Pounding The Rock 3 hours ago
Game Preview: San Antonio Spurs at Denver Nuggets, Game 5
The Spurs return to Denver for a pivotal Game 5 that can make or break their season. After such a great Game 3 performance, there was always potential for a let-down from the San Antonio Spurs, regardless of their pedigree at home all season. Though they started the night off as though Game 3 had never ended, they once again ceded a double-digit lead for the 4th time in four games and proceeded to limp through the rest of the game, occasionally getting the Nuggets’ lead to under 10 before Denver would hit a 3 and steal the momentum right back. Heading back to Denver with the series now a...
Pounding The Rock 7 hours ago
The Spurs need more from Rudy Gay
Gay needs to be productive for the bench to stop struggling. Rudy Gay completely rejuvenated his career in San Antonio. He not only made a full recovery from an Achilles tear but also shed the label of empty calorie throwback scorer by embracing a combo forward role and upping his three-point attempts. Whether as a starter or off the bench, he’s been a key contributor for the Spurs. Unfortunately, that has changed in the postseason. Rudy gave the team a boost on Game 1 but has largely disappeared since then, leaving the second unit devoid of a much needed scoring punch. The Spurs’ need...
ClutchPoints 10 hours ago
Nuggets star Nikola Jokic says he modeled his offensive game after Spurs legend Tim Duncan
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic says he modeled his offensive game after San Antonio Spurs legend Tim Duncan. Both Jokic and Duncan aren’t athletic at all. They use their large frames and basketball fundamentals to dominate the game. Duncan, of course, was nicknamed The Big Fundamental. Jokic, whose Nuggets are tied with the Spurs at […] The post Nuggets star Nikola Jokic says he modeled his offensive game after Spurs legend Tim Duncan appeared first on ClutchPoints.
ClutchPoints 11 hours ago
Michael Malone likens Spurs coach Gregg Popovich to chess savant Bobby Fischer
The Denver Nuggets and San Antonio Spurs are currently tied in their best-of-seven series at two games apiece, and as they prepare themselves for the pivotal Game 5, expect both teams to make necessary adjustments to push the series in their favor. The Nuggets-Spurs series is undoubtedly the most competitive in these playoffs. Every time […] The post Michael Malone likens Spurs coach Gregg Popovich to chess savant Bobby Fischer appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Pounding The Rock 13 hours ago
Why the Spurs’ three-point shooters aren’t shooting threes
The Nuggets defense is doing a decent job, but there’s more threes to be had if the Spurs seek them. The Spurs appear to have all but abandoned the three pointer. No team has taken fewer threes than they have so far this postseason. That they are last isn’t much of a surprise; they were last in the league in three point attempts in the regular season, too. But not by this much. Through 82 games, the Spurs’ took threes on 26.6% of their shots, less than a percent behind several other teams. Through 4 games of their first round playoff series against the Nuggets, threes have only...
Pounding The Rock 14 hours ago
Making sense of the Spurs vs. Nuggets series so far
The PtR staff takes a look at what the Spurs have done well, what they’ve struggled with and what they need to do going forward to beat the Nuggets. The Nuggets and Spurs are tied after the first four games of an unpredictable series. Both teams have had flaws exposed, but neither has cracked under the postseason pressure yet. Denver had to get past its inexperience to even the series after it seemed to be slipping away. San Antonio, meanwhile, had a golden opportunity to take a commanding lead but inconsistency proved to be their undoing. As the series enters its final stretch, both...
Pounding The Rock 23 hours ago
Open Thread: Spurs draft picks still play a role in their postseason success
It’s all about development with the Silver & Black As Dan Weiss pointed out he other night, the San Antonio Spurs are the only NBA team to draft outside the lottery for twenty-two consecutive summers, as of this June. Yet the strength of their player development has been a huge part of their success. This has been mentioned before. Here was the graphic of just some of their draft picks: Fox Sports Southwest discussed the Spurs ability to draft quality players and develop them into bonafide contenders. pic.twitter.com/wMHAzcTmJ8— Jeph Duarte (@jeph_duarte) April 22, 2019 At the...
Pounding The Rock Apr 21, 2019
What to make of Derrick White’s mediocre follow up to his breakout game 3
Whether he’s the primary scorer or creator, the Spurs need to help White more. Derrick White dribbled the ball up court with his usual sense of cool purpose. The score was still knotted at zero and barely 45 seconds had run off the clock. As Denver’s defense worked to get organized, Derrick saw a momentary opening and darted underneath Jamal Murray into the right corner. Gary Harris, starting the game as Derrick’s primary defender for the first time in this series, followed, attentive and ready. Derrick spun into a side pick and roll with Jakob Poeltl and headed into the paint. Harris...
ClutchPoints Apr 21, 2019
DeMar DeRozan fined $25,000 for throwing ball at referee in Spurs’ Game 4 loss
DeMar DeRozan lost more than just his temper in Game 4. According to Ben Golliver of The Washington Post, the NBA has fined DeRozan $25,000 for “recklessly throwing the basketball” at an official during the San Antonio Spurs’ loss to the Denver Nuggets on Saturday. Referee Scott Foster called an offensive foul on DeRozan late […] The post DeMar DeRozan fined $25,000 for throwing ball at referee in Spurs’ Game 4 loss appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Pounding The Rock Apr 21, 2019
DeMar DeRozan fined for Game 4 incident, no suspension
The Spurs will field a full squad in Denver on Tuesday. The NBA returned its verdict this morning on DeMar DeRozan’s ball toss toward the vicinty of Scott Foster midway through the fourth quarter in Game 4. Official statement from NBA. DeRozan Fined. No suspension. pic.twitter.com/c1DsFy2w9K— Don Harris (@DonHarris4) April 21, 2019 DeRozan was fined $25000 for, in Kiki Vandeweghe’s words, ‘recklessly throwing the basketball toward a game official and into the spectator stands. If DeMar and his teammates are able to find greater accuracy from the perimeter Tuesday night in...
Hoops Habit Apr 21, 2019
San Antonio Spurs: 3 takeaways from Game 4 loss vs. Nuggets
With a pivotal Game 4 now in the books, what can we learn about the San Antonio Spurs’ devastating loss to the Denver Nuggets? The streak is over for the San Antonio Spurs. After 14 attempts, going back to Nov. 11, 2012, the Denver Nuggets finally won a game against the Spurs on their home court […] San Antonio Spurs: 3 takeaways from Game 4 loss vs. Nuggets - Hoops Habit - Hoops Habit - NBA News, Rumors, Analysis, Opinion and Stats
Pounding The Rock Apr 21, 2019
What we learned from the Spurs Game 3 loss to the Nuggets
The wheels came all the way off for the Spurs at home in Game 4. I don’t know that I expected the Spurs to win Game 4, but I didn’t expect that. Just like the Game 2 loss, in which the Spurs blew two separate 19 point leads, the manner in which this loss came about worries me significantly more than the outcome itself. A loss on its own would be fine, the Nuggets are a good team full of good players and them all having a good game is just going to happen sometimes even when the Spurs are fully on their game. This wasn’t that though. Not even close. This was a brief flurry of activity...
Pounding The Rock Apr 21, 2019
Open Thread: DeMar DeRozan’s uncommon ‘one tech’ ejection
Perhaps an explanation is forthcoming During a frustrating 4th quarter against the Denver Nuggets, Spurs guard DeMar DeRozan drew an offensive charge foul to Jamal Murray that elevated to a technical foul and en ejection. The broadcast never stated what the official call was, but ESPN play-by-play stipulated that DeRozan was assessed one technical foul. Meanwhile, and ESPN article stated “DeRozan was assessed two technical fouls by official Rodney Mott and ejected from the game.” That said, only one free throw was given before the side out on the charge. There is an official list of...
Pounding The Rock Apr 20, 2019
Spurs lose their cool and homecourt advantage in Game 4 loss to Nuggets
With a chance to seize a 3-1 edge, the Spurs’ defense and focus failed them against a locked-in Nuggets team. DeMar DeRozan bore down the middle of the court and feinted right, then spun left, making contact with Malik Beasley before — in the same fluid motion — turning back towards referee Scott Foster, standing near the sidelines at halfcourt, and launching the basketball at him. The play had been whistled dead: offensive foul on the Spurs guard. DeRozan’s toss, like many of the Spurs’ long-range heaves on Saturday, missed the mark. No matter, though: the gesture was enough,...
ClutchPoints Apr 20, 2019
Spurs’ Gregg Popovich says Derrick White’s Game 4 performance ‘is a great education for him’
San Antonio Spurs guard Derrick White rode the highest of highs on Thursday night, having a career game to lead his team to a Game 3 victory over their first round series opponents, the Denver Nuggets. Unfortunately, White could not follow up his virtuoso performance as he fell back down to Earth in San Antonio’s […] The post Spurs’ Gregg Popovich says Derrick White’s Game 4 performance ‘is a great education for him’ appeared first on ClutchPoints.
