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I really like that Pop is emphasizing a running game. This should really help players like RJ the most and utilize his strengths.
The Spurs definitely have the personnel to wreak havoc out on the break.
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I really like that Pop is emphasizing a running game. This should really help players like RJ the most and utilize his strengths.
The Spurs definitely have the personnel to wreak havoc out on the break.
I guess emphasizing defense is a lost cause...
Maybe with the run 'n gun game we'll win the ratings championship... SSOL here we come!
With Manu being perhaps THE best passer on the team, I'm sure he's especially encouraged by that, as I'm sure Parker is too. Besides, Parker has been a one-man fast break for years, with little to one else running with him.
Furthermore, a deliberate running game would benefit RJ and the crop of new young guns, like Anderson, Hill and Blair.
Because the Spurs leave so many points on the table from missed FTs, I've always been of the belief that they should try and get as many easy baskets as possible.
Boy, your just a ray of shineshine. You actually think a defensive coach like Pop would not emphasize defense? Maybe Pop has come to the conclusion that this current Spurs roster no longer has the defensive lock down ability of Spurs teams of the past. That doesn't me Pop doesn't emphasize defense, but by trying to rev up the running game, he is playing to a the strengths of this Spurs team, which is more atheltic and should be able to run more.I guess emphasizing defense is a lost cause...
Maybe with the run 'n gun game we'll win the ratings championship... SSOL here we come!
Blair was the first out on the break a couple of times last night after high screen plays. He got out pretty quickly.
I guess that explains that ridiculous 45 foot pass from Manu to Parker against the Heat.
I doubt Pop will allow a full blown run'n'gun offense to develop. It will probably be like one player on the defensive perimeter designated on each play to leak out.I guess emphasizing defense is a lost cause...
Maybe with the run 'n gun game we'll win the ratings championship... SSOL here we come!
having Tony/Manu/Wings run up the court and have the Bigs stay back instead of going into half court sets everytime may be a part of the defensive scheme.I guess emphasizing defense is a lost cause...
Maybe with the run 'n gun game we'll win the ratings championship... SSOL here we come!
It makes sense. They picked up the pace a little last year (or so it seems) and they have the players to do it. You can only be an elite defensive team if you have the horses and the Spurs do not at this point.
On offense, they do have the ability to run it more, but I don't think it will be a philosophy. I think it is more of an opportunistic thing, just like their philosophy on offensive rebounding.
Yay, get that running offense going. It'll make up for some of the running plays the Spurs give up on those long rebounds because they shoot 30 three pointers a game.
Hey, we're now all fans of the D'Antoni Suns. Someone should remind Pop how easy those teams were to beat even when they had superior talent.
They are not going to implement an entirely new offense. They are just going to look to run in spots where it makes sense. Huge difference from the Suns.
If we go by the last couple of seasons and the defensive performance on display, you can safely call me a pessimist.
Is that a conclusion that leads to a championship? That since this roster can't really defend at a championship level we should instead try to out-score opponents on our way to the le? How that has worked the last couple of seasons?
BTW, I'm all for easy points. But I didn't think scoring has been a problem in general for this team.
+1! Some on here go to the extreme thinking the Spurs are going to be a run and gun team like the Suns, when they hear that the Spurs are going to run more this year. With better athletes on the floor, it makes sense to run more. Pop will still preach defense first, but thanks to better overall athletism, it just makes the Spurs more of a threat offensively if they do run more.
Exactly. I'm not sure what's there to emphasize. The Spurs have ran on the break for a long time now. It was actually more often when we didn't have to inbound the ball after a made basket...
Spurs don't really even have that good of athletes imo. Even though it is better than it has been, it is still behind most teams. I get trying to run a little more, but I agree with others who are concerned with Pop's change in at ude on the defensive end. He may say the right things, but the guys getting minutes are not performing on defense.
Pop is not preaching defense first any more imo. Or, he may be preaching it, but he is not holding guys accountable. I have no problem looking to run a little more where it makes sense, but I have a problem with the personnel being brought in to defend and the passes some guys get on that end now.
I will never question your pessimism. Way too obvious. Plus Chubby Checker would have been really proud at how you twist the meaning of words around. How do you come to the conclusion that by the Spurs wanting to run more this year, that that equates to trying to outscore the opposition? You get easy points if your team has the ability to score in transition, ala, the fast break. Not really too difficult to comprehend. I don't know how old you are, but the Lakers of the 80's were a great fastbreaking team that won multiple championships. Now obviously this current Spurs team does not possess the talent of those Laker teams, but by fastbreaking more, doesn't mean your abandoning defense. As far as the Spurs contending for a championship, they will do so by staying healthy and out excuting the opposition, as well as playing strong defense.
Pop still emphasizes defense a great deal.
In order to to get those easy points from pushing the ball (at the basket-layups/ dunks; or transition 3's), you need defensive stops ( long rebounds, deflections off steals, ect.) to ignite easy fast break opportunities. The personnel they have on the roster is the best defensive roster they've had in the past 3 years (including this upcoming season). So these opportunities could be there, especially with Splitter coming over this season helping the interior defense and also with Mason no longer whining for playing time.
You can't just run taking the ball out of the basket and expect to get great efficient point blank looks. You can't, usually the defense is already set after they convert a field goal or free throw.
What you can do is try to get into your offensive sets quicker by pushing the ball out from under the basket, which won't give the defense that much time to get their defense set. But that doesn't mean, Spurs are just going to go into " Dantoni" basketball and throw up ill-advised bad shots early in the shot clock. Pop will never tolerate that.
Ah! The voice of reason has saved this thread. +1!
If you're allowing made baskets because you aren't playing defense anymore, then the only time you can run is off an inbound.
I guess emphasizing defense is a lost cause...
Maybe with the run 'n gun game we'll win the ratings championship... SSOL here we come!
did you just see the simmons training camp video? he is told to defend like no other and wreak havoc defensively also simmons is watching bruce tape and learning his foot positionsing!! i think pop realized they slacked so much on defense and is very adamant about his defense!!!
look you dont need all defensive players to play defense all you need is drive in your mind. just look at the suns for instance they were really defensive last year which was bazaar but all it took was effort and we have more capable defenders than most teams.
what we need to do is make sure our SF is a defensive freak or a real pest after that we need to send our enemy to the twin towers down low like we used to do you have no idea what a defensive 7fter will do for this team not to mention with tim duncan
Thats good in theory, unfortunately, there is no sf prospect on our roster who fits your description as a "defensive freak".
It's not really that complicated. If you're not going/able to play at the level of defense that enables you to win games, you will have to score more to make up for the difference. Basketball isn't that complicated: You need to score more than your opponent. You either get there by stopping your opponent from scoring, or you get there by foiling the attempts of your opponent to stop you from scoring.
This is not the 80's and we don't have a Magic Johnson. I look back at the last 10 years and I can't think of a single team that won it with offense (the Heat in '06 is probably the closest thing). As much as the NBA has tried to change the rules to increase scoring and what not, the champs always play some brand of defense that can get them stops when they need them. Something the Spurs used to do, but I don't think it's realistic with this roster. We simply have a huge question mark in the middle with Tiago, and we still looking for a wing that can defend, because RJ is not it.
You look at this team for the past two seasons, and whenever a player on the other team catches fire we have absolutely zero to throw at him.
So, I'm skeptic. I want to see what have we really done to address that before jumping up and down because we're going to 'emphasize the fast break'.
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