How Do You See the Glass After Game 4?

[Spurs21Fan4Ever]

As I've stated before, half empty. You can say the Spurs have homecourt advantage, but the home teams this series are 2-2. What the Warriors have is the advantage of youth and energy, and that's far bigger than homecourt advantage. If Ginobili and Duncan got that tired at the end of game 4, they're going to get way more tired at the end of game 5. I really think Warriors will win this series after how badly Pop screwed up today. Not only did Pop lose the game today, but he also wore out Duncan.

[boutons_deux]

Tbh, I'm mostly worried about how gassed the Spurs look. Unfortunately, the next two games have only again a days rest between them.

including SA-Oakland trip

[Arcadian]

For this series, half full. The Warriors aren't really that good...they got lucky that the Spurs were so flat tonight. Granted, they can win this series, but it would take an epic collapse from the Spurs.

Moving forward, it's more half empty. The team is too inconsistent to be champions or even conference champions. I'm not counting them out, though. There's still time to get better.

[said7]

Got every single shot we wanted. Just couldn't make them.
Hope Curry is a slow healer.

[Sean Cagney]

As I've stated before, half empty. You can say the Spurs have homecourt advantage, but the home teams this series are 2-2. What the Warriors have is the advantage of youth and energy, and that's far bigger than homecourt advantage. If Ginobili and Duncan got that tired at the end of game 4, they're going to get way more tired at the end of game 5. I really think Warriors will win this series after how badly Pop screwed up today. Not only did Pop lose the game today, but he also wore out Duncan.

I fear this......

[K-State Spur]

What the Warriors have is the advantage of youth and energy, and that's far bigger than homecourt advantage.

Because young teams do GREAT playoffs?

To some extent, we've been a bit F'ed by the schedule makers. No extra day offs between any games 1-6? No other series is in that situation. And I can't recall any in recent past that went that way.

[dbreiden83080]

As I've stated before, half empty. You can say the Spurs have homecourt advantage, but the home teams this series are 2-2. What the Warriors have is the advantage of youth and energy, and that's far bigger than homecourt advantage. If Ginobili and Duncan got that tired at the end of game 4, they're going to get way more tired at the end of game 5. I really think Warriors will win this series after how badly Pop screwed up today. Not only did Pop lose the game today, but he also wore out Duncan.

If some of the Spurs role players step up in game 5 and Kawhi gets his act together they won't need Duncan to be so crucial down the stretch. And I have faith that Timmy will suck it up and play well late in game 5 if he has too. He is a champion for a reason.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

This isn't fun because it shouldn't be nearly this big a struggle against a team this mediocre. If this were a one off, maybe you don't read too much into it, but they've now done this three of the last four playoffs.

The Celtics and Lakers, the other two veteran, savvy, former champions, I don't ever remember doing this in series they were heavily favored in. In fact, the only series I can think of where one almost did, was the Hawks taking the Celtics to 7 in '08. But in fairness, it was the big three's first playoff series together. The Spurs have no such excuse, yet here they are again, hanging on for dear life against a mediocre team, proving all those who constantly insinuate that they're vulnerable, soft and just not that good, right.

Lakers did against the Rockets in '09, which went 7 games.

But yeah, this series is anything but fun.

Would suck if blowing Game 4 costs the Spurs the series.

[Spurs21Fan4Ever]

If some of the Spurs role players step up in game 5 and Kawhi gets his act together they won't need Duncan to be so crucial down the stretch. And I have faith that Timmy will suck it up and play well late in game 5 if he has too. He is a champion for a reason.

That would be nice, but the role players haven't stepped up that much on the offensive end so far. If there is no small ball, then I think the Spurs can get much more easier shots, and if they start to make some easier shots, then they'll gain confidence in their outside shots. Also, Pop really needs to stop panicking. If young players see their coach panic, they're going to panic.

[ace3g]

Mark Travis @Mark_Travis
@danmccarneysaen Since 1985-86, the only other time they shot this bad was in a 1997 blowout loss to the SuperSonics. 34/21/50 in that game.

[Bruno]

Partially agree. Agree the Spurs have been playing pretty poorly for a while now, but how can you not care if they advance? To me, you still have to find joy in watching this team play. I know it's not easy, it's only recently Spurs fans have been used to really easy playoffs then quick burn outs.

Even if they weren't playing pretty, I've damn enjoyed watching Spurs in the early-mid 2000's. It' wasn't a flashy basketball but it was a very cohesive team, with a great iden y and well driven by Pop.

Right now, I'm taking little pleasure watching them play as a team. Spurs are just playing a very low quality basketball and are surviving against mediocre teams because they have some high level players. As a basketball fan, it's not what I like to see.

[Budkin]

We got the split, that's all that matters. They aren't winning in San Antonio again. Period.

[TD 21]

Lakers did against the Rockets in '09, which went 7 games.

But yeah, this series is anything but fun.

Would suck if blowing Game 4 costs the Spurs the series.

Yeah, somehow that slipped my mind. Anyway, in both instances, they still won those series and not only that, but they went on to win the championship. They didn't use it as an excuse to flame out in the following round, like the Spurs will inevitably do, if they're able to get that far.

[HarlemHeat37]

Glass is completely empty. If Curry and Thompson are playing at their normal level on Tuesday, it's game over.

Klay Thompson's "normal level" is a 13 PER player that scores inefficiently when he doesn't have open 3s..

[HarlemHeat37]

Curry still shot above his season % today.

And Thompson's game 2 was more an abberration than 3 & 4. EVERY shot (save 1 or 2) he took was contested. He's not going to make a high percentage of those in most games.

If you're referring to game 2, you're completely wrong, tbh..

11 of Thompson's 13 makes in game 2 were poorly contested/wide open..

He doesn't score efficiently if he isn't open..the Spurs have shut him down since Leonard began covering him..

[Poolboy5623]

Whoever wins game 5, will take the series imo...will be interesting to see who plays now, with the added pressure. I just hope the warriors don't shoot like they did in games 1 & 2.. or they will be in trouble. Part of me wants to think we have klay and steph somewhat figured out, but they're still both very capable, even with a hand in the face..oh well, life goes on.

[AaronY]

glass is shattered

Completely empty..with a quarter sized hole in the bottom of it..

[jjktkk]

The one troubling aspect to me is Leonard lack of offense. I was hoping these playoffs would be a coming out party for Loanard, as far as Leonard being a reliable option on the offensive end.

[DPG21920]

This series has been a great lesson for Spurs fans in a lot of ways. Spur fan claiming sweep, over confident, making fun of the warriors for melting down at end of games...Maybe this will challenge people to stop, pause and objectively look at things before just jumping to harsh conclusions.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

If you're referring to game 2, you're completely wrong, tbh..

11 of Thompson's 13 makes in game 2 were poorly contested/wide open..

He doesn't score efficiently if he isn't open..the Spurs have shut him down since Leonard began covering him..

You think Spurs in 6?

[HI-FI]

Even if they weren't playing pretty, I've damn enjoyed watching Spurs in the early-mid 2000's. It' wasn't a flashy basketball but it was a very cohesive team, with a great iden y and well driven by Pop.

Right now, I'm taking little pleasure watching them play as a team. Spurs are just playing a very low quality basketball and are surviving against mediocre teams because they have some high level players. As a basketball fan, it's not what I like to see.

so what changed? did the core become too old, not as reliable (especially Manu) or did Pop start getting loopy (hopefully not from the great wine), or a combination of the two?

I'm thinking since the core is older, he relies too much on scrubs and it bites us in the ass everytime.

[justinandimcool]

The problem with classyball and the way this roster is structured is that if everything is all even, the Warriors are better than us. Faster, better shooters, better rebounders, better defenders.

The only thing we have on them is chemistry and execution. I see it half full because I'm 100% sure it will outlast them on that alone. But if we have to play monkeyball and heroball we're toast.

[SpursRock20]

^^^We can't repeatedly go down to Duncan any more on every possession.

[HI-FI]

also, after reading through the various posts, i actually feel half full about this series. I think we have what it takes to stifle them, and I think at home our role players will shoot much better.

but if we win this, i make no predictions for next series. that will show if our TOSBs still have more to prove or if we've hit our ceiling.

[xellos88330]

Spurs need to get on that glass. I am actually happy to see the Spurs still have a shot while their free throw, mid-range jumpers, 3pt shooting and rebounding are miserable. If the Spurs shore up one of those it is series over GS.