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IMO, Duncan is not fine. He can't jump. This was his condition late last year as well. He is not able to alter shots, block shots, get critical boards. I know his stats aren't bad tonight but he is not the Timmy of old. He didn't even play a true center tonight, he was played by a washed up has been, 1 on 1, and he scored 15.Quote:
Originally Posted by timvp
Without him playing at the old level, we are in trouble. :(
That was McDyess' fault, I believe. He missed a lot of rotations today.Quote:
Originally Posted by alchemist
so the fact that the spurs are more than 50% into the season and they go minutes without a bucket, a coach that has his head up his ass...i hot dog who makes ill-advised passes night in and night out...can't hit a wide open jumper...(mason won 5 games by himself last year and he's on the bench)...the best point guard in the history of san antonio is sitting below the scorers table and there is happiness?
uh no... The spurs still can't beat a good team, the still can't execute and the coach has his head up his ass.. and buck harvey is writing articles about the best coach in the history of the nba...
yeah...uh huh...
as long as theres no back2backs in the playoffs
I don't see how anyone could be happy. It's not as if we aren't losing to almost every team that has more wins than losses.
We can't even beat the good teams when they are missing star players.
I think something needs to be done, but I get the feeling that we'll stand pat.
:cry
I thought both Manu and Tim were gassed at the end... I think they were more decoys than anything. That said, I agree Pop did some awful timeout management out there.
I personally thought Duncan looked awful tonight. He was so soft all night long, settling for jumpers late in the game, turning the ball over, getting bullied on defense. Probably one of his worst outings this season in my opinion.
Agreed on ginobili and parker though, both looked fine
Yes, also jumping on Bogans and sitting his ass after the retarded foul on Miller.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnthonyM
This team doesn't make the plays it used to do to win games in the last minutes of the 4th quarter. This and the big letdown of what Jefferson has been this season will ultimately make for a great trade deadline. I grinned from ear to ear as this Spurs team lost yet another fought hard game because this lets the front office know that we won't bullshit our way into thinking that "if and when we gel" we can be a contender.
However, it does seem like the whole league is struggling in having big lead games, because the league has gotten so much tougher over the years and we are beginning to see many young prospects become the new big bad boys in town. The only reason the Lakers aren't feeling the heat as much we are is because they have many elite players on their team, something we dont have the money to afford that much due to our small market team.
:deadhorse
As always, there's positive and even elite plays the Spurs have had on both ends of the court (ball movement is looking better in these past games, Spurs responded defensively coming out of the half)... but it's the bigger picture that matters... the 'playing steadily enough to not only make the playoffs, but actually contend' is looking further and further away. Defense, traditionally, is fully a team responsibility, even if the Big-3 are looking better as a trio (I agree btw), it won't cure our defensive woes.
Another reason to cheer up:
Tonight's game helps Matt Bonner keep his title as the "Prince of Plus/Minus" after his second place showing!
More Bonner! More +/-!
:toast
i am not laughing.Quote:
Originally Posted by objective
I'm trying, I'm really trying. There are flashes of greatness between the scoring droughts, but it's so hard to watch them struggle. :(Quote:
Originally Posted by duncan228
Manu looked the best he has all year. It's a good sign he's shown progress in his penetrating ability.
Spurs need to make a move for a more all around consistent wing instead of the Bogans/Mason/ Finley combination. 38 minutes for Hill is too much IMO.
Yeah, and earlier in the game too he got all over RJ and the result was RJ taking it to the hole hard twice, although he missed one and the next resulted in a foul.Quote:
Originally Posted by ElNono
Alright, I'll bite because it's you. Do you really think there's a trade in the works?Quote:
Originally Posted by Kori Ellis
It's a big picture thing. Every cliff-jumper reacts to 1 game, read 1 game with way too much emotion. What sucked in that 4th quarter was late defensive read & reactions from NEW players. It sucks that this late in the season that they haven't yet got it down cold. However, there is still a little bit of time left to get this. RJ, I don't have much hope for. Same with "Keef" Bogans, but McDyess, I think he can get it. I knew he was sucked in too far and that 1 3pointer and that was a killer momentum shift.
People bitch about the loss, but remember, even with this loss, the Spurs still have less losses than seeds 5,7, & 8. Remember, losses you can't give back.
it's only February :clap :clap
I know right...Quote:
Originally Posted by Ghazi
I didn't have a problem with Duncan's D tonight..he blocked 2 shots and altered 3 shots, that's fine with me..Juwan Howard scoring an off the dribble turnaround hook shot is something you allow him to shoot..the rest were pick and rolls where he's too slow to switch to the jump shooter, which is something all Spurs fans should expect from an old Duncan at this point, we've seen it all year..
I had a problem with his offense, because he was taking horrible shots..he looked fine physically, he just allows inferior defenders to get in his head..he's played dominant basketball against almost every quality defender he's went up against this year, but when he plays average defenders, he starts coasting offensively and then allows them to get in his head when he isn't dominating..
I think they are trying to trade Mason, yes. I don't know if it will actually happen.Quote:
Originally Posted by Leetonidas
Rather than coasting, I think it's more a matter of holding the ball too long. When he goes against better players, he knows he has to make quick decisions. When he goes smaller/weaker defenders, he has tended to hold onto the ball while relying on overpowering rather than quickness and decisiveness -- which leads to forced shots and turnovers.Quote:
Originally Posted by HarlemHeat37
And I think it's more a matter of size or strength than defensive talent because the ultimate example of that this year was against Chuck Hayes.
that would be stupid. he is the best clutch player they have...the rest of this team couldn't win a game to save their lives...Quote:
Originally Posted by Kori Ellis
what a tragedy...
On the other side of the coin, was I the only one who wanted to jump off a bridge when Pop put Finley in at the end of the third quarter right when the Spurs were starting to play pretty well? Finley hadn't played all night and hasn't hit a shot in months, yet Pop decides that's the time to put him in.
:hang
My concern has always been that the two new acquisitions for the season have been mostly mediocre. They were supposed to help and push when the big three were not doing fine, but the big three have more or less done enough given their physical troubles. Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess haven't, on the other hand, justified their pay.
And the injuries to Bonner and Finley, the continued slump of Roger Mason's has meant that the supporting cast has been weakened as well.
The Spurs are therefore hanging in playoff contention mostly because of decent play by its Top 3 and occasional good stuff from youngsters Hill and Blair.
That means that any improvement through trade has to go through either improving the supporting cast by casting away either of Mason/Finley/Bonner or some of them and expect RJ/Dice to deliver as time goes on; or think big and cut from Mason/Finley/Bonner including one of RJ/Dice for a return of a shot blocking Big and a good Wing/defender.