I've been very amazed how these two teams have consistently played great D this season, along with a few other teams. I think teams have finally figured out that D wins championships.
How do you think the Spurs' D will match up with these two teams'? I mean these two teams have given up 100pts just two times this season, which is an amazing, amazing stat. I'd like to know how you think the Spurs will fare against them.
Not well, considering the Spurs struggle against the tougher more physical defensive teams in the league. The Spurs offense is very inconsistent, and seeing as how much more the Cavs have improved offensively, as well as how great Boston is in general, I think the Spurs have a ways to go.
I'm actually surprised at how the Cavs' offense has improved. And with their D as well. For Christ's sake, Mike B. has been seeking advice from Pop. You should've shared less Pop.
Hollinger's team stats:
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/holli...26league%3dnba
#30 sacramento and they still have their own forum
When the Spurs first started the season, their defense was attrocious but their O looked godly.
The offense is more stagnant with Manu/Parker as opposed to the running and gunning G Hill and Money Mason. Guys defertoo much to the Big 3 when they're on the court.
Now the Spurs defense has improved tremendously, I think it coincides with Bowen getting his game legs back and Bonner playing frenetic D against the opposing big...Bonner is quicker than I thought.
Last edited by Allanon; 12-28-2008 at 10:54 PM.
im not concerned about the Spurs defense. Come playoff time, theyll be the best. And you can bank on that.
The offense on the other hand, well i feel we can get some better plays and more easier shots.
This is also a good point. The Spurs have shown earlier in the season that they have adequate offense. When Manu and Parker came back, the offense kinda stagnated a bit. I think the Spurs should run more motion offense, with everybody being able to touch the ball and that Mason and Hill shouldn't defer to the Big 3 too much. I still think that Pop should give Mason more mins that Fin so come playoff time, Fin is not tired and Mase is more comfortable with the system.
Granted, I haven't seen the majority of the games this season, but what I have seen has left me somewhat uninspired. I think the Spurs are merely a good defensive team at this point, and that they have to get better in order to become great. When Finley and Bonner are both in the starting lineup and Parker seems to lose focus on the defensive end sometimes, things are bound to be different than they used to be.
The Spurs have a knack for hitting their stride later in the season, and the defense can improve between now and then. I'm sure their defense will continue to improve, but will it be enough to go from good to great? I think the team's championship hopes largely rely on that question.
Yeah I agree with you on the offense thing. I just don't get it. Wish Pop would trust Mase and Hill some more. It wouldn't hurt to at least "manage" Fin's minutes. Heck he's doing it with Bowen already.
The Spurs certainly are a top 10 team defensively, but they are not in the same class of D with the Cavs (healthy Varejao), Celts, Lakers and Magic (yes Orlando).
They won't be in the same class until they start holding their opponents under 44% shooting and they haven't done that in a few seasons. The Spurs just don't have the perimeter quickness and interior size to lock teams down these days. They have, however, demonstrated a nice ability to slow teams from entering their offenses and cause late-in-the-shot-clock choices. I will never consider a team that allows 45% shooting a great defensive team...and that's what the Spurs have allowed the past three seasons.
Our defense used to be No.1 in the league, because we had the league's best defenders in Duncan and Bowen. But bowen has lost his starting postioin and his game time is pretty limited this season. Without Bowen, duncan has to take more resposibility in defense but what duncan does this season is not fully satisfying.
Bowen was not good at offense and his offensive ability is even worse now, but he is still among the best defenders in this league. Mason is a pretty good offender but his defense really needs some work. It's a good choice to play Mason as a starting role when we face a weak team who can hardly make any trouble on our defense, but mason should give up his starting position for Bowen when we meet with some contenders like Lakers and Celtics.
You said Mason is a good offender? Sex offender you mean?
I still do not think that we have seen the real Spurs for a full 48 minutes yet. You see it in flashes, but it isn't consistent. Only time can fix those bugs in the defensive system.
Spurs are not a top defendsive team right now. We need to get opp FG% down under 42% to be considered a great defensive team.......Lets first try to learn to not be taken into double overtime by the woarst teams in the league then we can talk!
We dont make stops. We allow to many layups. And its not really defense thats winning games. Its Pops coaching and our system thats slows you down. Its Tony Parker's inside scoring. And its the rest of the teams half court shooting. It all works well against sorry teams. But it wont be good enough for the better teams.
Agreed!!
2009 NBA Finals: Spurs vs. Celtics!!!!!
Agreed!!
2009 NBA Finals: Spurs vs. Celtics!!!!!
its gonna happen. Belie dat!
Overreaction!!!
It's an 82 game season and sometimes even the bad teams will play well against the Spurs.
The Spurs are still a benchmark for those teams on their schedule. And when you play 82 games......close games will happen. No one's perfect and they are definitely not robots.
It's amazes me how fans want their teams to be perfect all the time...when it's inhumanly possible.
The Spurs defense has gotten better as the season has gone along. But they still have a ways to go. Moreover, the key is getting spots down the stretch of the ball game and that will be key in the playoffs.
We still have 4 months of a season left and plenty of time for the Spurs to get defense in order.
I'm still more concerned about the offense than the defense.
The Phoenix game showed me in a glimpse that Tony(hopefully Manu too) can trust Mason to hit a key basket near the end of a game. And that will help tremendously in the playoffs.
Idiot.
Double OT game and it ended 106-103 ... if thats not tough nosed defense for 58 mins, what is? And that was WITH Mayo hitting contested jumpers all 4th quarter and on.
That's not entirely true.
The Phoenix game...they got several stops down the stretch and TD play good defense with 5 fouls.
And they have several games in the season so far...where the Spurs defense were able to get stops.
It hasn't been consistent and they still have 4 months to get it together for the playoffs.
No foolish, not a overrecation we are comparing our D now....read the thread. Bonner is not gonna get any taller, nor will his arms suddenly grow. Tim has no leaping ability at all and has slowed in his rotations. Bowen plays 12 mins a game and is no longer a shut down guy!
Our D is what it is, we are not a great defensive team right now, and unless Ian and Deke give us more size and shot blocking or D isnt gonna get any better. Tim has peaked, Fin is starting at the SF and is not a good defender and Bonner try as he may is not a great defender.
So you consider tough D going into Double OT at home against a young bad team winning by 3? When we dont need last second shots to beat avg basketball teams and we beat a couple teams who are contenders then we can say we play tough D.
Duncan-Great defender
Bowen-Great defender
Ginobili-Good defender
Parker-Good defender
Finley-Mediocre defender
Mason-Mediocre defender
Hill-Good defender
Bonner-Mediocre defender
Thomas-Good defender (showing signs of being great though
Oberto-Mediocre defender
i dont see any poor defenders in the regular rotation. Theyll get it together.
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