Originally Posted by
GSH
I'm having a hard time putting this into words, without sounding like a total homer. But here goes...
In the major leagues, the batters can all adjust to 95mph fastballs. If that's all you're bringing, you are going to get pounded after a while. I think one of the strengths this Spurs offense has, over the old Suns, is that they can change gears. The Suns were a one trick pony. If you could slow them down, you could beat them. The Spurs can slow it down, but they can also explode for a bunch of points in a hurry. And they can still play defense when they're putting up points.
I've watched them exchange quick buckets and wild misses with other teams for a while, and the whole games just starts looking sloppy. Then the Spurs sort of quietly tighten up, while the other team keeps playing sloppy. A few quick baskets, and a few defensive stops later, the Spurs have totally opened the game up.
I've also watched them plod along with the other team, and then suddenly explode for several quick scores before the other team senses the change. This Spurs team is about as explosive as any team I have ever seen.
I don't think it's a coincidence. I'm sure Pop would like to be playing stifling defense all the time, but he doesn't have the horses to do that right now. But they have a hell of a lot of offensive firepower, and I think they have the ability to play good defense for stretches. And I'm pretty sure that's all by design. It's more a feel for the flow of games, than something I can point directly at. But I think Pop is putting a lot into keeping opponents off balance, as opposed to trying to bulldoze them.
If someone asked him about that in an interview, he'd probably make some pissed off remark about how they don't intentionally slack off, just to lull the other team to sleep. But I think he's using more players, and grouping them to keep changing the tempo, size, offense, defense, etc. I've watched him in those periods where we just keep exchanging baskets, and he doesn't look like he's about to have a stroke like he has in the past. I think he's finally adapting the system to personnel, rather than plugging players into the system.