Reason to Believe we are still Contenders

and this is all just Regular Season Blues.

So far this season, it seems like TP shows up for about 1 out of every 3 or 4 games, Manu about 1 in every 5, and all of the Big 4 don't seem to be bothered too much when they are off their game. I see a lack of hustle, a lot of lackadaisical D, careless offensive miscues, etc.

the Spurs, more than any other team, have to work hard for buckets. we don't have natural scorers, guys who can effortlessly rain down buckets from anywhere on the court like a Josh Howard or a Ray Allen, or Kobe. TP has to burn about 150 calories for every half-court bucket he makes, Manu too, can't beat anyone off the dribble anymore, he has to out-wit defenders, get them to commit to some sort of fake before he can do anything. and in the long grind of the regular season, it seems that they feel it just isn't worth it to put all that effort into every possession, much easier to just pull up for the low percentage jumper, or feed TD on the block.

and we won't win a title feeding the ball to TD as often as we do right now, counting on his ability to beat someone one-on-one, that's just apathy from our true offense creators, Manu and TP. TD on the block should be reserved for when everyone else on the court has gone cold, and the offense is stagnating. Come playoff time, TP and Manu will start working much harder on both sides of the court, and we'll see fewer off-games from them both. this team should look a lot better when they return to relentless mode.

Also, they need to make an effort to get easy buckets for Blair and RJ, got to get those guys rolling early in games.

Also, Pop's not helping with all the shitty lineups and not having/running more plays for RJ and Blair, Feed Blair on the block! Let RJ run some pick and Rolls!

:lobt2:

http://www.nba.com/media/allstar2006...300_060201.jpg

Some good points and I do expect them to get better in the playoffs with everybody working harder(if we make it), but Parker's inability to dominate is also a big reason for our struggles..he was completely dominant last year, and that was our "natural" scorer last year, like you said the Spurs needed..if Tony was playing at the level we saw last year, this team would have at least 5 more Ws IMO, at least..

This is also what Jefferson was brought in to do and while he doesn't get as many looks/chances as I would like, he also hasn't stepped up and played with aggressiveness at all..

Manu can't consistently beat his man off the dribble anymore, but he's creating plays at a high level right now, so that's his value, which is good..

The problem is that all 3 of those guys have been very disappointing, and we have yet to see even 3 of our top 4 on the same page offensively for a consistent stretch..that's part of the reason this team is having serious struggles..

Where is the part where "Reason to Believe we are still Contenders"???

So the reason to believe is the assumption they will turn it on in the playoffs??? Like the Patriot fans kept saying?

hahahahahah this dude is smoking crack..they need a trade fast...should have gone for stephen jackson...but still contenders?? hahahahhahah pass that shit that your smoking for real!!!

yah, san an's got it in them. they've got championship winning talent unlike last year. they just seem lazy and sloppy. i'd go so far as to say that they've got the pieces to have a top defense. hopefully losing 4 out of 5 games is a wake-up call.

It's frustrating but this is about the time we will see the real Spurs. And of course, don't forget SPAM.

None.

My one hope is that aside from the Laker's no one is running away from the pack. I know I can get critical of this team, they don't look good, and with each passing game it doesn't look like it's going to get better, but things can click into place quite suddenly and this team has the talent to beat anyone. So as bad as we have been at times, there is no team is consistently good, even the lakers have looked shaky at times.
And the Cavs are coming on. But they haven't looked like world beaters at any time.

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Originally Posted by vander

and this is all just Regular Season Blues.

So far this season, it seems like TP shows up for about 1 out of every 3 or 4 games, Manu about 1 in every 5, and all of the Big 4 don't seem to be bothered too much when they are off their game. I see a lack of hustle, a lot of lackadaisical D, careless offensive miscues, etc.

the Spurs, more than any other team, have to work hard for buckets. we don't have natural scorers, guys who can effortlessly rain down buckets from anywhere on the court like a Josh Howard or a Ray Allen, or Kobe. TP has to burn about 150 calories for every half-court bucket he makes, Manu too, can't beat anyone off the dribble anymore, he has to out-wit defenders, get them to commit to some sort of fake before he can do anything. and in the long grind of the regular season, it seems that they feel it just isn't worth it to put all that effort into every possession, much easier to just pull up for the low percentage jumper, or feed TD on the block.

and we won't win a title feeding the ball to TD as often as we do right now, counting on his ability to beat someone one-on-one, that's just apathy from our true offense creators, Manu and TP. TD on the block should be reserved for when everyone else on the court has gone cold, and the offense is stagnating. Come playoff time, TP and Manu will start working much harder on both sides of the court, and we'll see fewer off-games from them both. this team should look a lot better when they return to relentless mode.

Also, they need to make an effort to get easy buckets for Blair and RJ, got to get those guys rolling early in games.

Also, Pop's not helping with all the shitty lineups and not having/running more plays for RJ and Blair, Feed Blair on the block! Let RJ run some pick and Rolls!

:lobt2:

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This is a pipe dream at best. Manu is trying to win and Tony is too. The problem isn't fixable unfortunately (short of a trade).

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Originally Posted by sananspursfan21

yah, san an's got it in them. they've got championship winning talent unlike last year. they just seem lazy and sloppy. i'd go so far as to say that they've got the pieces to have a top defense. hopefully losing 4 out of 5 games is a wake-up call.

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There have allready been so many wake-up call games so far this season. I don't know how many times that can be said untill it actually happens lol. Guess we will find out

Bonner and Finley will come back and give us a huge lift in 'corporate knowledge' and then all problems will be solved and we'll be back into championship contention...

Yep, Bonner and Fin not playing is the only issues the Spurs have, I don't know what everyone is worried about. (sarcasm)

Manu's opinion on this topic:

Things not looking gr8 rt now, but please, keep backing us up, things will turn

Right now we are a game and a half from being 9 in the standings. The outlook is not good unless a miracle happens or Pop gets on the players and stops making bad coaching decisions. A contender first has to make the playoffs.

Its a pretty big assumption the Spurs will even make the playoffs. Manu and TP better start producing NOW.

Spurs may very likely not even make the playoffs. SUPER home heavy schedule thus far and they're still only two losses from being on the outside looking in. 24 of their last 36 on the road. Your best player is too old to play b2b's. Not looking good at all.

I hate to say it but I can't stand watching our current Spurs team they just not playing with any energy at all. I have to agree that this team has a slim chance at best at winning any playoffs games this year. Looking at our team we have decent backups but it's the starters who we are lacking>.

PG - Tony
SG - Good depth but no one who can start and play heavy minutes
SF - RJ don't even know what to say?
PF - Timmy
C - We have none

So going into this summer I think our needs are as follows:

1. Sign Splitter
2. Get rid of Jefferson
3. Let Bonner and Finley Walk or trade them
4. Manu and Mason - two entered and only one left standing

To me the biggest issue is Splitter because until we get a legit big we ain't going to be doing squat.

rest tony.

we will survive, and he'll come back better than ever for the playoffs.

The one thing we have going for us, is that we're built for playoff basketball.

The problem with this, is that we might not make the playoffs.

Reason to believe? Maybe Pop will get hit over the head and decide to stop using small ball.

Great post IMO...if you don't believe, GTFO...we don't need you.

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Originally Posted by slayermin

It's frustrating but this is about the time we will see the real Spurs. And of course, don't forget SPAM.

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Old team peaked after March, but I remember one year they run off so many in February and didn't lose in that month (03?), so they were not always peaking after MARCH. This is not that old Spurs team either, not the same on D, not even close. They can't stop anyone down there from getting inside at will and we get MURDERED down there.

Can they do it? I hope so, but right now it looks bleak.

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Originally Posted by Spursfan092120

Great post IMO...if you don't believe, GTFO...we don't need you.

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So if somen dont' believe what they see right now is a title team they should leave? What does everyone have to be delusional and think they are a title team every year?

People all love this team and want to believe, but what you see right now is not near what needs to be done to be a title team. They can do it with this team IMO, a trade would help out but if they have to roll with this team I hope they get rotations down and get it TOGETHER VERY SOON.

Their D is horrible right now, they can't make a stop to save their lives late in games, how can they change that with the same team? I don't know if this personel can do it, but I sure as HELL hope they can.


GET THAT #5, I have not given up yet! But they need help.

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Originally Posted by vander

we don't have natural scorers, guys who can effortlessly rain down buckets from anywhere on the court like a Josh Howard or a Ray Allen, or Kobe.

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I read that like 8 times then busted out laughing. I think you mean Dirk Nowitzki.

Allow me to simplify, from what we've seen thus far this season, there is absolutely NO reason to believe we are still contenders.

I'm willing and open to change my mind, but we're nearing the halfway point of the season, and the lame excuse of chemistry issues cannot continue to be used.

spurs can be real contenders ....just pop needs to stop playing small ball.....pop no more small ball plz

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Originally Posted by Sean Cagney

So if somen dont' believe what they see right now is a title team they should leave? What does everyone have to be delusional and think they are a title team every year?

People all love this team and want to believe, but what you see right now is not near what needs to be done to be a title team. They can do it with this team IMO, a trade would help out but if they have to roll with this team I hope they get rotations down and get it TOGETHER VERY SOON.

Their D is horrible right now, they can't make a stop to save their lives late in games, how can they change that with the same team? I don't know if this personel can do it, but I sure as HELL hope they can.


GET THAT #5, I have not given up yet! But they need help.

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i agree. im tired of those fans who call us bad fans because we see what we see. in my heart i believe the spurs can pick it up but you cant look at this year's team and say they can win a title. it's just reality.

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Originally Posted by badfish22

I read that like 8 times then busted out laughing. I think you mean Dirk Nowitzki.

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I didn't want to use the cliche examples like Dirk, Melo, Bryant, Durant etc. was looking for second tier guys but couldn't think of many, Josh is pretty darn good scorer.

I take back the part of my original post pertaining to Manu. I don't know what came over me, Manu is shit, no matter how much effort he puts into it, and I already knew that :bang

he's good for about 1 or 2 great plays, and 7-10 bad plays per game, and he can't even hit open jumpers anymore, I want to see Mason get all of Manu's minutes from now on.

:lobt2:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by vander

I take back the part of my original post pertaining to Manu. I don't know what came over me, Manu is shit, no matter how much effort he puts into it, and I already knew that :bang

he's good for about 1 or 2 great plays, and 7-10 bad plays per game, and he can't even hit open jumpers anymore, I want to see Mason get all of Manu's minutes from now on.

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I figured it wouldn't last... now we need ducks and we'll have full house...

The only reason why we are considered contenders is because of what are team is on paper. People see the names: Duncan, Ginoboli, Parker, McDyess, and Jefferson and they think how could that team not be a contender and who dares count them out.

Spurs don't have it this year defensively. And the offensive improvements aren't enough to rely on our offense to outscore teams. Now that we are playing middle and top teams instead of bottom dwellars, are true suckiness is front and center. We are not legitimate title contenders unless a whole lotta injuries occur to top teams and middle teams in the next several months.

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Originally Posted by cd98

The only reason why we are considered contenders is because of what are team is on paper. People see the names: Duncan, Ginoboli, Parker, McDyess, and Jefferson and they think how could that team not be a contender and who dares count them out.

Spurs don't have it this year defensively. And the offensive improvements aren't enough to rely on our offense to outscore teams. Now that we are playing middle and top teams instead of bottom dwellars, are true suckiness is front and center. We are not legitimate title contenders unless a whole lotta injuries occur to top teams and middle teams in the next several months.

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:tu

best post of the thread.

This team this year has yet to prove they are contenders. They are barely proving they are a playoff team.

Some delusional ppl around here. I'm not saying they can't turn it around, just that "contender" should be the last word used to describe these spurs as of right now.

maybe they are contenders but the league is just that tough right now. I mean look at all the teams bunched from 2-11 they can beat anyone on any given day. THe league is tough, and its basically a crap shoot. Outside of cavs and lakers (who look so much more vulnerable than last year) who truly looks good? Its all streches and even with this 3 game loss, other "PO calibre teams" are losing and keeping us in it. Of course shedule is tougher, but honestly every game is touch to win these days whether it is bobcats, grizzlies, clips etc.