The official "It's only December" thread.

[Chieflion]

I got a chuckle out of the admiralsnackbar vs Chieflion debate.

Well, it is only December and I was just having fun. December or not, the standings don't give a . I am sure the players and coaching staff treat every game seriously.

[z0sa]

Well, again, the no shows of RJ came from not getting the ball. When he got the ball in the 3rd quarter, you saw some good things happen. Players made nice cuts to the basket and Jefferson gets it there which means he is at least an average playmaker and not a black hole. My only complaint is that he never sees the ball in the 4th quarter, if that is the case, I rather have Finley bail us out on his three point attempts. Otherwise, he has been productive when he gets the ball. Dice is one of my concerns. He played like 15 minutes, yes I know Bonner was hot but Dice was not playing much. Mason has been a big joke this season and Finley is better than him at this point. I hope Manu is still just recovering because his injury concerns may be reaching T-Mac levels, it has been one injury after another and I hope he is ok. I know he is down with that but a onfident Ginobili will help us out in the long run. I am scratching my head with Tony's play. He still scores at a high clip but whenever he is on the court, it is him and Duncan and no one else, and his turnover issues and limited court vision (for a PG) gets very clear especially when the defense presses him.

I agree with basically everything, except Mason. I think Mason has the ability to play well consistently and hit some big shots for us. I like his improving defense and he's definitely worked on his offensive game, especially passing in traffic. I feel he's twice the player Finley is at this point.

I do want to touch on RJ as well, not to disagree, but again: he must find his niche with the Big 3 active and healthy. If that niche ends up being spot up shooter most often, it is true something must be done. I personally feel we are misusing him, like you said, by calling few plays for him. He made good happen in the post last night, including a nice pass from under the basket to the top of the arch for a wide open Bonner 3pter. I hope Pop is seeing RJ must have plays called for him, but I also have a sneaking feeling the reason Pop isn't calling more plays period is so he can gauge just how hard his touch on Parker's reins must be.

[bdictjames]

64 more games. It's a long season, not a sprint, its a marathon.

[Chieflion]

I agree with basically everything, except Mason. I think Mason has the ability to play well consistently and hit some big shots for us. I like his improving defense and he's definitely worked on his offensive game, especially passing in traffic. I feel he's twice the player Finley is at this point.

I do want to touch on RJ as well, not to disagree, but again: he must find his niche with the Big 3 active and healthy. If that niche ends up being spot up shooter most often, it is true something must be done. I personally feel we are misusing him, like you said, by calling few plays for him. He made good happen in the post last night, including a nice pass from under the basket to the top of the arch for a wide open Bonner 3pter. I hope Pop is seeing RJ must have plays called for him, but I also have a sneaking feeling the reason Pop isn't calling more plays period is so he can gauge just how hard his touch on Parker's reins must be.

It has to be tight sooner or later. Parker is a scoring PG, not a passing one. He is not really that good at seeing the floor. Let him make all the decisions on the court, we can have three stand-still humanoids playing who can hit the three at the 40% clip and Tim Duncan. This is how I feel the Spurs play when Parker gets into the two man game with Tim. Although it is effective, the rest of the players would feel left out of the game and eventually drift away from it. I hope Pop sees it cause this strategy has been beaten like a dead horse, sure it works, but for how long.

Mason is a good player, the high pick with Mason should be set more often for his pick and pop threes. He has a good connection with Blair (well, everyone apparently can get the ball to Blair and get good results), and although I am not particularly happy with his defense and three point shot this season, he can only get better, I hope. No backup PG bull .

I would like to bring up Keith Bogans. We know he is not a very good offensive threat. Defensively, he is not bad, quite decent and plays physical, problem is, he is not really seeing the floor other than the 1st few minutes of the game.

[TJastal]

Bogans got yanked early for some reason by Pop, the game was just minutes old. Not sure what that was about. Ended up with only 9 minutes played.

Not that I'm complaining (I don't think Bogans should be starting) BUT... Utah is one of those "physical" teams that beat you to death and Deron Williams exemplifies this: he's a short, stocky, physical guard that Bogans' bulldog defense can be effective against. I would have thought if anything we could have used Bogans' defense against Williams, and Mason's offensive production against the nuggets... Mason got 3 minutes in that game, 20+ against the jazz.

Pop just doesn't seem to understand how to utilize all this talent he has at his disposal, and I see that as a core problem right now.

[Chieflion]

Just getting her warmed up.

I was about to bump my favorite thread.

[Creation88]

"only" theory, this team needs to win now. and they're no were close to the mentality of a champion right now.

[NRHector]

"only" theory, this team needs to win now. and they're no were close to the mentality of a champion right now.

I feel bad for Mr. Holt

[ItsOnlyDecember]

oh hai everyone!

[mexicanjunior]

oh hai everyone!

I can't wait for "It's Only January" to show up...

[murpjf88]

I feel bad for Mr. Holt

I don't feel bad for anyone responsible for bringing RJ here

[JustinJDW]

It's only December guys. Chill.

[Chieflion]

Come on, guys, it is only December. A loss to the short-handed Blazers is ok.

[HarlemHeat37]

Especially this time of December..all the guys are obviously distracted with Christmas season and all, it makes sense for them to have lost..

[benefactor]

...and now it's about to be May, with a Spurs team that is playing together and a six game dismissal of the Mavs.

I guess it was only December after all.

[ElNono]

...and now it's about to be May, with a Spurs team that is playing together and a six game dismissal of the Mavs.

I guess it was only December after all.

Somebody send a memo to Bonner... he's still stuck in December...

[timtonymanu]

Somebody send a memo to Bonner... he's still stuck in December...

Mason's still stuck in last year's playoffs.

[ElNono]

Mason's still stuck in last year's playoffs.

He should be wearing a straightjacket and buried in the bench...