Pop: "Splitter's getting as much time as I can play him."

[Blake]

I like irritation

[jag]

lol lol you being irritated for no reason

lol you ignoring the reasons I posted.

[jag]

Blake's idea of clever is changing my quote to "I like irritation".

Keep going, guy. You're on a roll

[Blake]

Yes, actually. The Spurs won 63 games with the first two and won an NBA le with the third. None of them were factors by the time the Spurs were getting scored on at will and drummed out of the playoffs.

In 2005, the best 5 for the Spurs in crunch time were the main 4 + Horry. Nazr was rarely ever around in the late 4th quarter. Rasho barely saw any time.

They would have won 60 games with or without any of those bigs mentioned.

Not sure what series you're referring to, but Horry had been made the starter by the Dallas series.

the series they lost. the Dallas series, game 2.

Rasho and Nazr combined for 10 points, 8 rebounds 6 blocks and 2 steals on 83% shooting in game 2 against Sacramento. Nazr started the series with 18 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks in game one and was a DNP-CD by game 5. That stupid three pointer...

The Spurs defense was sucking bad by Round 1 game 2. Pop started Rasho over Nazr in game 4 and he sucked too.

Correct that Pop started Horry by game 5. I think it's clear why.

lol. Michael Finley at power forward is why a 63 win team went 7-6 in the playoffs and suddenly couldn't stop giving up points in the paint.

Nazr and Rasho started and played significant minutes in two of those losses and gave up 119 to Sacramento in one of the wins.

Thinking they would have been the difference makers in getting past the Mavs in round two is rofl hilarious, imo.

[DPG21920]

Blake's idea of clever is changing my quote to "I like irritation".

Keep going, guy. You're on a roll

Or copying something I said and getting mad when people think I'm funny.

[Blackjack]

Nancy, I miss thee.

[DPG21920]

True, but the FO's vision was alot more clearer, when you had a prime big 3, and Bowen. As the big 3 have aged, and key role players, like Bruce, Horry, etc. retiring, the margin of error for the FO has pretty much disappeared. As for mistakes, the FO definitely have had their share. Now the FO is in the inevitable position of trying to contend with a aging big 3, while trying to rebuild on the fly.

That's beside the point IMO (meaning the decline). Pop no longer does what we've come to expect in principle (rewarding playoff chokers with long term contracts, not playing your best defensive players...). Even with a decline those things should be present IMO.

[Blake]

lol you ignoring the reasons I posted.

I loled at your reasons for being irritated.

It's even funnier considering there's a chance you don't even disagree.

[jag]

Or copying something I said and getting mad when people think I'm funny.

He's lefty-esque

[Blake]

Blake's idea of clever is changing my quote to "I like irritation".

Keep going, guy. You're on a roll

Rare when someone admits to irritation.

Even more rare when they ask for more.

Rofl.

[Blake]

Or copying something I said and getting mad when people think I'm funny.

who's mad? U?

[jag]

Rare when someone admits to irritation.

Even more rare when they ask for more.

Rofl.

ok, buddy. You just keep on doing your thing.

[Blake]

Nancy, I miss thee.

Pussy! Long time no see.

How have you been hanging?

[jjktkk]

That's beside the point IMO (meaning the decline). Pop no longer does what we've come to expect in principle (rewarding playoff chokers with long term contracts, not playing your best defensive players...). Even with a decline those things should be present IMO.

Nail on the head! I don't WTF they were thinking reupping RJ and Bonner.

[Blake]

ok, buddy. You just keep on doing your thing.

you just stay irritated.

Entertainment value, imo.

[dunkman]

It seems to me that Pop projected to get around 40 points, 30 rebounds and some blocks from the PF/C positions regardless of who's playing. Blair will do nothing coming from the bench. Some players can produce from the bench, but most can't.

[jag]

you just stay irritated.

Entertainment value, imo.

ok, guy

[maverick1948]

Most of biggest men play basketball because they are big, not because they athletic. (eg, just watch Splitter shoot his discombobulated, anti-smooth free throw)

Splitter is clearly one of those, but still acceptably serviceable and effective.

Compared to Shaq, Splitter has a fantastic, athletic free throw motion.

[Blake]

ok, guy

right, just like that.

[therealtruth]

Sure, that doesn't mean they dont mistakes. It's not about a guarantee of a ring but putting the best team out there. It's also about practicing what you preach and having a clear vision; at least that is what's expected out of a front office such as this one.

Exactly. Tiago's going to raise the basketball IQ of the starting unit on offense and defense. Tim and him will be more effective once they get used to each other. Sometimes high basketball IQ can make up for lack of athleticism. Think of the Mavs last year. I seriously think this team has a shot if they start with TD and Splitter.

[therealtruth]

But then who do you pull Bonner for when you're teaching a lesson to Splitter and/or Blair? Everybody else is playing pretty awful too. Maybe Pop simply thinks Bonner is what he is at this point and he'll be where he's supposed to be offensively and defensively, even if he stinks.

Another thing to consider... Pop started Blair nearly all of last year, and then plugged Dice in for the last 12-15 games to get him warmed up for the playoffs, correct? Is it possible Pop fears Splitter's conditioning/health, and is going to make a similar move late this year?

That's a bad move to make. He was trying to save Dice but putting him in the starting unit didn't save him and slowed the offense that had gotten them so many wins. It was ridiculous in the playoffs when he said he didn't want them to change their iden y in the playoffs when he had begun the process of changing their iden y by starting Dice. Not to mention how inept Bonner and Blair of the bench was. If Pop wasn't going to integrate Splitter the best move would have been to not make any move.

[DPG21920]

Here comes Chump to tell Blake to get off his corner

[SA210]

Damn sneaky Raptors getting over on the Spurs by getting Rasho and getting rid of Bonner!

No, wannabe chump imitator (and that's not saying much), it's just what I said, he went away from what won us those games in the regular season. Nothing about Raptors, nothing about anything else you wanna paint it to be. We were specifically talking about 2006 playoffs. He went away from what got him there. That's all. It's fact.

[The Truth #6]

Game 2 the Dallas series, if I remember, was the one the Spurs lost badly, and Pop went small after that, I guess as a way to match up with Dirk, or something.

That was a tough series. Game 2 we got killed, if I remember. In the beginning the refs were heavily favoring the Mavs (it somewhat evened out by the end.) So, I can sort of understand Pop experimenting in that one series. The results obviously can be debated, but that's not the big problem, to me. The issue is that Pop stayed with Finley and small ball from that point on - that's the problem. I do agree that the switch in the series was a panic move, but again, what's worse is fixating on that style afterwards, as if there had been some sort of tectonic shift in the way basketball was now being played.

[MaNu4Tres]

Game 2 the Dallas series, if I remember, was the one the Spurs lost badly, and Pop went small after that, I guess as a way to match up with Dirk, or something..

Even though Finley didn't start at the 4 spot Game 2, Pop still went small the majority of the game.

Horry started and only logged 19 minutes.

Nazr came off the bench and logged just 11 minutes.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/...605090SAS.html