Why Do Spurs Fans Make Excuses

[portnoy1]

I don't know if I've ever seen so many fans make excuses for their team. It's only November, it's early. It's only December, they're thinking of Santa. It's only January, the year just started. It's only February, they're about to turn on the heat... etc. Or how about, "he's getting into form", "the team's just jelling".

You think every other team with new players just clicked instantly? You don't think they had to jell? You think we're the only one with old players?

I'm not saying bag on TP and Manu and TD. I'm just saying: Be a legit fan. Don't be a homer. Support them but hold them accountable.

Let's go.

That took some balls dude. They do need some time and they have alot of new faces. Bottom line your right tho. Some fans like giving RJ a free pass. Alot of fans love giving TP a free pass. But accountability on defense and ball movement on offense.

[mexicanjunior]

This team isnt constructed the way it was with a prime Duncan in case you havent noticed. This is a deeper team with players that can create their own shot, whereas prime Duncan was mostly surrounded with stationary shooters. While age might be catching up to Duncan the Spurs have done a nice job countering that by providing him with better help. Parker's odomoter is far from turned over btw.

Wait a couple of months before you hit the panic button.

This is only a "deeper team" if the secondary players live up to their names and salaries. So far, Finley, Bonner and Mason have been disappointing while Jefferson has been wildly inconsistent. It's debatable whether they will get their acts together in time to be a serious contender come playoff time. In the past, the big 3 could make up for the bench decencies...I'm not seeing this version of it being able to carry the load.

BTW, Parker may not be on the wrong side of 30 yet but he has plenty of playoff tread and I think the injuries he is suffering are directly related to it...

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

I don't know if I've ever seen so many fans make excuses for their team. It's only November, it's early. It's only December, they're thinking of Santa. It's only January, the year just started. It's only February, they're about to turn on the heat... etc. Or how about, "he's getting into form", "the team's just jelling".

You think every other team with new players just clicked instantly? You don't think they had to jell? You think we're the only one with old players?

I'm not saying bag on TP and Manu and TD. I'm just saying: Be a legit fan. Don't be a homer. Support them but hold them accountable.

Let's go.

You are ignoring the history of the team. We often start slowly, or go through a phase where the team plays very poorly, before turning it on after the ASB and steam-rolling the league. I fear those days might be over now that Tim and Manu are on the downside of their careers, but still, it's the way this team has been for most of the decade.

As far as I'm concerned, no excuses. Right now the chemistry is crap. However, I wouldn't be surprised if things start to click somewhere between the 20-30 game mark, so why get down on them now? If you've followed the NBA for any length of time you should know that the first 20 games of the season are generally no indication of the teams that will matter in April.

[phyzik]

The Mavs.

Really?

The Mavs have 7 new players?

and they are considered contenders?

Tell me all 7 new players you have.

Honestly, Spurs suck right now.

If they gell, Dallas wont have a chance to compete.

I'll admit thats a big IF at this point in the season.

Just looking at the game today, the Spurs with 7... SEVEN... new players and taking Dallas into overtime gives me confidence.... Nevermind the injuries to both teams.

Just a matter of time.

[duncan228]

Duncan with no excuses.

Duncan missed all three shots and went scoreless in overtime, and afterward he blamed himself for the loss.

“I know I played badly in the overtime,” Duncan said. “The OT wasn’t good for us and Dirk really took over and won it for his team.”

[mexicanjunior]

I don't get all this "start slowly" talk...

2003 = 6-4
2004 = 5-5
2005 = 8-2
2006 = 8-2
2007 = 8-2
2008 = 8-2
2009 = 5-5

In the years we won les, we only started off slowly in 2003 and at least then we still had a winning record.

[narmerguy]

That's 4-5 for us now.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Starting slowly is not necessarily reflected by number of wins, it's about how cohesive the team looks. Even slimmed down, the Spurs' system is extremely complex and it takes a long while even for vets to get it. Thus, the team usually looks like to start the season, that is certainly the case this year, and that is being reflected in the standings.

Pop's method is to get a slow build going - he plays around for the first 6 weeks of the season, then slowly settles the rotation and builds towards the RR and the ASB. Then after the ASB the gloves come off and it's no stopping until the end.

This year the early lack of chemistry is apparent in both the play and the record.

[DubMcDub]

Really?

The Mavs have 7 new players?

and they are considered contenders?

Tell me all 7 new players you have.

Actually it's 6. Marion, Gooden, Thomas, Humphries, Ross, Beaubois. All 6 except Marion (who was hurt) played tonight. But I'm sure that 7th guy is what really makes it tough, right?

And yes, if the 4-5, 10th place Spurs are contenders, the 9-3, 2nd place Mavs, who have a winning road record and have beaten the defending champs by 14 at their own place, are certainly contenders.

Honestly, Spurs suck right now.

If they gell, Dallas wont have a chance to compete.

Keep telling yourself that. I think you'd have to roll into the beginning of this decade to find the last time the Mavs "couldn't compete" with the Spurs, even in the years the Spurs won championships.

[sabar]

I don't know if I've ever seen so many fans make excuses for their team....Be a legit fan. Don't be a homer. Support them but hold them accountable.

Let's go.

Dude, almost every thread started after a loss is "Fire Pop", "Trade Duncan" or "Tank 2010". Really don't need more of that. Any poster than actually knows what they are talking about already criticize the team in their analysis threads. Who exactly is this addressed to?

[jjktkk]

Although I'm disappointed at the Spurs slow start, I'm also encouraged by the play of some of the Spurs new players like McDyess, Jefferson, Blair,Bogans, and the improvement of Hill. Because of all the new players, it takes time to get the team chemistry down. I'm more worried about the health of Ginoboli and Parker. Narmerguy and Mex. junior, I don't understand your rationale. How in the can you form a opinion, good or bad, on the Spurs and Pop, when this team hasn't been completely healthy yet? Its way too early to bash the Spurs. In a month u2 better have an appe e for some black-colored bird, cause I got a good feeling that crow will be served by then.

[Rynospursfan]

I love the irony here. The don't make excuses thread is at least half full of them.

[mexicanjunior]

Narmerguy and Mex. junior, I don't understand your rationale. How in the can you form a opinion, good or bad, on the Spurs and Pop, when this team hasn't been completely healthy yet?

Considering the team's age and injury history the last 3 years...is there any indications that this will even happen?

[TDomination]

I guess the only "slow start" you can compare this too is the 1999 spurs team.

There were a few key new players on that team, namely Mario Elie, Jerome Kersey, Steve Kerr, and i don't know who else. But they took a while before they "clicked" starting off 6-8.

Hopefully, similar things happen this year...stupid injuries.

BTW, its November 19

[Mr.Robinson]

Manu, Tim and TP are coasting. It's November. If The Spurs don't have 10-12 wins by 20 games then I'm going to talk .

[SAGambler]

Good post...I'm so sick of the "it's only (insert month)" posts. If a team is playing like , it doesn't matter what month it is...

That is something I never could wrap may brain around. The "it's only a November game", "it's only a December game"...."Games don't really matter yet."

Well, if they don't matter, why even bother to play them? Just forfeit.. Nobody gets hurt. Everyone is healthy come playoff time.

Except when you lose enough games in November and December, you will be on vacation come playoff time.

Yet this mantra has been going on with Spurs fans since....well, seems like forever and ever. I just don't get it.

[Fpoonsie]

It makes it hurt less...

...I assume it's similar to when illuzion lubes up.

[Bender]

Except when you lose enough games in November and December, you will be on vacation come playoff time.

that is my thought too. I mean, for those who say "the spurs just coast in Nov/Dec", well if a West team has a crappy record in Nov/Dec, they will be in a hole for the remainder of the season.

[Death In June]

Actually it's 6. Marion, Gooden, Thomas, Humphries, Ross, Beaubois. All 6 except Marion (who was hurt) played tonight. But I'm sure that 7th guy is what really makes it tough, right?

And yes, if the 4-5, 10th place Spurs are contenders, the 9-3, 2nd place Mavs, who have a winning road record and have beaten the defending champs by 14 at their own place, are certainly contenders.



Keep telling yourself that. I think you'd have to roll into the beginning of this decade to find the last time the Mavs "couldn't compete" with the Spurs, even in the years the Spurs won championships.

I agree with you for the most part, except, I don't understand why you listed the lakers victory as a bullet point. Beating a gasol-less lakers team isn't anything to blow your load over.

[ZB 512]

I agree with you for the most part, except, I don't understand why you listed the lakers victory as a bullet point. Beating a gasol-less lakers team isn't anything to blow your load over.

why do some people only focus on the injuries of Mavs opponents?

Fyi, Josh Howard was also out for that game

Injuries are a part of the sport. The Mavs have to deal with them also

[HarlemHeat37]

LOL Spurs obviously aren't contenders right now..

Mavs are a great team..they aren't ever actual contenders, but they're always up there..

[Dex]

Because it's easier than making pie!

ba dum cha.

[Spursfan092120]

You're not a fan if you're not making excuses...because we know our team is better than how they're playing.

[narmerguy]

That took some balls dude. They do need some time and they have alot of new faces. Bottom line your right tho. Some fans like giving RJ a free pass. Alot of fans love giving TP a free pass. But accountability on defense and ball movement on offense.

Thanks =\ I knew I was going to get slaughtered but it had to be said.

[dbestpro]

The one thing we Spur fans have in common with Pop. We love our whine, ..er..uh I mean wine.