The Spurs have left the Range

[poeticism707]

Here's the answer to the inexplicable decrease of Bruce's minutes, as well as other issues.

When Stern "allowed" the Lakers to get Gasol for nothing, THAT changed the entire landscape of the Spurs. The Lakers went from a very good team, to a great team. What's more, and this is even more vital: those don't get their share of calls, and will likely never do so again. You think it's bye accident that they average the least fta per game in the league, as another SpursTalk member posted? They don't get the calls, either on offense pressuring the defence, or on defense, meaning no matter how great a brand of defence they play or even who their playing, the Spurs will: still give up too many free throws, pick up too many fouls if they play aggressive defence or too many points if they aren't aggresive enough, and on the offensive end they'll never get the free throws that should be proportional to a great team.

As for Pop, and why he's going into offensive mode, he's pragmatic: hopeful but realistic. He knows all this better than any of us, and he knows only way the Spurs will win a le is shooting lights out. That is obviously far fetched, but this trend of extremely partial officiating (read: bias) against the Spurs all of sudden evening out, or worse improving is even less likely.

So many words, what's my point? The Spurs don't have a chance to win a le this year, maybe never again in the Duncan Era. It takes a great player beyond greatness to beat plotting officials, and the scheming league, which Duncan has been 4 times throughout his career. But at his current age, he cannot carry such a load. Couple that with the tatters the Spurs starting five and bench is in, offensively and defensively due to the above mentioned factors, it's over. Duncan might have led his team to 11 les, but David Stern and his money hungry league would have none of it.

[crc21209]

OK then leave jackass. GTFO.

[CubanMustGo]

I find the sudden increase in the number of "our Spurs suck" posts by n00bs amusing. Someone signs up just to about their supposed team? More likely these are opposing team fans spamming the board now that the Spurs are struggling.

[FTLSpur]

System Failure thread

[AussieFanKurt]

Jesus is not lord.

[Dex]

I find the sudden increase in the number of "our Spurs suck" posts by n00bs amusing. Someone signs up just to about their supposed team? More likely these are opposing team fans spamming the board now that the Spurs are struggling.

+1

Everyone wants to be the guy who yelled "In the Hole!" when the ball goes in the hole.

[quentin_compson]

[...]You think it's bye accident that they average the least fta per game in the league, as another SpursTalk member posted?
[...]

Most certainly not. When Manu was injured, there were basically just two players left who are in any position to get free throws, Tim and Tony. I don't see how guys like Finley, Mason, Jr. and Bonner, who take most of their shots from midrange or downtown, could get a lot of free throws.

[Chomag]

You think it's bye accident that they average the least fta per game in the league, as another SpursTalk member posted? They don't get the calls, either on offense pressuring the defence, or on defense, meaning no matter how great a brand of defence they play or even who their playing, the Spurs will: still give up too many free throws, pick up too many fouls if they play aggressive defence or too many points if they aren't aggresive enough, and on the offensive end they'll never get the free throws that should be proportional to a great team.

You can't blame the refs for all of it. Your not going to get very many FT attempts when most of the offense consist of jacking up 3's

[fyatuk]

You can't blame the refs for all of it. Your not going to get very many FT attempts when most of the offense consist of jacking up 3's

No kidding. The Spurs attempt more 3s than FTs. The Knicks are the only other team like that.

Blaming the refs, especially in the long run, is just dumb.

[spursncowboys]

Here's the answer to the inexplicable decrease of Bruce's minutes, as well as other issues.

When Stern "allowed" the Lakers to get Gasol for nothing, THAT changed the entire landscape of the Spurs. The Lakers went from a very good team, to a great team. What's more, and this is even more vital: those don't get their share of calls, and will likely never do so again. You think it's bye accident that they average the least fta per game in the league, as another SpursTalk member posted? They don't get the calls, either on offense pressuring the defence, or on defense, meaning no matter how great a brand of defence they play or even who their playing, the Spurs will: still give up too many free throws, pick up too many fouls if they play aggressive defence or too many points if they aren't aggresive enough, and on the offensive end they'll never get the free throws that should be proportional to a great team.

As for Pop, and why he's going into offensive mode, he's pragmatic: hopeful but realistic. He knows all this better than any of us, and he knows only way the Spurs will win a le is shooting lights out. That is obviously far fetched, but this trend of extremely partial officiating (read: bias) against the Spurs all of sudden evening out, or worse improving is even less likely.

So many words, what's my point? The Spurs don't have a chance to win a le this year, maybe never again in the Duncan Era. It takes a great player beyond greatness to beat plotting officials, and the scheming league, which Duncan has been 4 times throughout his career. But at his current age, he cannot carry such a load. Couple that with the tatters the Spurs starting five and bench is in, offensively and defensively due to the above mentioned factors, it's over. Duncan might have led his team to 11 les, but David Stern and his money hungry league would have none of it.

I agree in the fact that the officiating are biased. I don't think they mean to be. However I think, in the Lakers case, they will not call a foul on the Lakers when they are on fire(Kobe single handedly coming back from 19 points in the playoffs last yr). However I dont think it means they will not win. That is "re ed" Phoenix talk. It just cannot be close enough for the refs to change. The Spurs won four championships from this same group, three of the four with crawford.

[Spursmania]

It's definitely not as simple as that. All teams about refs, but the bottom line is we have won 4 Championships because the Spurs willed themselves to these Championships. And, certainly Stern did not want the Spurs to win then either (too small a market), but they did.

Thus, the bottom line is the Spurs need to play beyond the refs, that is they need to put themselves in a situation where the game will not depend on the last call by the refs because more likely than not they we will never get that call. So, they just have to suck it up and continue playing D the way they always have. No excuses.

[antimvp]

Here's the answer to the inexplicable decrease of Bruce's minutes, as well as other issues.

When Stern "allowed" the Lakers to get Gasol for nothing, THAT changed the entire landscape of the Spurs. The Lakers went from a very good team, to a great team. What's more, and this is even more vital: those don't get their share of calls, and will likely never do so again. You think it's bye accident that they average the least fta per game in the league, as another SpursTalk member posted? They don't get the calls, either on offense pressuring the defence, or on defense, meaning no matter how great a brand of defence they play or even who their playing, the Spurs will: still give up too many free throws, pick up too many fouls if they play aggressive defence or too many points if they aren't aggresive enough, and on the offensive end they'll never get the free throws that should be proportional to a great team.

As for Pop, and why he's going into offensive mode, he's pragmatic: hopeful but realistic. He knows all this better than any of us, and he knows only way the Spurs will win a le is shooting lights out. That is obviously far fetched, but this trend of extremely partial officiating (read: bias) against the Spurs all of sudden evening out, or worse improving is even less likely.

So many words, what's my point? The Spurs don't have a chance to win a le this year, maybe never again in the Duncan Era. It takes a great player beyond greatness to beat plotting officials, and the scheming league, which Duncan has been 4 times throughout his career. But at his current age, he cannot carry such a load. Couple that with the tatters the Spurs starting five and bench is in, offensively and defensively due to the above mentioned factors, it's over. Duncan might have led his team to 11 les, but David Stern and his money hungry league would have none of it.

greatest way to explain the greatness of the spurs

[antimvp]

......and doesn't even Phil Jackson "blame the refs".

[antimvp]

Phil Jackson can "blame the refs" every playoffs series and he is still "great" and has "9" les.


........so why don't or can't the spurs or pop?

[ElNono]