Spurs not yet jelled, but could still turn into force

[cherylsteele]

It wasn't all bad, as our guys were fighting and showing a lot of effort. They could have won that game, but shots weren't falling, free throws were missed and too many turnovers were produced.

The last 2 items are what killed the Spurs, especially the FT's. Those are gimme points and they missed 10 of them, if they make 8 more they win the game. Turnovers were do to sloppy play IMO, from everyone. Another item was the slow 1st quarter start, they dug a hole and could not get out of it.
They failed this chemistry exam, they will need to keep studying.

Bright spots:
Blair played well 11 rebs 18 pts
The Spurs actually pretty much destroyed them on the boards 55-32 and the "D" was solid escpecially in the 2nd half.

[Chomag]

Completely disagree. Take away sheed's two threes and it was a different outcome. 4 games, RJ and mason aren't going to miss those many shots. The Spurs in a series won't average nearly as many TOs as that. It was a good loss because they showed that they stuck it out and fought through. Besides to's, transition d needs to improve. However the passes were crisp. After the Rodeo trip they'll be where they need to be.

Or you could take away Blair and the game wouldn't have even been close.

[duhoh]

i look @ houston's season last year. they were NOT playing well around this time, but by the end of the year, they were the only team to play the eventual champs to 7. Not DEN, not ORL, but frickin HOU.

Our guys play just as hard, and they WILL figure it out.

[Sobe_Kucks]

If you're inclined to see impending doom, I suppose last night's result could support that viewpoint; but if you're inclined to see the optimism of a work in progress, I think last night's actual game gives plenty of room for hope.

+1

3's weren't falling, turnovers, gave up alley oops to Garnett like it was a college rec game, freethrows were terrible, stretches of horrible execution (i.e. RJ's lazy inbounds pass that was stolen, Fin hitting a clutch 3 with his foot out of bounds etc.) and we were still in it!

I wasn't a cliff jumper but the way in which we were losing games early on was a concern. Little by little things are improving. Team defense is still not stellar but improving. Bonner and Fin have found a great home coming off the bench and team rebounding was great last night. That's a huge reason why we were still in the game. When you shoot like crap, but out rebound the other team 55 to 32 (20 off.) you have a chance, even if your shots aren't falling. This loss didn't feel so much like a loss but like an idea of where we're at. While execution is still a problem, free throws and turnovers aren't as hard to fix. Blair's best game by far and he did it while both Sheed and Garnett gaurded him. Very very impressive and perhaps enough for Pop to realize this kid needs more minutes. He may make some bone-head plays but he also will give you some wow moments, not to mention boards boards and more boards. I was mad we lost but only for a minute or so.

When is a loss not a loss? When it gives you hope.

[Spursfan092120]

There is no way we beat the Celtics on a Finals series as of right now...

But you know what the beautiful part is? The Finals aren't starting right now.

[rjv]

this article makes too much sense for some "fans" in this forum.

[TIMMYD!]

We didn't play Charlotte either.

[HarlemHeat37]

We still have a LONG way to go, even if this game was close..

I think people here are really overrating Boston..they don't look too good either, especially compared to their record..

Both teams aren't that good right now..

[Allanon]

A team like the Thundah can put a beating on the Celtics and the Spurs right now. Both teams have been inconsistent.

The jelling is taking longer than expected and I suspect it's not going to happen without changes.

But the Spurs will improve drastically from their 9-7 record.

[BillMc]

ah yes. once again great research work by FOX.

+1

Fox never fails to fail.

[Sean Cagney]

This article lowered alot of expectations I had and I need to adjust and realize it's a work in progress and hopefully 66 games from now it will be a completely different story. We have a ways to go to beat LA or Boston like they said, but by the years end they could have a shot at beating those teams and thats all I ask for! I want progress to come if I am a fan now, losing to good teams here and there won't bother me as much because I will look for the positives now and see growth and be happy.

We are not used to the Spurs coming out of the gate and not being a top tier team which some favor for the le, thats nos the usual for us fans so it bothers us alot to see them struggle. Half the team is new I realize and it will take some good time to become what they want to become (Champs).

GO SPURS GO!

Or you could take away Blair and the game wouldn't have even been close.

Yep, and you could easily say take away a few threes from a player and we win, well thats every game almost you lose right? Take away one of our guys threes and we lose some games . That point by him saying take away Sheeds two threes and we win was an irrelevant one, you could point that out almost every game the Spurs lose.

[ezau]

To me the next step is simple. Manu was sent to the bench to provide a spark. The bench no longer needs that spark. The starting lineup is slow out of the gait. So, it is time to move Manu back to the starting lineup. Duncan, Dice, RJ, Manu and TP need to start to learn how to play together as they will be the players finishing games come play off time.
Bonner, Blair, Bogans, Finley, Theo, Hill and Mason provide more than enough bench.
Tinker with the bench rotations, Pop. You can even tinker with the 12th man, Ian, Malik and Marcus., but put the big boys in the starting line up and leave them alone. The team needs one thing form Pop right now, consistency.

Touche!

[ezau]

We still have a LONG way to go, even if this game was close..

I think people here are really overrating Boston..they don't look too good either, especially compared to their record..

Both teams aren't that good right now..

This is actually very true.

[itzsoweezee]

"This is the most difficult scheme I've been in on offense and defense," he said. "Of course, I've been in one place for so long I knew there would be an adjustment period. Everything here is so exact; every play there's so much detail."

Jefferson, who spent his entire eight-year career with the New Jersey Nets before moving to the Spurs, concurred with his new teammate.

"Of course there will be an adjustment period. The schemes here are very different, very involved. We just have to take things one game at a time. Like tonight. We want a 'W' but we also want to progress. We know it's a process. We just have to keep getting better every game and we'll see where we are at the end of the year."

they'll be a much better team come playoffs