Defensive Woes Continue To Plague Spurs

[polandprzem]

In that case, you're the only I've seen in this boards who think Kawhi doesn't need touches..Care to explain why? Maybe everyone in here would understand why..since you know virutally 99% of posters here agree that he needs more touches.

I didn't say he does not need touches.

You said he needs to get touches, IMO he is getting them and does nothing valuable with them

[TheGoldStandard]

Just a random thought. I you have Leonard and Green on the perimeter, with Tim and Splitter inside, you would think the Spurs would have at least a decent Defense. I have a question. Do you guys think that perhaps Pop is testing this team? Specifically Leonard. I just keep thinking maybe he wants to see how much Leonard will take until he rips Pop a new one and demands the ball and more playing time? I mean it might be stupid but I just keep thinking over and over that Pop wants Leonard to approach him and demand the ball and more minutes because he is capable of so much more.

Also, a lot of comments in here are dogging Leonard. Maybe he isn't as good as we thought? Yeah maybe. Spurstalk was really quick to anoint him. BUT. We have seen him get to the rim at ease, he can score inside and slash awesomely. He is a solid Defender, maybe not as great as we hoped. But still good on D. He can do a LOT of really good things, he is better than he is starting to get credit for here on Spurstalk. For whatever reason he isn't getting the ball. Be it by design, or him being mentally weak and not assertive. But physically and skill wise he can be very good and do more. Don't short change him. I'm not saying he will ever be 25 and 8. But he can be a 17-19 ppg and average 7-8 rebounds. You don't think he can be a Shawn Marion??? Pop needs to recognize.

Spurs defensive philosophy is old and is predicated on help defense. Green is always cought in no man's land because he's trying to help in the paint for whatever reason and his footwork is bad this year. He's always biting on pump fakes. Leonard is good but lacks the foot speed to keep anyone in front of him who has a quick first step and lacks the length to really be effective with guys who can pull up and shoot over him. His tenacity is what makes up for that lack of height, he bugs people into mistakes.

Parker looks dead tired and is getting out worked going over screens trying to funnel his man into Duncan or Tiago who are not fast enough to close out on offense. Tiago is useful for 15 minutes a game till the other team goes small which is practically the whole nba

[TheGoldStandard]

lol Tim should be the LAST to complain. He's supposed to be our leader and yet he's about as mentally ed out there as everyone else. He hasn't been much of an offensive threat or a defensive deterrent, to be honest. He can be frustrated with others when he starts bringing an assertive mindset to the court.

His timidity is 60% of the reason we suck, if we're honest, and it doesn't have all that much to do with his age. His mentality is waaaay off right now, and frankly, I don't want to hear his mouth.

When you reach a certain age the body can't do what the mind wants it to do. Can't expect Tim to not he frustrated with what happened last year and how some of these games are playing out. Spurs dont have that one guy this season that they can lean on when everyone is struggling to lead the team.

[KaiRMD1]

They forgot to add the terrible rotations also. Right now, Pop is the main problem for the Spurs.

[wildchild]

I didn't say he does not need touches.
You said he needs to get touches, IMO he is getting them and does nothing valuable with them

IMO 6-7 touches per game doesn't enough if you try to improve offensive's young player.

Right now he has 4 offensive options before him (Tony, Tim, Manu and Marco) like other guys said before I'd prefer lose developing Kawhi's 15/20 points than rather lose with Marco's 32 points or Manu on All Star mode.

It's all about young player development and how the team fails to attempt.

You can't hide bad defenders. The Spurs chose offense over defense when they signed Belinelli and Ayres and slotted Mills in at the backup pg position.

If we see the pictures of article, it's all about Belli in the wrong place or with the wrong guy.

Marco's strong suit isn't one-on-one defense, even isn't a good overall defender.
He's a really good scorer, a clutch scorer, but if his guy wins the game with a tip bc Marco loses him and not boxouting, and Pop didn't put Green, Diaw, Tiago...well Spurs chose Offense over D.

[MVPCues]

Tim looked very upset in the post game interview, frustrated with the play and taking these games serious. Seems like he took a jab at Pop for calling the team soft too.

Everyone is playing terrible defense and there isn't a fix by insert this guy here or play this guy more minutes. Can't win series if your bench is putting up more points than your starters. I have a feeling that we might see something we have never seen from a spurs team and that is inner turmoil between coaching and players.

Seems like there have been way too many roster changes maybe by request or maybe the chemistry is starting to fade.

Huh. I watched it. I agreed with you that Timmy was irritated. He was probably irritated at both the loss and the "soft" questions. I doubt it will fester into anything significant, except possibly better play and coaching.

[rascal]

They are playing the same defense just the teams they are playing are better over the last 17 games.

[james evans]

i still don't know why popovich has them leaving 3 point shooters wide open to shut down the lane of teams with no big men. makes no sense to me especially when there are two 7 footers in the paint. but he's the genius coach, and i'm just a poster on a forum. he knows better than me.

[TheGoldStandard]

i still don't know why popovich has them leaving 3 point shooters wide open to shut down the lane of teams with no big men. makes no sense to me especially when there are two 7 footers in the paint. but he's the genius coach, and i'm just a poster on a forum. he knows better than me.

I question Pop with great ferver afterall he is the one giving Ayres minutes which is flat out stupid

[Seventyniner]

Um, the Spurs are #5 in defensive efficiency. Not great, but far from bad. The shocker to me is Golden State at #4.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/.../NBA_2014.html
http://www.teamrankings.com/nba/stat...ive-efficiency

[RD2191]

Those numbers don't tell the whole story. Inflated stats because of beating up on crap teams.

[TheGoldStandard]

Um, the Spurs are #5 in defensive efficiency. Not great, but far from bad. The shocker to me is Golden State at #4.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/.../NBA_2014.html
http://www.teamrankings.com/nba/stat...ive-efficiency

That stat alone should tell you it's a worthless stat.

[FuzzyLumpkins]

That stat alone should tell you it's a worthless stat.

Well your response tells me you are big on bias and little on league context.

[Chinook]

That stat alone should tell you it's a worthless stat.

Lol, no it's not. That's like saying points are a worthless stat. Golden State has three good perimeter defenders and two good defensive bigs. Their ranking is not really shocking.

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Lol, no it's not. That's like saying points are a worthless stat. Golden State has three good perimeter defenders and two good defensive bigs. Their ranking is not really shocking.

Moreso the players buy into effort on the defensive end.

Looks like Malone's effect was overrated by some around here.

[tholdren]

Never understood why he plays Zone. Is he stuck in the 90's? This also goes on Parker/Green/Manu/Beli, WHY do they over help the bigs? Kawhi literally has to guard 3 open shooters

this is why tiago is not worth the $

[TheGoldStandard]

this is why tiago is not worth the $

He gets negated all the time with small ball

[313]

It’s impossible to play perfect defense on every possession. But far more often than not, the Spurs weren’t nearly focused enough to execute the trapping tactics they hoped would contain Anthony. Not only did the Knicks — not known for their offensive execution this season, particularly with their top two points guards out with injury — create a wealth of quality shots, Anthony still ended up with 27.These kind of breakdowns have become all too common over the past month. The personnel is there to fix it, and the Spurs will finally have the practice time after a hectic start to figure out how.
Unless they do, returning to the Finals will be all but impossible.

[KL2]

They can have the number 1 defense and it wouldn't mean , Spurs will never win a championship with their PG as their #1 option on offense, they need to fix that first. This team is ed.

[Seventyniner]

Golden State has three good perimeter defenders and two good defensive bigs. Their ranking is not really shocking.

I know Iguodala is a great defender, but I didn't see them going from 14th last year to 4th this year. They obviously have the personnel; the coaching was the wild card to me.

Memphis's dropoff is also extreme: 2nd to 24th. Gasol being hurt is a more severe loss than I thought.

[Seventyniner]

They can have the number 1 defense and it wouldn't mean , Spurs will never win a championship with their PG as their #1 option on offense, they need to fix that first. This team is ed.

Damon Stoudamire says hi.