Initial Reaction: Spurs vs. Lakers - Mar. 12

[Spur-Addict]

timvp, you're absolutely right. TD does not look like himself. Do you think Pop will start to rest TD a LOT more now that Drew has gotten his feet wet? Kind of slowly work TD out of the lineup for the remainder of the season, and work Drew in?

Problem with that is, they need minutes together. You would assume TD is getting heavy minutes come playoff time.

[DeadlyDynasty]

spurs missed 8 free throws tonight!

and went 11-17 from the 3-point line...if not for that it would've been a laugher

[ducks]

and went 11-17 from the 3-point line...if not for that it would've been a laugher

and if the spurs did not have any turnovers in first quarter
spurs in a laugher

[Spursmania]

If we go against the Lakers and Pop starts Bonner we're in a lot of trouble. He plays consistently terrible against them. He was a liabilty out there tonight.

Pop left Hill in too long. Why didn't he put Bowen on Kobe in the last few minutes in the fourth? Bowen has proven he's as steady a defender as we can expect against a great like Kobe.

Poor Tim. It's probably killing him to play the way he's playing. He's stuck with his tendonosis for the rest of the season. Makes me sad. I hope he can get some rest.

I was excited to see Gooden out there. Impressive for thoses few minutes he played.

It will be a tough season. I'm not sure who we want first round??

[timvp]

The best thing about Gooden was his effort on defense. That play where he got the rebound after saving the ball was something never typically seen out of him.

Hopefully it wasn't just the excitement of his debut.

[Spursmania]

The best thing about Gooden was his effort on defense. That play where he got the rebound after saving the ball was something never typically seen out of him.

Hopefully it wasn't just the excitement of his debut.

He wants a long term contract.

[whottt]

It looked like Bryant wasn't trying too hard either.

Kobe plays at his best when he's not trying too hard. Pop didn't give him much Bowen or see what Hairston could do against him, he didn't trap him down the stretch except like once.

I'm hopeful but it's going to take a heck of an effort for the Spurs to beat the Lakers. They'll need to be healthy plus Gooden will have to play a significant role. As well as KT played, he's not a very good matchup athletically to the Lakers. Gooden might be able to give the Spurs the lively big they need.

And I say LA was lucky to beat the Spurs last year. They didn't get the Spurs best shot in that series, no way, no how. In this game our 3 point shooting against them was good...they already know they can't leave Mason unguarded.

And you know...Gooden showed no intimidation of playing against LA, he wanted to clean glass like a mofo and seemed know exactly that that's what he does well that can help the Spurs the most. He played like he wants to prove he belongs on the Spurs...and if he has that at ude he will be a force even if it's only on the glass.

And you know...I thimk Udoka has a little Laker Killer in him after all. He tore them up when he came on the court in the fourth.

I just don't feel the Lakers are invincible to the Spurs. I look at the Spurs and see everything needed to beat LA on paper and I'm also seeing it in their at ude. And our 3 shooting does look like it will be good enough prevent doubles...if they can't double the Spurs, they can't stop Duncan and Parker.

[DeadlyDynasty]

and if the spurs did not have any turnovers in first quarter
spurs in a laugher

you were watching a different game tonight. Call us when the shuttle lands

[Spur-Addict]

The best thing about Gooden was his effort on defense. That play where he got the rebound after saving the ball was something never typically seen out of him.

Hopefully it wasn't just the excitement of his debut.

It probably isn't. I think it implies his understanding of how he must play in order to achieve success on a personal level for him in SA.

[Parker2112]

-Tony Parker was pathetic in the first quarter. He couldn't make a shot from anywhere on the court. He was hesitating in the offensive sets. He was making poor passes. To top it off, he wasn't playing good defense. Parker started playing better in the second quarter but didn't completely break out of his slump until the second half. He played well after intermission but coming out of the gates impotently definitely cost his team.

...

-Pop once again made a number of head-scratching decisions. The one I couldn't figure out was when he went to Hill at the end of the game after Mason picked up his fifth foul. First of all, that late in the game, you let a player stay on the court with five fouls. Secondly, if you are going for defense, there's one of the better perimeter defenders of all-time as an option. Going with Hill to defend Bryant when Hill was totally out of rhythm made no sense. I also thought Pop should have had a quicker hook with Bonner and there never seemed to be enough plays called for Duncan throughout the game. I do like that he got Gooden's feet wet in a no-lose situation and whatever he said to the Big Two at halftime obviously woke them up.

Tough loss. Time to swallow it and continue the mission of getting healthy and wrapping up the second seed in the West.

As for Parker, he finally showed the for ude and the ability to beat L.A.'s scheme for keeping him out of the lane. If he drives the lane against this team THEY WILL CRACK. Our offense is predicated on pressure on the oppositions D to open up shooters on the perimeter. L.A. handles us because Parker had been unable to penetrate. BEFORE TONIGHT, THAT IS.

As for Pop, he didn't appear to want this game, or he would have went to Bowen in the closing quarter. Pop looked as if he wanted to evaluate Hill's D vs a world class offensive player. He likely also knows that this is Hill's last chance to gauge Kobe's game firsthand before we see them in the playoffs. In other words, rather than going for the kill, Pop seemed to be preparing for a time when the season will ride on the result.

[MarHill]

As for Parker, he finally showed the for ude and the ability to beat L.A.'s scheme for keeping him out of the lane. If he drive the lane against this team THEY WILL CRACK. Our offense is predicated on pressure on the oppositions D to open up shooters on the perimeter. L.A. handles us because Parker had been unable to penetrate. BEFORE TONIGHT, THAT IS.

As for Pop, he didn't appear to want this game, or he would have went to Bowen in the closing quarter. Pop looked as if he wanted to evaluate Hill's D vs a world class offensive player. He likely also knows that this is Hill's last chance to gauge Kobe's game firsthand before we see them in the playoffs. In other words, rather than going for the kill, Pop seemed to be preparing for a time when the season will ride on the result.

I totally agree about TP. He has to get into the lane and w/o Manu tonight the Lakers were able to load up the paint off of screens and keep TP out.

When TP started to get into the paint...the game changed for the Spurs. The Spurs have to attacked the paint against the Lakers!!

[whottt]

It probably isn't. I think it implies his understanding of how he must play in order to achieve success on personal level for him in SA.

The questions with Gooden are not about his talent or his ability, they aren't even really about his desire(on offense anyway) they are entirely about his head.

I'm trying to think of if he's ever played around any vets like Duncan and Thomas before and I don't think he has. He's always been on young teams without leadership or with developing leaders. It's going to be tough for him to be an immatue screwoff working on the same frontline with Thomas and Duncan.

I personally liked what I saw from him...and I was not in favor of signing him initially.

[underdawg]

If we go against the Lakers and Pop starts Bonner we're in a lot of trouble. He plays consistently terrible against them. He was a liabilty out there tonight.

Pop left Hill in too long. Why didn't he put Bowen on Kobe in the last few minutes in the fourth? Bowen has proven he's as steady a defender as we can expect against a great like Kobe.

I could be wrong, but Pop could have been seeing how Hill would do against tougher compe ion versus the success he's had recently. I don't think Hill's D did us in - we struggled to come back after digging a deep hole in the 1st quarter due to lack of execution and turnovers. Our FT's didn't help us either. All in all - our D showed that they can compete against a very strong offensive team and the level we played tonight showed its progression. Everyone can hate on Hill all they want, but the truth is that he brings something to the table that the Spurs have lacked - speed and athleticism. Will he be ready by playoffs to be useful - I don't know but it would be nice to have that if he is.

[Spursmania]

As for Parker, he finally showed the for ude and the ability to beat L.A.'s scheme for keeping him out of the lane. If he drives the lane against this team THEY WILL CRACK. Our offense is predicated on pressure on the oppositions D to open up shooters on the perimeter. L.A. handles us because Parker had been unable to penetrate. BEFORE TONIGHT, THAT IS.

As for Pop, he didn't appear to want this game, or he would have went to Bowen in the closing quarter. Pop looked as if he wanted to evaluate Hill's D vs a world class offensive player. He likely also knows that this is Hill's last chance to gauge Kobe's game firsthand before we see them in the playoffs. In other words, rather than going for the kill, Pop seemed to be preparing for a time when the season will ride on the result.

I agree that it seemed that Pop did not want this game. Why did he take Gooden out when he played a good few minutes. Why not put him in for a few more in the second? And again the big boneheaded move of not putting Bowen on on Kobe in the 4th. All seemed contrived.

[duncan228]

Was it me or did it look like he added even more padding to his knees in the second half? His right knee looked like Barry Bonds' right elbow when he was at the plate.

I haven't broken it down by half, but they are some serious knee pads.

[rogcl1]

Saying that Mason's time as backup at the point was "iffy" I believe is being kind. I have been a supporter of his trial as the backup at point but against the Laker pressure at times each dribble looked like a struggle. Hard for me to come to any real conclusions based on this game other than if we don't come out with fire in our eyes we are going to get our asses kicked.

What concerns me though ,irregardless of the fact that Tim is struggling and Pop experimenting ,is that a team on the end of a back to back came in and totally outhustled the Spurs at the start. The Lakers early pressure had the Spurs looking like not only did Pop not care but possibly the whole team.

[timvp]

I haven't broken it down by half, but they are some serious knee pads.

[Spur-Addict]

The questions with Gooden are not about his talent or his ability, they aren't even really about his desire(on offense anyway) they are entirely about his head.

I'm trying to think of if he's ever played around any vets like Duncan and Thomas before and I don't think he has. He's always been on young teams without leadership or with developing leaders. It's going to be tough for him to be an immatue screwoff working on the same frontline with Thomas and Duncan.

I personally liked what I saw from him...and I was not in favor of signing him initially.

In regards to the frontline collectively? Definetly not. Big Z in Cleveland is about as Grizzly a vet on the front he ever had. Z certainly isn't a general. As for a team as a whole, he never had a team close to vet status.

More importantly, the level of coaching certainly is different. (Expectations etc.)

[Cant_Be_Faded]

Tim Duncan looked like he's finished out there. And I'm not even exaggerating. It was sad to see him give it his all, when he was obviously hurting.

I saw the same game you guys saw, and I just don't see any possible way we can keep up with the size the Lakers can throw at us. Especially with a gimp broken Manu, and a slower than normal Tim.

Anyone else notice how Parker has not had a quality start-to-finish game against the Lakers since like, ever?
Or how Bonner misses every ing shot he takes against the Lakers?

The sad thing is, if any team CAN beat the Lakers, it's us.

[Lebowski Brickowski]

You can say whatever you want. Pop ddn't coach to win (what . . . ever) no Manu, Gooden isn't worked in yet -- blah blah blah...

Spurs lost this game because TD played like . Flat. Out.

He was totally flat-footed on defense and couldn't hit the broad side of a barn on offense.

I saw Tim stand like a frozen statue 10 feet from a spot up open Odom on the baseline and then WATCH him line up 2 easy points.

I saw him get out muscled and out rebounded by skinny ass pau gasol and luke walton all game long.

Personally, I think Tim was getting mugged inside all game but the refs didn't start calling anything until TD finally started going strong to the rack -- that started 1/2 way through the 3rd quarter.

Tim played HORRIBLY tonight. He finally started fighting at the end. He's obviously hurt.

If Timmy played a 1/2 way decent game, Spurs win.

[xtremesteven33]

Tim Duncan looked like he's finished out there. And I'm not even exaggerating. It was sad to see him give it his all, when he was obviously hurting.

I saw the same game you guys saw, and I just don't see any possible way we can keep up with the size the Lakers can throw at us. Especially with a gimp broken Manu, and a slower than normal Tim.

Anyone else notice how Parker has not had a quality start-to-finish game against the Lakers since like, ever?
Or how Bonner misses every ing shot he takes against the Lakers?

The sad thing is, if any team CAN beat the Lakers, it's us.

Blazers
Hornets

have a damn good chance at beating them before we have to.....

[MI21]

All in all, Gooden drew a promising portrait of what he could possibly bring to the table.

I see what you did there.

[DMX7]

We lost this game on the boards.

[The Truth #6]

You can say whatever you want. Pop ddn't coach to win (what . . . ever) no Manu, Gooden isn't worked in yet -- blah blah blah...

Spurs lost this game because TD played like . Flat. Out.

He was totally flat-footed on defense and couldn't hit the broad side of a barn on offense.

I saw Tim stand like a frozen statue 10 feet from a spot up open Odom on the baseline and then WATCH him line up 2 easy points.

I saw him get out muscled and out rebounded by skinny ass pau gasol and luke walton all game long.

Personally, I think Tim was getting mugged inside all game but the refs didn't start calling anything until TD finally started going strong to the rack -- that started 1/2 way through the 3rd quarter.

Tim played HORRIBLY tonight. He finally started fighting at the end. He's obviously hurt.

If Timmy played a 1/2 way decent game, Spurs win.

You realize he's playing on zero good legs right now, right?

[angelbelow]

i thought pop might play dead for the phil and lakers. the number of "head scratching decicions" described by timvp kind of reinforcements my thoughts before the game. lets just hope hes trying to throw phil off course.