Quick Grades: Spurs vs. Hornets - Dec. 21

The TD/TS combo has been quite dominent inside. By the time 2nd half rolls around opposing D's are adjusting by crowding the laneway and in this game doubling the post whether it was Tim or Tiago. Sean elliott
hinted at this when Tiago got the ball and travelled on the double team. You had Tony Parker making the entry pass which was the first mistake but the second time through Tiago you had Danny Green making the cut. Should be Green or Neal making the entry and Tony doing the cutting.


Now it's up to the head of the snake and coach POp to adjust.

Work in progress really. Hopefully Pop doesn't panic by taking Tiagio out of the starting line-up chasing that all too famliar Spacing. That might be the quick-fix but doesn take into account the big-picture. The Spurs offense is evolving.

In the second part of the second quarter Pop went with last year starting lineup and it dominated immediately, actually the best ball movement of the night was a quick passing sequence between TP Tim Boris for an open 3pter by KY. We also went on big runs with TP Nando Boris playing at the same time in the last few games.

I think Pop is serious about Tim Tiago but my eyes tells it just isn't a great fit at least with a one dimensional shooter like Green at the 2, even with Tiago playing out of his mind like he is currently.

I think that starting De Colo could be an idea that that could make the twin towers work. One could argue that we only lost the WCF because of Danny Green choking but Pop is giving him more minutes than ever... I'd rather bet on Nando's playmaking than on Green's shooting over a 7 game series.

Pop tried shortening the bigs rotation, but what about shortening the guards rotation as well? Goods things rarely happen without one of TP Nando or Manu, obviously that kind of move should happen after the trade deadline if they want to move some guards tho.

Last year strength had everything to do with the ball movement, we're lucky enough to have gotten another playmaker on the level of Boris or close enough, if you take him out and don't put another one in things will get stagnant and we will look like a middle of the pack pretender...

Manu could start as well obviously, could arguably be an even better idea.

Also feels like the bad combination of Boris Tiago should only happen with KY at the 3 to try to make up for the lack of rebounding of that frontline.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Paranoid Pop

Manu could start as well obviously, could arguably be an even better idea.

---

That would be the solution in my book. Maximise Manu's strength to run the pick and roll better with Tiago. Too many times i see Tony miss Tiago on the roll or drive into where Tiago's rolling. It happened a few times in the Hornets game. Plus i see the chances of teams leaving Manu open from the three-point line lessen than Green who is streaky at best. Also, like Kawai Manu wont settle for the longshot, cutting and finishing better. In turn you maximise Tiago's passing ability.

The only problem is? Will Pop treat Green as he has done with other former and present players. Will he be concerned how it's going to effect Green's mental capacity coming off the bench?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Slippy

That would be the solution in my book. Maximise Manu's strength to run the pick and roll better with Tiago. Too many times i see Tony miss Tiago on the roll or drive into where Tiago's rolling. It happened a few times in the Hornets game. Plus i see the chances of teams leaving Manu open from the three-point line lessen than Green who is streaky at best. Also, like Kawai Manu wont settle for the longshot, cutting and finishing better. In turn you maximise Tiago's passing ability.

The only problem is? Will Pop treat Green as he has done with other former and present players. Will he be concerned how it's going to effect Green's mental capacity coming off the bench?

---

I think it's the perfect situation for everyone. Manu's going to make the other starters better. Also it takes pressure of Green because he's coming off the bench. I think that pressure got to him against OKC and Pop ended up making that move anyway. It would be stupid to go down the same route if it's avoidable like we've done with Bonner for so long.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by capek

He did a lot of it in Summer League, so it seems like something he's been working on to add to his game. Whether that's him or the coaches obviously it's a smart move. He has such a knack for getting to the ball under the rim, he's so strong and agile, that anything that puts him, with the ball, near the rim is probably going to turn out well. lol

Imagine playing a big lineup of Duncan/Splitter/Diaw, and Kawhi taking the other team's two guard to the block 5 possessions in a row. I don't think Kawhi has any trouble D'ing up NBA two guards, so it'd be like a guaranteed two baskets and then a time out by the opposing team's coach. Now that he's back he can actually start working this stuff into his game at NBA speed, then we'll see how much of the hype is justified (I'm thinking a lot of it :greedy )

---

Uhhh.....



With a lineup of Duncan/Splitter/Diaw, how much real estate do you think Kawhi would have to operate in the paint?


If the Spurs wanted to play through Kawhi in the post, Bonner and Jackson would almost certainly have to be a part of the equation.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by spursmartyr

Uhhh.....



With a lineup of Duncan/Splitter/Diaw, how much real estate do you think Kawhi would have to operate in the paint?


If the Spurs wanted to play through Kawhi in the post, Bonner and Jackson would almost certainly have to be a part of the equation.

---

Diaw in the corner, and Tim/Tiago at the high/low post on one side of the paint, and Tony feeding Kawhi in the block on the other. Kawhi could pass out to Duncan for a baseline J, to a cutting Tiago, or to Diaw for a three. Or take his man to the bucket. Plenty of options if you have a modicum of imagination. Obviously it's not the most balanced of line ups, but I thought I made it clear enough that it was just a fantasy of mine anyway. Like, something that would be fun to see, but not something I actually expect to see.

You see?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by spursmartyr

Uhhh.....



With a lineup of Duncan/Splitter/Diaw, how much real estate do you think Kawhi would have to operate in the paint?


If the Spurs wanted to play through Kawhi in the post, Bonner and Jackson would almost certainly have to be a part of the equation.

---

It would be a strong lineup defensively.