So Many People Wrong

This is a screenshot from an ESPN poll that was posted at their site last Thursday, May 9th. Golden State had just evened-up the series at 1-1 in game 2.


Source - CLICK for clarity!

Did That Really Just Happen?

Spurs 129 - Warriors 127 Final/2OT.

Couple hours later, and I'm still amazed, and in disbelief! Turrible as that Manu three was a few seconds prior, the last one was simply amazing. And that crowd reaction - yowza, I wish I would've been there.

Way to comeback, Spurs! Now don't get so far behind in game-2!


Via



Source

Spurs Update

Source

There's been lots of NBA action the last few days. All six series that weren't done went to a sixth game. One of those went on to a 7th game, and that one is tomorrow. The other five are done, and we are almost ready for second round action.

Yeah it's about time we get to play. Golden State is a team to be reckoned with. But they haven't won in San Antonio in a long, long, long time. I picked them to beat the Nuggets, and no one else did. Now let's go Spurs!

Another Golden Oldie

Woodward Ave. in Detroit, Michigan, approx. 1917

Source: Shorpy, and Detroit Publishing Co. / Via - (NSFW)

Here is an even bigger version of the image..

This is what it looks like today:

(Screen-capped from Google Maps)

Spurs Update

Finishing out the 2011-2012 NBA regular season with 13 games in 19 days, and 4 games in the last 5 days (geeeez), the Spurs traveled to both Phoenix and Golden State for the final two games. After complete warm-ups prior to Wednesday's game in Phoenix, it was decided that Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili would fly back to San Antonio, and not play these two games. However, We're also missing Gary Neal due to a sore shoulder from a great pick set by Kurt Thomas Monday against Portland. What was the most surprising, however, is that Gregg Popovich decided to fly back with them. So without four of our top players, and our head coach, Assistant Coach Mike Budenholzer would take the reigns for these two.

Both games were close most of the way, as the Suns were set finishing up with a winning record, but the Warriors were set on giving the youngsters some serious experience.

Wednesday the Suns even gave Nash a final hoorah late in the 4th-Q, down by only a few. It could be his last game in Phoenix, but who knows. At least the home crowd was prepared. So he came in the game, and promptly turned it over, after a pretty decent 8 pts., 7 asst., and 3 reb. in only 17 minutes. Shannon Brown and Sebastian Telfair led them in scoring with 21 & 20 respectively, but our energy was too high, and the Spurs pulled out WIN #9 in a row, 110-106. Patty Mills & Tiago Splitter both registered career-highs with 27 & 26 respectively, while FIVE others contributed 10 or 9 each. Here's the boxscore..
Splitter was huge - Image Source (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)

Thursday night in Oakland, the Warriors started 5 rookies - marking the first time in NBA history any team has ever done so. They had started 4 rookies against us just 10 days ago, but this was unprecedented. Close all the way just as it was the
Mills had back-to-back career games - Image Source (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

previous night, the Spurs would capitalize on a few too many Warriors' late mistakes, despite being out-shot 52% to 44%. Patty Mills was again the hero as he bested his new career-high from last night by 7. He had 34 pts., 12 asst., and 5 boards in 43 solid minutes. DeJuan Blair & James Anderson followed with 22 & 19. It was Mills' two straight threes with the score tied at 95, and about 5 minutes left, that would ultimately do in the Warriors on this last day of the regular season. The Spurs' 107-101 WIN was the 10th straight win, as we were not only the only team with a double digit winning streak this season, but we wrapped it up in style with THREE of them (11, 11, 10). Here is the boxscore..

The San Antonio Spurs finish the 2011-2012 regular season with a record of 50-16, and will have home-court advantage over everyone except the Chicago Bulls, who also finished at 50-16. Thankfully, our first game is Sunday at Noon. I'll be back with more amazing regular-season stats later! WooHoo!

Here are the FINAL NBA standings for 2011-2012:

Click for clarity..

Source (ESPN.com)

Spurs Update

The Spurs visited the Golden St. Warriors on Monday night to start a B2B2B, knowing this game would probably be just a formality in the grand scheme of things. Warriors would start 4 rookies. Doh! Spurs were at full strength. Very similar to the last game vs. Phoenix, we came out hot, and determined. In our highest scoring 1st-Q of the season, 39-24, there probably wouldn't be much doubt with this one.

That lead would be extended to 21 by halftime (70-49), a lead that would continue, with the Spurs' big-three on the bench resting - awaiting tomorrow night in LA - toward the 3rd-Q score of 96-72!
Neal leads the Spurs Image Source (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Golden St. would actually make a run to come within 18, but the excitement was never as high as it was in the final few seconds of the game. Apparently the fans get free food if the team scores 100 points. So they did what they had to do.. foul.. as if it were a game they were trying to win. But those terrible Spurs prevented it from happening. The final was 120-99, and a good WIN on the road, with the big-3 playing 41 minutes TOTAL. Already given that stat, we shot 39%, no Spur had more than 17 points, and we still scored 120. You gotta believe it. Here's the boxscore..

As it turned out, OKC lost to the Clippers while we were beating the Warriors, so as of now, we own the #1 seed in the West going into the game against the Lakers tomorrow night! And don't let the media mislead you - We were really already in first because we own the tiebreaker with OKC. Now they are effectively behind by two games.

_______________________________________________________________


The very next night in LA, Spurs fans were delighted to hear that Tiago would start the game along side Timmy! It's about time, Pop! Seeking revenge @ the LA Lakers Tuesday night, it felt like a playoff game. The game was very tight for most of the beginning. Early large leads were 6 by LA (very early), and 6 by SA (mid 2nd-Q). Bynum was scoring pretty much at will, but so was Tony Parker. Spurs were also competitive on the boards this time, as this one had the look of a nail-biter so far.

Then something happened. With a 41-39 lead, and 5:41 left in the 2nd-Q, the Lakers would turn it over 5 times and miss 2 shots in 7 possessions, while my Spurs capitalized on 8 straight shots, and an 18-0 run. Our halftime lead was 16: 63-47.

In less than 2 more minutes, Tony & Timmy increased that lead to 23, and the rout was on. It's great when we come out and increase a big halftime lead in the early 3rd-Q, while so often we drop our guard and come out flat. Tony schooled Ramon Sessions most of this game, and our bigs held Bynum off the boards for the most part. Manu
Tony dominated - Image Source (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

was also a force, as he shot 6 of 13 for 15 pts., with 6 boards and 4 assists. When Tony wasn't in charge of creating - Manu was. The end of the 3rd-Q was a scoring fest - 91-70 going toward the 4th.

Lakers brought this to 91-77 quickly with our stars resting. Manu & Gary Neal would continue the aggressiveness, and with an 18-pt. lead Pop brought Timmy back to action. This, along with starting Tiago, and resting the young guys, was a clear sign it was very important for us to get our revenge for the other night's loss to this team. Success.. we ran away with it. Tony Parker's performance, and Pop's coaching were HUGE statements in this nationally-televised game that we aren't screwing around - and beating the Lakers is just as important to us as being helthy for the playoffs. OK maybe not, but we certainly succeeded with our 112-91 dominating WIN.

We shot 60% to their 50%.. Tony had 29 & 13.. Duncan had 19 & 8.. Manu had 15-6-4. Bynum had 21 & 7. Rebounds were 37-37. So yeah.. this was VERY pleasing. Now the other guys are rested to go take care of bidness tomorrow night in Sacramento! Here's the boxscore..

Here's a TINY game review from ESPN:

And their resulting article from their Daily Dime. But the way ESPN configures their links, you won't be able to see this DAILY DIME after the next DAILY DIME is posted, so you may have to look around.

Here are the current NBA Standings after Tuesday night's games.

One of the Best Plays I've Seen This Year

Golden State Warriors' David Lee to Monta Ellis:


Source

Spurs 101 - Warriors 95

What a great win for my Spurs tonight! The first game without Manu Ginobili, no doubt Spurs fans everywhere were all on the edges of their seats awaiting someone to step-up. It took a while. Most of the game went just as expected. We trailed by 5, then 12, then 6, then 10, but trailed nonetheless...

Until mid-4th quarter, when something happened. And it was the something we all were hoping to see.

It was a short segment when TJ Ford hit a three from the top of the key, and then the Spurs put together a couple fast breaks, with
Image Source

absolutely super play from Danny Green, that gave us the lead for the 1st time in the game. And I don't think we ever let it go.

Popovich put Duncan & Parker back in to finish the game along with the three who had led the charge: TJ, Danny, and Richard Jefferson, who went 5-5 from three point range on the night.

I had told my Mom earlier in the night, "they need to play TJ & Tony together some - it should pay off." I also told her "Danny Green will help us a bunch, too, at the SG slot." -- A sweet and rare "I called it" moment. I also said things about James Anderson, Gary Neal, and Kawhi Leonard, but I have no doubt it's only a matter of time before they, too, will provide the spark(s) needed to pull out wins, until Manu is back.

Tony took over the game in the final two to three minutes, and sealed the win with a critical jumper, and two clutch free throws.

Foreshadowing: Ford, Parker, Green, Jefferson, and Duncan should be seeing a lot of time together when the match-ups allow it.

4-2 ...Mavs in SA Thursday!

Golden Retriever Has the Beat, Loves Guitar!

Via

Best video of 2012?

Augusta National To Be Featured on Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2012

Image Source

OK I'm not really promoting this news, nor this new game - although I'm sure it will be great for a lot of people to play Augusta National.

The reason I'm posting this is that I've played Augusta National hundreds of times on Jack Nicklaus 6 - Golden Bear Challenge. Many designers featured very, very nice versions of Augusta way back when, and all were super! And it hasn't been that long ago. The game came out in 1999, and at the time was the best golf sim around. I would even go out on a very short, sturdy limb and say it probably still is!

We'll see.

Catch-22

Via

A Foggy San Francisco Bay

Click to enlarge for incredible detail

Via