Re: Brutally Honest Truths
Quote:
Originally Posted by
HarlemHeat37
I don't necessarily agree about the "new NBA"..we won a title with the same hand-checking rules in 2007 and we could have easily won in 2006..we lost because of our offense in 2008..
The Spurs simply fucked up by not tweaking the roster to fit with the AGING big 3..it makes sense to surround your big 3 with old veterans that play specific roles to compliment them when the big 3 are young and in their primes..Duncan was enough to anchor the paint all by himself, Manu and Parker were 2 of the best slashers in the NBA..you can get away with having great specialists like Bowen and Horry when your main players are young and in their primes..
Once the big 3 got old though, why would the FO decide to surround them with more old players?..how does that make any sense?..Duncan is 33 years old and has been past his prime for the last few years, but their plan to protect the paint was to surround him with Kurt Thomas, Antonio McDyess, and an aging Fab Oberto?..how does that make any sense?..trading a 27-year old Scola?!..Ian can't even get a minute?!..
Bruce Bowen's successor was supposed to be a 30 year old in Ime fucking Udoka?..instead of giving Hairston a chance this year, they had to sign 30-year old veteran journeyman Keith Bogans?!..Michael Finley has barely been able to move for the last few years, yet he's still playing significant minutes?!..
Look at the immediate impact we've seen in Hill and Blair..it's mind-boggling that they didn't surround our big 3 with younger players as the big 3 got older..this team still has an old-ass mentality..it doesn't take a genius to figure this out..
I realize the Spurs haven't been in the lottery so it's more difficult to find young talent, but that doesn't excuse anything..we already had stars the last few years, we just needed younger role players to surround them with..the young players on this team don't even get a chance unless we have no other options..
+1
With the alarming decline of the big 3 this year, Pop needs to put a good amount of athletes on the floor with these guys to prop up their declining athleticism.. not guys like Bonner, Bogans, and Finley.
Re: Brutally Honest Truths
Quote:
Originally Posted by
HarlemHeat37
It's very possible that Pop's system is done, but I don't think it is..we finished with a good record last season despite so many injuries and despite starting mediocre players like Roger Mason, Michael Finley and Matt Bonner..despite having very little quality of depth off the bench..
It's possible though..of course we won't know if Pop's system needs an adjustment or whether we just need young players on the team..we won't know this because Pop won't ever play a lineup of more than 2 young players unless he has no other options..
Which one of the two Pop systems are you talking about? The one that won us 4 championships or the garbage we've been playing for a couple of seasons now?
Re: Brutally Honest Truths
Quote:
Originally Posted by
HarlemHeat37
It's very possible that Pop's system is done, but I don't think it is..we finished with a good record last season despite so many injuries and despite starting mediocre players like Roger Mason, Michael Finley and Matt Bonner..despite having very little quality of depth off the bench..
It's possible though..of course we won't know if Pop's system needs an adjustment or whether we just need young players on the team..we won't know this because Pop won't ever play a lineup of more than 2 young players unless he has no other options..
He'll have to sooner rather than later.
With Manu out the door this summer, RJ sucking and hopefully traded, and the triumverate of Bonner, Mason and Finley all expiring, the door will likely be forced open for a total roster rebuild.
Personally, I believe this coach and FO will have to face the "shock" of missing the playoffs for them to really get it. If they're foolish enough to still believe the window is still open, I guarantee you that missing the playoffs will sober them up quick.
Re: Brutally Honest Truths
This is 75% on POP...Hear me out.
Keith Bogans- When we signed him the last mintue of the offseason, I was like ok..decent shooter, and decent defender. But we didnt need him....and all he did was crowd our wings. Which is exactly what he has done this year. Taking away PT from players that contribute. People talk trash about Finley and Mason, but those guys can shoot and have hit HUGE shots for this team the past couple of years. Bogans hasnt hit shit since College. He is overrated defender is by far our worst shooting guard. And he cant create for other either......You cant take this team serioulsy when Keith MUTHA FUCKING Bogans is getting PT. Sorry
Bigs- I really thought we had alot of options this year with our bigs....But DAMN was I wrong about that. Pop really fucked this one up. BAD! We didnt cough up our Mid-level for another "role player" did we??? (McDyess). I mean if I knew that was the case we might as well have stuck with Bonner with our starting big. Oh and we got LUCKY with Blair...Oh god I cannot fucking imagine....Ian doesn't miss a shot, yet cant see the court. I have heard all the excuses from the FO for not giving him any CHANCE...Could go down as the worst 1st rd pick in franchise history..and its not all his fault. I blame the FO for not even giving this kid a chance. Same goes for Haslip, yeah apparently he sucks..then WTF did we give him a contract??? Nuff said. And im sure Ratliff could be used for his defense, something none of our bigs can play except Timmy.
Richard Jefferson- Im easy on him unlike most of yall. He has been put into a position to fail. We ALLLLLL knew he could not come on this team and be our 3rd or 4th scoring option...it just wouldnt work. He isnt that type of player. He needs to be your 1st or 2nd option. Period. If he isn't shouldnt be on your team, and yes he is over paid lol..but thats not the point. He is on our team so we have to make the best of it, which Pop has not done at all.
So ya POP fuckin sucks. Just like he did 00-02
Re: Brutally Honest Truths
Re: Brutally Honest Truths
Quote:
Originally Posted by
coachmac87
Keith Bogans- When we signed him the last mintue of the offseason, I was like ok..decent shooter, and decent defender. But we didnt need him....and all he did was crowd our wings. Which is exactly what he has done this year. Taking away PT from players that contribute. People talk trash about Finley and Mason, but those guys can shoot and have hit HUGE shots for this team the past couple of years. Bogans hasnt hit shit since College. He is overrated defender is by far our worst shooting guard. And he cant create for other either......You cant take this team serioulsy when Keith MUTHA FUCKING Bogans is getting PT. Sorry
Please! You're spewing venom about the wrong guy. The deficiency at the wing positions is, and has been, a MAJOR issue with this team - and this has got nothing to do with Bogans. He no longer starts anyway and has given way to George Hill at SG. Hill is a very good player, but he's still undersized and shouldn't be used as the Spurs primary defensive stopper. That's another story.
Here's the problem. For years, Pop has favored spot-up shooters, who are slow afoot, cannot defend and have not provided much else in terms of skill set or contributions. In fact, the common thread with these guys is that if they're not shooting well, they become instant liabilities. Finley and Mason are virtually one-trick ponies. Finley is old, past his prime and should've been gone 2 years ago. Mason is one-dimensional, inconsistent and cannot get to the rim. These guys, and guys like them before, have been featured way too prominently on this team for too many years. While a stream of more athletic players have entered the NBA at those positions, Pop has countered by staying the course, while watching his precious spot-up shooters get torched on the other end of the court. I've said this for a couple of years now because Pop has subscribed to this flawed philosophy for several years. There's nothing wrong with have a spot-up shooter or two, but having 3-4 players who do the same thing and have the same limitations is just absurd.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
coachmac87
Bigs- I really thought we had alot of options this year with our bigs....But DAMN was I wrong about that. Pop really fucked this one up. BAD! We didnt cough up our Mid-level for another "role player" did we??? (McDyess). I mean if I knew that was the case we might as well have stuck with Bonner with our starting big. Oh and we got LUCKY with Blair...Oh god I cannot fucking imagine....Ian doesn't miss a shot, yet cant see the court. I have heard all the excuses from the FO for not giving him any CHANCE...Could go down as the worst 1st rd pick in franchise history..and its not all his fault. I blame the FO for not even giving this kid a chance. Same goes for Haslip, yeah apparently he sucks..then WTF did we give him a contract??? Nuff said. And im sure Ratliff could be used for his defense, something none of our bigs can play except Timmy.
Now I have to agree with you totally on that one. The frontcourt depth would've been set had Pop simply allowed Ian to get some court time. Ratliff isn't playing anyway, so what would it hurt. I'm just as pissed about that as anyone. With the way Dice has struggled, I'm now even wondering why they allowed Gooden to simply walk away.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
coachmac87
Richard Jefferson- Im easy on him unlike most of yall. He has been put into a position to fail. We ALLLLLL knew he could not come on this team and be our 3rd or 4th scoring option...it just wouldnt work. He isnt that type of player. He needs to be your 1st or 2nd option. Period. If he isn't shouldnt be on your team, and yes he is over paid lol..but thats not the point. He is on our team so we have to make the best of it, which Pop has not done at all.
Yeah, I was a big RJ proponent from the beginning. I thought he would be a perfect fit. I've come around to realize that he doesn't fit and I've been really hard on him. You're right. He didn't ask to come here and perhaps Pop and RC should've done more homework on him - seeing as how it appears that Scott Skiles and the Bucks FO were so desparate to see him gone. That said, you have to put some blame on RJ for his failed performances. It's not going to work out for him here. He needs to be traded soon. If not now, then definitely over the summer.
Re: Brutally Honest Truths
As I'm watching the nuggets totally dismantle the mavericks tonight, I'm seeing George Karl is finding ways to use his young big, Johan Petro, and get solid contributions and yet Ian can't see the light of day.
Re: Brutally Honest Truths
And Petro ironically is from France as well.
:lol
Re: Brutally Honest Truths
I think we can agree that winning covers up a lot of faults. The converse is that losing conjures up a lot of faults, warts, problems, complaints that are imaginary.
I don't think one can rightly criticize a coach who has won as much as Pop has, with the players he has had. This team has been stacked for many years, but never as stacked as LA this year, Boston the last couple years, LA with Kobe-Shaq, or even Dallas when they were really good.
Our complaints about the role players are also just marginal. They are competent enough. Championships have been won with benches just as mediocre.
The simple problems are that Parker and Ginobili have declined because of injury. They are the stars; they are who matter. You bring them to what they were a couple years ago and we are right back in the mix. Maybe not as good as LA or Cleveland, but those teams are stacked.
RJ was never the answer. He is a volume shooter with average all-around skills, just taking time away from better players. And he's expensive.
Re: Brutally Honest Truths
I wish we would get away from shooting so many threes. It's been the old cliche, live by the three die by the three. I think it's a big part of why we go into offensive droughts. IMO Pop's affection with the 3 ball, is also why some of the youth hasn't gotten the playing time. I think there is a direct correlation between good three point shooters and non-athletic players, particularly with the Spurs.
It's great if you can mix it up and penetrate off of faking a three, like the Manu of old, but that rarely happens now.
Re: Brutally Honest Truths
Sad truths but truths we are all probably realizing.. I just hope that we can pull something out...
Re: Brutally Honest Truths
Re: Brutally Honest Truths
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Phenomanul
Did BELIEVE die?
No, the 2 man game died. The Spurs lived off that last year with Duncan/Manu, Duncan/Parker and Duncan/Mason. I've seen it run two or three times at the most this year.
Re: Brutally Honest Truths
Quote:
Originally Posted by
michaelwcho
I think we can agree that winning covers up a lot of faults. The converse is that losing conjures up a lot of faults, warts, problems, complaints that are imaginary.
I don't think one can rightly criticize a coach who has won as much as Pop has, with the players he has had. This team has been stacked for many years, but never as stacked as LA this year, Boston the last couple years, LA with Kobe-Shaq, or even Dallas when they were really good.
Our complaints about the role players are also just marginal. They are competent enough. Championships have been won with benches just as mediocre.
The simple problems are that Parker and Ginobili have declined because of injury. They are the stars; they are who matter. You bring them to what they were a couple years ago and we are right back in the mix. Maybe not as good as LA or Cleveland, but those teams are stacked.
RJ was never the answer. He is a volume shooter with average all-around skills, just taking time away from better players. And he's expensive.
Here's the response,..
The absolute is winning doesn't cover faults / flaws it solidifies a lack of the considerable faults and flaws. Wondering how long you've been a Spurs fan it's to be pointed out that Parker nor Ginobili aren't thee stars. They never were they've established themselves as core co-stars along side Tim Duncan,..the star of stars is Timmy D and it's without question.
The Parker and Ginobili injuries have cost floor minutes but they're not disabled due to any lingering effect of them either,..aged wear and tear, developing opponents talent and scouting is creating a opposition.
The championship years of the Spurs was as talented as any team that's ever won a championship outside of a one man juggernaut called Micheal Jordan's Bulls,..co-staring Scottie Pippin, Dennis Rodman and a host of role playing shooters and help rebounders.
Also there's no immunity here and that contention that Popovich merits a pass utterance is as shoddy as this teams current record.
Also Richard Jefferson isn't a volume shooter he's a total floor game smallish SF that will only impact matchups in a open floor transition game that gives him the opportunity to attack and challenge,..and that's not Popovich's style.
Lastly Popovich and Buford did a poor job of structuring this cast and there's no doubt about it. Where to top it off no excuse holds water in trying to refute that,..watch the games and that's crystal clear.
Re: Brutally Honest Truths
I'm watch LA game
F I got pissed ! I will be back with that tomorrow or just after Nuggets game
