duncan228
11-06-2009, 06:23 PM
Defense, Ginobili and all that Jazz (http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/courtside/2009/11/defense-ginobil.html)
By Jeff McDonald
Emptying the notebook after the Spurs' underwelming 113-99 loss at Utah last night ...
* The defense was not good. If you watched the game, you know this. If you looked at the box score, you know this. If all you saw was the vein protruding from Gregg Popovich's neck for four quarters, you know this. The Spurs gave up 100 points to Utah for just the second time in 40 regular-season meetings (the other exception came in a 106-100 Spurs victory in Utah last season). It was also the most points they'd given up to the Jazz during the Tim Duncan era.
Ninety-nine percent of the time, 99 points is enough to beat the Jazz. As such, much of the post-game locker room talk centered around the general theme of: "Um, we've got to play better defense." I was willing to give the Spurs a bit of a break, what with all the new faces around still in the early throes of learning the system. Most of the team's veterans weren't biting.
"It shouldn't (be expected)," Manu Ginobili said. "It should be more (expected) on offense than on defense. We were talking about trying to be the best defensive team in the league. And we are probably in the bottom five now."
Ginobili is almost right. Four games in, the Spurs rank sixth from the bottom in the NBA in field-goal percentage defense, allowing 47.3 percent. The truth is, the Spurs are trying to work new players into their system, which means mistakes, which means blown rotations which means a layup parade for teams, like the Jazz, adept enough to take advantage of them. Still, nobody will dispute that 64 points in the paint is too much to give up to anyone, for any reason.
The solution, Ginobili says, shouldn't be that difficult.
"We've really got to step up," he said. "Play tougher, better 'D.' Be more focused on what we're told to do. That's when we're going to start becoming a better squad."
If the Spurs are lucky, that process will start in earnest tonight at Portland, another talent-laden team that, like the Jazz, is playing with a chip on its shoulder.
* It wasn't a good night in Salt Lake for Pop's favorite player. George Hill had two points, missed seven-of-eight field goals -- many of them at the rim -- and committed four fouls. Defensively, his man frequently beat him off the dribble, giving rise to many of the Spurs' problems defending the paint. The Spurs believe they have one of the best second units in the league. For that to be true, however, they need Hill and Ginobili to play well. Against Utah, neither did.
* One new player who didn't seem intimidated was rookie DeJuan Blair. Not that anyone expected him to be. Blair had one of those efficient Blair games, logging 14 points and nine rebounds in just over 21 minutes. He was 7-of-10 from the field. He looked a bit lost at times defending the Utah pick-and-roll, but otherwise it was another solid outing.
* As proof that Pop is still pushing lineup buttons, we submit the following fivesome from the fourth quarter: Hill, Roger Mason, Ginobili, Richard Jefferson and Blair. At 6-foot-7, Blair was for a moment the smallest NBA center this side of Chuck Hayes.
* Though Popovich has shortened the playbook considerably, and insisted he spent practice time between the past two games reinforcing it instead of adding to it, the Spurs broke out a new wrinkle against the Jazz. Twice, the Spurs ran what amounted to a give-and-go play from the corner between Jefferson and another guard. Both resulted in easy buckets, one for Ginobili and one for Hill. The advance scout from Portland sitting next to me said he'd never seen it before. Now, at least, the Blazers have it on film.
By Jeff McDonald
Emptying the notebook after the Spurs' underwelming 113-99 loss at Utah last night ...
* The defense was not good. If you watched the game, you know this. If you looked at the box score, you know this. If all you saw was the vein protruding from Gregg Popovich's neck for four quarters, you know this. The Spurs gave up 100 points to Utah for just the second time in 40 regular-season meetings (the other exception came in a 106-100 Spurs victory in Utah last season). It was also the most points they'd given up to the Jazz during the Tim Duncan era.
Ninety-nine percent of the time, 99 points is enough to beat the Jazz. As such, much of the post-game locker room talk centered around the general theme of: "Um, we've got to play better defense." I was willing to give the Spurs a bit of a break, what with all the new faces around still in the early throes of learning the system. Most of the team's veterans weren't biting.
"It shouldn't (be expected)," Manu Ginobili said. "It should be more (expected) on offense than on defense. We were talking about trying to be the best defensive team in the league. And we are probably in the bottom five now."
Ginobili is almost right. Four games in, the Spurs rank sixth from the bottom in the NBA in field-goal percentage defense, allowing 47.3 percent. The truth is, the Spurs are trying to work new players into their system, which means mistakes, which means blown rotations which means a layup parade for teams, like the Jazz, adept enough to take advantage of them. Still, nobody will dispute that 64 points in the paint is too much to give up to anyone, for any reason.
The solution, Ginobili says, shouldn't be that difficult.
"We've really got to step up," he said. "Play tougher, better 'D.' Be more focused on what we're told to do. That's when we're going to start becoming a better squad."
If the Spurs are lucky, that process will start in earnest tonight at Portland, another talent-laden team that, like the Jazz, is playing with a chip on its shoulder.
* It wasn't a good night in Salt Lake for Pop's favorite player. George Hill had two points, missed seven-of-eight field goals -- many of them at the rim -- and committed four fouls. Defensively, his man frequently beat him off the dribble, giving rise to many of the Spurs' problems defending the paint. The Spurs believe they have one of the best second units in the league. For that to be true, however, they need Hill and Ginobili to play well. Against Utah, neither did.
* One new player who didn't seem intimidated was rookie DeJuan Blair. Not that anyone expected him to be. Blair had one of those efficient Blair games, logging 14 points and nine rebounds in just over 21 minutes. He was 7-of-10 from the field. He looked a bit lost at times defending the Utah pick-and-roll, but otherwise it was another solid outing.
* As proof that Pop is still pushing lineup buttons, we submit the following fivesome from the fourth quarter: Hill, Roger Mason, Ginobili, Richard Jefferson and Blair. At 6-foot-7, Blair was for a moment the smallest NBA center this side of Chuck Hayes.
* Though Popovich has shortened the playbook considerably, and insisted he spent practice time between the past two games reinforcing it instead of adding to it, the Spurs broke out a new wrinkle against the Jazz. Twice, the Spurs ran what amounted to a give-and-go play from the corner between Jefferson and another guard. Both resulted in easy buckets, one for Ginobili and one for Hill. The advance scout from Portland sitting next to me said he'd never seen it before. Now, at least, the Blazers have it on film.