Do you feel any better about the series now?

[peacemaker885]

Watch the game again... dude looked like Hakeem out there, defending and . Poor Mavs didn't stand a chance for that 5 minute stretch.

"When all things fail bring out the Red Rocket" - Chuck Norris

[Seventyniner]

I think the elephant in the room is the fact that Green may still be injured. He hasn't really had a good defensive game since he went out in that Nuggets game. If he's still hampered, then he ISN'T a good player to defend Ellis, nor does he provide a ton of general help to the team if he's not being left open. I hope that's not the case, because the team is absolutely dead in the water going forward if Green isn't 100 percent.

Provided that that's not the case, Pop is being absurdly stubborn to the extent that this could really hurt the team outside of this series. Danny was too important to the team going down the stretch for Pop to toss him aside at the first sign of adversity, especially while he continues to allow Mills and Beli (and the Big Three to a lesser extent) to work out of their slumps. I think Pop's convinced that Leonard is a superior defender to Green, even though the stats don't bear that out. He seems to consider Danny to be a secondary perimeter defender who only gets an opportunity to guard the opposing team's first option when Leonard isn't in the game. If the Spurs can win this series and advance to face Portland, Pop could absolutely tank the team by putting Leonard on Lillard (against whom Kawhi's never done well) as opposed to Green (who's probably been the most successful player in the league at defending Lillard).

Offensively, I think Pop is valuing folks getting their own shot seeing as the system is breaking down. As far as I see it, he needs to work harder to get the team to generate good looks for Green and everyone else who's struggling by calling more plays instead of just letting things flow. Or he needs to accept that the Big Three (along with Splitter and now Diaw hopefully) are going to carry the team offensively, which means he needs to let Green and Leonard play as much as possible to slow down Dallas on the other end. What he can't do is waffle in between those two and play glass cannons like Beli significant minutes because he's hoping they can pull more points out of their asses without having plays called for them than they give up on the other end.

Good post.

Has anyone noticed Green moving differently than before that Nuggets game? I didn't see any limping or anything, but I'm no expert.

As far as springing Green open, maybe it's time to go back to inside-out basketball. The Spurs have 4 legit post options and there's only one Dalembert. Nowitzki, Blair, and whatever non-Marion Mav that guards Kawhi can be relentlessly attacked in the post. Kawhi and Diaw are good enough shooters to keep them on the floor while one of Duncan or Splitter posts up too.

[SpurPadre]

Well, they beat us 3 out of 4 quarters and had to miss 10 free throws and shoot 38% for us to beat them by 4 points and also had to rely on a Blair kick...so that's troubling. With that said, if we can free up TP somehow and Danny can get a little more involved, there's reason to believe we can win this in 6.

[Horry Hipcheck]

Well, they beat us 3 out of 4 quarters and had to miss 10 free throws and shoot 38% for us to beat them by 4 points and also had to rely on a Blair kick...so that's troubling. With that said, if we can free up TP somehow and Danny can get a little more involved, there's reason to believe we can win this in 6.

You could say the same thing about the Mavs in Game 3. It's the playoffs, you find a way to win. It's 2-2 now, so it might as well be 0-0 and best of 3. The Spurs could come out tomorrow night and play the best game of the season and mop the floor with Dallas and it wouldn't mean anything other than a 3-2 series lead.

[superjames1992]

I think the Spurs likely win this series now, IMO. I think 40% chance of closing it out in 6, 40% chance in 7, and a 20% chance DAL wins it, IMHO, tbh, per par, FWIW, tbqh.

[superjames1992]

Matty BonBon 5 minutes, 0 shots, 0 points, 0 rebounds, 0 steals, 0 assists, 0 blocks and has a +/- of +9 How is that possible.

He defended pretty well and created spacing for others to operate and make shots. Bonner doesn't have to do much to be effective, tbh.

[Budkin]

Green has been the ing worst. Jogging his ass back on defense after doing nothing to give Monta the free 3 that started the collapse.

[hater]

Dallas will be there every step of the way. they are not going anywhere. this is a loooong series folks

[Malik Hairston]

Green has been the ing worst. Jogging his ass back on defense after doing nothing to give Monta the free 3 that started the collapse.

That wasn't Green, he closed out Vince on that play..

It was Parker that missed a layup and fell, leaving Kawhi to pick up his man(Calderon), and Danny Green to guard both Carter and Ellis on the 3-point line with Tim under the net, because Tony didn't get back on defense..

Green chose to close out on Carter, which is the right move since he's a 40% 3-point shooter, and Tim had to protect the rim, because if he went out to contest Ellis, he would have been blown by for an easy layup..

It was just another horrible play for Parker in one of the worst games he's had in a long time, tbh..

[Budkin]

Dallas will be there every step of the way. they are not going anywhere. this is a loooong series folks

Def. going 7 unfortunately. Or fortunately maybe considering we could be down 3-1 right now?

[downunder]

Dallas is a confidence driven team - if shots go in they improve, if shots miss they deteriorate quickly. Problem for Pop is that he knows his marquee players are old (like him) and need rests. Spurs have a depth on the bench that no other club in playoffs have . Question is whether their stars will stay on the Court longer.

[downunder]

And I am still worried as Spurs are lousy in blocking out, switching on posts and securing defensive rebounds.

[Phillip]

Something else to consider: if it weren't for Vince ing Carter's stupid, flukey ass shot, the Spurs would have taken both games in Dallas, and would have a commanding 3-1 series lead right now.

On the other hand, you could say that if it weren't for Monta Ellis somehow missing a chippie layup that he makes the vast majority of the time, or one of the best offensive teams somehow only scoring 4 points in over a 7 minute stretch to close a game, the Mavs could have a commanding 3-1 lead or 4-0 sweep.

Coulda woulda shoulda means nothing, and there is nothing to consider.

[Mugen]

On the other hand, you could say that if it weren't for Monta Ellis somehow missing a chippie layup that he makes the vast majority of the time, or one of the best offensive teams somehow only scoring 4 points in over a 7 minute stretch to close a game, the Mavs could have a commanding 3-1 lead or 4-0 sweep.

Coulda woulda shoulda means nothing, and there is nothing to consider.

Compelling stuff tbh.

Thank god for Dejuan, Phil, or the Mavs are probably closing us out in Game 5.

[weeks]

Yes, I feel better about being tied 2-2 compared to being down 2-1 or 3-1.

[Slippy]

yes. When you factor in Tony missed a lot of easy shots and Tim took many un-characteristic ones, Spurs still managed to win. These 2 will play better.

[rascal]

Spurs will wrap this up in 6.

[TampaDude]

Spurs have the advantage if it goes 7 because of HCA, but it's not going 7. Whoever wins Game 5 wins the series in 6. BOOK IT.

[rascal]

Spurs have the advantage if it goes 7 because of HCA, but it's not going 7. Whoever wins Game 5 wins the series in 6. BOOK IT.

Spurs will lose the first elimination game they will be in. So no game 7 in this series.

[Two10Whitey]

For 2-10-Whitey! MAN! What a pessimist? "Are we tired and done?" No, the only ones tired and done are the pessimists who visit here. HEY! WAKE THE F>>> up you piss poor Spurs fans. The team goes out & works their butts off and we lose because we play poorly? Don't think so. What about how well the other team plays and what THEY have to do with their victories?

What do you want me to say? "Aww yeah we're back in it!! We blew a 20 point lead and almost lost!! Tony looks worn out and has a sprained ankle!! Our defense is slacking!! GO SPURS!!!" I hope we win but I'm just stating my opinion.. I don't feel any better after blowing a big lead and winning the hard way. I understand this is the playoffs, but if we were playing our best like during the winning streak, this wouldn't be happening.