Duncan must guard West in game 7

[dbreiden83080]

I know you are risking the foul trouble but Pop has to at least let Timmy give it a shot. West is really bothered by Tim's length and was forced to drive on him and take tough shots all night long. Plus he is not going to be 100% for the game. He goes for 30 plus again in NO and we got no shot, Tim needs to check him.

[peskypesky]

absolutely. i've been thinking that pop should at least try letting tim guard west, and tonight, tim pwned him. and only got 2 fouls.

[DazedAndConfused]

West had a lot of wide open jumpers that he just clanked. He was off tonight, don't expect him to miss those jumpshots in NO.

[O-Factor]

West had a lot of wide open jumpers that he just clanked. He was off tonight, don't expect him to miss those jumpshots in NO.

I wont, but I'll expect Tim to own the paint and a win

[dbreiden83080]

West had a lot of wide open jumpers that he just clanked. He was off tonight, don't expect him to miss those jumpshots in NO.

Not really, when Duncan was on him he had to alter a lot of them and when he tried to drive on him he didn't get very good position at all. Duncan is an all world defender, he needs to be given the shot to check this guy in the biggest game.

[peskypesky]

West had a lot of wide open jumpers that he just clanked. He was off tonight, don't expect him to miss those jumpshots in NO.

Yeah, it had nothing to do with first-team NBA defender Tim Duncan being in his face on those shots. Yeah, that wouldn't have anything to do with it.

[dbreiden83080]

Yeah, it had nothing to do with first-team NBA defender Tim Duncan being in his face on those shots. Yeah, that wouldn't have anything to do with it.


Laker fan what do you expect??

[ElNono]

Not a good idea. It might happen in the 2nd half if Timmy has only 1 or 2 fouls.
The reality is that Timmy will have to work extremely hard on offense considering he's not gonna get a call in NO. If you add the ticky tacky fouls the call on anybody guarding West in their building, Tim would be in foul trouble from the get go.
I'm just praying here we get a Steve Javie, and that West is still bothered by that stiff back Monday. Also, Horry seems to be coming along and he has the length and is probably the second best shotblocker we have. Just like tonight I expect him to get significant minutes over Thomas.

[TDfan2007]

Pop let Tim off his leash tonight. Tonight we saw what makes Tim the best defensive big man since Hakeem/DRob. He was simply amazing. When Tim plays with this type of intensity the Spurs DON'T lose. They followed Tim's lead tonight and the entire team fed off of his intensity.

[TDfan2007]

Not a good idea. It might happen in the 2nd half if Timmy has only 1 or 2 fouls.
The reality is that Timmy will have to work extremely hard on offense considering he's not gonna get a call in NO. If you add the ticky tacky fouls the call on anybody guarding West in their building, Tim would be in foul trouble from the get go.
I'm just praying here we get a Steve Javie, and that West is still bothered by that stiff back Monday. Also, Horry seems to be coming along and he has the length and is probably the second best shotblocker we have. Just like tonight I expect him to get significant minutes over Thomas.

I've never seen anyone defend West as well as Tim did tonight. It was amazing. And his D was completely clean. He plays that kind of D on West in NO and we're going to the WCF.

[dtrain]

They should have asked West if Tim's D bothered him tonight. Oh wait. I guess West probably didn't make the post game interviews...

[peskypesky]

I've never seen anyone defend West as well as Tim did tonight. It was amazing. And his D was completely clean. He plays that kind of D on West in NO and we're going to the WCF.

Yep. Cause he's an exceedingly smart player. He knows how to move his feet, he knows how to get the right defensive angle, he know how to get the hands up and contest without breaking the plane and getting a foul called. It's just a matter of a dude who has natural skills. Timing is everything.

[Warlord23]

Game 7 will come down to whether or not Duncan can dominate on both ends of the floor. He needs to bring his A-game and pound the rock. No more weak shot attempts, missed bunnies or whining to the refs.

Here's hoping he comes out with an intensity fitting for a four-time champ.

[DDS4]

Trapping CP3 seemed to work too.

Make someone else create shots instead of just him.

I'm sure Pop will employ that strategy in game 7.

[DazedAndConfused]

If Duncan is drawn out to guard West I'm sure Byron will develop some quick counters to swing the ball over to Chandler or have other players attack the rim. It's just not a smart move if the other team is prepared for it.

You want your best rebounder and shotblocker protecting the rim and roaming the paint, not drawn outside of the paint trying to stop David West from shooting midrange jumpers.

[Ronaldo McDonald]

He was great. Like somebody already said, West was bothered by Duncan's length big time.

It's definitely better for us if West has to take difficult off balance runners, rather than the 17 footer, which he's pretty much money on every single time it seems like.

There's no doubt he was having difficulty shooting over Tim. Tim has got such a long wing span that he can be a step off of him a little bit - just in case West decides to drive - and still put a hand right up in his face.

[Ronaldo McDonald]

If Duncan is drawn out to guard West I'm sure Byron will develop some quick counters to swing the ball over to Chandler or have other players attack the rim. It's just not a smart move if the other team is prepared for it.

You want your best rebounder and shotblocker protecting the rim and roaming the paint, not drawn outside of the paint trying to stop David West from shooting midrange jumpers.

The majority of their points came from West in their last home game. He's the guy we need to stop if we want a chance.

[T Park]

Pop let Tim off his leash tonight. Tonight we saw what makes Tim the best defensive big man since Hakeem/DRob. He was simply amazing. When Tim plays with this type of intensity the Spurs DON'T lose. They followed Tim's lead tonight and the entire team fed off of his intensity.


There never was a leash on Duncan...

[dbreiden83080]

If Duncan is drawn out to guard West I'm sure Byron will develop some quick counters to swing the ball over to Chandler or have other players attack the rim. It's just not a smart move if the other team is prepared for it.

You want your best rebounder and shotblocker protecting the rim and roaming the paint, not drawn outside of the paint trying to stop David West from shooting midrange jumpers.

If West does not have a big game because Duncan bothers him, Peja continues to get owned by Bowen and CP 3 does his thing, Duncan, Manu and Tony will have to play like shit for us to lose game 7. They need West to play really well to win, period.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Eh, I'd say let Tim guard Chandler first half. Put Tim on West to start the third, and go from there.

[DazedAndConfused]

The majority of their points came from West in their last home game. He's the guy we need to stop if we want a chance.

I dunno, I just don't think it's a bright idea if NOH is ready for it. West might not go off, but now you have Chandler and CP3 with a wide open path to the rim. I'd much rather live with West trying to hit jumpers than CP3 and Chandler connecting for alley-oops every play. Plus the refs will no doubt be giving them all the calls when they penetrate to the basket. You want Duncan where he belongs, not outside his comfort zone.

[dbreiden83080]

There never was a leash on Duncan...

Has he been guarding West the whole series??? I didn't think so.

[dbreiden83080]

Eh, I'd say let Tim guard Chandler first half. Put Tim on West to start the third, and go from there.

I'm not saying he has to guard him every possession but he needs to be on him a good amount. West killed us in NO and when he plays well we lose to this team.

[ATXSPUR]

West had a lot of wide open jumpers that he just clanked. He was off tonight, don't expect him to miss those jumpshots in NO.

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn193/Muktukjoe/95d463113536972639559793c60dc0cc.jpg

[ducks]

I'm not saying he has to guard him every possession but he needs to be on him a good amount. West killed us in NO and when he plays well we lose to this team.

if you start him on west and get duncan in foul trouble early that would be BAD

[Avitus1]

Timmy on West is good he just needs to be careful with the fouls.... Horry would be a good substitute if he does get into foul trouble.

[ATXSPUR]

I think the Spurs should try to hold out for the first half then put Timmy on west in the second.

Foul trouble early on is a huge risk when the season is on the line.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

I'm not saying he has to guard him every possession but he needs to be on him a good amount. West killed us in NO and when he plays well we lose to this team.

We need Tim on the floor as much as possible in game 7.

I just think it's dumb to say put Tim on West to start the game. If West goes hard at him and picks up a dumb foul or two we're hosed.

[dbreiden83080]

We need Tim on the floor as much as possible in game 7.

I just think it's dumb to say put Tim on West to start the game. If West goes hard at him and picks up a dumb foul or two we're hosed.

So what do you think try it mainly in the 2nd half and see how it goes??

[jack sommerset]

I hope Duncan does guard West. So does the Hornets. Anyone but Horry. Big Shot Bob has taken on a whole new meaning. He has a mean body blow.

[bresilhac]

Eh, I'd say let Tim guard Chandler first half. Put Tim on West to start the third, and go from there.

I say that would be a mistake. Chandler isn't that much of an offensive threat while West could potentially drop 20 in the first half by shear ability alone. The best thing to do is to have Tim on West and make him work hard for even the simplest of shots. I'd also go so far as to dedicate a double team to West the entire time to be positive that he doesn't go off again for 38. Because if he does that the Spurs are finished.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

So what do you think try it mainly in the 2nd half and see how it goes??

Yep. By committee with Oberto, Horry, and Thomas (in that order) in the first half, then spring Duncan on him in the third.

Of course, with West's bad back, and Paul having some lingering soreness, I'd be putting those two through the pick and roll early and often Monday night.

West will be guarding Oberto, so get Tony and Oberto running pick and roll on them early. Bonus: if Parker starts slipping it to Oberto, Chandler steps up on D, and Oberto can continue what he started tonight feeding Tim for easy hoops from the weak side.

[ducks]

you run pick and roll and see if you can get west,paul, chandler in foul trouble early monday night

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

I say that would be a mistake. Chandler isn't that much of an offensive threat while West could potentially drop 20 in the first half by shear ability alone. The best thing to do is to have Tim on West and make him work hard for even the simplest of shots. I'd also go so far as to dedicate a double team to West the entire time to be positive that he doesn't go off again for 38. Because if he does that the Spurs are finished.

Who gives a shit what West is doing. If Tim Duncan picks up two fouls in the first quarter trying to guard David West, that's ball game.

And those double teams you are talking about got our asses handed to us in games 1-2. West went off in game 5 for 38 because we let him operate in space and shoot wide open jump shots.

Whoever is guarding him needs to be in his grill all game, and remember that any time he has his back to the basket and starts to his right, he's going to come back over his left shoulder to shoot. Plan on that, keep a hand up on that side, and make him shoot contested jumpers.

And, like I said, put that bad back of his to the test. Set some back picks on him early, hell I'd even get creative and run a pick and roll with both big men with his man (probably Oberto) dribbing up top, let Tim crack West in the back and see how that pinched nerve is doing.

[Budkin]

It's do or die, and I dare the fucking refs to foul Timmy out of the game, especially since they won't foul out CP3.

[dbreiden83080]

And, like I said, put that bad back of his to the test. Set some back picks on him early, hell I'd even get creative and run a pick and roll with both big men with his man (probably Oberto) dribbing up top, let Tim crack West in the back and see how that pinched nerve is doing.

Not entirely classy but i do agree with you.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Not entirely classy but i do agree with you.

The Hornets had no problem blowing up Parker in game 5 to the point that he was afraid to even go in the paint. This is game 7, do or die.

Injuries and weaknesses are part of the game, part of the mismatches. We treated West with kid gloves in game 5, and he went for 38. He needs to be played more physically anyway, but like I said - if he's really hurting that bad that two teammates had to carry him to the locker room tonight, and Byron puts him out on the court, then he's fair game.

Oh, and next time tell Byron not to have West in the fourth quarter of a 21 point blowout.

[Cry Havoc]

I'm so freaking scared of the Spurs in the WCF I could piss myself.

QFT.

[Cry Havoc]

Not entirely classy but i do agree with you.

How is that different than their big men giving shots to TP all game long until they've beat him into complacency?

Screw it. I hate it when teams feel the need to knock down our PG because they can't guard him. Pull out all the stops and send the Hornets fishing with their heart in two.

[BiZNicK]

Trapping CP3 seemed to work too.

Make someone else create shots instead of just him.

I'm sure Pop will employ that strategy in game 7.

He can have both guards trap paul. I think we can afford to leave a NOH shooting guard with a little extra space, I doubt they can do much damage.

[Sexy Stud 28]

all i know is pop better find an answer for all the cp to chandler alleyhoops

[mystargtr34]

Id have to agree with Aggie here... and DaC actually made some sense for once. Tim is an exceptional man to man to man defender, but he is one of the best rim protectors in history, and we cant take that part of the game away from ourselves too much.

But like the OP said, we definately need a lot more Tim on West. And definately for alot of the second half.

[Obstructed_View]

If Timmy can't guard David West in a game seven, then he's not really as great as everyone has been saying. Fans worrying about Timmy getting into foul trouble guarding good players is really getting old. His defense is a weapon.

[team-work]

If Timmy can't guard David West in a game seven, then he's not really as great as everyone has been saying. Fans worrying about Timmy getting into foul trouble guarding good players is really getting old. His defense is a weapon.

Yes, we should not be worried about Tim getting into foul trouble. Though Tim usually doesn't guard the best big men in opposing teams until the fourth quarter, I'm sure he will be careful & his experience will count if he's going to guard West in Game 7. (Once again, the Spurs are experienced instead of old when they win!!)

[Obstructed_View]

Yes, we should not be worried about Tim getting into foul trouble.

Not to the point of trying to protect him by not giving him the assignment. Do you remember the talk about how Dirk would score 50 a game on Timmy or foul him out in ten minutes a couple of years ago? Spurs fans actually said it.

[florige]

I dunno, I just don't think it's a bright idea if NOH is ready for it. West might not go off, but now you have Chandler and CP3 with a wide open path to the rim. I'd much rather live with West trying to hit jumpers than CP3 and Chandler connecting for alley-oops every play. Plus the refs will no doubt be giving them all the calls when they penetrate to the basket. You want Duncan where he belongs, not outside his comfort zone.



I'm hoping that game 7 the refs just let the teams play.