Spurs playing defense when they need stops, but let go and allow teams to stay in games. Same thing happened against Suns.
On the plus side, winning a game by the skin of your teeth is possibly more valuable than winning a game by a blowout. Why? Because when you're down 2 points and you only have 20 seconds left in the game, there's probably a markedly elevated level of pressure on the spurs to make something happen, and in my opinion it's probably a good thing that the spurs are getting that sort of high pressure experience early and often.
I'm not liking that Manu is relying mainly on his jump shots and 3 point shooting all the time. He hasn't really been all that aggressive at getting to the basket and getting to the FT line (tonight he only had two because they had to foul him).
Good point. They need the pressure situations to make them tougher later in the season. Too bad Anderson missed this one.
I thought about starting a thread about that. Tony rarely shoots the teardrop. (I remember him shooting it once last game.) And Tim doesn't shoot that 15-footer off the glass much anymore. That was a signature shot, and we hardly see it anymore. I get the feeling that they have both lost some confidence in those shots. Tim also used to be money on that straight-away shot from at or just beyond the FT line.
Those shots don't stretch the defense the same way as a 3-point shooter, but they do force the defenders to come out from under the rim. I think Tony would get less of those layups blocked if he was shooting the teardrop enough to force the defenders to honor it. And Tim's shot off the glass froze defenders and gave him an easier time getting to the basket.
The Spurs aren't having any trouble scoring a lot of points. But I think they would be more efficient if those two shots made a comeback.
Tony's teardrop has almost certainly been stored away in procedural memory years ago. I'm not worried about it too much. You really don't "lose" that sort of thing.
The question is - are there instances when Tony has the ball where the teardrop would have been more efficient/effective than
A) Passing the ball to a teammate
or
B) Taking a non-teardrop shot himself
I'm honestly not sure at all, I don't remember all of his plays from these past 5 games.
The only thing I've noticed is that his assist rate has gone up significantly (7 APG average through these 5 games), but that doesn't quite answer the original question. It perhaps suggests that Tony is possibly looking more to facilitate than looking for his own shot, but you really can't derive anything from that increased APG statistic alone.
Not to take anything away from Tony, but the increased number of possessions for the Spurs this year due to the faster pace will also boost his APG numbers automatically.
Splitter seems to get pushed around a lot! I don't like it... when it comes to getting offensive rebounds, he's not even close to where the ball is. Hope he can improve in this area, because if he is getting pushed around this early in the season and we haven't even played anyone with real size??? not good. I have a little faith though. (wish I could combine Blair and Splitter into one guy)
There you go, I agree that's another possible (I'd say more plausible) hypothesis as to why Tony's APG has gone up.
That's why I left it at inconclusive - I really have no idea why TP hasn't been utilizing the floater more this season so far.
Manu is shooting just 34.2% from the three point line this year. But since he's shooting 44.3% on two point shots, his return from three point shooting right now is actually higher than his return on two's. AND, that's with him shooting below his career average from three. So frankly, I have no problem with him shooting from the outside the way he is.
People want him going to the basket more, and if this were the playoffs, I'd agree. But that's the kind of play that gets him hurt, and wears his body down. Let him get into that mode closer to the playoffs, and shoot jumpers more right now.
As for Tony, this game put him up to 8.4 assists a game. Is part of it pace? Probably, but I also see him looking to pass more this year than in past years. Also, even if pace IS a key aspect of that, for years people have been comparing his assist averages unfavorably to those of guards who play in faster pace offenses. Sometimes I think Tony is damned if he does, damned if he doesn't.
I like how the Spurs look. I like the style they are playing. They CAN be very good at defense, and CAN be very good running. They just aren't consistent yet. I want to see them actually get GOOD at this style now.
What I'm saying is that the value of that floater is more than just the current shot, if he shoots it a few times a game. The defenders have to respect that he might shoot the floater, and they will step out to defend him - especially if he gives them a little hesitation.
He gets crushed right under the rim fairly often, because those guys are camping on him. If he can get them to step out, it makes it easier for him to get to the rim. Or if he dumps it off late, it makes it easier for that player to get to the rim. The floater helps open up the paint a little bit, and sometimes that little bit can make a big difference.
When the defenders don't believe that Tony is going to pull up for the floater, or that Tim is going to go up with the jumper off the glass, they can defend differently. I wish we would see more of those shots.
What happened to Anderson? Did I miss something?
His girlfriend went into labor. Pop gave him the day off.
Tim did a bank shot earlier, but just once. How I miss the old Timmy. *Gets the ball in the low post, faces his defender, do some pump fakes then takes the bank shot. Boom! Instant 2 points!*
Less blocks and body assaults from everyone as well. I noticed how hard he falls on the ground when he drives towards the basket for a layup. That doesn't happen with this teardrop.
Can't agree more with your last statement.
Believe me, I am one of the most happiest Spurs fan when Tony decided to pass the ball nowadays. But still, fact remains the same that those floaters attract defenders. More defenders blocking or trying to prevent Tony to make that shot, the more space the shooters can have.
Don't forget to mention that it is also fun watching Tony break his defenders legs.
Was he using it last season? I mean, constantly? Sorry I was not able to watch their games because of work.
Too early in the season for Manu to start driving. He's at the age where he risks getting injured if he does it like he used to. I'm sure later on and in the playoffs he'll start to go to it.
I'm usually OK with Manu taking 3's, but RJ is ON FIRE from 3...could it have hurt to have gotten him the ball for a few more of those?
I think the team is still getting used to RJ being the RJ we hoped he'd be. The passing will come with practice, hopefully RJ continues whatever crazy zen mindset he's playing with because he's in the zone.
I agree that Manu isn't driving as much because he's getting old and needs to protect his body. He will unleash when he needs to, as he has always done before, but I'm not too worried.
Dice was nice, made some sweet ass jumpers all in a row.
I think the team is playing more relaxed and loose, which has its pluses and minuses, but I like the mental toughness they show AFTER letting the other team back in the game.
Well, in all fairness, Tim "choked" on the free throw that he got that would have ended the game in our favor in regulation.
Manu had one of those jeckle and hyde games. he's obviosly been the best player out there but he he's also had more than his share of moments where he totally kills the Spurs, last night he was a big part for the Spurs losing that big lead. But it was his 3 that brought them back. I guess a C+ would be more appropriate, he did do a lot to get the team going. although at time he seemed to want to give it all back. I also think we are going to have to get used to seeing Tim have more games like this one on a regular basis. The first half he just wasn't very effective. And Tiago looks like he sat around all year long. He got tired quicker than in his first stint, how does that happen to a professional athlete.
This, there's not really anything good to take away from this game. Only positive I see is a W. Last year, they probably lose this game. Hopefully they can continue to improve on defense because right now it's pretty ugly.
Quite generous LJ!
Defense was horrid. Spurs lose this game if Aaron Brooks doesn't get hurt. Smith helped the Spurs out.
But thanks for all ur updates and reviews!
Gotta disagree here...
The biggest thing to take from this game, besides the W, is that the spurs found a way to respond to SUCCESS-after the big win in Phoenix!
Last season...this would have been a blah effort and Pop would have sat someone...and/or thrown in the white flag-because of the bigger picture of saving themselves for the playoffs.
This season will hopefully be different and these kinds of wins will only make the team tougher mentally.
Next, I hope to see that this worshipping of the lakers by pop and most fans-to be eliminated....spurs and their fans need to get a SWAGGER back...
and by starting to fight for every game and by using a full 10-11 man rotation of CONFIDENT players and taking every win that they can-pretty or not- will be the start of a new at ude and a dominating season!
Manu is taking way too many 3's, 11 for one game is fine for a team not for a player who is capable of getting to the line for and 1's. Taking that many in a game is bailing out the other team and making their job a lot easier, especially when it isn't falling.
Spurs' front line is too small and may need to consider making some kind of move to either fix that problem or address another area of weakness, like backup small forward/ point guard. Personally, Bonner, McDyess and Blair is a concerned only because Blair is so undersized, defense is weak and his rebounding is up and down this early in the season. PLus Bonner is being used for more than situational usage which is a major problem because the Spurs still figure him to be more than Danny Ferry and on par with Robert Horry. Bonner is actually taking up a roster spot that should have gone to a young talent prospect with size.
Look at the Celtics, they have size and if one or two big get injured they still have a solid front line, SPurs are lottery bound if Tim and Splitter go down because we stuck with nothing but undersized Power forwards who are either too old, too young or too one dimensional.
The bright side is we have plenty of wing players to trade. ::sigh::
Sadly that is nothing new..
Duncan had a quite good game, he was better than Blair. Good to see Blair improving, though.
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