Big Picture Happiness

[Kori Ellis]

The last one he made:
Tony had to go cover Batum in the corner, nobody helped on Tony's man so he got a wide open 3....un- ing-believable this team is right now.

That was McDyess' fault, I believe. He missed a lot of rotations today.

[SequSpur]

so the fact that the spurs are more than 50% into the season and they go minutes without a bucket, a coach that has his head up his ass...i hot dog who makes ill-advised passes night in and night out...can't hit a wide open jumper...(mason won 5 games by himself last year and he's on the bench)...the best point guard in the history of san antonio is sitting below the scorers table and there is happiness?

uh no... The spurs still can't beat a good team, the still can't execute and the coach has his head up his ass.. and buck harvey is writing articles about the best coach in the history of the nba...

yeah...uh huh...

[slick'81]

as long as theres no back2backs in the playoffs

[tim_duncan_fan]

I don't see how anyone could be happy. It's not as if we aren't losing to almost every team that has more wins than losses.

We can't even beat the good teams when they are missing star players.

I think something needs to be done, but I get the feeling that we'll stand pat.

[ElNono]

I thought both Manu and Tim were gassed at the end... I think they were more decoys than anything. That said, I agree Pop did some awful timeout management out there.

[ffadicted]

I personally thought Duncan looked awful tonight. He was so soft all night long, settling for jumpers late in the game, turning the ball over, getting bullied on defense. Probably one of his worst outings this season in my opinion.

Agreed on ginobili and parker though, both looked fine

[ElNono]

I'm also definitely happier to see Pop going off. Seeing him hitting the media table and really getting after some of the guys was encouraging to see. Hadn't seen it like that in a while.

I get the feeling Pop senses its go time and hopefully he really lights a fire under their ass.

Maybe it's just me but who knows...

Yes, also jumping on Bogans and sitting his ass after the re ed foul on Miller.

[edgar]

This team doesn't make the plays it used to do to win games in the last minutes of the 4th quarter. This and the big letdown of what Jefferson has been this season will ultimately make for a great trade deadline. I grinned from ear to ear as this Spurs team lost yet another fought hard game because this lets the front office know that we won't bull our way into thinking that "if and when we gel" we can be a contender.

However, it does seem like the whole league is struggling in having big lead games, because the league has gotten so much tougher over the years and we are beginning to see many young prospects become the new big bad boys in town. The only reason the Lakers aren't feeling the heat as much we are is because they have many elite players on their team, something we dont have the money to afford that much due to our small market team.

[SCdac]

As always, there's positive and even elite plays the Spurs have had on both ends of the court (ball movement is looking better in these past games, Spurs responded defensively coming out of the half)... but it's the bigger picture that matters... the 'playing steadily enough to not only make the playoffs, but actually contend' is looking further and further away. Defense, traditionally, is fully a team responsibility, even if the Big-3 are looking better as a trio (I agree btw), it won't cure our defensive woes.

[objective]

Another reason to cheer up:

Tonight's game helps Matt Bonner keep his le as the "Prince of Plus/Minus" after his second place showing!

More Bonner! More +/-!

[SequSpur]

Another reason to cheer up:

Tonight's game help's Matt Bonner keep his le as the "Prince of Plus/Minus" after his second place showing!

More Bonner! More +/-!

i am not laughing.

[Stringer_Bell]

Believe.

I'm trying, I'm really trying. There are flashes of greatness between the scoring droughts, but it's so hard to watch them struggle.

[MaNu4Tres]

Manu looked the best he has all year. It's a good sign he's shown progress in his penetrating ability.

Spurs need to make a move for a more all around consistent wing instead of the Bogans/Mason/ Finley combination. 38 minutes for Hill is too much IMO.

[AnthonyM]

Yes, also jumping on Bogans and sitting his ass after the re ed foul on Miller.

Yeah, and earlier in the game too he got all over RJ and the result was RJ taking it to the hole hard twice, although he missed one and the next resulted in a foul.

[Leetonidas]

Yeah, it was good to see everyone looking healthy. And I'm assuming Mason is gone as of tomorrow or something.

But when it comes down to it, to me, this game is on Pop. He should have called a timeout at 4 minutes to go, 3 minutes to go, etc to stop the bleeding. He sent Tony to the scorer's table with 4 something left and Tony sat there on the ground til 2 minutes (or less). A timeout to re-group was really needed and Pop let them blow the lead. I know it's on the players for not executing/getting stops, but the coach needs to know when they need a little help to re-focus.

Alright, I'll bite because it's you. Do you really think there's a trade in the works?

[Man In Black]

It's a big picture thing. Every cliff-jumper reacts to 1 game, read 1 game with way too much emotion. What sucked in that 4th quarter was late defensive read & reactions from NEW players. It sucks that this late in the season that they haven't yet got it down cold. However, there is still a little bit of time left to get this. RJ, I don't have much hope for. Same with "Keef" Bogans, but McDyess, I think he can get it. I knew he was sucked in too far and that 1 3pointer and that was a killer momentum shift.
People about the loss, but remember, even with this loss, the Spurs still have less losses than seeds 5,7, & 8. Remember, losses you can't give back.

[Ghazi]

it's only February

[mexicanjunior]

it's only February

I know right...

[HarlemHeat37]

I didn't have a problem with Duncan's D tonight..he blocked 2 shots and altered 3 shots, that's fine with me..Juwan Howard scoring an off the dribble turnaround hook shot is something you allow him to shoot..the rest were pick and rolls where he's too slow to switch to the jump shooter, which is something all Spurs fans should expect from an old Duncan at this point, we've seen it all year..

I had a problem with his offense, because he was taking horrible shots..he looked fine physically, he just allows inferior defenders to get in his head..he's played dominant basketball against almost every quality defender he's went up against this year, but when he plays average defenders, he starts coasting offensively and then allows them to get in his head when he isn't dominating..

[Kori Ellis]

Alright, I'll bite because it's you. Do you really think there's a trade in the works?

I think they are trying to trade Mason, yes. I don't know if it will actually happen.

[timvp]

I had a problem with his offense, because he was taking horrible shots..he looked fine physically, he just allows inferior defenders to get in his head..he's played dominant basketball against almost every quality defender he's went up against this year, but when he plays average defenders, he starts coasting offensively and then allows them to get in his head when he isn't dominating..

Rather than coasting, I think it's more a matter of holding the ball too long. When he goes against better players, he knows he has to make quick decisions. When he goes smaller/weaker defenders, he has tended to hold onto the ball while relying on overpowering rather than quickness and decisiveness -- which leads to forced shots and turnovers.

And I think it's more a matter of size or strength than defensive talent because the ultimate example of that this year was against Chuck Hayes.

[SequSpur]

I think they are trying to trade Mason, yes. I don't know if it will actually happen.

that would be stupid. he is the best clutch player they have...the rest of this team couldn't win a game to save their lives...


what a tragedy...

[timvp]

On the other side of the coin, was I the only one who wanted to jump off a bridge when Pop put Finley in at the end of the third quarter right when the Spurs were starting to play pretty well? Finley hadn't played all night and hasn't hit a shot in months, yet Pop decides that's the time to put him in.

[Spursfanfromafar]

My concern has always been that the two new acquisitions for the season have been mostly mediocre. They were supposed to help and push when the big three were not doing fine, but the big three have more or less done enough given their physical troubles. Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess haven't, on the other hand, justified their pay.

And the injuries to Bonner and Finley, the continued slump of Roger Mason's has meant that the supporting cast has been weakened as well.

The Spurs are therefore hanging in playoff contention mostly because of decent play by its Top 3 and occasional good stuff from youngsters Hill and Blair.

That means that any improvement through trade has to go through either improving the supporting cast by casting away either of Mason/Finley/Bonner or some of them and expect RJ/Dice to deliver as time goes on; or think big and cut from Mason/Finley/Bonner including one of RJ/Dice for a return of a shot blocking Big and a good Wing/defender.

[HarlemHeat37]

I don't even think Finley has played bad or anything(other than that disgusting pass attempt), he's just SOOOO SLOOOOOW..everything he does is in slow motion..if we're talking about a big man, then it can pass, but a slow swingman just doesn't work in the hand-check era..he's 36 years old..give it a rest Pop..