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No. We've become the old Spurs. We've never been the Suns. We don't score 140 a night, nor do our opponents. We aren't the Mavs, we don't have anywhere near the bench production of a JT nor the outside shooting touch of Dirk.
It seems that over the last two seasons the Spurs have become the Phoenix Suns and the old Dallas Mavericks. An offense first minded team that loves the 3. I understand why Pop had to do what he did. The team was aging and wasn't athletic enough to play the defense Pop likes playing. He discovered however if he switched philosophies he would be able to win lots of games. The downside is this just like the Suns and the old Mavs, the Spurs can win lots of games in the regular season BUT this type of basketball is doomed to failure in the playoffs. How many les have the Suns won and how many did the Mavericks win before they adopted a more defensive philosophy (whith Tyson Chandler)? The answer is zero. I'd much rather cede playoff position spots to reclaim our defensive iden y. I am sure most on this board would as well. However if this Spurs team is not athletic enough to be strong on defense, would you guys rather take a chance at missing the playoffs while trying to play Spurs ball or keep going as we are and hope good shooting and home field advantage can move us thru a weaker Western Conference? I am not a life long Spurs fan, I gravitated towards the team during the Robinson/Duncan era because of the way they play ball. I am still a fan even though they don't play that kind of ball now but I'd love to see them go back to Spur defense. Worse comes to worse we get in the draft lottery by being true to what the team is all about...
No. We've become the old Spurs. We've never been the Suns. We don't score 140 a night, nor do our opponents. We aren't the Mavs, we don't have anywhere near the bench production of a JT nor the outside shooting touch of Dirk.
The problem with the defense isn't the age of the players; it's the age of the system and the lack of personnel to execute it properly anymore. The Spurs are still depending upon the same defensive philosophies that made them one of the best defenses in NBA history, and it's hard to argue with that notion. However, they no longer have the perimeter defenders to stop penetration, and they no longer have the interior defense to cover up for them when the perimeter defense gets broken down.
Now we have guys that get consistently get blown by on the perimeter, and interior defense that relies on help from the perimeter defenders to cover it up. This change was made when the lack of interior defense became evident, and while it's necessary to prevent a consistent layup line to the rim, it leads to two things: easy penetration when the defense doesn't collapse soon enough, and open perimeter shots when it does and players don't rotate properly. Basically, the Spurs have to try to cover two spots at once, and when they execute properly, they are still only playing passable defense. When they don't, well...you have nights like tonight.
I agree 100% and I'm the same. I felt when the Spurs got Duncan in '98 they were going to win.It seems that over the last two seasons the Spurs have become the Phoenix Suns and the old Dallas Mavericks. An offense first minded team that loves the 3. I understand why Pop had to do what he did. The team was aging and wasn't athletic enough to play the defense Pop likes playing. He discovered however if he switched philosophies he would be able to win lots of games. The downside is this just like the Suns and the old Mavs, the Spurs can win lots of games in the regular season BUT this type of basketball is doomed to failure in the playoffs. How many les have the Suns won and how many did the Mavericks win before they adopted a more defensive philosophy (whith Tyson Chandler)? The answer is zero. I'd much rather cede playoff position spots to reclaim our defensive iden y. I am sure most on this board would as well. However if this Spurs team is not athletic enough to be strong on defense, would you guys rather take a chance at missing the playoffs while trying to play Spurs ball or keep going as we are and hope good shooting and home field advantage can move us thru a weaker Western Conference? I am not a life long Spurs fan, I gravitated towards the team during the Robinson/Duncan era because of the way they play ball. I am still a fan even though they don't play that kind of ball now but I'd love to see them go back to Spur defense. Worse comes to worse we get in the draft lottery by being true to what the team is all about...
I think to regain any defensive prowess they need to embrace the TP, Manu, KL, TD, TS lineup. It's has the best one on one defenders at each position. The team simply doesn't have the athleticism to play good help defense on the perimeter.
The problem is they give shooters all the space on jumpshots. That's exactly how guys get rolling against the Spurs. They get a couple of layups and then some jumpshots.
They need to change the defensive philosophy. The only option for doing that is going with TD and Splitter and having the perimeter defenders be more aggressive because these guys just can't keep up with anyone. That also means less Bonner/Blair because of the lack of rim protection.
Yes.
Meanwhile the mavs are number one in defensive fg%
I thought the team was doing better with Leonard in the starting lineup (defensively). I also think Neal should start w/ Manu leading the bench unit. I love Green but he's not ready yet IMHO.
Question is how long long is Pop going to stick with his 40+ million dollar malfunctioning fruitcake.
If we could just get Lebron, Wade, CP3 and Howard, we would have a shot.
Pop decided to pay a tribute to Don Nelson....Nellie ball or bust!
Unfortunately...Pop won't ever get fired...strange but he has become the ONLY coach in all of pro sports who is untouchable...
this is making him quite unbearable.
is there any practical things, so no Dwight Howard for RJ and Blair talk, trades we might be able to do either this season or this off season to get us back to Spurs ball. Is it more about getting another perimeter defender or do the Spurs need a Serge Ibaka type to man the paint? But since most Ibaka types aren't known for their scoring skills, would that cost the Spurs too much on the offensive end? I love defense but would a shot blocker, diminished Tim, KL, TP, and MG score enough points? Or would they be better off getting another perimeter defender and hope TD and TS can handle the paint? I just hate that the Spurs seemed to have morphed into the teams they constantly frustrated in the playoffs in the past. Another question is with the Mavericks I understand their defensive improvement with Tyson Chandler but Tyson is gone and yet the Mavs are still doing great defensively and I don't see them as any more intimidating inside, or that more athletic on the perimeter than the Spurs are right now so is it just the mindset? Freaky Friday where the personalities have been swapped?
Mavs still have have alot of size, even though they lost Chandler which was a huge blow, they still had Haywood & Mahinmi (and now Odom too FWHWA)plus they upgraded some size and scoring on perimeter with Carter & West.
I agree all coaches need accountability.
Pop's insistence on small ball is the only obstacle. I'm sure the big 3 will make the offense work even if they got a defensive bigman who was totally inept on offense. They've made it work with Nazr Mohammed and Rasho Nesterovic.
Yeah cause the old mavs and suns would've held one of the leagues top offenses to 99 pts and make them shoot 41%It seems that over the last two seasons the Spurs have become the Phoenix Suns and the old Dallas Mavericks. An offense first minded team that loves the 3. I understand why Pop had to do what he did. The team was aging and wasn't athletic enough to play the defense Pop likes playing. He discovered however if he switched philosophies he would be able to win lots of games. The downside is this just like the Suns and the old Mavs, the Spurs can win lots of games in the regular season BUT this type of basketball is doomed to failure in the playoffs. How many les have the Suns won and how many did the Mavericks win before they adopted a more defensive philosophy (whith Tyson Chandler)? The answer is zero. I'd much rather cede playoff position spots to reclaim our defensive iden y. I am sure most on this board would as well. However if this Spurs team is not athletic enough to be strong on defense, would you guys rather take a chance at missing the playoffs while trying to play Spurs ball or keep going as we are and hope good shooting and home field advantage can move us thru a weaker Western Conference? I am not a life long Spurs fan, I gravitated towards the team during the Robinson/Duncan era because of the way they play ball. I am still a fan even though they don't play that kind of ball now but I'd love to see them go back to Spur defense. Worse comes to worse we get in the draft lottery by being true to what the team is all about...
Nah this isn't a sky is falling post, it was a playing this way is 'fool's gold' that will get you bunches of regular season games but come playoff time it MIGHT get you out of the first round but not further than that. Is there any way the current personel OR a reasonably doable trade option that can enable the Spurs to play the type of playoff defense that can win the west? The west can be had but not with the Spurs playing this type of defense.
Dunno if that lineup gets it done tbh. Still doesn't solve our problems at the 4 spot.
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