The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

[SPARKY]

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It is time for a review of the first quarter of the 2004-05 season...


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Il Buono

It's hard to start anywhere else but with the Spurs' defense, currently the best in the NBA in points allowed per game, assists allowed per game and also opponents' field goal %. Also of note is the Spurs' improved offensive execution, with the Spurs in the top 10 in FG%.

The Spurs' record so far (17-5) is quite impressive, given the Spurs' history of slow starts.

Manu Ginobili has fit snuggly into the starting lineup, cooling off a little from his blistering start but still quite impressive.

Devin Brown has built on his play last season and has provided a great spark off the bench. Beno Udrih has given the Spurs the stability at backup point which they did not enjoy last season.

Malik Rose is back to his old self and that is due in no small part to his return to the rotation. He actually seems to give a damn about winning and losing, something I am not so sure about with other members of the team.



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Il Cattivo

Lack of aggression seems to be a recurring theme for the Spurs. The Spurs are technically proficient enough to win a NBA championship yet how badly do they want it?

Brent Barry has disappointed thusfar despite the prognostications of NBA professional prognosticators. No, it's not so simple as taking one of the league's better 3 point shooters and putting him on a team with Tim Duncan in the post. Apparently one can play in the NBA for several years without taking defense seriously. Fortunately Devin Brown and Beno Udrih have covered for him so far. I don't want to say "bust" but, well, um, what else can you say?

Free throw shooting remains an issue for this team with Duncan leading the push towards mediocrity. The Spurs are 24th in the NBA with a 73.0% team average from the line. This is an improvement over last season, no doubt, but given the shooters on this team and the fact that Duncan once averaged 79.9% and 76.1% in seasons before more should be expected.

Tony Parker has struggled some with his shot. Early on he fell into the unfortunate yet admirable trap of trying to prove he was worth his contract. Fortunately Spurs fans seem to be resisting the desire to give him the Malik Rose Treatment after signing his extension in late October.

The Spurs have given up the next to highest 3 point shooting percentage in the league this season. This is a byproduct of their strong interior defensive focus but it still is somewhat alarming. As the season progresses this should improve.



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Il Brutto

There have been some rather disgusting and disturbing losses this season. If I had to pick the worst I would go with the 4th quarter, 20 point collapse at Toronto. Next would be the home loss to the Sonics, a game in which the Spurs came out with no energy whatsoever. I rate these losses worse than the Houston meltdown since both entailed disappointing play and coaching over a significant amount of game time.

Rasho Nesterovic has managed to be called out by Pop this season for his lack of aggressiveness after Pop told Rasho to find his aggressiveness at the end of last season. Rasho is technically quite capable but he plays the position out of habit, not out of passion or zeal. He brings little physicality as borne out by his low FG%, low free throw attempts, and weak rebounding stats. Tim Duncan needs an enforcer type playing next to him, someone who will fight for boards, administer hard fouls, run the floor, stay out of the way, and clean up messes. As it stands Malik Rose is usually the man who is closing out games alongside Tim Duncan. If Rasho is going to help this team win a championship he can't be losing out his job to a guy who is half a foot shorter than him.




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[timvp]

Very nice.

I have faith that Barry will turn it around. Rasho should be able to get back to at least being a non-factor, rather than a negative. If he can play a bit in first and third quarters and set the tone defensively, I think that's all you can really hope for. More than that and you are asking for a total makeover.

[whottt]

As it stands Malik Rose is usually the man who is closing out games alongside Tim Duncan.

This is not that much of a problem. Malik has always done well when filling in for Duncan or Drob..or Rasho. Malik usually steps up to the plate when needed..if he gets playing time.

And if that's not enough, Robert Horry has won 5 rings closing out games alongside Shaq and Hakeem. I don't see our bigs as problem. If we need physical play Malik is quite capable of providing it...even against Shaq, actually better against Shaq than most players in the NBA.

[slayermin]

The ugly is pretty fugly.

But lack of stamina, lack of concentration, lack of respect, and lack of a killer instinct are all correctable. Killer instinct will probably be the toughest one to correct but the Spurs are in great shape.

The only hole I see on this team is the lack of size at the three. Maybe Linton could fill in that need.

[GrandeDavid]

I enjoyed that assessment, Sparky! I guess my only real comments at this point would pertain to Radoslav and Brent Barry, which is that hopefully Rasho will become merely a non-factor instead of a negative, as TimVP stated, and I also echo his faith that Barry will turn it around.

I don't think you close out big games long term, night in and night out with just Rose or even an aging Horry. Rasho really is a key factor for us. On the one hand, you get frustrated over his lack of aggressiveness. On the other, you DON'T want him to be too aggressive and get to the line too often lest you enjoy being tortured by watching 7 foot Eastern Europeans one hand bricks from the line.

[Solid D]

Very good review, Sparky.

I have 2 thoughts regarding your comments. The first is that Tim Duncan's FT shooting is improving of late, so there is hope. He's .675 currently and .693 career but he has his stroke going in the right direction the past week or so.

Secondly, Rasho's FT shooting doesn't help his chances of closing out games. I like what Rasho does for the Spurs' interior defense and he does effort second chances (tip outs included)...I just hope he and Brent Barry can get some confidence going and play more tough-minded.

[Slo spurs fan]

I enjoyed that assessment, Sparky! I guess my only real comments at this point would pertain to Radoslav and Brent Barry, which is that hopefully Rasho will become merely a non-factor instead of a negative, as TimVP stated, and I also echo his faith that Barry will turn it around.

I don't think you close out big games long term, night in and night out with just Rose or even an aging Horry. Rasho really is a key factor for us. On the one hand, you get frustrated over his lack of aggressiveness. On the other, you DON'T want him to be too aggressive and get to the line too often lest you enjoy being tortured by watching 7 foot Eastern Europeans one hand bricks from the line.
Slovenia is NOT in eastern Europa but in MID! :wtf And that is important for us! :smokin
Is Brasil maybe near Alaska? :lol