Grades: Spurs @ Mavericks - Jan. 29

[8FOR!3]

I don't think putting Parker back in wins the game anyways. They fought hard in OT. Dallas made a couple of clutch baskets, we missed a couple that almost went in. Jason Terry was next to unstoppable in that game. He had a lot of elevation in his jumper. It was one of those games that makes you miss George Hill, he was always a solid guy to guard Eugene. Oh well, it's not like we looked lost in OT. We lost the game by 1 point. Pop made the right decision. Ya'll would've had his ass if he changed the lineup and we lost.

[5in10]

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/pos...gregg-popovich

Agree with this article. Getting all our young guys experience now gives us a chance to make a late surge later.

[timvp]

I also think it's hogwash that he left the bench unit in the game the entire way, and totally gassed at the end. The message of his "dissapproval" had already been sent.

It wasn't about the starters. It was about going with the one unit that showed any signs of life.

Any thought to the idea JA tanked the first part of the season so the Spurs wouldn't pick up his option?

No. No player would risky their livelihood with such a scheme.

-
-At this point I think we should keep Anderson glued to the bench so no other team tries to outbid us on him, Which I think we can only offer 1.5mil at this point.

Too late now. If he deserves to be on the court, he should play. The Spurs will have to live with whatever happens.

[Obstructed_View]

Where were the Monday morning quarterbacks back in 2003 in a game that played out almost exactly the same? Spurs down big in the third, start to make their run in the end of the third, not only catch up but take a lead with a few minutes left in the game. I don't remember hearing too many complaints that Pop should have put in Tony Parker for Steve Kerr and David Robinson for Malik Rose.

It's easy to second-guess after a loss but unless you were complaining then, you don't have room to complain now.

Tony Parker had the stomach flu during that game, and I don't think the Spurs went 20 minutes of game time without more than one situational sub.

[timvp]

Tony Parker had the stomach flu during that game, and I don't think the Spurs went 20 minutes of game time without more than one situational sub.

Ha ya, make that Speedy Claxton.

IIRC, Pop went with the same lineup for last 17 minutes of the game or so. I know Robinson never re-entered and Kerr, who had done next to nothing in his Spurs history in the playoffs, wasn't sat down when the game got close.

[dylankerouac]

Thanks for the grades.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

In regards to Splitter's "bad game", can we at least give the guy some credit and admit that he hacked by Dirk on at least 3 separate plays in the 4th Q and OT?

He didn't have a great shooting night, but he easily should've gone 5 or 6 for 9 from the floor instead of 3. He should've gotten at least 6 more FT's, and didn't play at all in the 2nd qtr.

[SpurNation]

Well...dance with who brought you. The starters weren't good partners in this game and the reserves were the ones who were taking the lead and deservedly earned their right to either win or lose that game. A .01 more on the clock at the end of regulation and a horrible decision from replay of the out of bounds by Mahinmi and we'd all be talking how great the decision to leave the reserves in was. And regardless if it were a tough loss...it was still great to see the team pull together and play with that much fire and intensity including the cheer leading by the veterans while on the bench. Instead of sulking or being dis-interested...they gave encouragement and applause to that scrappy bunch.

Job well done reserves. Job well done team. Job well done coach.

[TJastal]

Timvp you know i respect the out of your takes, but didn't those bench guys look a little gassed at the end?

At the end, Terry was able to waltz into the paint unmolested and get up a barely contested 12 footer. Meanwhile Matt Bonner ended up pissing himself waiting for somebody to come get the ball from him. Just poor execution due to tired legs, IMO.

I understand the concept of rewarding the guys who showed the most heart with some extra PT but I don't understand staying with guys with the game on the line who are practically ready for to collapse and be hooked up to oxygen tanks.

[loveforthegame]

Thanks for the grades.

My biggest concern is the starters coming out with no intensity. Jefferson and Blair are the biggest culprits but Parker and Duncan have had their share of it too.

While the bench struggles now and then it's unreal how many times they dig the team out of the hole the starters created. I don't see Pop making a lineup change until Ginobli and/or Ford comes back though.

[TJastal]

Thanks for the grades.

My biggest concern is the starters coming out with no intensity. Jefferson and Blair are the biggest culprits but Parker and Duncan have had their share of it too.

While the bench struggles now and then it's unreal how many times they dig the team out of the hole the starters created. I don't see Pop making a lineup change until Ginobli and/or Ford comes back though.

Of course he won't change anything. That would take actual balls to change the starting lineup. Pussy Pop would rather just run the 2nd unit into the ground to get his point across.

[024]

how do you feel about the bench outplaying the starters?

on one hand, it could be interpreted as a positive because this bench can be a legitimate NBA team by itself (at least the 29th or 30th ranked team).

on the other hand, it could be interpreted as a giant negative. the so called veterans are declining, tired, injured, unmotivated, and suffering a huge talent drop off. this is basically what we saw last year. so i'm not too thrilled that the bench is out playing the starters because i feel this is actually more of a starter problem than it is a bench highlight. for me, the sign to rebuild has never been more clear.

[TJastal]

how do you feel about the bench outplaying the starters?

on one hand, it could be interpreted as a positive because this bench can be a legitimate NBA team by itself (at least the 29th or 30th ranked team).

on the other hand, it could be interpreted as a giant negative. the so called veterans are declining, tired, injured, unmotivated, and suffering a huge talent drop off. this is basically what we saw last year. so i'm not too thrilled that the bench is out playing the starters because i feel this is actually more of a starter problem than it is a bench highlight. for me, the sign to rebuild has never been more clear.

The problem is mostly Blair IMO. Duncan has been asked to carry this deadweight on his back for far too long and its starting to take a major toll just like I've been saying for a year now.

Splitter should have been promoted to the starting lineup a long time ago (first game as a spur IMO) in order to take the pressure off of Tim and also so they could get used to playing together. It's obvious they need to learn how, as recent poor +/- data confirms, but Pop refuses to allow it to happen.

Pop won't make the necessary changes the team needs. He'd rather just keep having his tantrums and punishing everyone with his whacky rotations, based on whatever tantrum he's currently having.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

I can't wait for Blair to get traded/sent away

[Bill_Brasky]

Idk about anyone else.........but I loved this game. It's early in the season, our starters were dog tired and not doing , Pop threw out a lineup with just the right amount of experience mixed with young fresh legs, and it worked. We should have won that game without a doubt, but I'm not bitter about it because we got big minutes for some young guys.

I'd be willing to bet that if Pop had replaced that unit for the last play and we missed the shot/still lost, the same people would be criticizing him for pulling what was working.

[therealtruth]

Anderson seemed to do a better job of finding Splitter on the roll. He seems to play better when the balls in his hand that just being a spot up shooter. He might be better than Neal at finding the role man. For all the people that are complaining about Splitter's perfomance the attention he draws on the roll helped to create the looks for the other players. I like the confidence and swagger DG plays with. I think when Manu returns Neal and Anderson's minutes should take more of a hit.

[jjktkk]

I'd be willing to bet that if Pop had replaced that unit for the last play and we missed the shot/still lost, the same people would be criticizing him for pulling what was working.

Idiots, whoops, I mean haters, gonna hate.

[therealtruth]

The problem is mostly Blair IMO. Duncan has been asked to carry this deadweight on his back for far too long and its starting to take a major toll just like I've been saying for a year now.

Splitter should have been promoted to the starting lineup a long time ago (first game as a spur IMO) in order to take the pressure off of Tim and also so they could get used to playing together. It's obvious they need to learn how, as recent poor +/- data confirms, but Pop refuses to allow it to happen.

Pop won't make the necessary changes the team needs. He'd rather just keep having his tantrums and punishing everyone with his whacky rotations, based on whatever tantrum he's currently having.

Exactly Pop probably uses the poor +/- data to try not play them together. The way to resolve it is by playing them together, even starting them, so they can get used to each other.

[TJastal]

Idk about anyone else.........but I loved this game. It's early in the season, our starters were dog tired and not doing , Pop threw out a lineup with just the right amount of experience mixed with young fresh legs, and it worked. We should have won that game without a doubt, but I'm not bitter about it because we got big minutes for some young guys.

I'd be willing to bet that if Pop had replaced that unit for the last play and we missed the shot/still lost, the same people would be criticizing him for pulling what was working.

No, the same people would be advocating that Pop should have replaced that unit when the spurs were up by 7 with 2 minutes left since they were obviously running on dead legs. At the very least you put in your two best players available (TP & TD) and for sure Parker since he's your only real floor leader with Ford out. This is just common sense.

[ChumpDumper]

Pop B
I thought Pop made the right move in keeping the bench unit out there. Sure, he could have gone back to the starters but those bench players deserved a chance to finish what they started.

Wow, this subtle jab at Pop is devastating to the trained eye.

Don't ever let me get on your bad side, LJ.

[benefactor]

Am I the only one that just scrolls on past TJastal's ty takes?

[manufan10]

Am I the only one that just scrolls on past TJastal's ty takes?

I thought I was the only one.. so no you're not.

[FromWayDowntown]

Ha ya, make that Speedy Claxton.

IIRC, Pop went with the same lineup for last 17 minutes of the game or so. I know Robinson never re-entered and Kerr, who had done next to nothing in his Spurs history in the playoffs, wasn't sat down when the game got close.

Duncan and Jackson each started the 2nd half.

Claxton replaced Parker with 10:26 left in the 3rd with the Spurs down 50-40.

Rose entered for Robinson with 8:00 left in the 3rd with the Spurs down 55-44.

Ginobili entered for Bowen with 5:01 left in the 3rd with the Spurs down 59-48.

Kerr entered for Claxton at 3:44 left in the 3rd with the Spurs down 63-48.

From 3:44 left in the 3rd until 4:00 left in the 4th, the Spurs did not make a subs ution; during that time, Duncan-Rose-Ginobili-Jackson-Kerr went on a 31-8 run (from down 63-48 to up 79-71).

Not quite a full 17 minutes (or even a full quarter), but it's not as if Popovich brought the cavalry back when his team was up 8 in the 4th. They played out the last 4 minutes with no Bowen, no Parker (though he was ill), and no Robinson.

[DAF86]

Neal's pick and roll game is pretty bad, he either doesn't have the confidence/vision to find the roller or he's just too selfish.

[FromWayDowntown]

Pop F--
Was in the building, on the Spurs bench, and breathing. Won't this guy stop breathing? Or at least stop coming to games?

I half expect to see this sometimes from the grade graders.