Reply With Quote
i honestly don't think Pop owes any Spurs fans an explanation.
“I think we’ve played basically the defense we’ve played most of the year. It’s gotten to the point where we’re about as good as we’re going to get defensively. That wasn’t our problem during the six games we lost. We’ve talked more about decision making, free-throws, three-point shooting, contested shots versus non-contested shots that sort of thing. Defense was a focus, because given the fact that those other things weren’t happening the defense had to be there or they would have been 15 or 20 point losses. But we were in every game so the defense was good enough.”
I'm seriously interested in hearing your rationalizations for this guy's delusions.
i honestly don't think Pop owes any Spurs fans an explanation.
uh oh
amazing.
What use is a defensive performance that contests no Celts jumpers? sagging off the off-ball men so far you can't close on the jumper when the ball swings?
It's not a very good defensive team.
Typical popologist nonsense. I was expecting something, at least.
i'm pissed off at Pop as much as the next guy for playing a Bonner/Blair lineup and not giving Splitter any minutes.
still, i'm gonna tell you that he doesn't owe you or me any explanation to his rhyme or reasoning.
Let me clarify, I'm not asking for an explanation from Popovich. I'm asking for a defense from his defenders. Something other than that four rings nonsense.
just wish we could see splitter and duncan on the floor at the same time together just ONCE!
I think he just admits/realises that if we're gonna win it all, it's gonna be thanks to our offense and specialy our 3pts shooting...
He looks like resigned to me, the D level is obviously not where he wants it to be, but he (now) knows that he can't get much from this group on a regular basis.
As frustrating as it might be for him, I like the fact that he isn't "stubborn" on that matter and accept the fact that the reason this team is 1st in the league is its 3pts % and its overall O...
I know, I know, D wins championships...
Pop is admitting that he can't worry about the defense too much at this point and that he's got to play the cards he's been dealt. He's got a team that can do a lot offensively, and can at least hustle on the defensive side of the ball. That's what we saw against PHX today. The Spurs weren't great on defense, but they were very active. That sort of effort will payoff with some shots falling in the playoffs.
Nicely stated, Pauleta14.
Realist. if you have been watching the spurs play this season you know that this team is miles behind our championship teams defensively. Hopefully Pop realizes Splitter can help in that department because that is pretty much the only way it can approve at this point in the season but that still won't put it close to what it was when we won the championships. Our big 3 have aged and we no longer have the personnel to play that type of lockdown defense. Pop (and all Spurs fans) should know that if we are going to win it this year it's going to be on the offensive side of the ball. Pop is still going to preach defense and make sure the guys are busting there ass on that side of the ball, that will never change but he also understand what the ceiling is regarding that. I just hope he sees that Splitter does improve it..
oh we'll see it alright, but we'll see it when it's too late.just wish we could see splitter and duncan on the floor at the same time together just ONCE!
Honestly Chopper, if this team isnt absolutely sizzling from the 3 in the playoffs then they're dead in the water.
This defense is not even close to being able to keep them in games when they aren't shooting lights out.
i'm missing the part where Bonner/Blair are upgrades over Splitter offensively though. all indications have shown that Splitter is better than both those guys even on the offensive side of the ball.
It doesn't matter who Pop throws on the court. The defense just isn't that good. This shouldn't be news to anybody. The Spurs will either be the first team in the modern era to win a championship based solely on the three-ball or they just won't win. If it c omes down to defense, the Spurs have no chance.
That's definitely the confusing part. I don't think we will see a lot of Bonner/Blair in the playoffs. Splitter coming in 1st off the bench was a good sign even though Blair played the 2nd half. Hopefully I'm right because the Bonner/Blair lineup is
Splitter getting 10 more minutes a game instantly makes us a much better defensive team.
Not because he's that great or he can make up for our horrendous perimeter D but because Bonner/Blair is absolutely the worst defensive frontcourt that can be played by any NBA team.
This. Plus, Pop talking to the media doesn't necessarily have anything remotely to do with the truth and what he really thinks and the things he says to the team.
Yes. Splitter > Blair, especially when Bonner is on the floor.
Pop just telling it how it is. I'm sure he has nagged and nagged and put forward the effort to get this team better defensively all season. He'll always be a defensive minded coach.
Yeah, you do kind of get that 'Phoenix Suns playoff team' vibe from these guys, but truth be told, the defense hasn't been the same for the Spurs since Bowen left. At least this team can "sizzle" offensively. The prior couple years' teams didn't even have that going for them.
It would take a lot of people peaking together for the Spurs to make a deep playoff push, but, it could happen. I'm more optimistic about this group than I was in '09 or '10.
I was surprised to hear him say this. He's basically conceded that they're not going to be a good defensive team and is now publicly embracing what they've become in recent years: an offense team, that relies on good three-point shooting.
I was expecting the usual "well, defense is always the focus and we're going to continue to work at it and try to get better, just like everyone else". Alas, they've broken his spirit.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
