Good News/Bad News

[ShoogarBear]

Good News: The Spurs are 25-3!

Bad News: They could have easily lost their last five, only one of which was against a playoff-level opponent.

Good News: Their offense is possibly the best they've had since the Gervin days.

Bad News: Their defense is nowhere near ready for the playoffs, is in fact atrocious at times, and they haven't been tested yet against the true mettle of the league, save Dallas, which oh by the way was a home loss.

Good News: They aren't just hitting threes, they're also back to getting to the foul line (26 FTA game, up from 24 last year and 20[!] two years ago). The rejuvenation of RJ and Hill gives them two more guys who can drive the paint.

Bad News: Until they go up against the big men of Boston and LA, that doesn't really mean squat.

Good News: But their offense is so good that they can pull out some games even when they aren't playing so well.

Bad News: So how'd that strategy work out for the Suns?

Good News: There appears to be true depth for the first time in many many years.

Bad News: Depth is great for the regular season, but overrated in the playoffs, where it's much more important to have a solid 8-man lineup.

Good News: James Anderson looks promising..

Bad News: Barring an injury, he may only get a little more than Ime Udoka minutes to show that promise when he gets back. And Dejuan Blair looks like he's plateaued or even regressed.

Good News: But there's Tiago Splitter!

Bad News: Who doesn't rebound particularly well. Somebody is going to have to be able to help Duncan on the boards. The next best rebounder is Blair, who . . . see above.

Good News: The Big 3 are healthy! Timmy is resting!

Bad News: Shhhhhhhhhh!

Good News: The Spurs are 25-3! How can anyone be pessimistic?

Bad News: The Lakers are gonna get John Wall for a box of Kleenex.

[Sean Cagney]

Some real stuff in there, I think about a few of those often.

[Charles Sappa]

Good News: The Big 3 are healthy! Timmy is resting!

Bad News: Shhhhhhhhhh!

Amen

[TD 21]

Good news: The Mavs and Celtics keep winning, thus forcing the Spurs to not let up for a game if they want to maintain their two game cushion in the West and one game cushion overall.

Bad news: The Mavs and Celtics keep winning, thus forcing the Spurs to not let up for a game if they want to maintain their two game cushion in the West and one game cushion overall.

This is not the Suns, though. I'm tired of hearing that comparison. This team has three quality defensive bigs (including one elite rim protector), three quality rebounders, goes eleven deep, has slashers, shot creators and a championship proven core and coach.

The Suns never had any of those things. They were always weak in the interior, never had multiple good rebounders at once, up until last season were never deep, have always been heavily reliant on Nash to create virtually every shot and, save for the brief time they had O'Neal, never had a prominent player who was championship proven.

They were one dimensional. If they couldn't run and gun and shoot the lights out from three, then they couldn't win. This team is not only great offensively, but diverse too. Plus, they're a top ten defensive team (despite not playing some of their best defensive personnel much) and close to top ten in rebound percentage. This is a balanced team.

[SpursDynasty85]

Good News: The Big 3 are healthy! Timmy is resting!

Bad News: Shhhhhhhhhh!

[Cant_Be_Faded]

I am getting flat out disappointed with Tiago's rebounding

How many times was he in prime position and just miss the freaking ball?

Also Blair has definitely regressed......

[DMC]

Good News: The Spurs are 25-3!

Bad News: They could have easily lost their last five, only one of which was against a playoff-level opponent.

Good News: Their offense is possibly the best they've had since the Gervin days.

Bad News: Their defense is nowhere near ready for the playoffs, is in fact atrocious at times, and they haven't been tested yet against the true mettle of the league, save Dallas, which oh by the way was a home loss.

Good News: They aren't just hitting threes, they're also back to getting to the foul line (26 FTA game, up from 24 last year and 20[!] two years ago). The rejuvenation of RJ and Hill gives them two more guys who can drive the paint.

Bad News: Until they go up against the big men of Boston and LA, that doesn't really mean squat.

Good News: But their offense is so good that they can pull out some games even when they aren't playing so well.

Bad News: So how'd that strategy work out for the Suns?

Good News: There appears to be true depth for the first time in many many years.

Bad News: Depth is great for the regular season, but overrated in the playoffs, where it's much more important to have a solid 8-man lineup.

Good News: James Anderson looks promising..

Bad News: Barring an injury, he may only get a little more than Ime Udoka minutes to show that promise when he gets back. And Dejuan Blair looks like he's plateaued or even regressed.

Good News: But there's Tiago Splitter!

Bad News: Who doesn't rebound particularly well. Somebody is going to have to be able to help Duncan on the boards. The next best rebounder is Blair, who . . . see above.

Good News: The Big 3 are healthy! Timmy is resting!

Bad News: Shhhhhhhhhh!

Good News: The Spurs are 25-3! How can anyone be pessimistic?

Bad News: The Lakers are gonna get John Wall for a box of Kleenex.

So in a nuts , Spurs are 25-3 but they haven't played LA, Boston or beaten Dallas..

[rayray2k8]

So in a nuts , Spurs are 25-3 but they haven't played LA, Boston or beaten Dallas..

Won't have to wait too long now. Now we'll see how good the spurs are in the next 2 weeks.

[Libri]

Good News: Their offense is possibly the best they've had since the Gervin days.

It must have been awesome to see the Gervin teams with Artis, Kenon, Silas, Mike Mitc and others.

[GSH]

Good News: But their offense is so good that they can pull out some games even when they aren't playing so well.

Bad News: So how'd that strategy work out for the Suns?

I'm having a hard time putting this into words, without sounding like a total homer. But here goes...

In the major leagues, the batters can all adjust to 95mph fastballs. If that's all you're bringing, you are going to get pounded after a while. I think one of the strengths this Spurs offense has, over the old Suns, is that they can change gears. The Suns were a one trick pony. If you could slow them down, you could beat them. The Spurs can slow it down, but they can also explode for a bunch of points in a hurry. And they can still play defense when they're putting up points.

I've watched them exchange quick buckets and wild misses with other teams for a while, and the whole games just starts looking sloppy. Then the Spurs sort of quietly tighten up, while the other team keeps playing sloppy. A few quick baskets, and a few defensive stops later, the Spurs have totally opened the game up.

I've also watched them plod along with the other team, and then suddenly explode for several quick scores before the other team senses the change. This Spurs team is about as explosive as any team I have ever seen.

I don't think it's a coincidence. I'm sure Pop would like to be playing stifling defense all the time, but he doesn't have the horses to do that right now. But they have a of a lot of offensive firepower, and I think they have the ability to play good defense for stretches. And I'm pretty sure that's all by design. It's more a feel for the flow of games, than something I can point directly at. But I think Pop is putting a lot into keeping opponents off balance, as opposed to trying to bulldoze them.

If someone asked him about that in an interview, he'd probably make some pissed off remark about how they don't intentionally slack off, just to lull the other team to sleep. But I think he's using more players, and grouping them to keep changing the tempo, size, offense, defense, etc. I've watched him in those periods where we just keep exchanging baskets, and he doesn't look like he's about to have a stroke like he has in the past. I think he's finally adapting the system to personnel, rather than plugging players into the system.

[Em-City]

The bad news is we do nothing but jack up threes and that has been proven to lose championships, along with the piss poor defense we're playing of late.

and Charles sappa, I want to marry the girl in your sig...seriously.

The good news is.... they're going in.

neal with it

[EricB]

So if they play crappy and beat LA does that still mean we can't be happy about the record?

[mingus]

So if they play crappy and beat LA does that still mean we can't be happy about the record?

since when are Spurs' fans supposed to be happy about a season record? i guess some people have lowered the bar quite it bit. knock yourself out, then. be happy.

[tuncaboylu]

We proved that we can make great defense in some parts of the games.(Remember 2nd halves of New Orleans Oklohama City and Phoniex games) So that's why, I'm pretty sure that we can do it whenever it counts and when play-off comes we will make that defense all game long.

[cutewizard]

I'm having a hard time putting this into words, without sounding like a total homer. But here goes...

In the major leagues, the batters can all adjust to 95mph fastballs. If that's all you're bringing, you are going to get pounded after a while. I think one of the strengths this Spurs offense has, over the old Suns, is that they can change gears. The Suns were a one trick pony. If you could slow them down, you could beat them. The Spurs can slow it down, but they can also explode for a bunch of points in a hurry. And they can still play defense when they're putting up points.

I've watched them exchange quick buckets and wild misses with other teams for a while, and the whole games just starts looking sloppy. Then the Spurs sort of quietly tighten up, while the other team keeps playing sloppy. A few quick baskets, and a few defensive stops later, the Spurs have totally opened the game up.

I've also watched them plod along with the other team, and then suddenly explode for several quick scores before the other team senses the change. This Spurs team is about as explosive as any team I have ever seen.

I don't think it's a coincidence. I'm sure Pop would like to be playing stifling defense all the time, but he doesn't have the horses to do that right now. But they have a of a lot of offensive firepower, and I think they have the ability to play good defense for stretches. And I'm pretty sure that's all by design. It's more a feel for the flow of games, than something I can point directly at. But I think Pop is putting a lot into keeping opponents off balance, as opposed to trying to bulldoze them.

If someone asked him about that in an interview, he'd probably make some pissed off remark about how they don't intentionally slack off, just to lull the other team to sleep. But I think he's using more players, and grouping them to keep changing the tempo, size, offense, defense, etc. I've watched him in those periods where we just keep exchanging baskets, and he doesn't look like he's about to have a stroke like he has in the past. I think he's finally adapting the system to personnel, rather than plugging players into the system.

In other words, Pop is playing chess.....


Go spurs go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Spurs Brazil]

I am getting flat out disappointed with Tiago's rebounding

How many times was he in prime position and just miss the freaking ball?

Also Blair has definitely regressed......

I hope Tiago improves his rebound numbers with more work and playing time. Before yesterday he would get 3 rebs and miss other 3 easy ones. Yesterday he got 9 and missed 2 or 3. I think he'll improve in that area

I can't believe Blair still has no clue of defense rotations after more than 100 games. If he spends more time on game film rather than twitter he may improve

[100%duncan]

shhhhh

[BestPFInTheGame21]

This has to be the most whining about a team doing WELL ive ever heard.

Maybe we should be 3-25?

[fyatuk]

Good News: The Spurs are 25-3!

Bad News: They could have easily lost their last five, only one of which was against a playoff-level opponent.

Oddly, those 5 games started with the Milwaukee game, the game after George Hill was originally hurt...

[Chieflion]

Good news: ShoogarBear started a thread.

Bad news: This thread sucks.

[Hook Dem]

It must have been awesome to see the Gervin teams with Artis, Kenon, Silas, Mike Mitc and others.

Yes...........it was!

[elbamba]

I don't get why people think the Spurs can't play defense. How many points did Denver score in the 4th quarter last night? 16?

The Spurs coast most of the game and then tighten up in the 4th. 48 minutes of defense wears on older players.

[xellos88330]

I'm having a hard time putting this into words, without sounding like a total homer. But here goes...

In the major leagues, the batters can all adjust to 95mph fastballs. If that's all you're bringing, you are going to get pounded after a while. I think one of the strengths this Spurs offense has, over the old Suns, is that they can change gears. The Suns were a one trick pony. If you could slow them down, you could beat them. The Spurs can slow it down, but they can also explode for a bunch of points in a hurry. And they can still play defense when they're putting up points.

I've watched them exchange quick buckets and wild misses with other teams for a while, and the whole games just starts looking sloppy. Then the Spurs sort of quietly tighten up, while the other team keeps playing sloppy. A few quick baskets, and a few defensive stops later, the Spurs have totally opened the game up.

I've also watched them plod along with the other team, and then suddenly explode for several quick scores before the other team senses the change. This Spurs team is about as explosive as any team I have ever seen.

I don't think it's a coincidence. I'm sure Pop would like to be playing stifling defense all the time, but he doesn't have the horses to do that right now. But they have a of a lot of offensive firepower, and I think they have the ability to play good defense for stretches. And I'm pretty sure that's all by design. It's more a feel for the flow of games, than something I can point directly at. But I think Pop is putting a lot into keeping opponents off balance, as opposed to trying to bulldoze them.

If someone asked him about that in an interview, he'd probably make some pissed off remark about how they don't intentionally slack off, just to lull the other team to sleep. But I think he's using more players, and grouping them to keep changing the tempo, size, offense, defense, etc. I've watched him in those periods where we just keep exchanging baskets, and he doesn't look like he's about to have a stroke like he has in the past. I think he's finally adapting the system to personnel, rather than plugging players into the system.

Excellent take! +1

[MoSpur]

So if they play crappy and beat LA does that still mean we can't be happy about the record?

How the heck do you find a way to up every thread? Unbelievable!

[yavozerb]

How the heck do you find a way to up every thread? Unbelievable!

, so sad...