Game Blog: Spurs vs. Nuggets - Mar. 04

[Ice009]

I'll call it: ever since Pop tanked the Blazers game, this team has lost its rhythm.

Another thing I don't like. Tanking games if you're not injured. The basketball gods can punish you. Is it a coincidence that the Spurs look like total after tanking that game? They look like the team of the past few years after tanking that game. Coincidentally those Spurs teams tanked games like that more often.

[ElNono]

They blew the Nuggets out in the next game. A depleted Spurs team, in Denver.

To be fair, we shot lights out from 3 and Denver was missing Nene, Gallo and Lawson..

We win this game today comfortably if we shoot 3s like that game. The problem is that you can't expect to make a deep playoff run living by the 3 ball

[DMC]

Yeah, but they didn't get on a winning streak since then, have they? I'm also talking about how they're playing on the court since then. It just hasn't been the same. They haven't played this indecisive, sloppy, or looked completely outclassed before that fiasco.

So, if they don't start another winning streak after one loss (intentional tbh), they have lost their rhythm?

[DMC]

To be fair, we shot lights out from 3 and Denver was missing Nene, Gallo and Lawson..

We win this game today comfortably if we shoot 3s like that game. The problem is that you can't expect to make a deep playoff run living by the 3 ball

They shot 80% in the 1st quarter. Otherwise we win. for tat.

We climbed back from a huge deficit to a 1 point deficit. But, like in Dallas, we couldn't get it done. You cannot let a playoff team put 16 on you in the 1st half.

[SpurPadre]

The reason is his lack of a 3pt shot. Pop doesn't appreciate defense/rebounding any more.

There was the possession where we had the ball down 78-76 and Leonard missed a WIDE open three point shot that would've erupted the crowd but he bricked. He rushed the shot, too and we didn't see much of him after that.

[DMC]

There was the possession where we had the ball down 78-76 and Leonard missed a WIDE open three point shot that would've erupted the crowd but he bricked. He rushed the shot, too and we didn't see much of him after that.

I didn't think he rushed it. I thought he hesitated, plus we had numbers and I think we were in the bonus. We should have attacked.

[Sean Cagney]

To be fair, we shot lights out from 3 and Denver was missing Nene, Gallo and Lawson..

We win this game today comfortably if we shoot 3s like that game. The problem is that you can't expect to make a deep playoff run living by the 3 ball

Yep, and just like last year you rely on the three you die by it! Those won't fall like that later. Until they play some good D out there and don't rely on that they will not go far in the playoffs. Many talked about them coming outta the West just last week or so, well wakeup this team is not going anywhere until they are 100% healthy and do some changes.

[SpurPadre]

So, if they don't start another winning streak after one loss (intentional tbh), they have lost their rhythm?

Again, if you read the whole post, you'd see I'm not just talking about wins and losses, I'm talking about how that tank job has affected the quality of play that we've seen on the court since then in terms of CONSISTENCY. I believe we've lost that consistency. It isn't the only problem, though. The team definitely has its flaws.

[SpurPadre]

I didn't think he rushed it. I thought he hesitated, plus we had numbers and I think we were in the bonus. We should have attacked.

That's what I meant by rushing. He rushed not in the stroke, but in his decision-making. We had numbers and he should've thought the play through for what was the better attempt at that point. He has to know his role and know he can't shoot that ball at that point in time right now.

[Ice009]

That's what I meant by rushing. He rushed not in the stroke, but in his decision-making. We had numbers and he should've thought the play through for what was the better attempt at that point. He has to know his role and know he can't shoot that ball at that point in time right now.

Pop tells the players to shoot the ball if they are open. what was he supposed to do. pass it and get benched and yelled at?

[therealtruth]

Yeah, what's up with that? We were in the bonus right away in the 4th and we had zero team fouls. We should have been driving the lane and drawing fouls.

I know this is just one game and doesn't matter that much in the big picture, but if this is any indication of how the Spurs are going to play in the playoffs, they're going fishing in April.

Small ball doesn't force you to expend that much energy defending. The problem the Spurs have is they can't force teams to defend. That's why teams are able to save their energy for destroying us on offense.

[rayjayjohnson]

That's what we said when Ginobili and Tiago were out.. you should be the one panicking.. for they were both healthy and on the floor tonight.

So mad

[SpurPadre]

Pop tells the players to shoot the ball if they are open. what was he supposed to do. pass it and get benched and yelled at?

Rookies get yelled at anyways. And did missing that shot earn him more play time after? No, he played less.

[Sense]

So mad

[therealtruth]

Yep, and just like last year you rely on the three you die by it! Those won't fall like that later. Until they play some good D out there and don't rely on that they will not go far in the playoffs. Many talked about them coming outta the West just last week or so, well wakeup this team is not going anywhere until they are 100% healthy and do some changes.

The only chance the team has is if the 3pt stroke is on fire in the playoffs. They won't win by defense/rebounding.

[SpurPadre]

The only chance the team has is if the 3pt stroke is on fire in the playoffs. They won't win by defense/rebounding.

3 point shooting teams historically don't win Championships and on rare occasions when they have, it's because their best players were 3 point shooters. Our best player is Manu and he is a good 3 point shooter but TP and TD definitely aren't...and that's the problem. Manu has to dig out his '05 Playoff form to carry the team on his back and we don't know how much he has left in the tank.

[therealtruth]

The FO doesn't pay attention to warning signs, if they did, the frontline rotation wouldn't be as much of a joke as it is right now.

The reality the Spurs FO is going to wait till the offseason before doing anything. I mean it's sad, but our best hope is probably a Turiaf type player before the playoffs. Too much dead weight on this team right now.

It's just like last year, Spurs look good in regular season, but there's something about them that will never give you confidence come playoff time. I truly believe the Spurs don't even really believe in themselves all that much. Even if everyone is healthy, they know their D won't cut it this year.

The defense can't get better if he never gives it a chance to close out games and instead opts for small ball. The best small ball players are generally the worst defenders.

[therealtruth]

3 point shooting teams historically don't win Championships and on rare occasions when they have, it's because their best players were 3 point shooters. Our best player is Manu and he is a good 3 point shooter but TP and TD definitely aren't...and that's the problem. Manu has to dig out his '05 Playoff form to carry the team on his back and we don't know how much he has left in the tank.

3pt shooting teams can win championships. They just need a credible inside threat as well like the Rockets with Hakeem in 94-95 or the Mavs with Dirk last year.

[TampaDude]

3pt shooting teams can win championships. They just need a credible inside threat as well like the Rockets with Hakeem in 94-95 or the Mavs with Dirk last year.

Yup...even the Magic made the Finals a few years back.

[Robz4000]

Anyone else notice that the Spurs are winless this year on national tv?

[TampaDude]

Anyone else notice that the Spurs are winless this year on national tv?

Not true...

The Spurs beat the Suns 102-91 on January 15th. Game was on ESPN.

The Spurs also beat the Jazz 104-89 back on December 31st (technically not this calendar YEAR, but still this same SEASON). Game was on NBA TV.

[Robz4000]

Ah, forgot about those two

[kaji157]

Has anyone noticed that Duncan should have been benched for Spliter in the end of the game?? He played horribly for the entire 4th quarter and Splitter was playing great defense and opening spaces for Tony on offense.
I think TD cost us this game with 5 big mistakes down teh stretch.
2 missed rebounds, 2 missed free-throws and a pass to (ginobili´s) foot.