Pop: It was Pathetic Performance

[gameFACE]

This was one of those times where I left the game a bit pissed after a win. I thought the Spurs were playing decent defense the first quarter. But it went downhill in the 3rd Q. They were already looking at three days offf. Fortunately after this three days off they don't have too bad a schedule despite the B2B.

[DesignatedT]

I don't like the way Pop's coaching the team right now. His rotations have been throwing guys out of their rhythm. If Blair and one of Joseph or De Colo isn't going to be part of the playoff rotation, they shouldn't be getting rotation minutes now. I hope Pop's words light a spark for the players, but he's letting them down, too.

Well Diaw left in the first with back spasms so Blair had to play more. Not worried about the big rotation. It's going to be Duncan-Splitter-Diaw and we pretty much know that. Blair or Bonner getting some time here and there isn't hurting anything.

As for the guard position that is where it gets really screwed up. I mean I don't think Neal got in in the 2nd half tonight. His defense is horrible and that and1 three he gave up left Pop furious. I know Pop also said De Colo is the backup PG right now but Joseph is still showing glimpses of being the better option and I'm sure Pop is still seeing it. I know I am.

Either way, between Tony, Green and Manu there isn't much time left and only one of those other guys are going to get some minutes. Pop is still figuring out which 1 it is going to be. We already have 3 out of our 4 guards cemented in, two just happen to be injured right now.

[spurraider21]

Well Diaw left in the first with back spasms so Blair had to play more. Not worried about the big rotation. It's going to be Duncan-Splitter-Diaw and we pretty much know that. Blair or Bonner getting some time here and there isn't hurting anything.

As for the guard position that is where it gets really screwed up. I mean I don't think Neal got in in the 2nd half tonight. His defense is horrible and that and1 three he gave up left Pop furious. I know Pop also said De Colo is the backup PG right now but Joseph is still showing glimpses of being the better option and I'm sure Pop is still seeing it. I know I am.

Either way, between Tony, Green and Manu there isn't much time left and only one of those other guys are going to get some minutes. Pop is still figuring out which 1 it is going to be. We already have 3 out of our 4 guards cemented in, two just happen to be injured right now.

It should also be said that Manu can play PG or SG, so you can have De Colo in at point guard or shooting guard, Neal at shooting guard, CoJo at point guard. Its a really fluid 4th guard spot

[mercos]

Pop is right, but he is also partly to blame. I realize the team is facing injury after injury, but his player rotations have not been good. The role players are going to have to pick it up if this team is to sniff the conference finals, even with a healthy TP and Manu. They are more than capable, just look at the way they played at Miami earlier this year, and against Chicago right around the All Star break. The defense has been lackluster, and for some reason we can't finish at the rim. Seems like a lack of focus and effort.

[Chinook]

uh ok so if Parker and Ginobili don't play, who gets their minutes....

De Colo play all 48?

come on.

I'm not talking about Joseph playing for Parker, smart aleck. I'm talking about Joseph and De Colo being in the back court together for most of the second half while two other shooting-guards who will actually be in the rotation were sitting on the bench. Green and Neal are going to be on the court during the playoffs. Sitting them for mistakes doesn't do anything for either of them. Pop also played Macroball with Leonard at the two which I think played a big role the Hawks staying in the game (although Kawhi just toasted whichever two-guard was on him in the post). He seems to be freaking out and trying to make unnecessary changes like he has the past three seasons.

[SpurPadre]

What the are you babbling about?!?

What the is your problem? I'm reacting to Pop only mentioning TD as having done a good job tonight.

[Budkin]

We have no fire at all. It's pretty sad.

[Chinook]

Well Diaw left in the first with back spasms so Blair had to play more. Not worried about the big rotation. It's going to be Duncan-Splitter-Diaw and we pretty much know that. Blair or Bonner getting some time here and there isn't hurting anything.

As for the guard position that is where it gets really screwed up. I mean I don't think Neal got in in the 2nd half tonight. His defense is horrible and that and1 three he gave up left Pop furious. I know Pop also said De Colo is the backup PG right now but Joseph is still showing glimpses of being the better option and I'm sure Pop is still seeing it. I know I am.

Either way, between Tony, Green and Manu there isn't much time left and only one of those other guys are going to get some minutes. Pop is still figuring out which 1 it is going to be. We already have 3 out of our 4 guards cemented in, two just happen to be injured right now.

I think Neal will get minutes even if Pop decides to play De Colo or Joseph at the backup point. The bench just lacks offense as currently constructed. I see Pop going five-deep at guard while playing small-ball for stretches with Ginobili and/or Green at the three and Leonard/Jack at the four.

It should also be said that Manu can play PG or SG, so you can have De Colo in at point guard or shooting guard, Neal at shooting guard, CoJo at point guard. Its a really fluid 4th guard spot

With Ginobili being hobbled, I can't really see him playing much point this post-season. It's certainly a risk on the defensive end. That may give De Colo and especially Joseph a leg up in the race for the last spot, provided the position is actually still open.

[EricB]

I'm not talking about Joseph playing for Parker, smart aleck. I'm talking about Joseph and De Colo being in the back court together for most of the second half while two other shooting-guards who will actually be in the rotation were sitting on the bench. Green and Neal are going to be on the court during the playoffs. Sitting them for mistakes doesn't do anything for either of them. Pop also played Macroball with Leonard at the two which I think played a big role the Hawks staying in the game (although Kawhi just toasted whichever two-guard was on him in the post). He seems to be freaking out and trying to make unnecessary changes like he has the past three seasons.

lmao hilarious just hilarious.

[EricB]

What the is your problem? I'm reacting to Pop only mentioning TD as having done a good job tonight.

Leonard's defense was homer.

I know yall think Leonard walks on water and s gold, but he does screw up.

[DarrinS]

Leonard's defense was homer.

I know yall think Leonard walks on water and s gold, but he does screw up.

This

And did I seriously read "this wil soon be Kawhi's team" in this thread?

[ElNono]

The question for Pop... is anybody listening? I think some of this is on Pop too...

A guy like Blair has been professional, but he's already looking forward to his next contract on another franchise... kids like CoJo or De Colo just haven't had the confidence from the coach where they don't have to look over their shoulders every time and be scared to screw up and lose their opportunity. Vets like Jack, Tim, Bonner... they heard that song plenty times before, it probably goes into one ear and leaves immediately on the other.

Kawhi played well, don't think that was hurled his way.

That leaves you with Tiago, Green and Neal. I think Pop has grown pretty tired of Neal, specifically on defense. He works great on the economics side of the ballclub, but we'll see what happens this summer when he becomes a free agent.

Tiago and Green have had up and downs. Tiago can simply play much more stronger but he pussifies too much. Green is feast or famine, and truth be told, his game is just as limited as it was last season, which is kinda worrying, because you have to start wondering if that's his ceiling.

[ElNono]

We sat a bunch of dudes the last few games, not just missing Manu and TP... for example, neither Tim or Kawhi played against Memphis, and Kawhi also missed the Orlando game... TP was in Memphis but didn't play against Orlando, and obviously is missing today... in hindsight, that Clippers game was a killer, with Manu getting injured and Tony getting slammed on the neck...

[hater]

I disagree with Pop. No Manu, no TP. and we still managed a win.

back in last couple of years, spurs would have bent over to any team of scrubs.

Just get on TD and Kawhi's back and we should be ok. It's not like we're playing for a championship anyway

[hater]

We sat a bunch of dudes the last few games, not just missing Manu and TP... for example, neither Tim or Kawhi played against Memphis, and Kawhi also missed the Orlando game... TP was in Memphis but didn't play against Orlando, and obviously is missing today... in hindsight, that Clippers game was a killer, with Manu getting injured and Tony getting slammed on the neck...

manu could have easily got injured westling with his twins on his living room rug. dude's body is done

[fusionjazzman72]

http://www.nba.com/spurs/video/2013/...popmov-2436571

[fusionjazzman72]

He was pissed! I love it!

[ElNono]

manu could have easily got injured westling with his twins on his living room rug. dude's body is done

Apparently everybody is banged up and missing games here or there... you do sound salty mad that when Tony doesn't play the team has been winning... must have to do with the ty predictions...

[polandprzem]

THE DATE OF SPAM HAS EXPIRED

[HI-FI]

http://www.nba.com/spurs/video/2013/...popmov-2436571

good stuff. Pop dropping truth bombs. I love that he was done after that one comment.

[BatManu20]

I still think we can beat OKC in a 7 game series IF we're healthy, but not if we're still in this funk that we're in now. And if we made it to Miami, they would sweep us tbh.

[Spurs9]

We could have used some of Patty's energy and scoring off the bench.

Patty's towel waving on the bench nly goes so far

[Ice009]

furthermore, half of our role players are trash, because they depend on a system of being set up by superior players, and when those players are absent (like tonight) it exposes a lot of individual weaknesses.

Nope, Spurs have been displaying mental weakness for weeks (even with those players).

Spurs have basically been playing like mental weaklings at the end of games for quite a while now. That's what pretenders do.

Apart from Tim Duncan, Spurs look like total pretenders. If they are going to go anywhere in the playoffs, then they need to sharpen up their focus mentally.

This was definitely a pathetic performance. I was pretty mad again at their lack of focus to finish the game. Horrible stuff.

[Pop]

The question for Pop... is anybody listening? I think some of this is on Pop too...

A guy like Blair has been professional, but he's already looking forward to his next contract on another franchise... kids like CoJo or De Colo just haven't had the confidence from the coach where they don't have to look over their shoulders every time and be scared to screw up and lose their opportunity. Vets like Jack, Tim, Bonner... they heard that song plenty times before, it probably goes into one ear and leaves immediately on the other.

Kawhi played well, don't think that was hurled his way.

That leaves you with Tiago, Green and Neal. I think Pop has grown pretty tired of Neal, specifically on defense. He works great on the economics side of the ballclub, but we'll see what happens this summer when he becomes a free agent.

Tiago and Green have had up and downs. Tiago can simply play much more stronger but he pussifies too much. Green is feast or famine, and truth be told, his game is just as limited as it was last season, which is kinda worrying, because you have to start wondering if that's his ceiling.

You're exactly right comes down to these two players who are extremely dependent of the system and are not exactly super consistent. But we could play without betting so much on them so it's 100% on Pop.

Green is useless without Tp driving and kicking not to talk about his other limitations and Tiago is not tough enough to be a great 5th option, he's not about hustle and D so he's more ing up the spacing than anything.

[Leetonidas]

A lot of them look like they've mailed it in and are waiting for the playoffs. Let's hope this is this case