Pop: It was Pathetic Performance

[Chinook]

lmao hilarious just hilarious.

Oh look, it's another one of those "I don't have an argument to make, so I'm just going to laugh at other people's points," types. I know my stance isn't ironclad, but there's nothing absurd about thinking that Pop's messing with the rotation is affecting his players' performances. As you can see from the next post.

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.

Almost exactly this except for the emboldened. Green is feast or famine with his actual accuracy. The thing about this game is that he didn't even get touches. During the Orlando game, Pop called plays to get Green buckets, whereas in this game, he played his usual game plan and then wondered why Green doesn't have the same impact. I wanted him to try to get Green into a rhythm like he's been doing with other players. The time without Parker can be good for him if he gets the opportunity to expand his game (and actually takes advantage of it). We know he can do it.

[Chinook]

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.

I don't think the Spurs have much of a chance to win if they don't play depending on every one of their top eight players. A Spurs team that goes away from Green has the same fate as one that goes against Ginobili. The margin of error is just that small. Pop needs to sink or swim his rotation players.

Green's shooting is useless without Parker's penetration to set it up. But Green can and should do more on the offensive end. We've seen him have success without Parker before. He only ended five possessions for the team last night. That's well below his average, and it showed in the team's performance.

Splitter next to Duncan works in some situations, so it's great that they have chemistry together. But I don't think it's going to work in the playoffs against teams that aren't the Clippers. That's not to say the Spurs won't win those series; I just mean that they'll struggle. But it's the best option the team has right now. When Splitter plays with the bench, De Colo needs to do everything he can to find him. We all know how devastating Splitter can be with the second unit.

[John B]

The experiment on Neal as backup PG and indecisiveness to put either Nando or Cojo backfired. And this was not unforeseable with Ginobili's age and proneness to injury in the stretch. Pop and co didn't handle very well. I think we could've signed a veteran PG when we had a chance. Guys are just trying to create for themselves but they're not natural at it which is creating the turnovers. They'll be fine when TP and Manu get back, but they're missing a veteran backup PG which we always had in previous years.

[SenorSpur]

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.

This ^

Pop had every right to call these guys out. This has been brewing for a while now. All of us have seen it. The mental mistakes, their lackadasical effort on D, their total disregard for situational decison-making. It's everyone. I'm actually surprised Pop waited this long. While he's at it, Pop should look in the mirror too because his subs utions patterns in the 4th quarters of some recent games have left something to be desired, as well. If this team doesn't get it together soon, they will not have to worry about a much anticipated playoff rematch with OKC . They will not get that far.

[boutons_deux]

Looks like Harden leaving OKC won't make any difference, if Spurs even get to WCF

[TrainOfThought5]

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

[Bruno]

I quite disagree with Pop.

I think some role players were tired in that game. Pop has given some games off for his stars but, for the role players, it was the 5th game in 7 days. Splitter, Green, De Colo or Neal were obviously a little flat for that game. Pop should have given Mills some minutes because he was fresh and could have bring some energy to that game.

[Kidd K]

Pop wasn't exactly taking a shot at Leonard guys. Just at everyone who didn't play exceptional, and yes that does include Kawhi, but not neccessarily to the same extent as it does everyone else since Kawhi was the 2nd best Spur last night.

Pop simply didn't pick out Kawhi as well as Duncan since he wasn't consistent on both ends like Duncan was. Yeah he scored, got some rebounds, but the D' wasn't exactly impressive this time around. He fell into the, "I'm scoring so I don't have to fight on defense" mentality that no fan wants to see if he hopes his team is going to win a championship.

As for this "Green sucks" comments, try to realize he usually sucks just when Parker isn't out there. He needs a REAL point guard like Parker out there to help him be open and to be given the ball where he can succeed, not have some scrub like De Colo who heavily relies on other players to do most the work for him. Many Spurs players struggle with De Colo running the point, and it doesn't stop at Danny Green. See: Tiago Splitter, Gary Neal, Stephen Jackson, and possibly others I'm not noticing.

Green is a role player, not a star. He can't do much offensively on his own.

[exstatic]

"Other than Timmy it was a pathetic performance. That kind of play isn't going to get us very far at the end of the season. It's not the first time we've played like that in the last few weeks. This team needs to get its head around itself and understand what it takes to be there because as a group they don't have it right now."

Kawhi played pretty well, too. Other than that, I agree wholeheartedly.

[Fabbs]

You want more energy and enthusiasm coming from the bench?
Pops getting BonBon ready for another playoff run while benching/shipping Baynes is pure genius. CIA.

Nothing pathetic about that at all.

[UZER]

You want more energy and enthusiasm coming from the bench?
Pops getting BonBon ready for another playoff run while benching/shipping Baynes is pure genius. CIA.

Nothing pathetic about that at all.

He's like an addict and Bonner is heroine. He can ignore it, curse it, burry deep in the back of the closet, but as long as its in the house, he gonna eventually give in go back to it. He knows nothing else.

[Brox6]

few weeks ago, Spurs were called well oiled machine in terms of offense...and suddenly it stops running

[Budkin]

Bonner probably reminds Pop of himself. He gives 110% but is just not a good basketball player.

[Budkin]

few weeks ago, Spurs were called well oiled machine in terms of offense...and suddenly it stops running

Do you think that might have something to do with the rash of injuries?

[Brox6]

Do you think that might have something to do with the rash of injuries?

that is the easiest way out...the opponent have adjusted to our offense..

[UZER]

that is the easiest way out...the opponent have adjusted to our offense..

And Pop doesn't how to make in game adjustments.

TP: Coach they're trapping me across have court and forcing me to the sidelines.
Pop: The system Tony...the system. It will get us through this. Just keep running it.
TP: But Pop I can't run the system when they're trapping me.
Pop: Fine Tony, fine...lets see. Oh ok, well get someone else to bring up the ball. Neal, you're our best outside shooting guard that has excellent ball handling skills. You proved it in last years playoffs. You bring up the ball.
Neal: But coach, I'm not a point guard.
Pop: Dammit Neal! Don't be a pussy. I would have Matt play point but he's our best defensive big and we need every rebound we can get!...Fine! Nando get in there...no wait, Cojo get in there.
Random Player: But Pop, you sent him to the Toros yesterday.
Pop: That's right, he needs to learn the system....system....hmmmm....Tony! That's right. Just Keep running the system. We'll be alright. Ok Defense on 3....1-2-3!

[Pop]

[Proxy]

that is the easiest way out...the opponent have adjusted to our offense..

It's both. Guys are playing like but rotations are out of whack too... think about the amount of variables that change with Tony and Manu out. That's not an excuse; it's a reason. These are two of the three playmakers on the team.

[TrainOfThought5]

timvp what kind of stats will a breakout Playoff run for Kawhi look like?

the more i think about it the more i like 20/10/5.

[MR-Clutch]

timvp what kind of stats will a breakout Playoff run for Kawhi look like?

the more i think about it the more i like 20/10/5.

[aal04]

Fact: Our roleplayers arent as good as we like to think they are.

Our big 3 make everyone else look good.

Its to the point where Pops biggest issue every game is how long he can keep the big 3 off without losing the lead that they build.

[polandprzem]

Pop is fricking right.

The spurs are playing like a lottery team now. Only Timmay stands the ground and produce.


There is not time to catch any rhythm now, so no fun

[hater]

I called it first.

after TP injury we'd be playing 50% ball

unfortunately TP still injured.

[exstatic]

that is the easiest way out...the opponent have adjusted to our offense..

Pretty easy when your primary two penetrators and creators are out at the same time.

[exstatic]

Fact: Our roleplayers arent as good as we like to think they are.

Our big 3 make everyone else look good.

Its to the point where Pops biggest issue every game is how long he can keep the big 3 off without losing the lead that they build.

Our role players are fine, against other team's role players. Like pretty much everyone else's role players, they suffer when they are moved up in the pecking order. Danny Green is never going to become Manu Ginobili.