Player by Player Breakdown – Five Games In

[jhuan16]

The only reason Parker's assists are up, is that Jefferson starts making shot when people pass the ball to him.

[L.I.T]

With the Spurs increased pace it's no surprise that both Manu and TP are averaging career highs in assists.

[smeagol]

Thanks LJ. Good read.

[Brazil]

I was thinking Tony was going to score around 22 ppg with a better Fg%.Maybe it's not only about resting the summer and his better days are gone.But it's good to see how his assists per game are a lot higher.I remember how some people said he can't do it in the Spurs system. He's a different PG and that's what we need from him.

What a lopsided argument !

First, TP is scoring less points because his usage is down, RJ and Manu are doing the scoring job so far he is just letting the hot hands do their stuff. Better % ? sure ... he is still at 48 - 49%.

Second, this spurs team has nothing comparable to the previous ones. The higher TP assists is mainly linked to the increase of the pace for the spurs not because suddenly TP is becoming a pass first PG.

He is not different he is just adapting his game a little. The only difference you can point out is his stealing, as a lot of other posters I'm quite surprised to see TP gambling for steals and more surprising Pop is not pissed off and let him go for the steals.

[Leonard Curse]

wow it opens your eyes to whats going on with the team and whos playing team ball, i agree with this article completely all this talk about limiting tims minutes yet pop is so hesitant to give splitter and the new guys minutes even during garbage time or at least let splitter play a whole quarter!!

im telling you if pop plays him make our defense alot better because right now we have some older (great) bigs guarding our rim and you can see the age on the court we need splitter out there starting period

[lefty]

I have to give credit where it's due.

Parker has been fantastic, involving everyone and playing excellent D.

[Leonard Curse]

What a lopsided argument !

First, TP is scoring less points because his usage is down, RJ and Manu are doing the scoring job so far he is just letting the hot hands do their stuff. Better % ? sure ... he is still at 48 - 49%.

Second, this spurs team has nothing comparable to the previous ones. The higher TP assists is mainly linked to the increase of the pace for the spurs not because suddenly TP is becoming a pass first PG.

He is not different he is just adapting his game a little. The only difference you can point out is his stealing, as a lot of other posters I'm quite surprised to see TP gambling for steals and more surprising Pop is not pissed off and let him go for the steals.

remember those crucial steals hes got for us at the end of games? thats the only reason why im siding with p and the coach on this one, t.p pulled through with his gambling

[Brazil]

remember those crucial steals hes got for us at the end of games? thats the only reason why im siding with p and the coach on this one, t.p pulled through with his gambling

I'm loving see TP go for the steals, if he can counter balance his TOs by his steals consistently, it would be a big + for the team but in the same time I'm still astonished to see Pop let it go !

Maybe Pop is becoming a sweet grandpa letting the children play in the backyard.

[Leonard Curse]

yup your right today was the first time i saw him yell this season!!did u guys notice him tearing tp new ass for not guarding that last sht at all. he was furious

[Leonard Curse]

*yesterday sorry

[Ice009]

I have to give credit where it's due.

Parker has been fantastic, involving everyone and playing excellent D.

Definitely, TP has been working hard on the defensive end and doing a great job on offense. Great play so far from TP.

[jb4g]

good stuff as always.

I agree that Tim and Manu are still playing too much, would also like to see them cut back another 4-5 minutes and keep their total PT under 30 a game. We have a young energetic bench, lets take advantage of it. Same for Parker, Let Hill have a few more mninutes a night and see if he cant work himself back into his game.

[lefty]

good stuff as always.

I agree that Tim and Manu are still playing too much, would also like to see them cut back another 4-5 minutes and keep their total PT under 30 a game. We have a young energetic bench, lets take advantage of it. Same for Parker, Let Hill have a few more mninutes a night and see if he cant work himself back into his game.

I think - I could be wrong - that Pop has been playing them that much on purpose, in order to ease the transition for Splitter, Neal and Anderson.

As the season progresses, they will get more rest; howeverm it will be important for Blair and Hill to step up.

[Brazil]

I think - I could be wrong - that Pop has been playing them that much on purpose, in order to ease the transition for Splitter, Neal and Anderson.

As the season progresses, they will get more rest; howeverm it will be important for Blair and Hill to step up.

I'm not sure I just think we had some closed games (houston even charlotte) and Pop needed the big 3 to win these games. Each time one of the 3 is not playing, the team is struggling badly ! I agree with you we need Hill and Blair to setp up and quick.

We also need some easy wins to rest the guys in the fourth.

[lefty]

I'm not sure I just think we had some closed games (houston even charlotte) and Pop needed the big 3 to win these games. Each time one of the 3 is not playing, the team is struggling badly ! I agree with you we need Hill and Blair to setp up and quick.

We also need some easy wins to rest the guys in the fourth.

Yep, that's also true

[Bruno]

Neal and Anderson have received a lot of credits for their start of the season but two other players deserve a lot of credits: McDyess and Anderson.

Dice has been damn solid. I expect to see less of him with Splitter getting back in Shape and Bonner coming back but it's great to know that you can still count on him.

Anderson is a NBA player. With some rookies, it only takes few games to realize that they belong to this league. Anderson is one of these rookies. He contributes in a lot of ways to the game. Before the season, there were a lot of talks about Spurs needing a trade for a perimeter player like Chandler, Rush or Fernandez. To me, Anderson's performances have put these talks on hold.

For the rest of the roster, the big 3 has been good with especially a great Ginobili. Blair and Hill need and can play significantly better.