Random Thoughts Before Game 2 - Spurs vs. Suns 2010

[scottspurs]

Winning tonight is as simple as playing better defense. The spurs have to contain Steve Nash. There is nothing wrong with the spurs offense other than the fact they need to feed Tim Duncan more and go to Tony Parker earlier.

[awktalk]

You haven't seen spurs game in like six months have you?

We know Mason has been horrible in the 12 playoff games he has played with us. But somebody has got to step up and do some scoring. Mason's last game against Phoenix in the reg season looked like this:

Apr 7 @PHO
Min: 31:18
FGs: 7/14
3s: 4/9
Pts: 18
Boards: 6
Assists: 1
Turnovers: 0

Obviously we don't need 31 minutes, but if we get half of what we got in that game we will be fine. It's incredibly frustrating watching him suck so profoundly, but I don't blame Pop if he keeps trying to get him rolling, especially in the first half.

[sunsfan1968]

As a Suns fan I fully expect George Hill to have a bigger impact than he did in Game 1. He's the player I'm most worried about followed by Blair(if he dominates the boards) followed by Jefferson....sad he hasn't fit in like you guys thought. I think he'd do well on the Suns runnin the break in transition

[DAF86]

You haven't seen spurs game in like six months have you?

Pop went nine deep against the Mavericks. I don't think there was a game where either Mason or Bogans didn't at least play spot minutes.

There were times where they were on the floor together, which is absolutely inexcusable barring injury or foul trouble.

VS Dallas-

In game one: Bogans 16 minutes, - 12 / Mason 9 minutes, + 1 / We lost

In game two: Bogans didn't play / Mason 6 minutes, - 1 / We won

In game three: Bogans didn't play / Mason 1 minute, +4 / We won

In game four: Bogans 6 minutes, +3 / Mason didn't play / We won

In game five: Everybody played and played bad.

In game six: Bogans 7 minutes, 0 / Mason didn't play / We won

As you can see, in every game we won we basically played an eight or seven men rotation. I don't consider playing 5 minutes per game being part of the rotation, if we play Bogans or Mason more than a few minutes per game, they'll hurt us eventually.

[MaNu4Tres]

We know Mason has been horrible in the 12 playoff games he has played with us. But somebody has got to step up and do some scoring. Mason's last game against Phoenix in the reg season looked like this:

Apr 7 @PHO
Min: 31:18
FGs: 7/14
3s: 4/9
Pts: 18
Boards: 6
Assists: 1
Turnovers: 0

Obviously we don't need 31 minutes, but if we get half of what we got in that game we will be fine. It's incredibly frustrating watching him suck so profoundly, but I don't blame Pop if he keeps trying to get him rolling, especially in the first half.

Masons numbers since January 31st= 29/123 (23.5%) from the distance.

Now you know Mason has been horrible for the past 3 months, opposed to just 12 playoff games.

How does that get you to think he can all of a sudden produce in this series?

[DAF86]

How does that get you to think he can all of a sudden produce in this series?

Unlike Bogans, Mason has showed that he can be a reliable three point shooter and he's more than due a good game.

[MaNu4Tres]

Unlike Bogans, Mason has showed that he can be a reliable three point shooter and he's more than due a good game.

He's been due for almost 13 weeks. Give me a break.

[MaNu4Tres]

Not to mention Bogans is a career 35% 3 point shooter. That is reliable btw.

[awktalk]

How does that get you to think he can all of a sudden produce in this series?

I wouldn't say I'm "thinking" as much as I am "hoping". I just don't think that we can survive the entire playoffs with a 7-8 man rotation. I guess you could make the argument that Bonner and Bogans can fill the minutes and extend the rotation to 9 players while Mason is glued to the end of the bench, but that sure doesn't seem like a winning formula. I'm afraid that in order to win a championship, Mason will have to get going.

[polandprzem]

We know Mason has been horrible in the 12 playoff games he has played with us. But somebody has got to step up and do some scoring.

If you would ask me 3 months ago - I would bet that mason is the first guy down in deep rotation where you can go and find some production on offense.
Right now he is so bad that I can't find a word describing his play. Not only ofense, but defense was even worse.
And you can't put so bad guy on defense against those Suns.

Three bees - Blair, Bonner and Bogans needs to step up.

[SpursTillTheEnd]

Dice is basically open on everyplay he needs to knock those shot's down!!!!

[MaNu4Tres]

I'd even play Temple ahead of Mason right now. That will at least give Hill more energy on offense as Temple can expend all his energy guarding Nash (Which I thought he did quite well in 23 minutes of action last game in the regular season.)

[elbamba]

Timvp,

Don't you think Spurs should try to exploit the Jefferson matchup on offense? Most specifically from 15 feet out or on the block.

The entire game the Suns put Hill or Dudley on Manu or Tony. Which left Nash, Barbosa, or Richardson on Jefferson.

I believe the Spurs could benefit going to Jefferson early and often during this scenario, which would ultimately cause the Suns to double. Leaving Manu and Tony having the opportunity to create against a shifting defense if Jefferson reads the double well.

I really think Spurs should exploit this match-up. I was really surprised the Spurs didn't go to it one time in game 1.

Amen. The biggest mistake that we made in the last game was not forcing the issue with Jefferson. We need to be pushing the ball to him and letting him drive to the hoop. The Suns do not have a shot blocker, they have guys who want to take charges. Spurs have to take advantage of this.

[silverblk mystix]

Temple CAN guard Nash pretty well...it just sux that he is a rookie because Pop won't play him...

but if given a chance I believe his height and quickness would bother nash---plus temple looks like he competes on every play...

damn pop---don't be so safe

[HarlemHeat37]

Pop played Temple in the 4th vs. Dallas and he was pretty bad..I'm in favor of seeing him ahead of Mason too, but the only matchup that he could play would be Nash..I'm sure Pop will give him a little run if Nash is unstoppable again tonight..

Anybody ahead of Mason at this point though..there's really no reason for him to play..

[beachwood]

TP not starting...

http://twitter.com/spurs

[DAF86]

TP not starting...

http://twitter.com/spurs

WTF??? A big mistake imho.

[makedamnsure]

I was about to ask if anyone knew if there were any tickets left for game 3 but then I saw that post about TP not starting...

[awktalk]

TP not starting...

http://twitter.com/spurs

Wow, I'm pretty surprised. Hope Pop's gamble pays off.

[StoneBuddha]

Hope the swelling in Duncan's knee went down.

More details please. Did this come out in an interview or is this conjecture?

[Blackjack]

TP not starting...

http://twitter.com/spurs

I figured Pop would do it. It Doesn't surprise me one bit from what I've heard after the game: "Nash really caught us of guard. He usually doesn't look to get his that early.," was heard from more than one coach and player.

I'm for Hill starting, but I'm a proponent of it being with Parker. Having said that, and I've made my feelings known on what I'd lean towards doing, I'm not incensed by this. If Pop got into George the way most would expect after that performance, or at least made it perfectly clear how they would be playing Nash as a driver to take away his layups, Hill's capable of holding down the fort without leaving the mess they had after the opening minutes of Game 1; the lineup and approach failed for a game but it very well could succeed in the end if their execution is crisp and they pay attention to detail.

Again, not starting Parker goes against what I believe is the best, most prudent thing to do ... but I'm not ready to say what Pop's attempting to do can't be done.

[TD 21]

Parker-Ginobili-Jefferson need to play plenty of minutes together on the perimeter, particularly when Nash is in. Then they can't hide him defensively. I don't see them putting him on Ginobili period, but if, as per usual he can't stay with Parker and they want to make a switch, he'll have to guard Jefferson, who he'd be physically over-matched against.

Since we're inevitably going to see plenty of small ball in this series, Pop can't lose sight of the fact that McDyess is, at minimum, a top six player on this team, the second best big man on this team and the best option to defend Stoudemire. What I'm saying is his minutes can't get squeezed just because of small ball. But Bonner's can. Him (and Mason) have had more than enough chances. While they offer spacing in theory, they don't in reality, since neither can make a shot. Time to bench them and go down to an eight man rotation.

Parker not only needs to start (why wait another game to do this? That could end up costing the Spurs in the end), but play around 40 minutes. No more of this mid-thirties nonsense.

[DAF86]

Parker not only needs to start (why wait another game to do this? That could end up costing the Spurs in the end), but play around 40 minutes. No more of this mid-thirties nonsense.

Agreed.

[ALVAREZ6]

Pop's a in moron for not starting Parker...honestly if we don't come out red-hot and Nash shows any signs of starting a run---> bring in Parker, even if it's been 90 seconds into the game.

It's tough to come back when down a good margin in the playoffs, even though the Spurs were able to do it last night. So they should avoid that completely with Parker, but w/e Pop has his plan and we'll see how it works.

[Blackjack]

Although I would prefer starting Parker and Hill would not be intimidated by that IMO. Blackjack thinks it can spoil Hills confidence. Frankly it will build him.

What I believe is, if you put Hill on the bench and use him in a fashion that has him only really playing when he's got a favorable matchup on the defensive end ... that's a mistake -- he's been their fourth best player and he needs to be on the court, regardless.

But it would also have a detrimental effect to Hill's psyche. Pop raves about him all year and shows the faith in him to allow him to start in Parkers place (not becaue he's better but because it was better for the team -- it's the trust and faith that he was shown, though) and all of a sudden when the games mean the most you're going to tell him to go back to being a lesser role player? That he's only good enough to play when the matchup is favorable?

That's just not an approach that's going to benefit George in any way.

I'm just not in favor of jerking Hill around, reducing his role and responsibility or having him wonder if he's going to start or not. His minutes should be comparable to the Big Three's and not reduced to situational.

I do believe he should be utilized as more of a 2-guard in this series and that he and Tony should be able to get out in the open court to offset or create an advantage with their speed, which could allow for the mismatch on the other end, though. The Spurs need Hill ... they can't risk losing him.