Pound The Rock - The San Antonio Spurs

[BobbyColtrane]

123 113


Spurs run their win streak to 12 with win over Blazers at home

SAN ANTONIO– On a back-to-back, the San Antonio Spurs extended their winning streak to 12 games thanks to another superb effort from LaMarcus Aldrige. The Spurs' leader scored 31 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and dished 3 assists and helped San Antonio overcome big scoring games from Portland's backcourt duo.

CJ McCollum led all scorers with 33 points and Damian Lillard scored 32, but shot just 13-31 from the field.

“We're playing well, and we just want to keep rolling and continue to get better for the playoffs,” Aldridge said after the game. In a game of big runs, the Spurs were able to get the last run and outlast the Blazers, who fell to 31-38. The Spurs led for much of the night, but a Damian Lillard three with 4:38 left drew Portland to within 3, 103-100. San Antonio immediately went on an 8-0 run, with back to back 3s from Derrick White and Dejounte Murray, and a pair of DeMar DeRozan free throws to extend the lead to 111-100 and effectively end the game.

Up Next: The Spurs host the 51-17 Golden State Warriors. The Warriors have had San Antonio's number this year, winning the first two matchups.

PLAY OF THE GAME

DeMar DeRozan working on the low block

Portland Trailblazers (31-38) at San Antonio Spurs (53-17)
Mar 16, 2019 1 2 3 4 Final Portland 27 27 31 28 113 San Antonio 32 30 22 39 123 Top Performers Portland Trailblazers LaMarcus Aldridge 31 PTS, 12 REB, 3 AST DeMar DeRozan 18 PTS, 6 REB, 6 AST San Antonio Spurs CJ McCollum 33 PTS, 6 REB	Team Stats Comparison POR SAS FG Made-Att 45-97 45% 47-78 60% 3PT Made-Att 19-46 41% 10-21 48% FT Made-Att 4-5 80% 19-22 86% Rebounds 37 50 Assists 32 25 Turnovers 7 13 Steals 10 4 Blocks 4 0

[BobbyColtrane]

Quote: Originally Posted by Knickerbocker91

Thank you for letting my Knicks score 86 lol

After the Porzingis trade, they are horrible right now! I have some ideas for them this summer though.

[BobbyColtrane]

125 116


Spurs' winning streak snapped as Warriors sweep the season series

SAN ANTONIO– The Golden State Warriors beat the Spurs for the third time this season, sweeping the season series and re-taking the #1 seed in the West in the process.

For the third time this season, the Spurs played well against the NBA champions, and for a third time it was not enough to get a victory. Steph Curry led all scorers with 34 points and 8 assists, and Klay Thompson chipped in 23 for the Warriors, who went on a late run to put San Antonio away.

Derrick White's layup with 3:47 left gave San Antonio a 114-108 lead, but from the there, Golden State went on a 17-2 run to finish the game as the Spurs could do nothing to slow down the two-time defending champions.

Up Next: The Spurs finish their 4-game homestand versus the 31-39 Miami Heat. Despite their poor record, the Heat are just 1 ½ games out of a playoff spot in the East.

PLAY OF THE GAME

DeMar DeRozan steals the ball from Kevin Durant, goes around Draymond Green for the dunk

Editor's Note: For the third time this season, I was unable to beat Golden State. All three games were close, but the Warriors always seem to go on a late run and slip past me. This one was competitive to the last 2 minutes, and it slipped away.

It's really frustrating, but it feels like really playing Golden State.

I have some ideas for the playoffs after this game. I had success attacking Cousins in the pick-and-roll and getting him fouled out. Also, switching coverages on Steph in the third quarter helped, but I probably should have switched again when Cousins went out. I have to double Shawn Livingston when he dribbles in the post. He killed my smaller guards. I actually got rattled down the stretch in this game and made some unforced errors.

If I see them in the postseason, it should be a blast. It may just be my fate to not be able to beat this team, and that seems realistic to me, and I'm fine with it.

Golden State Warriors (52-17) at San Antonio Spurs (53-18)
Mar 18, 2019 1 2 3 4 Final Golden State 29 31 28 37 125 San Antonio 28 27 39 22 116 Top Performers Golden State Warriors Steph Curry 34 PTS, 4 REB, 8 AST Klay Thompson 23 PTS San Antonio Spurs DeMar DeRozan 28 PTS, 8 REB, 7 AST LaMarcus Aldridge 25 PTS, 13 REB	Team Stats Comparison GSW SAS FG Made-Att 53-93 57% 45-80 56% 3PT Made-Att 10-17 59% 8-20 40% FT Made-Att 9-9 100% 18-21 86% Rebounds 40 38 Assists 31 20 Turnovers 5 9 Steals 8 4 Blocks 1 5

[Knickerbocker91]

I would like to see you play against Golden State in the playoffs as well. All of the games have been entertaining, and at least they're giving you more of a challenge that anyone else this season.

[BobbyColtrane]

113 96


Spurs beat Heat to close out 4-game homestand

SAN ANTONIO– After a tough loss to the Golden State Warriors in their previous game, the Spurs beat the Heat in a blowout at home. The loss dealt a significant blow to the Heat's playoff hopes, as they fell 1 ½ games behind Orlando for the final spot in the East.

The Heat were held to 41% shooting overall, and just 27% (4-15) from three as San Antonio smothered them defensively. The score was 57-52 at halftime, but San Antonio went on a 20-5 run to open the third quarter and never looked back, as their starters rested the entire 4th quarter.

Up Next: San Antonio makes the short drive down IH-10 to face the 45-27 Houston Rockets, who are currently in 3rd place in the West. The Spurs have won the previous two meetings this season.

PLAY OF THE GAME

Dion Waiters hits the free throw line jumper and styles on the haters!

Miami Heat (31-40) at San Antonio Spurs (51-18)
Mar 20, 2019 1 2 3 4 Final Miami 25 27 16 28 96 San Antonio 24 33 32 24 113 Top Performers Miami Heat LaMarcus Aldridge 15 PTS, 7 REB San Antonio Spurs Hassan Whiteside 23 PTS, 27 REB, 5 AST	Team Stats Comparison MIA SAS FG Made-Att 38-93 41% 42-88 48% 3PT Made-Att 4-15 27% 12-27 44% FT Made-Att 16-20 88% 17-19 89% Rebounds 60 47 Assists 22 30 Turnovers 10 4 Steals 3 7 Blocks 0 10

[BobbyColtrane]

With two weeks remaining in the NBA season, here is a look at the standings in each Conference:

NBA Standings - Updated: Mar 20, 2019
EAST PLAYOFF RACE	W	L	GB
x-Boston Celtics	58	14	-
x-Toronto Raptors	49	22	8.5
x-Brooklyn Nets	46	27	12.5
x-Indiana Pacers	43	29	15.0
Philadelphia 76ers	41	31	17.0
Milwaukee Bucks	40	32	18.0
Washington Wizards	36	36	22.0
Orlando Magic	33	39	25.0
Miami Heat	31	40	26.5
Cleveland Cavaliers	31	41	27.0
Detroit Pistons	30	40	27.0
Charlotte Hornets	30	40	27.0
Chicago Bulls	29	44	29.5
Atlanta Hawks	23	49	35.0
New York Knicks	20	52	38.0
WEST PLAYOFF RACE	W	L	GB
x-San Antonio Spurs	54	18	-
x-Golden State Warriors	53	17	-
x-Houston Rockets	45	27	9.0
Los Angeles Lakers	43	28	10.5
Oklahoma City Thunder	40	31	13.5
Denver Nuggets	38	31	14.5
Los Angeles Clippers	37	35	17.0
Minnesota Timberwolves	36	35	17.5
New Orleans Pelicans	35	39	20.0
Utah Jazz	33	38	20.5
Portland Trail Blazers	31	39	22.0
Memphis Grizzlies	26	45	27.5
Dallas Mavericks	21	49	32.0
Sacramento Kings	20	50	33.0
Phoenix Suns	19	53	35.0

x- : Clinched Playoff birth

Notes and musings:

• Up 4 games in the loss column with 10 to play, it appears that Boston will clinch homecourt throughout the playoffs.
• The Pacers and 76ers are locked in a battle for homecourt in their first-round series, with just 1 game separating them.
• The 8th seed in the East is still very much up-for-grabs, with the Magic, Heat, Cavs, Pistons and Hornets within striking distance for the right to get smoked by Boston in the first round.
• The Spurs and Warriors are still fighting for homecourt advantage in the West. Golden State has a one game advantage in the loss column.
• The Rockets and Lakers are within a game of each other for the 3/4 seeds. The top 4 seeds all being in flux has fascinating implications for the 2nd round.
• The "race" for the league's worst record. Phoenix has a one-game "lead" in the race for the league's worst record and the best shot at drafting Duke phenom Zion Williamson.

The Playoffs are almost here!

[BobbyColtrane]

123 116

Spurs beat Rockets, 123-116 to sweep season series

HOUSTON– For the first time this season, DeMar DeRozan came off the bench and the Spurs used a balanced attack to fend off the Houston Rockets, 123-116. “Pop and I have been talking about it for a while, and we thought we would give it a shot tonight,” DeRozan said after the game. It was the first game DeRozan had come off the bench since his rookie year of 2009-10.

“Its not a demotion. Our second unit gets bogged down scoring-wise sometimes, and we thought the team would benefit from his skills during those dry spells,” coach Gregg Popovich said after the game.

DeJounte Murray took advantage of the shots available on the starting unit and led 6 Spurs in double figures with 22 points and 6 assists. “We may go back to it, or we may not,” Popovich said of the new starting lineup after the game.

Up Next: San Antonio travels to Boston to take on the Celtics, who have the best record in the league at 59-14. The Celtics edged the Spurs in their previous meeting this season, 120-118 in a game where DeRozan injured his foot.

PLAY OF THE GAME

Robert Covington breaks up the alley-oop on one end, Derrick White finishes an alley-oop on the other

San Antonio Spurs (55-18) at Houston Rockets (45-28)
Mar 22, 2019 1 2 3 4 Final San Antonio 30 31 31 31 123 Houston 25 26 31 34 116 Top Performers San Antonio Spurs Dejounte Murray 22 PTS, 6 AST Derrick White 18 PTS, 6 AST Houston Rockets James Harden 37 PTS	Team Stats Comparison SAS HOU FG Made-Att 44-85 52% 48-101 48% 3PT Made-Att 11-23 48% 9-30 30% FT Made-Att 24-28 86% 11-12 92% Rebounds 48 50 Assists 28 24 Turnovers 15 13 Steals 13 12 Blocks 4 5

[BobbyColtrane]

107 100

Spurs outlast Celtics in possible Finals preview, 107-100

BOSTON– The Spurs slipped past the Boston Celtics for the their 56th win of the season, 107-100. For San Antonio, it was their 15th win in the last 16 games as they streak toward the playoffs. “We are focused on finishing out the season and being ready for the postseason,” Derrick White said after the game.

Boston was without the services of Al Horford, who dislocated his left patella on March 11th and is expected to miss the rest of the season. Horford's injury puts a serious damper on Boston's title hopes.

Up Next: San Antonio heads south to face the Charlotte Hornets. The Spurs won the previous matchup between the teams in Tony Parker's return to San Antonio on January 14th. Of the Spurs' remaining 8 games, only Denver (39-33) has a winning record.

PLAY OF THE GAME

Derrick White takes offense to Terry Rozier's fancy dribbling, gets the strip and slam

San Antonio Spurs (56-18) at Boston Celtics (59-15)
Mar 24, 2019 1 2 3 4 Final San Antonio 21 28 24 34 107 Boston 26 26 20 28 100 Top Performers San Antonio Spurs LaMarcus Aldridge 26 PTS, 10 REB DeMar DeRozan 20 PTS, 10 REB, 5 AST Boston Celtics Kyrie Irving 30 PTS, 5 REB, 8 AST	Team Stats Comparison SAS BOS FG Made-Att 40-88 45% 44-95 46% 3PT Made-Att 10-28 36% 4-23 17% FT Made-Att 17-20 85% 8-11 73% Rebounds 54 51 Assists 24 25 Turnovers 10 11 Steals 9 6 Blocks 5 3