Spurs vs Mavs Game 1 Rant

Senor hit it..Pop is a great coach, and I believe he's the best..but his arrogance and ego has taken over him this year, there's no question..all the praise he gets around the NBA must have gone to his head..

he clearly feels like ANY player can fit his great system, which is the only logic for having Bonner as the starting PF on a team with a defensive-oriented system..

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Originally Posted by SenorSpur

That should tell you everything you need to know about the faith Pop places in HIS system and those that have been in it for a while.

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couldn't agree more. he believes more in his 'system' than his players. That's arrogance, in my opinion.

Hell yeah Kori!

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Originally Posted by Kori Ellis

:lol yeah that's true. He called me "that woman." I forgot that part.

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That is the part I seem to recall.

Amen! Is Manu using a hyperberic chamber?!!!?!?

Speaking of Carlisle, I thought the most genius thing he did was keeping Howard off the court in the fourth. When Howard was going off I wasn't too worried because he typically sucks in the fourth quarter. But then he never re-entered the game :depressed

all you did was reiterate everything's that's already on the board. the same things you criticized in your 1st paragraph.

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Originally Posted by Creation88

all you did was reiterate everything's that's already on the board. the same things you criticized in your 1st paragraph.

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What I criticized in the first paragraph was 22 threads in a row that said, LOL SPURS SUCK! and 26 threads that said things like, "I hope Pop has a heart attack like Ainge." "Barea is a dirty spic" and "Fuck Ginobili and fuck his mother."

Well here are my thoughts:

When Manu went down and with what's going on now Pop needs to understand the pressure is on him to provide the players with minutes and strategy to succeed. Game 1 was way short of a good coaching effort on Pops' behalf. He needs to simply redirect some of those minutes to other players and stop putting so much damn pressure on TP with the lineups out there.

Pop has always been a great coach but now we get to see what he's going to do now with the situation at hand. I trust he will bring it together in Game 2. You know the Mavericks are thinking about going 2-0 and home and props to them for the win. If Pop can turn in a better plan this will be 1-1.

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Originally Posted by SenorSpur

Maybe. Yet his stubborn decision to force feed minutes to Matt Bonner, when he has a better, more skilled option on the bench (Gooden) is just dumb. His decision to force fit Roger Mason into the backup PG role, when that is clearly NOT his strong suit is also dumb. His decision to sit George Hill, when his defensive ability and competitive tenacity are needed to slow down the pesky Mavs backcourt is again dumb.

There's no question that Pop is a great coach. He's also been a very fortunate coach to have inherited 3 HOF players. All that said, it doesn't mean that he's flawless or that he's above criticism.

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:tu

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Originally Posted by SpursDynasty

That's what the game came down to. Dallas just hit some fluke shots. It's like 2006...fluke shots.

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Find a new sport to follow...you fail at being a B-ball fan...

oh, and life...

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Originally Posted by itzsoweezee

couldn't agree more. he believes more in his 'system' than his players. That's arrogance, in my opinion.

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Funny because Avery was the EXACT same way during his tenure here in Dallas. He constantly preached to his team, "trust the system. Run the system." This worked for while, until the players started tuning him out.

There's no doubt where Avery inherited that way of thinking and coaching.

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Originally Posted by Kori Ellis

What I criticized in the first paragraph was 22 threads in a row that said, LOL SPURS SUCK! and 26 threads that said things like, "I hope Pop has a heart attack like Ainge." "Barea is a dirty spic" and "Fuck Ginobili and fuck his mother."

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It got ugly for a bit. Props to Yogi (and anyone else that was on duty) for the quick and effective work at cleaning it up until you were back.

I thought the game went rather well myself... :downspin:

Except AJ stuck to the system. He also inherited the habit of putting players in the doghouse, and it backfired on him because the Dallas media wasn't too afraid to call him out.

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Originally Posted by Kori Ellis

First of all, I want to thank the dozens of you for starting the same thread over and over and trashing the forum. It's good to see you (not!) in obnoxious playoff forum already. Mavs fans need to simmer down. And Spurs fans ... we don't need 13 Bench Bonner and 17 Pop Sucks threads. Also calling Barea a "greasy spic" is about the stupidest trash you should post, considering the Hispanic population in San Antonio.

As for the game, all of you who thought the Spurs were going to blow by the Mavs are crazy. This is going to be a long series. I honestly thought the Spurs wouldn't have a chance if Pop didn't play Bowen, but he did. So that's a good sign. (Even though it took Udoka f'ing up within a minute of getting on the floor in order to get Bowen subbed in.)

The Spurs need to re-think a lot of things.

Starting Lineup should be Duncan/Gooden/Bowen/Finley/Parker. I don't really care if it's Finley or Mason, but Mason can't really guard anyone and Finley isn't a good bench guy. So Finley it is.

Bonner is doing nothing offensively or defensively. He hasn't earned a minute on the floor. Gooden is starting to play well with Tony, and the Spurs need as much O as they can get. And though he's not a good defender, he's actually getting to the right spots and can hold his ground.

Parker's slow start (he went 0-4 to start the game) can't happen again. He was really inconsistent in this game, though 9-22 isn't as bad as people are making it out to be. He also needs to pull out his playoff defense. Also more and more pick and rolls for Duncan/Parker combination.

Fluke shots vs Lights Out. Though the Mavs played really well, they also had their share of fluke shots (Bass off the top of the backboard, etc.) But hey, don't rationalize it by saying that "those shots won't happen again." Spurs aren't going to shoot lights out from 3 again either. So put away the "fluke card."

Bowen's D. I cannot express the importance of Bowen logging big minutes in this series. I know... the majority of you thought he was done. He's not. And even if he's slower than before, he's the best thing the Spurs have. He does a fantastic job fronting Dirk, plus he can play the quickness of Terry. Bowen has to see 30+ minutes a game. Don't worry about his legs giving out. He's been resting all year, he is retiring soon, so it's time for him to lay it all out in a blaze of glory.

The Backup Point Guard. Got damn. Tony Parker has been in the league for almost a decade now :lol and had a backup point guard for like 20 games in the form of Speedy Claxton. I do not care how bad George Hill can possibly be... I want to see him try. Mason doesn't cut it as a backup point and I don't even want to see Pop glancing toward Vaughn. Hill's length will be able to do something against the Mavs. I know it will.

Thaw Out Oberto. Crazy, right? Not so much. Oberto is a playoff performer. Thaw him out and play him a few minutes a game and give Bonner a seat on the bench guarding the gatorade. I'm not saying that Oberto should get major minutes, just put him in the rotation for spot minutes. The main big man rotation should be Duncan/Gooden/Thomas.

Rick Carlisle vs Gregg Popovich. I haven't been a fan of Rick Carlisle since he called me out on the radio, but he coached a smart game. Though many of you think Pop sucks, he doesn't. But he can be stubborn. He has to be willing to adjust and not adjust by going small.

In conclusion...

More Gooden on the floor with Duncan.
More Duncan/Parker pick and rolls.
Less Bonner.
Lots of Bowen.
PLAY GEORGE HILL!

The series will still be long and I don't know who will win, but it will be fun to watch.

:toast

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Fixed.

Nice rant, Kori, and I agree with all your points.

Carlisle called you out on the radio? What was that about??? :lmao

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Originally Posted by RuffnReadyOzStyle

Carlisle called you out on the radio? What was that about??? :lmao

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It's a page or two back. You'll find it.

I just hope Pop realizes that Bonner ruined his big lineup and doesn't decide to go small the rest of the series.

I don't think changing the personnel would have changed much tonight. The Spurs basically tried to take away Dirk and Terry and force someone else to beat them. Tonight, someone else did.

So the question now is do the Spurs stick with that strategy? And can the Mavs other players continue to come through? Or do the Spurs switch to a more conventional defense?

To be honest, I don't know what I'd do if I were Pop.

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Originally Posted by timvp

Speaking of Carlisle, I thought the most genius thing he did was keeping Howard off the court in the fourth. When Howard was going off I wasn't too worried because he typically sucks in the fourth quarter. But then he never re-entered the game :depressed

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Good point.

Howard never plays well for 4 quarters

Good post Kori, that is no surprise coming from you as you know your hoops.

Certainly a disappointing loss for SA, but nothing that can't be overcome as long as you win Game 2.

It was strange to see Dampier looking more spry than Duncan....Tim does not look himself to this observer at all, granted I have only watched a handful of Spurs games this season.

I agree that Bowen and Oberto need to play more and Bonner clearly less. Not sure what Pop is doing with the Bonner fixation, it reminds me of Phil Jackson's Man Love of the hopelessly inept Luke Walton.

Dallas has a lot of choke in them, but the Spurs need to put them in the position to choke. Can't let a scrub like Barea get off like that, nor let Dampier look like the second coming of Moses Malone.

The defense certainly didn't look like the defense one would expect from a SA playoff game...did they really allow 60 in the 2nd half at home? Not good.

But one game is one game....that's why it is a 7-game series. Lose Game 2 and it is officially time to panic.

Cmon Kori! Maybe there's some way we can make Manu read this and share it with Pop. OK, that's crazy talk but who knows.

LOL one of you Facebookers that are friends with Manu should send him a private msg.."GET HILL TO PLAY!"..

the worst part about Pop's moves is that we're playing against the Mavs..I'd understand to an extent if it was against the Lakers, since we wouldn't have a chance, but the Mavs? one of the worst franchises in sports, they've never won anything..the Mavs? really? I don't know if I'd be able to stomach that..

I believe the key is getting enough defense out of our non-defensive team.

Duncan and Bowen form the basis.
Parker is generally a consistent defender.

This leaves two large holes at SG/C though. None of our bigs are good against the Mavs. While I would love to see Oberto out there, I have a feeling he will stay benched all the way in fear of his heart problems. KT needs to get back to form somehow. Gooden is not a good defender and his lack of experience in the system means he can't be relied on at all. Bonner is a better defender, but Gooden can bring the points, which will be needed if Bowen is on the floor too.

The biggest worry in this series is our SG spot, which is practically undefended when they get put on Josh Howard. Finely assigned to Howard lead to open shots that looked like a pregame warm-up. Mason is no better of a defender.

Of course, the Spurs have been able to let a player have his points while still winning before. But with no one to defend Dirk, this leaves us in the horrible situation of Dirk and Howard getting all the points they want.

I have no idea how the Spurs can defend this series, but Pop better figure it out. This is the weakest defensive Spurs team in a long long time and the first game really showed it.

Carlisle has made it a habit to be a jackass to everyone in the Dallas media too

http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/spor...k_carlisle.php