Grades: Spurs vs. Lakers - Apr. 11

[jag]

Pop's mismanagement of Tiago is an abomination.

[Keepin' it real]

A loss doesn't bother me. This type of loss, with the seeming lack of compe ive fire and toughness from our top players, does.

This lack of compe ive fire and toughness comes from the head coach, who:

• Historically pulls his starters when the going gets tough, instead of demanding that they try to claw their way back into the game, AND
• Like an overly cautious mother, won't let his players play in some games because "they might get hurt."

Talk about the "wussification" of your team.

[TheSkeptic]

Pop's mismanagement of Tiago is an abomination.

Agreed. Though I don't think anything can be done about it at this point.

[Josepatches_]

Splitter had a few soft moments but was physical in general. I thought he, along with Bonner, Green, and Jackson were the bright spots tonight. I don't remember him giving up position after position.

Agree.

In the first half Bynum scored against him but he scored easily vs Duncan too. Bynum is a beast and none can't stop him all the time.

In the second half he guard Bynum well. I remember Bynum missin a shot and they fighting for the position next plays so he didn't shot more.
Then Gasol came in for Bynum and he scored 2 long JS over him...but you can't do a lot against a 7'1'' shooting JS.



Also he scored the only ball he received in 4th down against Pau. We should play more 4th down with Splitter.

Splitter B-

[lefty]

Pop is overrated



I told you

[DMC]

Pop is still in training camp mode, tinkering. I don't think he was that worried about this game.

[DMC]

Pop is overrated



I told you

Meanwhile his foe, Mike Brown, is getting coaching lessons from the chucker. I'll take Pop.

[rjv]

the point about pop's mismanagement of big men is spot on. it may just be ingrained in pop's mentality. ultimately, the reason we gave up on ever getting scola was because pop felt he could not play alongside tim and this seems to be the same perception pop holds about splitter and tim on the court together.

[Johnny RIngo]

ultimately, the reason we gave up on ever getting scola was because pop felt he could not play alongside tim

Even if Scola couldn't play with TD, they could have had him coming off the bench. The FO office gave up on Scola because they were ing cheap. Simple as that.

[spursince#99]

Ramon Sessions had more rebounds than Tim Duncan. Just WOW

[hater]

Blair and Bonner getting a D

anything but an F is BS

Real grades:
manu F
pop F
Bonner F
Blair F
Parker F
Duncan D
Mills C
Splitter C
Leonard C
Jax C
Green B

[bklynspursfan]

For what its worth... I feel bad for Memphis tonight

[Mugen]

Pop is still in training camp mode, tinkering. I don't think he was that worried about this game.

training camp mode in April.

He'll be in offseason mode by early May if he's still tinkering now.

[Blake]

Tony should absolutely be ashamed of that miserable, pathetic performance. I would really be ok if he punches himself in the face and has to miss tonights game.

Considering who he is and where he and the Spurs are at this point, it might be the worst game I've ever seen from him. Srsly.

[Dex]

After Tony missed a couple jumpers and got that layup blasted by Bynum, it's like he just mentally checked out. Totally unacceptable.

[team-work]

Thanks for the grades. I never watched a full game this season but your excellent work more than made up for it.

Like many of our fellow posters on ST, I am an advocate for playing Tiago next to TD, so strongly that I wish I could fly to USA now and persuade Pop to do so. It looked as if Pop was uncomfortable to have another true big alongside Duncan since Robinson retired. I wondered if it is true or I am biased because I have followed the Spurs since the Twin Tower era.

[TDMVPDPOY]

lol pop believers still givin him the benefit of the doubt

lol white flag

[superbigtime]

If this had happened early in the season, Pop would have had all season long to play Splitter more and with TD. But wait, the MEM series happened and nothing changed so ... maybe it's just the stubbornness and arrogance of the coach, his love affair with small ball/Bonner/Blair.

If I were Splitter, I'd leave SA as soon as I could. No way a quality 7 footer with some semblance of post moves should be sitting on the bench with so few good big men in the league. For all of the good development of wings has been, Pop's development of Splitter has been beyond piss-poor and stems from him going away from true bigs vs DAL in 06. Can't understand why some one who coached the Twin Towers and won 4 rings, would put away the philosophy that size and defense of the paint wins championships.

AMEN! Where's the POP haters people have been asking. I'm right here. This coach is a fool. Yes shooting and ball movement are obviously important but this is a tall man's game. Putting your team at a disadvantage over and over by playing small ball and getting dominated on the boards when you have a 7 foot young man with post moves who makes only limited mistakes is simply illogical. What is wrong with this stupid idiot coach? He has thrown the last two games for all intents and purposes. Fool idiot. Going to the memphis game tonight, I intend to get drunk to have a semblance of a good time. Pop. Idiot. Making mistakes is one thing, but refusing to learn from them is quite another.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

Manu and especially Parker should be ashamed of themselves.

I can't blame Duncan too much because its playing 1 vs 2 down low.

I don't even know how Parker looks at himself in the mirror after last night. How many games against physical playoff type teams has Parker had everything at the rim stuffed, clanked every jumper, and then depends on flailing and whistles to get his few points?

Also, how many physical teams has manu come out determined to set turnover records?

[ChumpDumper]

Thumbs down on the genius who made SA's schedule with 3 games vs LAL so late in the season. If this had happened early in the season, Pop would have had all season long to play Splitter more and with TD.

He already had all season.

If I were Splitter, I'd leave SA as soon as I could.

I guess one would have to ask him.

[Drom John]

The Lakers are better without Kobe as the Knicks are better without Amare. Both stars reduce teammates to spectators.
If we play the Lakers in the postseason, I'm hoping Kobe is playing.

[Mugen]

Good Morning, Chump.

[benefactor]

People that want Duncan and Splitter playing together against the Lakers are right but on the grand scale that's not the solution to the Spurs problems. The Spurs need a real PF...a player that is somewhere between Carl Landry and Kevin Love. Splitter and Duncan are both basically centers and should both play more down low than on the perimeter.

[ChumpDumper]

People that want Duncan and Splitter playing together against the Lakers are right but on the grand scale that's not the solution to the Spurs problems. The Spurs need a real PF...a player that is somewhere between Carl Landry and Kevin Love. Splitter and Duncan are both basically centers and should both play more down low than on the perimeter.

I guess. Splitter's effective range is two feet but Duncan already is playing more on the perimeter this season, with or without Splitter.

[benefactor]

I guess. Splitter's effective range is two feet but Duncan already is playing more on the perimeter this season, with or without Splitter.

He is...but a true PF would be much more effective splitting time with Duncan in the paint\on the perimeter. All in all, a mobile player that can knock down a jumper and compete on the boards would be ideal. Dice in the Pistons years is the mold that comes to mind.