Reply With Quote
They have to stop psyching themselves out of the B2B. That's their major problem. They start the game expecting to play badly.
I liked what I saw from the Spurs tonight. Yeah they lost, but the effort in the third quarter was the best I've seen from this team in quite a while. The fourth quarter wasn't pretty, but I take a lot of positives from tonight's game.
1. Tim still has it. When he wants to, he can play. He has that bank shot and even attempted some nice post moves tonight. I'm confident he will not only get healthier down the stretch, I think he can play harder in the playoffs. He's been through this too many times to be dumb enough to burn up some fuel in a regular season game. Right now he has Robert Horry-itis.
2. Manu can flip the switch. Manu hasn't played well for a couple months, but when the crowd got on him, he took his game up a level. At that level is where I expect him to play in the playoffs. He was all over the place and hitting Playoff Manu shots. Hopefully he can get even healthier and be ready roll in the playoffs.
3. Parker seems like he's figured it out. He's in a tough position in that he's the point guard for most of the game, but then has to hand over the reigns to Manu and Tim in the fourth quarter. That's especially tough because he's not a natural spot up shooter. But I see him figuring it out. He's scoring off the break and is providing easy baskets with his speed. He's also figured out how he can score as the third wheel in the fourth quarter.
4. Bowen is better than ever. His defense is good. He gets away with a lot defensively -- like all great defenders. His offense is miles ahead of where it was even last year. He's peaking right before our eyes.
5. Horry has gas left in the tank. Much like Duncan, he limps around the court and doesn't show much energy. But in flashes, you can still see he as the athleticism that is needed. He's such a smart player that he could be effective without that athleticism, but with it he's deadly because he's deceptively a very gifted athlete.
6. Nazr is starting to learn the ropes. He's sloooowly becoming a better defender. He's doing a decent job rebounding. His face-up jumper is nice. He still has a bit to learn but he's a good minute eater in the playoffs.
7. Finley and Barry are playing well. Finley was a little off tonight, but he's been blazing since the All-Star break. Barry has been playing well since the trade deadline. Pop should be able to always have at least one of them playing well in the playoffs.
8. Beno is playing hard. You couldn't always say that about him last year. He didn't play overly well tonight, especially in the fourth quarter, but he's giving it his all. When Nick Van Exel gets back, it'll give Pop good options to go to behind Tony.
9. Pop is in his prime as a coach. He knows when to jump on players and the players still react to him. One day this might not be the case, but for now he's a top three coach in the league.
10. Experience. These Spurs know what they are doing. They know how to win. Yeah they may lose a few more regular season games, but they are damn savvy at this point. At full health, they beat anybody.
They have to stop psyching themselves out of the B2B. That's their major problem. They start the game expecting to play badly.
I agree. The 3rd was a great quarter for this team. I'm just glad noone got seriously injured with the way the Nugs were playing. That was one physical game.
I agree. The 3rd was a great quarter for this team. I'm just glad noone got seriously injured with the way the Nugs were playing. That was one physical game.
oops.
Agree whole heartedly.He has that bank shot and even attempted some nice post moves tonight
That spin move in the post tonight was 2003 Duncan.
If that shot goes down, youd see that replay on sportscenter for the overnight.
aside from his turnovers tonight, he was the Nazr of last year's playoffs.Nazr is starting to learn the ropes. He's sloooowly becoming a better defender. He's doing a decent job rebounding. His face-up jumper is nice. He still has a bit to learn but he's a good minute eater in the playoffs
Good rotations under the basket.
Very physical, hit a sweet 12 footer with Duncan in the post.
Had a GREAT drop off to Duncan for a dunk that worked great last year VS Seattle Phoenix and the rarity Detroit.
Experience. These Spurs know what they are doing. They know how to win. Yeah they may lose a few more regular season games, but they are damn savvy at this point. At full health, they beat anybody.
If this game tonight was in say, Dallas, they win.
That third quarter was Spurs VS Phoenix.
Hard D, great passing and ball rotation, Ginobili being unstoppable, Anthony couldn't get SQUAT vs Bowen.
This game was more positive than negative.
Missed this the first time.His offense is miles ahead of where it was even last year
There was a three he nailed tonight with I think Anthony running at him, and a great banker in the 3rd that says to me, that when focused on it, he can score 8 to 10 a night.
He was vintage Bruce on D though, Anthony couldn't get an inch and the perfect play was the force to the baseline and out of bounds.
Thing of beauty.
I'd rather them play cautiously and lose some B2Bs then be burned out for the playoffs. The Big Three has played a lot of basketball and if they came out with fire in every game, they won't make it to June.
I like looking at 2004 for perspective. The Spurs won like 32423234 games in a row to end the season and then going into the playoffs and then got slapped by the Lakers. I'd rather the team be healthy, rested and ready to go than to be streaking going into the playoffs.
TimVp, you have any Prozac left?
BTW, this thread reminds me of the thread TIMVP started after the blowout loss to the Mavericks.
Im encouraged even more
Or until the Spurs are 2-2 to the Sonics patna!BTW,
Im encouraged even more
Good to hear they are back (to back).
Still 4 games in th March with one days rest after each game. And then we starts the April - the month where Pop wants to rest players and get into the rythm. It will be tough but can be done.
Now if Tim realy feels better, Horry is coming back from this all injuries and Manu as well... guys not bad. Just keep doing what you are doing. (Damn spurs must get younger in the summer).
So I realy looking forward for the next spurs adventures...
Ps Timvp can you put a spurs under Trainwreck name? He earn it in the spurs - hornets prediction. Thx.
I thought we definelty saw flashes of the Ginobili and the Duncan who know how to take over a game at will tonight. If they can get back to that form back, they can ride it to the finals. Tonight's game was a good one.
1 quarter of good play is pointless unless you can sustain it for 48 minutes. 1 great quarter a game will not get youa championship, but you make some excellent points Timvp and manu has never looked this good all year. I just hope we have enough to beat detroit
I disagree with your optimistic points - mostly with Tim Duncan still having it. I think Pop and experience will make them hard to vanquish, but the le is theirs for the taking if the Pistons want it... and it's not too far fetched to think the Nuggets, Suns, or Mavericks could knock them off.
Wanna backup why you disagree?
58-27 in rebounds !!!
I just noticed that.
Unbelivable.
The spurs needs the rebounds and what is worrying me is the frontcourt. Rasho is not playing. Nazr is incosistent a lot. But the rebounding was what made it (the loss). And how can keep up the Nuggets who were 47% from the field?
my confidence in SA is at an all time high for the season as my pessimism has calmed down a lot lately thanks to big wins over dallas and phoenix. but Timvp, if Duncan's PF is still acting up (I think you overrated his play tonight) and our rebounding still leaves a lot to be desired as does our D a lot of the times lately, how do you think we can manage to beat detroit especially with games 6 & 7 in detroit. actually how do any of you guys think we can beat detroit, i'm not saying we cant, i am just saying its gonna be MUCH MUCH harder than last year with our injuries to TD and weak rebounding going up against a monster frontcourt whose backcourt isnt too shabby either!
lets hope there here to stay
"There are no excuses here," Ginobili said. "They wanted the game more than us. They were more aggressive than us and we made too many silly mistakes."
"Things just weren't going our way and we didn't make the right plays," Duncan said.
Typical comment after losses like that by Manu.
Looks like he is getting better. Good.
The spurs are playing Blazers, Sonics, Clips, Lakers on the road and theyb gonna win this. I'm tellin you that.
Talking about the frontcourt you meant Timmy?
cause our front looks almost the same as last year and Nazr wasn't in spurs system that long and Rasho was not playing at all. Now he can get some minutes.
1. Duncan has hit an all time low. PF or not, he's out there and nowhere near what he used to be - even last year.
2. Turning it on for the playoffs is a difficult task. Sometimes the switch doesn't flip so easily, especially when your superstar can't jump.
3. Other teams are more hungry and play more aggressive. This year the Pistons thrashed them good and if the Spurs do make it to the finals, which I would be very impressed if they did, the Pistons are going to be out for revenge.
4. The rebounding disparity tonight made me think of how the Spurs aren't as good at defensive rebounding - again with Duncan not able to. Duncan used to get double doubles without sweating and now he doesn't get those extra rebounds he used to.
5. The big men are all suspect. Nazr has polished his offensive game, but he can't be depended on every game. I like his knack for offensive rebounds, but he also has a knack for getting stuffed and fumbling the ball. Rasho is a joke. Tim looks like he's going to come up lame.
Exactly what I was thinking about the loss.
The Heat had the Pistons tonite. If the Pistons play like that to end the season, the Spurs will get homecourt.
Don't forget the Nuggets might be the best rebounding team in the league after they got Reggie Evans. With Evans, Camby, and Martin they are a very good rebounding team and also they have a good rebounding PG and then Melo.
Hopefully the Spurs can get Scola for next season when Nazr leaves us.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
