Biggest problem Spurs have right now

[DarrinS]

IMO, the Spurs' biggest problem is just their shooting.

Saying that the Spurs suck right now doesn't really give credit to the opponents they've played in the last several games.


When the Spurs went 10-1 in February, they were shooting .468.

In March, the Spurs are 5-5, and are shooting .436 (similarly in January, the Spurs were 8-8 and shooting .435). It doesn't help when you have people like Stoudemire shooting .298, Finley shooting .366, and Horry shooting .313.

In the last several games, the Spurs have gone on long scoring droughts, while the opponents have been shooting "lights out". This was especially apparent in the Hornets game. Based on the law of averages, the Spurs will not continue to shoot this poorly and their opponents will not continue to shoot this well.

I don't have the stats to back it up, but it doesn't seem to me that the Spurs have been repeatedely scortched in the paint -- it seems like they've forced other teams to shoot difficult perimeter shots and those shots have been falling.


One other thing that has really been pissing me off lately -- when Fab or KT seem to have a rebound in their grasp, they're not hanging on to the ball -- shades of Elson and Nazr. :bang

[jag]

Darrin....come on man, you're better than this.

[Indazone]

IMO, the Spurs' biggest problem is just their shooting.

Saying that the Spurs suck right now doesn't really give credit to the opponents they've played in the last several games.


When the Spurs went 10-1 in February and were shooting .468.

In March, the Spurs are 5-5, and are shooting .436 (similarly in January, the Spurs were 8-8 and shooting .435). It doesn't help when you have people like Stoudemire shooting .298, Finley shooting .366, and Horry shooting .313.

In the last several games, the Spurs have gone on long scoring droughts, while the opponents have been shooting "lights out". This was especially apparent in the Hornets game. Based on the law of averages, the Spurs will not continue to shoot this poorly and their opponents will not continue to shoot this well.

I don't have the stats to back it up, but it doesn't seem to me that the Spurs have been repeatedely scortched in the paint -- it seems like they've forced other teams to shoot difficult perimeter shots and those shots have been falling.


One other thing that has really been pissing me off lately -- when Fab or KT seem to have a rebound in their grasp, they're not haning on to the ball -- shades of Elson and Nazr. :bang

Bad shooting is defensively what other teams are doing to the Spurs. Spurs need to knock down those wide open looks. Barry will help a lot and spread the floor when he comes back.

[DarrinS]

Bad shooting is defensively what other teams are doing to the Spurs. Spurs need to knock down those wide open looks. Barry will help a lot and spread the floor when he comes back.


If we have wide open looks, how is that good defense by the other team?

They could've rebuilt the French Quarter with how many bricks the Spurs left in NO.

[T Park]

Just need one game of some guys making some shots.

They desperately need 2 days off though, the team is whipped.

11 games in 19 days is just an obscene amount of friggen games.

[DarrinS]

Darrin....come on man, you're better than this.



No I'm not.

But, I am better than Damon Stoudamire.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

No I'm not.

But, I am better than Damon Stoudamire.
:lol

[Obstructed_View]

It's possible that their rebounding has hurt them worse. They'd have won a few games if they'd managed not to give up so many second and third chances. The Spurs have never relied on offense to win games in the past, they've relied on defense, and defensive rebounding is a big part of defense. The problem with their shooting hasn't been the misses, but taking so many more low-percentage shots. Taking shots off the dribble instead of off the pass and bad offense leading to forced jumpers with the shot clock winding down are a huge burden to overcome. Pop's telling everyone that they should just shoot whenever they are open has completely unraveled the offense as well, as everyone's looking to shoot rather than to set up a good play.

[JamStone]

If we have wide open looks, how is that good defense by the other team?

Because opponent's aren't letting the Spurs have as many looks in the paint? Because opponents are forcing players other than Duncan and Ginobili and Parker to beat them?

I think the Spurs outside shooting is one of the problems. I think fatigue is another. I think opponents playing well is another. I think injuries have been a factor. I don't know which has been the biggest problem, but there's a good chance that's it's different for each game.

[Agloco]

Because opponent's aren't letting the Spurs have as many looks in the paint? Because opponents are forcing players other than Duncan and Ginobili and Parker to beat them?

I think the Spurs outside shooting is one of the problems. I think fatigue is another. I think opponents playing well is another. I think injuries have been a factor. I don't know which has been the biggest problem, but there's a good chance that's it's different for each game.



This is probably the best take I've seen. It's a slightly different dynamic each game. I'd have to say that the biggest culprit is the bench, or lack thereof. Putting Manu on the pine and bringing him in later caused the numbers to be really deceptive for a stretch.

Fact is, we've gotten next to nothing from Horry, Finley, Stoudamire, Vaughn, Oberto and of course Barry this year. Finley had another signature 1 for 6 game against Philly, etc, etc. When half your roster isn't producing, it's kinda hard to make any noise late in the season.

[BIG z]

Bowen suspension? Good. Its not like i hate the guy, he is one of the best defenders in the league. But his play has been very frustrating this season, now that his streak is over, we can "someitmes" bring him of the bench also. Can you guys also explain why the spurs run that screen play form bowen 3-4 times a game? Isn't the corner three enough.... It seems that the spurs run more plays for him than duncan sometimes he's not that good from inside three, so its a wasted possesion. Oh and i feel sorry for his streak to come to an end. The other thing i was shocked was Micheal Finely attempts close to 11 shots per game.

[ThomasGranger]

The other thing i was shocked was Micheal Finely attempts close to 11 shots per game.

Shouldn't that go in the "Finely" thread you started?

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Jamstone and Agloco :tu


IMO, the Spurs' biggest problem is just their shooting.

Saying that the Spurs suck right now doesn't really give credit to the opponents they've played in the last several games.


When the Spurs went 10-1 in February, they were shooting .468.

In March, the Spurs are 5-5, and are shooting .436 (similarly in January, the Spurs were 8-8 and shooting .435). 1 It doesn't help when you have people like Stoudemire shooting .298, Finley shooting .366, and Horry shooting .313.

In the last several games, the Spurs have gone on long scoring droughts, while the opponents have been shooting "lights out". This was especially apparent in the Hornets game. Based on the law of averages, the Spurs will not continue to shoot this poorly and their opponents will not continue to shoot this well.

I don't have the stats to back it up, but it doesn't seem to me that the Spurs have been repeatedely scortched in the paint -- it seems like they've forced other teams to shoot difficult perimeter shots and those shots have been falling.


2One other thing that has really been pissing me off lately -- when Fab or KT seem to have a rebound in their grasp, they're not hanging on to the ball -- shades of Elson and Nazr. :bang

1. you made a good case there for why I think those guys should sit and Pop should go with the rest of the team in a set rotation to get them comfortable (except for foul trouble/exceptional circumstances) in an effort to improve cohesion. I just don't see those three guys taking us to a championship this year, so give the others the minutes and let them play together, not the mix-n-match crap Pop has been putting out there lately. And yes, I want Bonner to play ahead of Horry - the team needs his energy badly.

2. yup, lots of rebounds ahve been butterfinger or stolen away in the last 5 games. Some of that is zone D, some of it bad bounce, and some of it nervousness.

[freemeat]

The other thing i was shocked was Micheal Finely attempts close to 11 shots per game.

http://www.hotcupofrant.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/not_again_cat.jpg

[41times]

The biggest problem the Spurs have right now is that they are tired. They are old and tired. They need a few days off and that is coming after tonight. They need to take Tuesday and Wednesday and just rest so they can get ready for the next stretch of 3 games in 4 days in 3 different cities.

Spurs still have 3 back to backs left.

They just need to hang on until the end of the season and make the playoffs. After that every opponent is playing on the same amount of rest.

[Indazone]

If the spurs go anywhere they will have to play hard nosed defense. Losing Bowen hurt but then you gotta start taking better shots and knocking down the open looks. Like I said, losing Barry wasn't good even though he didn't play much and you're very lucky in that you're getting him back. The other Spurs players need to make their outside shots. Maybe playing Bonner a few more minutes isn't that bad of an idea since he will help spread the floor too.

[Los Spurs]

The biggest problem the Spurs have right now is that they are tired. They are old and tired. They need a few days off and that is coming after tonight. They need to take Tuesday and Wednesday and just rest so they can get ready for the next stretch of 3 games in 4 days in 3 different cities.

Spurs still have 3 back to backs left.

They just need to hang on until the end of the season and make the playoffs. After that every opponent is playing on the same amount of rest.

Coming from a Mavs fan, your comment is well said... :clap

[SenorSpur]

Old legs atop old heads. The fact that this team is dead tired is an indictment on the composition of this roster.

[remingtonbo2001]

http://www.hotcupofrant.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/not_again_cat.jpg


:lmao

[remingtonbo2001]

I think this period has shown the significance of each player. Whether it be Tony, Bruce, or Barry. We're going to need every player healthy, in order to be successful.

[BonnerDynasty]

Biggest problem is the offense is not fluid anymore. They are relying on one guy to create his own shot and carry the team each time down the court.

[Jimcs50]

Not having Brent Barry is their biggest problem right now.

[Obstructed_View]

The biggest problem the Spurs have right now is that they are tired. They are old and tired. They need a few days off and that is coming after tonight. They need to take Tuesday and Wednesday and just rest so they can get ready for the next stretch of 3 games in 4 days in 3 different cities.

Spurs still have 3 back to backs left.

They just need to hang on until the end of the season and make the playoffs. After that every opponent is playing on the same amount of rest.
Everyone else is tired too, but there are teams playing much better basketball, two of them in Texas. That means the prospect of making the playoffs looks grim if they don't suck it up and start hustling.

Hell, if they actually played hard and made smart decisions and took good shots for a half they might get to sit the second half. Shitty play just means you have to do it longer.

[SenorSpur]

Everyone else is tired too, but there are teams playing much better basketball, two of them in Texas. That means the prospect of making the playoffs looks grim if they don't suck it up and start hustling.

Hell, if they actually played hard and made smart decisions and took good shots for a half they might get to sit the second half. Shitty play just means you have to do it longer.


Exactly why I've always scoffed at the notion that this team "doesn't do B2B games well". Every other team in the NBA plays B2B games and the dreaded 4-in-5. It was the decision of the FO to be the annual winners of the "oldest team in the league award". That said, the players and coaches do not get to use that as an excuse.

As you've so eloquently stated OV, make smart decisions, take good shots, execute and build up a lead and the starters can actually get some "in-game" rest.

BTW, anybody remember when was the last time the Spurs "blew out" an opponent?

[ArgSpursFan.]

you can't rely just on yourt shooting,that's been the Sun's problem coze they don't play D,or have(untill Shaq)no interior presence or low post game.
The real Spurs problem is their Frontline.
You can't just count on Duncan to save your ass night in and night out,there have to be someone else.
too bad that someone else guy is balling in Houston now.

[vanvannen]

you can't rely just on yourt shooting,that's been the Sun's problem coze they don't play D,or have(untill Shaq)no interior presence or low post game.
The real Spurs problem is their Frontline.
You can't just count on Duncan to save your ass night in and night out,there have to be someone else.
too bad that someone else guy is balling in Houston now.

Here we go again...

Scola is gone, and he is not Kareem to begin with, so just let go already.

[magui86770]

The reason there are not shooting well is because they are tired. I have friend who is a cameraman for the local news who covers the spurs. He told me flat out the spurs are tired and he told me this on the 8th. So, I am not surprised about there performance the last few games.

[Chris]

How about 3 point shooting?
6-21 76'ers
6-19 Pistons
2-18 Hornets

That's 14-58!!! :dizzy

All these missed 3's lead to fast break points by the opposing team and mismatches.

[SpurOutofTownFan]

Biggest problem the Spurs have right now are a bunch of people whinning in the forums.

[nfg3]

Defensive rebounding and our shooting has been poor. Both are probably due to they being tired. This has to be the most brutal stretch of games that I've ever seen the Spurs have to play.