A Sobering Look at the Spurs Season So Far

[FkLA]

Tony Parker (http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/21781/tony-parker?_ga=1.198344173.377726476.1424758072)

You can find columns addressing his many issues here (http://www.poundingtherock.com/2014/12/9/7355541/spurs-quarter-season-review-part-1), here (http://gothicginobili.com/?p=7573) and here (http://hardwoodparoxysm.com/2014/12/31/need-talk-tony-parker/). The TL;DR version is that, excellent three-point shooting aside, Parker hasn't been himself this season. He has a negative net rating (-2.6 (http://stats.nba.com/team/#!/1610612759/players/advanced/?sort=NET_RATING&dir=1), in fact), the worst defensive rating for any rotation player besides Marco Belinelli (http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/24213/marco-belinelli), a below-average PER of 14.9 (worse than Cory Joseph's (http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/150317/cory-joseph)). Most worrying, he's been worse than a replacement-level player, according to basketball-reference.com (http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/parketo01.html). When Parker's been off the floor, the Spurs (http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/san-antonio-spurs) have an Offensive Rating of 105.4 and a Defensive Rating of 96.3, numbers that would trail only the Warriors (http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/golden-state-warriors). With Parker on the floor however, the Spurs are essentially the Sacramento Kings (http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/sacramento-kings).

As a playmaker, the "pass" button seems to be stuck on Parker's controller. His assist-to-turnover ratio is 1.94, which would be the second-lowest of his career and is absolutely miserable for a point guard. He has totaled 44 fewer assists than Manu Ginobili (http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/21775/manu-ginobili) in 45 fewer minutes. As a scorer, Parker's getting to rim less than ever, just 24.4 percent of his shots coming at the rim and 44.4 overall in the paint. He's averaging just 2.4 free throw attempts per game. Parker has yet to regain his quickness since hurting his hamstring and it's a fair question whether he ever will. Remember, he's already 32 and more dependent on his athleticism than Ginobili or Tim Duncan (http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/21776/tim-duncan) ever were. It's quite possible he'll age in dog years compared to his "Big Three" brethren because he doesn't have that ethereal level of savviness as a "Plan B," that they've shown.

It's worth remembering that Parker wasn't very good last year either, certainly not over the second half of that season and then in the postseason. The Spurs won it all anyway, memorably with Parker sidelined in the second halves of clinchers versus Portland and at Oklahoma City. But he wasn't this bad, and it's doubtful in the extreme that the Spurs can mount any kind of meaningful title defense with him in his current state. It's gotten to the point where I feel a bit relieved when Joseph or Patty Mills (http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/71950/patty-mills) subs in for him. That just can't happen for the Spurs to be a real contender.

http://www.poundingtherock.com/2015/2/11/8003719/tony-parker-struggling-spurs

http://sports.cbsimg.net/u/photos/basketball/nba/img24251175.jpg

[apalisoc_9]

Great read..

[RD2191]

Lol, the great snatch crying in his car.

[TheyCallMePro]

I'm really getting sick of these line-ups. Pop needs to go watch the Finals again. Starters should be Parker, Duncan, Diaw, Green, and Kawhi. Then you just have Splitter, Mills, and Manu coming off the bench and contributing. Not Joseph, not Baynes, Marco and certainly not Reggie freaking Williams.

And Mills, Kawhi and Green need to step up there games. Mills needs to pop 3's off screen like he has always done. Kawhi needs to drive, and stop shooting 3's and handling the ball on offense. He needs to spot up and work off other guys. And Green just needs to shoot more.

[Floyd Pacquiao]

That ether. 

[RD2191]

I'm really getting sick of these line-ups. Pop needs to go watch the Finals again. Starters should be Parker, Duncan, Diaw, Green, and Kawhi. Then you just have Splitter, Mills, and Manu coming off the bench and contributing. Not Joseph, not Baynes, Marco and certainly not Reggie freaking Williams.

And Mills, Kawhi and Green need to step up there games. Mills needs to pop 3's off screen like he has always done. Kawhi needs to drive, and stop shooting 3's and handling the ball on offense. He needs to spot up and work off other guys. And Green just needs to shoot more.
What? Parker is trash. Start cojo, tbh.

[ChumpDumper]

The krew continues its celebration of the Spurs' loss.

[midnightpulp]

He's killing the team.

[Hoops Czar]

He's killing the team.

There's no "I" in "Team".

[HI-FI]

Great read. The comments are hilarious though, some clowns are blaming Duncan.

[Leetonidas]

Getting really sad and painfully obvious that Tony is hurting the team. He's always been one of my favorite players but I almost hope he tears his achilles at this point :depressed

[FkLA]

Great read. The comments are hilarious though, some clowns are blaming Duncan.

lol wow that has to be a French fan

What next they're going to blame it on him having a baby? On his sore asscheek still bothering him?

[NASpurs]

It's worth remembering that Parker wasn't very good last year either, certainly not over the second half of that season and then in the postseason. The Spurs won it all anyway, memorably with Parker sidelined in the second halves of clinchers versus Portland and at Oklahoma City.

Det leadership skill

[Leetonidas]

Det leadership skill

Parker was the leading scorer in the Finals though tbh... :depressed

[dabom]

There's no "I" in "Team".

There is in "Tim"

[Mal]

So CIA Pop will sit Parker during playoffs and Spurs are the Warriors. Problem solved

[Diego20]

Parker was the leading scorer in the Finals though tbh... :depressed

Kobe Bryant is also the Laker's leading scorer so, your point? Enrique sucks.

[Budkin]

We all know he sucks this year, the question is why? I don't get it.

[hater]

We all know he sucks this year, the question is why? I don't get it.

He might have lost a step. But Spurs spacing looks horrid. Not sure what the fuck the coaching staff has been doing, but they do not look like last year's Spurs. They are pretty much bumping into each other.

Might explain why Patty Mills also looks like trash.

[Fireball]

We all know he sucks this year, the question is why? I don't get it.

We had a solid post (undermined with some stats) a few weeks ago that explained how PGs relying on quickness detoriated quickly around his age ... I guess it just had to happen.

[Russ]

You had me till the "sobering" part . . . :jekka

[Leetonidas]

Kobe Bryant is also the Laker's leading scorer so, your point? Enrique sucks.
Not sure why that is relevant or why you feel you need to be heard so often tbh, stop trying so hard greyname

[Plum Island]

He might have lost a step. But Spurs spacing looks horrid. Not sure what the fuck the coaching staff has been doing, but they do not look like last year's Spurs. They are pretty much bumping into each other.

Might explain why Patty Mills also looks like trash.

I agree with that to an extent.
Parker has gained some weight and has slowed a bit and all it takes is a bit to put the lock on your game in the NBA.

This team does look confused a lot and that is perplexing for such a veteran, savvy group.
Injuries throughout the early season is certainly part of the blame and I believe Pop is really trying to figure out Kawhi's upper limits and it's been a bit disappointing on the offensive end which may affecting him on the defensive end sometimes.

I'm hoping as the playoffs approach Pop will go back to what was working, having figured out that what's going on isn't working.
The players will regain more defined roles and the confusion will die down.
They haven't been hitting their shots on the reg like they were last year also. That may have to do with the additional thinking that may be involved from playing a bit differently focusing on other players.

I just don't know about Parker. It almost looks like he took a break from his career of athletics for a while and he is truly struggling to regain his form.
It's a combination of many things going on, but any astute fan who's not trying to purposefully raise everyone's cockles can see this.

[Cane]

This team does look confused a lot and that is perplexing for such a veteran, savvy group.
Injuries throughout the early season is certainly part of the blame and I believe Pop is really trying to figure out Kawhi's upper limits and it's been a bit disappointing on the offensive end which may affecting him on the defensive end sometimes.

I'm hoping as the playoffs approach Pop will go back to what was working, having figured out that what's going on isn't working.
The players will regain more defined roles and the confusion will die down.

Messina has been a huge downgrade


With Parker on the floor however, the Spurs are essentially the Sacramento Kings.


Porker, the cow queen :wow :depressed

[Plum Island]

Messina has been a huge downgrade
You believe Messina is a factor in all of this?
I never considered that...
Why do you say this?

[hater]

You believe Messina is a factor in all of this?
I never considered that...
Why do you say this?

Pop has been getting feedback from all 3 coach scrubs Ukoka, mesina and the woman. of course it affects the entire Spurs strategy.

[Raven]

He has a negative net rating (-2.6 (http://stats.nba.com/team/#%21/1610612759/players/advanced/?sort=NET_RATING&dir=1), in fact), the worst defensive rating for any rotation player besides Marco Belinelli (http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/24213/marco-belinelli), a below-average PER of 14.9 (worse than Cory Joseph's (http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/150317/cory-joseph)).

pretty much sums up the two big problems.

[Raven]

You believe Messina is a factor in all of this?
I never considered that...
Why do you say this?

it's just speculation but it's fair to assume he may be lobbying for beli.

[Russ]

This team does look confused a lot and that is perplexing for such a veteran, savvy group.

When something you've been doing forever doesn't work anymore, it's confusing.



Injuries throughout the early season is certainly part of the blame and I believe Pop is really trying to figure out Kawhi's upper limits and it's been a bit disappointing on the offensive end which may affecting him on the defensive end sometimes.

It's Pop's passive-aggressive negotiating strategy (he's always playing the next game and he's a GM, too, tbh.)



I'm hoping as the playoffs approach Pop will go back to what was working, having figured out that what's going on isn't working.

So you want him to shave the beard too.



The players will regain more defined roles and the confusion will die down.

More beard comments.



They haven't been hitting their shots on the reg like they were last year also. That may have to do with the additional thinking that may be involved from playing a bit differently focusing on other players.

Enough about the beard already!



I just don't know about Parker. It almost looks like he took a break from his career of athletics for a while and he is truly struggling to regain his form.

Parker is afraid of injury. Until it really matters, then he's more afraid of losing. It doesn't really matter yet.



It's a combination of many things going on, but any astute fan who's not trying to purposefully raise everyone's cockles can see this.

I agree. :) (except I don't really know what cockles are).

[Malik Hairston]

Last year's regular season:

http://i59.tinypic.com/154ktbt.png

Last year's playoffs:

http://i62.tinypic.com/vsni52.jpg

[Chomag]

People really need to get a chant of "Pop, shave the beard!" going at the AT@T center. Would SA have the balls?

[Malik Hairston]

They have literally been worse with Babar on the floor for over a year now..reality sucks, but this team is going to continue to suffer with Babar being the disease..

[Plum Island]

When something you've been doing forever doesn't work anymore, it's confusing.



It's Pop's passive-aggressive negotiating strategy (he's always playing the next game and he's a GM, too, tbh.)



So you want him to shave the beard too.



More beard comments.



Enough about the beard already!



Parker is afraid of injury. Until it really matters, then he's more afraid of losing. It doesn't really matter yet.



I agree. :) (except I don't really know what cockles are).

Good points, but I don't quite get the "beard" references.
Those comments literally said nothing to me.

[FireMicoHalili]

Everyone agrees Parker hasn't been himself this season, but aside from that I think the Spurs overestimated internal growth this year, even with the rash of injuries. I'm sure Pop anticipated his old guys to lose a step or two, but the young'uns haven't been that great either. Solid, sure, but not spectacular. Referring to Belinelli, Splitter, Joseph, and Leonard. There aren't any guarantees the team would have been better off acquiring someone new, but the current lot honestly doesn't look great as last year. Teams have probably figured out the Spurs. It just sucks that if it all goes down to shit this year, the team still thinks the window is open next year.

[Budkin]

We had a solid post (undermined with some stats) a few weeks ago that explained how PGs relying on quickness detoriated quickly around his age ... I guess it just had to happen.

It's so much worse than that though. Any of us here on SpursTalk could probably hold our own against him now.

[DMC]

There are a number of misleading things happening, Duncan is one of them. You probably won't hear it and can't see it because he's Tim, but he's tasked with carrying the load. They could have gotten a real center by now. Tiago is decent, but goddamn Tim is 40 almost and still has to carry the load on both ends the year after a championship. Face it, this team, that city... cannot attract the talent necessary to remain competitive. They have to draft it.

[DMC]

Everyone agrees Parker hasn't been himself this season, but aside from that I think the Spurs overestimated internal growth this year, even with the rash of injuries. I'm sure Pop anticipated his old guys to lose a step or two, but the young'uns haven't been that great either. Solid, sure, but not spectacular. Referring to Belinelli, Splitter, Joseph, and Leonard. There aren't any guarantees the team would have been better off acquiring someone new, but the current lot honestly doesn't look great as last year. Teams have probably figured out the Spurs. It just sucks that if it all goes down to shit this year, the team still thinks the window is open next year.

No they don't. As long as guys are making 10m for losing, they'll pretend they have a shot to sell season tickets. All teams do that.

[FkLA]

When Parker's been off the floor, the Spurs (http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/san-antonio-spurs)have an Offensive Rating of 105.4 and a Defensive Rating of 96.3, numbers that would trail only the Warriors (http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/golden-state-warriors). With Parker on the floor however, the Spurs are essentially the Sacramento Kings (http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/sacramento-kings).

[apalisoc_9]

When Parker's been off the floor, the Spurs (http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/san-antonio-spurs)have an Offensive Rating of 105.4 and a Defensive Rating of 96.3, numbers that would trail only the Warriors (http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/golden-state-warriors). With Parker on the floor however, the Spurs are essentially the Sacramento Kings (http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/sacramento-kings).