In each of our last 4 title runs----

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Originally Posted by Amuseddaysleeper

Uhhh Hornets series in 2008?

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True. We made up for it the very next game 1 against the Lakers.

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Originally Posted by bklynspursfan

Eh. Aldridge missing all those easy open shots is a bit fluky

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Might be, but are we sure? Dude missed close shots all season long. Used to make me angry :lol

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Originally Posted by tmtcsc

Yep. You just can't scratch your head and stick your tongue out of the side of your mouth and expect people to follow you. You have to be sort of vocal right?

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One game away from being 0-2 in the playoffs with Leonard as team leader. Memphis, quite possibly the worst playoff team in NBA history doesn't count unless you're into technicalities. You don't have to be vocal but, you have to show up in the 4th quarter of the biggest game of the year.

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Originally Posted by bklynspursfan

Eh. Aldridge missing all those easy open shots is a bit fluky

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so is shooting 90%. Then again Ibaka always does that

As long a Pop is coaching the way he has this series, we have no chance. True, the refs were atrocious last night, but Pop with the shitty lineup, allow OKC to get back in the game.

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Originally Posted by bklynspursfan

It's easy to say it's over and we have no shot. But it almost feels like aside from the horrid officiating last night, the game was lost do to our own doing. Starting slow, not hustling for rebounds/loose balls, and missing some great looks. Yes rebounding will be an issue, but despite that huge edge, it was a 1 possession game late. There are other things we can do better.

Not ready to give up just yet

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I think much of the "it's over" talk isn't aimed at just this series. I think this incarnation of the Spurs is over tbh. It was a failed experiment because of Tony & Tim's decline, Mills & Green's poor shooting year and the lack of athletic bigs who can rebound. West added great experience and was a nice piece but he shouldn't be counted on to play entire 4th quarters and rack up so many minutes. Kyle Anderson had some nice moments this year and Simmons added some excitement but neither of those guys has done anything in the playoffs.

Of course the Spurs can come back and force a game 7. Hell they might even win the series, but what awaits them in Golden State will not be pretty. The Spurs aren't ready or equipped to handle them anymore. Cleveland is playing better than the Spurs too. That's the meaning of "it's over" to me. Instead of dicking around with the likes of OKC, I expected a Championship caliber Spurs team to have routed them. Instead you see players not shooting the damn ball and causing "shot clock" violations. You see uncertainty in players eyes as to what their roles should be. Patty Mills isn't a point guard for fucks sake. He's a small shooting guard.

That's just one example. On top of it all, I think the Spurs lack the will to win. They don't even look like they care (Eh hem - Diaw). TP steps up to the FT line and misses the second one after the first barely falls in . He then proceeds to take the last shot of the game when he clearly isn't the best option anymore. They don't know their roles and aren't comfortable with the one Pop assigns them.

What many of you forget about that Hornets series is that Duncan had the flu for the first four games. The lead for New Orleans was artificial. The Spurs are as healthy as they've ever been for a playoff run and they're having their asses handed to them in crunchtime.

They were never down 3-2 in a series on previous championship runs,because they were too good for that.

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Originally Posted by tmtcsc

I think much of the "it's over" talk isn't aimed at just this series. I think this incarnation of the Spurs is over tbh. It was a failed experiment because of Tony & Tim's decline, Mills & Green's poor shooting year and the lack of athletic bigs who can rebound. West added great experience and was a nice piece but he shouldn't be counted on to play entire 4th quarters and rack up so many minutes. Kyle Anderson had some nice moments this year and Simmons added some excitement but neither of those guys has done anything in the playoffs.

Of course the Spurs can come back and force a game 7. Hell they might even win the series, but what awaits them in Golden State will not be pretty. The Spurs aren't ready or equipped to handle them anymore. Cleveland is playing better than the Spurs too. That's the meaning of "it's over" to me. Instead of dicking around with the likes of OKC, I expected a Championship caliber Spurs team to have routed them. Instead you see players not shooting the damn ball and causing "shot clock" violations. You see uncertainty in players eyes as to what their roles should be. Patty Mills isn't a point guard for fucks sake. He's a small shooting guard.

That's just one example. On top of it all, I think the Spurs lack the will to win. They don't even look like they care (Eh hem - Diaw). TP steps up to the FT line and misses the second one after the first barely falls in . He then proceeds to take the last shot of the game when he clearly isn't the best option anymore. They don't know their roles and aren't comfortable with the one Pop assigns them.

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I hear what you're saying, and I get it. Not that it's the same in anyway, but we looked similar in the first round against Dallas a couple years ago. If by some miracle we come back to win this, who knows what happens.

I somewhat disagree about Parker though. He's been shooting it well the last couple games, and he had a wide open look. The last play was supposed to be LMA catching it in the corner, Kawhi cutting to the basket and LMA hitting him for an easy layup/dunk. (they've used a similar play but it's usually Duncan to Manu) OKC followed him all the way through, so LMA went back to Parker. He had a wide open look and it just didn't fall. At that point, I would've been happy with Parker or Kawhi taking the potential game tying shot. You really can't ask for a much better shot. Kawhi seemingly ran out of gas, again in the 4th. I mean he's working so hard on both ends, it's sad he's not getting enough support.

Maybe they'll come back. I'm not ready to call it a failure just yet... We will tell a lot about their character once the ball tips tomorrow

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Originally Posted by bklynspursfan

We will tell a lot about their character once the ball tips tomorrow

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Agreed 100%. I see tomorrow's game as a character game too. Manu is no longer the Manu of yesteryear but he's still one of the most competitive and smartest guys on the team. He deserves more minutes than usual because he's good at making others better. They need the offense to flow better and I think he's one of the keys.

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Originally Posted by Hoops Czar

To my knowledge, the Spurs have never come back in a series trailing 3-2 in the best of seven. Once they choke, they're done.

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You can always have a first but your right the Spurs never seem to pull these feats off.

This almost feels like when we lost game 6 - '13.

Once it was done, you just knew we weren't coming back.

I hope I'm wrong here.

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Originally Posted by bklynspursfan

I hear what you're saying, and I get it. Not that it's the same in anyway, but we looked similar in the first round against Dallas a couple years ago. If by some miracle we come back to win this, who knows what happens.

I somewhat disagree about Parker though. He's been shooting it well the last couple games, and he had a wide open look. The last play was supposed to be LMA catching it in the corner, Kawhi cutting to the basket and LMA hitting him for an easy layup/dunk. (they've used a similar play but it's usually Duncan to Manu) OKC followed him all the way through, so LMA went back to Parker. He had a wide open look and it just didn't fall. At that point, I would've been happy with Parker or Kawhi taking the potential game tying shot. You really can't ask for a much better shot. Kawhi seemingly ran out of gas, again in the 4th. I mean he's working so hard on both ends, it's sad he's not getting enough support.

Maybe they'll come back. I'm not ready to call it a failure just yet... We will tell a lot about their character once the ball tips tomorrow

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We didn't see much action between Kawhi and LMA in the regular season. Fans were calling for a 2 man game between them. Maybe Pop was saving it for the postseason but at times I felt like they needed chemistry of their own to build up to this point.

This felt like a transition year to me anyways.

It's ovah...

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Originally Posted by SAGirl

This felt like a transition year to me anyways.

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This. I thought our bench was too depleted and that LMA would need time. Then we went 67-15. I think it turns out we over-achieved. If RC can fill out the bench and get a legit center to replace an aging Timmy, we may be BETTER than this year even if we don't have the record.

That said. This year isn't over yet.

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Originally Posted by BillMc

This. I thought our bench was too depleted and that LMA would need time. Then we went 67-15. I think it turns out we over-achieved. If RC can fill out the bench and get a legit center to replace an aging Timmy, we may be BETTER than this year even if we don't have the record.

That said. This year isn't over yet.

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Finally, a poster with perspective. The team was built to lure Aldridge away from Portland and put a mish-mash of players together that were hopefully good enough to challenge the Warriors, Clippers and Thunder.

They did just that but didn't have enough financially to pick up the last needed pieces (another reliable wing player and a quality 4th big man), so they are where they are. Doesn't mean this season hasn't been a success - it totally has been - they just will likely not get the grand prize.

And losing Belinelli, Baynes and Joseph was far more crippling to our depth than anyone could have imagined.

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Originally Posted by J_Paco

Finally, a poster with perspective. The team was built to lure Aldridge away from Portland and put a mish-mash of players together that were hopefully good enough to challenge the Warriors, Clippers and Thunder.

They did just that but didn't have enough financially to pick up the last needed pieces (another reliable wing player and a quality 4th big man), so they are where they are. Doesn't mean this season hasn't been a success - it totally has been - they just will likely not get the grand prize.

And losing Belinelli, Baynes and Joseph was far more crippling to our depth than anyone could have imagined.

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Well said. Regarding another big, I find myself (and I know I'm going to get razzed for this) hoping we can pick up Dwight Howard in the offseason. His interview on TNT showed a maturation I'd never seen before. If he just wants to win, and is willing to rebound and play defense without worrying about touches, then he might be what we need. His salary and sincerity in this regard are big issues though. LaMarcus also is notorious for quickly becoming unhappy, and he and Dwight in one locker room could be too much. So, it probably won't happen. Which leaves us looking at whom? Noah isn't really a difference maker anymore. Pau? Too old. Holford? As someone said he'd be useful against the Warriors. But Howard for all is flaws might be the best acquisition. Can't believe I'm saying it. It's like last call and the unattractive girls are suddenly looking cuter. :lol

Never, ever, trailed 3-2 and won in a championship year.

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Originally Posted by hater

Robert Horry ain't walking through that door

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But Bonner is

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Originally Posted by SAGirl

We didn't see much action between Kawhi and LMA in the regular season. Fans were calling for a 2 man game between them. Maybe Pop was saving it for the postseason but at times I felt like they needed chemistry of their own to build up to this point.

This felt like a transition year to me anyways.

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Originally Posted by BillMc

This. I thought our bench was too depleted and that LMA would need time. Then we went 67-15. I think it turns out we over-achieved. If RC can fill out the bench and get a legit center to replace an aging Timmy, we may be BETTER than this year even if we don't have the record.

That said. This year isn't over yet.

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Issue is that the Spurs don't have the advantage of having their entire rotation on bargain contracts. I've said this before, but Kawhi and Green getting raises, LMA getting the max and the Greybreads having their declines means that everyone is pretty much getting paid what they're worth. That caused a noticeable talent drain on the roster. It'd be worse if the Spurs move for a max player this summer. The team needs to rebuild its depth, and to do that, they actually need to draft well and develop guys on cheap, long-term contracts. The off-season needs to be about refilling the coffers, not going for another big name.

That said, obviously the cap room that the Spurs will actually end up having ($11-17 Million) should go toward one player who can be part of the immediate core. But they can't keep passing on prospects to bring in old-asses like Martin and Miller or low-ceiling players like Simmons. They're going to have to deal with rookie mistakes for a while, because that's the only way their talent level will increase up to their 2013 peak.

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Originally Posted by itzsoweezee

what a massive shitstorm that lineup was. Donovan is completely dominating the supposed greatest coach of all time

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LMAO and they erased my thread about Pop getting beat by a rookie coach....fuken idiots

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Originally Posted by Chinook

Another fun fact is that the Spurs have lost a series in every year they didn't win the title during the Duncan era.

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Next you're going to say the Spurs have had more seasons where they lost their last playoff game than seasons where they won their last playoff game.

I don't know how people can say the Spurs aren't hustling. The effort is there... and that's probably why the Spurs haven't gotten blown out yet. The issues the Spurs have is just something you can't really fix by watching game tape.

Spurs have been keeping their turnovers under 10 a game while OKC turnovers have been double that. That's a huge difference. So the Spurs can't improve there when they are already almost prefect.

Spurs 3 point shot is also reverting back to the average with Green playing well.

Defense has been great with holding Durant to mortal numbers and holding Westbrook to terrible percentages.

The problem is bench play and OKC's bigs slaughtering the Spurs bigs. West and Diaw can't magically grow 3 inches overnight. And the Spurs bench is consists of: West: who keeps passing instead of shooting his career making jumper, Anderson: who doesn't contribute anything to the offense, Diaw: who can't post up against 7 footers, Ginobili: who is 38 years old, and Mills: who has completely lost his confidence. The only players that can theoretically contribute to the offense is Boban and Simmons who should have been inserted into the lineup in game 4.

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Originally Posted by Chinook

Issue is that the Spurs don't have the advantage of having their entire rotation on bargain contracts. I've said this before, but Kawhi and Green getting raises, LMA getting the max and the Greybreads having their declines means that everyone is pretty much getting paid what they're worth. That caused a noticeable talent drain on the roster. It'd be worse if the Spurs move for a max player this summer. The team needs to rebuild its depth, and to do that, they actually need to draft well and develop guys on cheap, long-term contracts. The off-season needs to be about refilling the coffers, not going for another big name.

That said, obviously the cap room that the Spurs will actually end up having ($11-17 Million) should go toward one player who can be part of the immediate core. But they can't keep passing on prospects to bring in old-asses like Martin and Miller or low-ceiling players like Simmons. They're going to have to deal with rookie mistakes for a while, because that's the only way their talent level will increase up to their 2013 peak.

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I agree with you with regard to having to develop players and rebuild depth through the draft looking for roleplayers. They have sacrificed that to spare cap space the past few years and make a final push for a championship in Timmy's twilight. That got us a championship and a finals appearance so it was right at the time, but no more. The team's decline, as you say is directly tied to the decline of the big 3 and the guys who are in their primes and now getting paid (I include Danny there) have to carry a larger burden while the team rebuilds its depth with younger guys.

I agree with you guys like LJC might have been very good roleplayers by now if they were brought in earlier. Bertans could be a very good contributor hopefully. They could have been better to carry in the roster than a Daye or Ayres. Even Jamychal Green would have been better. Those potential development spots were squandered and obviously not all development projects pan out. At one point maybe Spurs were hopeful they could develop those two into contributors but they had a very low ceiling.

I thought they got Ayres bc they were looking for an athletic big and he had experience, yet an unknown like J.Green was also athletic and a better prospect. It's time they go for the younger guys even if they need more time to contribute.

We will have to go through some growing pains bc the big 3 in their twighlight were still good enough to win games while allowing Pop to develop young talent who we now rely heavily on (Kawhi and Danny both) The current vet core will have to be similar in allowing Pop to develop guys into roles as well and its unrealistic to expect them to come in ready made at a young age. I suspect a lot of bitching here. Anyways, I hope Pop is up for it. I saw him very engaged this season coaching the rooks and the younger guy we have.

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Originally Posted by Chinook

Another fun fact is that the Spurs have lost a series in every year they didn't win the title during the Duncan era.

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