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Congrats to the team for laying it all out tonight.
Pop deserves six swift kicks to the junk for a shortened bench and no one taller than 'Dice seeing the floor tonight. Larry Brown is the worst thing to ever happen to Pop's coaching decisions.
This has to be one of if not the worst coached game of Pop's career.
the lineups were perfectly fine for this game. they do not have a strong frontline
1) Death
2) Taxes
3) AHF bitching about Pop
You wanted Haislip out there?
Manu 0-10 from the field, 2 pts on the night. I don't think that's on Pop (Ginobili did everything else but score though).
The lineups weren't fine at all..
At one point, there was a lineup consisting of Parker, Hill, Manu, Mason and Blair..Mason was fucking guarding Jeff Green..luckily the Thunder didn't go to him..
Pop played an 8-man rotation, despite playing against an athletic team that always gives us problems and we were on a b2b..he didn't play an interior defender at all this game and the entire team was clearly dead by the 4th..he should have used the young guys and the bench more IMO..
Pop wasn't the main or only problem, but he coached a poor game tonight IMO..
Did the Spurs lose?
Pop did his job.
Why didn't Mahinmi and Ratliff play?
Agreed.Quote:
Originally Posted by HarlemHeat37
Nope. If only we had a long, lanky, athletic big. Like a 15/9 in his last game type... that we could have put in.Quote:
Originally Posted by ChumpDumper
Voluntarily shortening to an 8-man rotation on a back-to-back is pretty crazy.
And, Parker was obviously exhausted by the half... but hey, in the end, he got a clutch basket at the end of regulation. And the Spurs toughed it out, sucked it up and got the W. So maybe in the long run, a tough, short-manned game like this will help them.
spurs won, but no thanks to pop.Quote:
Originally Posted by NZ Spurs
We need shot blockers if he isn't going to play the ones we've got, trade for someone that he trusts.
Eh, I'm not sure he could have done anything with Durant. It would have been nice to see.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aggie Hoopsfan
I would trade this victory to have seen 28 minutes of Ian out there tonight
there won't be another opportunity like this one to evaluate him against legit NBA talent, soon Bonner will return, Blair and McDyess continue to improve in the Spurs' system, Pop will start to settle on his lineups and rotations...
Quote:
Originally Posted by vander
So you'd rather Ian Mahinmi play than win the game.
Sorry, I'm strange in that I want to win games. Weird like that.
I dont understand why at the end of the 4th blair didn't get any touches... He was having an amazing game and still no touches? It's stupid.
Pop haters are ridiculous. Leave it to them to still find something to bitch about after a great undermanned win, on the road, against the arguably the hottest team in the NBA over the last month. Go try your hand in coaching Im sure teams are dying to sign you with your clear superior knowledge over Pop.
It was great to see them win and will do wonders for everyone's confidence.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kori Ellis
That said, you know Pop's stubborness as well as I do. We'll get in a hole against the Lakers and Pop will think he can trot out a front line of Mason, Jefferson, and Blair to get back into the damn game. And we'll lose by 30.
I would never trade this win. This one was damn valuable. On a B2B against another +.500 team. This win was HUGE.Quote:
Originally Posted by vander
Yo' broski I was about to yell at you until I saw the words in the bracket, way to give my man some credit. The insane hussle play to lead to the jefferson game winning shot was wiiiild :hatQuote:
Originally Posted by androck
It's not so much about tonight, it's about the bigger picture. You will see that lineup again somewhere when Pop thinks he can be cute, only there will be a coach on the other sideline smart enough to post up whoever Mason or Jefferson are taking turns guarding at PF.Quote:
Originally Posted by FkLA
Not Durant necessarily. There was just no one at the rim to fend off any Thunder players who drove to the basket. Blair did better than expected but even the damned Thunder announcers said repeatedly "they need to attack the rim because the Spurs have no shot blockers". And they did. They got the lead by attacking the rim.Quote:
Originally Posted by ChumpDumper
Ratliff or Mahinmi could have received the same burn Ratliff did yesterday, about 4 minutes from the end of the first through the beginning of the second.
Seriously, they were scoring at will in the paint during the 3rd quarter, why not trying Mahinmi just 2 or 3 min.Quote:
Originally Posted by EricB
I don't know, Pop must really hate him. I don't understand.
I agree, for once.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aggie Hoopsfan
He is right tonight. No Mahinmi in a game perfectly suited to him? WTF???Quote:
Originally Posted by baseline bum
Hmm I'm going to take the side of the coach that has 4 championships, rather than people who complain after a win online.
Complaining about Pop doesn't change the fact that we're happy that we won..I'm very happy, I wrote that in the game thread..it was a great and gutsy W..it doesn't change anything though..
Ian or Ratliff wouldn't have hurt at all, I don't see how they could have..we blew a 19-point lead anyways..I don't see any reason not to have those guys in at some point to give others a rest and to protect the rim..
They didn't win because of Pop. Tonight they won despite him.Quote:
Originally Posted by NZ Spurs
I don't like the idea of sitting Tim out, but the end result is that the team responded with great effort, everyone made mistakes, but in the end they did tough it out and they got a well deserved win against a team that has owned them for the past 2 seasons. I also liked that the defensive energy came in a back to back after a big win over the Lakers. Manu is something else, that last play I thought he gave the game away then he hustles and helps create the winning shot.
Because obviously Nenad Kristic was being Wilt-esque and absolutely beasting in the paint tonight right? Or was is it Nick Collison? Jeff Green? Durant? Ibaka?Quote:
Originally Posted by Aggie Hoopsfan
Come on we saw small ball tonight because the opponents athleticism and style of play demanded it, nothing more. Lets not make a bigger deal out of it than what it was. It was an adjustment similar to Blair only playing 5 minutes last night.
Quote:
Originally Posted by HarlemHeat37
I think Popp has been coaching a lot of poor games over the last year or so... just sayin.
Brooks found a way to get Ibaka 7 minutes, and McDyess was getting manhandled trying to defensive rebound. And Ibaka getting 7 didn't cost OKC the game even though he was -4.
I think it's reasonable that Ratliff or Mahinmi could have snagged 5 minutes somewhere in the game. Blair and McDyess were dragging during at points in the game, and others were too.
it annoys me a little bit more everytime somebody says how stupid popovich is. "didn't play anyone taller than mcdyess" comment holds no weight, dejuan's just undersized and you can't touch his work on the boards tonight
double
Timmy gets tons of rest and we get a W. Sounds like great coaching to me.
Did anyone notice the line up he had in at the end of regulation?Quote:
Originally Posted by Aggie Hoopsfan
:wow:wow:wow:wow
BTW, Didn't in that 4th quarter for a good bit Pop go with McDyess and Blair against the big guys down the stretch?
Mahinmi on Durant would've been suicide.
Ditto Blair on em.
Hello : help defense on the weak side, shot blockers ! It was disgusting the way the thunder were scoring in the 3rd qtr. :bangQuote:
Originally Posted by FkLA
pretty sure pop is not trying to be cute. i think he just wants a combination of two things. he wants to win another championship working with what he has and he wants to continue to receive a check from the san antonio spurs organization. winning and keeping your job go hand in hand so in a sense he's got one goal in mind.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aggie Hoopsfan
so no, he's not trying to be cute, you're just on a pop-hating bandwagon that's gonna run off a cliff when the spurs win another championship this year (knock on wood)
It's true. The Thunder deliberately (and smartly) started attacking the basket when Blair sat down. Having some semblance of a shotblocker in the game would have closed off the paint and maybe helped to preserve the lead that the boys squandered.Quote:
Originally Posted by timaios
So why didn't they score that way the entire game?Quote:
Originally Posted by timaios
Quote:
Originally Posted by SenorSpur
How come Durant didn't drive to the hole everytime?
Wasn't alot of his shots in the OT and 4th outside shots?
There are two sides to this debate and they are very simple:
1. Pop is God and shall never be questioned, or,
2. There's a young guy over there who is quick, mobile, 7ft tall, loves to run the floor and block shots, had 15/9 the other night... he really should have gotten some run tonight. WTF, Pop???
I am in the 2 camp.
Paging Dr. Carlesimo.....
Both because Blair was menacing them, and they were taking a lot of jumpers. Mahinmi should've been in for Blair, and if he was clearly outclassed you try something else, but the way he handled himself the other night against Lopez, he's ready to play some spot minutes.Quote:
Originally Posted by ChumpDumper
Quote:
Originally Posted by RuffnReadyOzStyle
Or theres, Was mahinmi gonna guard Durant or Jeff Green so what sense would that make?
Seriously..... Why start shit.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RuffnReadyOzStyle
Take Blair out?
McDyess had 13 and 9
Was that horrible!?
Quote:
Originally Posted by 200 miles
Carlesimo didn't do shit when he was in SA the first time and he wouldn't do shit today,
Please save the weak PJ stuff for somewhere else.
Your sig is one of the the most disturbing things I've seen in quite a while... yikes.Quote:
Originally Posted by FkLA
After he fouled out?Quote:
Originally Posted by RuffnReadyOzStyle
He's not that scary.
Would have been nice to see Ian after the score was initially run up, but I have trouble getting angry about a win.
Which can be said for just about every game the Spurs have played this year, losing leads and having teams score on us at will during stretches has been a regular occurence. But yeah lets make a bigger deal out of it tonight and find something to bitch about after a great win.Quote:
Originally Posted by timaios
Dont make sig bets with Mavs fans, specifically Findog :(Quote:
Originally Posted by Budkin
4) Ducks sticking up for Parker and dissing Manu.Quote:
Originally Posted by baseline bum
His defense was horrible yes.Quote:
Originally Posted by EricB
Sorry Eric, I was only being facetious. Please dont start shit up here.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shastafarian
So whos mahinmi shutting down on the perimiter, Green? Durant? Harden?
Look, we're all happy the team won. But, that had to be the worst coached game by Pop in a while. Pop's guys are coming off a tough game last night, without Timmy the next night and he decides to start and play a small-unit throughout the game???? You're telling me he couldn't find 10-15 minutes for both Theo and Ian?? I'm surprised people aren't angry that he'll burn a couple of these guys out by making them play out of position (i.e. Manu and Richard) constantly. :ihit:ihit
I don't think you are.Quote:
Originally Posted by J_Paco
+1Quote:
Originally Posted by j_paco
We can't know, he played 0 min !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! on a b2b without Duncan !Quote:
Originally Posted by EricB
Try him just 2 min.......... 2 fucking minutes !!!! And see what happens.
I agree w/ the OP, this would have been a good game to unleash Ian to help out in the shotblocking dept. I would have liked to seen a stretch of Haislip as well to see if he could bother Durant, who was making it look effortless out there.
And if your not going to try those guys against probably the one team in the league that their skills match up with, then give Duncan 20 minutes so the spurs can coast to an easy victory tonight and everybody gets rest on a B2B, not just him.
Like I said in the game thread, these types of games willl kill either Parker or Manu (or both) by the end of the year, esp w/ Parker's planar fascitis now an ongoing issue.
What good will it do to have Duncan all rested up then? Without TP and Manu playing at a high level (or at all) having Duncan 100% is going to make no difference.
No one. Which is why I said I would've liked to see a shot blocker at the rim. I guess you think Collison and Ibaka would be too quick and athletic for Mahinmi to guard them. I would've also settled for Ratliff.Quote:
Originally Posted by EricB
Quote:
Originally Posted by timaios
You didn't answer the question.
Krstic - 9 minutes
Ibaka - 7 minutes
Collison - 23 minutes
Collison and Ibaka did jack shit.Quote:
Originally Posted by Shastafarian
Please.
Let's see how long it takes TPark to realize he just made my point for me...Quote:
Originally Posted by EricB
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shastafarian
dog shit
crap
less than dog shit
Damn, had they just played Ian Mensah Bonsu all would've been well.
Two in a row. Look I know I'm not the best debater but you don't have to make my point for me over and over again.Quote:
Originally Posted by EricB
+1. i was pissed watching in the third quarter when the thunder rallied by attacking the rim. mahinmi's length would have been huge...:bangQuote:
Originally Posted by timaios
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shastafarian
So whats the great need for the shotblocker if their bigs aren't doing anything and their guards were the one making JUMP SHOTS.
Answer the question.
whos Mahinmi gonna guard?
Durant? Green? Harden?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shastafarian
You've yet to answer the fucking question too.
Pretty obvious Ian is trade bait and not being played so his stock remains high after that one game.
Guessing the Spurs are going to try to shed some salary pretty soon.
Oh I see now. You didn't watch the game. Now I get it. Here's an interesting experiment. Find footage of the game and watch the 3rd quarter again and see how many jump shots are made. Then watch carefully, and I mean carefully, and see how many wide open jumps are made because the defender is playing off the ball. If you can tell me what all this means you get a cookie.Quote:
Originally Posted by EricB
CollisonQuote:
Answer the question.
whos Mahinmi gonna guard?
No, no, and no.Quote:
Durant? Green? Harden?
Why do I need to answer when you keep making my points look stronger?Quote:
Originally Posted by EricB
:lol So if i follow your thought, Duncan would have been useless in that game.Quote:
Originally Posted by EricB
Yeah right !
I'm happy, but dumbfounded that Pop plays a shortened rotation with mostly perimeter players on the second night of a back-to-back situation. The team was completely lucky to escape OKC with a win.Quote:
Originally Posted by ChumpDumper
And, people seem to forget that the team could've gone to a zone with Ian or Ratliff out there. Nobody would've expected them to guard Durant, but the could helped defending the heavy amount of interior scoring for the Thunder in the second half.
I'll pre-empt TPark's goalpost moving on this one. "You're comparing Tim Duncan to Ian Pops Mensah Scola Schnitzius? rofl"Quote:
Originally Posted by timaios
Maybe it's a strawman? I always mix those up.
OKC had 54 points in the paint..
It's not about shutting down the opposing big men, it's about stopping the penetration in the paint..so comparing the numbers of the Thunder's frontcourt is pretty irrelevant in this argument..
I think he left cuz he realized he owned himself. :lolQuote:
Originally Posted by HarlemHeat37
It's funny. Since Pop decided to sit Tim tonight against really good OKC team who have had our number since Durant was drafted after playing 40 minutes yesterday, a lot of Spurs fans (including myself) had the assumption that Pop would play Mahinmi.
The way the Spurs started out though, they obviously were going for the win since they jumped on a 20 point lead, and 12 point lead at half. The Thunder came back (like they have usually done in the past games against the Spurs), and all of a sudden it was a close game, neck to neck. After playing 8 players tonight, the Spurs were able to come w/ the win.
My point is, in Pop's defense, why would you play Ian if the game is tight and on the line?? Ian really has no NBA court experience, especially in the clutch, so obviously w/ the lineup, you're only as strong as your weakest link. The Spurs could have played him in the 1st half, but they already built a sizeable lead w/o him, in which that lead was necessary especially for the 2nd half. Pop could have play Ratliff some, but his offense is very raw, so it's somewhat understandable.
Spurs have given up on Mahinmi 3 months ago. The game against Nets was just a successful showcase.
What is more telling is that both Haislip and Hairston haven't played. Hairston could have bring some energy and Haislip was signed to play against mobile PF like Green. If it was needed, this game also shows that Pop has also quite given up on them (at least for this year).
Should have Pop gave some minutes to Haislip or Hairston? Maybe. It would have helped energy-wise but it was risky because they could have screwed it up.
What are you talking about ? You try Ian or even Theo in the 3rd qtr when the thunder were scoring at will in the paint.Quote:
Originally Posted by blkroadrunners
Just a weak, weak comeback thread by AHF.
I would have liked to see some Ian Mahinmi tonight, but fact is the Thunder are a perimeter team. And they hardly played Collison (who is not really a post threat anyways........)
The Thunder are an incredibly athletic, fast, perimeter oriented team. And for those who have not paid attention the past two seasons, they matchups VERY well with this Spurs team. They have the horses to play excellent perimeter defense on us, and make us struggle to get things done the way we like to do it.
That's what made this game so fun to watch. We have no Duncan, and we play Spurs basketball against this tough matchup.....look what happens...our freakin inside Rookie goes for a beast game against them.
I thought Pop called a fair game.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bruno
That's the point he had other options and he didn't use one, not one. I''m glad they won, but him constantly going small ball and even smaller ball tonight is freaking fustrating.
I hope I am wrong, but Mahinmi not playing in either game, particularly against OKC, further supports the "showcase" game theory against the NJ. The front office is probably thinking, "He had 15/9, no reason to take a chance and mess up his last impression".
You have a point, Bruno. But, after seeing what Mahinmi could bring to this team in the present, and future, plus the fact that they used a 1st round pick on him, wouldn't it be smart to play him more to re-asses him as a player. I just feel like the team should give him some actual court-time, unless they feel like he's another Jackie Butler, and Ian will be out of the league shortly.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bruno
We're talking about New Jersey, man....
All I'm saying is why throw Ian right in the fire in the most critical part of the game when he hasn't play any really NBA games outside the game against the Nets?Quote:
Originally Posted by timaios
Plus, I already stated they could have played Theo some.
We're talking about Brook Lopez, a top 10 center, man...............Quote:
Originally Posted by ChumpDumper
Look Ian isn't the next Robinson or Mourning. Yet, he could bring the skills of a Chris Andersen or Samuel Dalembert to a team that desperately needs size and athleticism in the front-court. I just think the organization has invested too much time on Ian to give up on him so quickly. Especially, if Splitter would decide not to join the team this summer.
One thing that puzzles me is where does Parker stand in all of this??? Is Tony secretly lobbying for playing time for Ian, or has he remained quiet while the organization has his countrymen by the balls?
No... but how about calling a play for Hill down the stretch? With about a minute and a half left, and OKC up by two, we've got Manu tossing up a 3-point attempt. Manu was 0-9, and Hill was 7-9. Plus, Hill had fresh legs.Quote:
Originally Posted by androck
I guess that's why I'm not coaching the team. I would have tried to get the ball to the guy who had actually put the ball in the hole during this game.
If you guys don't think Ian should have played, then why didn't Ratliff play?..
It's also strange that they just guaranteed Hairston's contract and he wasn't even dressed tonight..he could have helped when Manu picked up his 3rd foul and Bogans was just subbed off..Bogans had to come back in, and it clearly had a toll by the 4th..I understand if he's scared that Haislip has never done anything, but Hairston gave us good NBA minutes last year and he very good in preseason..the fact that they kept him on and guaranteed his contract clearly means they like his game..
Yes, and he performed well above his averages that night.Quote:
Originally Posted by J_Paco
Speaking as someone who has probably watched him play more than anyone on this board, that ship seems to have sailed.Quote:
Look Ian isn't the next Robinson or Mourning. Yet, he could bring the skills of a Chris Andersen or Samuel Dalembert to a team that desperately needs size and athleticism in the front-court. I just think the organization has invest too much time on Ian to give up on him so quickly. Especially, if Splitter would decide not to join the team this summer.
I think pop coached stupid today, plane and simple. I seriously don't think he knows how to handle this kind of talent on the team. He's using all the pieces differently.
Okay, but what if the worst-case scenario happens and we end up with no re-signed Manu and Splitter still in Europe?? What is their back-up plan (you obviously don't know)?? I just think their being too damn short-sighted with a young guy that has some pro ability.Quote:
Originally Posted by ChumpDumper
Damn, if only the kid hadn't been injured last season. We'd probably have a much better evaluation of the kid. :depressed
Neither do you. I stopped worrying awhile back. I feel much better.Quote:
Originally Posted by J_Paco
I believe at this point, declineing the option could have just been a money decision.Quote:
I just think their being too damn short-sighted with a young guy that has pro ability.
Yes, but I would have played Ratliff first.Quote:
Damn, if only the kid hadn't been injured last season. We'd probably have much better evaluation of the kid. :depressed
Last time I checked the score, the Spurs won the game. Am I mistaken, I could have sworn they won??? :bang
They did win.Quote:
Originally Posted by Taking it to the Hole
You should be happy.
But actually not.
Nah, I mean when all we had to depend was old Kurt Thomas, a green Bonner and Oberto with a weak heart. Shit, he probably would've been starting by the playoffs beside Tim unless he totally flamed out.Quote:
Originally Posted by ChumperDumper
Well, sure -- but what ifs get boring after awhile.Quote:
Originally Posted by J_Paco
So Ian would have had a low bar to match statistically in your eyes, and heaven forbid he might have blocked or altered some shots like he did the other night when he got some run.Quote:
Originally Posted by EricB
Fuck man, you would kiss Pop's ass even if he were tea bagging your mom.