duncan228
01-08-2008, 11:57 AM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA010808.spursmailbag.WEB.en.1ddb4d71.html
Spurs Mailbag: Shooting struggles and peach basket problems
Jeff McDonald
Express-News Staff Writer
OAKLAND, Calif. -- The world’s first basketball game ended in a score of 2-0. Contrary to popular belief, Allen Iverson did not take 30 shots.
Look at that score again: 2-0.
This means that one team (probably the shirts) played near-perfect defense, only allowed one basket (probably to Derek Fisher at the buzzer), and still lost.
These days, the Spurs can relate.
If there’s one thing they’ve been doing well during an otherwise middling 10-game stretch, it’s defend people. They just aren’t scoring points.
During that span, the Spurs have allowed just 87.3 points per game, better than anyone in the NBA outside of Detroit. But they are scoring 92.1 point per game, better than nobody in the NBA outside of Toronto and the Clippers.
Not surprisingly, the Spurs are 6-4 over that stretch – or one game better than exactly mediocre. In those four losses, the Spurs averaged 82.5 points.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist – or even a basketball coach – to notice a trend developing.
“When we’ve lost games this year,” coach Gregg Popovich said, “we’ve not made shots.”
Another statistic worth watching: 3-point shooting percentage.
The Spurs shoot 10 percentage points better from beyond the arc in victories (41.6 percent) as opposed to losses (31.4).
As the Spurs continue through what could be a frigid month of January, they will have to find some answers to their scoring woes. We suggest turning the peach baskets right side up.
And now, on to your cards, letters, e-mails and candygrams …
Why does the Spurs organization always seem to get rid of their rookies?
Brett, San Antonio
The Spurs prefer their players like we prefer our brain surgeons: Old and experienced. The last thing you’d want to see before going under the knife is some Doogie Howser wannabe, right? If the Spurs could somehow sign only 35-year-old rookies, they would. We’re half surprised they didn’t try to trade up in last year’s draft in order to select Greg Oden, who at least looks 35.
That said, all the rookies the Spurs have signed and jettisoned this season – Darius Washington, Marcus Williams and Keith Langford -- were project players at best. It’s not like they’ve been waiving Kevin Durant.
I'm a Spurs fan but I don't believe laying low this year is going to work for them. Stepping up at the right time is harder than it looked last year. Do you expect a big move before the All-Star break, such as maybe Jason Kidd?
Cruz, San Antonio
If by “laying low” you mean “getting guys injured left and right” then, yeah, we don’t think it’s going to work either. Unless for some reason the Spurs took their entire team photo under a ladder, however, you’ve got to believe their luck has got to change with regard to injuries. Remember, when healthy, this team was 17-3. (This is actually not true. They were 15-3 when healthy and improved to 17-3 by beating Utah and Dallas without Tim Duncan. The point, however, stands).
As for making a deal for a Jason Kidd-type player, the Spurs don’t really have the contracts or the cap room to make a major, blockbuster move. To get someone like Kidd, the Spurs would have to pretty much blow up a team that, as we mentioned earlier, looked like perhaps the best in the league before injuries struck.
I am worrying about the team's age and health. I hope they can acquire a younger player who can break down the defense.
Shawn, New York City
Yes, the Spurs are old. They have been for a long time. But there’s no truth to the rumor that they decided to hold this year’s team Christmas party at a bingo parlor at three in the afternoon (They ended up playing mahjong at Robert Horry’s house until the break of noon).
The Spurs, however, did recently acquire a spring chicken who can break down the defense. His name is Manu Ginobili, and he just came off the injured list. Of course, this says something about the Spurs’ advancing age, too: Their “energy player” off the bench comes with a bald spot.
When will Manu Ginobili be the Most Valuable Player? He plays so well, and I love him to death.
Cindy Aniceto, Philippines
Now we know where to send police when Manu’s cat goes missing. Or where to send Stephen King to find his inspiration for “Misery II.”
Are the Spurs wasting money the way they have been signing and waiving players like Darius Washington and Marcus Williams? Do they have to pay for the contracts?
Gian, Manila
Nope. All of the players they’ve been renting from Austin have been on non-guaranteed contracts. Basically, the Spurs only had to pay them minimum wage (roughly seven bucks an hour) for their time in San Antonio, and could return them without cost, so long as they kept the receipt.
I moved from SA to Houston two years ago. With Rockets games on TV all the time, I get to see Luis Scola (who was GIVEN away for nothing) play. He is a very good player who will be even better in the next year. Why did Pop give him away so that he could keep Horry? Horry hasn't done anything and is on life support so far. Luis is young and can play. It's very disappointing.
Rodriguez, Houston
Actually, the Spurs did not give Scola away so they could keep Horry. They gave him away so they could keep Matt Bonner. Hope that makes you feel better.
When Duncan's, Parker's and Ginobili's contracts expire, what do you think the Spurs would be like?
Vanessa Reyes, Holland
Remember the ‘80s? Something like that.
Spurs Mailbag: Shooting struggles and peach basket problems
Jeff McDonald
Express-News Staff Writer
OAKLAND, Calif. -- The world’s first basketball game ended in a score of 2-0. Contrary to popular belief, Allen Iverson did not take 30 shots.
Look at that score again: 2-0.
This means that one team (probably the shirts) played near-perfect defense, only allowed one basket (probably to Derek Fisher at the buzzer), and still lost.
These days, the Spurs can relate.
If there’s one thing they’ve been doing well during an otherwise middling 10-game stretch, it’s defend people. They just aren’t scoring points.
During that span, the Spurs have allowed just 87.3 points per game, better than anyone in the NBA outside of Detroit. But they are scoring 92.1 point per game, better than nobody in the NBA outside of Toronto and the Clippers.
Not surprisingly, the Spurs are 6-4 over that stretch – or one game better than exactly mediocre. In those four losses, the Spurs averaged 82.5 points.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist – or even a basketball coach – to notice a trend developing.
“When we’ve lost games this year,” coach Gregg Popovich said, “we’ve not made shots.”
Another statistic worth watching: 3-point shooting percentage.
The Spurs shoot 10 percentage points better from beyond the arc in victories (41.6 percent) as opposed to losses (31.4).
As the Spurs continue through what could be a frigid month of January, they will have to find some answers to their scoring woes. We suggest turning the peach baskets right side up.
And now, on to your cards, letters, e-mails and candygrams …
Why does the Spurs organization always seem to get rid of their rookies?
Brett, San Antonio
The Spurs prefer their players like we prefer our brain surgeons: Old and experienced. The last thing you’d want to see before going under the knife is some Doogie Howser wannabe, right? If the Spurs could somehow sign only 35-year-old rookies, they would. We’re half surprised they didn’t try to trade up in last year’s draft in order to select Greg Oden, who at least looks 35.
That said, all the rookies the Spurs have signed and jettisoned this season – Darius Washington, Marcus Williams and Keith Langford -- were project players at best. It’s not like they’ve been waiving Kevin Durant.
I'm a Spurs fan but I don't believe laying low this year is going to work for them. Stepping up at the right time is harder than it looked last year. Do you expect a big move before the All-Star break, such as maybe Jason Kidd?
Cruz, San Antonio
If by “laying low” you mean “getting guys injured left and right” then, yeah, we don’t think it’s going to work either. Unless for some reason the Spurs took their entire team photo under a ladder, however, you’ve got to believe their luck has got to change with regard to injuries. Remember, when healthy, this team was 17-3. (This is actually not true. They were 15-3 when healthy and improved to 17-3 by beating Utah and Dallas without Tim Duncan. The point, however, stands).
As for making a deal for a Jason Kidd-type player, the Spurs don’t really have the contracts or the cap room to make a major, blockbuster move. To get someone like Kidd, the Spurs would have to pretty much blow up a team that, as we mentioned earlier, looked like perhaps the best in the league before injuries struck.
I am worrying about the team's age and health. I hope they can acquire a younger player who can break down the defense.
Shawn, New York City
Yes, the Spurs are old. They have been for a long time. But there’s no truth to the rumor that they decided to hold this year’s team Christmas party at a bingo parlor at three in the afternoon (They ended up playing mahjong at Robert Horry’s house until the break of noon).
The Spurs, however, did recently acquire a spring chicken who can break down the defense. His name is Manu Ginobili, and he just came off the injured list. Of course, this says something about the Spurs’ advancing age, too: Their “energy player” off the bench comes with a bald spot.
When will Manu Ginobili be the Most Valuable Player? He plays so well, and I love him to death.
Cindy Aniceto, Philippines
Now we know where to send police when Manu’s cat goes missing. Or where to send Stephen King to find his inspiration for “Misery II.”
Are the Spurs wasting money the way they have been signing and waiving players like Darius Washington and Marcus Williams? Do they have to pay for the contracts?
Gian, Manila
Nope. All of the players they’ve been renting from Austin have been on non-guaranteed contracts. Basically, the Spurs only had to pay them minimum wage (roughly seven bucks an hour) for their time in San Antonio, and could return them without cost, so long as they kept the receipt.
I moved from SA to Houston two years ago. With Rockets games on TV all the time, I get to see Luis Scola (who was GIVEN away for nothing) play. He is a very good player who will be even better in the next year. Why did Pop give him away so that he could keep Horry? Horry hasn't done anything and is on life support so far. Luis is young and can play. It's very disappointing.
Rodriguez, Houston
Actually, the Spurs did not give Scola away so they could keep Horry. They gave him away so they could keep Matt Bonner. Hope that makes you feel better.
When Duncan's, Parker's and Ginobili's contracts expire, what do you think the Spurs would be like?
Vanessa Reyes, Holland
Remember the ‘80s? Something like that.