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Very solid game
Props
Lost in the lime light of Ginobili's heroics, you gotta give it up to RJ. Granted, it took the corpse of Michael Finley to give Jefferson one of his best games of the season, but pulling down 10 boards to go with double digit scoring is great.
If Jefferson can continue to attack the rim he becomes 10 times better. His jumper is brutal, so I hope he keeps getting into the lane.
Very solid game
Props
The key is that he MUST stay aggressive when TP returns..a lot of his success during this stretch has been with his aggressiveness off the ball and on the boards..he can't settle for Js, and he can't stand around and watch when TP is back..
Those last few games with TP back will be key for chemistry..
I don't buy the RJ is passive with TP playing. He has been aggressive with him and passive w/o him but we agree on the he has to keep on attacking and team chemistry when TP will be back will be the key
Definitely agree on giving RJ his props. He has come around finally. Hopefully he can keep up the trend, which I think he will.
I'm sure RJ will continue to play along side Manu even as TP returns to the lineup. Manu and TD have done well to keep RJ involved as well as get him the ball in his sweet spots. Such as coming of curls, playing off back screens, and in the open court. Lets hope when Tony returns he will atleast give up a couple of plays to RJ to keep him from getting stagnant.
The issue was never about Parker giving up plays though..there was a period of time where the Spurs tried to run different plays for Jefferson and it didn't work out, even with Parker in the lineup..
Tony has never been a selfish player, has he ever complained about his touches?..
Jefferson just always has to have an aggressive mind state on both ends of the floor and on the boards, that's the only way he'll be successful..unfortunately, I don't think he'll be able to do this on a consistent basis, but I'll be hoping..
it's also crucial that TP get him the ball and establish his confidence early. it's TP's job to recognize that he's got a good player in the 3 spot and he's got to get him shots, and not only shots, but shots in the right places. so he's going to need to bring the energy still, but the teamwork and his involvement needs to stay when TP gets back as well.
He really has picked up his game as of late. He should be ready come playoffs by taking most of the season off.
He had a few quiet games in March but generally RJs been a key to what has been a great March run for us.
Last 10 games
14.8 ppg
5.7 reb
Add to that Manu and Hill
Manu
22.4 ppg
5.5 ast
Hill
14.6 ppg
4.0 ast
These guys really seem to be taking it to the next level for our final drive to the playoffs.
Even Timmy’s low numbers haven’t affected our March run.
Good to see Timmy getting limited minutes 27 and 25 last 2 games and still being able to get the win.
I am glad he is not afraid of making mistakes now. He is attempting shots that we haven't seen him take, besides the long open jumper that teams give him.
If RJ can deliver the goods, the Spurs' chances increas exponentially
He kinda sounded like Mike Tyson or Michael Jackson (rip) there at the end of the game..
RJ seems to be past his slump...I hope it continues.
RJ has been working hard lately. He's crashing the boards for the spurs for the past few games. And he's attacking the rim with an at ude. Good job,RJ! Keep it up.
I knew that once RJ found his place and started contributing big that the haters would come around.
Honestly RJ has always been good, the problem is in the past he's been driving hard to the hole, getting fouled, and not getting a call. Refs are starting to respect/remember who he is more nowdays it seems.
Honestly look at the previous games where he's played poorly, it's not like he wasn't aggressive. Yeah he didn't have the greatest of handles but he went hard to the rim and there were plenty of times where there was arguably sufficient contact for a call to be made, but no call came.
Refs can make or break a player in this league.
tp gets blame for rj not being aggressive
but it is up to rj to attack not tp
Agreed, but Hubie made a point in the game that RJ will run all game long IF he knows he will get the ball. Will TP continually look for RJ when he has the ball? That could be a deal breaker if he doesn't think he will get rewarded for running. If so then there is a chance that RJ turns back into what we saw at the beginning of the season. That is why I have stated several times that RJ needs to be paired with Manu the majority on the time. Ditto with Blair.
I agree that it is TP's responsibility to do that. But as stated above will he do that? That's what HH37 was saying about the chemistry. Also RJ needs to continue to give the effort regardless of what TP does. In tonight's game he got 2 quick fouls in 32 seconds to start the game and had to sit the 1st Q. When he got back he went on a tear and focused on rebounding and attacking the rim. Earlier in the season I think he would had disappeared for the rest of the night. Now it seems he is much more focused and determined. A very good sight to see.
Keep it up RJ!
I tend to agree with what you said except that I believe that it is TP's responsibility to look for others, too. Many a time on a fast break he takes it coast to coast and ralely looks to dish and I emphasize rarely looks. Not that it hasn't been successful - 3 rings and a finals MVP but TP is an attack first/scoring type of PG. That is something that Pop has encouraged from the beginning so it is difficult to ask someone this late in their career to change the focus of their game.
We'll see what develops when he gets back and they get some PT together. I'm just hoping that they can find some kind of working accord and not mess with the team's chemistry. We've waited an entire season for this team to finnally come together and see this type of chemistry develop and I for one don't want to see it just up and vanish.
if rj has the ball and settles for a jumpshot instead of trying to drive that is on rj
but rj has to have the ball to attack or settle for jumpshot
I'm not blaming TP for RJ's lack of aggression, that's on Jefferson..
Parker does have to get used to running more team-oriented fast breaks, but he probably isn't used to running with finishers other than Manu..Hill does the same thing though, it's probably just stylistic..
Jefferson has to stay aggressive when TP is playing, he'll get his touches..Tony has a tendency to overdribble, but he's not a ballhog, contrary to the belief of many..
I am hoping tp watching is going to help tp when he gets back in
tp watched manu and blair when he was injured and he trusted blair after he got back
last year the overdribbling was fine because tp was a one man show for the most part. the team depended on him night in night out. now, it's different. i would much rather parker average 15 and 8 this year rather than 20 and 6.
Lets hope our whole damn team gets it togther and goes on a damn run! Lets just say that DUCKS! F the hate on any player, let them all bond and go on a big run! Thats my dream this year.
I agree, but TP is a smart player and he's been watching the games, he'll adjust..he's not Iverson or Marbury, the guy is a champion..
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