Pounding The Rock 6 hours ago
Spurs fight hard but fall short against bigger, better Nuggets
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports The Spurs played well, but ultimately lacked the firepower and the length to beat a quality opponent. After battling courageously for most of the game, the Spurs simply couldn’t keep up with the Nuggets late. The 132-126 loss against Denver was completely expected but still painful, as now the margin of error in the battle for a place in the postseason has been reduced significantly. The theme of the game was that everything came easy on both ends for the Nuggets and was a struggle for the Spurs. Whenever the Silver and Black didn’t play with urgency,...
Pounding The Rock 8 hours ago
San Antonio vs. Denver, Final Score: Spurs fail to complete comeback, fall to Nuggets late 132-126
Gay helped prevent a blowout with much-needed scoring in the first half | Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports Solid efforts by Rudy Gay and Derrick White were not enough to counter Denver’s scoring onslaught San Antonio’s Rudy Gay (24 points and 4 rebounds) and Derrick White (23 points and 7 assists) helped the team recover from a double digit deficit in the opening minutes. However, Nikola Jokic (25 points and 11 assists) and Michael Porter Jr. (30 points and 15 rebounds) helped Denver scorch the nets to 55% shooting (14-36 on 3-pointers) continue its recent success against San Antonio. ...
Pounding The Rock 11 hours ago
It’s time for San Antonio Spurs vs. Denver Nuggets
Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports The Spurs try to bounce back after the tough loss in virtual Philly Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much. The Spurs did an amazing job on Monday night, erasing a double digit lead to pull ahead of the Sixers late, but missed free throws and late defensive errors gave the talented Sixers just enough to an opportunity to pull out a late win...
Pounding The Rock 14 hours ago
Watch: Manu Ginobili sings along to “Hamilton” while biking
Photos by Chris Elise/NBAE via Nothing like a little fresh air and music. Even though the NBA is back in action inside The Bubble, for the most part people are still quarantining due to COVID-19. If not in your own home, the next best place to be is the great outdoors (while still social distancing, of course), which is exactly what Spurs legend Manu Ginobili appears to be doing with his spare time. He’s gone hiking with his sons: Beautiful morning in Texas. #socialdistancing. Hermosa mañana tejana. #DistanciamientoSocial. pic.twitter.com/vdITetKa67— Manu Ginobili...
Pounding The Rock Aug 5, 2020
Game Preview: San Antonio Spurs vs. Denver Nuggets
Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports Can the Silver and Black get back on track after a gut-wrenching defeat? San Antonio’s bid for a perfect record in Orlando came to an end after they lost a close one to Philadelphia on Monday night. Despite rallying back from a 14 point fourth-quarter deficit, the Spurs’ late-game slip ups resulted in their downfall, and a missed shot-clock violation on behalf of the 76ers earlier in the contest only compounded on what was a disappointing ending. Their first three seeding games have gone down to the wire, and the Silver and Black will be looking to...
Pounding The Rock Aug 4, 2020
Maybe the Houston Rockets were right to protest after all
Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports When is a loss not a loss? When you can argue that the rules weren’t followed. I come to you not as a Spurs fan or a 76ers hater, but as a basketball fan. A fan of the integrity of the game. A fan of honor and of truth. And there is no truth to the final score of Monday night’s game between San Antonio and Philadelphia. In the final seconds of the 3rd quarter, 76er guard Josh Richardson threw up a 3-point shot just before the 24 second shot clock expired. As the ball fell short, Joel Embiid tipped the ball up and off the backboard, then rebounded his own...
Pounding The Rock Aug 4, 2020
The best parts of the Spurs’ not-quite-a-comeback against the 76ers
Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports Demar DeRozan came up clutch for the third straight game, but San Antonio couldn’t overcome a late three from Shake Milton. With the Grizzlies losing to the Pelicans earlier in the day, the San Antonio Spurs had an opportunity to move just one game back of the eighth seed in the Western Conference. Unfortunately, the good guys came up just short of another victory, but it sure wasn’t due to a lack of effort. The game was tightly contested for much of the first half, as the 76ers’ biggest lead was eight and the Spurs led by five a couple of times. But...
Pounding The Rock Aug 4, 2020
What we learned from the Spurs loss to the Sixers
Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports Mistakes were made, but so was some considerable progress. It was only a matter of time, I suppose. Riding a rare (for this season) wave of victories over teams still adjusting to a number of absences and the effects of a significant layoff, the San Antonio Spurs were bound to come back down to earth a bit. It was an all but foregone conclusion that deeper, more talented teams would eventually acclimate and pull away from the frightfully fresh-faced lineups that the Silver and Black have been rolling out. Down a number of veteran players, the Spurs that...
Pounding The Rock Aug 4, 2020
Determining your favorite Spurs player in the bubble
Photo by Mike Ehrmann/ It’s all win-win discussion today. The Spurs have been impressive. They quickly moved up from the 12th spot to the 9th, but yesterday’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers placed them behind the Portland Trail Blazers in 10th for the time being. Even in a loss, it was hard to be upset. The fourth quarter was something to behold. Here’s the thing — I can’t figure out who impresses me the most. Certainly Lonnie Walker IV and Keldon Johnson’s increasing minutes showcases their depth and development. By the same token, Quinndary Weatherspoon in short spurts...
Pounding The Rock Aug 4, 2020
Spurs fourth quarter comeback falls short against 76ers
Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports The Spurs lose their first game of the restart in frantic fashion. It’s a good thing I’m able to collect my thoughts on a computer screen instead of a podcast because the San Antonio Spurs’ game against the Philadelphia 76ers has left me utterly speechless. I came into the NBA restart without expectations. I was simply looking forward to making some popcorn, sitting on my couch, and watching some stress-free Spurs basketball. The Spurs had been hit by the injury bug, and objectively speaking, hadn’t been very good even at full strength. Nobody was...
Pounding The Rock Aug 3, 2020
San Antonio vs. Philadelphia, Final Score: Spurs drop a nail biter to the Sixers, 130-132
Photo by Mike Ehrmann/ A Silver and Black comeback bid ends in bitter disappointment The Spurs late-game dramatics finally came to bite them as the Sixers outlasted a furious fourth-quarter comeback. Despite owning a 4 point cushion with less than a minute to go, San Antonio gave up a lead-changing triple to Shake Milton that would ultimately be their undoing in a 130-132 defeat. DeMar DeRozan paced the Spurs with a game-high 30 points, 3 assists, a pair of blocks, followed closely by a vintage 24 point outing from Rudy Gay. Joel Embiid led the 76ers with 27 points, 9 boards, and 4...
Pounding The Rock Aug 3, 2020
It’s time for San Antonio Spurs at Philadelphia 76ers
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports The Spurs try to win their third consecutive game in the bubble Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much. Here’s an amazing fact: The San Antonio Spurs have never lost an NBA game played inside a bubble, and they can keep it going tonight if they can put together the kind of gritty effort they had against the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday...
Pounding The Rock Aug 3, 2020
Why the Spurs’ starting unit is suddenly dangerous
Photo by David Dow/NBAE via The courts in Orlando aren’t actually any bigger than regulation, though if you’ve been paying attention to the Spurs’ offense with their starters on the floor these last two games you’d be forgiven for harboring that suspicion. There is space, that glorious enabler of the beautiful game, all but begging to be filled with drives and cuts. Only a handful of months ago, that space was solely the province of a reserve unit that boasted a pair of marksmen with 2014 championship pedigrees in Marco Belinelli and Patty Mills. But the current unit (anchored...
Pounding The Rock Aug 3, 2020
Youth was on display in the Spurs’ close win over the Grizzlies
Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/ The future, uh, finds a way. Well, it’s official. The San Antonio Spurs are fun again. Whatever your requirements for sports enjoyment, they measure up. You want wins? Well, the Spurs have now officially worked their way into their third winning streak of 3+ consecutive games this season. You want an exciting, fast paced, and balanced style of play? How about a game in which six different Spurs ended up in double figures and eight players were responsible for scoring eight points or more? Have you been dying for San Antonio to transition to a youth...
Pounding The Rock Aug 3, 2020
Spurs squeak past the Grizzlies behind a strong performance from Dejounte Murray
Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports The young guns continued to show growth as San Antonio inched closer towards a potential play-in tournament With their victory over the Grizzlies on Sunday afternoon, the Spurs have put themselves in a good position to participate in a potential play-in tournament as their quest to make the playoffs continues. San Antonio was also helped by the Celtics since their victory over the Trail Blazers has pushed the Good Guys into sole possession of the ninth seed in the Western Conference. As is tradition, the Spurs almost blew a double digit lead in the fourth...
