Official Pop Put Bowen on Peja and Parker on CP3 Thread

[1Parker1]

Yeah, all he did was lock down Bonzi, get Bonzi into foul trouble, and make some hustle plays to get us back to single digits in the second half...

But hey, he missed 3-4 shots tonight, so bench him. If that's the criteria, when do Finley, Bowen, Parker, and Manu take a seat on the pine?

Did you see him in the 3rd quarter? He commited bad fouls, overdribbled, and single handedly ruined whatever momentum the Spurs had going with bad shot selections and turnovers.

[timvp]

Come on LJ, I already covered this. When we got out of 4down tonight in the third and went to the pick and roll in the third, we finally started getting easy buckets in the paint.

We also ran a nice motion set in the fourth that had the Hornets dazed and confused. I never said we need to abandon the three, and you are right that the three point shot is going to help stretch the floor for us, but not if we aren't hitting any of them.

You sound just like Pop. Content to live or die by the three, and guess what - we're going to die by it, with a perfectly good change of pace that has shown already that it can cause problems for New Orleans.

4down is playing right into the teeth of the New Orleans D. When we ran side pick and roll and that motion set tonight, New Orleans didn't know what to do and was giving up a friggin' layup line to us.

We will probably hit enough threes in game 3 to win, but it's fool's gold to think we're going to hit enough to win four of five. If that's your solution, and right now it's clearly Pop's, this team's season is done in the next week.

And it's insanity to keep running the same over and over and over again when it isn't working. Our stubborness on offense is reason 1B behind 1A of Bowen on Paul as to why we've gotten our asses handed to us two straight.

You're a smart guy, I can't believe you're view on our offense is simply 'screw it, we live or die by the three', without even entertaining the idea of doing something different on offense than what New Orleans is begging us to do every play.

That's vintage 2001, 2004. And we're headed for the same result.

Anything type of motion or pick-and-roll works against the Hornets ... for about two or three plays. And then they just pack the lane more and it becomes ineffective. No motion or pick-and-roll can work when two offensive players are being guarded by four or five defensive players.

You can run four-down, pick-and-rolls, motion or anything else but it'll come down to hitting threes. You might get a layup here and there but against a team that is packing the lane, the only way you unpack the lane is make them pay from deep.

And yeah, I'll take a wide open three over a two man pick-and-roll being guarded by the whole Hornets roster.

[cly2tw]

If the shooting dries up, the Spurs will lose. The Spurs can't win playoff series if they can't shoot.

Part of the problem is the Spurs are facing the exact opposite defense than they saw in the first series against the Suns. The Suns weren't leaving the shooters at all. Now the Hornets are leaving the shooters. The problem is that right now the shooters are out of rhythm.

But if you think there's a way to beat the Hornets right now without stretching the court with some threes, you didn't pay attention enough in 2001 or 2004. Post players who have bricking three-point shooters don't win playoff series. Instead of looking for other ways to attack, stare the troubles in the eyes and show them why the Spurs have collected clutch three-point shooters over the years.

I'll bank on the three-point shooters being able to turn it around. They are missing now but all it takes is one big game where the Spurs blow them out from beyond the arc and the Hornets will have to alter their defense. Duncan and Parker can't do anything right now with the lane packed. The Spurs must space it out with threes.

Forcing it into the paint against a stuffed lane is why the Spurs lost in 2001 and 2004. Trust the shooters to do the job that has them on the roster.

The problem is, NO rotates perfectly after double-teaming TD, so that the shots the shooters get are not that open. This messes up their rhythm, a problem that won't go away as evidenced by 18/60 just by shooting more of them.

I think the Spurs might have to stop swinging the ball midway and have Manu or Parker start driving by the charging rotating defender, in order to gain space for a good shot.

[SPARKY]

CP3 causes the defense to collapse on him when he gets in the paint. That leaves guys like Peja and Mo-Pete wide open regardless of who is assigned to cover them.

Maybe they won't leave.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Anything type of motion or pick-and-roll works against the Hornets ... for about two or three plays. And then they just pack the lane more and it becomes ineffective. No motion or pick-and-roll can work when two offensive players are being guarded by four or five defensive players.

You can run four-down, pick-and-rolls, motion or anything else but it'll come down to hitting threes. You might get a layup here and there but against a team that is packing the lane, the only way you unpack the lane is make them pay from deep.

And yeah, I'll take a wide open three over a two man pick-and-roll being guarded by the whole Hornets roster.

If that's the case why didn't New Orleans adjust to it tonight?

Our shooters are in all out gutless mode (save Barry), nothing's going to change that, and NO knows it.

Forget it, I hope we run 4down the rest of the way. It will free up my evenings starting the middle of next week because the Spurs will be done for the year and we can get on to waiting for the E-N to tell us all about how Stoudemire hosed up the locker room in this series whining about playing time.

[G-Nob]

Maybe they won't leave.

They tried it both ways tonight and were burned both times.

[timvp]

And really, the problem isn't the offense. The defense is getting raped in the second half against the Hornets. The problems right now are about 80% defense and 20% offensive. The Spurs giving up 60 points tonight in the second half is what lost the game.

The Spurs have to hold the Hornets under 90. Take Peja out. Let Thomas guard West. Make CP3 do everything. If he does, you tip your hat and go on vacation. But this gimmick BS on defense is what is killing them. Ginobili can't guard this new confident version of Peja. Parker can't guard Herpes Peterson when he's giving up half a foot and Herpes has CP3 spoonfeeding him.

One defensive switch and the Spurs will go back to the defense that has worked so well in the past. All Pop has to do is look at the 2005 series versus the Suns. Parker guarded the MVP, Bowen shut down the wing player and the Spurs basically swept the Suns. You take Peja out of the equation and suddenly the Hornets offense isn't that intimidating.

[Ice009]

One defensive switch and the Spurs will go back to the defense that has worked so well in the past. All Pop has to do is look at the 2005 series versus the Suns. Parker guarded the MVP, Bowen shut down the wing player and the Spurs basically swept the Suns. You take Peja out of the equation and suddenly the Hornets offense isn't that intimidating.

I am amazed. I thought Bowen would be guarding Peja tonight. I wanted Bowen on Peja in the second half of game 1 and I was shocked to see Pop using Bowen on Paul tonight. What is Pop doing?

the 3rd quarter runs of NO invloved a lot of Peja 3's.

[gobo]

The spurs have worked more with less. That has always amazed me. But now it looks like things are catching up to them. It seems to me that NO is much better team than spurs. I agree with some posters that Manu needs to start in the remaining games. Give more minutes to Barry off the bench. Also, pop should Matt instead of Horry.

[timvp]

I am amazed. I thought Bowen would be guarding Peja tonight. I wanted Bowen on Peja in the second half of game 1 and I was shocked to see Pop using Bowen on Paul tonight. What is Pop doing?

the 3rd quarter runs of NO invloved a lot of Peja 3's.

Peja is the difference maker so far in this series. Paul, West, Chandler, Bonzi, Peterson, etc. will all get their points. But you can't have Peja outscoring everyone on the Spurs. Especially when you have the most effective Peja-stopper in NBA history on your team.

[T Park]

And really, the problem isn't the offense. The defense is getting raped in the second half against the Hornets. The problems right now are about 80% defense and 20% offensive. The Spurs giving up 60 points tonight in the second half is what lost the game.

The Spurs have to hold the Hornets under 90. Take Peja out. Let Thomas guard West. Make CP3 do everything. If he does, you tip your hat and go on vacation. But this gimmick BS on defense is what is killing them. Ginobili can't guard this new confident version of Peja. Parker can't guard Herpes Peterson when he's giving up half a foot and Herpes has CP3 spoonfeeding him.

One defensive switch and the Spurs will go back to the defense that has worked so well in the past. All Pop has to do is look at the 2005 series versus the Suns. Parker guarded the MVP, Bowen shut down the wing player and the Spurs basically swept the Suns. You take Peja out of the equation and suddenly the Hornets offense isn't that intimidating.

Bravo, I said that back in February and have been opining for it since.

Take put Peja, you take out the ing Hornet's offense.

[SPARKY]

Pop is stubborn but he isn't that stubborn. I suspect we'll see the adjustment made and the 3s will fly more quickly in game 3.

[T Park]

Pop is stubborn but he isn't that stubborn. I suspect we'll see the adjustment made and the 3s will fly more quickly in game 3.

I hope your right.

I mean Bud has got to be saying "Pop we've gotta change it up, this is insanity if we keep banging our heads against the wall with this defense."

[Obstructed_View]

Pop is stubborn but he isn't that stubborn.

You haven't been a Spurs fan very long, have you? The more I think about what's being said in this thread the more sure I am that it's exactly what the Spurs need and that it isn't going to happen.

The dog is wandering onto the freeway again, and we're all going to be watching.

[Septic]

It's like Pop has 2 plays in his book. Duncan inside and a kick out to a shotty 3 point shooter when double teamed. THATS FING IT.

I'am going to my drawers if bowen takes a dribble and shoots a running jay, Udoka lines up at the 3 point line, or if Duncan catches the ball 12' out of the paint.

[TKG]

Stick Vaughn on Paul and I mean STICK Vaughn on Paul, like ing glue, don't worry about fouls, don't worry about the rest of the team, just stay the on him (lakers vs. nash). Vaughn is great at harassing and generally plays with a lot of heart(which this team desperately needs). Parker is useless in this series. Paul is walking all over him and he's been iffy offensively. Just stick a bencher in to harasss CP3, stick Bowen on West and let Manu worry about Peja.

[SPARKY]

You haven't been a Spurs fan very long, have you? The more I think about what's being said in this thread the more sure I am that it's exactly what the Spurs need and that it isn't going to happen.

The dog is wandering onto the freeway again, and we're all going to be watching.

I've been a Spurs fan 33 years. How about you?

[SPARKY]

You haven't been a Spurs fan very long, have you? The more I think about what's being said in this thread the more sure I am that it's exactly what the Spurs need and that it isn't going to happen.

The dog is wandering onto the freeway again, and we're all going to be watching.

I hope your right.

I mean Bud has got to be saying "Pop we've gotta change it up, this is insanity if we keep banging our heads against the wall with this defense."

Pop will ditch what isn't working. Spurs in 5.

[Obstructed_View]

I've been a Spurs fan 33 years. How about you?

Then you should remember Pop sticking to smallball when it wasn't working against Dallas, and you should remember Pop sticking to 4 down when the Lakers were aggressively double teaming it to create turnovers and bricked shots. Saying he isn't that stubborn completely flies in the face of history.

I hope you are right. If he does ditch it, the Spurs can get right back into this series.

[T Park]

Yea, Parker definitely looked like he was sick and sounded like it in the postgame too. No excuse though. MJ dropped 50 when he had the flu and he was a lot older at the time than Parker

Wow so now you expect Parker to equal MJ??

Put down the bong....

[Kori Ellis]

Wow so now you expect Parker to equal MJ??

Put down the bong....

Umm... You don't see this emoticon next to her post.

[Blackjack]

Call me re ed,(I've been called worse) but WTF is Pop thinking??? When this series started I was sure he'd make the stars(Paul and West) beat us scoring in N.O., and the role-players/shooters beat us in S.A.

The thinking being that role players will kill you when they're at home in their comfort zone, so never let them gain any rythym or confidence. Let Paul and West go one on one and if they combined for 70, so be it. They'll have a hard time winning 2 on 5.

Then when the series returns to S.A., Pops big adjustment would be to do everything possible to limit Paul and West, and make the role players beat them. A role players game usually has a hard time translating on the road, and would have been even harder had they not been able to establish any kind of rythym or confidence in games 1 and 2.

But WTF do I know???

[polandprzem]

Wow so now you expect Parker to equal MJ??

Put down the bong....

It's more mental then phisical

[MannyIsGod]

GOD DAMN I HATE THIS SERIES SO FAR!

And yeah, someone please pull Pop's head out of his ass. I can't tell you how pissed I get every ing time Peja has the ball for an open 3. SO MANY OPEN ING 3s. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[polandprzem]

GOD DAMN I HATE THIS SERIES SO FAR!

And yeah, someone please pull Pop's head out of his ass. I can't tell you how pissed I get every ing time Peja has the ball for an open 3. SO MANY OPEN ING 3s. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I'd rather you stay cool