Grades: Spurs @ Hornets - Jan. 23

[urunobili]

I think JA's defense on the last inbounds play should grant him a C+. it was key and huge for the victory TBH

[TJastal]

I think JA's defense on the last inbounds play should grant him a C+. it was key and huge for the victory TBH

eh..? What did he do?

[SpurNation]

For only the second time this season, the Spurs were able to win a game outside of San Antonio. Against the Hornets, who entered the game with the worst record in the Western Conference, the Spurs hit enough shots to leave the Big Easy with a 104-102 victory.

It surely wasn't the defense that won the game. The Hornets are the lowest scoring team in the West, yet the Spurs allowed them to shoot better than 50% from the floor and score nearly 16 points more than their average.

It was a needed away victory. But this has been a disturbing trend for the Spurs this season.

Not sure what all the factors that play into the Spurs being one of the worst defensive teams in the league, but this is not our Spurs of the past.

One thing I noticed is that the Spurs perimeter defense isn't as tight as it used to be. And noticed that our perimeter defenders seem to be cheating more towards the paint instead of out on their man. Is this to compensate for the lack of individual interior defense? Are our perimeter defenders that bad? Have coaches figured out the Spurs system of defense and the Spurs haven't been able to adjust? Or is it more a prescribed effort in defending as a whole in order to help improve offense production which is the highest I've seen from a Spurs team since the days of Bob Hill as coach?

What ever it may be...what's been happening this year defensively isn't going to win many games against better offensive teams or be a manuscript to having a successful future.

[Ice009]

Or is it more a prescribed effort in defending as a whole in order to help improve offense production which is the highest I've seen from a Spurs team since the days of Bob Hill as coach?

I didn't get to watch any of those Bob Hill teams, but isn't this kind of like how they played? All offense with little substance on the defensive end?

Does Pop know what he is doing? Does he realize what he is doing?

If he doesn't want to start Splitter then get a 7 footer from anywhere and close that lane down. Blair can't start. You gotta improve the interior defense first and foremost, then you can start the work on the perimeter defense.

[SpurNation]

I didn't get to watch any of those Bob Hill teams, but isn't this kind of like how they played?

Yes and no. The Spurs had great offensive weapons including David Robinson in his prime. Of course we all know the story of David Robinson's individual defense to being one of the best in the league as well as Sean Elliott and Avery Johnson. Those teams under Bob Hill were fun to watch regarding their offensive abilities...but their lack of defensive production was a symptom of strategy more so than the lack of talent to execute.

Flash forward to today (this season)...I can't tell you the reason they're so bad at defense.

[TJastal]

Yes and no. The Spurs had great offensive weapons including David Robinson in his prime. Of course we all know the story of David Robinson's individual defense to being one of the best in the league as well as Sean Elliott and Avery Johnson. Those teams under Bob Hill were fun to watch regarding their offensive abilities...but their lack of defensive production was a symptom of strategy more so than the lack of talent to execute.

Flash forward to today (this season)...I can't tell you the reason they're so bad at defense.

Let me take a crack..

Because Pop is still starting a 6'6" knucklehead who has toothpicks for legs and is arguably the worst starting center in the history of the nba?

[SpurNation]

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Let me take a crack..

Because Pop is still starting a 6'6" knucklehead who has toothpicks for legs and is arguably the worst starting center in the history of the nba?

In that regard the obvious is well aware. But what's making them so bad "all around" is what's making me scratch my head.

[TJastal]

In that regard the obvious is well aware. But what's making them so bad "all around" is what's making me scratch my head.

Let me take a crack.

Pop spreading the manure. Since TD & Splitter rarely see the court together that means one of Blair and Bonner is always out there dragging everyone else down. Great defenders like Splitter inspire others to put in the extra effort. Lazy, ty defenders do just the opposite. And I can only imagine it must get tiring and utterly demoralizing for TD to carry Blair's fat ass and same for Splitter w/ Bonner.

A few people said in last night's game they noticed Duncan's posture and energy picked right up when Tiago entered the game to actually play together for the first time. And vice versa for Tiago. And now you know why.

[SpurNation]

Let me take a crack.

Pop spreading the manure. Since TD & Splitter rarely see the court together that means one of Blair and Bonner is always out there dragging everyone else down. Great defenders like Splitter inspire others to put in the extra effort. Lazy, ty defenders do just the opposite. And I can only imagine it must get tiring and utterly demoralizing for TD to carry Blair's fat ass and same for Splitter w/ Bonner.

A few people said in last night's game they noticed Duncan's posture and energy picked right up when Tiago entered the game to actually play together for the first time. And vice versa for Tiago. And now you know why.

To that I'll have to agree to some extent. Perhaps MORE of that combination will get the perimeter to play better defensively...But the Hornets were still lighting up the Spurs even with Tim and Tiago in the game.

[Darkwaters]

Let me take a crack.

Pop spreading the manure. Since TD & Splitter rarely see the court together that means one of Blair and Bonner is always out there dragging everyone else down. Great defenders like Splitter inspire others to put in the extra effort. Lazy, ty defenders do just the opposite. And I can only imagine it must get tiring and utterly demoralizing for TD to carry Blair's fat ass and same for Splitter w/ Bonner.

A few people said in last night's game they noticed Duncan's posture and energy picked right up when Tiago entered the game to actually play together for the first time. And vice versa for Tiago. And now you know why.

I tend to agree. Perimeter defenders are able to play up on their man and really pressure them if and when they know that they have support behind them. If I'm a perimeter defender and beyond me is Matthew "Red Rocket" Bonner, I'm probably not willing to risk letting you get by me. But if instead I have Dwight Howard behind me....well, I'll probably let you pick your poison.

[wildbill2u]

Anderson must've realized he was getting minutes with his career on the Spurs on the line. A "player' has to step up in those situations. I don't think he did.

[TJastal]

Anderson must've realized he was getting minutes with his career on the Spurs on the line. A "player' has to step up in those situations. I don't think he did.

Even if the spurs had room, its doubtful for him. Unless he improves his poor handles, inconsistent perimeter shooting, lackluster defense, & court vision he has no value to an nba team. Just having a "scorer's mentality" is not enough these days, unless ... you're lucky enough to be drafted by Don Nelson. Tbh, Pop is doing his best to become Don Nelson. So maybe there's still a chance for him...

[Nathan89]

pop b
sitting duncan now looks like the right choice after he moved so well tonight. Pop used a zone in the first half that cooled off a hornets squad that appeared to be well on their way to 200 points. Getting another look at anderson before the contract deadline was a plus. Sticking with neal and green in the second half paid off. but by far the best decision was to give splitter extended minutes in the fourth quarter. Pop still only played him 23 minutes -- but at least they were important minutes. I'll gladly accept baby steps at this point.

a+

[therealtruth]

It looked like Pop believed in TD and Splitter to close games earlier in the season and then went away from it for some reason. The fact is the Spurs need better defense in the first quarter. Alot of these close games would be easily winnable if they're not spotting the other team points in the first quarter.

[Blake]

Bonner +13

Bonner plussing like only a Bonner can.

[widowmaker]

That's what Rj has done and will continue to do on offense for the Spurs. His shooting% and his defensive intensity will fluctuate. Tonight he hit shots and he should get credit for that. Seems to me you graded him completely on defensive intensity.

This is a poor grade and doesn't make sense given the curve grading system.

That's probably what pop wants him to do is hang on the perimeter. If pop wanted him to drive he would run iso plays for him.

[TJastal]

Bonner +13

Bonner plussing like only a Bonner can.

Plussin thx to Green and Splitter.

But I suppose some congrats are in order for the red rocket. Right now its safe to say he's doing better than Blair by a longshot.

I bet he'd make a good 4th big off the bench averaging 10-15 minutes a game on a playoff contender.

[Maddog]

Anybody notice the Spurs had more assists than rebounds?
How often does that happen?
Good job by Tony- bad Job by defense

[Maddog]

Anybody notice the Spurs had more assists than rebounds?
How often does that happen?
Good job by Tony- bad Job by defense

[SenorSpur]

My only complaints with Pop's coaching are that he could reduce Bonner and Blair by two and a half minutes each to give Malcolm Thomas 5 minutes of playing time. I wish he didn't wait until the absolute last minute/game/end of season to try something new out. This would allow more of Tim and Tiago while also giving Blair/Bonner another big (Thomas) to play with. With all our team deficiencies I can't imagine Thomas would hurt much more than what we have now, and he'd only be playing 5 minutes a game. Simply, play him before you cut him, that's all we ask for as fans. Maybe his logic is that he doesn't want to introduce too many variables at once, such as letting Splitter play and letting Thomas play. This leads me to my next thought.

I like this idea.

If there is very little time to practice, that really leaves no other option other than to try and work Thomas in for a few brief minutes at the end of a half, and maybe at the end of a quarter or two. Since this team is likely not going to have very many blowouts, there will likely be very little chance to get him extensive minutes in the 4th quarters of games. To me, there is just no other way to see Thomas in action other than to force feed him some low-risk minutes. Otherwise, how are they ever going to know what this kid has?

[TeKu]

I agree 1000%. I live in Ukraine. When I can't see a game, the first thing I do after the ESPN results is count the minutes until Timvp's grades!

Hear, hear. I'm at the other end of the globe in New Zealand. These grades are required reading for any international spurs fan. Thanks timvp.

[phxspurfan]

We're going to cut Anderson and some other team is going to give him minutes and make him a semi-valuable role player.

[jjktkk]

We're going to cut Anderson and some other team is going to give him minutes and make him a semi-valuable role player.

Definitely a possibility. Sometimes it takes a change of scenery for some players.

[Gagnrath]

RJ (Richard Jefferson aka lLttle ie) is really bugs me alot about the defense on this team. Bonner is a limited defender (slow & nonathletic as well as physically not that strong he's actually smart enough to over come his physical limitations to an extent but with the minutes he gets defensive cheating and anticipation can't cover his weaknesses.) who can be improved by playing less so he can be more intense in his minutes. Blair is a limited defender, (slow, short and with moderately poor fundamentals as well as apparently a limited learning curve) but is decent against limited offensive talents, Its the guys that are well rounded that give him fits and he makes look like superstars. If the person can hit from 8 to 12 and is faster than him teammates can set them up time and again.

RJ on the other hand is a pretty good well rounded defensive player when he wants to be, he's fairly sharp intellectually, he's athletic enough that he can guard most any small forward in the league and a number of power forwards, sure the superstars will get theirs on him but he can at least make them work for it. For some reason though he has a very odd tendency to just check out of some games mentally when he is not being super involved. For other games he just never checks in. His defensive intensity seems for some weird reason tied to his offensive success/involvement, and he is a streaky shooter. Designing set plays for him to finish around the basket early in each half seems like a way to alleviate the issue but it really shouldn't be needed. He is a professional basketball player, and not one of the mental midget ones either. I just don't understand this.

I compare it to one of my friends in school who was seriously add if he was on Ritalin he was a very good outfielder, when he wasn't even in junior high and high school he would get lost playing in the grass, looking at clouds, or fans. I have to imagine the NBA would consider it a performance enhancing drug though and wouldn't even want to propose that it is ADD just that the symptoms of random checked-outness for no known reason seem similar.


I hope none of the Spurs younger players are picking up from him that it is acceptable as a professional to be obviously out of the game mentally at times.

[dylankerouac]

I like this idea.

If there is very little time to practice, that really leaves no other option other than to try and work Thomas in for a few brief minutes at the end of a half, and maybe at the end of a quarter or two. Since this team is likely not going to have very many blowouts, there will likely be very little chance to get him extensive minutes in the 4th quarters of games. To me, there is just no other way to see Thomas in action other than to force feed him some low-risk minutes. Otherwise, how are they ever going to know what this kid has?

Thanks SenorSpur. I'm really hoping he gives Thomas a chance soon.