spurs have all those proven players a year deeper in the system like green, tiago, leonard, the big 3, plus diaw stepping up and patty is confirmed proven too, he went ham on team usa in the olympics. beli played pretty good in euros plus with chi he played ice cold.
sorry, I don't entirely trust Parker.
I think the bench will be fine, they're more improved than last year and a major reason our record is so good. They were holding down the fort this year when guys like Parker were playing terrible, plus the bench was pretty good in last year's playoffs. It's obviously going to take great team effort, but that's fine, I like the way this team is built.
Amused killed Bruno IIRC.
I agree, our defense has been atrocious lately, if we let the Jazz drop 100 on us imagine what the Rockets can do.
I was waaay more worried about our Big 3 last year. I remember thinking that we couldn't depend on the roleplayers as much as were... and we needed The Big 3 to step the up already. Oh well...
??? Tony was an MVP candidate last year and Duncan had a great year, last year you were more worried? Why?
Remember Tony was injured... and we already know about Manu. Tim was being Tim... but they were NOT clicking at all (as a threesome), IMO. Especially during *ahem* The Finals. Lots of people were concerned.
Boris, Green and Neal were excellent last season in the playoffs. Splitter and even Bonner showed up when they were called upon against Lakers and Grizz.
If you think what happened last season was the role players 'folding', you need to adjust your expectations of a role player. The players who need to show up every moment of every game are the stars, and Manu was seriously lacking in that department.
More concerned about getting the defense up to last season's standards and TP regaining his foot speed... role players will have a limited role in the playoffs, and they were great all things considered in last season's playoffs....
Are people actually arguing that our 2nd unit is a weakness? I enjoy watching them more than the starters and the are a HUGE reason for the current streak and why the vets will be fresh for the playoffs.
Pop is building some great chemistry right now.
this kind of analysis. It's bull . Why people keep bring up last year is so ing Laker bandwagon type . Open your ing eyes. The Spurs have the best record in the league despite the fact that they hadn't really been healthy until 2 weeks ago.
Last year Patty was just a towel waiver 15 pounds heavier, Gary Neal wasn't playing any real defense and if he wasn't making any shots, what was he providing the team?I liked him as a Spur but he was a weak point despite his penchant for an occasional clutch shot.
And the addition of Marco Belinelli on both defense and decision making alone make him 10 times the player that Gary was on a good day. Add the Team France Euro victory. Pop telling Tony that he needed that same kind of play, this time, he's used that same kind of mental magic on Boris Diaw, who no longer views an open shot as an opportunity to pass.
They're equipped to win, it's not a guarantee but ...Most NBA could only wish they have a TEAM like the Spurs.
Yes. He is. During the whole season/injury bug thing, he was all calm and cool... and playing with ssooo many different rotations throughout. He was actually kinda' enjoying all the 'experimenting', lol. He took it all as an opportunity.
Beli >>>>>>> Neal
Not even close
At this point, only role players I worry about are Bonner and Errors. At least Bonner is fairly dependable rebounder.
For it to work the ball can't get sticky. The role players thrive of the ball movement.
Not until the finals when Tony got hurt, don't remember some worried all year long because Tony and Tim were playing lights out! Both all stars as well! Tim was being beyond the older Tim last year he had a resuregence at his age. Manu was off most of the year after he got hurt and that carried on so I will give you that! Up until game 4 or so of the finals when Tony got hurt it was just Manu they were worried about and not the rest of the big three. I have heard more concerns this year with health and Tony being worn down and playing bad at times after playing all summer long and Tim being a very slow starter this year! I have heard more concerns this year or worries to be quite honest (Manu playing well though but he got hurt too).
Our concern last year heading into the playoffs and we heard it alot was the backup SF as we HAD NONE after they cut Jax, that was the glaring hole I remember bringing worry.
I agree on this here. Green actually did enough to put us ahead in the finals with his HOT shooting through 5 games, Neal as well in that one huge finals game he had in the blowout. They played really well for role players althogh the last two games two of them folded (Green and Neal). The role players played well int he playoffs last year you are correct.
Role players typically don't do well on the road, especially against good teams. Role players do good at home, especially on good teams. Factor those two together and you'd see that the opponent's bench should beat ours if we are on the road. It's up to our starters to bring it. That's why they get big bucks.
I'm only talking about last year's Playoffs, too--not the whole last season. Tony got his calf kicked in and bruised by Bogut during The Dub series... and he was "in and out" after that. They just weren't playing together very well... as THE BIG 3. The role players did really well, though. But that was all last year. BOTTOM LINE: EVERYBODY needs to bring it to these Playoffs, and they all know it.
The Brunstapo might take action if he begins to trash Enrique, tbh.
----------
Tbh, I trust our role players to play well enough. We have to remember Enrique's 6-23 and Manu's 8... Our "stars" can fail, too... And then there was The Miss by Kawhi. The Collapse by Verde, etc........
As others have stated, the second unit is at times more fun to watch than the starters. Mills/Belinelli/Diaw will be key in the playoffs and I for one don't see them "folding".
This team is starting to wake up (if not already) and they're no longer bored/coasting like they were in Dec/Jan. Cliché, yes, but I really feel they're on a mission to win their 5th LOB.
Just a small hunch, but Spurs in 5.
Danny Green, and Boris Diaw played their asses off last year. Baldspot, Splitter and Parker's Hamstring ed everything up.
Tony kicked ass in the Memphis series! He was a key reason we won that! So yeah the very next round he was lights out but thats a different story. Manu was down and out and playing horrible, thats the only thing I remember fully and the real concern back then during the playoffs last year and it reared it's head again later on. I agree with you fully though but disagree some on the first point, but in the end we still agree on the mission now and on quite a few things. We need to bring it all to win a le, PERIOD so we both agree there.
BTW NICE AVI, damn she is looking good.
No way. Rob's good people.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
