Game Thoughts: Spurs @ Bulls - Oct. 29

[exstatic]

Pop knew it would happen. After the first game, he said something like "poor defense, we were lucky our shots were falling so we could stay ahead".

Same poor defense next game, but shots weren't falling to bail themselves out.

Uh, actually, the Spurs surrendered 50% shooting to NO, and only 41.7% to Chicago, even with all of the O-rebs they got. You might try another theory other than "poor defense". Look at the 3pt shooting %. SA shot 4/21 from the arc. If they just hit 3-4 more shots from there, and NOTHING ELSE CHANGES, we win. Clean up the rebounding, and we blow them out.

[timvp]

Thanks timvp

I agree that TP was the main problem in the offence. Everything start with him and I don't remember to see him playing so passive like this last game in the last 3 seasons.

Maybe he's a little confuse now and don't know when to attack and when to get others involved but I always prefer TP attacking and being aggressive.

I hope he can also can built some chemistry with RJ on the break. I think he had 2 opportunities to throw some lobs to RJ but he was unsure. In the 1st half he took some time to pass and Rose blocked RJ and in the 2nd half he decided to go by himself and I think Thomas blocked him

Yeah, the Spurs haven't adjusted to having a running small forward yet. Even Ginobili, who is one of the best fast break passers I've ever seen, hasn't clicked yet with RJ on the break. I think it'll come but so far the fast break has been ugly.

[timvp]

LJ what do you think of Pop's idea to play Manu the last 7 mins of every quarter? Personally, I hate it.

With RJ on board we should play at least two of the so-called big four at all times, barring blowouts. As this rotation currently stands, we play either just Jefferson or none of them for the first three or four minutes of the 2nd and 4th quarters, until Tim and Tony check back in and to me that's pretty dumb.

Shouldn't we stick to what we did the last few years? Check Manu in with like 5:00 to go in the 1st/3rd, play him like 8 or 9 minutes, take him out about 3 minutes into the 2nd/4th when Tim and Tony are good to check back in, and then play all of them together the final 4-5 minutes of the half.

I agree 100%. I'm not sure why Pop has been sending Manu to the scorer's table at about 8 minutes. It's usually closer to around 6 minutes. With four main scoring threats, there's no excuse not to have at least two on the court at the same time. Against the Bulls, Pop managed to play only one of the four for more than 10 minutes of game time. That's too much. Not surprisingly, the Spurs had a +/- of -12 during that time.

Another weird thing Pop has been doing is playing TP and TD almost exclusively together. I think it'd be better to allow Hill to play some with TD instead of having Hill trying to carry a bench unit.

I'm assuming that Pop's rotation will become more logical once he starts trusting the new players. As it is, the rotation has just been weird. Starting with Bonner and Finley and going on from there . . .

[Bender]

Clean up the rebounding, and we blow them out.

we definately got outhustled there.

[DPG21920]

As much as we would all like to believe in the old sports cliches: "give maximum effort" or "go all out" or "take everyone serious"... As Spurs fans you have to realize this team is going to coast.

It can be frustrating to watch and see guys be lazy or them just blatantly have less energy than another team. But this is the way they play, right or wrong. They don't play hard every night and they don't leave it all on the floor every night. Sometimes they coast, and they live with the consequences. We have to as well. The important thing is that they do it when it matters and that the bad games a few and far between.

Frustrating, yes. Necessary as well.

[Whisky Dog]

2nd game of the season is not coast time. Game 42 yes not 2. That wasn't their problem - they just had no rhythm and got out hustled plain and simple.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

That pretty much describes Bonner in almost every loss.

Originally Posted by: T Park



The bonner of now, is the one many of us saw when that trade was made.

His play now just solidifies that as one of the best trades the 'chise ever made.

[spursfan1000]

I didn't like this game at all, we were getting out hustled every play and missing so many threes it was hard to believe, I thought all of the droughts spurs had last season would no longer continue this season, but so far im proved wrong.

[Blackjack]

LJ what do you think of Pop's idea to play Manu the last 7 mins of every quarter? Personally, I hate it.

With RJ on board we should play at least two of the so-called big four at all times, barring blowouts. As this rotation currently stands, we play either just Jefferson or none of them for the first three or four minutes of the 2nd and 4th quarters, until Tim and Tony check back in and to me that's pretty dumb.

Shouldn't we stick to what we did the last few years? Check Manu in with like 5:00 to go in the 1st/3rd, play him like 8 or 9 minutes, take him out about 3 minutes into the 2nd/4th when Tim and Tony are good to check back in, and then play all of them together the final 4-5 minutes of the half.

I think, check that, hope that's an inevitability; it's too logical not to.

Playing Jefferson alone could just be an effort by Pop to get RJ engaged and into the flow, but I think it'd be pretty misguided if it is; if that were the case, he should just start Manu and let the team get off to a good start utilizing their familiarity, then RJ could come in and do the 'Manu' until he gets comfortable with his game and the system.

It's got to be a difficult balancing-act trying to get the individual comfortable while, at the same time, achieving overall continuity and team success.

Another weird thing Pop has been doing is playing TP and TD almost exclusively together. I think it'd be better to allow Hill to play some with TD instead of having Hill trying to carry a bench unit.

At this stage of his career, running the motion and allowing him to play with Duncan is probably a good bet.

He's got an ever-improving spot-up 3 that would only help in the overall spacing, and it'd be something he'd get a chance to utilize more playing off the ball with the inside-out game.

[m33p0]

bulls' young and athletic frontline took advantage of the spurs.

[EmptyMan]

As much as we would all like to believe in the old sports cliches: "give maximum effort" or "go all out" or "take everyone serious"... As Spurs fans you have to realize this team is going to coast.

It can be frustrating to watch and see guys be lazy or them just blatantly have less energy than another team. But this is the way they play, right or wrong. They don't play hard every night and they don't leave it all on the floor every night. Sometimes they coast, and they live with the consequences. We have to as well. The important thing is that they do it when it matters and that the bad games a few and far between.

Frustrating, yes. Necessary as well.

You are right, but I think: How can they coast at all when they have so much improvement to do before the playoffs start

The league isn't water-downed anymore like it was when the Spurs made their dynasty run.

[HarlemHeat37]

It has little to do with the strength of the league..we're always going to look worse when our franchise player is past his prime, especially since he was the best player in the NBA for many years..also with Manu past his prime as well..

In a system that is centered primarily around 3 guys to do almost everything(now adding RJ, which will take a long time), you're never going to be as good as you were when your best players were at the top of their games, no matter how much depth you add..

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

By starting Finley and Bonner, Pop puts the Spurs at an athleticism, size and speed disadvantage to begin games. The Bulls gladly took advantage.

Yup, starting both of those guys sets the wrong tone for the game. Finley/Dice or Mason/Dice, with Bonner used off the bench, would be a much better idea.

It was an off night for sure, but it is early November and the conditions were perfect for a loss. Nothing to worry about, just move on to the next game.