What would Pop-a-Moron do without Ginobilli?

[pjjrfan]

What would the Spurs do without ginobili. Right now the biggest thing for Pop is how to manage Manu's minute where he won't get hurt or worn out by the time the playoffs come around. Without Tony and with Timmy not dominating as he used to, the question is how long and how far can Manu carry this team.

[TD 21]

manu is the only playmaker on the team.... this team literally doesnt have a point gaurd.

tony is a lot more valuable to this team then people seem to think

Exactly. Hill is a nice player and he can play spot minutes at the point, but he can't be a primary point guard because the worst part of his game is his play making.

What were the geniuses who put this roster together thinking? They were gearing up for a long run so they decided to not have depth at the two positions you need depth most: point guard and center.

Ginobili is going to end up wearing himself out before the playoffs begin. They need to run more of the offense through Duncan, at least have a balance going between the two. Almost every possession can't be a pick-and-roll thirty-some feet from the basket where Ginobili has to create something. It's too predictable and too demanding. Whatever happened to the intricate and expansive playbook on this team? They've become like most teams in this league: a steady diet of pick-and-rolls.

[ElNono]

Whatever happened to the intricate and expansive playbook on this team? They've become like most teams in this league: a steady diet of pick-and-rolls.

You can only play an 'intricate and expansive playbook' when you have the roster that can execute it. When your backup PG can't dribble with one hand, hesitates to make a pass, and gets constantly trapped between his own defender and the sidelines, execution goes down the drain. You look at a team like Utah, and they might not have over the top talent on every position, but their execution more than makes up for it.

[Cane]

You let Manu do his ? Pop had no choice - he has no answer right now for the lack of guts from most of his rotation players. They have no reason to have guts at this point - a bad performance here and there really doesn't affect playing time. He needs to start benching players until he can find someone that wants to step up. They've had long enough to time to find some type of chemistry, it's time to start doing your job or sit down.

No he had no choice, the Spurs without Ginobili were sucking ass. As for benching players - he did just that if you noticed where the multimillion dollar RJ was while Malik earned his minutes. Good coaches and people who watched the damn game would've done the same thing by letting Manu and Malik keep playing last night.

If it continues like this Manu will be worn down by the playoffs - a good coach shouldn't let that happen.

Yea, its not like Pop hasn't been monitoring his minutes throughout the season (27.8 MPG) or that he doesn't realize Manu is injury-prone. Manu's only starting because the rest of the Spurs can't do without him or Parker recently. And its not like he's playing 40 minutes out there; Pop handled it so he only had 33 mins of action and gave him some rest to jumpstart the closing minutes of the game.

They're shooting guards... we need to stop with the fantasy that players can play any position. Manu is a freak of nature and obviously an exception to the rule. Nothing more and nothing less.

They're combo guards that are definitely SG's first and closest to being back-up PGs as it gets for the silver and black. Hill has been great this season unfortunately his playmaking and passing haven't improved as much as his shot.

[ElNono]

They're combo guards that are definitely SG's first and closest to being back-up PGs as it gets for the silver and black. Hill has been great this season unfortunately his playmaking and passing haven't improved as much as his shot.

Hill was and still is your typical shooting guard. Fairly good shooting, and he can occasionally drive to the basket and finish. He actually needs to improve his finishing around the basket. To be considered a combo guard you at least need to have decent handles (which Hill has), and at somewhat above average passing, which Hill simply does not have yet. His footwork also needs massive work, but he somewhat makes up for that with his wingspan. He might not be able to stay in front of his guy all the time, but he can reach in an poke balls away.
He could turn into a combo guard once he starts correcting some of those issues. Footwork and passing are key, IMO.

Mason, is a borderline shooting guard. He basically is a one trick pony. He could be a fairly good spot up shooter. He has terrible handles, his passing is below average, and his defense is lacking. Combo guard and Roger Mason really don't go in the same sentence.

[Fabbs]

What were the geniuses who put this roster together thinking? They were gearing up for a long run so they decided to not have depth at the two positions you need depth most: point guard and center.

President of Basketball Operations, Gregor Popovich.

[Cane]

Hill was and still is your typical shooting guard. Fairly good shooting, and he can occasionally drive to the basket and finish. He actually needs to improve his finishing around the basket. To be considered a combo guard you at least need to have decent handles (which Hill has), and at somewhat above average passing, which Hill simply does not have yet. His footwork also needs massive work, but he somewhat makes up for that with his wingspan. He might not be able to stay in front of his guy all the time, but he can reach in an poke balls away.
He could turn into a combo guard once he starts correcting some of those issues. Footwork and passing are key, IMO.

Mason, is a borderline shooting guard. He basically is a one trick pony. He could be a fairly good spot up shooter. He has terrible handles, his passing is below average, and his defense is lacking. Combo guard and Roger Mason really don't go in the same sentence.

Decent analysis but doesn't change the fact that they've been groomed with PG duties and billed as combo-guards especially with the Spurs. They're definitely SGs first and foremost and Mason Jr. even a more limited and tier version - unfortunately both are still the closest thing to a back-up PG that the Spurs have.

[ElNono]

Decent analysis but doesn't change the fact that they've been groomed with PG duties and billed as combo-guards especially with the Spurs. They're definitely SGs first and foremost and Mason Jr. even a more limited and tier version - unfortunately both are still the closest thing to a back-up PG that the Spurs have.

The lack of a legitimate backup PG has been a glaring hole all the way back to last season. You would be right in stating that the Spurs thought that those two guys could play the role. It would be just as right, after seeing the results, to say that the Spurs were simply wrong.

[Chieflion]

The Spurs also don't have depth at the SF position. Starting a 6"5 Keith Bogans at SF is enough to make people sick. The Spurs have a bunch of SGs masquerading at backup PG because of their size and height. It doesn't help that some of those guys can't run and can't play defense, making small ball an epic fail.

[Cane]

The lack of a legitimate backup PG has been a glaring hole all the way back to last season. You would be right in stating that the Spurs thought that those two guys could play the role. It would be just as right, after seeing the results, to say that the Spurs were simply wrong.

Yup; the Spurs decided to pick up RJ and McDyess over grabbing a legitimate PG. Arguably the SF and big man position are where the Spurs had the bigger holes especially after Parker's sensational season last year and having Hill improve. But to play more of the FO's advocate: The PG position is probably one of the toughest roles to fulfill on the Spurs system even the limited version thats being played today. That might be a reason why they stuck with guys who already have experience under the Spurs system. Also hard to expect Parker, who had a career high season last year, to be as injury prone as he was; otherwise Hill/Mason/Ginobili could together fill that missing role easier.

It'll be interesting to see what happens in the upcoming offseason at the PG position. Mason Jr. is likely gone so they'll have to get someone that can at least bring the ball up.

[poop]

what would we do without Ginobili....currently Manu is just as OR MAYBE EVEN MORE valuable to this team than Tim Duncan!!!!!!!!

it was both hilarious and sad watching, when the second manu comes out our offense literally became a clueless stand around and turn it over fest, the second he comes back in he immediately sets someone up. every single time. Manu is probably the most underrated player in the NBA.

[OldSilentHill]

what would we do without Ginobili....currently Manu is just as OR MAYBE EVEN MORE valuable to this team than Tim Duncan!!!!!!!!

it was both hilarious and sad watching, when the second manu comes out our offense literally became a clueless stand around and turn it over fest, the second he comes back in he immediately sets someone up. every single time. Manu is probably the most underrated player in the NBA.

Why you think is so underrated? Just curious.

[poop]

Why you think is so underrated? Just curious.

one, he plays on a small market team that is not liked by the majority of the NBA, and two, much of what makes him great doesnt show up in stats. his intangibles are priceless yes theres no statistic for them. much like how robert horry was

[ElNono]

Yup; the Spurs decided to pick up RJ and McDyess over grabbing a legitimate PG.

Not even that. They could have picked between Mike Wilks, Tyronn Lue or Bobby Jackson instead of signing Ratliff. All of those were available last summer. If they wanted to spend a little more, Juan Dixon, Brevin Knight, Carlos Arroyo and Flip Murray were also available.

It'll be interesting to see what happens in the upcoming offseason at the PG position. Mason Jr. is likely gone so they'll have to get someone that can at least bring the ball up.

That will probably be Hill... but if Manu goes also, then they're going to have to fill that hole too.