Western Conference Scout on if the Spurs are still a legit le contender

[mrjap2x]

they don't have harden anymore, they will have to adjust since there is no need to guard all 4 backcourt players since two of them (sepho and martin) need the dish to shoot. Harden could create his own shot and Splitter could not knock free throws, that was the key to those series. Now it should be them to adjust, Ibaka should be eaten alive by Duncan and Splitter if he is by himself, meaning he could get into foul trouble if he's left by himself. therefore it should be them to adjust, not the other way around.

Very good point. Now we have the option of either adjusting to them( Kawhi @4) or make them adjust to us.

[racm]

Very good point. Now we have the option of either adjusting to them( Kawhi @4) or make them adjust to us.

I'd prefer them trying to adjust to the Spurs. Unlike the Lakers's frontcourt the Spurs' frontcourt runs the court well enough.

IMO a series against OKC wouldn't be as bad as it sounds. The Spurs (narrowly) won the first with Tiago still playing as the backup 5 and Manu out, and obviously lost the second with Tiago starting but Manu and Kawhi out (Green couldn't defend Durant at all).

[rmt]

Spurs are more balanced - front/back court wise. TD's playing much better but Neal/Kwahi are worse. Don't like Spurs record against the contenders. Clippers look very deep - Bledsoe and Crawford would be starting on other teams. Ibaka is much improved. Spurs typical defense - guard the 3pt line and no layups, allow contested, long 2s will kill them against OKC which is a fantastic mid-range jumpshooting team (like Mavs of old). Seems that the strategy OKC and MIA use to win in crunch time is switch on everything. With their superior perimeter defense, it usually works. Well, it doesn't work for OKC vs MIA as MIA has the slightly better stars, coach and experience.

[Old School 44]

It's a three team race in the West (Okc, Spurs and Clips) with spoilers in waiting (Grizzlies and Nuggets). What's different? Splitter's overall confidence and him being locked firmly in the rotation as the second best big. Splitter's pick and roll game is the one of the best in the league, but I think it will be his defense, along with Duncan and Kahwi that will make the difference in this year's playoffs.

[AFBlue]

Difference from last year is Splitter/Duncan combo. It allows more PT for a strong defensive frontline without offensive impotence because they'll have run it almost a full season.

[mrjap2x]

I'd prefer them trying to adjust to the Spurs. Unlike the Lakers's frontcourt the Spurs' frontcourt runs the court well enough.

IMO a series against OKC wouldn't be as bad as it sounds. The Spurs (narrowly) won the first with Tiago still playing as the backup 5 and Manu out, and obviously lost the second with Tiago starting but Manu and Kawhi out (Green couldn't defend Durant at all).

Yeah, it is always better to make your opponent adjust to you but having options means that you can make them off balance.

[td4mvp21]

People just don't understand what a BIG drop in talent OKC had from Harden to Martin. It's not as apparent in the regular season, but it will manifest in the playoffs, big time. OKC killed us the last four games with ONE play: multi-threat Harden on the perimeter feeding a Durant/Westbrook pick and roll. Parker couldn't guard Harden, who was too big and physical, and also created for others. He can check Martin, who isn't nearly as physical, and is only looking to score.

I really hope you're right regarding Harden. Everyone is saying that, but as you said, it's really not apparent in the regular season. Statistically, their offense is more efficient than it was last season.

[exstatic]

Duncan himself will be a huge difference.

[exstatic]

I really hope you're right regarding Harden. Everyone is saying that, but as you said, it's really not apparent in the regular season. Statistically, their offense is more efficient than it was last season.

Fools gold.

[Agloco]

The Thunder are obviously the favorite due to the superstar factor, but I don't see how anyone could argue they are not a legit contender. They were so close last year, going up 2-0 on OKC. Timvp had a good post showing the main reason OKC won that series was ridiculous midrange shooting. I don't see them duplicating that again, especially considering they lost Harden, who killed us. Meanwhile, the Spurs are playing at roughly the same level they were last year when they won 20 straight games.

Indeed. I don't recall the exact breakdown, but I recall that he posted a percentage around 85% in a certain situation?

I got the feeling that OKC wouldn't miss any shots at meaningful junctures.... and that didn't even include the game where their 3 bigs combined for a 21-22 outing, or something ridiculous like that.

I also remember telling myself at the time that the series seemed to change midway through the third quarter of Game 2, right after TP assisted to Manu on a three. After that, it was all OKC. The Spurs will need to make the proper adjustments this time around.

[exstatic]

Indeed. I don't recall the exact breakdown, but I recall that he posted a percentage around 85% in a certain situation?

I got the feeling that OKC wouldn't miss any shots at meaningful junctures.... and that didn't even include the game where their 3 bigs combined for a 21-22 outing, or something ridiculous like that.

I also remember telling myself at the time that the series seemed to change midway through the third quarter of Game 2, right after TP assisted to Manu on a three. After that, it was all OKC. The Spurs will need to make the proper adjustments this time around.

Ibaka and Perk shot 18/20 (90%) in game 4 which they won by 6. Even excellent long 2 point shooters hit about 45%. If you extrapolate that to 20 shots, it's 9/20. Subtract 9 baskets, and we win by 12, and are going home for an elimination game 5.

[DPG21920]

timvp do you believe the Spurs defense is as good as the numbers suggest? Meaning, are you confident that in the playoffs, against a team like OKC or LAC, the defense can get consistent stops when need be?

[TDMVPDPOY]

Ibaka and Perk shot 18/20 (90%) in game 4 which they won by 6. Even excellent long 2 point shooters hit about 45%. If you extrapolate that to 20 shots, it's 9/20. Subtract 9 baskets, and we win by 12, and are going home for an elimination game 5.

dont play the stupid fluke game bull like everyone around here likes to throw around, and dont say they havnt improved from last season is bull ....hate it when clowns on here underestimate the other team and downplay there fkn victories.....

the spurs didnt improve much, its still the same fkn roster with splitter starting is the only difference, its not like everyone has picked up their game either....some of the players on the team continue to be blackholes when the team needs them

spurs can play any style, but when other team adjusts to the spurs, we shrivel and dont adjust or find a solution but continue to stick to the same game plan/rotations and giving minutes to players who continue to stink it up hoping they get out of it with more playing time

u know whats the difference between this season and last season? players who came out of nowhere were consistent last season with their production, this season too many players have had alot of bad games or not showing up....cant have that sort of if its not sorted out quick heading into the playoffs....

[exstatic]

dont play the stupid fluke game bull like everyone around here likes to throw around, and dont say they havnt improved from last season is bull ....hate it when clowns on here underestimate the other team and downplay there fkn victories.....

the spurs didnt improve much, its still the same fkn roster with splitter starting is the only difference, its not like everyone has picked up their game either....some of the players on the team continue to be blackholes when the team needs them

spurs can play any style, but when other team adjusts to the spurs, we shrivel and dont adjust or find a solution but continue to stick to the same game plan/rotations and giving minutes to players who continue to stink it up hoping they get out of it with more playing time

u know whats the difference between this season and last season? players who came out of nowhere were consistent last season with their production, this season too many players have had alot of bad games or not showing up....cant have that sort of if its not sorted out quick heading into the playoffs....

Considering you're the forum clown/dumbass, I'll take your disagreement as a positive step towards my conclusion. What OKC's bigs hit in that game was as far beyond the END of the bell curve as you are from a normal human being.

[DesignatedT]

The Spurs have showed substantial improvement on the defensive side of the ball. The reason the Spurs lost last season was because they couldn't get stops when they needed them. The Spurs are up in the top 4 in defensive efficiency rating (haven't finished in the top 10 the last two seasons) and have been the best defensive team in the NBA over the past month since the return of Leonard.

The roster might be the same but the focus on defense > offense is quite evident so far this season. That makes for a huge difference compared to last years team.

That is the biggest difference.

[Strategic]

I see the biggest challenge for the Spurs as shoring up the back-up point position. Hoping this is why Pop sent Joseph back to Toros. Every time Cojo gets in more PT in Austin he gets better and gains confidence. With Neal, De Colo and Mills all attempting, but coming up short at filling the void Joseph may be yet needed.

[DesignatedT]

Parker should play north of 35+ minutes a game in the playoffs. That leaves 10-12 minutes to hold down when Tony is resting. If Manu is healthy enough to dominate ball handling duties it really isn't that big of a problem.

[quentin_compson]

I think the Spurs' margin for error in the Playoffs will be very small, and that also includes the health situation, if you want to put it that way. If they are reasonably healthy come Playoff time, they surely have what it takes to reach the CF again and give whomever they might meet there a run for their money.

[DPG21920]

Parker should play north of 35+ minutes a game in the playoffs. That leaves 10-12 minutes to hold down when Tony is resting. If Manu is healthy enough to dominate ball handling duties it really isn't that big of a problem.

I have no idea how a Spurs fan can say that after seeing what happened last year.

[DesignatedT]

I have no idea how a Spurs fan can say that after seeing what happened last year.

What happened last year?

[Strategic]

I have no idea how a Spurs fan can say that after seeing what happened last year.

Yep. Sometimes I think some fans think this is still 5 years ago.

[DesignatedT]

Yep. Sometimes I think some fans think this is still 5 years ago.

Explain

[TheSkeptic]

I have no idea how a Spurs fan can say that after seeing what happened last year.

Completely agreed. Actually I think that if the Spurs get beat this year, this will be a big part of the reason why.

And also, Spurs fans need only look at some of our games from this season to see the problem. No need to look back to last year.

[DPG21920]

What happened last year?

Did you not see the bench vs the Thunder in the playoffs?

[DesignatedT]

I did. I was talking specifically about the backup PG spot. It is definitely the biggest concern we have on the roster but I'm not sure what people want to do about it.

Neal was/is pretty awful and that's why I would rather go with Manu at the PG spot with defenders like Green/Leonard/Jack next to him on the perimeter. The Spurs shouldn't rely on depth as much when it comes to Parker because he can handle the minutes. He should rest 5 minutes per half. If healthy I think Manu can handle 10 minutes at point per game.