Initial Reaction: Spurs vs. Lakers - Mar. 12

[timvp]

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.

Properly emphasized.

[JWest596]

I'm in the monirity but I liked what I saw just not the ending. Whay was and could have been an embarrassing blow out did not occur. And getting back to within 3 against the Lakers is doing something.

There's about 18 games, rest Tim as much as possible and to avoid rust. Get Drew into the system. Keep working on defense Play the second team a lot, Get Manu up to speed while maintaining the 2nd seed. I beleive we can do this as it's not an impossible task.

It's about the playoffs now. It's all we should prepare for.

[MI21]

I was going to make a few points about this game, but I'm just going to cut it down to one thing.

If Tim Duncan is going to play like that (whether it is because of injury I don't know) then the Spurs will be extremely lucky to take a single game from the Lakers in a series. LA looked like they were in cruise control tonight.

[Lebowski Brickowski]

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

I guess so. That's why they lost.

[ThaiFanofSpurs]

The way I look at it...if Ime Udoka, Finley and Thomas can play well against LA, we'll whup them severely when healthy.

These are 3 biggest letdown guys on the roster and they killed the Lakers tonight. Ime Udoka nearly singled handedly tied the game at one point tonight.

Thomas actually his open J's.

Finley played one of the best games I have ever seen Michael Finley play.


No worries, if Pop had wanted to win this game he would've trapped Kobe more instead of guarding him with Hill. Hill didn't do that badly he just doesn't have the height to guard Kobe. He did make Kobe miss the next shot he took after that 3.

We saw just about everything Phil will throw at us but Pop didn't throw everything at LA he could. It was almost like he wanted to see if we could beat them with our worst LA matchup supporting players carrying the team....and they almost won it for us.

Agreed.

[Showtime24 LAKERS]

35 points in the first quarter?!! talk about defense.....

[ElNono]

This game was the prime example why Manu is so important to beat these guys. Tony was hesitant pretty much all the way to the third quarter to drive to the bucket. He needs to know that we need his penetration, and if he can't finish then he needs to kick it out and try again. Sometimes he looks like he's scared of getting blocked or something. The Lakers do a good job of clogging the paint, but Manu somehow manages to still get in there and break them down. Tony needs to learn how to do that too. Eventually, Tony started hitting his jumpers and got more aggressive. He ended up having a decent game overall, just not enough of what we need to break the Lakers interior D.

[Spursmania]

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.

I agree with you, especially about Hill, I really like Hill and believe he can add some intangibles that we haven't had for awhile. I'm thrilled to have him. However, I still think Bowen has proved himself time and time again that he's a great defender, and we needed him in the last couple minutes to hold off the Lakers surge. It will be interesting to see how the rotation will pan out come play-off time.

[bigfan]

For now the Lakers are a better team. We will see if they remain so during the playoffs.

[roycrikside]

spurs have to believe they can win without him
because he is not playing
the sooner they realize it the better
when spurs did not have manu and td
tp came out scored right away and spurs believed

basketball is a game of confidence spurs have to believe they can win with who is on the court
if not they are not going anywhere

You can trot out all the rah-rah speeches you want Ducks, but Pop is not a dummy and neither are his players, so it'd be stupid to treat them that way. He's not using not having Manu as an excuse for the team to play poorly, but the fact that Ginobili's absence negatively affects the team is a reality your peanut-sized mind cannot seem to grasp.

The guy is arguably our 2nd best player. He is a difference maker. If the Manu Ginobilis of the world didn't affect the outcomes of basketball games (think Gasol being out for LA) then fans wouldn't care about them so much, people wouldn't buy their shoes and jerseys, they wouldn't make ridiculous salaries and coaches and GMs wouldn't go crazy trying to find future Manus and Tims and Tonys.

It's a star-driven league and the reason the Spurs have been so good is not the esprit-de-corps or some poem about a rock. It's because they've had three of the best 20 players in the world on the same team simultaneously, without egos or contracts ruining it. This is incredibly rare.

When you miss a player of Manu's quality, it is going to hurt, just like breaking your arm is going to hurt. You can try to close your eyes, plug your ears and pretend that it won't, but eventually the pain will take over.

We can beat mediocre teams without Manu. We can occasionally catch the Mavs or Blazers on an off-night (or maybe they were over-confident). To beat LA though, when they came in this focused and determined, you need all hands on deck. Beating them even with Manu is an accomplishment.

So, in the end, take three pieces of advice.

1) Pray Ginobili comes back healthy (and really mean it).

2) Pray Tim's knees start feeling better.

3) Don't get mad at Pop because he doesn't feel the way you do about Manu's importance to the team's success. I think he knows how to coach his team better than you do, and if he wants to treat them like grown men, that's his right.

[peskypesky]

I was going to make a few points about this game, but I'm just going to cut it down to one thing.

If Tim Duncan is going to play like that (whether it is because of injury I don't know) then the Spurs will be extremely lucky to take a single game from the Lakers in a series. LA looked like they were in cruise control tonight.

Every one of the Big Three is going to have to bring their A game if we're going to beat the Lakers in the playoffs. Duncan. Parker. Ginobili. As we saw last year, a hobbled Ginobili led to a 4-1 Lakers win.

Duncan is clearly hurting. That is not a good sign. Manu is not even playing. Another bad sign.

But there were at least two bright spots in today's loss. One, Michael Finley is apparently alive and well! And two, Drew Gooden looks VERY promising as a post presence.

So we shall see.

[Joe Schmoogins]

I've got to disagree with the Hill haters tonight... His defense on Kobe was impressive. Kobe couldn't shake him. Every shot Kobe took Hill was right in his grill. Of anyone sent to defend Kobe tonight Hill played him the best. However, Kobe sank a few shots on him but they weren't due to any flaws in Hill's D. They were due to the fact that Kobe is too long for Hill and Kobe was in the zone. I'm not a Hill homer, but don't discredit his D. Credit Kobe's length and clutchness.

[HarlemHeat37]

That's the point though..Hill is a PG, Kobe has a huge size advantage..I realize Hill has great length, but it doesn't make a difference when he's so much smaller than Kobe..

[Bruno]

I was quite optimistic about Duncan knees because I thought that he would be able to play through the injury at a good level.
It obviously isn't the case and his tendinitis/tendinosis likely won't get better for the playoff. It doesn't look good at all.

[The_Game]

the Lakers shld have been more worried of their near-collapse in the 2nd half

BTW, Spurs 8-16 FT

why should lakers be worried? they were playing on a back to back..the fact they won says how good a win it was for them..spurs were rested and still managed to lose. the main spurs weakness showed up tonight...

[Rogue]

It's the destiny for mise to be eaten by cats, tmac to be a second round virgin... and it's also the an unavoidable destiny for spurs to lose to lakers. Lakers spurs and suns are just like "scissors, stone and cloth".

[NewJerSpur]

What happened to destiny in 2003?

[raspsa]

I didn't catch the game. Naturally I was hoping for a Spurs victory but after reading some accounts of how the game went and how the Spurs performed individually, I'm just glad they showed enough heart to rally and cut the lead to a single basket.. to me this is still part of the learning process or chpiping away at that mythical stone until the Playoffs arrive then things get serious. Hopefully by then manu is close to the manu he has to be for the Spurs to seriously contend. Maybe Timmy will be rejuvenated, parker will show greater consistency. maybe.Maybe. I'm happy that Finley had a terrific offensive game. And Gooden got off to a good start as a Spur. And that Hill got a chance to pair off against Kobe and he didn't back down. lots of little things that hopefully come together over the next month.. I really think the Spurs will be ready when the playoffs start and I expect them to play their hearts out, win or lose. That's all anyone can ask of them.

[Rogue]

What happened to destiny in 2003?

2003 seems even older than the spurs.

[NewJerSpur]

Answer the question.

[Blackjack]

I've got to disagree with the Hill haters tonight... His defense on Kobe was impressive. Kobe couldn't shake him. Every shot Kobe took Hill was right in his grill. Of anyone sent to defend Kobe tonight Hill played him the best. However, Kobe sank a few shots on him but they weren't due to any flaws in Hill's D. They were due to the fact that Kobe is too long for Hill and Kobe was in the zone. I'm not a Hill homer, but don't discredit his D. Credit Kobe's length and clutchness.

That's the point though..Hill is a PG, Kobe has a huge size advantage..I realize Hill has great length, but it doesn't make a difference when he's so much smaller than Kobe..

I thought Hill showed that he CAN be an option on Kobe, as a change-up/situational defender throughout the course of a game, but you're right about him not having the size to be a primary defender.

On the game overall, it really came down to that 1st quarter.

You've got to give the Lakers some credit for absolutely catching fire and really making shots from the perimeter that you'd usually like to see them take, but the Spurs compounded it with a tenative offense, being weak/careless with the ball, and the inability to defensive rebound on the rare occassion the Lakers left an opportunity. With the way the Lakers came out shooting, you could almost understand an 8-12 point deficit, but 18? That's just unacceptable.

I'm also pretty disappointed in Pop's decision to dress Vaughn over Hairston. Pop had Hairston as his first sub off the bench for a little stretch there, seemingly proven that he could contribute and might be of more help than Udoka at times, but has completely gone away from Hairston ever since. It's almost as if his head and eyes were/are telling him that the rookie Hairston provides more of what the team needs at this junction, but his heart and gut are telling him to go with the vet. in Udoka. I guess it makes since for Pop, playing the odds as usual, but sometimes you've got a take a chance to be rewarded.

Hairston was actually, at times, the most impressive on-ball defender the Spurs had when he was given minutes. For him to miss A rotation (something Spurs defenders have all done on more than occassion this year) and be yanked and banished to the bench, after playing no more than a couple of minutes, it really makes no sense. It almost seems as if Pop was looking/hoping Hairston would fail (for this year anyway) so he would have sufficient reason in his mind to go exclusively with Udoka down the stretch.

I'm not rooting against Udoka (I hope he can be what the Spurs need against the better teams) but I remain skeptical. Even as a rookie, Hairston has just shown me more ability to play the type of on-ball defense that puts the opponent on their heals, and not vice-versa. , if Pop's going to experiment with Hill on Kobe, why wouldn't you see what you've got with Hairston in the final Laker game of the reg. season? /Hairston rant

[polandprzem]

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

Holly fook !!!

This is way more serious then we thought.
Look at this metal pieces on the sides of the pads. That pretty drastic move consideing he was playing without it in a long stretch now. That's bad as I can see it.

The season was all good till the all star braek. Manu was getting into rhythm and spurs was steadly playing better. And now all have changed

Damn as I was watching the game against Dllas I could see the pain on Duncans face. And he was helpless, more then in 2005.

-------------

I haven't seen the game but it looked like a typical "before playoffs Popovich." Trying many things that might have work and not trying the things he knows that works.

LA again was too much for Bonner and Parker.Jax always was clogging the lane so TP could not drive and that's bad situation cause you are left with 10 sec on a clock and you must figure out a new play.

ehhh

We need that 2 spot. !
Good to hear that Gooden is healthy I really would consider not playing Duncan in all remaning games in this season and let a new guy adopt to spurs system. Even without Timmy. We need Timy as healthy as he can be till the playoffs.

[Bruno]

Duncan's knee pads could just be a cautionary measure against hits.
Knee pads are quite popular among players lately. For example, Miami Heat coaching staff asks its players to wear that as a protection.

[polandprzem]

Duncan's knee pads could just be a cautionary measure against hits.
Knee pads are quite popular among players lately. For example, Miami Heat coaching staff asks its players to wear that as a protection.

They probably are. But we all see Tim in those kind of pads in his history of playing.
And Tims movement is far away from the decent Tim Duncan movement

[WalterBenitez]

I agree, probably hte best props should go to TP and Finley (OMG am I saying this?), what we are losing is the momentum, hard to explain but we were very sure that we could catch this game, but never had chance (IMO).