The Notebook: Spurs-Warriors, 4/13/09

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Editorial Note: I’m pretty tired after having carried several pieces of furniture up 3 flights of stairs over the course of the day. So this edition of the Notebook is staying short and sweet. After some much needed rest, I’ll be back tomorrow afternoon with some more substantive remarks about how we’ve been playing recently.

Like some paternal taskmaster, pushing his progeny ever harder, I watched tonight’s game with an austere expression despite my internal joy. I don’t need the tight contests and the last minute heroics; I’d just as well see the Spurs cruise to comfortable victories night-in, night-out. But since we have had such a difficult time against not only playoff caliber opponents but lottery bound teams recently, I felt compelled to mute my approval.

Tonight’s win was nothing to write home about. We merely did our job. Without Corey Maggette, Monta Ellis, Jamal Crawford and Brandan Wright, the Warriors are reduced to a 7 man rotation that features 44 minute contributions from the likes of C.J. Watson. That’s a team we should be defeating by nearly 30. But I have no reason to piss and moan, because we cruised to a 29 point victory.

Now that I’ve tried my hardest to sober you up, feel free to celebrate in the comments section. It’s worth it. The soonest you’ll be seeing the Spurs earn the W this easily will be in the late fall.

  • Will

    Most important stat for the future: Hill played more than 16 minutes yesterday night.

  • Navin
  • Dylan

    I don’t get it. I don’t see what we have to loose. In that 16 minutes Hill logged 13 points and 2 steals…You’re killing me Pop.

  • SpurredOn

    My nitpicks are that the offense continues to start lethargic on the road which places a heavy burden on a second unit build around defense w/out Manu. This is oddly offset by the fast starts at home which have recently been given away (see Portland, Boston and Utah). I also believe that unlike previous seasons, we can not afford these missed FTs. Too many games will now be decided by one possession and those 2-5 extra points will be the difference, especially w/out Manu’s ability to get to the line 6-10 times per playoff game. Remember, the 6 misses in the final two minutes vs Boston is the difference between controlling our own outcome as division champs and a possible #2 seed if Denver were to lose in Portland. It’s that fragile.

    The good is obvious: most inspired play I’ve seen since late February; Bonner may have found his shot; TD and TP did their fine work in less than 25 minutes; Gooden looked great in his home town; Hill looked disciplined with his shot. The latter point is what I hoped Pop had him working on in anticipation for more playoff minutes and spot up shooting. The link posted by Navin is frustrating to hear unless Pop is playing opossum.

  • Will

    Navin, I’ve seen this link, but between what Pop says and what Pop does… :)