Spurs' Duncan falls for Johnson's verbal deke

[Kori Ellis]

Spurs' Duncan falls for Johnson's verbal deke

Web Posted: 01/06/2007 12:31 AM CST

Mike Monroe
Express-News

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA010607.07C.BKNspurs.duncan.3623105.html

Tim Duncan heard the voice, screaming demands during his first four seasons with the Spurs.

There is no mistaking Avery Johnson's high-pitched, nasal intonation and his New Orleans accent, and Duncan grew accustomed to following Johnson's commands when the two were teammates on the Spurs.

Now the coach of the Dallas Mavericks, Johnson used that familiar voice on Friday to confuse the Spurs' All-Star power forward in the fourth quarter of the Mavericks' 90-85 victory.

As the Spurs ran their offense in front of the Mavericks' bench in the second half, Duncan was well within earshot of Johnson's unique inflection. So the Mavericks coach instructed his defenders to double-team Duncan every time he caught the ball in the low post.

Turns out it was a ploy, a wrinkle that perhaps only Johnson could have executed against his old teammate. Johnson had privately ordered his defenders not to follow his directive.

Johnson had set up the tactic by aggressively double-teaming Duncan nearly every time he caught the ball in the post in the first three quarters. Duncan grew wary of the double teams and did a good job of finding open teammates.

"They came (at me) just about every time in the beginning," Duncan said. "In the fourth quarter, Avery just stood over there on the bench and yelled like they were coming, but they didn't."

It was a masterful mind game won by his old teammate, and it rankled Duncan to admit it.

"A very bad (mind game)," Duncan said, "but yeah."

The Mavericks held the Spurs scoreless for 4:59 in the fourth period, squandering an opportunity to extend the 76-73 lead Manu Ginobili gave them with an end-to-end drive that resulted in a three-point play 8:37 remaining.

Their next score came on Ginobili's 3-pointer with 3:38 to play, and Duncan owned up to his role in the critical stretch.

"Honestly, I'll take full and total blame for that situation right there," Duncan said. "It was just bad reason my part.

"(The Mavericks) were half-and-half (on defense). They weren't double-teaming. They weren't doing anything, and I wasn't drawing anybody to me and wasn't taking the shots when they were there. Just bad reads on my part."

Duncan always is candid when he makes mistakes, often more critical of himself than need be. He seemed angrier with himself for falling for Johnson's mind game than for allowing the Mavericks seven offensive rebounds in the second half, most of them critical to Dallas' comeback.

Those offensive rebounds, Duncan said, were by happenstance, rather than lack of effort or execution by the Spurs. The most critical was Jason Terry's grab of Dirk Nowitzki's air ball on a 3-point attempt. Terry flipped it in the basket just before the 24-second shot clock expired.

"Yeah," Duncan said on his way out the door of the Spurs' locker room. "That's great offensive rebounding.

"It just happened," Duncan said of the Mavericks' 41-33 edge in rebounding. "I can't say one thing or the other. I can't say they were just legitimately pounding the offensive glass. I think they got a couple bounces and were in the right place at the right time. That's not taking anything away from what they did. It's just how it went."

[Kori Ellis]

AJ owned Duncan :(

[timvp]

AJ has turned into Phil Jackson.

Not good for the Spurs' chances.

[DubMcDub]

You guys gotta admit, that's pretty fucking brilliant.

[supaphly119]

i heard about this...c'mon tim.

if no one is coming, then don't worry about it.

[ChumpDumper]

As long as Tim learns from it....

[Russ]

AJ has turned into Phil Jackson.

Not good for the Spurs' chances.

Naw, Phil would've saved it for the playoffs.

[SilverPlayer]

That's some cheap @ss sh!t right there. That's really...I don't know what that is but it sure as hell isn't basketball. Fuck AJ!

[Winnipeg_Spur]

Wow.

That's kind of embarassing. :oops

Still, better now than in the playoffs... [/eternal optimism]

[mFFL03]

Is it just me....or did Duncan also have a Brain-fart on a throw-in for the mavs. I was watching the game on the local station...so we could barley see it. It was a questionable out-of-bounds call where Deveon, Duncan, and some other Spur went for the ball.

The ball went out of bounds, and Duncan proceeded to plead the case for "Spurs Ball" and then started talking/laughing with George before the Mavs in-bounded the ball for a Terry (?) 2 or 3.....

Can anyone confirm this?

[DubMcDub]

Is it just me....or did Duncan also have a Brain-fart on a throw-in for the mavs. I was watching the game on the local station...so we could barley see it. It was a questionable out-of-bounds call where Deveon, Duncan, and some other Spur went for the ball.

The ball went out of bounds, and Duncan proceeded to plead the case for "Spurs Ball" and then started talking/laughing with George before the Mavs in-bounded the ball for a Terry (?) 2 or 3.....

Can anyone confirm this?

This did happen, and it was Dirk. Tim realized he was supposed to be playing basketball rather than bitchin, and ran over to try and guard Dirk, but it was too late.

[Gerryatrics]

When I first glanced at the title of the thread, I thought it was going to be about that play where Tim didn't pick up Dirk because he was jawing with Devean. Having the article be about AJ psyching out Tim instead doesn't make me feel any better.

[polandprzem]

As long as Tim learns from it....

30 years -about time to learn some basketball :dizzy

[Kori Ellis]

30 years -about time to learn some basketball :dizzy

That might be the stupidest post ever.

[2Cleva]

Damn, brilliant move by AJ. Yeah, he should have saved it for the playoffs but fucking brilliant.

[Dre_7]

You guys gotta admit, that's pretty fucking brilliant.

That is very brilliant. Very smart on AJs part.

[polandprzem]

That might be the stupidest post ever.

Might? :huh




:lol

But come on. I've got admitt it was good idea by AJ.
Gotcha Tim!
I would care less if TD was smarter then that. (which he is)

[boutons_]

I don't think Tim is any better at in-game adjustments than Pop.

And it's pretty much the same old shitty, blatantly obvious, predictable errors from Tim over and over and over. Repeating shit over and over isn't a sign of intelligence. It's stupidity.

Dribbling/spinning into paint traffic, esp like waiting and waiting for the double or sagger, THEN dribble. Tim stripped, crawling on the floor like a 7th grader trying to get the ball back. Dirk reaching over and in to strip Tim in crunch time last night epitomizes Dirk's superiority and dominance over Tim. Tim is getting worse, and Dirk is getting better.

Killing the offense by holding the ball, Sean Elliot's repeated lament.

Holding the ball then shooting the bank shot, as if holding the ball tricked the defender into thinking Tim had dozens of options. He doesn't, he holds the ball, the defense sets up, then 99% of the time he shoots the bank shot, which now almost always misses. Forget the bank shot. It's dead and buried.

Tim is simply playing less and less effectively, and shows no signs of improvement, or playing smart, or adjusting to his increased slowness and decreasing bag of tricks and shots.

Total inconsistency on FTs, from FT to FT. One FT bounces back from the front rim, next FT next nothing but net. He IS consistent in shooting the FT too weak (dies off the front of the rim) and way too flat and hard (which requires a perfect shot). When he gets his legs and body under the shot, he get both more arc/softness (wider margin of error) and more power/distance (get the fucking ball over the fucking rim). Chip has done NOTHING for Tim. Tim has absolutely no feel for FTs, after shooting 1000s and 1000s in practice and games. Tim misses 7 FT of Spurs 10 missed FTs, Spurs lose by 5. An anti-MVP night.

And Tim isn't rotating, defending, anticipating in interior defense. Very slow and passive.

We've heard Pop say "Tim figures these things out by himself", but Tim isn't figuring out shit. "Hands off" won't work, Pop. Pop has a huge challenge to confront himself and Tim, figure out how to "manage a declining star", to energize their symbiosis that have given both of them fantastic NBA careers.

Everbody needs to forget about everything Tim has been and done in the past.
None of it is worth shit now. 7 RBs in 39 mins @ATT against Spurs' mortal rival. Out-rebounded by Dirk and Josh. Matched by Diop in half the minutes. No, Tim, NOT bad bounces. Horrible game from Tim.

==========

oh yeah, 11 pts, 10 RB, 3 AST from Bruce/Robert/Beno/Michael in 89 minutes.

We keep waiting for the Spurs to start clicking. I'm beginning to think this year, what we see is what we got.

[polandprzem]

oh yeah, 11 pts, 10 RB, 3 AST from Bruce/Robert/Beno/Michael in 89 minutes.

We keep waiting for the Spurs to start clicking. I'm beginning to think this year, what we see is what we got.

Well yes. I remember last year the same situation. The spurs will start clicking on the rodeo trip,after rodeo trip etc.
But they didn't start clicking, the excuse was the injuries which is about right. No excuses this year unless you want to blame the ball.

Good post btw boutons_

[RS189]

Naw, Phil would've saved it for the playoffs.

Exactly

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Too bad Pop can't do a little self-reflection of his own. Maybe his substitution patterns wouldn't suck so bad and he wouldn't be so stuck on posting up Finley when others are playing well.

[mabber]

Damn, brilliant move by AJ. Yeah, he should have saved it for the playoffs but fucking brilliant.

That's exactly what I was thinking. He should have saved that for when the game really mattered.

[VaSpursFan]

i don't know what to make of this. our best player getting pysched out by someone that's not even playing the game. wtf is that??? isn't he supposed to have mental toughness and want to win at all costs. we continue to be fucking aggressive whether the double come or not. read what's happening on the court and respond to that. tim the pysch major got psyched out...fucking classic. this team may as well get their fishing rods ready because it's going to be a short post season. for him to even admit that to the press is even worse...any oppposing coach may do this now.

[wildbill2u]

As long as Tim learns from it....
There is no fucking excuse for a veteran All star and Top Fifty Player of All Time not reading the coverage and going after his defender.

Especially if the defender is Dirk--their prmier player.

Tim is mailing it in against good teams and fattening his stats on bums.

[ponky]

dang that's harsh...but brilliant

[Viva Las Espuelas]

You guys gotta admit, that's pretty fucking brilliant.
ummmm, no

[boutons_]

Tim admitting to the press he got tricked by Avery just shows how guileless and simple he is. Mind-games and meta-games and game politics are beyond him.

[GrandeDavid]

Tim still needs to react on the floor better. He needs to be in a complete mental zone, an ultra-focused state of mind vs. the Mavs and not even hear Avery's or anyone else's shouts. Mentally weak of Tim.

[SilverPlayer]

Tim admitting to the press he got tricked by Avery just shows how guileless and simple he is. Mind-games and meta-games and game politics are beyond him.


I'd say the opposite is true, mind games are childish and beneath Tim.

[boutons_]

"childish and beneath Tim."

Sports is psychology, not the body.
Tim is a $100M child.
The challenges he's facing now may mature him, or not.
Pop is also facing challenges to guideTim, and himself, through this difficult phase.

If Tim were naively expecting that the game in the 2nd half of his career would be has easy as the first half, the game will kick him in the stomach.

[BigBinBigD]

I'd say the opposite is true, mind games are childish and beneath Tim.

So making someone think you're gonna do one thing and doing something else is a mind game? So if Duncan fakes a pass to someone and passes to someone else it is childish and beneath big Tim Duncan? Some of y'alls' arrogance about him is unbelievable sometimes.

[td4mvp21]

I know I should be pissed but I like it. That's what your supposed to do, psych the other team out. Good job Avery.

[SequSpur]

Tim Duncan is mentally soft.

[DubMcDub]

ummmm, no

I'd say every other Spurs fan in this thread disagrees with you. Right on.

[TDMVPDPOY]

and to think duncan has a degree in psychology, to be outdoned by high pitch man....:(:(

[mikeanthony21]

That might be the stupidest post ever.

You want stupid? Go over to the Pistons board on AOL and look for "DoohNibor3."

[mikeanthony21]

Tim Duncan is mentally soft.

He's got a Bachelors in Psychology from Wake Forest. I wouldn't call him "mentally soft."

[boutons_]

"He's got a Bachelors in Psychology from Wake Forest. I wouldn't call him "mentally soft." "

non sequitur

[Dirk41MVP]

Adidas is launching a new commercial, Duncan's version. I of course got the early script on it..

Avery (with his his high-pitched, annoying voice) @ Duncan:

you were fooled,
every time I called a play,... (duncan) It fools ya (duncan)
cause you believed that was a double team
while I believed...
It takes some brains, baby!...but you're not a fool, are ya ?
----------

(all this while Duncan has his hands in the air, palms up and he's crying)

:lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol

[Winnipeg_Spur]

Wow, tough crowd. It wasn't a good display but I don't know why you'd call a player mentally weak because of a regular season game. I'd hate to see what people here would say if Duncan disappeared in the finals and the Spurs choked away a championship to an inferior team, like some other player...

[Bob Lanier]

Adidas is launching a new commercial, Duncan's version. I of course got the early script on it..

Avery (with his his high-pitched, annoying voice) @ Duncan:

you were fooled,
every time I called a play,... (duncan) It fools ya (duncan)
cause you believed that was a double team
while I believed...
It takes some brains, baby!...but you're not a fool, are ya ?
:lol :clap

[sandeepgm]

Winnipeg you probably forget in your last championship duncan did choke. he went 1 of 10 or something from the free throw line in a game. It was Manu that bailed you guys out in that series. Its human nature not to have a great game every now and then...

[Winnipeg_Spur]

Winnipeg you probably forget in your last championship duncan did choke. he went 1 of 10 or something from the free throw line in a game. It was Manu that bailed you guys out in that series. Its human nature not to have a great game every now and then...
A bad FT shooter missing some FTs after carrying the team for three quarters isn't really equivalent to completely disappearing for the biggest series of your career. And Duncan still catches flak for that even though he won the whole thing that year...

[itzsoweezee]

avery >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> popovich

[E20]

That's kind of fucking weak. Duncan blaming AJ's annoying voice because of his play and the loss. What a weak fucking take. Does AJ intimidate Duncan or something? Out of all the 18,000+ voices he zoned in on what AJ was saying. :wow Lame excuse.

[sandeepgm]

A bad FT shooter missing some FTs after carrying the team for three quarters isn't really equivalent to completely disappearing for the biggest series of your career. And Duncan still catches flak for that even though he won the whole thing that year...


Duncan didnt deserve the MVP in that series. We all know that the "best player" for the team that wins is going to get the MVP. The reason you guys won was the other guys stepped up. For us terry went 7/26 or something in the final game. Nobody else stepped up. Thats the point.

And anyways i distinctly remember duncan struggling in that series.

[v2freak]

Way to play on the betrayal-aspect of the game

[RC's Boss]

I'd say every other Spurs fan in this thread disagrees with you. Right on.
Yeah that was brilliant... But it was also dumb, b/c he should've saved it for the playoffs. But in that game I must admit it was a crafty move that paid off. Of course I must give props to Tim for noticing later on instead of his mind being on what strip club he's going to or which one of the biyatches want to get down w/ the "Big Fundamental". That tactic won't work should both teams meet later.

[leemajors]

Duncan didnt deserve the MVP in that series. We all know that the "best player" for the team that wins is going to get the MVP. The reason you guys won was the other guys stepped up. For us terry went 7/26 or something in the final game. Nobody else stepped up. Thats the point.

And anyways i distinctly remember duncan struggling in that series.

i wasn't aware they gave out a conference finals MVP? terry wasn't even on the team when the mavs and spurs played in 03, nash was still there. terry was on the hawks in 03. the spurs won the championship in 05 too, but played phoenix after the beat dallas.

[RC's Boss]

Wow, tough crowd. It wasn't a good display but I don't know why you'd call a player mentally weak because of a regular season game. I'd hate to see what people here would say if Duncan disappeared in the finals and the Spurs choked away a championship to an inferior team, like some other player...
:lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol TRUE

[RC's Boss]

Duncan didnt deserve the MVP in that series. We all know that the "best player" for the team that wins is going to get the MVP. The reason you guys won was the other guys stepped up. For us terry went 7/26 or something in the final game. Nobody else stepped up. Thats the point.

And anyways i distinctly remember duncan struggling in that series.
Duncan didn't struggle. The object of having an all-star post player is to draw the attention of the opposing team and score when under single coverage and dish when double teamed. The space created for others to step up comes from that presence and on defensive end when that player dominates on both ends.

[DubMcDub]

Yeah that was brilliant... But it was also dumb, b/c he should've saved it for the playoffs. But in that game I must admit it was a crafty move that paid off. Of course I must give props to Tim for noticing later on instead of his mind being on what strip club he's going to or which one of the biyatches want to get down w/ the "Big Fundamental". That tactic won't work should both teams meet later.

It's not something that's gonna only work once, because all Avery has to do is switch back and forth. He can alternate between having the guys actually double when he says it and not.

I don't think its going to play big part in any game, but he can continue to keep Duncan on his toes with it.

[ChumpDumper]

All Duncan has to do is not listen to what AJ says and actually watch the doubles.

[DubMcDub]

All Duncan has to do is not listen to what AJ says and actually watch the doubles.

I'm sure he's smart enough to do that. It's probably more about the brief instant of hesitation that it causes naturally.

[ChumpDumper]

Well, if he called himself out in the media about it, I'm sure it will be on his mind next time.

[bdictjames]

Pop still has a few tricks up his sleeve, he is still the better coach

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Pop still has a few tricks up his sleeve, he is still the better coach


no he's not as of this season


and to be honest I think if the Spurs and Mavs were to play 10 straight games, AJ would outcoach Pop 9 times out of 10


Pop's been slipping as a coach more and more each year

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Pop still has a few tricks up his sleeve, he is still the better coach

Picking up one of the league's senior citizens in the off-season isn't creativity.

As for the better coach comment...

http://www.ricenpeas.com/Images/Europe/William%20-%20Crack%20pipe.jpg

[Ben Dover]

Avery owned Duncan one time. You guys need to get a dose of reality. Step away from the keyboard put down the knife and think for a few minutes.

[midgetonadonkey]

Pop still has a few tricks up his sleeve, he is still the better coach

:lmao

[gameFACE]

I don't think it was a brilliant move at all. It was pretty fucking stupid. It worked, yeah. But it was not brilliant. It's a one time non-basketball tactic. Hack-a-Bowen only worked once, too.

[DubMcDub]

I don't think it was a brilliant move at all. It was pretty fucking stupid. It worked, yeah. But it was not brilliant. It's a one time non-basketball tactic. Hack-a-Bowen only worked once, too.

Talk about sour grapes.

[DubMcDub]

Well, if he called himself out in the media about it, I'm sure it will be on his mind next time.

It will. I don't think it's some huge factor to swing things in the Mavs favor. The effects can't be that substantial. But I do think it's something that can disrupt the rhythm of the Spurs usual offensive flow through Duncan.

[itzsoweezee]

Pop still has a few tricks up his sleeve, he is still the better coach

sure he is. that's why he's been outcoached in nearly every game the two teams have matched up against each other going back to last year's playoffs

[gameFACE]

Talk about sour grapes.
Umm.....even you said it's not going to play a big part in any game. No sour grapes here, brah. So far the Mavs aren't doing anything different this year than they have in past years. They have the best record, go on long winning streaks, beat the Spurs. Nothing is really that different, yet.

The Mavs get props for winning the game last night. Stop being so "defensive".

[Dirk Nowitzki]

Pop still has a few tricks up his sleeve, he is still the better coach

:drunk :drunk :drunk He is the an x-factor for the Mavs when he throws Finley at power foward. Spurs are no longer any kind of a threat to the Mavs with that joke of a roster they have and are yesterdays news. The Lakers/Suns are teams we need to be aware of a litte more now. IF the spurs can make some miracle trades by the trade deadline then they could be the big threat to the Mavs but you turned down Cory for Barry and Udrih....nuff said!

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Avery owned Duncan one time. You guys need to get a dose of reality. Step away from the keyboard put down the knife and think for a few minutes.

One time? You're treating the playoffs last year and the two games this year in SA is a singular occurrence?

[midgetonadonkey]

In 2005, didn't the Mavs beat the Spurs by over 25 around this time in the season?

[neboat]

Watching my fav player shooting FT has become a nightmare. Anyone else notice Duncan twitches his elbow for a second before shooting his FT? I don't see him doing that when he pratices FT during the shoot around. Also, when he shoots those 1000's of FT during practice, does he also take about 10 freaking seconds for each one, probably not. Tim's gotta shoot his in game FT just like the way he shoots them in practice. I recently watched the old game where Tim scored his career high against the Mavs. Back then his FT had much more arc and it probably only took him 4 secs to set up and shoot....

[midgetonadonkey]

Watching my fav player shooting FT has become a nightmare. Anyone else notice Duncan twitches his elbow for a second before shooting his FT? I don't see him doing that when he pratices FT during the shoot around. Also, when he shoots those 1000's of FT during practice, does he also take about 10 freaking seconds for each one, probably not. Tim's gotta shoot his in game FT just like the way he shoots them in practice. I recently watched the old game where Tim scored his career high against the Mavs. Back then his FT had much more arc and it probably only took him 4 secs to set up and shoot....

Great first post. I'm glad you joined.

[sprrs]

It was pretty lame that Duncan fell for it, but it's even lamer that AJ even tried something like that. Does he not have enough faith in his players to think they can actually win the ballgame without little "Nellie" tricks like that?

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Everytime I read this thread title I read it as

"Spurs' Duncan falls for Johnson's verbal dyke"



and kudos to AJ, it was a brilliant move, evne if it was a bit grade school-ish

if Pop did it, we might even go back to thinking he was a decent coach again

[boutons_]

"brilliant move"

How many times have we heard the parroted banality: "do whatever it takes" ?

Well, Avery had Tim in the Mavs' paint in the second half right in front of Avery's bench. I wonder if it would have worked if Avery was yelling "double" from the other end of the court. Actually Avery spends a lot of time at mid-court anyway. Probably didn't matter.

Tim's counter-productive habit of holding the ball set himself up for this gambit.

[Ben Dover]

Is the entire City of San Antonio on suicide watch?

sheesh....

[v2freak]

It's hard to go from winning to losing, as opposed to just..losing

[Dirk Nowitzki]

It's hard to go from winning to losing, as opposed to just..losing

Chhhhanges! :fro :fro Us Mavs fans had to deal with Spurs shit for years but now it is finally our turn! Fact: Mavs OWN the Spurs and it will stay that way barring a miracle trade for you guys!

[IGNORANT MAVS FAN]

Chhhhanges! :fro :fro Us Mavs fans had to deal with Spurs shit for years but now it is finally our turn! Fact: Mavs OWN the Spurs and it will stay that way barring a miracle trade for you guys!
Yes brother, now let us jerk off to dreams of holding the championship trophy which is rightfully ours.

[SilverPlayer]

Chhhhanges! :fro :fro Us Mavs fans had to deal with Spurs shit for years but now it is finally our turn! Fact: Mavs OWN the Spurs and it will stay that way barring a miracle trade for you guys!


It really shows how far ahead of the Spurs the Mavs are when AJ has to resort to Gimmicks to win the game.

Remember we were a stupid foul away from beating you.

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

You guys gotta admit, that's pretty fucking brilliant.

Yikes. Damn, hope Tim gets over that quick.

[mabber]

Is the entire City of San Antonio on suicide watch?

sheesh....

It's quite funny to me since it's only January. You'd think the Spurs had just lost a playoff series. The Spurs (under Pop) have annually just cruised (experimented with lineups/rotations, etc.) until Jan/Feb...then kicked it into gear and finished strong heading in to the playoffs. Yet this season a lot of fans seem to have forgotten or lost sight of that. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that the hated Mavericks are the team in front of them and they appear to have a really good team.

[wildbill2u]

Watching my fav player shooting FT has become a nightmare. Anyone else notice Duncan twitches his elbow for a second before shooting his FT? I don't see him doing that when he pratices FT during the shoot around. Also, when he shoots those 1000's of FT during practice, does he also take about 10 freaking seconds for each one, probably not. Tim's gotta shoot his in game FT just like the way he shoots them in practice. I recently watched the old game where Tim scored his career high against the Mavs. Back then his FT had much more arc and it probably only took him 4 secs to set up and shoot....
Ft shooting is about the legs--not the arms. He's standing flat footed without bending his knees, especially when he gets tired late in the game. So He winds up short-arming the ball with no arc. (Try it yourself at home and feel how that set up pulls on your arms at the end of your shot.)

When he makes a good percentage he's got one foot slightly back of the other (like you naturally set up on all shots) and bends his knees a little.

[RC's Boss]

It's quite funny to me since it's only January. You'd think the Spurs had just lost a playoff series. The Spurs (under Pop) have annually just cruised (experimented with lineups/rotations, etc.) until Jan/Feb...then kicked it into gear and finished strong heading in to the playoffs. Yet this season a lot of fans seem to have forgotten or lost sight of that. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that the hated Mavericks are the team in front of them and they appear to have a really good team.
That could be true for some, but I think our "UNUSUALLY" strong start is what has everyone on suicide watch. Normally this would be the time for us to start moving up in the standings and get a few win streaks here and there, but instead we've lost 3 in a row. Paranoia has now set in, but I for one, am not worried although I would like a trade for Maggette. We really could use a wing player that rebounds. All teams have some weaknesses... some don't have a post player. 3 point shooters, bench, ours is lack of rebounding imo w/ our bench wing players being many years removed from their high-flying days. Manu and Bruce are too light in the ass to expect good numbers on the boards, which we could deal w/ if we didn't have 30 something dudes on the bench.

[Crazy Ray]

It really shows how far ahead of the Spurs the Mavs are when AJ has to resort to Gimmicks to win the game.

Remember we were a stupid foul away from beating you.

Sour grapes make the best whine.

[SilverPlayer]

Sour grapes make the best whine.

Who's whining? Statement of fact. Simple statement of fact.