ESPN's Abbott: Not the same old Spurs [..."fluke loss in Portland"?]

[Cane]

FWIW a short and sweet article about the Spurs defense now compared to the past, starts off with a short bit about the Blazers game last night.

Not the same old Spurs
by Henry Abbott


Last night, after a fluke loss in Portland (a Blazer airball that turned into an assist; a Blazer lob that missed by two yards, hit the backboard, and found its target anyway; Antonio McDyess passing to a referee ... I could go on) I heard from several Spurs fans who were despairing about their team. Like, really upset. Tearing their hair out.

This from the fans of a team that has won a nutty 40 of 48 games, including eight of its last ten, even while playing starters the shortest minutes of any team in the league.

Fans of most teams would ask: What on earth are these people complaining about?

The answer: defense. They see the aging Spurs conceding a certain kind of easy buckets they used to stop.

And what they're seeing with their eyes -- mostly trouble sticking with long, mobile scorers like LaMarcus Aldridge, who had a career-high 40 -- is backed up by some numbers.

These numbers, in fact:

• 2
• 1
• 2
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 1
• 1
• 1
• 2
• 3

That's where the Spurs' defense ranked, in the whole NBA, in Tim Duncan's first 11 years. In the bolded years, they won les.

In the two-and-a-half seasons since then, however, the Spurs' defense has ranked fifth, eighth and -- this season -- seventh.

So those fans are right. The defense is simply not the same. It's a new era, and Duncan is no small part of why. He's not as mobile in any direction -- to the rim, to passing lanes, to cut off drivers, to help and recover, to the sky -- as he once was.

What's different this year is that the offense is picking up a ton of slack. Before this year, Duncan's teams have had, on average, the NBA's 11th best offense. The best-ranked offense he has ever been a part of was in 2006-2007, when the Spurs were fifth. (In 1999, they won a le with the NBA's 11th best offense.)

At the moment, however, the Spurs are tied for the NBA's second-best offense. They are a whisper out of first. That's new. Is the offensive improvement enough to offset the declining defense? Well, that's why they play the games. But it is certainly in the realm of possibility that the Spurs could continue to disappoint fans with their diminished defense, and win a le anyway.

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/pos...same-old-spurs

[hater]

good analysis and that is exactly why I'm not as confident on this team as I was in prior runs.

they just play too recklessly and are just not that defensive machine they used to be.

[Giuseppe]

Let's be frank:::only one team is playing quality championship defense and that's Boston. Other teams flirt & fidget with it, but, they can't capture it, maintain it and exert it comprehensively. Only Boston.

[We'd] better acknowledge these realities, because they ain't goin' away.

[crc21209]

Yeah the defense wasnt great last night, but Pop just seemed to coach as if he really didnt care last night as well. Tim and Tony didnt come back in until about the 6 minute mark in the 4th. Neal was terrible, why not give Anderson a shot? And Blair, who was beasting in the 1st half...was nowhere to be found in the 2nd half...

[SenorSpur]

Too often, players have season-high or career games against this team. PFs are carving this team up. If the Spurs would've harrassed Aldridge into 1/2 the points he scored, they win easily.

And this isn't the first year we've seen this. It occurred last year and continued through the playoffs, as Amare and even Dragic had routine success against this defense.

That said, Duncan's decline and Bowen's retirement are key factors as to why the defense sucks. Their defensive contributions have not been offset with the appropriate skill set infustions.

I don't know how long Pop thinks he's going to hide these deficiencies with offense? And I wonder just how this will translate as they go deeper in the playoffs?

[cornbread]

Let's be frank:::only one team is playing quality championship defense and that's Boston. Other teams flirt & fidget with it, but, they can't capture it, maintain it and exert it comprehensively. Only Boston.

[We'd] better acknowledge these realities, because they ain't goin' away.

I agree. The way Boston's playing defense and their big man rotation puts them at #1 contender in my book. The only thing I could see changing by playoff time is their health with all the old farts they have. But if the playoffs started today, I'd bet the house on Beantown.

[Giuseppe]

I agree. The way Boston's playing defense and their big man rotation puts them at #1 contender in my book. The only thing I could see changing by playoff time is their health with all the old farts they have. But if the playoffs started today, I'd bet the house on Beantown.

Perkins completes them unconditionally. He expects nothing on the offensive end and that is a great relief to a team's offensive parts. & Perkins sees nothing but the court. He's lost in the game from the moment he enters. He's extremely dangerous to an opponents offensive game plan.........& he's lethal in the [prime Manu tradition] of lethalness.

If Perkins doesn't get injured at the start of Game 6 I'm sittin' here with my in my hand.

[jjktkk]

Too often, players have season-high or career games against this team. PFs are carving this team up. If the Spurs would've harrassed Aldridge into 1/2 the points he scored, they win easily.

And this isn't the first year we've seen this. It occurred last year and continued through the playoffs, as Amare and even Dragic had routine success against this defense.

That said, Duncan's decline and Bowen's retirement are key factors as to why the defense sucks. Their defensive contributions have not been offset with the appropriate skill set infustions.

I don't know how long Pop thinks he's going to hide these deficiencies with offense? And I wonder just how this will translate as they go deeper in the playoffs?

Imo, Pop is doing the only thing possible in regards to winning. Amping up the offense to hide the decline in defense. My hope is the Spurs will imrpove enough on defense, but they don't have the talent to be a shutdown team defensively anymore.

[Giuseppe]

Imo, Pop is doing the only thing possible in regards to winning. Amping up the offense to hide the decline in defense. My hope is the Spurs will imrpove enough on defense, but they don't have the talent to be a shutdown team defensively anymore.

It can still be done that way, but, you'd have to have Perkins in street clothes again to do it.

[Cane]

I agree. The way Boston's playing defense and their big man rotation puts them at #1 contender in my book. The only thing I could see changing by playoff time is their health with all the old farts they have. But if the playoffs started today, I'd bet the house on Beantown.

Celtics do look like the best team out there. When it comes to health they seem to rush players back from injury and a lot of their starters are playing more mins so that could catch up with 'em. Pretty remarkable that they have the second best record with all the injuries they got.

[jjktkk]

It can still be done that way, but, you'd have to have Perkins in street clothes again to do it.

Well Culby, what are you waiting for? Get your people on that asap.

[cornbread]

Perkins completes them unconditionally. He expects nothing on the offensive end and that is a great relief to a team's offensive parts. & Perkins sees nothing but the court. He's lost in the game from the moment he enters. He's extremely dangerous to an opponents offensive game plan.........& he's lethal in the [prime Manu tradition] of lethalness.

If Perkins doesn't get injured at the start of Game 6 I'm sittin' here with my in my hand.

I hear you. Perkins is mean to the bone—a wild dog that wants to fight just for the enjoyment of fighting. A center with his mentality and abilities is something to covet.

[Giuseppe]

Well Culby, what are you waiting for? Get your people on that asap.

I still can't believe he was out in Game 6 & 7. It was like a out of body experience when that happened. That was our chance, and everybody, especially Bryant knew it.

It was like an act of God. A miracle.

[Giuseppe]

I hear you. Perkins is mean to the bone—a wild dog that wants to fight just for the enjoyment of fighting. A center with his mentality and abilities is something to covet.

Exactly. It's not an act. It's not personal. It's just him.

And at first I thought it was a combination of him & Powe, a synergy that was needed, but, uh, uh, Perkins is self contained. He's an animal.

Reminds me of Lewis Lloyd of the old Houston Rockets teams.

[cornbread]

Celtics do look like the best team out there. When it comes to health they seem to rush players back from injury and a lot of their starters are playing more mins so that could catch up with 'em. Pretty remarkable that they have the second best record with all the injuries they got.

I was watching them play the other night, scratching my head as they rotated KG, Shaq, Perkins, Big Baby and that big white boy, wondering how the do we compete with that in a 7 game series? That's your reward IF you can make it past the Lakers.

[Giuseppe]

I was watching them play the other night, scratching my head as they rotated KG, Shaq, Perkins, Big Baby and that big white boy, wondering how the do we compete with that in a 7 game series? That's your reward IF you can make it past the Lakers.

Give Ainge credit:::he learned his lesson last Summer. No vanity. No arrogance. Isolate the problem, then bury it.

[Brazil]

Let's be frank:::only one team is playing quality championship defense and that's Boston. Other teams flirt & fidget with it, but, they can't capture it, maintain it and exert it comprehensively. Only Boston.

[We'd] better acknowledge these realities, because they ain't goin' away.

I agree at 100%, I think other teams like Orlando or Miami have pretty solid defense too but Boston is always clinic, they are huge inside, contest everything, rondo is a poison, he pressures, runs, back ups his bigs by his rebounding skills... Most impressive they can maintain their D at a high level with whoever is in the lineup including Robinson, the turk guy...

Healthy they will be a of a matchup for everybody

[Harry Callahan]

The weird thing is the Spurs more often than other top teams get the "Old" label, but they have more young players playing key roles than LA and Boston by a long shot this year. When the Lakers rolled out their starting five last night, every player was at least 30 years old. They only have two young contributors and one of them has bad knees at 24 years old. Boston's best players (excluding Rondo) are 33, 34, and 35 years old.

Pop and RC have rebuilt their depth over the last 3 years. They have drafted well the last four years and have a deeper team. I hope Anderson and Splitter can get acclimated in the home stretch and be contributors. Tim is not the player he was three years ago and that is my biggest concern. The bigs may not measure up in the POs.

I would not be surprised to see the Spurs make a trade for another big next month. The #1 pick they own is 28-30. They have hit on their picks IMO often enough the last 4 years to make a deal. Of course the downside to this strategy is what happened when SA sent the 09 #1 (I think) to OKC for Kurt Thomas. That pick was Serge Ibaka. Not that Ibaka would have been SA's pick, but adding that kind of player to this roster would have solidfied the front line in a big way right now. SA was fortunate to land Dejuan Blair in that draft.

[Seventyniner]

The Heat seem like an anomaly to me also; they're #4 in the league in defensive efficiency, but don't have defensively intimidating big men at all.

The Bulls are actually #1, with almost a full point advantage on #2 Boston. The Spurs are still #7, with a big gap on either side.

[Budkin]

Let's be frank:::only one team is playing quality championship defense and that's Boston. Other teams flirt & fidget with it, but, they can't capture it, maintain it and exert it comprehensively. Only Boston.

[We'd] better acknowledge these realities, because they ain't goin' away.

I agree... they simply shut down teams.

[Dunc n Dave]

I was watching them play the other night, scratching my head as they rotated KG, Shaq, Perkins, Big Baby and that big white boy, wondering how the do we compete with that in a 7 game series? That's your reward IF you can make it past the Lakers.

Don't forget Jermaine Oneal to add to that rotation once he gets healthy. Their front line ( , their whole TEAM) is SCARY GOOD.

[boutons_deux]

"Jermaine Oneal"

He's always been fat, now he's slow, old, and fragile. Celts have done well without him.

[Giuseppe]

I agree... they simply shut down teams.

Yes, it's a proactive event physically, and they're preemptively preparing, shaping the battlefield mentally.

I hate 'em, but, it is wonderful to behold an organization so singularly dedicated to the end game.

[TampaDude]

The Celtics remind me of the Spurs and Pistons from the early to mid 2000s. They are a defensive grinder and they just wear you out and frustrate you. Plus, they are well coached. Very, very tough to take 4 of 7 from them.

[jjktkk]

When you get deep in the playoffs, it comes down to executing, and the Celtics are tops in that catagory. Thats the main reason I don't see Miami getting past them.