Spurs coasting.....not going 100% till playoffs [Archive]

lebomb

04-14-2008, 08:55 AM

bus driver

04-14-2008, 09:26 AM

lebomb
...............Im sure Pop has told them to save their last gear......to go all out now is pointless. Pop has always said to win the championship you have to win the best of 7 against all opponents and it doesnt matter if its at home or on the road.

here, here! :toast

i still believe!

urunobili

04-14-2008, 09:27 AM

i have the same feeling... not laying it all out until it matters... :flag:

lebomb

04-14-2008, 09:31 AM

The Spurs get behind by double digits and Pop throws in the towel.......why injure yourselves or get wornout trying to have a huge come back that does not matter at all right now.

thispego

04-14-2008, 09:39 AM

i agree completely. if they're not then oh well, at least i fooled myself into not getting really pissed off and worried the last few weeks of the season

mexicanjunior

04-14-2008, 09:52 AM

The Spurs get behind by double digits and Pop throws in the towel.......

That in itself is the problem and why the Spurs probably will not do much damage in the playoffs. I'm hoping for the best but expect the worst...

lebomb

04-14-2008, 10:00 AM

That in itself is the problem and why the Spurs probably will not do much damage in the playoffs. I'm hoping for the best but expect the worst...

Listen.......the Spurs were down by double digits in lots of playoff games last year......only to come back and win it.

Do you remember the Pistons.....game 7? The Spurs were getting smoked in the 3rd, then hit 6th gear and went right by the Pistons.

Pop is a very smart coach. He is trying to conserve his players energy and keeping them healthy for the playoffs. At this point he is looking at the big picture.
:king

ambchang

04-14-2008, 10:03 AM

Still believe, but the Spurs seemed to have dropped all the "big" regular season games (if such a thing exists) this year. Any time there is a quality opponent, the Spurs lost. They kept beating on inferior opponents that they won't meet in the playoffs.

I am definitely worried.

Killakobe81

04-14-2008, 10:04 AM

Be damn grateful for 4 ...some teams PHO/DAL have none trust me ...enjoy it while it is here ...because after Magic left i waited 12 years for another title ...so dont take tim for granted ...

mexicanjunior

04-14-2008, 10:05 AM

Listen.......the Spurs were down by double digits in lots of playoff games last year......only to come back and win it.

Last year they showed me alot more resiliency to come back from big deficits, including games in the regular season. I just don't see it this time, I think the reason Pop is pulling the plug on some of these lopsided blowouts against good teams (which will be the same one's we see in the playoffs) is because he isn't seeing any sense of urgency from the players to get back in the game. That is the most dissapointing thing of all about this stretch, it reminds of the mid 90's Robinson led playoff teams...

xtremesteven33

04-14-2008, 10:05 AM

Listen.......the Spurs were down by double digits in lots of playoff games last year......only to come back and win it.

Do you remember the Pistons.....game 7? The Spurs were getting smoked in the 3rd, then hit 6th gear and went right by the Pistons.

Pop is a very smart coach. He is trying to conserve his players energy and keeping them healthy for the playoffs. At this point he is looking at the big picture.
:king

gotta agree with my main man right here....knows his spurs very well...

duncan228

04-14-2008, 10:08 AM

...so dont take tim for granted ...

I never do. And I believe he's got more Championships in him.

lebomb

04-14-2008, 10:09 AM

Last year they showed me alot more resiliency to come back from big deficits, including games in the regular season. I just don't see it this time, I think the reason Pop is pulling the plug on some of these lopsided blowouts against good teams (which will be the same one's we see in the playoffs) is because he isn't seeing any sense of urgency from the players to get back in the game. That is the most dissapointing thing of all about this stretch, it reminds of the mid 90's Robinson led playoff teams...

The Spurs are OLDER.......that is why he is pulling the plug quicker. Once in the playoffs....its a 16 game season. Pop wants everyone to be in the best shape and health as possible, so they can give 110%.

GO SPURS!!!

lebomb

04-14-2008, 10:10 AM

gotta agree with my main man right here....knows his spurs very well...

:toast Thanks!!!!

mexicanjunior

04-14-2008, 10:10 AM

The Spurs are OLDER.......that is why he is pulling the plug quicker. Once in the playoffs....its a 16 game season. Pop wants everyone to be in the best shape and health as possible, so they can give 110%.

GO SPURS!!!

If they aged that much in the span of 10 months to where they can't even stay competive in a game for 4 quarters against good teams...we are in alot of trouble...

lebomb

04-14-2008, 10:30 AM

If they aged that much in the span of 10 months to where they can't even stay competive in a game for 4 quarters against good teams...we are in alot of trouble...

........that is why they should take it easy till the playoffs start :rolleyes

mexicanjunior

04-14-2008, 11:07 AM

........that is why they should take it easy till the playoffs start :rolleyes

There is a difference between "taking it easy" and being so whipped in games that you are not even competitive going into the 4th quarter. If they really were "taking it easy" during this important stretch of games, why not just sit the big 3 entirely and mail it in till the playoffs start? I have a hard time believing Pop was not concerned about losing playoff seeding and HCA in the playoffs to the point where he would purposely have his team play like crap against other good teams to the point where he has to pull the plug on their pitiful performance. If you think they are trying to lay in the weeds and blow games on purpose, you are truly fooling yourself....

thebigchill

04-14-2008, 11:08 AM

Uhhh...I don't know if we're helping them by talking about this, but what the hell. Nobody ain't seen shit yet. Tune into game 1 and see the real dynasty in action. This is like summer league, especially right now. Pop even said it publicly. He could care less what seed we have cause it's so evenly matched. And besides, the REAL Spurs fans know we play better on the road in the playoffs. I just wish the season was a bit longer so all those bandwagon hoppers would jump off the fricken ledge already so the true fans could stop listening to this cheesy whimpering. Y'all really sound like pathetic souls. :dramaquee

mexicanjunior

04-14-2008, 11:11 AM

This is like summer league, especially right now. Pop even said it publicly. He could care less what seed we have cause it's so evenly matched.

LOL...what do you expect him to say? That his team sucked and has sucked against decent teams for the past month? He has to put some kind of spin on it for his player's confidence sake...

xtremesteven33

04-14-2008, 11:28 AM

LOL...what do you expect him to say? That his team sucked and has sucked against decent teams for the past month? He has to put some kind of spin on it for his player's confidence sake...

then you obviously dont know Pop...hes the kind of coach to call out his guys if they are playing poorly....hes done it in past years, last year he said "This is the worst team defense since ive been here" remember now?

Popovich is not known to lie, when he says "it doesnt matter where we are" im pretty sure he means it.....

FromWayDowntown

04-14-2008, 11:29 AM

I wouldn't normally believe anything like that, but seeing Pop's indifference to his team's play in certain instances makes me believe that he's either: (1) completely convinced that this team is going nowhere and has decided that it's not worth the time or energy to get all over them as he has in the past; or (2) got something else going on with this team and we're not privy to it.

Of late, they play almost as if they're in training camp -- like they're having brutal workouts between games (or even on game days) and that they just run out of steam late in games and get overpowered by strong teams for that reason. As good as this team has been, the consistent second half scoring droughts are basically inexplicable.

My sense is to not expect much from this bunch, but I'm hopeful that they'll surprise me.

mexicanjunior

04-14-2008, 11:36 AM

then you obviously dont know Pop...hes the kind of coach to call out his guys if they are playing poorly....hes done it in past years, last year he said "This is the worst team defense since ive been here" remember now?

Popovich is not known to lie, when he says "it doesnt matter where we are" im pretty sure he means it.....

He usually saves the "calling out" for the middle part of the season and going into the stretch run, not on the eve of the playoffs, where he knows he will do nothing but damage their confidence by calling out this bunch...

He may mean the "it doesnt matter where we are" line but I think it's more because he knows, no matter where they finish, if they continue to play like this, they will be fishing in a few weeks...

mexicanjunior

04-14-2008, 11:37 AM

xtremesteven33

04-14-2008, 11:40 AM

He usually saves the "calling out" for the middle part of the season and going into the stretch run, not on the eve of the playoffs, where he knows he will do nothing but damage their confidence by calling out this bunch...

He may mean the "it doesnt matter where we are" line but I think it's more because he knows, no matter where they finish, if they continue to play like this, they will be fishing in a few weeks...

I hope he proves you wrong mexican...

mexicanjunior

04-14-2008, 11:44 AM

I hope he proves you wrong mexican...

Me too...believe me...I hate having to resort to Tivo watching with 9 minutes to go in the 4th quarter because contiuning to watch is twisting my stomach. The dramamine will need to be in full force if they don't turn things around...

Princess Pimp

04-14-2008, 12:45 PM

lebomb

04-14-2008, 12:53 PM

Keep telling that to yourself if it makes you feel better.

:flipoff

twincam

04-14-2008, 12:54 PM

spursfan09

04-14-2008, 12:55 PM

Be damn grateful for 4 ...some teams PHO/DAL have none trust me ...enjoy it while it is here ...because after Magic left i waited 12 years for another title ...so dont take tim for granted ...

Very true. Alot of Spur fans are on him, quite a bit. However I will not say anythying until the after the playoffs. Becasue I believe Tim can turn it on for the PO's. I think he is semi coasting and does not want to exhaust himself. I do not know if this is wishful thinking, but I actually believe that is what he is doing. Besides all that 4 championships is more than what anybody could of asked from Tim I think.

Herschel Walker

04-14-2008, 01:06 PM

Whether or not the Spurs as a team have other gears to hit in the PO doesnt have any bearing on whether or not Im going to watch and enjoy this playoffs. Pointless to argue about gears and stepping up now, just wait a week, sit back, grab a few beers and enjoy playoff Spurs ball as long as it lasts. After it's over we can argue the results and causes. All I know is I'm not counting out a 3 in five year champion no matter what seed they are or how they finish the regular season.

Obstructed_View

04-14-2008, 01:09 PM

It sounds plausible, but 'll start to believe it's true the first time the Spurs make a big comeback in the playoffs. So far they've put one complete game performance together in the past month and have had three impressive runs outside of that to seal games. Not really confidence-inspiring in my book. Pop had the same laissez-faire attitude in 2006, and that didn't work out too well for the team.

bdictjames

04-14-2008, 01:16 PM

Go Spurs Go!!! Win that fifth ring woohoo!!!

duncan228

04-14-2008, 01:16 PM

I like this thread.

I believe that they have been pacing themselves to a certain extent this season. I do think they've also had some bad games where they didn't play to their ability.

But as others have said, to count out this team is foolish. This is the first time Duncan has had almost the same cast of characters to try to repeat with. I put a lot of stock in that experience. Duncan is a warrior, he will fight for his fifth.

As always in the Playoffs, we need the team healthy. There are no back-to-backs, which certainly helps an older team. Everyone starts equal at 0-0. No matter what position they start in it's going to be the toughest road Duncan has faced to get out of the West. I believe he can do it. As strong as the West looks, only one team has Championship blood. Believe.

ThomasGranger

04-14-2008, 01:21 PM

The Spurs have nothing to prove in the regular season. These are veterans with rings. They don't need confidence boosts from regular season wins. They have a spot in the playoffs and the only thing that matters is their health. Pop knows this. The players know this.

Sad thing is the Spurs could run the table during the playoffs, then follow the exact same pattern for the 08/09 regular season, and this time next year Spurs fans would still be bitching and whining about regular season losses and how the Spurs have no chance at a title because they're playing like crap.

peskypesky

04-14-2008, 01:22 PM

Never underestimate the heart of a Champion.

mexicanjunior

04-14-2008, 01:26 PM

Sad thing is the Spurs could run the table during the playoffs, then follow the exact same pattern for the 08/09 regular season, and this time next year Spurs fans would still be bitching and whining about regular season losses and how the Spurs have no chance at a title because they're playing like crap.

If that happens, as foolish as it sounds, I will be the first to post and say I was wrong...

lebomb

04-14-2008, 01:29 PM

If that happens, as foolish as it sounds, I will be the first to post and say I was wrong...

You better gottdayummit!!!! :pctoss

:king

td4mvp21

04-14-2008, 01:48 PM

They could be fine...or what we see could be what we will get in the playoffs. At this point, I think it's 50/50. We'll just have to wait and find out.

TheMACHINE

04-14-2008, 02:12 PM

Never underestimate the heart of a Champion.

dont underestimate what happens when your body gets old. :p:

Borosai

04-14-2008, 02:32 PM

They have been up and down all season, and now they are down. Will they viagrate themselves in time for the playoffs, or will they go down in dysfunctional flames? We'll just have to wait and see . . .

DAF86

04-14-2008, 02:36 PM

...............Im sure Pop has told them to save their last gear......to go all out now is pointless. Pop has always said to win the championship you have to win the best of 7 against all opponents and it doesnt matter if its at home or on the road.

Spurs have been there and done that. Everyone please calm down. Most of the teams the Spurs have played in the last two weeks are going BALLS OUT on the court. The Spurs.......meh?? :rolleyes

I don't think Pop told the players to save them self, but i do think that he's saving them.
If yesterday game'd have been in the playoffs Manu'd have played, Tony wouldn't have stayed in the bench for 8 minutes in the 2nd and Pop'd have never put a lineup of JV, MM, Finley, Udoka and Oberto. I mean what the fuck is that!? All of the teams here in the Argie league would have kick that lineup's ass.
I think we're going to be OK. I don't see us losing in the playoffs against any west team other than the Lakers (and even against them i think that the Spurs are favorites).

Don Quixote

04-14-2008, 02:37 PM

I don't buy it.

The past seasons when the Silver & Black have brought home the hardware, they were kicking butt at the end of the season.

This talk about them "saving themselves" for the playoffs is wishful thinking.

boutons_

04-14-2008, 02:46 PM

I doubt the Spurs don't care about how being blown out by top teams these past weeks.

They know damn well it's very poor preparation for the playoffs, no momentum, no confidence, no nothing.

They simply aren't imposing their will on the games and getting the Ws. They don't seem to have any idea of how a game will progress and finish. No idea at all. They actually have looked pathetic, repeatedly.

If there were a switch, they would have hit it a couple times recently.

Of course, I really hope I'm wrong.

FromWayDowntown

04-14-2008, 03:39 PM

Yeah, I don't buy the notion that people who are concerned about the Spurs recent play and their chances in the playoffs are somehow uneducated or new fans who don't understand Spurs basketball. It's quite reasonable, I think, to have some concerns about their play despite the championship pedigree that we've all watched them develop. In fact, the reason that some are justifiably concerned is that this recent stretch of play doesn't look anything like past teams that have won titles.

Like I say, my inclination is to think that the Spurs just don't have the juice this year. I'd defy anyone to call me an uneducated fan, but if you choose to believe that, I suppose that I can't do anything to change that.

With my doubts comes the observation that Pop is handling things very oddly for someone who would normally be flipping out about the way this team is playing at this juncture. Pop undoubtedly knows more about the situation than I do and his calm in the midst of these recent games is both surprising and might be reassuring (if it's not an admission that his team just isn't very good).

Obstructed_View

04-14-2008, 03:48 PM

What's interesting is that the Spurs are pretty much sticking to form in the championship years. The 1999 team was playing incredibly good basketball the whole season and just steamrolled into the playoffs, but that team is the exception. Even if the Spurs split the next two their numbers look similar to all the other championship seasons, especially the teams with this core.

Most optimistic record to end the regular season:

2008 11-4
2007 25-6
2005 9-3
2003 12-2
1999 12-1

Record over final 5 games of regular season:

2008 2-3
2007 2-3 (lost last 3)
2005 2-3 (preceded by a loss and back to back 2OT wins)
2003 3-2 (dropped 2 of last 3 after 11 game winning streak)
1999 5-0

TampaDude

04-14-2008, 03:53 PM

All I know is I'm not counting out a 3 in five year champion no matter what seed they are or how they finish the regular season.

WERD...and don't forget that the Spurs were .4 and a stupid foul away from probably winning 5 titles in a row...they are still a dynasty, though...no other team has won as much over the past decade...the Lakers come close, but the Spurs are still the top dog overall. They're the champs until they lose 4 out of 7 in the playoffs. Never forget that. :toast

remingtonbo2001

04-14-2008, 03:53 PM

I think alot of it has to do with Pop (As Timvp mentioned in GT)

I'm surprised Pop has busted a vein in his forehead yet. This leads me to believe, to some extent, that these loses were coerced.

My brother made a good point the other night. When we played Phoenix, we played well during the 1st half. We proved to ourselves, that we could be effecient on both ends of the floor. Our set plays were pretty effective. After which they went to a one-on-one format, which the Spurs usually don't do well.

It's as if Pop is trying to keep other teams from getting a good feel for as to what we might run during the playoffs. The Spurs rarely go into a one-on-one mode offensively, especially when their shots are not falling. It's either been 4 down, or motion.

As well, I can easily see Pop wanting the team to exhaust the majority of their energy during the playoffs. Pop has already said seeding is a major factor. If that's the case, why let your opponent get any type of edge. The games aren't significant at this point other than to keep your players in game shape.

If we can get Manu and Brent (Maybe Rob) healthy, I think we'll be just fine.

boutons_

04-14-2008, 03:56 PM

"2008 11-4
2007 25-6
2005 9-3
2003 12-2
1999 12-1"

2004 was a super strong finish,
season ended with 10+ win streak,
swept the Hubie Grizz,
up 2-0 vs Lakers, then ...

FromWayDowntown

04-14-2008, 04:01 PM

Most optimistic record to end the regular season:

2008 11-4
2007 25-6
2005 9-3
2003 12-2
1999 12-1

Record over final 5 games of regular season:

2008 2-3
2007 2-3 (lost last 3)
2005 2-3 (preceded by a loss and back to back 2OT wins)
2003 3-2 (dropped 2 of last 3 after 11 game winning streak)
1999 5-0

I wouldn't put a lot of stock into that sort of comparison. The Spurs tanked the last 3 games in 2007 because their seeding was basically set. The same was true in 2003 (certainly, they didn't play the last game of that regular season to win ). And in 2005, the Spurs were set as the #2 seed and weren't going to catch Phoenix for #1 while trying to incorporate Tim Duncan back into things during that stretch. By comparison, in 1999, the Spurs were playing their guts out to get the #1 seed over Utah and had to win through to the last night of the regular season to accomplish that.

During those runs, the only time I can really remember the Spurs getting blown out by playoff teams this late in the season is 2005, when they played @ Dallas and @ Denver without Timmy.

ForeignFan

04-14-2008, 04:57 PM

mexicanjunior

04-14-2008, 05:01 PM

You better gottdayummit!!!! :pctoss

:king

Likewise, I would expect you to do the same if I am correct...

remingtonbo2001

04-14-2008, 05:56 PM

I hope I am wrong but I don't buy the I-do-not-care-about-seeds CIA Pop idea. Indeed, you want to build up confidence before playoffs start. Being beaten up repeatedly does not do that. It gives you a bad habit and you cannot just "turn the switch on".
I just hope that Manu, Tim and Co get back into shape and that the Spurs manage to win the first PO round. Then maybe things will look different.

Read what I posted above.

They weren't beaten during the 1st half of those games.

However, when the 2nd half ensued, the game plan changed.

Why? If you're doing something which is successful for the most part, why change things up?

Why go to one-on-one? If Timmy is having an off night, why not run the motion offense?

I seriously believe this has something to do with Pop wanting to go in completely healthy and rested. It is under this assumption, that the opposition will burn out during the playoffs after exhausting so much energy during the last portion of the regular season.

If it were neccessary for the Spurs to win, Manu would be playing.
I think we would also see a different Tim.

You don't see the Spurs playing at playoff level intensity. Yet, every other team in the west is.

What you do see the Spurs doing is playing 24 minutes of good basketball. And they've been doing this consistantly for the past couple of weeks.
After it was clear their ticket to playoff was stamped.

Would you take your bet on a team that is healthy and rested? Or on a team which has drawn itself thin by positioning for the playoffs?

Every opponent in the West will be a tough matchup. There are no obvious sweeps, with or without HCA. So why struggle now with positioning, when the real battle begins after the regular season has ended.

Obstructed_View

04-14-2008, 06:41 PM

Why? If you're doing something which is successful for the most part, why change things up?
That's Pop. If you want evidence, see the 2006 postseason. The Spurs won more games with Rasho and Nazr as starting centers than they ever did with David Robinson, yet Pop phased them out of the rotation in the playoffs and amassed a 7-6 record and second round exit due to a complete inability to defend the paint.

DazedAndConfused

04-14-2008, 06:52 PM

Are the Spurs playing as hard as they can......probably not. Will they be able to turn it up enough to get through the WC........probably not.

ThomasGranger

04-14-2008, 07:17 PM

Will Kobe be man enough not to cry again when the Lakers get knocked out of the playoffs . . . probably not.

td4mvp21

04-14-2008, 07:33 PM

Are the Spurs playing as hard as they can......probably not. Will they be able to turn it up enough to get through the WC........probably not.
Agreed, unfortunately. I'm guessing we'll get out in the second round :depressed

lebomb

04-14-2008, 07:36 PM

Agreed, unfortunately. I'm guessing we'll get out in the second round :depressed

WTF???? Im pullin your Spurs card :ihit

FromWayDowntown

04-14-2008, 08:01 PM

That's Pop. If you want evidence, see the 2006 postseason. The Spurs won more games with Rasho and Nazr as starting centers than they ever did with David Robinson, yet Pop phased them out of the rotation in the playoffs and amassed a 7-6 record and second round exit due to a complete inability to defend the paint.

That was true, largely, because the Sacramento Kings had very little difficulty in Games 3 and 4 of the first round series that year exploiting the athletic weaknesses of the Spurs' centers (including the paucity of rebounds those players provided against strong rebounding wings) and the Mavericks pounded that truth home quite resoundingly in Game 2 of the WCSF and the first half of Game 3 of that series.

I still can't blame Pop for realizing that the things that had worked to win 63 games probably weren't going to work against teams that were specifically choosing to attack that specific weakness. Not doing that would have been the far more ridiculous move, IMO.

td4mvp21

04-14-2008, 08:01 PM

WTF???? Im pullin your Spurs card :ihit

Why? I fucking love the Spurs as much as any hardcore fan. I don't want them to get out in any round, I want them to win every fucking year. But this year, I don't think they have it. I couldn't be happier if I turn out to be dead wrong.

O-Factor

04-14-2008, 08:15 PM

Are the Spurs playing as hard as they can......probably not. Will they be able to turn it up enough to get through the WC........probably not.

Thats for us to debate, not some Laker fan :rolleyes

O-Factor

04-14-2008, 08:16 PM

I still believe in this team, but we'll find out what kind of state our team is in come the first playoff game.

itzsoweezee

04-14-2008, 08:42 PM

all available evidence says otherwise. when was the last time the spurs beat a high quality team? i can't even remember.

Obstructed_View

04-14-2008, 08:49 PM

That was true, largely, because the Sacramento Kings had very little difficulty in Games 3 and 4 of the first round series that year exploiting the athletic weaknesses of the Spurs' centers (including the paucity of rebounds those players provided against strong rebounding wings)
The centers aren't the ones Bonzi Wells and Ron Artest were abusing. Since the Kings won two games in that series, one of them on a stupid turnover and last second miracle layup, I'm not sure why Pop felt the need for his panic to overflow to the next series. Contract year Bonzi and Ron didn't play for the Mavericks.

and the Mavericks pounded that truth home quite resoundingly in Game 2 of the WCSF and the first half of Game 3 of that series.
The only Spur that showed up for game 2 was Tim Duncan, and the only thing the Mavericks pounded in that series was dunk after dunk because there was no shot blocking in the paint aside from when Duncan was on the floor.

I still can't blame Pop for realizing that the things that had worked to win 63 games probably weren't going to work against teams that were specifically choosing to attack that specific weakness. Not doing that would have been the far more ridiculous move, IMO.
The question was asked how Pop could change something that was working for something that doesn't. The fact is the Spurs lost to a team they shouldn't have because Pop felt the need to make adjustments to lesser teams in the playoffs. There's no "would have been" that's much worse than what they actually did, which is to be upset on their home floor in the second round.

Interior defense wasn't a weakness for the Spurs until Pop put Finley in there to be a shot blocker with Duncan or Horry. Putting Oberto ahead of Rasho and Nazr in the rotation even when Horry and Duncan were in foul trouble absolutely can't be justified under any circumstances.