Game Thoughts: Spurs @ Kings - Feb. 3

the one thing i been liking about RJ recently is that he's being more aggressive on offense. i do see improvement on his defense "i really don't know why poster's on here thinks RJ's defense is absolute trash, he' s no Bruce Bowen, but still he's a decent defender." i hope he continues his aggression on offense even when TP returns

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Originally Posted by timvp

Defense

Outside of that four minute stretch in the fourth quarter, the defense was bad. Allowing 19 points in the final 1:39 put an exclamation point at the end of this poor defensive affair. For the game, the Kings shot 52.3% from the floor and 40.9% (9-for-22) on three-pointers. Thankfully the Spurs limited the free throw attempts (19) and had an edge on the boards (38-34). Otherwise, it could have gotten even uglier.

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As I watched this game I was perplexed at the number of times that Spurs defenders went for the first ball fake. Time and time again they fouled the Kings when all they had to do was hold their position. they bailed out the Kings numerous times IMO. I really haven't seen this on a regular basis so hopefully this was just an abberation. Over the Duncan era I have rarely if ever seen such D. I know we aren't the defensive team as in the past but that is pretty bad.

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Originally Posted by wildbill2u

Pop looked somewhat flabbergasted and pissed as he left the court after another looooong 3 bounced high and went in at the end. Giving up all those points in the last minute and half must have really bent him out of shape.

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Hopefully it bent him out of shape enough not to get cute with his lineups. Time will tell.

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Originally Posted by benefactor

That final sequence was just bananas. Tyreke Evans almost went Tracy McGrady on them.

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That's exactly what I said in chat.

I disagree that Evans is more of a 2 than a point. True, he's a Stephon Marbury-type talent, but with good coaching should have a more positive team impact and not just be a stat-padder.

Also don't see why he and Kevin Martin can't co-exist, but it does appear that Martin is on the way out.

at least the spurs clamped down on defense during the fourth quarter. even for a small period of time, it was refreshing to see fourth quarter defense again.

The defense in the secod half was decent not great. Not as bad as Richard Oliver made it sound last night and this morning.

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Originally Posted by timvp

the Kings amazingly scoring 19 points in the final 1:39 of the contest.

Overall, San Antonio did well starting out their journey with a win. It wasn't too pretty but getting a road win without Tony Parker against an athletic team is always good thing.

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Let me ask you something. When you do these write-ups now, do you do them looking at this as a run-of-the-mill playoff team or a contender? If it's the latter, then you can't seriously say the Spurs "did well". Not when they barely hung on to beat one of the dregs of the league (who happen to be struggling mightily right now, by the way), not when they gave up an astounding 19 points in the final 1:39, or allowed the Kings to shoot between 50-55% the entire game and not when they gave up 113 to a team that has labored to break 100 in the past month.

If not now, then when do aesthetics matter? This should have been a convincing win for a supposed contender coming off a disappointing loss (and home stand in general), eager to turn their season around during a time when they traditionally have done just that and instead they eke out a win against a bottom feeder and do so by playing soft, uninspiring defense (a layup drill was being run). There is no silver lining, nothing to build on off of this win. If the Spurs repeat last night's performance tonight, they will lose and unlike last night, it won't take until the end for the result to be decided.

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Originally Posted by FlAVaK

Manu`s dunk at 0:55

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Thank you! :)