Necessary rotation changes

[marinoman]

I would like to see Blair since with Miami's small lineup hes not an undersized big man, and is athletic around the basket.

Plus i think hes fast enough in transition and with ball movement to guard miller, i think.

Or just Ginobili starts, maybe that gets him going, although his post game was not reassuring

[tesseractive]

First benefactor offers a truce, now timvp agrees with me . . . what's next, Bruno agreeing with me?

Diaw on Wade would be a terrible idea. Who knows whether Wade can come close to repeating that, but now that he's shown that he still can get to that level, why increase the chance of it happening again? The match-ups should be as follows: Parker on Chalmers, Green on Wade, Ginobili on Miller, Leonard on James, Duncan on Bosh.

Good point about Diaw's play making coming in handy if Ginobili starts. Although, at least one of Parker or Ginobili should be in at all times anyway, but still. I think the message was sent with him being benched in game 3, so I'd lean towards him playing with a reasonable amount of aggression/intensity from here on out, though you never quite know with him.

Good thread, and some good ideas.

Wade seems to be able to turn it on for only a couple of games per playoffs -- I'm kind of tempted to make him prove he can do it again. The downside, of course, is that if he gets going like that again, we're totally screwed.

Random question: how much does it mess with the players if they stop following their normal subs ution patterns and start getting significantly different ones? I know Pop messes with rotations around the margins pretty often, but will it break the guys' rhythms if we make wholesale changes like this?

[ace3g]

I really don't want Pop to make this move this late into the Finals, but if he thinks passing can help beat the Heat blitz than TMac could be useful. I've had more of an issue with Splitter's passing this series than anything else (he is what he is in the post). Since we don't have enough players that can handle the ball why not add another good passer. He would have to play exclusively at the PF position though.

[bklynspursfan]

I'd say start Boris in place of Tiago and let him guard Lebron. Lebron went to the post a lot to get himself going and Boris at least has the girth to not let him get there easily.

Leonard can guard Wade & Green on Miller. I think the Leonard on Wade can be a big key cause they seemed to make a conscious effort to get Wade going early the last few games. With Leonards length, it might bother him. It has the "potential" to be a series changing adjustment like when Pop put Leonard on Thompson. As long as he doesn't fall for any pump fakes of course...

And for the love of God Pop cannot continue to play these guys minutes like it's the regular season, they have to play longer stretches.

[Gagnrath]

I honestly want to try an idea completely different than what is listed above, deactivate McGrady activate Baynes, I know he's slower but the heat are mainly looking to drive and he's pretty good as a help defender. Let mills play some meaningful minutes, he is a more confident ball handler than neal and should also be quick enough to split traps.... Keep splitter ready in case baynes foot speed proves to slow, (I don't think so he's looks alot more mobile than I thought he'd be). I want to see what happens when LeBron tries to block the dunk of someone significantly stronger than him. I'm also curious about the rules in the nba as regards to using your off-hand on the collar bone shoulder of the person you are defending when going up for a block, both times lebron has blocked duncan that has seemed to be there though one of them could have just been camera angles but the other one duncan's trajectory definately changed.

[TheGoldStandard]

Baynes has no report with the officials so he'd be in foul trouble within the first 2 minutes of the game and the Heat would get to the line and establish some consistency early. I want to say that Tiago had a bad game and that he will show up in game 5 a little more focused but he's consistently played soft and weak so I'd rather go with Boris off the bench and then just stay small, Blair/T-Mac and Bonner for minutes. I would really like T-Mac to be in there when Manu is in so that Manu can actually play the 2 spot but I don't see that happening.

Miami would have to put someone with size on T-Mac and despite not seeing much of what he has left I think he could get around most of the defenders they'd throw at him or at least be able to pass over them on the second unit.

[99 Problems]

100 minutes for TD and KL game 5 if that what it takes. Without the win in game 5 the series turns into Miami tribute doco with their homecoming.

[TD 21]

Good thread, and some good ideas.

Wade seems to be able to turn it on for only a couple of games per playoffs -- I'm kind of tempted to make him prove he can do it again. The downside, of course, is that if he gets going like that again, we're totally screwed.

Random question: how much does it mess with the players if they stop following their normal subs ution patterns and start getting significantly different ones? I know Pop messes with rotations around the margins pretty often, but will it break the guys' rhythms if we make wholesale changes like this?

Clearly, it takes every ounce of energy/will Wade has to summon a performance like that and he can only bring himself to do it when it's needed most. So, despite the 2 days off between games, don't expect a repeat in game 5. But if the Spurs win it, he'll go off again in game 6 or, if it get's to it, 7. He might not score an efficient 32 again, but he also won't pull a no show and then make excuses afterwards (aka a Ginobili).

In general, it can mess with the players, but I don't think it would in this case. They know Splitter has been useless and that they'd be better off going small and getting more shooting/ball handling on the floor. And I wouldn't call these "wholesale changes". It took a whole 47 seconds to go small in game 4 anyway. Besides that, all I'm suggesting is upping the minutes of the key players and cutting an inconsequential player out of the rotation. It really shouldn't be an issue.

[therealtruth]

Clearly, it takes every ounce of energy/will Wade has to summon a performance like that and he can only bring himself to do it when it's needed most. So, despite the 2 days off between games, don't expect a repeat in game 5. But if the Spurs win it, he'll go off again in game 6 or, if it get's to it, 7. He might not score an efficient 32 again, but he also won't pull a no show and then make excuses afterwards (aka a Ginobili).

In general, it can mess with the players, but I don't think it would in this case. They know Splitter has been useless and that they'd be better off going small and getting more shooting/ball handling on the floor. And I wouldn't call these "wholesale changes". It took a whole 47 seconds to go small in game 4 anyway. Besides that, all I'm suggesting is upping the minutes of the key players and cutting an inconsequential player out of the rotation. It really shouldn't be an issue.

Splitter hasn't been useless. He's helped in the defensive gameplan of keeping the Heat out of the paint. If you take him off the floor it's easier for the Heat to attack the basket and we saw the result last game. We're not going to lose this series because of offense. It will be because we can't stop the Heat. It's a panick move to abandon our defense to try to outscore the Heat. They will win that game everytime.

[Slippy]

Don't worry . Pop doesn't have to do to much of a rotational change. Coach Spo did it for him by inserting Mike Miller into Miami's starting line-up.

[EVAY]

The only good thing that Splitter does is some 'pulling guard' action for the guys coming into the lane. And he is really good at that, and when it was only Timmy in the game last night, we suffered because he wasn't there to do that. HOWEVER - I agree with starting Duncan and Diaw if Miller starts again for Miami. Diaw is at least intelligent and another good passer.

And all of you who have said that we have been saving people all season for the playoffs - YESSSSSS!!!

Can we get a reporter to ask Pop to explain why he is doing that now? JK, JK.

[kaji157]

People calls Splitter a pussy. 1 reason behind it: clogged paint. Splitter is soft, but he is a good finisher. However, Miami's defense is the reason why Splitter sucks.

As for Joseph, I call him "filler" in this series.

Clogged paint?

No one was there, and the only ones that got near Splitter blocked the shot.
Review the plays he has point blanc lyus blocked by smaller opponents. The guy is scared and you can see, a small fake and the shot is piece of cake, but Splitter doesn´t even want to look. That´s why he is being such a non factor.

[SpurSpurSpurs]

Clogged paint?

No one was there, and the only ones that got near Splitter blocked the shot.
Review the plays he has point blanc lyus blocked by smaller opponents. The guy is scared and you can see, a small fake and the shot is piece of cake, but Splitter doesn´t even want to look. That´s why he is being such a non factor.

Do you even realize Miami has 7 blocks? If that's not clogging the paint, I don't know what else it is. Heck, even Tim and Tony gets rejected.

I still believe that Splitter may be soft and all, but he's still a good finisher that gets blocked because of great D.

[szkorhetz]

Start Diaw on Bron, Leonard on Wade and Splitter on Bosh, and as strange as it sounds, Bring Timmy of the bench. I think the most important thing is not to let in their comfort zone, because once they get hot, they will be Super hot. We have to avoid that by any cost, and right now Splitter is a better, more mobile defender than Duncan.

[pgardn]

This is basically a game 4 will occur again thread.

How would you adjust after game 3?

This is all based on game 4 will occur again if PERRSONEL adjustments are not made.
I think this is faulty reasoning. Tiago, you can play with a bit as Pop took him out early. But he got free on 4 different occasions on PnR, mainly with Ginobili. These were stabs right to the heart of their defense, it worked. Assuming another player can get this open... I don't, then make your sub. The easiest part to correct is showing Tiago what he might do differently to draw fouls or actually finish( like a little touch shot while open in the lane) or kick out. They are by far the toughest defensively on the perimeter. We have to make them pay for overplaying outside IMO.

Can Diaw set these screens way out and finish? Blair? Tiago created huge open spots right in the lane.

I was the guy who got attacked with false stats concerning Tiago's inability to post, I am not an apologist for his inability to finish. I just don't think any other big can create this kind of space on the PnR. If the board thinks that Blair could hit his little quick floater or get fouled and make FTs, fine. Same with Diaw. But we don't go away from these massive holes that have been created inside on the PnR out high.

[Rapper]

we should give a chance to Tmac

[TJastal]

I'd say start Boris in place of Tiago and let him guard Lebron. Lebron went to the post a lot to get himself going and Boris at least has the girth to not let him get there easily.

Leonard can guard Wade & Green on Miller. I think the Leonard on Wade can be a big key cause they seemed to make a conscious effort to get Wade going early the last few games. With Leonards length, it might bother him. It has the "potential" to be a series changing adjustment like when Pop put Leonard on Thompson. As long as he doesn't fall for any pump fakes of course...

And for the love of God Pop cannot continue to play these guys minutes like it's the regular season, they have to play longer stretches.

+1

I like your ideas. Sick Leonard on D-wail and make him cry. I like Green's defense on Le so far but he's going to need his legs to hit 3's. Let Boris muscle Le in the post where Le is starting to go more and more.

And yes... somebody on the coaching staff outta remind Pop it's the finals and somebody might have to play more than 40 minutes.

[Baam]

Wade is the true alpha of that Miami team and I agree we need Kawhi to shut him down.

[Darius McCrary]

I'm still trying to figure out why Kawhi has not played bigger minutes when he's not in foul trouble. Game 4 , Pop benched him gfor Danny in second half when game was close, Duncan was on the bench, Lebron was still in. THAT. CAN'T. HAPPEN. Kawhi wasn't even in foul trouble.

The Spurs played decent defense after that sub but couldn't grab a defensive rebound to save their lives, and the Heat increased their lead.

[therealtruth]

This is basically a game 4 will occur again thread.

How would you adjust after game 3?

This is all based on game 4 will occur again if PERRSONEL adjustments are not made.
I think this is faulty reasoning. Tiago, you can play with a bit as Pop took him out early. But he got free on 4 different occasions on PnR, mainly with Ginobili. These were stabs right to the heart of their defense, it worked. Assuming another player can get this open... I don't, then make your sub. The easiest part to correct is showing Tiago what he might do differently to draw fouls or actually finish( like a little touch shot while open in the lane) or kick out. They are by far the toughest defensively on the perimeter. We have to make them pay for overplaying outside IMO.

Can Diaw set these screens way out and finish? Blair? Tiago created huge open spots right in the lane.

I was the guy who got attacked with false stats concerning Tiago's inability to post, I am not an apologist for his inability to finish. I just don't think any other big can create this kind of space on the PnR. If the board thinks that Blair could hit his little quick floater or get fouled and make FTs, fine. Same with Diaw. But we don't go away from these massive holes that have been created inside on the PnR out high.

The problem is right now the only guy on the Spurs who is playing who can make that pass to Splitter on the pick and roll is Ginobili. TMac probably could make the pass if given the chance. We've got to be able to look inside and not just look for 3's of the pick and roll. Otherwise we become much easier to defend.

[kaji157]

Do you even realize Miami has 7 blocks? If that's not clogging the paint, I don't know what else it is. Heck, even Tim and Tony gets rejected.

I still believe that Splitter may be soft and all, but he's still a good finisher that gets blocked because of great D.

Man watch teh game again, none of the blocks on splitter was because they clogged the paint, they actually closed a lot harder than usual on shooters, Splitter is just soft as a teddybear.

[mingus]

Duncan needs to get 15+ shots a game out of the post. Duncan isn't what he used to be in the post, but against Miami's frontline he would look like it. I feel like the Spurs are playing way to guard oriented. The predictability of their attack is making it easier for the Heat.

[bklynspursfan]

+1

I like your ideas. Sick Leonard on D-wail and make him cry. I like Green's defense on Le so far but he's going to need his legs to hit 3's. Let Boris muscle Le in the post where Le is starting to go more and more.

And yes... somebody on the coaching staff outta remind Pop it's the finals and somebody might have to play more than 40 minutes.

He didn't start with this lineup, but at least we are seeing those matchup's a lot. it makes too much sense, and I'm glad Pop saw it too.

[Yuixafun]

Winner

[TJastal]

Props to Pop for making the right adjustments. Starting Manu was a great move, and broke him out of his slump. But equally big was finally giving Diaw a bigger role/minutes and limiting Bonner to a cameo appearance in the 2nd quarter. Diaw just has so much more to offer with his defensive versatility on James. With these changes the spurs' confidence is going to start rising and I believe they will take much better care of the ball which gives them a great opportunity to steal 1 in Miami.