Blogging Knicks @ Spurs 1-21-11

[Brutalis]

After the 1st quarter it's Spurs 29 Knicks 27.

George Hill is sidelined because he sprained his thumb in warm-ups.

San Antonio is playing bad but somehow leading. Six turnovers in the first quarter is pretty gross. Turiaf jumped over TD's back for an offensive board and put it back in with no call by the refs. Other than that it's been an evenly called game thus far.

DG can't get around Manu's defense, and the one time he did Duncan blocked his shot but was for whistled for a foul. Replay showed it was all ball.

Spurs need to play better team defense and limit turnovers if they wanna pull this game out.

 

[Brutalis]

Currently 36-34 Spurs with Blair at the line. He has been an animal with two steals and several rebounds already. He is shorter than the front-court of both teams and just out playing the Knicks.

Spurs still playing terrible team defense however Parker has been on the bench for a while.

Chris Quinn is playing since Hill is out, and playing well although his defense is really bad.

Knicks getting several second chances with offensive boards.

 

[Brutalis]

43-40 Spurs at the timeout.

DG threw up his second air ball already of the game but answered with a nice jumper.

Duncan comes back in and the Spurs are holding the lead for longer now.

Blair is still killing the boards, very impressive.

Spurs defense this season is the worst I've ever seen it in my lifetime. This game is proving it all over again.

Mike D'Antoni needs to learn defense, this Knicks squad is very talented but play even worse defense than his Suns teams did it looks like.

 

[Lake Louise]

So many times I see refs screw up by calling a foul when it's all ball. Makes me think they should just let it go sometimes. I expected this to be a close game though. Before the season started, I would of said the Knicks would not have anything but a slim chance, but they definitely are looking like a better team game in and game out. Both of these teams are pretty solid. Spurs are better though.

 

[Brutalis]

Duncan at the line with 5 mins til halftime. 50-42 Spurs.

Blair three straight times on defense stripped Amare. This kid is playing like a freak on defense. Wow.

 

[Brutalis]

Blair fourth straight time he just tied up Amare.

 

[Brutalis]

Spurs are opening a can now. Up by 8.

Amare just pushed TD in the back, no call. Next trip Felton pokes Duncan in the face, no call. Refs need to get control of this game quick cause words are being exchanged by everyone but TD right now.

 

[Brutalis]

So many times I see refs screw up by calling a foul when it's all ball. Makes me think they should just let it go sometimes. I expected this to be a close game though. Before the season started, I would of said the Knicks would not have anything but a slim chance, but they definitely are looking like a better team game in and game out. Both of these teams are pretty solid. Spurs are better though.

If the Knicks would play defense they would be on an elite level with the Spurs, Lakers, Celtics, and Magic right now. But that will never happen being coached by D'Antoni.

 

[Brutalis]

57-48 Spurs.

Blair with ANOTHER strip of Amare.

Spurs rookie Gary Neal has been playing amazing all year and in this game as well. Has a couple triples and is playing good D.

Manu needs to step it up.

 

[Brutalis]

Duncan just blocked Amare two times in 5 seconds. Just like old times.

 

[Lake Louise]

If the Knicks would play defense they would be on an elite level with the Spurs, Lakers, Celtics, and Magic right now. But that will never happen being coached by D'Antoni.

Very true. It's been proven that they can score, they just can't stop the other team from scoring. Which usually causes a problem. Spurs on the other hand. They are just one of those consistently great teams. No matter who they have, doesn't seem to matter. They still manage to win.

 

[Brutalis]

Halftime at the AT&T Center.

Spurs 61
Knicks 50

Spurs Leaders-
Duncan 5-9FGs 15pts 8rebs 4blks
Blair 4-5FGs 10pts 8rebs 2blks 2stls and a million plays that don't show up in the box score
Parker 5-5FGs 12pts 8asts 4TOs

Knicks Leaders-
Gallinari 3-7FGs 10pts 2stls
Amare 4-10FGs 8pts 4rebs 2stls
Turiaf 3-7FGs 8pts 5rebs 1blk

_ _ _

Spurs closed the 2nd quarter with dominance. Duncan and Blair took over the game and have flat out owned Amare to this point. Spurs have picked up rebounding and defense and Neal hit a couple triples and the Spurs are up 11.

Manu is struggling a bit and if he can get going this game will be a blowout and a complete payback of the 128-115 loss the Spurs suffered in NY last month.

 

[Brutalis]

Very true. It's been proven that they can score, they just can't stop the other team from scoring. Which usually causes a problem. Spurs on the other hand. They are just one of those consistently great teams. No matter who they have, doesn't seem to matter. They still manage to win.

It's coaching.

 

[Brutalis]

67-57 7 mins to go in the third. They are playing swap licks now.

Great offensive foul called on Felton. Make up call from the play before when he lowered his shoulder.

Duncan played great defense on Amare before the timeout. Three misses in a row because TD is not letting Amare take comfortable shots. He needs to step out and take Duncan on the dribble cause the post up game is a crap shoot when TD is guarding you.

Knicks seem to have picked up the pace again and the Spurs really should be up more after the in and out triple Manu missed.

Entertaining game thus far. Every time I see these two teams play I am all nostalgic from the 1999 finals.

 

[Brutalis]

Knicks need to stop looking at the ref and play ball.

 

[Brutalis]

Timeout Knicks with 2 to play in the 3rd.

RJ gets his first score on an ally-oop from Parker over Amare.

Spurs up 11 now after the Knicks had it down to 7. Spurs have led by as many as 13 in the quarter.

 

[Brutalis]

Knicks end the 3rd on a 14-4 run and trim the lead to 6, 77-71.

McDyess showed some old school by blocking the hell out of Amare. That will be on SportsCenter.

 

[Brutalis]

Knicks down just 4 now, they are playing hard.

Parker and Duncan just subbed in to stop the bleeding.

 

[Brutalis]

DG at the line after traveling. Terrible foul called on RJ.

 

[Brutalis]

Blair puts the Sporks back up by 8. He is totally out playing Amare this game.