want to see his 20 hanging next to 21 in the rafters.

Looking Forward:

We have four games left. We need at least 2 wins to reach 50. Tonight against Memphis and Monday against Minnesota are our best chances. After our poor performances the last 2 games, I expect the team to come out focuses and take care of business. As great and surprising as the Grizzlies' season has been, they are officially out of the playoffs and have nothing left to play for. We have plenty left to play for.

The Western Conference is just insane right now. It seems like it gets crazier and crazier every year. We're in prime position to finish 6th or 7th, which is precisely where we want to be (moving up to 2nd or 3rd is a long shot), avoiding 4, 5, and 8 to avoid the Lakers half of the bracket. My really thorough analysis: we need to win as many of our remaining games as we can.

Of Our Remaining Games, Should Minnesota Scare Us the Most?

Dear San Antonio Spurs,
Thank you for winning this game, even though you made it too close for comfort. These games count as much as the ones against the Lakers and Magic. Seriously. Look at the rules.

Dear Tony Parker,
Welcome back. Now don't suck and don't mess up the amazing chemistry we've cultivated in your absence.

Dear George Hill,
I miss your shot...I miss your long arms...I miss your musk. When this all gets sorted out, I think me and you should get an apartment together.

Dear Manu Ginobili,
Thank your for making winning basketball plays, even when your shot sucks. Nice defense on Tyreke Evans. I love you.

Dear Utah Jazz,
Thank you for beating the Thunder and allowing us to move up to 6th in the West, even if Durant was most certainly fouled on that last play.

Dear Antonio McDyess,
Please keep making your 15 to 18 foot jumpshot. It kind of helps us out a whole lot.

Dear Kings Announcers,
Thank you for saying "It almost makes me want to spit up" (I'm paraphrasing) after Ginobili's insanely amazing layup in the first quarter. That made me almost spit up. Or at least want to.

Dear Pop,
Thank you for not pissing away a game that shouldn't have even been that close.

Dear Beno Udrih,
Thank you for never making us regret letting you go, except for that one kind of good game you had against us. You almost single-handedly lost the 2005 Finals for us, and I would have never forgiven you for that. You're welcome for the ring.

Dear NBATV,
Suck my balls. If you're going to show a certain game on your channel, and by showing that game on your channel you preclude people from being able to see the game on other outlets such as NBA League Pass Broadband, then please show that game in its entirety. I understand that the finish in Utah was crazy, but I just put in two hours to watching the Spurs, and I want to see how the pivotal stretch of that game plays out. Show us the clips of the Utah-OK City game during timeouts.

Speaking of timeouts, you should also cut to the game as soon as the action starts back up. Don't have a split screen with the game in a tiny little box on the right side, and the studio guys on the left. I don't really care what they're saying, especially when I can actually see the game they're talking about with my very eyes. Or at least I could if you'd put it on the full screen. If what Chris Webber and Kevin McHale are saying is so important, I'm sure you could figure out a way to play the audio while we watched the game on the full screen. I'm pretty sure that technology exists. I don't really need to see McHale's face when he's talking. Learn time management.

In conclusion, fuck you.

Looking Forward:

Dear Phoenix Suns,
In case you haven't noticed, we've been playing awesome lately. But so have you. This is a really important game for both of us. I hope we crush you, just like we have every time it's mattered.
Seriously, though, good luck. I secretly kind of like a lot of players on your team, especially Nash and Hill. But not Amar'e. Never Amar'e. I squeal with glee every time Duncan owns him in games. (By "own", I don't mean "scores more points than". That critical difference is what will always separate Duncan from Amar'e.)

Dear ESPN,
Thank you for knowing how to properly broadcast a game.

Don't Look Now, But We Don't Suck Anymore

If I'm honest with myself, I didn't think we could win this game. My best hope was for a moral victory, that we could keep it close and competitive. After the way they completely owned us in San Antonio a few weeks ago, never in my wildest dreams did I think we could go into Staples Center and not only win, but win handily.

From the 2nd quarter on, we completely controlled the game. Despite giving up a few too many offensive rebounds, our defense was ferocious, denying the Lakers good shots or even good execution. On offense, we were patient and ran the offense either through Duncan in the post or Ginobili in the pick and roll, our two greatest offensive weapons. We dictated the tempo, and never let the Lakers superior athleticism and length overwhelm us.

When the Lakers made a charge in the 4th and closed the gap to 2 points, I thought "uh oh...here comes the collapse." Instead, we rattled off a huge run (mostly on Ginobili's brilliance) and put the game away. We played with poise and calm down the stretch, and we outplayed the champs.

Maybe it's time to recalibrate our expectations for this team. All season we've been waiting for this team to step up and play like the team we've known from years past. And anytime we'd had a glimmer of this happening, the team would immediately crush our hopes and start sucking again. But our play over the last few weeks can't be denied (the NJ game excepted, and let's just agree to never talk about that game again, okay?). It's not just that we're winning--it's how we're winning. We've beaten the Lakers by 19, the Magic by 12, the Rockets by 17, and the Celtics by 21 (not to mention beating the league-best Cavs by 5). Any way you slice it, that's impressive.

If we continue to play this way, I like our chances in the first round against any team in the Western Conference, save the Lakers. I know we just beat them. But I don't want the defending champs in the opening round. Any other team? Bring them on. I'll put our best against their best and like our odds. In Ginobili and Duncan we trust.

Looking Forward:

Another TRAP GAME! warning. We play the Kings in Sacramento Tuesday night. The following night we have a huge game against Phoenix, and then Memphis and Denver (in another back to back) right after that. We need to take care of business, exactly like we didn't do in the game that shall not be mentioned.

For His Next Trick, Manu Will Turn Water Into Wine

That's the kind of game that makes you wonder where this Spurs team has been all season.

We played a really good game against a really good team. Maybe the 2nd best team in the entire league. Every Spurs player performed solidly. Manu was obviously the star, controlling the game like a bored puppeteer. Duncan was very impressive in the 2nd half (after missing most of the first half for daring to touch Dwight Howard), anchoring both ends of the court.

But we expect that out of those two. Often times the difference is in the margins, and our role players stepped up beautifully tonight. Jefferson shook off a rusty first half and gave us some key points and (more importantly) key hustle down the stretch. Bonner was active offensively, draining 3s and hitting his (now patented) hook shot. Roger had some good shooting, but most impressively got a block/save on Nelson. McDyess showed why we picked him up in the offseason and what he might bring come playoff time. And Hill was pretty normal, which is turning into a pretty good thing.

Late in the game we turned to the much-maligned tactic of intentionally fouling a poor foul shooter, in this case, Dwight Howard. I understand why people dislike it, because it makes the game agonizing to watch. But as a Spurs fan, I love the tactic, and I wonder why teams don't do it more. Time and again, it's proven effective for us, both climbing back into games and extending leads late in games. As Sean Elliott pointed out on the telecast, it has benefits beyond hoping a poor free throw shooter misses. It completely destroys the rhythm and flow of the other team's offense. It causes shooters to cool down, and makes a team go a long time without running a set or getting a shot off. And it can adversely affect the free throw shooter. We saw Howard lose his cool as he continued to brick ugly looking free throws. And we were able to extend our lead while we did it.

This game is also a demonstration of why we don't complain about the officiating. If we did, we'd most likely have to wait in line behind the Magic fans. The officiating was certainly questionable and made the game very choppy, but I don't think it trended in any particular way or in any particular team's favor. Ultimately, the officiating is part of the game, another factor that players must take into account in the game.

The best part of the game for me was Duncan's fourth quarter. This was vintage Duncan. Surely the rest in the first half did him some good. He was ferocious on both ends of the floor, and demanded the ball in the offense. This is the Duncan we need come playoff time. The Duncan who leads by effort and example, whose will to win is stronger than anybody else's on the floor, save Ginobili. I don't care so much about his offensive production, as long as his offensive presence is creating the space and rhythm that we need, and that his looks are clean. Where we need him is on the defensive end, the immovable object in the middle.

It's too bad we don't play in the Eastern Conference. In the last few weeks we've beaten 3 of the top 4 teams in the East, and took the 4th team to OT.

Looking Forward:

Our last game against the Lakers is on Sunday. The Lakers are supposedly reeling a bit. The last time we played them, they beat us something fierce. We need to make a statement in this game that we can play with them and that we will play with them. There's a strong chance this will be our first round opponent.