Initial Reaction: Spurs vs. Thunder Mar. 31

[timvp]

After the loss against the Hornets, I thought the Spurs deserved a break. Tough place to play, Big Three just reunited and going up against a desperate team. Tonight? This loss against the Thunder has to be considered the worst regular season loss of the season.

The Thunder have some nice pieces for the future but there are plenty of reasons why they were 0-19 on the road against teams above .500 heading into the game. Oklahoma City had no business being in the contest against a Spurs team that should have been focused following the loss against the Hornets and the previous loss against this same Thunder squad the last time these two teams battled. Instead, the Spurs laid an egg. When the embarrassment of a performance finally ended, the Spurs had lost 96-95.

I'm extremely disappointed in how the Spurs played. They don't look anything close to a championship team right now. There are available excuses but there's no combination of excuses that will explain away this loss. It was a pathetic performance by a team that seems to have lost its way. Combine that with injury woes and it's difficult to imagine this team putting the pieces together in time to win a NBA championship.

-If you just look at Tim Duncan's line, one would assume he had a solid ballgame. But the truth doesn't match the numbers. The truth is that the Thunder sent a minimum amount of help his way. All they did was have a few players reach after Duncan put the ball on the ground. In fact, Oklahoma City got so brazen at one point that they put Jeff Green on him. The lack of respect for Duncan's skills paid off because Duncan wasn't able to dominate single coverage. Obviously his struggles are health related but the time for excuses is over. Either Duncan becomes Duncan again or else the season is over.

-Manu Ginobili is another player whose stats look better than his actual output. Defensively, he had a few moments here and there but it was mostly a bad performance on that end of the court. On offense, Ginobili scored well enough but he wasn't making his typical smart basketball plays. He made a number of iffy decisions, including about three bad decisions in the last ten seconds of the game. It's not that surprising to learn that Ginobili finished with the worst plus/minus on the team for the second straight game. The silver lining is that his health and conditioning seem to be trending in a positive direction.

-After carrying the Spurs for a while, Tony Parker acted like it was his turn to rest. He had absolutely no energy for much of this game and was disappointing on both ends of the court. In a key stretch in the fourth quarter, Parker's play resulted in three consecutive turnovers. Instead of gearing up for the playoffs, Parker played one of his worst games of the season. No one is going to care about a few good games in March if Parker sputters to the finish line.

-I really just can't fathom what Pop sees in Finley. Pop seriously is treating Finley as if Finley is a part of the Big Four. And now that Pop is setting his rotation, that has resulted in Finely becoming an even bigger part of the team. I apologize to any of Finley's family members who may be reading this but Finley is not good enough anymore to be a key part of a championship team. He's just not. Durant slaughtered him repeatedly. It got sickening to watch after a while. It was even more sickening that Pop never made much of a move to fix the situation. In Pop's eyes, Finley must be some sort of cross between Bruce Bowen and Michael Jordan. Otherwise, I just can't explain the love affair any longer.

-It's difficult to hate on Matt Bonner too much after the effort he gave. He was the one player who kept fighting to try to win the game. But the results just weren't there. Even though he crashed the boards repeatedly, he only totaled one rebound. His three-point stroke isn't nearly as automatic as it was before he got threatened by the signing of Drew Gooden. Bonner played hard, defended pretty well but he wasn't really helping the cause too much.

-The yanking of Roger Mason, Jr. continues. Pop seems obsessed with ruining the one swingman free agent who seemed to be able to handle the pressure and thrive in his first year in San Antonio. After hanging him out to dry as the backup point guard for the last handful of weeks, Mason is now coming off the bench. Why did Pop have to tinker with Mason's role? Mason went from cold blooded assassin to 2004 Hedo with a tan.

-Ime Udoka once again got minutes. Ime Udoka once again got toasted on the defensive end. Apparently, the coaching staff thinks Udoka is a good defender. They must not actually watch him play. When matched up with Durant, Udoka was literally more helpless than Finley. At least Finley has decent length. Slowpoke-a is just too molasses-like to be a defensive option against any opposing perimeter player who ventures out onto the perimeter and is blessed with even a modicum of speed.

-Jacque Vaughn. Nice guy. Future NBA head coach. Tireless worker. Third string point guard. Pop's latest incarnation of the 2008-09 San Antonio Spurs rotation seemingly has Vaughn as the backup point guard. That's not going to work. It's just not. There's no way this team makes noise in the playoffs if they have to rely on Vaughn for production. His athleticism and quickness have slipped to the point that he can't be trusted beyond spot minutes. If Vaughn is the backup point guard heading into the playoffs, it will just be a matter of time before Pop gives up on that experiment and goes another direction. Guaranteed.

-Drew Gooden's effort is commendable. He's not backing down from the challenge of integrating himself into Spurs Basketball. But after tonight's game, I'm really starting to doubt whether he's capable. He's just not a smart enough player at either end. Offensively, he's a ball-stopper who constantly wants the ball in his hands. Defensively, he really has no clue what he's doing unless the player he's defending has the ball. Even then, he's still a below average defender. I want to hold out hope that the light will finally turn on in Gooden's head but fans of other teams he was a part of eventually figured out that the waiting was futile.

-Kurt Thomas has been the second best player on the team since the All-Star break. His reward? Apparently Pop planned to pull him completely out of the rotation. Thomas didn't get into the game until the fourth quarter. He actually played pretty well when finally given an opportunity out on the court. Hopefully it was just a matchup issue that Pop saw and that's the reason he held out Thomas. (God forbid Pop ever actually create a mismatch instead of always being the one to react to a perceived matchup problem.)

-As you may have figured out by reading this far, I wasn't overly impressed with the way Pop coached tonight. In fact, I truly believe Pop is in the worst coaching stretch of his career. He has no clue what he's doing and he's hurting this team - both in the short-term and the long-term. Pop has been instrumental in these recent losses and he's laying the foundation for a disappointing playoff exit. I seriously can't figure out what he's doing or any of the method to his current madness.

Overplaying Finley alone is enough for this team not to win a championship. But compound that issue by giving Finley tons of responsibilities on a nightly basis and it's just flabbergasting. I don't even want to type about it any more because it's such a horrible coaching decision.

Add to the Finley fiasco the backup point guard position being in shambles, Mason playing his worst basketball of the season thanks to Pop, the bigman rotation not anywhere close to being set and the fact that the experimenting is continuing on a quarter to quarter basis and you have a recipe for disaster. And that's not even mentioning the biggest threat to the championship hopes - the health of Duncan and Ginobili and the amount of gas in Parker's tank.

I'm not going to say that believe is dead but this is exactly like watching a car heading 50 miles per hour straight towards a cliff with the driver asleep at the wheel. Either the driver will wake up in time to avert disaster or the ending won't be pretty.

[Lars]

To be honest, I was pleasantly surprised.

[SpursDynasty]

The Spurs just missed a shot at the end.

[tony09manu]

Originally Posted by SpursDynasty

The Spurs just missed a shot at the end.

We also didn't play defense in the first half. At that point, even if Bowen has regressed, we can't even try him out?

[HarlemHeat37]

I still think Gooden will be good for this team..he IS more of an individual player, but I like that..I think that's something we need on our bench if Manu is starting..we need a guy that has balls and can get us out of offensive droughts..

I don't like seeing plays ran for him where he's coming off screens and taking Js though..when we're jacking up 3s that aren't going in, why not run a play or 2 for Gooden inside?..


the benching of George Hill is just ridiculous..we finally have a player with great athleticism and length in the backcourt, but he can't get any playing time over Jacque Vaughn..

[DPG21920]

That is the honest truth. There is not much to be excited about right now. Much of this rest on Pops shoulders. Guys look confused, they have no role, or multiple roles they cannot handle; the team has no identity. Is this Tim's team? Tony's? Manu's?

It reminds me of AIG. Great company that did a few things very well. Then they got over confident and tried to take advantage of loop holes and branch out into ventures they had no experience in. It nearly caused a collapse of their core company.

However, this is the time where the fans can do their part. As much or as little as it might actually effect the team, the city needs to have the Spurs backs. Obviously, SpursTalk is the heart of the Spurs fan base. Question, vent, be frustrated, but above all, BELIEVE

[mexicanjunior]

Originally Posted by timvp

Slowpoke-a is just too molasses-like to be a defensive option against any opposing perimeter player who ventures out onto the perimeter and is blessed with even a modicum of speed.

[HarlemHeat37]

I BELIEVE in the actual talent on this team..but I don't believe in the coach right now, and I never thought I would say that..

Bruce Bowen does not belong on the bench while Ime fucking Udoka is getting minutes..Finley shouldn't be playing more than 20 MPG..Kurt Thomas should be starting, but he isn't, and he's actually coming into the game in the 4th quarter instead..George Hill shouldn't be on the bench while Jacque "LOL" Vaughn is playing..

I believe in the talent on this team..but what the fuck?..

[SpursDynasty]

Our last five losses have been by an average of 2.4 points per game. In other words, we're playing as well as a 53-21 club, the shots just aren't falling our way in the closing seconds...

Nothing to be concerned about.

[peskypesky]

Originally Posted by HarlemHeat37

I BELIEVEBruce Bowen does not belong on the bench while Ime fucking Udoka is getting minutes..Finley shouldn't be playing more than 20 MPG..Kurt Thomas should be starting, but he isn't, and he's actually coming into the game in the 4th quarter instead..George Hill shouldn't be on the bench while Jacque "LOL" Vaughn is playing..

I agree with every point.

[mexicanjunior]

Originally Posted by HarlemHeat37

the benching of George Hill is just ridiculous..we finally have a player with great athleticism and length in the backcourt, but he can't get any playing time over Jacque Vaughn..

At the beginning of the year, I said Pop wouldn't trust Hill enough to give him minutes over Vaughn. It took 4 months but it looks like this has come to fruition...

[Don Quixote]

This loss should put to bed any notions of this Spurs team being a championship contender. They aren't.

They are a decent squad, sometimes capable of beating a playoff team here or there, but no more than that. In that sense, they are the teams of 91-94, 2001, or 2002 again. They had some good players, might even get on a roll, but were never serious contenders for the title.

They'll be gone long before the WC Finals.

[ElNono]

What's getting more and more evident is that everyone figured out that if they pack the lane, Tony is not going to drive, and we're going to live and die by the trey. And before ducks shows up and gets all pissy about this comment, let me tell you it's not TP's fault. We used to have guys like Rasho that couldn't make a layup, but at least knew how to set a screen around the basket so TP could lay it in. Heck, Horry used to set great screens for Tony.
What's kind of terrible about this is that a coach like Phil Jackson have been playing us like that since '03, and Pop *still* believes the only solution is hurling treys.
He also managed to destroy the confidence of a great shooter in Mason. I hope Mace finds his stroke in the next couple of weeks. I think if he can get back to knocking down about 40% of his shots we have enough to make some noise. Obviously, retarded moves like starting Manu over him tonight doesn't really help.

[Don Quixote]

Originally Posted by SpursDynasty

Our last five losses have been by an average of 2.4 points per game. In other words, we're playing as well as a 53-21 club, the shots just aren't falling our way in the closing seconds...

Nothing to be concerned about.

You're right. After the Spurs lose in the first round, 4 games to 1, the NBA will review the games and change the close losses into victories.

Finals bound, baby! Wooo!

[duncan228]

Originally Posted by timvp

Obviously his struggles are health related but the time for excuses is over. Either Duncan becomes Duncan again or else the season is over.

Duncan said there are no excuses in his post game interview. He took the blame for not calling a time out, and he included himself when asked about Pop saying a "couple of people need to play better."

If Duncan can rise I know he will.

I'm cautiously optomistic that he can.

[ElNono]

Originally Posted by DPG21920

That is the honest truth. There is not much to be excited about right now. Much of this rest on Pops shoulders. Guys look confused, they have no role, or multiple roles they cannot handle; the team has no identity. Is this Tim's team? Tony's? Manu's?

It reminds me of AIG. Great company that did a few things very well. Then they got over confident and tried to take advantage of loop holes and branch out into ventures they had no experience in. It nearly caused a collapse of their core company.

However, this is the time where the fans can do their part. As much or as little as it might actually effect the team, the city needs to have the Spurs backs. Obviously, SpursTalk is the heart of the Spurs fan base. Question, vent, be frustrated, but above all, BELIEVE

Count me in... I'll be here through thick and thin...

[DPG21920]

Look, the Spurs are getting open looks, that is not the problem. You can tell when you watch the games, the team has lost their way. No one knows when their number will be called, what their role will be or how to muster up energy.

It is a lack of coaching, a lack of focus and a lack of certainty and trust this team has had over the years. Missing good looks is not the cause of the losses, missing those looks is the effect of the other variables going into it.

[HarlemHeat37]

Originally Posted by Don Quixote

You're right. After the Spurs lose in the first round, 4 games to 1, the NBA will review the games and change the close losses into victories.

Finals bound, baby! Wooo!

your points are stupid, because you're actually claiming that other West teams are better than us..

we aren't contender..but the Lakers are the only contender in the West, and Cleveland(maybe Boston) is the only contender in the East..

[mexicanjunior]

Originally Posted by HarlemHeat37

your points are stupid, because you're actually claiming that other West teams are better than us..

Considering the Spurs level of play over the last month, I would consider the Jazz and Rockets much stronger contenders than us...

[timvp]

Originally Posted by Don Quixote

This loss should put to bed any notions of this Spurs team being a championship contender. They aren't.

They are a decent squad, sometimes capable of beating a playoff team here or there, but no more than that. In that sense, they are the teams of 91-94, 2001, or 2002 again. They had some good players, might even get on a roll, but were never serious contenders for the title.

They'll be gone long before the WC Finals.

I have stopped reading your posts after you've gone on record repeated times saying every player on the Lakers is better than every player on the Spurs.

[ElNono]

Originally Posted by mexicanjunior

Considering the Spurs level of play over the last month, I would consider the Jazz and Rockets much stronger contenders than us...

I disagree. I HAVE TO believe Pop will shorten the rotation in the playoffs, and playing at a slower pace we can beat both of those teams.

[Don Quixote]

Originally Posted by timvp

I have stopped reading your posts after you've gone on record repeated times saying every player on the Lakers is better than every player on the Spurs.

Well ... I've backed off from the PG position. I admit that Tony is better than the Laker PG's, but not by much.

And a healthy Tim is still better than any ONE of the Laker bigs.

But, other than that, I would take ANY Laker for any Spur, of a similar size, position, or "role."

[Whisky Dog]

The only chance that this team has is if these last two losses have been an embarassing wake up call.

Honestly I think the Spurs share Parker's attitude of the other night about the drudgery of having to play OKC. They are overlooking opponents and not respecting the game. Pop is coaching like he knows this season is over due to Timmys health and wants a 1st round exit. I'm about as close to throwing in the towel as I've ever been in a Spurs team that's playoff bound.

[Don Quixote]

Originally Posted by HarlemHeat37

your points are stupid, because you're actually claiming that other West teams are better than us..

we aren't contender..but the Lakers are the only contender in the West, and Cleveland(maybe Boston) is the only contender in the East..

Um ... yeah, other West teams are. I think the last month is proving that. If the Spurs cannot handle a non-playoff team, at home, in the home stretch of the season, what makes you think they can win tough ones in L.A., Utah, Houston, or New Orleans, let alone Cleveland (they won't get that far)?

[mexicanjunior]

Originally Posted by ElNono

I HAVE TO believe Pop will shorten the rotation in the playoffs, and playing at a slower pace we can beat both of those teams.

I think he will shorten the rotation also but plug in the wrong players to fill the majority of the minutes (Finley, Vaughn, Bonner, etc). Nothing over the last couple of weeks says otherwise to me...which is why I feel the Jazz and Rockets core lineups are in much better shape at this point.

[Borosai]

If the 2006 Miami Heat were able to win a championship, then so can the 2009 San Antonio Spurs (yes, that's the only positive thought I can muster).

This team has no identity. Well, maybe one: fucking chuckers. But they are no longer the dominant defensive team they once were. There is no rhyme or reason to their offense. Hell, when was the last time we saw such shitty execution at the end of games?

The effect injuries have had on team chemistry is evident, but the system isn't the same. Pop has gone soft: he's not rabid anymore, and the players are bored and not responding. How many embarassing losses do they need to experience before they wake up and play like they give a shit? The Spurs have the right players on the team. The problem lies in the fact that they are sitting on the bench or playing out of position. And then there's the defense. Cock.