Harvey: Sign Of The Times: Just Who Spurs Are

[duncan228]

Sign of the times: Just who Spurs are (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Sign_of_the_times_Just_who_Spurs_are.html)
Buck Harvey

Roger Mason Jr. was saying he wasn't worried, and he was saying you shouldn't be worried. And almost directly above him, attached to a practice facility wall, a sign was as reassuring.

“The More You Shoot,” it read, “The Better You Feel.”

So Mason will continue to shoot, as will Michael Finley and Matt Bonner and everyone else. But to ensure they feel better, the sign should be edited.

“The More You Make” is how it should begin.

After the last few games, the sign is the least of the Spurs' concerns. A smart team isn't calling time when it should, and Tim Duncan's knees look almost as wobbly as Gregg Popovich's rotations.

So the coaches go over the game tape, and they go over mistakes. On Wednesday, players pointed at a half-dozen areas for improvement.

But the truth isn't nearly as complicated. The Big Three has given way to bigger threes, and this is who the Spurs have become. They don't do some things as well as they once did (such as defend), and they try to cover this up with outside shooting.

When they hit, they are contenders. When they miss, they can lose as they have.

Pardon the numbers: They were 8 of 25 on 3-pointers against the Thunder, 7 of 29 against the Hornets, 4 of 17 against Boston and 3 of 19 in Oklahoma City.

That the Spurs lost these four games by a combined total of 10 points is telling. Who They Are can be powerful if the shots fall.

Mason helped outline that earlier in the season. When he wasn't beating the Lakers and Suns with last-second jumpers, he was sprinting down the floor to pull up at the 3-point line to beat the Celtics in Boston.

Even then, when Mason looked as if he would never miss, one Spurs staffer toned down the expectations. “There will come a time,” he said, “when it will look like he will never make one.”

He wasn't predicting doom. He was predicting the swings that shooters go through. Mason's stats suggest he's back to an appropriate level; he's at nearly 42 percent from behind the 3-point line for the season, and that's the highest of his career.

Still, his 3-point percentage has dropped every month this season, and he's not among the top 20 in the league anymore. He's not the only Spur who has been missing lately, but, with the most 3-point attempts on the team, maybe no Spur better defines the slump.

So he stood under the sign that playfully encourages free-throw shooting (figuring the more you practice, the better you will be). And then Mason gave an explanation.

For one, there is nothing technical he did before that he's not doing now. His success has come through long hours of repetition, and coaches see no changes. They say he is sound mechanically, with a solid shooting base, and he senses the same.

“I feel good,” he maintains.

He doesn't take many bad shots. Manu Ginobili is much more likely to force, which makes his overall shooting percentages so remarkable. So Mason is confident, with opportunity and form in place, except for one flaw.

“It's mental,” Mason said. “I'm rushing.”

Maybe that happened in the fourth quarter against the Thunder. Then, he missed two threes from the corner, and he was so open on both that he might have lost the rhythm that comes with a reactionary release.

Mason is certain he can correct this and that his teammates will follow. He will test that belief next in Indiana. But this is a subtle skill, with talent mixing with a mysterious groove, and this is what the Spurs have come to rely on.

Given that, there is only one way the Spurs can feel better. As the sign should say.

[crc21209]

I'm confident the boys will bust out of the shooting slump. ONE game can change it all...hopefully Friday.

[Obstructed_View]

I'd rather they just play fucking defense. If they're going to have someone out there taking and missing threes, then put Bowen out there, because at least he's going to limit the looks the other guy gets.

[jag]

*waits for Timvp to tell Harvey to come up with his own material*

[EricB]

I still call BS on the defense.

The defense is not what is losing games.

The offense going into too long of droughts is putting too much pressure on the defense and it snowballs.

More agressive driving to the basket.

A few shots here and there dropping and things will open up alot more.

[timvp]

*waits for Timvp to tell Harvey to come up with his own material*Naw, I don't play the "Spurs are just missing some shots" game. That's the lamest and oldest excuse in the book. It pretty much has been the go-to excuse since Robinson first stepped on the court for the Spurs.

:bang @ "If we would have just hit a few more shots we would have won"

[EricB]

Naw, I don't play the "Spurs are just missing some shots" game. That's the lamest and oldest excuse in the book. It pretty much has been the go-to excuse since Robinson first stepped on the court for the Spurs.

:bang @ "If we would have just hit a few more shots we would have won"


So Mason making a couple of those open threes wouldn't have made a difference?

[Obstructed_View]

I still call BS on the defense.

The defense is not what is losing games.

The offense going into too long of droughts is putting too much pressure on the defense and it snowballs.

More agressive driving to the basket.

A few shots here and there dropping and things will open up alot more.

Sorry, but if you need more than 95 points to beat Oklahoma City on your home court, defense is your problem.

[Obstructed_View]

So Mason making a couple of those open threes wouldn't have made a difference?

The problem with being a jump shooting team is precisely that they don't always go in. That's why jump shooting teams don't win championships. Ever.

[MaNu4Tres]

I'm pretty concerned with Tim's health. If this is the Tim that we are going to see come playoff time teams will stay home with our shooters and make Tim beat them. Bryon Scott and Sean Marks showed how that worked.

I just have thought the past 2 years we are one big man away and one athletic wing away. I still stand by that. Mason has turned out to be Finley but with a little better handles, who sucks defensively, can't get to the line, can't create, can't finish at the rim. When him and Finley's shots are off and when they are still logging 30 minutes a game we are pretty much guaranteed a loss.

Only if Chris Mullin wasn't an idiot and if Donald Sterling pulled the trigger at the deadline.

[EricB]

The problem with being a jump shooting team is precisely that they don't always go in. That's why jump shooting teams don't win championships. Ever.

Spurs 2007
Celtics 2008 Disagree.

[EricB]

I'm pretty concerned with Tim's health. If this is the Tim that we are going to see come playoff time teams will stay home with our shooters and make Tim beat them. Bryon Scott and Sean Marks showed how that worked.

I just have thought the past 2 years we are one big man away and one athletic wing away. I still stand by that. Mason has turned out to be Finley but with a little better handles, who sucks defensively, can't get to the line, can't create, can't finish at the rim. When him and Finley's shots are off and when they are still logging 30 minutes a game we are pretty much guaranteed a loss.

Only if Chris Mullin wasn't an idiot and if Donald Sterling pulled the trigger at the deadline.


Cory Maggette ain't no different, and Marcus Camby wouldn't be fixing the offensive woes.

[itzsoweezee]

Sign of the times: Just who Spurs are (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Sign_of_the_times_Just_who_Spurs_are.html)

They don't do some things as well as they once did (such as defend)



This is the only important/relevant part of this article.

But the Spurs don't defend as well as they once did by some accident of fate, as the article seems to imply. Rather, the Spurs don't defend as well as they once did because Popovich chooses to play players that aren't good defenders. He's forsaken defense for offense. It's a stupid strategy and it's stupid for two reasons.

One, defense wins championships. It's been proven again and again and again. Spurs won three championships on their defense. Choosing offense over defense is just a bad strategy overall.

Two, the Spurs don't have the roster to be able to play offense-first. In other words, the Spurs are giving minutes to players that aren't very good offensive players and the defense is hurting as a result. Michael Finley and Roger Mason do not provide anything on the offensive end other than jumpshooting. Ditto for Bonner. These are the guys, and jumpshooting is the skill Popovich is favoring over better defense. It's completely inane. And I can understand doing it with one position. But making that choice for three different positions in your lineup is just plain dumb.

I was hoping Popovich was just tinkering with things and that he'd go back to the old ways come playoff time. But I've come to the realization that he has a plan. The only problem is, his plan is really fucking stupid.

[EricB]

Sorry, but if you need more than 95 points to beat Oklahoma City on your home court, defense is your problem.


needing more than 90 to beat New orleans as well?

So if the Spurs win 99-95 over the Thunder then we should still be running around hands in the air?


This team's problems are there no question. but I don't think this is dire freaking straights.

[MaNu4Tres]

Cory Maggette ain't no different, and Marcus Camby wouldn't be fixing the offensive woes.

Corey Maggete is 3rd in the league at getting to the line and has the triple threat attribute only Manu and Tony have on our team. He can also create his own shot and he can also create for others. Mason/ Finley/ Udoka/ Bowen can't do what Maggette can. So yes Corey Maggette is different.

As for Camby, he would improve our defense and rebounding immensely. Which in turn gives you more fast break opportunities and easy points. So in that sense yes he would help the offense.


And if your going to look for a problem offensively. I think part of it has to do with our franchise player having his worst month that I can ever remember.

The more efficient he plays inside creating on his own ( not cherrypicking off Tony), the more it opens up everything else.

[Obstructed_View]

Spurs 2007
Celtics 2008 Disagree.

The Spurs shot over 34 percent from the three point line once in that series, and out of four games, only twice did anyone score more than 85 points.

If this is the argument you're making to support your position, it's now clear why it's flawed.

[Obstructed_View]

needing more than 90 to beat New orleans as well?

So if the Spurs win 99-95 over the Thunder then we should still be running around hands in the air?


This team's problems are there no question. but I don't think this is dire freaking straights.

Allowing the Thunder to score 95 points when you don't play either Bowen or Hill any minutes is going to be interpreted as stupid from my side of the keyboard just about any time.

[Obstructed_View]

This is the only important/relevant part of this article.

But the Spurs don't defend as well as they once did by some accident of fate, as the article seems to imply. Rather, the Spurs don't defend as well as they once did because Popovich chooses to play players that aren't good defenders. He's forsaken defense for offense. It's a stupid strategy and it's stupid for two reasons.

One, defense wins championships. It's been proven again and again and again. Spurs won three championships on their defense. Choosing offense over defense is just a bad strategy overall.

Two, the Spurs don't have the roster to be able to play offense-first. In other words, the Spurs are giving minutes to players that aren't very good offensive players and the defense is hurting as a result. Michael Finley and Roger Mason do not provide anything on the offensive end other than jumpshooting. Ditto for Bonner. These are the guys, and jumpshooting is the skill Popovich is favoring over better defense. It's completely inane. And I can understand doing it with one position. But making that choice for three different positions in your lineup is just plain dumb.

I was hoping Popovich was just tinkering with things and that he'd go back to the old ways come playoff time. But I've come to the realization that he has a plan. The only problem is, his plan is really fucking stupid.


Well said. What really makes it sad is that he wants the team to focus more on offense, but their fast breaks are down because the defense isn't as good. As a result, all you end up with is a team that shoots lots of jump shots and spends a lot of time bringing it in from the baseline.

[MaNu4Tres]

This is the only important/relevant part of this article.

But the Spurs don't defend as well as they once did by some accident of fate, as the article seems to imply. Rather, the Spurs don't defend as well as they once did because Popovich chooses to play players that aren't good defenders. He's forsaken defense for offense. It's a stupid strategy and it's stupid for two reasons.

One, defense wins championships. It's been proven again and again and again. Spurs won three championships on their defense. Choosing offense over defense is just a bad strategy overall.

Two, the Spurs don't have the roster to be able to play offense-first. In other words, the Spurs are giving minutes to players that aren't very good offensive players and the defense is hurting as a result. Michael Finley and Roger Mason do not provide anything on the offensive end other than jumpshooting. Ditto for Bonner. These are the guys, and jumpshooting is the skill Popovich is favoring over better defense. It's completely inane. And I can understand doing it with one position. But making that choice for three different positions in your lineup is just plain dumb.

I was hoping Popovich was just tinkering with things and that he'd go back to the old ways come playoff time. But I've come to the realization that he has a plan. The only problem is, his plan is really fucking stupid.

I agree with this 100 percent. Everyone seems to dog Finley when his shot is off. Fact is " Money Mason" is the same damn player. And pop has both of these guys playing 30 plus minutes a game. Same with Bonner. Excellent post I completely agree with you.

[anonoftheinternets]

Corey Maggete is 3rd in the league at getting to the line and has the triple threat attribute only Manu and Tony have on our team. He can also create his own shot and he can also create for others. .......

:lmao u wer ok until that ....... corey "bad porn" magette is a black hole on offense....... are u watchin him play? Funniest part of the season was when jamal crawford and magette fought about who is more selfish ......

[MaNu4Tres]

:lmao u wer ok until that ....... corey "bad porn" magette is a black hole on offense....... are u watchin him play? Funniest part of the season was when jamal crawford and magette fought about who is more selfish ......

I didnt say he was an assist machine. I implied that he can create as in penetrate and open up things for others by putting the ball on the floor and drawing in the defense. And yes I've seen him play.

[anonoftheinternets]

I didnt say he was an assist machine. I implied that he can create as in penetrate and open up things for others by putting the ball on the floor and drawing in the defense. And yes I've seen him play.

well exactly he can penetrate and drawin the defense......but u shud stop right there, the part about him opening up things is bull, coz he never passes. If memory serves me right, there was an article about how his assists are the lowest ever, even rivalling okafor for worst assist numbers.

[Spursfan092120]

Damnit..we score 95 points and Pop says we missed shots. What happened to 95 points was MORE than enough to win a game for us? Oh yeah...it was when we were starting and playing a guy named Bruce Bowen...:madrun:madrun

[1Parker1]

Spurs 2007
Celtics 2008 Disagree.

Those teams played SIGNIFICANTLY better defense than this current Spurs team. Next.

[Extra Stout]

Naw, I don't play the "Spurs are just missing some shots" game. That's the lamest and oldest excuse in the book. It pretty much has been the go-to excuse since Robinson first stepped on the court for the Spurs.

:bang @ "If we would have just hit a few more shots we would have won"
That excuse worked pretty well five or six years ago when the Spurs might lose 75-74 after shooting 28% from the field.

These days it's just a rationalization of a mediocre team that can't get stops or generate easy baskets.

[hater]

live by the 3 die by the 3. Spurs will go down a la Suns in round 2 or 3 cause of their missed shots.


that is BS. they need to win with D

[kace]

Naw, I don't play the "Spurs are just missing some shots" game. That's the lamest and oldest excuse in the book. It pretty much has been the go-to excuse since Robinson first stepped on the court for the Spurs.

:bang @ "If we would have just hit a few more shots we would have won"

right. but to be honest, there are a lot of times where the spurs (Pop or players) have said after some loss that they were outhustled, that they were too weak on defense or that they weren't aggressive enough.

[Yogurt210]

^ umm, If you think our D is good something is wrong with you. Despite what the stats say, our D is not getting the job done or record is horrible in March. At the same time, either is our O, simply shooting jumpers all game won't do much.

[Yogurt210]

We just need to go back to our old system. This year Pop has tried new things, and they have not worked at all. We live and die by three's. that's that. No thrill to this team anymore. I still love them, but things need to be fixed.

[MoSpur]

I think its a mixture of a lot of things, but the offense is at times too cold. Sometimes the Spurs seem to fall in love with three pointers too much. There are times where there isn't much ball movement.

The defense at times is really good, but there are also times when the Spurs aren't as agressive on the defensive end as times in the past. No Bruce Bowen might have something to do with that.

The above-mentioned to me is happening a lot because of the rotations Pop has created recently. At times, there is not enough Mason playing. At times there is too much Mason. There is always too much Finley playing. At times you got Thomas playing a lot and there are times where he only gets a few minutes. I agree that Udoka has been a lot better since the beginning, but when he's cold and not that effective on defense, why not try Bruce? There was a lot of G. Hill at the start of the season, now there isn't enough G. Hill.

That's my opinion at least.

[Yogurt210]

^ don't you know..
Ever since George "five dollar footlong" Hill's Penis pics. Pop has decided that, that could be a liability on his quickness...geezzz so he gets the bench