Yeah but as a ref you are suppose to set the tempo for this kind of stuff. If you call the fouls early and consistently then the defense knows such tactics will not be tolerated and so you must adjust to it. I have no problem with tough playoff physical type games but when Steve Nash gets hacked in the arm ever time he touches the ball, you know the refs blew it. I don't care about the Suns but this kind ignorance cannot be acceptable to any who plays or watches basketball. Bad officiating period.
That's why he should be the first team center, rather than some freaking Amare-I-have-to-get-2-points-at-the-last-second-with-10-points-deficit.
D'Antoni better take a look in the mirror. Duncan has thrown down 33/16, 29/11 and 33/19 today. Those stats are sick! Tell me if I'm being too harsh, but isn't it obvious the Suns should have adjusted their defense to double Duncan by now? Isn't it obvious that Duncan has sized up Kurt Thomas' defense and has figured out how to roast and toast the guy? It reminds me of Bob Hill and the Spurs against Hakeem in 1995. How stupid is this? Duncan is an all-timer but the Suns made him look like Superman out there. Last time I checked, basic NBA Defense 101 says when an interior player scores like a machine and eats you alive with no mercy, adjust the defense and make someone else beat you. I agree the refs were awful. They should turn down their game checks because it was disgraceful. The Suns showed a lot of heart overcoming this, D'Antoni's nutty defense and Amare's boneheaded fouls but the effort was wasted.
I have said it before but let me say it again: why the heck wasn't Tim freakin' Duncan mentioned in the MVP race? Anyways. Spurs continue to play the role of the Suns' kryptonite...nothing new really. They do a better job defending the Suns and make life as miserable as they can for Nash, trying to limit his playmaking abilities and by extension disrupt the Suns' offense. And although he played OK tonight from a statistical standpoint, Amare continues to look like a chicken with its head cut off, just completely dominated and overshadowed by Duncan's greatness. Keep this in mind: in the past, the 'X factor' for the Spurs against the Suns was pretty much ALWAYS Manu Genobili, who just had a knack for showing up big against them and tearing their defense apart. Thus far? Manu has been a non-factor in the first two games and still played subpar on offense tonight, and the Spurs STILL lead the series 2-1. 'nuff said...
You mean like kneeing Nash in the balls (filthy Bowen) and hacking the hell out of him? Yeah, awesome "Defense" there.
Yea, with regards to that, how come this kind of stuff always happens with Bowen? Such coincidence I have no idea why the league isn't taking any action. I thought the kneeing was quite blatant, especially given the history. Absolutely sickening.
It's dirty but effective. I don't condone it but I felt the Rockets should have given a forearm to chest to the likes of Deron Williams and Boozer if only to knock them on their ass and think twice about driving in the paint. If it pisses them off so what? They were already tearing our defense apart anyways. Might as well make them feel it the next day and know they earned it. Or simply have Yao run full speed and bulldoze whoever is in his way so they think twice about taking a charge against him. Barkley made a living off making his defender take a blatant charge one play only to back off and let him run his offense with a lot more free reign. You think Bowen would play so aggressive if Amare came charging at him full speed on a fastbreak?
Because he probably had his worst season, statistically, since he has been in the NBA. He had his second worst scoring output (20 ppg, last season was his worst) and his worst season rebounding the ball. His field goal percentage was the only highlight of his season. The Spurs are a good team. They have more than two players you can count on.
Tim Duncan is still the MVP of this league. He can turn it on when his team needs him the most, not like some of the so-called "superstars" these days (who shall remain nameless). TD's playoffs numbers have always been better than his regular season numbers. At this point in his career, on a mature team like SA, Duncan is just taking it easy until playoffs time, and then he shows you why he's considered one of the two best players of his generation.
Tim Duncan Career Season - 22 ppg, 11.9 rpg, 3.2 apg, 0.8 spg, 2.4 bpg Career Playoffs - 24 ppg, 12.6 rpg, 3.6 apg, 0.6 spg, 2.7 bpg Tracy McGrady Career Season (-1st 2 seasons) - 25 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 5.5 apg, 1.45 spg, 1.0 bpg, Career Playoffs - ( - 99-00 3gm) - 30 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 6.4 apg, 1.3 spg, 1.2 bpg
Tim Duncan - 3 championships Tracy McGrady - never got past the 1st round Why do people want to make this into a STATS thing [meanwhile degrading Kobe about . . stats not being everything ] Rocket River
Geez, can't you read any of the posts that led up to that one? Someone wondered why Duncan wasn't mentioned in the mvp race. ~ He had arguably his worst statistical season since he's been in the NBA. Someone then said that Duncan "turns it on," unlike other "superstars," and that his numbers are always better in the playoffs. My assumption (which may be right or wrong) was that he was talking about McGrady. After posting those stats, it is quite obvious that McGrady "turns it on" in the playoffs, as well. So maybe he wasn't talking about him. Oh, thanks for telling me how many championships Duncan has. Yeah, if McGrady had played with guys like Avery Johnson, Sean Elliot, Mario Elie, Tony Parker, David Robinson, Manu Ginobili, Michael Finley, Robert Horry, and Steve Kerr, I'm sure he would still have "never got past the 1st round." A couple more... Mentioning Kobe in that reply was stupid. I've never "degraded" Kobe. I like Kobe Bryant. I think he gets bashed too much. There was no point in adding that while quoting something I wrote. One more...
You ever think Those guys you mentioned got their good name by playing with Good Players I mean . . .they are made better by the BIG STAR it isn't about stats. . .it is about lifting your team that is what an MVP does Rocket River
Yes... David Robinson, Avery Johnson, Steve Kerr, Sean Elliot, Robert Horry, and Michael Finley were terrible players before Duncan entered the NBA. More... Tony Parker would not be in the league today if Duncan was not his teammate. Hmm... or could it be that star players excel when they have other stars and very good players around them? The defense can't key on one or two people (sort of like the Jazz did with the Rockets), because they have to deal with the whole team. When McGrady gets to play with the caliber of talent that Duncan has, then you can compare McGrady's winning percentage with his. Until then, making that comparison is moronic, considering it takes a team to win a championship. Tim Duncan is not Hakeem in '94. He has played with a lot of all-stars, and great role players, over the years. Again, thank you for telling me "this isn't about stats." Can you help yourself from continuing to write irrelevant cliches? The regular season MVP is "about lifting your team?" Thanks Magic... No wonder John Stockton and Avery Johnson won all of those awards. You just engender them, man...
Here is what I think of Duncan and the Spurs: I hate to say but to me they are the "champions in between dynasties". I know you've probably heard that term before but its true these always some how find a way to sneak in a trophy everyone once in when some team struggles after a few title runs. 1999 - Infamous lockout season and end of parade in Chicago and the Jordan era so Tim Duncan and David Robinson sneak in a championship in a short season where nobody was at full strength. That's why Miami lost to the freaking Knicks led by your boy JVG. Phil Jackson was right there should be an asterisk next to their title in the books. 2000 - Next year they defend the title by dropping to the Suns in the 1st Round. Lakers go on to win their 1st title. 2001 - They get to the western conference finals and get swept 4-0 nothing by Lakers and Kobe lights them up for 45 ppg in the series. Lakers sweep everyone in the west and dismantle the 76ers in 5 to win back-to-back titles and finishing with the best post season in history going 16-1. 2002 - Again they lose to the Lakers 4-1 in the 2nd round and Kobe lights them up once more. Lakers get the three-peat. 2003 - Finally David Robinson retires and they beat the Lakers in the second round after months of reported feuds between Kobe and Shaq. Go on to beat NJ and win 2nd title. 2004 - Derek Fisher .4 enough said and they still drop the next game to Lakers what a mental breakdown. Lakers lose in the Finals to Detroit and the departure of Kobe and Shaq. 2005 - Beat the Pistons in 7 to win third title. Kobe still in LA but Shaq now in Miami. 2006 - Defend the title by dropping to Dallas in the 2nd round. Miami wins 1st title ever. 2007 - Now Miami and Dallas both out of the playoffs, l suspect them to sneak in another title. In conclusion I still believe Spurs are still a part-time champion cause they never seem to defend the title well the next season. They were never strong enough to challenge the top teams at full strength and usually relied on off years by the other team to sneak in a trophy. SPURS = SNEAK KING.
Part time champion or sneak king is still better than team which cant get out of 1st round in last 10 years and you know which team i m refering to!
And Clutch City Back-Two-Back is better than both and you know which team I am referring to! Spurs can never defend their title and that's why Lakers and Rockets will always be ahead of Spurs in terms of mini dynasties.
4 minute mark in the second Bell Flop. . . Marion over the back . . .Bogus offensive foul on Duncan Rocket River
