Sometimes I think the D gets lazy when we play teams like the Kings because well...they're the Kings.
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Sometimes I think the D gets lazy when we play teams like the Kings because well...they're the Kings.
Personally, I'm uncomfortable with TD still having to carry most of the backline defensive load for this club. Along with playing too many minutes, he still has to carry way too much responsibility for this team.
As Pop has sought to limit his minutes, to no avail, there also should be more support from the other bigs to offload his responsibilities. I was hopeful Ian and Ratliff could help in that regard this season, but that's not been the case. 12 years into his career and TD is being overused and doesn't have the frontline help he needs.
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Originally Posted by SenorSpur
Yup, stops are sadly missing. Compare the last two teams to the 2003-7 Dynasty, and the difference is those prime Spurs teams could shut opposition down for minutes at a time, where this team can hardly get a stop let alone string 3 or 4 together. The changes to the rules haven't helped, but the interior presence is partly missing too.
Unless we can elevate the D quite a bit, we ain't goin anywhere.
First of all, there is no excuse letting Beno Udrih score 15 points on 7-11 tries. That is unacceptable. The Kings were on a back to back and scored 106 points on 52.3% shooting, with 6 players in double figures, they were playing a 8 man rotation. They had 16 turnovers. I am ok with that, as a matter of fact, I am happy as long as our turnovers do not exceed theirs. But we didn't stop them.
I am disgusted at our inability to defend the paint. 62 points in the paint, most of them in transition. Dice and Duncan made some blocks here and there but I felt they played weak enough defense. There were long stretches of both Blair and Bonner playing together and made me shake my head when they were not fast enough to play transition defense. Those two literally let the Kings storm back when they were in the game together. 4 on 0 fast break attempts by the Kings killed us. Where was the transition defense? 24 fast break points for the Kings.
I felt that we are still dying by the 3 ball. The Spurs were hot and hit 8 of 9. If we had only hit our average percentage, the Spurs would have lost the game. The defense needs to step up next game against the Bobcats, you know, unlike the Kings, they are going to show up on defense, box out and play a physical brand of Larry Brown basketball.
+1Quote:
Originally Posted by crc21209
I believe part of the problem is that we don't have anyone on the team with an enforcer personality... and we can't expect Duncan to be that guy as well...
It's the guy who protects the rim at all costs... the guy who dishes out the hard fouls inside (not dirty). An intimidator... a Massenburg type. Ratliff causes guards to have to alter their shots inside, but he doesn't really intimidate the opposing teams' frontlines... he's too nice of a guy. Same goes for Duncan and McDyess. Bonner is developing that mean streak, but he's not built for the role either... (though it would be really cool if he was feared in that sense)...
Hopefully DeJuan can be that guy... unfortunately rookies can seldom fall in that role because they don't yet have the respect from the referees. Any rookie attempting to fill this role would foul out by the 1st half...
Note: He doesn't need to go around huffing and puffing his face like Kendrick Perkins either... the guy always looks like he's constipated or something...
Nice assessment. :tuQuote:
Originally Posted by Chieflion
Bring back Big Dog Carr! :lolQuote:
Originally Posted by Phenomanul
Kendrick does look like he's constipated, but I'd love to have him next to Duncan.
What? That is how he always looks. He is definitely not huffing and puffing. It is either Kendrick Perkins or Marc Gasol, maybe Zaza Pachulia, those three look scary and act the part. Physical and never afraid to draw contact. Then again, his normal look already looks like he is constipated, hope our Spurs players clear their bowels before a game.Quote:
Originally Posted by Phenomanul
Thinking the same thing. If this was an experienced, elite team I think Pop would have tried to apply a different defensive scheme. Instead, he let the Spurs run and gun counting on the youth of the SAC team to make their own mistakes.Quote:
Originally Posted by crc21209
Which they did.
Alot of the kings points were on jumpers. Plus you guys seek to overlook that the kings aren't last years kings. Casspi Evans Thompson are damn good players. Udrih is also a good scorer no one ever denied that. The defense in the three game series against the big teams was mostly good so I think the peeps are overreacting a bit here.
Yes, the defense still has a ways to go, but there have been signs of improvement.
Last night after giving up 22 fast break points in the first half (which I'm sure earned them a hazing by Pop), Spurs gave up only 2 for the rest of the game.
At least they stopped something.