GrandeDavid
04-26-2011, 09:31 AM
I will not suggest lineup changes, such as starting Splitter next to Duncan and bringing Manu off the bench, because I have no idea what’s in Popovich’s head, and I will not presume to know which lineups work best. Instead, I’ll take a shot at the psychology of the series and why we fans need to keep our cool in “seeing what happens”.
The Spurs got pounded and so thoroughly undone and humiliated in the third and parts of the fourth quarter yesterday that I think the basketball world is feeling more sorry for the Spurs than anything else. This has never been a team to quit, so maybe the Muhammad Ali analogy is correct. But hopefully we’ll see more of Rocky VI in Game 5 out of this team.
It would certainly appear that the Spurs’ core has taken countless hard blows over the decade plus of play together spanning NBA and world championships and Olympic gold medals. The Spurs showed age and the role players showed something between stage fright cowardice and bumbling effortlessness. The Spurs are at rock bottom as a team this season.
The good news is Game 5 is in San Antonio and being at rock bottom means you can only go up. In Game 4 the Spurs had a franchise unheard of 17 turnovers to 16 assists yesterday. That would be so thoroughly, pitifully inexcusable even by the Minnesota Timberwolves in November. Because the Spurs have so much experience and organizational pride, one finds it logical to assume that the team will put forth one last terrific effort tomorrow night. That, naturally, does not guarantee a Spurs victory, not after what we witnessed last night.
The Spurs face three possible outcomes tomorrow. One, they lose and are done, and the direction of the franchise is a discussion better suited for another column on another day.
The second scenario is that they squeak out a victory by the skin of their teeth. At that point, it would be easily chalked up as “well, the old Spurs grabbed one more win for their fans, but Memphis shot themselves in the foot and will finish them off on Friday.”
But the third option is entirely possible, albeit improbable. The Spurs just might not only lay it all on the line, but also get a few bounces and calls and shots to go down. What if the Spurs win by 10 or 15 tomorrow night? At that point there would be an ever so slight sneaky feeling of concern entering into the young Grizzlies’ psyche. Oh, they’d probably tell the press and even themselves that they took their foot off the Spurs’ throats, that they let the Spurs’ home crowd distract them a bit, but all will be right come Friday.
But I wouldn’t be so much concerned about Memphis’ state-of-mind at that point, I’d be more interested in what could be happening in the Spurs’ hearts. With absolutely no pressure, zero expectations left and coming off a strong home victory in Game 5, and knowing that turnovers killed them in Game 4, the Spurs could maybe, possibly steal one in Memphis in Game 6.
And let’s be clear, if this goes to Game 7, this series is over and done with. In favor of the Spurs. So while Spurs fans are rightfully disappointed and questioning the character and heart of some of the players, I say give them one more shot Wednesday night. If they lay down and get trampled or lose in triple overtime on a half court heave, dismantle the team and criticize them with scalding tones if you will. But if they win Game 5 and do the not-so-impossible and win Game 6 in Memphis, then a reverse miracle will happen.
If this were some chumpy championshipless franchise loaded with troublemakers and rookies, that’d be one thing. But over the years the Spurs have given their fans reason to believe that although they may appear to have stumbled hard, they are not quitters. I think that the Spurs became frustrated, confused and sloppy last night. But I would be very hesitant in labeling Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and Tim Duncan quitters. Never.
And as awful as they’ve been, even Matt Bonner and Richard Jefferson actually have a couple of playoff series victories under their belts, so its not like they carry some curse. Have they stunk? Mightily. But Tim Duncan has earned the fans’ trust for rallying this team in the past. Even if he doesn’t have much left in the tank, he deserves our confidence that he’ll say and do the right things to get this team focused for Wednesday’s task.
So its time to take a deep breath, look to Wednesday night with realistic expectations of a resounding victory at home, then the true Game 7 will be played in Memphis on Friday night where anything can happen.
Believe!
The Spurs got pounded and so thoroughly undone and humiliated in the third and parts of the fourth quarter yesterday that I think the basketball world is feeling more sorry for the Spurs than anything else. This has never been a team to quit, so maybe the Muhammad Ali analogy is correct. But hopefully we’ll see more of Rocky VI in Game 5 out of this team.
It would certainly appear that the Spurs’ core has taken countless hard blows over the decade plus of play together spanning NBA and world championships and Olympic gold medals. The Spurs showed age and the role players showed something between stage fright cowardice and bumbling effortlessness. The Spurs are at rock bottom as a team this season.
The good news is Game 5 is in San Antonio and being at rock bottom means you can only go up. In Game 4 the Spurs had a franchise unheard of 17 turnovers to 16 assists yesterday. That would be so thoroughly, pitifully inexcusable even by the Minnesota Timberwolves in November. Because the Spurs have so much experience and organizational pride, one finds it logical to assume that the team will put forth one last terrific effort tomorrow night. That, naturally, does not guarantee a Spurs victory, not after what we witnessed last night.
The Spurs face three possible outcomes tomorrow. One, they lose and are done, and the direction of the franchise is a discussion better suited for another column on another day.
The second scenario is that they squeak out a victory by the skin of their teeth. At that point, it would be easily chalked up as “well, the old Spurs grabbed one more win for their fans, but Memphis shot themselves in the foot and will finish them off on Friday.”
But the third option is entirely possible, albeit improbable. The Spurs just might not only lay it all on the line, but also get a few bounces and calls and shots to go down. What if the Spurs win by 10 or 15 tomorrow night? At that point there would be an ever so slight sneaky feeling of concern entering into the young Grizzlies’ psyche. Oh, they’d probably tell the press and even themselves that they took their foot off the Spurs’ throats, that they let the Spurs’ home crowd distract them a bit, but all will be right come Friday.
But I wouldn’t be so much concerned about Memphis’ state-of-mind at that point, I’d be more interested in what could be happening in the Spurs’ hearts. With absolutely no pressure, zero expectations left and coming off a strong home victory in Game 5, and knowing that turnovers killed them in Game 4, the Spurs could maybe, possibly steal one in Memphis in Game 6.
And let’s be clear, if this goes to Game 7, this series is over and done with. In favor of the Spurs. So while Spurs fans are rightfully disappointed and questioning the character and heart of some of the players, I say give them one more shot Wednesday night. If they lay down and get trampled or lose in triple overtime on a half court heave, dismantle the team and criticize them with scalding tones if you will. But if they win Game 5 and do the not-so-impossible and win Game 6 in Memphis, then a reverse miracle will happen.
If this were some chumpy championshipless franchise loaded with troublemakers and rookies, that’d be one thing. But over the years the Spurs have given their fans reason to believe that although they may appear to have stumbled hard, they are not quitters. I think that the Spurs became frustrated, confused and sloppy last night. But I would be very hesitant in labeling Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and Tim Duncan quitters. Never.
And as awful as they’ve been, even Matt Bonner and Richard Jefferson actually have a couple of playoff series victories under their belts, so its not like they carry some curse. Have they stunk? Mightily. But Tim Duncan has earned the fans’ trust for rallying this team in the past. Even if he doesn’t have much left in the tank, he deserves our confidence that he’ll say and do the right things to get this team focused for Wednesday’s task.
So its time to take a deep breath, look to Wednesday night with realistic expectations of a resounding victory at home, then the true Game 7 will be played in Memphis on Friday night where anything can happen.
Believe!