Has Pop given up?

[kjhip1]

This team needs to get thier act together. The first round will be challenging if we go against Houston. However, things can always change in the blink of an eye. Lets see if they pass the eye test in the first round. Shut em down for the game against Golden State and may be play them a quarter or a half for the last game vs Minnesota (TD, Parker, KL, Green). Im sure Timmy will do what he does to inject some life into the team. Pop calling them out obviously didnt work..Maybe Timmy needs to light that fire. As KG would say, ANYTHING'S POSSIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[UZER]

I've been saying since mid-season this team relies way too much on pick & roll... and by pick & roll, I mean Tony & Tim and Manu & whoever. Tonight it was a lot of nothing, then dump it to Tim and hope he bails you out. Nobody else took charge. As Harlem said, it could either be that they don't have the cojones, or Pop hasn't given them the green light.

Also, that tweet is actually pretty alarming to me, but for another reason: He probably choose not to play Parker and Tiago. Parker because he said he was awful but Tiago? Because his old stubborn ass still thinks the team has more offense with Bonner on the floor, despite all his other shortcomings. To me, seeing he's still willing to sacrifice Tiago for Bonner is alarming with the playoffs right around the corner.

Bonner = Heroine for Pop. Can't quit. Keeps going back to it no matter how much it ruins him. Not resigning him two years ago was his chance to detox and start recovering, but nope, kept up the habit. And even though he tried to quit it the whole season, he we are a game away from playoffs and whatta you know...Bonner is back n the rotation.

[freetiago]

Bonner hit one three when the Spurs were down
this is finally Matt's year

[crc21209]

I've been saying since mid-season this team relies way too much on pick & roll... and by pick & roll, I mean Tony & Tim and Manu & whoever. Tonight it was a lot of nothing, then dump it to Tim and hope he bails you out. Nobody else took charge. As Harlem said, it could either be that they don't have the cojones, or Pop hasn't given them the green light.

Also, that tweet is actually pretty alarming to me, but for another reason: He probably choose not to play Parker and Tiago. Parker because he said he was awful but Tiago? Because his old stubborn ass still thinks the team has more offense with Bonner on the floor, despite all his other shortcomings. To me, seeing he's still willing to sacrifice Tiago for Bonner is alarming with the playoffs right around the corner.

I don't think Pop did it because he thought he had more of a chance at a W with Bonner at all. I think it was more of a "Hey Tiago you're playing soft as tonight and lack energy so I'm benching you" kind of move..

[Robz4000]

I've been saying since mid-season this team relies way too much on pick & roll... and by pick & roll, I mean Tony & Tim and Manu & whoever. Tonight it was a lot of nothing, then dump it to Tim and hope he bails you out. Nobody else took charge. As Harlem said, it could either be that they don't have the cojones, or Pop hasn't given them the green light.

Also, that tweet is actually pretty alarming to me, but for another reason: He probably choose not to play Parker and Tiago. Parker because he said he was awful but Tiago? Because his old stubborn ass still thinks the team has more offense with Bonner on the floor, despite all his other shortcomings. To me, seeing he's still willing to sacrifice Tiago for Bonner is alarming with the playoffs right around the corner.

I know it's not saying much, but Bonner was not the reason the Spurs lost. He did happen to hit his open threes and made a couple shots in the third when the Spurs continued to the bed. His D on Pau wasn't terrible either. Splitter also kept missing gimme after gimme.

[spurraider21]

I know it's not saying much, but Bonner was not the reason the Spurs lost. He did happen to hit his open threes and made a couple shots in the third when the Spurs continued to the bed. His D on Pau wasn't terrible either. Splitter also kept missing gimme after gimme.

I'd like to think I can forgive Splitter since he played spectacular defense on Pau, and actually outplayed Pau on the offensive end. The goat of the game has to be TP, who got owned by Steve Blake

[crc21209]

I think while Diaw is gone during the first round they're going to have to go with Bonner and Kawhi at the 4 spot when TD and/or Tiago is on the bench. Bonner >>>>>Blair easily. At least Bonner knows his limitations. Blair on the other hand is out there shooting 18 foot jumpers when he damn well knows that isnt his strong point.

[daslicer]

I have a wait see at ude for this team. I have to see how they perform in the first round before I will say the sky is falling.

[ElNono]

I don't think Pop did it because he thought he had more of a chance at a W with Bonner at all. I think it was more of a "Hey Tiago you're playing soft as tonight and lack energy so I'm benching you" kind of move..

So when Tiago plays soft you send in........... Bonner?

I know it's not saying much, but Bonner was not the reason the Spurs lost. He did happen to hit his open threes and made a couple shots in the third when the Spurs continued to the bed. His D on Pau wasn't terrible either. Splitter also kept missing gimme after gimme.

Even if Tiago is soft as and what not, he still has a back to the basket game, he's 6'11 and plays like he's 6'11 and he (normally) boxes out and rebounds the ball. Granted, I'm probably one of the biggest redhead haters you're going to find on this place, but Matty is just too flawed and can't really do any of those things. I mean, if we're playing the Rockets that like to go small, that's ok. But against these two Lakers towers, give me a rough guy.

Look at the Lakeshow tonight. They did what you do with Matt. You don't guard him, and if he gets the ball, you close up on him with a perimeter guy and he won't shoot.

[Splits]

This has all the fingerprints of a "tank" if there is such a thing. We know:

• Players don't tank games, if they're in the game they play to win
• Coaches don't instruct players to "miss a free throw" or "take hard shots" to throw games
• Teams jockey for playoff positioning and matchups
• Pop admitted earlier this year he hated the 20 game win streak last year and "wanted" them to lose a game
• We closed tonight with CoJo, Bonner, and Neal on the floor with healthy Parker, Splitter, and Kawhi on the bench because they had played like

You do the math.

[Bruno]

Meaningless game so it doesn't really matter.

Pop and players level of focus/intensity will raise for the playoffs.

[Robz4000]

So when Tiago plays soft you send in........... Bonner?



Even if Tiago is soft as and what not, he still has a back to the basket game, he's 6'11 and plays like he's 6'11 and he (normally) boxes out and rebounds the ball. Granted, I'm probably one of the biggest redhead haters you're going to find on this place, but Matty is just too flawed and can't really do any of those things. I mean, if we're playing the Rockets that like to go small, that's ok. But against these two Lakers towers, give me a rough guy.

Look at the Lakeshow tonight. They did what you do with Matt. You don't guard him, and if he gets the ball, you close up on him with a perimeter guy and he won't shoot.

He still did his job though, and really, against two of the better defending bigs in the game, Tiago's post-up game and it's flaws would've been on full display. It was better to just let Tim do his thing and keep Bonner out there to stretch the floor if he's shooting and hitting the shots he needs to. Though, if Tony had finished the game, I have no doubts he'd of been in there.

[crc21209]

This has all the fingerprints of a "tank" if there is such a thing. We know:

• Players don't tank games, if they're in the game they play to win
• Coaches don't instruct players to "miss a free throw" or "take hard shots" to throw games
• Teams jockey for playoff positioning and matchups
• Pop admitted earlier this year he hated the 20 game win streak last year and "wanted" them to lose a game
• We closed tonight with CoJo, Bonner, and Neal on the floor with healthy Parker, Splitter, and Kawhi on the bench because they had played like

You do the math.

The signal that showed me Pop didnt care much was when he had CoJo, Neal, and Bonner out there instead of TP, Kawhi, and Splitter like you said. I don't care how ty/soft TP and Tiago might have been playing, you always roll with your big guns to close out a game no matter what IF you really are trying to win the game..

[freetiago]

Spurs are one game shy of tying the longest road losing streak in the Duncan era
it will be tied tomorrow
doesnt sound like a tank

[crc21209]

Meaningless game so it doesn't really matter.

Pop and players level of focus/intensity will raise for the playoffs.

+1. We all know damn well that a team with Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili coached by Pop is going to raise their level of play and focus when the games really start to count...

[crc21209]

Spurs are one game shy of tying the longest road losing streak in the Duncan era
it will be tied tomorrow
doesnt sound like a tank

Doesn't mean a thing tbh. Bad stats or good stats. Look at last year, they won 20 straight games going into Game 3 of the WCF's, and it didnt mean in th end...

[spurraider21]

The signal that showed me Pop didnt care much was when he had CoJo, Neal, and Bonner out there instead of TP, Kawhi, and Splitter like you said. I don't care how ty/soft TP and Tiago might have been playing, you always roll with your big guns to close out a game no matter what IF you really are trying to win the game..

CIA Pop realizing Lakers are a tougher match for OKC than Utah is

[ElNono]

He still did his job though, and really, against two of the better defending bigs in the game, Tiago's post-up game and it's flaws would've been on full display. It was better to just let Tim do his thing and keep Bonner out there to stretch the floor if he's shooting and hitting the shots he needs to. Though, if Tony had finished the game, I have no doubts he'd of been in there.

At this stage, I much rather let do Tiago his job, flaws and all, than Matt do his. The whole spacing the floor myth is just that, a myth. When TD went for those dunks, he was pretty much wrapped by both Gasol and Dwight. None of them is sticking to redhead.

[Johnny RIngo]

He still did his job though, and really, against two of the better defending bigs in the game, Tiago's post-up game and it's flaws would've been on full display. It was better to just let Tim do his thing and keep Bonner out there to stretch the floor if he's shooting and hitting the shots he needs to. Though, if Tony had finished the game, I have no doubts he'd of been in there.

Did you watch the ing game? They doubled Tim and didn't put a man on Bonner.

[Sean Cagney]

I think while Diaw is gone during the first round they're going to have to go with Bonner and Kawhi at the 4 spot when TD and/or Tiago is on the bench. Bonner >>>>>Blair easily. At least Bonner knows his limitations. Blair on the other hand is out there shooting 18 foot jumpers when he damn well knows that isnt his strong point.

The fact we are still arguing over Bonner and Blair in 013 with playoffs near scares the living outta me.. I am serious too. When will this get old? When will they both be gone?

[KaiRMD1]

The guys were bricking damn near everything. This team's offense is gone. The team from last year is just that, the team from last year. This year's team is a s of that former team and tbh, the Spurs will be lucky if they get out of the first round. It's a shame for Timmy since the guy, at 37, has been playing like it was 2003 and if he had some better talent around him who could hit their shots, like the guys from last year, then I would have been able to foresee a rematch against OKC.

[TJastal]

Did you watch the ing game? They doubled Tim and didn't put a man on Bonner.

This has been an increasingly popular blueprint for how to deal with Bonner. Pretty much leave him out there and pack the paint and if he getz the ball run a guard towards him to make him pass or put the ball on the floor, which generally results in a turnover or rushed shot at the buzzer.

[Sean Cagney]

Meaningless game so it doesn't really matter.

Pop and players level of focus/intensity will raise for the playoffs.

This is not 03-07 man, sorry there is not a playoff switch to hit. Playoffs will not just solve the problems this team shows now, no way.

[Sean Cagney]

This has been an increasingly popular blueprint for how to deal with Bonner. Pretty much leave him out there and pack the paint and if he getz the ball run a guard towards him to make him pass or put the ball on the floor, which generally results in a turnover or rushed shot at the buzzer.

So why do you have so much faith right now when you know Bonner will get mins now in the first round etc?

[benstanfield]

It's reassuring to look at the standings. With 2 games left our path to the WCF is GS then DEN/HOU, OKC's path is LAL then MEM/LAC. OKC will dismantle the Lakers, but they aren't beating Memphis and a series with the Clippers would be tough.

If Pop loses a playoff series to Mark Jackson I will a chicken. Denver and Houston are pretenders.