Random thoughts following back-to-back losses in Utah and Portland ...

At least the Boston Celtics will not be fresh either as they also play tonight in Houston before coming to SA on Saturday

NBA
San Antonio Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers: Postgame Grades and Analysis



http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1...nalysis/page/8

Agree or disagree?

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Originally Posted by Boomersgold

Agree or disagree?

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Were Aldrige and Hickson really that good?

We have a huge hole at SF right now and our game to win was the Utah game. Not really gripping...

No worries... back to back road games in December..

Not worried AT ALL. We came into these 2 losses with the best record in the league. Tim & Tony are looking like monsters, Manu is working himself back into shape still & we are still missing our defensive stud and Jack. The Utah game we lost with a 3 pointer by mo Williams @ the buzzer and then had a back to back @ Portland where we find it hard to win anyway. Once we make it through these tough stretches we'll be alright. The highlight of all this mess is like what you said, we get pretty much a home stand in March. We're finishing with a top 3 seed.

Can't believe anyone would worry. Even the best teams in NBA history have lost two games in a row. Especially on a long and wearisome road trip. No big deal and should be expected.

I've watched 100's of spurs games and somehow i've never been more disgusted with a particular game then i was with that one. (@ Portland, though blowing an 8 point lead with the 2nd best offensive team in 3 minutes in pretty bad)

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Originally Posted by cd98

Can't believe anyone would worry. Even the best teams in NBA history have lost two games in a row. Especially on a long and wearisome road trip. No big deal and should be expected.

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I agree. Those two losses are meaningless, except fans don't like to lose games.

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Originally Posted by DMC

I agree. Those two losses are meaningless, except fans don't like to lose games.

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I somehow get the feeling the Spurs manage to play low-scoring yet more interesting games against good teams (or teams perceived as good, see the Lakers) this season.

OTOH against fringe playoff teams like Utah or Portland they manage to beat the Spurs... just when they're dead tired on the tail end of a back-to-back that's the end of a four-game road trip in all four American time zones. OKC has had only 8 road games and no real road trips to worry about, same with Memphis.

That's why I think Golden State's 15-7 start has been pretty impressive.

Utah is good at home, the Spurs were still close (without Jack and Kawhi).
In Portland, Parker and specially Duncan were tired. No other player stepped up. Manu and Diaw were throwing passes to the stands. Like 20 TO's and was still close.

The Spurs left various sharpshooters wide open on the perimeter.

The only thought that I can have is that Blair is completely worthless, offensively and defensively.

It was a nightmare to watch him trying to guard Aldridge and he adds nothing offensively. Not a slightly improvement since his rookie year. Without Kawhi and Jack, Pop should really consider play BIG with Diaw/Splitter/Timmy. Neal is better off the bench and Blair is worthless.

I completely agree that the Spurs are really feeling the effects of not having SJax and Leonard. I've been surprised that the team has played as well as it has without those two, tbh. These last two games would have been wins, and we'll defiintely miss them against OKC. I can't see us defending those guys without our wings. Hopefully they're back soon.

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...82199593_n.jpg

And Splitter can pass, btw. Pop has to unleash him.

considering the losses so far were all games the spurs were still in it till the final minute...

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Originally Posted by Bruno

I'm more and more thinking Pop should give the backup PG permanently to Joseph. He is the only Spur with all the tools to be a good in that role. He might not be ready right now but he will grow by getting a consistent role and consistent playing time. In 30/40 games, Spurs have a good chance of having a nice backup PG.

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Before the season started I was very interested in Joseph getting a shot at earning the job because of his defense. The fact that he can also dribble the ball and play PG is a bonus for me. I don't think we need the backup PG to be a scorer at all. If we really, really need offense in a specific game then Pop can run Gary at PG every now and then, more as a part time thing though. He shouldn't do it on a full time basis.

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Originally Posted by TDMVPDPOY

considering the losses so far were all games the spurs were still in it till the final minute...

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only one blowout at Staples vs. the Clips ... but as you said that the promising part about the losses ... but that was also the case in the WCF in games 4-6 ...

A losing streak can be a good thing if it wakes up the Spurs front office to make an upgrade on the frontline. This team is going no where in the playoffs as it is constructed. It is the same team as last year.

Last second wins and overtime game wins like the Spurs were putting up just hides the realization that they still need to strengthen the frontline if they have any hopes to go far in the playoffs.

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Originally Posted by TDMVPDPOY

considering the losses so far were all games the spurs were still in it till the final minute...

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The Spurs have won more games in the last minute than they have lost.

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Originally Posted by rascal

The Spurs have won more games in the last minute than they have lost.

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I didn't think it was a great decision by Pop to keep going to the starters when he obviously knew that they were fatigued. The starters would start by giving the other team the lead, the bench would then tie it up only for the starters to come back in the fourth and lose the game.

We are all just spoiled to be complaining at all. 18-6. No Kahwi no Jack, clearly tired. I think for the most part the D made both teams take the shots they wanted them to take unfortunetly they hit them. We never win in portland so who cares. The jazz had revenge to motivate and it still took a fluke for them to win. We played like dogshit last night, portland played over their head and we still had a shot. No worries Splitter is finally coming around and Timmy found the fountain of youth. Go Spurs!

Also did anyone consider they're probably get a little bored with the reg season and are no where near where they're going to be in march, april.

I was also thinking along those same lines. As for this most recent road game, I thought Pop would have tried giving Cory a run at trying to slow down Blazers rookie phemon PG, Damion Lillard. After all, nobody else on the Spurs was capable of slowing that kid down.

Duncan, Parker and Splitter are playing like bosses, so I'm not worried. Manu is cruising, but he'll pick it up after the all-star break. Everyone else has time to get healthy, be it physically or mentally (looking at you Diaw).